Alumni Awards

NBTS Alumni are having an impact in their communities and around the globe.   Alumni have the opportunity to honor each other by nominating your fellow graduates who meet the following criteria: 

1784 Legacy (RCA) – Is awarded to a NBTS graduate of four decades or more who has given dedicated service to God and God’s people in the Reformed Church in America.  This alumnus will have exemplified dedication to the church, faithful service in ministry, deep pastoral care, a sincere commitment to life-long learning. 

Chaplaincy (PC&C) Is awarded to an alumnus whose public practice of ministry reflect an extraordinary model of effective ministry, significant service, and contributions to communities served by chaplains.  This alumnus will have completed at least four units of CPE.  This person graduated at least 5 years ago. 

Global Ministry – Is awarded to an alumnus with a heart for global ministry who graduated at least a decade ago.  This person has demonstrated a commitment to holistic ministries of justice and compassion in the world and walked alongside the people who are in need of a compassionate heart and the love of Christ. 

Prophetic Ministry – Is awarded to an alumnus whose exceptional leadership and unique contributions to community engagement reflect genuine empowerment, creative collaboration, and spiritual outreach.  This alumnus is committed to a prophetic theological understanding and will have graduated at least 5 years ago. 

Nomination Form:

Previous Winners

The 2019 1784 Legacy Alumni Award is awarded to Rev. Dr. Leonard Kalkwarf. (Class of 1956)
	Ordained in 1953, Rev. Kalkwarf has served congregations in New York and the International Congregation in Kuwait. Before serving for 34 years as the pastor of the Reformed Church of Willow Grove PA from which he retired in 1991 and was named pastor emeritus. After retirement, he served on the staff of the Abington Presbyterian Church in PA. Rev. Kalkwarf has also served on the Boards and Agencies of his denomination and was elected to the office of President of the General Synod of the Reformed Church In America. Rev. Kalkwarf is the author of multiple articles and six books. Rev. Kalkwarf is still involved in leading worship and ministry for the residents in the senior housing where he resides.
The 2019 Chaplaincy Alumni Award is posthumously awarded to Rev. John R. de Velder.  (Class of 1968).  Linda Walvoord de Velder received the award.
	John de Velder served over 30 years as Director of Pastoral Care at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center in New Brunswick until his death in 2015. His distinguished career as a clinical pastoral educator, interfaith leader, international teacher and visionary. He was awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary in 2003. Under his leadership at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center, he supervised over 1,000 individuals in clinical pastoral education and chaplaincy training. As a leader in indigenous clinical pastoral education, he supervised and taught in seminaries mentoring clergy in Israel, Korea and Malaysia.
The 2019 Global Ministry Alumni Award is awarded to Rev. David Alexander. (Class of 1980)
	Dave Alexander recently retired from 39 years of missionary service through the work of RCA Global Mission. Inspired by the work of NBTS alumni, his first mission assignment was to help start a student ministry center with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. Later, he was assigned first to local parish evangelistic work and then to publishing for the Taiwan Church News, where he translated, edited, and wrote a weekly column, published in Chinese. His last assignment in mission began in 2004, at Tainan Theological College, where he administered the international students’ program and taught language and practical theology courses until retirement in 2018. In July of 2018, just weeks before he retired, the government of Taiwan made him a full citizen.
The 2019 Prophetic Ministry Alumni Award is awarded to Rev. Dr. Patricia Singletary. (Class of 1995)
	Rev. Patricia A. Singletary became the first female Minister of Word and Sacrament in the 300-year history of the Elmendorf Church. The Church’s Historical Society rediscovered its African burial ground from 1664 under the 126th Street Bus Depot, which had been forgotten, built upon for almost 200 years. Reverend Singletary with the aid of the NY Council Speaker formed a group of community members, city agencies, archaeologists, urban planners, architects, historians—to create the Harlem African Burial Ground Task Force. The purpose of the task force was to properly memorialize the church’s burial ground. Due to the coordinated work of various stakeholders, in 2017 the City Council voted to fund a project which will also include the memorial, a mixed-use development component with affordable housing, businesses, and community space that supports the East Harlem community.