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
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
DBS Neurophysiologist
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.