2024 Awards Dinner Honorees

The EGR Schools Foundation's 2024 Community Service and Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner honored U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, who graduated from East Grand Rapids High School in 1987, Leslie (Wiener) Hooker, EGRHS class of 1983, and Suzanne (Schuler) Wilcox, EGRHS class of 1980.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was given to Ambassador Brink for her professional accomplishments. She has worked for the U.S Department of State since 1996, serving as U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia before becoming U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine in 2022. She took office during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Distinguished Alumni Award honors East Grand Rapids High School alumni who have distinguished themselves through personal and/or professional achievements.

The Community Service and Leadership Award honorees were Leslie (Wiener) Hooker and Suzanne (Schuler) Wilcox. Hooker and Wilcox were honored for their years of work and advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities. In 2018, Hooker and Wilcox founded Beer City Dog Biscuits, a West Michigan company whose core mission is empowering people with disabilities through the creation of dog biscuits. The Community Service and Leadership Award began in 1998 to honor a person or group of people who have significantly contributed their leadership and spirit to the community of East Grand Rapids. Recipients of the award need not be EGRHS alumni, though many have been.

Recap of 2023 Community Service and Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner

Click here for online nomination forms for the Community Service and Distinguished Alumni Awards. 

Past Award Recipients