Alumni Awards Winners for 2026

Millersville University held its annual Marvelous Marauder and Alumni Award Recognition Dinner in July. The Millersville Alumni Association recognizes the achievements of alumni and others through the Alumni Awards program, which honors individuals who exemplify the values of Millersville and celebrates their professional accomplishments, volunteerism and commitment to the University community. The awards include the Young Alumni Achievement Award, Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, Honorary Alumnus Award, Board Emeritus Award and Distinguished Alumni Award. Here are the honorees of this year's ceremony, highlighting their careers and dedication to Millersville since graduating.

Distinguished Alumni

Richard Huck '73
After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in art education in 1973, Huck served as an art teacher at Ephrata High School. In his role, he established an art concentration class for his students, who often won Gold and Silver Key Scholastic Art Awards at the local and national levels. Huck also served as president of the Lancaster Echo Valley Art Group. He retired from teaching in 2013 after 40 years of service. Huck also pursued his own art career and has become a nationally and internationally awarded professional artist. His work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in Paris, Amsterdam, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Beverly Hills and Philadelphia.

Currently, Huck is a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America with signature status, and his colored pencil pieces have appeared in numerous publications. These include Art in America, Artist's Magazine, Philadelphia Inquirer, Lancaster Newspapers and the Society of Annual and Outstanding American Illustrators. In 2024, his work was recognized as Best in Show at the Colored Pencil Society of America. Huck lives in Maine and serves as an artist-in-residence at Acadia National Park.

Rick Riskie '74
After earning his bachelor's degree from Millersville in 1974, Riskie pursued a career in law enforcement. He was accepted into the FBI and assigned to the New Jersey Gaming Enforcement program. Riskie later began a 30-year career as an agent with the U.S. Secret Service, where he led a successful operation to suppress an embezzlement fraud scheme in Philadelphia that culminated in the prosecution of over 35 criminals. He was then selected for the Presidential Protection Detail for President George H. W. Bush.

Following his presidential assignment, Riskie worked with the Financial Crimes Division and was part of an international law enforcement team that led the first successful Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization prosecution in Secret Service history. Riskie also served in supervisory field office posts, including heading up the active protection detail in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. After 20 years with the Secret Service, Riskie planned to retire, but he was recruited by the Homeland Security Division to investigate the funding of international terrorist organizations working against the United States.

Young Alumni

Ethan Poetic '20
In 2011, Poetic was involved in a near-fatal car accident, leaving him with a one-percent chance of survival; however, he prevailed and went on to earn his associate degree in communications from Harrisburg Area Community College in 2017. In 2020, Poetic graduated from Millersville University with a Bachelor of Science degree in speech communication, with minors in broadcasting and media. Today, he is the CEO and founder of Ethan A. Poetic, LLC, offering motivational and keynote speaking, life coaching and poetry workshops. In his work, Poetic speaks candidly about his experiences with survivors' guilt, healing and discipline. Additionally, Poetic is a certified mental health counselor. In 2022, he published his autobiography, "The Inspirational Story of Ethan A. Poetic: Chronicles of Adversities, Education, Sports, Relationships, & Resiliency."

Christopher "Chris" Gordan '13
Gordon graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work and a minor in entrepreneurship. After graduation, he worked as a counselor and an intensive case manager for at-risk youth for over a decade. Gordon's current role is at Balancing Life with Kids in Philadelphia, where he provides counseling and intervention services for families, couples and individuals. Beyond his professional work, he remains active in the community through service, leadership and mentorship. Gordon is the founder of two nonprofit organizations: Men Empowering Men and 24/7 Fatherhood. Both organizations strive to influence and encourage young men to become better fathers, stronger role models and positive leaders within their families and communities. In addition, he has volunteered with organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, community service initiatives with the City of Philadelphia and food donations during the holidays for Philabundance.

