Malone University Announces 2026 Alumni Award Winners

These remarkable individuals routinely serve their churches, communities, and professions through their unique vocations and daily lives, embodying Malone’s mission to serve Christ, the church, and the world.

This year’s award recipients include:

Alumna of the Year: Julianna Smith ’08

Julianna Smith ’08 graduated from Malone with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science before earning a Master of Arts in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (Arabic) from The Ohio State University (2013), a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Portland Seminary of George Fox University (2018), and a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (Hebrew Bible) from the University of California, Los Angeles (2022).

Julianna currently serves as a seminary professor at the Earlham School of Religion, where she walks alongside students as they discern calls to ministry and navigate their vocational, personal, and educational journeys. Her broad professional path reflects a lifelong commitment to teaching and cross-cultural engagement, including corporate communications in Cairo, Egypt, healthcare and international K–8 support for “third culture kids,” substitute teaching in Columbus City Schools, youth swim coaching, and mentoring undergraduates as a graduate teaching assistant at UCLA. Across every setting, Julianna considers the enduring relationships built with students and colleagues to be her greatest professional achievements.

As a Malone student, Julianna served on student senate for four years—including as student body president—and participated in the Honors program. Encouraged by Malone faculty to step outside her comfort zone, she completed a pivotal study-abroad semester in Cairo that shaped her academic trajectory and led to lifelong friendships. In her community, Julianna spent several years serving through preaching and teaching ministry at The Oregon Community Church. She and her husband, Nathan Widdicombe, have one daughter, Layla Edith, and she resides in Portland, Oregon, and Dayton, Ohio.

Alumnus of the Year: Joe Hudak ’72

Joe Hudak ’72 earned his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Malone University and a Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Kent State University. Throughout a storied 50-year coaching career, Joe became a respected leader in collegiate baseball, compiling an outstanding 1,124–690 overall record across head coaching tenures at Geneva College, Winthrop University, and Kingsmen Baseball. He has coached more than 30 future professional players—including six major leaguers—and has been inducted into the Lawrence County, Winthrop University, and Geneva College Halls of Fame.

Driven by a deep conviction to seek “Christ’s Kingdom First,” Joe has seamlessly integrated faith, mentorship, and athletic excellence into his career. Following five years as Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), he founded Kingsmen Baseball in 2016, a non-profit Christian ministry using baseball to disciple players in character, integrity, and faith in Christ, and later established the Kingsmen Baseball Academy for high school student-athletes. Through daily chapel services, team Bible studies, and personal mentorship, Joe has guided more than 250 young men to make personal commitments or recommitments to Jesus Christ.

During his time at Malone, Joe was a standout student leader and cornerstone of Pioneer athletics as a four-year starter at shortstop, senior co-captain, and all-conference pitcher who helped lead Malone to conference championships and an NAIA national tournament appearance. In community outreach, Joe has led more than 20 mission trips to the Dominican Republic to construct housing, address food insecurity, and launch Christ-centered sports outreach programs. Joe is the proud father of three children—Logan, Callie, and Preston—and resides in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Young Alumna of the Year: Blake Stuckey ’20

Blake Stuckey ’20 earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Malone before completing her Master of Social Work degree at Case Western Reserve University in 2021.

Blake currently serves as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at MetroPlusHealth in New York City, providing care management to members living with HIV/AIDS, transgender individuals, and unhoused persons. Dedicated to vulnerable and underserved populations for nearly five years, she previously served at Montefiore Medical Center’s Infectious Disease Clinic, demonstrating a heart for clinical advocacy, trauma-informed care, and equitable health resources.

During her time at Malone, Blake served as a peer tutor, participated in the Social Work Club, and engaged in the residence hall mentorship program in Heritage Hall. In her local community, Blake actively lives out her calling to service through Domestic and Other Violence Emergencies (DOVE) volunteer work at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital emergency departments, offering therapeutic equine-assisted lessons through GallopNYC, preparing meals with God’s Love We Deliver, and participating in the annual AIDS Walk in Central Park. Blake carries a rich, multi-generational family tradition at Malone as the daughter of Jon Stuckey ’86 and Shari Taylor-Stuckey ’87, alongside a wide network of alumni relatives. She resides in New York, New York.

Young Alumnus of the Year: Brandon Bapst ’17

Brandon Bapst ’17 graduated from Malone with dual degrees in Computer Science and Business Administration.

Brandon currently serves as a cybersecurity adviser at Ernst & Young (EY), where he helps organizations strengthen cyber resilience and responsibly leverage artificial intelligence. Recognized for his expertise in navigating complex digital landscapes, he is a published author on cybersecurity and a frequent speaker at industry conferences nationwide, guiding corporate leaders in safeguarding businesses while fostering ethical innovation. Driven by a passion to equip his peers, Brandon also co-founded The Athlete Impact Network to empower student-athletes in their transition to life and career beyond sports.

While at Malone, Brandon was a four-year member of the Pioneer men’s basketball team, a resident assistant in DeVol Hall, and a student leader with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He also brought energy to campus traditions by organizing and hosting the annual Nike Airband competition and competing on a championship-winning Davenport Derby couch race team. Brandon resides in Union City, New Jersey.

Full biographies for all honorees can be found at www.malone.edu/alumni/alumni-awards.

Registration for the Alumni Awards Banquet and all Homecoming festivities is available at www.malone.edu/homecoming.