RCHS Distinguished Alumnus

Ryan Engle

Reed City Area Public Schools is proud to announce Ryan Engle as the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus. Mr. Engle is a 2002 Reed City High School graduate. While attending RCHS Ryan was a three-sport athlete, team captain, and voted the 2002 Athlete of the Year. He was also the Class President for three years.

After RCHS, Ryan attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. At Annapolis, he played varsity football and then varsity sprint football. He was selected by his peers as the team captain during his senior year. Ryan graduated from Annapolis with merit in 2007, earning his Bachelor of Science in History, and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. As an Infantry Officer, military service took him to many places stateside and overseas, where he had the responsibility of leading 100+ U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers during the largest offensive of the war in Afghanistan. His military awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat V.

Following military service, Ryan found a passion and calling in serving fellow veterans in roles with both the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and the Michigan Veteran Homes (nursing homes for veterans). Those roles included serving as the Administrator of the veterans home in Marquette, and his current role as Director of Development and Strategic Engagement where he supports all three of Michigan's Veteran Homes.
Ryan has also coached youth, high school, and college sports throughout his adult life. He volunteers as a field representative of the Department of Admissions for the United States Naval Academy, and currently coaches for Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Union High School Varsity and Youth Football program. In addition to his degree from Annapolis, he holds a certificate in Long-Term Care from Ferris State University and is pursuing his Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership degree from Grand Valley State University.

Ryan's proudest accomplishments, in addition to being a husband and father, include donating his kidney, and helping his interpreter from Afghanistan immigrate to the United States in 2017. That work continues, as he works diligently to try to also get his interpreter's family out of Afghanistan as well.

Ryan married his soulmate and fellow veteran, Danielle, in 2012. Together they have three sons. They currently reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As the Distinguished Alumnus, Ryan will deliver a speech to the 2023 Reed City graduating class during the May 21 graduation ceremony.