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Alumni Awards

2008 Award Nominations

Nominations are currently being solicited for the 2008 alumni awards presented by the EIU Alumni Association. To nominate an alumna/us for an award, please send a letter outlining the individual's achievements and any supporting materials.

Nominations, which are due June 30, 2008, should be sent to:

EIU Alumni Association
Attn: Alumni Awards Committee
600 Lincoln Ave.
Charleston, IL 61920

View the 2007 Alumni Award Recipients here.

Distinguished Alumnus Award

Established in 1973, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious award which is bestowed by the Alumni Association. This award is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves in either academic or literary fields, business, public service and/or service to the University and who, through their accomplishments and service, have brought prestige to their alma mater.

Alumni nominated for this award must have celebrated at least their sixth class reunion. In the case of an alumna/us who has not graduated, class year would be determined by the year he or she would have graduated.

Past recipients have included an Illinois Governor, Oscar-nominated actors, a nuclear physicist, educators at all levels, CEOs, athletes and many others.

Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award

First presented in 1988, the Alumni Service Award is presented to alumni who have repeatedly displayed outstanding voluntary service to the University. In 2007 the name was changed to the Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award in honor of Eastern's outgoing president. Lou Hencken served Eastern in a variety of administrative positions for over 40 years and was named University president on August 1, 2001. He retired from the presidency on June 30, 2007.

Outstanding Young Alumnus

First presented in 1988, the Outstanding Young Alumnua/us is presented to an alumna/us who has graduated from Eastern within the last five years and who has excelled in a new career and/or public service.

Distinguished Educator Award

Established in 2004, the Distinguished Educator Award is presented to alumni who have distinguished themselves in the field of K-12 education

Past Award Recipients
Distinguished
Alumni
Alumni Service Award
Outstanding Young Alumni
Distinguished Educator

2007
Joni Comstock '79
Don Gher '73
Marty Hickman '80
Kevin Savoree '81
Jim Schnorf '76

2006
Gregg Altobella ’88
Brigadier General Joseph Balskus ’76, ’77
John Currey ’62
Gordon Grado, M.D. ’74
Jerry Van Dyke ex ’55
Paul Ward ’71, ’74

2005
Rita Bleser '77
Robert Glover '82
Mark Grier '74, '75
Barbara Hill '58, '63, '70
Craig Titley '89
Bill Weir '69
Therese Supple Kinkade '80

2004
Rudy Hlavek '64
Jimmy Liautaud ex '88
Carlos Ogden ex '40
Sue Payton '72
Matthew Polenzani '91
Gail Richard '77

2003
Joseph Dively '81
Stephen Gosselin '79
Col. Joseph Kelly '38
William Robinson '76
Sen. Dale Righter '88

2002
James Evans '68
Dr. H. Ray Hoops '62
Captain Howard Skidmore, USN (ret) ex '42
Larry Smith ex '91

2001
Frank Blum '76 '77
Brent Manning '75 '76
Pat Sullivan '75

2000
Bob Jachino '59
Dr. Lyle Jensen '70
Rep. Joe Knollenberg '55
Karen Meyer ‘76

1999
Dr. Sharon LeDuc '65
Dr. Gail Richardson '60 '63
Dr. Stephen Wilson '68 '74

1998
Joan Allen ex '78
Vicki Freimuth '66
Allen Grosboll '73
Mike Shanahan '74 '75

1997
Jerry Gilomen, '66
Robert Knollenberg '61
Stephen K. Woodland '70, '81

1996
Janet M. Treichel, '64, '71

1995
Gwendolyn Jordan Dungy '65,'67
Craig Peyton Gaumer '84,'85
*Emma Chenault Kelly '25
Jeffrey G. Scott '68

1994
J. Allen Brent '43
Glen Owens Gabbard '72
Roger Roberson '64

1993
Stephen B. Schnorf '66,'73

1992
Jan Spivey Gilchrist '73
John Malkovich ex'75

1991
Juan F. Rojas '58
Randall Arney '78

1990
Michael W. Conlin '70
Robert A. Ingram '65
John G. Wargo, Jr. '50

1989
Margaret "Peggy" Allan '71
Robert A. Bain '54
John A. Dively '54
Marvin E. Edwards '67
Joan Embery-Pillsbury '86
Violet Podesta Meyer '39

