Alumni Service Award

recognizes alumni who have rendered outstanding service to the university

Name: Edie Hovey
Major: Theology
Home: Duarte, California
Employer: (Retired) State of California, Department of Rehabilitation
Job Title: Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

EDIE HOVEY ’61 graduated from Valparaiso University with a bachelor of arts degree in theology, and was consecrated as a Deaconess of the Lutheran Deaconess Association the same year. From 1963 to 1966, she served as the Deaconess in Residence at Valparaiso University for the Lutheran Deaconess Association, as well as the dormitory director of Deaconess Hall. During this time, she met regularly with the dean of students and other directors of women's dormitories, and she also spoke about the deaconess program and VU at many meetings of the VU Guild. After earning her master of science degree in counseling in 1974 and beginning her profession as a rehabilitation counselor in California, Hovey continued to serve as a mentor to young deaconess students, providing lodging, transportation and support to both the students and consecrated deaconesses who visited her area. In addition, she has devoted considerable energy to Valparaiso University's Homecoming West celebration, serving on the planning committee for each of the eight occurrences of the event, beginning with the first in 1994. From the beginning, Hovey assumed a leadership role in logistical planning and volunteer recruitment, taking particular care to ensure the presence of lectors and ushers for the Sunday worship service. She devoted countless hours of her time connecting with alumni and friends of the university to encourage their attendance at the events and, in 2008, she assisted with VU's 150th Anniversary Celebration in the San Diego area, which took place the Saturday evening of Homecoming West.