Homecoming weekend at Midland University featured numerous alumni being recognized as athletes, contributors, and in the professional world.

Two outstanding alums and one family were honored during the Alumni and Legacy Brunch on Sunday, Oct. 20th at the Wikert Event.

The Walker family was recognized as the Midland University Distinguished Family. The Walker School of Education was named in honor of Dr. Cecil Walker, who served as Director of Education at Midland from 1960-81. All three of Walker’s children (Bob, Sondra, Tom) graduated from Midland, along with two of his grandchildren.

Tom Walker ’81 was also honored with the Midland University Impact Award. Walker has been a contributor to Midland in many areas over the years, including both athletic and academic gifts. Walker has served as president of Health Care Information Systems for nearly 30 years and has been a member of the Midland University Board of Directors for five years.

Shawn Arkfeld ’92 was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award. Arkfeld was a standout basketball and baseball player during his time at Midland.

He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer/Managing Partner/VP of Baxter Auto Group. He has been with Baxter more than 20 years and currently oversees 20 dealerships in five different states. Baxter was recently recognized as one of the top 50 auto groups in the country.

Nyajuok Tongyik-Doluony ’09 received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. 

Tongyik-Doluony is a retired United States Army nurse and launched RSS Girls Break the Silence, LLC., a non-profit organization that provides mentorship to women worldwide. She also published her first book in 2021 - “I Am My Mother's Wildest Dream: How an African Teen Broke Her Silence and Fought Cultural Norms to Live the "American Dream."

On Friday, Oct. 18th, three individuals and one team were inducted into the Warrior Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Wikert Event Center.

Branden Brown ’12 was a four-year member of the Midland gridiron squad from 2008-11, earning first team All-GPAC honors in 2009 and 2011. He was also a two-time team captain and winner of the Petrow Award (Outstanding Male Athlete at Midland) his senior year. Brown graduated with a degree in criminal justice and currently serves as a Deputy United States Marshal for the U.S. Marshal Service. 

Stacey (Howard) Damme ’03 was a four-year competitor on the Midland tennis team. She was a four-time recipient of the GPAC Player of the Year, helping guide the 2003 squad to the NAIA National Tournament. A nursing major, Damme has spent the past 21 years as a labor and delivery RN, most recently at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha. 

Mackenzie Scheef-Coufal ’14 was a four-year member of the Warriors’ volleyball squad from 2010-13. In her senior season, Coufal helped guide the Warriors to a 37-5 record and a spot in the Elite Eight of the NAIA National Tournament. She was named a second team All-American that season, as well as earning All-GPAC honors and ACVA All-Region honors. Following her senior season, she was recognized with the Bracker Award, given to the outstanding female athlete. A native of Syracuse, Nebraska, Coufal now lives in Wisner, Nebraska, where she works as a lead website designer/social media creator/marketing associate for Heritage Vet Partners in West Point.

Also honored that evening were the winners of the Petrow Award and Bracker Award, given to the outstanding male and female athletes, respectively.

Ross McMahon ’24 received the Petrow Award. McMahon was a four-time NAIA All-American in the high jump during both the outdoor and indoor seasons. He qualified for eight NAIA National Championship events and was an eight-time All-GPAC performer.

Roni Foote ’24, and Aliyah Rincon ’24 were named co-recipients of the Bracker Award. Foote was a two-time second team All-American and two-time GPAC Player of the Year for the Warriors softball team. A four-time All-GPAC performer, Foote holds career records in five different offensive categories.

Also a member of the Warriors softball squad, Rincon was a second team All-American as a pitcher in 2024 and was twice named GPAC Pitcher of the Year. She holds numerous career and single season records and was also a three-time NAIA Scholar Athlete.

Also honored during the weekend was the 1974 Midland football team which went undefeated and ended the season with a victory in the Mineral Water Bowl. 

The Class of 1974 celebrated its Golden Warrior Reunion while the Clef Dwellers group that went on a USO Tour in 1974 also celebrated a 50-year reunion.