The Promising Prairie Star Recognition Program honors outstanding graduates under the age of forty or those who have graduated within the previous 5 years. Honorees are selected for their emerging and unique innovation, creativity and success in their chosen career and/or life's work.
Nomination Period Opens in Fall of 2026.
2026 Honorees
DBS Neurophysiologist
Head Women's Soccer Coach
Methods and Procedures Advisor III
Digital Marketing Specialist
Business Administration, BA
Associate Athletic Director for Facilities & Event Operations
Director of Social Media and Digital Strategy
Nominate Deserving Alumni Today
Recipients must be nominated for the award. Recipients may self-nominate or be nominated by someone else. Working from these nominations, the Young Alumni Committee will select up to twenty-five (25) recipients per year. The recipients will be recognized via the UIS Today magazine, alumni website, e-newsletter, and social media.
Criteria
- Nomination is required. Nominees must be living at the time of their nomination.
- Nominations will be considered active for five years if they continue to match the criteria.
- Nominees must have earned an undergraduate, graduate and/or doctoral degree from University of Illinois Springfield.
- Nominees must be under the age of forty or have graduated within the previous 5 years.
- Nominees must demonstrate emerging and unique innovation, creativity, and success in their chosen career and/or life’s work.
- Nominees should reflect the characteristics of a University of Illinois Springfield graduate. Those characteristics include ethical and enthusiastic leadership; capability of transforming local and global communities; critical thinking; integrity, honesty, and accountability for actions.
- Individuals who are recognized through this program previously are not eligible to be recognized again.