Purple and Gold Service Award

Established in 2026, the Purple & Gold Service Award recognizes alumni and supporters whose enduring commitment and service have profoundly shaped the College community. Through a decade or more of sustained engagement, recipients exemplify the spirit of service and leadership that advances Albion’s mission and strengthens its future.

Recipients of this award embody the very best of Albion College: a steadfast commitment to service, leadership, and a belief in the transformative power of an Albion education.

2026 Purple & Gold Service Award Recipients

Michael Haines ’85

Owner – Haines International
Bloomfield Hills, MI

Michael Haines ’85 measures success not by titles, but by the people he helps lead, mentor, and inspire—a philosophy rooted in his Albion College experience. He credits his Albion mentors, particularly within the English department and student life staff, with shaping his curiosity, discipline, and commitment to servant leadership. Carrying forward their example remains central to his career and volunteer service today.

As a student, Mike embraced leadership across campus. He served as fraternity president and Interfraternity Council representative for Tau Kappa Epsilon, editor-in-chief of The Pleiad, a campus communications and SOAR leader, and a Summer Adventure counselor. In 1984, he was honored with the Presidential Project 250 Award for leadership.

Mike has supported the college as an alumni ambassador since 2012, beginning with recruiting prospective students in combination with his volunteer leadership role in Scouting America. He later served six years on the Albion College Alumni Association Board of Directors and four years on the TKE Omega Chapter advisory board, participated in or hosted Albion Everywhere events nationwide, co-chaired a milestone reunion homecoming event in 2025, and continues to facilitate career and classroom conversations with students and alumni wherever they gather.

Mike earned a Master of Science degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1987. Since 1990, he and his partner, Kelli Dade, have operated a communications firm in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Proud parents of Albion alumni Blake ’17 and Bradley ’22, Mike continues to mentor future leaders as a Scouting America district chairman and senior Wood Badge facilitator.

Mike Turner ’69 &
Peg Mitchell Turner ’69

Retired Albion College Coach & Professor
Retired Albion Public Schools Teacher
Albion, MI

After six decades of sustained service to the Albion College community, Mike Turner ’69 and Peg Mitchell Turner ’69 have built an enduring legacy spanning generations of students, colleagues, and families. Together, they have influenced countless lives as educators, coaches, mentors, advocates, and ambassadors for Albion and the greater community.

Mike began his coaching career at Albion College in 1970 after completing his M.Ed. at the University of Arizona. He joined the men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach and was named head coach in 1974, leading the program for 34 seasons. During his tenure, the Britons compiled a 527–319 record, earned five MIAA championships, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1978, 1979, 1998, and 2005, including a third-place national finish in 1978. From 2003 to 2006, his teams posted four consecutive 20-win seasons, highlighted by two league championships. Mike amassed 72 seasons as a head coach at Albion, including 30 in men’s golf and four each in men’s soccer and men’s tennis. A respected leader nationally, he served on regional and national basketball committees and chaired the NCAA Division III Tournament Committee for three years. He retired in 2008 as the longest-serving coach in any sport in College history and was inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2023, the court at Kresge Gymnasium was dedicated in his honor.

Peg began her career with Albion Public Schools in 1970 and dedicated 39 years to education, including 30 years teaching kindergarten, a role she considered her calling. She was named Albion Teacher of the Year in 2000. Following her retirement from the classroom, Peg coordinated Jessie’s Gift, a mentoring partnership between the College and local schools that connected approximately 250 Albion students each year with elementary students for weekly academic, social, and emotional support. Through her leadership, the program strengthened ties between the College and the community while fostering long-term mentoring relationships. She received the College’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005 in recognition of her lifelong service to education and Albion.

For more than 60 years, the College has remained central to the Turners’ lives. They have worked alongside 10 Albion College presidents; served as trusted ambassadors to alumni, parents, and friends of the College; and established a scholarship supporting experiential learning for Albion students. Their engagement has extended beyond campus through service with organizations including Kids ’N’ Stuff, Rotary Club, First United Methodist Church, and Albion Area Philanthropic Women.

In visible and quiet ways, Mike and Peg Turner have embodied service through presence—showing up consistently for students, colleagues, alumni, and neighbors. As teachers, coaches, mentors, and friends, they have shaped individual lives and strengthened the broader Albion community. Mike and Peg are the proud parents of Amy Turner Thole (Nick) and Tracy Wolford (Bob) and grandparents to five grandchildren—Alex, Drew, Lauren, Mikey, and Peter. Their legacy is reflected not only in accomplishments and honors, but in the enduring relationships they have built and the many who consider the Turners an essential part of their Albion story.

Barbara Weiskittel ’83

Non-Profit Leader and Retired Pharmaceutical Director
Randolph, NJ

Barbara Weiskittel ’83 is deeply committed to driving meaningful impact for people, including future generations. Her enduring love for Albion College—its students, faculty, staff, and the broader Albion community—continues to inspire her dedication to ensuring that student opportunities for growth align with the revitalization of the city of Albion.

An enthusiastic supporter of Build Albion Fellows, Albion’s Big Read, FURSCA, and the City of Albion’s success, Barbara is a strong advocate for experiential learning that broadens students’ perspectives on where their education can lead them, both professionally and personally. Leaning into her connections in the pharmaceutical industry, she has organized and led immersive career exploration trips to Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, creating meaningful networking and professional development opportunities for students. She also leverages her professional network to connect students with industry leaders and has helped bring distinguished speakers to campus programs. Faculty and recent graduates alike note her consistent presence as a mentor and connector.

Born in Albion and a 1983 graduate of Albion College with a degree in chemistry, Barbara built a distinguished 36-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, focused on driving excellence and global value for patients and shareholders. She held leadership roles at Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis and Merck & Co., Inc., earned an MBA from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, and in 2019 received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Albion College.

Her nonprofit work reflects the same strategic and collaborative approach, supporting organizational sustainability and long-term impact. She currently serves as Board President of the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms. Barbara lives in New Jersey, enjoys travel and photography, and returns to Albion often.