2018 – Distinguished Alumni Recipient
The district also recognized Gloria (Ruter) Hanna as this year’s Distinguished Alumni. Gloria Hanna was chosen as this year’s Distinguished Alumni. Gloria and her husband have dedicated 50 years of their lives helping others in the mission field internationally, assisting those impacted by earthquakes and natural disasters. Gloria graduated from Rockford High School in 1965 and studied at the University of Minnesota while she worked as a nanny and attended Bible studies and conferences. After the first year of college studies, she made a decision to devote herself to the study of God’s word, changing her life dramatically. She married her husband, Dennis, whom she met at a Bible conference in August 1972 and moved to Ontario. In February 1976, an earthquake in Guatemala was the catalyst that moved their family there to help rebuild churches. Then they moved to Chile in February 1978 and helped build or rebuild seven places of worship as well as seven houses. Gloria and Dennis raised their daughter, Sonia, and adopted son, Rodney, in Chile, and currently live in Los Angeles, Chile. Both their children and five grandchildren now live in Canada. Gloria’s class was one of the first classes where the Spanish course was offered at Rockford High School. Little did she know how important those two years would be in her life’s work as a missionary with Christian Missions in Many Lands.
Pictured: Gloria and her husband Dennis