Purpose

The Alumni Achievement Award, established in 1957, is the highest honor bestowed upon alumni of the University of Illinois. The award is presented to those alumni who have attained outstanding success and national or international distinction in their chosen profession or life’s work, and whose accomplishments reflect admirably on or bring honor to their alma mater.

Criteria

  • Nomination is required. Nominees must be living at the time of their nomination.
  • Nominations will be considered active for five years.
  • Nominee must hold an earned degree from the University of Illinois.
  • Nominee must be an individual who is highly distinguished nationally or internationally for his/her chosen business, profession or life’s work.
  • Nominee must be a person of such stature, demonstrated ability and renown that alumni, students, faculty and staff of the University of Illinois will take pride in and be inspired by his/her recognition.
  • Nominee must be an individual who, in deed or action, reflects the importance of his/her education at the University of Illinois.
  • Previous recipients are not eligible for reconsideration.
  • Current members of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees; the UIAA Board of Directors; the Alumni Association Awards and Recognition Committee; and relatives, employers or employees thereof are not eligible for consideration.
  • Current faculty, staff and other employees of the University of Illinois or the UI Alumni Association are not eligible for consideration.
  • Persons currently holding or running for elected state or federal public office in Illinois are not eligible for consideration.
  • The award may not be conferred in absentia; however, it may be granted posthumously.

Nominate Deserving Alumni Today

Recipients must be nominated for the award. Working from these nominations, the Alumni Association Awards and Recognition Committee will select the recipients. The awards will be presented at Commencement or an Alumni Association event. Please complete this online form to submit a nomination.

Please be advised: Should the committee determine the nominee would be more appropriately honored by means of a different award, the committee reserves the right to consider each nominee for other, more suitable recognition.

If you have questions, feel free to contact us at advancement@uis.edu or by phone at 217-206-6058.


Alumni Achievement Award Past Recipients

2024
Micah Bartlett
'95 CBM

2023
Mitch Pugh
'98 CLASS

2022
Trif Alatzas
MA '89 CLASS

2021
Robert Moore
'80, MPA '85 CPAE

2020
Nina Burleigh
MA '84 CLASS

2019
Randall F. Dunn
'73 CBM, MA '74 CPAE

2018
Kathy Best
MA '90 CPAE

2016
Darrel Burnett
'78 CLASS

2015
Wenguang Huang
MA '91 CLASS

2014
Ralph S. Blackman
MA '76 CPAE

2013
Richard C. Osbourne
MA '73 CBM

2012
Fred Parsons
'81 CBM

2011
Don Johnson
'82 CBM

2010
Lin N. Ezell
'74 CLASS

2009
Gordon Heddell
MA '75 CPAE

2008
Raju L. Indukuri
MA '92 CBM

2007
Cheryl Alters Jamison
MA '77 CPAE

2006
John D. Blackburn
MA '79 CEHS

2005
Donna K. Sollenberger
'71 CLASS, MA '74 CLASS

2003
Phillip T. Zeni Sr.
'72 CBM

2002
Randy Schilling
MA '89 CBM

2001
LeRoy Walker Jr.
MPA '81 CPAE

2000
Linda Renee Baker
'85 CPA, MA '87 CEHS, DPA '04 CPAE

1999
Richard G. Austin
'73 CPAE

1998
Philip C. Bradley
'72 CPAE

1997
William Robert Felker
'74 CPAE

1996
Richard L. Adorjan
'88 CBM
Karen E. Hasara
'72 CLASS, MA '92 CPAE

1996 (Cont.)
Julia I. Barrow
MA '81 CEHS
William R. Lambrecht
MA '73 CPAE

1993
H. Brent DeLand Jr.

1992
Ellen Gordon Woodall

Other Recipients
Maralee Irwin Lindley
Milton Friedland