Alumni Achievement Award

The Alumni Achievement Award was established in 1957 to recognize alumni of the University of Illinois who have attained outstanding success and national or international distinction in their chosen business, profession or life's work, and whose accomplishments reflect admirably on or bring honor to the institution.

2010 Recipients

James M. Benson ’68 LAS Benson is honored for his outstanding success in the financial sector and his exemplary work with athletes with physical and cognitive disabilities. Currently CEO of the financial services company Clark Benson LLC, he is the former president and CEO of John Hancock Life Insurance Co. His prior positions include president of MetLife’s Individual Business enterprise, as well as chairman, president and CEO of two separate MetLife affiliates: New England Financial and GenAmerica Financial Corp. Inspired by a high school friend with congenital birth issues, Benson began working with athletes with disabilities in 1986, eventually founding World T.E.A.M. (“The Exceptional Athlete Matters”) Sports in 1993. Dedicated to bringing together athletes with and without disabilities from diverse cultures for challenging sports opportunities, World T.E.A.M. Sports has created inspirational events for Special Olympians, ranging from a cycling adventure through 16 countries to a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, captured in the Emmy-winning documentary “Let Me Be Brave.”  Benson earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences in 1968.

Dr. Mohamed T. El-Ashry, MS ’63 LAS, PHD ’66 LAS, recognized by the United Nations as a “Champion of the Earth,” is honored for his world-class efforts as an international environmental diplomat.  A geology scholar and former adviser to the Environmental Defense Fund, El-Ashry paved the way for emissions-control legislation as director of environmental quality for the Tennessee Valley Authority.  In 1994, he was appointed the first CEO and chairman of the Global Environmental Facility, a group that provides major funding for projects on biodiversity, international waters and renewable energy. He is currently a senior fellow at the U.N. Foundation and facilitator for Global Leadership for Climate Action, a high-powered international coalition on energy and climate change that he organized in 2007. An author and Fellow of both the Geological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he has taught at universities in his native Cairo and the U.S., serves on numerous international commissions and has received a number of global honors.  El-Ashry earned two degrees in geology at Illinois: a master’s in 1963 and doctorate in 1966.

Roger L. Plummer ’64 ENG is recognized for his ground-breaking contributions to the field of telecommunications.  Beginning his 30-year career in the Bell System as a management trainee, he advanced through positions in engineering, network operations, sales and marketing to become operations vice president for Illinois Bell. In 1987, he was chosen as president and CEO of Ameritech Information Systems, where he integrated direct sales and service operations of Ameritech’s five Bell Operating Telephone Cos. and developed strategic initiatives in systems integration, health care information networks, document imaging and library automation. Since retiring in 1994, Plummer has devoted himself to supporting not-for-profit organizations, including the University of Illinois, where he chaired the UI Alumni Association Board of Directors, served on the Board of Trustees and is a current board member for the UI Foundation. He also provides senior leadership for the International Engineering Consortium, which fosters partnerships between academia and the telecommunications industry to address major opportunities and challenges of the information age.  Plummer earned his bachelor’s degree in 1964 in engineering mechanics.

Previous Recipients