Houghton University Presents Alumni Awards

Houghton University honored four alumni during its Legacy Chapel as a part of Homecoming and Family Weekend, recognizing their remarkable commitment to and impact in the fields of ministry, international relations and medicine. Lieutenant General (LTG) Mary (Biglow ’91) Krueger Izaguirre, Surgeon General of the United States Army, was named the 2026 Alumna of the Year. She was joined by Young Alumna of the Year Kaylee (Haller ’19) Fisher, Public Affairs Specialist with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; Alumni Christian Service recipient Barbara (Amidon ’62) Patrick and FEARLESS Award recipient Honus Wagner ’20.

LTG Mary Izaguirre, Surgeon General of the United States Army, has had a remarkable career in the military meeting the medical needs of servicemen and women and their families. Inspired by her time in Houghton’s Highlander Wilderness Adventure program, LTG Izaguirre joined the Army to meet the significant financial hurdles of attending medical school. A graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, she completed her family medicine residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in Washington state. She subsequently completed a master’s degree in public health from the University of Washington. Her military career has spanned more than three decades, leading to her appointment as the 46th Surgeon General of the United States Army and Commanding General of U.S. Army Medical Command in September of 2023. Her honors include the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Army Distinguished Service Medal.

Kaylee Fisher, Public Affairs Specialist with the U.S. Commission in International Religious Freedom, has been advocating for religious freedom since her graduation in 2019. Previous appointments include roles with World Relief, the Institute for Global Engagement and most recently Global Operations Director for IRF Roundtable, part of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat in Washington, DC. Her work includes advocating for the religious freedoms of people around the world, including the Yazidi people of Northern Iraq, Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Barbara (Amidon ’62) Patrick represents a legacy of servant leadership in the Wesleyan Church. As a Wesleyan pastor’s wife, she served for a quarter of a century as Director of Women’s Ministries in the Central New York District of the Wesleyan Church. Other work included serving as Northeast General Director of Wesleyan Women, the General Board of Administration for the Wesleyan Church and the Houghton University (then College) Board of Trustees.

Honus Wagner, a transitional case manager with Catholic Charities in Rochester, serves regularly on short-term mission trips to Sierra Leone, a place and people he grew to love during his studies at Houghton. He has participated in work to complete the Kamasaypayna Community School, assisted a team from Jericho Road (Buffalo) to prepare a new health clinic and conducted an economic development study. His work in Sierra Leone resulted in contracting a severe malarial infection complicated by COVID-19 that nearly ended his life. Since recovering, Honus has fearlessly returned to Sierra Leone, most recently in 2025 when he was an honored guest of Daniel Sara Turay, Paramount Chief of the Kalanthuba Chiefdom.