The Distinguished Alumni Award celebrates the contributions Crandall alumni make to their communities and professions. It recognizes truly outstanding accomplishments of Crandall’s alumni in their personal and professional lives. Each year’s recipient(s) are selected from nominations received from the alumni community.
Crandall University is proud to announce that Rev. Dr. Frank Guinta Jr. (’66) and Rev. Dr. Richard Thomas (’67) will be the recipients of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Rev. Dr. Frank Guinta Jr. (’66)
Frank has been a faithful pastor and mentor for over 60 years.
Frank studied at United Baptist Bible Training School in the 1960’s, then enrolled in Acadia University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1972, followed by a Master of Divinity from in 1975. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry from Sioux Falls Seminary.
Frank served a number of churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. He was ordained at First Baptist Church, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 1975. In 1979 the Lord called him west to serve in pastoral roles with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (DonwayBaptist Church, Toronto – 1979-1985) as well as the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada(McLaurin Memorial Baptist Church (now Southgate Baptist Church), Edmonton – 1985-1992), before returning to pastor at Regal Road Baptist Church in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 1992.
In 2003 Frank was called to serve as Regional Minister with the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. In this denominational role, Frank provided support, encouragement, and oversight for over 80 churches in Halifax, Cape Breton, and Newfoundland. He retired in 2011, and has since carried out effective interim ministry. He has been intentional about mentoring younger pastors.
Frank has served on the National Board of Directors for the Canadian Bible Society and has been affiliated with Natural Church Development for many years.
In 2022, he received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award from Acadia Divinity College.
Frank is married to Donna and lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He is blessed to have two children, Jonathan and Julia who is married to Jesse, a grandson, Owen, and a granddaughter Mateah.
(Posthumously) Rev. Dr. Richard Thomas (’67)
Rick graduated from the high school program of the United Baptist Training School in the 1960’s, and received the following degrees from Acadia University, Wolfville (B.A.; M.Div.; D.Min.) He served as a faithful Baptist pastor for more than 40 years; Weldon/Salem (1973-75), Brown’s Flat (1976-83), Lincoln (1983-92), Petitcodiac (1992-2000) and Steeves Mountain (2000-2012). He also served on many boards and committees, as Moderator of the Westmorland-Kent Association, and served a term as President of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (1999-2000).
For more than a decade Rick served as Baptist chaplain in the Moncton & Georges-L. Dumont Hospitals, & he taught Biblical Studies & Intro. Theology at Atlantic Baptist College (1973-76), & Atlantic Baptist University/Crandall University (2000-2013, 2019). In his retirement he was an active member of First Baptist Church, often assisting in the services and preaching.
On January 30, 2025 Rick went home to be with his Lord & Saviour. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sheila, & four sons: Bruce, Michael, Calvin, & Daniel.
In 1973 Rick and Sheila established the Ralph Guptill Memorial Lectures.
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Cost: $30/person
