Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award was established in 1972 to recognize alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the University of Illinois who have consistently demonstrated extraordinary commitment, dedication and service for the advancement of the institution. The first year of the award at UIS was 2004.

2012 Recipient

Alumnus and governmental consultant Randall F. Witter MPA ’82 appreciated the hands-on experience he received as a graduate student at UIS. As president of the Springfield lobbying firm Cook-Witter, Inc., he is helping to carry forward that tradition of experiential learning. For this reason and more, he is being honored with the University’s Distinguished Service Award, which is presented to alumni who demonstrate pride in the University of Illinois, and whose commitment, dedication and service have significantly advanced the University. Witter’s firm selects one to three intern students from UIS each spring and fully immerses them in the lobbying process. But his support for the University extends beyond internships. He has advised Illinois Connection, the UI Alumni Association’s group of advocates who muster political support at the state and federal levels on behalf of the three campuses of the University. He also helped organize the first UIS “Under the Dome” event, where high school students visit the Capitol and learn about jobs in government and public policy.