Steven McAndrews '06
After graduating in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, McAndrews served in the United States Army for ten years. During this time, he served in both active and reserve capacities, including combat roles. Over the past decade, he has worked in numerous government agencies, including the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Currently, he serves as the Chief Information Officer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Throughout McAndrews' career, he has been recognized and awarded by various organizations. His awards include the 2025 NVTC Cyber50 Award, 2025 AFFIRM Vanguard Award, 2025 Department of War CIO Award, 2024 NNSA Administrator Achievement Award and numerous others.

Stephen Ryan '07
In 2007, Ryan graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He began his career as a police officer with the Charleston Police Department in South Carolina and helped establish the city's Crisis Intervention Team. In 2013, Ryan graduated from Charleston School of Law and became the lead trial attorney for the South Carolina Attorney General's Office. In that role, he supervises investigations and prosecutions involving child sexual abuse across South Carolina and serves as an instructor with the FBI's Computer Analysis Response Team, traveling across the country to assist as a legal instructor with FBI agents in the field. Ryan currently serves as an attorney with the South Carolina Supreme Court's Commission on Judicial Conduct, where he oversees the prosecution of judges who have engaged in misconduct.

Board Emeritus

Phil Loht '65
After earning his bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1965, Loht began his career as an elementary and middle school teacher at Edward Hand Middle School (now known as Jackson Middle School) in Lancaster. While teaching at Edward Hand, he founded and coached the junior high wrestling program. In the early 1970s, Loht continued his teaching and coaching career at Penn Manor Middle School. Eventually, he retired from teaching and began a career in business development, serving as marketing manager and later vice president at the Kunzler Company until his retirement in 2004.

As a lifelong resident of Lancaster County, Loht has remained active with local charities and service organizations, including the Visiting Nurses Association, Junior Achievement and the American Diabetes Association. He also served several terms as president of the Lancaster County Jaycees and currently works with a Vietnam veterans support group.

At Millersville, Loht served for 32 years as a volunteer member on the executive board of Student Services, retiring as chairman in 2022. Additionally, as a member of the Alumni Association, he chaired the Scholarship, Grants and Awards committee, received the Alumni Distinguished Service award, worked for over 20 years on the Millersville Alumni Homecoming Parade committee and served as Alumni Board president from 2002 to 2004.

Steve Focht '70
In 1970, Steve Focht earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry at Millersville. He began his career as a science teacher in the Wilson and Ephrata school districts before transitioning into the engineering industry. Focht then worked with an engineering team at AMP Inc. to improve the properties of ceramic filters used for electronics. While at AMP, he received a U.S. patent for a UV-cured plating resist and the process for its application. Focht concluded his career at AMP as a business unit environmental and safety coordinator and began working as a safety manager for Anvil International. Additionally, he has served as an environmental, health and safety consultant for Fairfax Compliance Group. Today, he continues to serve as a trainer and instructor for the American Red Cross.

Throughout his professional career, Focht served on the Millersville University Alumni Board of Directors for over 20 years, beginning in the early 1980s. He chaired the Activities and Finance Committees, where he was board president from 1991 to 1993 and treasurer from 2008 to 2016. Focht's final role as a member of the Board was serving on the Scholarships, Grants and Awards Committee, receiving the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award in 2011. In his community, he remained an active member of the Lions Club for over 50 years, serving as president of the Willow Street Lions Club and currently as treasurer of the Manheim Township Lions Club. Focht is also active in his church, serving on the board and the Property Ministry Team for many years.

Honorary Alumni

Ethan Hulsey
In 2008, Ethan Hulsey began working as the director of athletic communications at Millersville University. Throughout his career, he has managed on-campus game days for 19 sports with broadcasts, photography, social media coverage and statistics. Hulsey has been recognized as a district winner of the College Sports Communication's Fred Stabley Writing Contest 11 times in four different categories, including two National Story of the Year awards. He has also represented MU in numerous organizations, serving as president of the PSAC Athletic Communicators Association and as the national chairman of the football Gene Upshaw Award Committee. Hulsey currently coordinates the Division II Conference Commissioners Association Baseball program. He also chairs the committee that selects Millersville's Athletics Hall of Fame honorees and works with the Athletic Department to help set fundraising records for the annual Days of Giving.