Medallion of Merit 2007

Lyn Trodahl Chynoweth '68

“A Godsend!” said Deb Hinkel, secretary to the President; there could be no better term to describe our Medallion of Merit recipient this year, Lyn Trodahl Chynoweth. She is a Godsend to Moravian College, Moravian Theological Seminary and the Moravian Alumni Association. Not only is Lyn, as Deb says, “always” on campus, Moravian seems to be always on her mind and deeply cherished in her heart.

The consummate leader, Lyn has shared her talents with Moravian generously; she has served as a member of the College Alumni Association Board of Directors and both the College and Seminary Boards of Trustees. A confidant of former President Erv Rokke, she was a persuasive and influential presence; her thoughtful and highly intelligent advice has greatly benefited her Alma Mater. She currently chairs the Seminary Board and will chair, this year, the Joint Board of Trustees. However, it was in the past year that her remarkable and personal leadership style experienced its finest hour. During the summer of 2005 Lyn was tapped to chair Moravian’s Presidential Search Committee. She ably knit together a diverse group into a cohesive team of “searchers” that identified and recruited our new, outstanding, President Chris Thomforde. Even on the ski slope she was just a cell phone away. Her job didn’t end when Chris arrived in Bethlehem; she continues to make the trip from Connecticut on a regular basis; like the horse that carries the sleigh in “Jingle Bells” her car must surely “know the way” to Bethlehem all by itself.

A born and bred Moravian (her father graduated from the college in 1930 and the Seminary in 1933) Lyn has crafted a marvelous and enviable legacy at our Bethlehem school.  Those of us who have had the pleasure of knowing Lyn from our first days on campus in 1964 through today know we have a loyal, thoughtful (always with the right word) friend whom we cherish. Surely our “Godsend” richly deserves this honor.