Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the exceptional achievements of Illinois State University alumni and is the highest honor presented by the Alumni Association.
Selection is based upon significant accomplishments in one’s chosen field or avocation. The recipient should be recognized as a leader and have made outstanding contributions to a community, state, or nation. This person should also exhibit interest in the University. In addition, they must have previously received an Outstanding Young Alumni, Alumni Achievement, or E. Burton Mercier Alumni Service Award, Andrew Purnell Jr. Trailblazer Award, or be a past inductee into an Illinois State Hall of Fame.
The Awards Ceremony is held each spring. Nominations from alumni, the University community, and friends of the University are welcome. Current active members of a University board are NOT eligible to receive an Alumni Award. They may be nominated once their service to the board expires.
Past Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
- 2024 Dr. Thomas J. Grites '66, M.S. '67 (CAS/COE)
- 2023 Dr. John Swalec '56, M.S. '58, Ph.D. '75 (CAST/COE)
- 2022 Jenny Pan-Yun Ting '75 (CAST)
- 2020 Jay D. Bergman '70 (COB)
- 2019 David DeMarini ’72, M.S. ’74, Ph.D. ’80 (CAS)
- 2018 Paul Flessner '81 (COB)
- 2017 Dave Magers ’77, MBA ’86 (COB)
- 2017 Karen Magers ’79 (MCN)
- 2016 Teresa "Teri" Lucie Thompson '78, M.S. '87 (CAS, COE)
- 2015 Patti Hart '78 (COB)
- 2014 Carl Kasten '66 (CAS)
- 2013 Dr. James Gentile M.S. '70, Ph.D. '74 (CAS)
- 2012 R. David Edmunds, M.S. '66 (CAS)
- 2011 Laurie Metcalf '76 (CFA)
- 2010 Richard A. Manahan '65, M.S. '71, Ed.D. '75 (COB, COE)
- 2009 J. Michael Adams '69 (CAST)
- 2008 Dave Brusick, M.S. '65, Ph.D. '70 (CAS)
- 2007 John Dossey '65, M.S. '68 (CAS)
- 2006 Tong-man Ong, M.S. '67, Ph.D. '70 (CAS)
- 2005 Jim Tyree '78, MBA '80 (COB)
- 2004 Robert H. Gray, Ph.D. '71 (CAS)
- 2003 Felissa R. Lashley, Ph.D. '73 (CAS)
- 2002 Andreas A. Paloumpis '50, M.S. '53 (CAS)
- 2001 Herbert B. Roberts
- 2000 James A. Knecht '68 (CAS)
- 1999 Gary W. Schnurrpusch '69 (CAS)
- 1998 Joseph L. French '49, M.S. '50 (CAS, COE)
- 1997 C. Robert O'Dell '59 (CAS)
- 1996 George Pruitt '68, M.S. '70 (CAS, COE)
- 1995 Charles Dunn '62 (CAS)
- 1994 James Koch '64 (CAS)
- 1993 Doug Collins '81 (CAST)
- 1991 Kenneth A. Shaw '61 (CAS)
- 1990 Donald F. McHenry '57 (CAS)
- 1989 James L. Fisher '56, M.S. '57 (CAS)
- 1987 Robert Abbott '58, M.S. '66 (COE)
- 1986 Elston E. Roady '42 (COE)
- 1985 Graham Whipple '42 (CAST)
- 1984 Rosetta (Dawkins) Wheadon '56 (COB)
- 1982 Wallace Ann Wesley '35 (CAST)
- 1982 Geneva Meers '42 (CAS)
- 1981 John C. Ayres '36 (COE)
- 1981 Carrie Dawson '30 (CAST)
- 1980 K. Patricia Cross '48 (CAS)
- 1980 Eric Johnson '39 (COB)
- 1979 William Kuhfuss '34 (CAST)
- 1979 Leija V. McReynolds '46 (CAS)
- 1978 William W. McKnight, Jr. (COB)
- 1978 Floyd Cunningham '26 (CAS)
- 1977 Grace (Belden) Cox '32 (CAST)
- 1977 Cecil W. Hospelhorn '47 (CAST)
- 1976 Russell DeBow '35 (COE)
- 1976 Clyde E. Fry '23 (CAST)
- 1975 Thomas Barton '30 (CAS)
- 1975 Ignatius Taubeneck '22 (COE)
- 1974 Maurice Graff '29 (COE)
- 1974 Kathleen Jarrett '38, M.S. '46 (CAS, COE)
- 1973 Melvin Nicol '33 (CAST)
- 1973 Clarence Blair '30 (CFA)
- 1972 Lillias K. Walker '40, '43, M.S. '50 (COE)
- 1972 Harris Dean '29 (CAS)
- 1971 James Logsdon '33 (COE)
- 1971 Esther French '28 (COE)