Ham & Eggs Awards
honoring marriages that have had a positive impact on those around them
This award honors the sacrifices that many couples have made over the years to make United Marriage Encounter what it is today. The Award was started in 1986 to give international recognition to deserving couples who have had a positive impact on other married couples as a result of their involvement in Marriage Encounter. It is presented to recipients at the Valentine's event in their local UME Community.
The Ham & Eggs Award Story
The chicken and the pig were walking down the street one day and noticed some poor children who looked as if they hadn’t eaten anything for days. Moved with compassion, the chicken said to the pig, “I have an idea! Let’s give those children a nice breakfast of ham and eggs.” The pig contemplated the chicken's suggestion and said, "Well, for you, that would be a DONATION - but for me, it would be a SACRIFICE!"
Ham & Eggs Hall of Fame
2026 Recipients
2014 RECIPIENTS
Bruce & Janet Adams - Maryland
Ron & Leslie Cooper - West Central Ohio
Jerry & Judy Greer - Iowa-Illinois
Wayne & Nancy Haapoja -
Berk & Doris Maddaford -
Jim & Mary Ellen Reed -
Rochester Bill & Sheila Voyles - Arkansas
2012 RECIPIENTS
Steve & Mary Decker - Heart of Illinois
Gary & Corrin Hentzel - Iowa-Illinois
Orval & Suzanne LeJeune - Smoky Mountain Foothills
Andrew & Beulah Moses - Hong Kong
Ron & Brenda Oster - Southeast Florida
2010 RECIPIENTS
Bob & Ann Diederich - Austin, Tx
Bill & Phyllis Nelson - West Central Ohio
Randy & Kathie Posslenzny - Hong Kong
Ron & Carol Radden - Florida
Jay & Janet Wilhelm - Iowa-Illinois
Richard & Karen Zielinski - Rochester WNY
2008 RECIPIENTS
J.D. & Jeanne Davis - Heart of Illinois
Rick & Nancy Grace - Texas
Ernie & Debi Roberts - West Central Florida
Charlie & Laurie Sample - Rochester
2006 RECIPIENTS
Alan & Lovely Alagata - TWN
Dale & Sharon Bradley - Southeast Florida
Jay & Pett Hare - Heart of North Carolina
Scott & Debbie Smith- Hong Kong
Darrell & Sue Van Luchene
2013 RECIPIENTS
Ed & Betty Call - Southeast Florida
John & Belinda Katon - Virginia
Harley & Kim Stephan - West Central Ohio
Jim & Cathy Walker - UK
Bob & Denise Welter - Southeast Florida
2011 RECIPIENTS
Jim & Becky Buckman - South Carolina
Eddy & Aly Cheah - Malaysia
Derrick & Tina Emuang - Malaysia
Mike & Brenda Johnson - Heart of Illinois
Kent & Elisabeth Kitagawa - Aloha
Gary & Rosemary Shannon - West Central Ohio
2009 RECIPIENTS
Steve & Pam Chapman - Kansas City
Joe & Lee Freese - Southeast Florida
Aaron & Vivian Ong - Malaysia
2007 RECIPIENTS
KK & Julian Tam - Hong Kong
Sandy & Marcia Way - Rochester WNY
Harry & Mary Weigandt - Iowa-Illinois
2005 RECIPIENTS
Phil & Marlene Bauman - Minnesota
Jim & Shari Harrison - Rochester WNY
Emil & Joy Jirsa - Northeast Illinois