The Torch Award was established to acknowledge and honor alumni and non-alumni parents. The Torch Award is given to an alumni family of at least two generations or to non-alumni parents, all of whose children have attended William Penn University.
Milt and Shonni Rule were encouraging throughout the development years of their three children: Nik, Mayci and Alexi. When their son decided to play soccer at William Penn University in Oskaloosa after high school, their encouragement also took on a level of distant parental support. Being from Idaho Falls, Idaho, Iowa was a long way off. However, when both of their daughters also chose to attend William Penn, it was with a sense of relief knowing Nik was still there in Oskaloosa.
Familiar faces on campus during those college years, Milt had a 37-year career in Nuclear Security for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National Laboratory. Shonni served as a Sergeant Supervisor for the Three County Juvenile Detention Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, for 24 years.
Nik, the oldest, came to William Penn, graduating in 2010 with a degree in history/pre-law and a master’s degree in business leadership. After a brief career at Musco, Nik joined the Statesmen family and served in several capacities, including Head Women’s Golf Coach, Director of Corporate/Foundation Relations, and Athletic Director. He currently serves as Commissioner of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Living in Oskaloosa, he and Sadie ’13 share two children, Thatcher and Wembley.
Soon after, Mayci followed Nik to William Penn on a golf scholarship. Mayci graduated in 2012 with a degree in business management. She is currently employed by Asset Living as a General Manager. As it happens, Mayci met her husband at Penn. John “Jaime” Ayala ’10 came to play baseball and earned his degree with a major in sociology/criminology. Jaime works at Aerotek as an Account Manager. Residing in California, the Ayalas stay busy with their three daughters, Maya, Rylee and Emma.
The youngest of the three children, Alexi, also came to William Penn on a golf scholarship. With a major in Elementary Education, she graduated in 2017. She currently serves as an Onboarding Operations Supervisor at TEKsystems. There is a theme running through the family. Alexi also met her spouse at William Penn. Deane Wichelt came to Penn to study engineering and also to run cross country and track. He graduated in 2016 and is employed at Rivian as a Staff Vehicle Development Engineer. As new parents, the Wichelts live in Arizona with their son, Crew.
Having their three children at William Penn University, the campus felt like a second home for Milt and Shonni. They spent plenty of time on campus and were avid followers of William Penn athletics over the years, watching many games on the Heart Conference Network.
For their family commitment, William Penn University is honored to present the 2025 Torch Award to the Milton and Shonni Rule Family.