2025 Outstanding Alumni of the Year Eric and Joy Lewis ride down German Street on Saturday morning. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — A number of awards were presented to Shepherd University alumni, throughout Homecoming week on Oct. 20-25.

The newest honor being presented was the inaugural Pillar of Shepherd Recipient Award, which was given to Ray Alvarez.

“The intention of the Pillar of Shepherd Award is to honor an alumnus who has demonstrated lifelong commitment, leadership and philanthropy to Shepherd University,” said Shepherd University Director of Student Activities & Leadership Rachael Meads.

According to Meads, the class of 1962 graduate clearly embodied what a Pillar of Shepherd should look like.

“Upon retiring to Shepherdstown, Ray became one of the university’s most dedicated alumni leaders: lecturing in classrooms, mentoring business students and tirelessly working to raise funds for scholarships, faculty excellence and campus priorities.. He served on the Shepherd University Foundation Board of Directors from 2000 to 2023, including six years as president; served on the Shepherd University Board of Governors from 2016 to 2020 and played a central role in the university’s Create Campaign,” Meads said. “Ray was also the founding president of the Scarborough Society and, in 2020, he helped lead the Business 2020 campaign that established the School of Business, and created four endowed funds.”

Fellow Shepherdstown residents Eric and Joy Lewis were presented with another noteworthy honor, as the 2025 Outstanding Alumni of the Year. According to Meads, the couple was selected due to their substantial individual and collective involvement with their alma mater.

“Joy is a 1991 graduate of Shepherd. She is a longtime Women Investing in Shepherd member, a member of the Scarborough Society Gala Committee, a member of Friends of Popodicon and is currently assisting with the restoration project for the Little House. Eric graduated from Shepherd in 1995. He has served on the Shepherd University Board of Governors, the Shepherd University Foundation Board of Directors and the Shepherd University Alumni Association Board of Directors. He has played a pivotal role in securing funding for many projects over the years, including deferred maintenance grants, an annual increase in state allocations and the grant for the West Campus Enhancement Project,” Meads said. “Together, Eric and Joy host the annual Farm to Table dinner — a fundraiser for the Shepherd University Last Dollar Fund — at their Shepherdstown home. We are so appreciative of their dedicated service to Shepherd!”

The final Homecoming honorees were 2025 Class of Finest Under 40 recipients Daniel Sweeney, Jake Mellow, Hannah Brumbaugh and Alyssa Roush.

“The Finest Under 40 award recognizes young alumni who are leading the way in b business and community leadership, as well as artistic, educational and philanthropic endeavors, and this class is no exception,” Meads said, noting the lives of the recipients have epitomized the university’s unofficial motto. “They truly exemplify ‘Shepherd students succeed.'”