Longtime Bluffton resident, Don Schweingruber, was honored earlier this month by Thiel College, where he graduated in 1963.

Posthumously, he was name recipient of The Thiel College Distinguished Alumni Award. It is presented to a Thiel alum nominated by fellow alumni and approved for recognition by the Alumni Association Board of Directors for outstanding contributions to the person's profession. Thiel is located in Greenville, Pa.

According to Kelly Sanzari, Thiel director of alumni relations, Schweingruber received over 20 nominations from classmates and friends.

Nancy Schweingruber attended the ceremony along with sons, Doug and Matt, and Don’s brother, Jerry and his wife, Judy.

The Schweingrubers moved to Bluffton in 1972. He was Bluffton’s first dean of student affairs. He was at Bluffton for 33 years until his retirement in 2005. He died in September 2015.

After graduating from Thiel, Schweingruber went on to earn a master’s degree from Miami and doctorate from Michigan State before coming to Bluffton.