1988
Arthur L. Aikman '50
Theodore P. Cavins '26
James F. Giffin '46

1987
*Burl Ives, ex'31
*Carolyn A. Fischer '55
Rex D. Cooley '59
James L. Hanks '47
Raymond L. Fischer '54
K. Wayne Ratts '54

1986
*James L. Breen '48
Charles O. Austin '36
Donald L. Calvin '54
Norm Endsley '53
Margaret D. Podesta '58
William L. Podesta '76

1985
Gerald D. Fines '65
Joe P. Meyer '58
C. John Tolch '49

1984
Eugene Aikman '54
Alden Cutshall '32
Ronald W. Davis '64
John L. Heath '58
Elizabeth Podesta Hickman '43

1983
*John W. Voigt '42
Robert L. Hill '44
Jack Payan '52
George Woodyard '54

1982
Jim Edgar '68
Roger F. Hibbs '43

1981
*H Ogden Brainard '25
*Hal Middlesworth '31
John H. Keiser '58

1980
Tressa Bennett '58
James R. Galloway '58
Donald L. Shawver '47
Philip W. Smith '44

1979
*Helen F. Daringer '14
Dario A. Covi '43
Claibourne I. Dungy '62
Robert Millis '63

1978
*Leallyn B. Clapp '35
C. Nelson Grote
James H. Roberts '46
Roy K. Wilson '36

1977
*John S. Redden '26
Allyn A. Cook '48
Donald K. Neal '40
L. Lou Stanek '54

1976
Don Grantham '37
R. Gene Gresham '51
Author Hughes '51
Darrell Judge '56
James Phipps '42

1975
*Gladys Campbell '14
*D. F. Fleming '12
*Stella Craft Tremble '22
*E. Errett Warner '25
Stanley Elam '38

1974
Harry Fitzhugh '34
James Gindler '50
Dorothy Leggitt '23
Carlos Talbott '40
Ralph Wickiser '34

1973
*Arthur Glen Hesler '25
*Frederick Earl Newman '59
*M. Alice Phillips '33
*Newton E. Tarble '08
Aubert North '33

*Deceased

2007
Betty Smithson '63

2006
Ivan “Ike” Kennard ex ’44

2005
Therese Supple Kinkade '80

2004
John Schmitt '76, '78

2003
Mike Lester '66

2002
Judy Ethell '82

2001
Joe Strohm '86 '87

2000
Dennis Spice '78

1999
Greg Gardner '78 '80
Ken Hesler '51

1997
Louis V. Hencken '66, '67

1996
Dick Cain '64

1994
Nancy W. Owen '72

1993
Jill Fulton Nilsen '74, '75

1992
Eulalee Anderson '63,'84

1991
Roger Roberson '64

1990
Gary Rogers '61,'65
Roger Dettro '53

1989
Mike Weaver '73,'74,'82

1988
Margaret Campbell Hollowell '68
Eli Sidwell '58
J. W. Oglesby '58

2007
Tony Romo ex '03

2006
Captain Gary Kelly '01

2005
Luke Ryan '01

2004
Karla Porch '99

2003
Erin Weed '99

2002
Sarah Livesay '98

2001
Cheryl Warner '96 '00

2000
Susan Gerling '95

1999
Amelia Heape '94

1998
Michelle Koehler '93

1997
Michael R. Gagliardo

1996
Thomas P. Wiesenmayer '92

1995
Gregory A. Curl, '92

1994
Sherry L. McCoy, '90

1994
Thomas M. Faulkner, '90, '91

1993
Craig Titley, '89

1992
Robert Haycock, '87

1991
Cathy Berns Rund, '86

1989
Jennifer Schulze, 80

1988
Rex Rund, '84

2007
Joe Fatheree '89, '05

2006
Linda Kirby '74, '82, '89

2005
Cathy Ruwe Anderson '74, '83

2004
Barbara McLaughlin '71

2003
William Thiel '50