2026 Alumni Awards

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Deb (Ridgeway) Neubek

Deb (Ridgeway) Neubek, ’82 FAA, grew up in Illinois gazing at the stars, dreaming of designing space stations and lunar habitats. She chose the U. of I. to study architecture, and the University of Houston to study space architecture—she joined NASA shortly thereafter. Over the next three decades, in a civil service career at Johnson Space Center that spanned six U.S. presidential administrations, she supported the establishment of national space policy and was instrumental in the development of the International Space Station (ISS), leading negotiations for a significant portion of the station’s contracts. She also served as the ISS’s vehicle integration manager and as a manager for systems engineering and integration.

As chief of NASA’s Exploration Analysis Branch, Neubek led advanced design and conceptual studies for future exploration of the Moon and Mars, helping the U.S. return to space after the retirement of the space shuttle. Later, as chief of staff-technical for the Constellation Program, she helped establish the foundational programs and projects that enabled the U.S. return to the Moon, including this year’s Artemis II mission.

Neubek has received many awards, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, the NASA Senior Executive Fellowship to Harvard University, and two Johnson Space Center Director’s Certificates of Commendation. Her philanthropic endeavors include service to two nonprofit organizations: Helping Parents Heal, which assists parents whose children have passed, and the Nature Discovery Center. She also has recently been appointed to the City of Bellaire’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

 

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Michael S. Hopkins

Ret. Col. Michael S. Hopkins, ’92 ENG, a NASA astronaut and Space Force officer, exemplifies the highest standards of excellence, leadership, and service. As an Illinois undergraduate, Hopkins showed his tenacity and determination early, securing a walk-on position with the Illinois football team. His dedication and work ethic earned him four varsity letters, a starting role in the defensive backfield, and election as a team captain his senior year. During his tenure, Illinois enjoyed significant success, including the 1989 Big Ten Championship. After completing a master’s degree at Stanford University, Hopkins excelled as an aerospace engineer and U.S. Air Force flight test engineer before joining NASA in 2009.

For NASA, Hopkins completed two spaceflights, International Space Station (ISS) Expeditions 37/38 on Soyuz (2013-14) and 64/65 on SpaceX Crew-1 (2020-21). He logged over 330 days in space, conducted five spacewalks totaling more than 32 hours, and played a critical role in transitioning spaceflight from governmental to commercial partners. In 2020, Hopkins became the first astronaut member of the U.S. Space Force.

As an astronaut, engineer, and military officer, Hopkins has made major contributions to global science, collaboration with international partners, and the overall success of America’s space missions. His participation in research aboard the ISS has advanced medical, environmental, and technological knowledge for all nations.

Hopkins has received multiple honors, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Through it all, he has remained loyal to Illinois by engaging with students, participating in alumni outreach, and serving as an inspiration for Illini pursuing STEM careers.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Julia K. Whittington

Dr. Julia K. Whittington, ’93 LAS, DVM ’97, a nationally recognized leader in wildlife medicine and rehabilitation, played a pivotal role in expanding the services for animal patients and the learning experiences for veterinary students at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, part of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

Early in her 22-year career at Vet Med, she established the hospital’s companion zoological medicine service and took on oversight of the Wildlife Medical Clinic, a unique student-run program that cares for more than 2,000 ill or injured wild animals each year. Later, as hospital director and assistant dean for clinical services, Whittington spearheaded a period of transformational renovation that included construction of a 9,000 sq. ft. surgical wing, the addition of an equine lameness arena, and renovations throughout the hospital facilities.

Whittington consistently ranked as a top U. of I. educator, as selected annually by students. She also received numerous awards from the college and campus for teaching, public engagement, service excellence, and faculty collegiality. In 2014, she received the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Significant Achievement Award, and in 2023, she received the Dr. Erwin Small Distinguished Alumni Award from the university’s Veterinary Medical Alumni Association Board.

Before pursuing her veterinary degree, Whittington served in the University of Illinois Police Department, where she was honored for Outstanding Police Work in 1991 and as Officer of the Year in 1992.

In all, her contributions at Illinois directly impacted thousands of animal patients, generations of veterinary students, and the ongoing success of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AWARD

Fleda Mask Jackson

Fleda Mask Jackson, MS ’77 ACES, PHD ’91 ED, a national authority on maternal mental health, has led trailblazing research on stress and depression as risk factors in pregnancy outcomes. She has spent four decades at the forefront of advancing racial, gender, and health equity, illuminating and addressing the structural inequities that shape the lives of Black women, children, and families. Through her pioneering research on gendered racism, contextualized stress, and maternal and infant health disparities, Jackson has transformed both academic understanding and public health practice.

Jackson currently leads Majaica, LLC, a research firm and think tank dedicated to improving the conditions and outcomes for Black mothers and babies. There, she partners with organizations including the March of Dimes, United Way, Healthy Start, and the Morehouse School of Medicine, as well as local and national health agencies and consortia including Black Mamas Matter Alliance, to create safe spaces and evidence-based, culturally resonant supports for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

She is best known for leading the development of the Jackson, Hogue, Phillips Contextualized Stress Measure, a groundbreaking tool that is widely recognized for creating greater understanding about African American women’s intersectional lived experiences and for its applications for pregnancy and maternal community-based and clinical interventions.

Jackson’s research has shaped the modern birth equity movement and is frequently cited by national media. Her leadership in public service is equally distinguished, with roles on the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services’ Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality and the Centers for Disease Control’s National Advisory Committee on Health Disparities and Health Equity.

HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD

Dan and Gina Hartleb

Dan and Gina Hartleb have dedicated their lives to serving the University of Illinois and the Champaign-Urbana community. Dan is head coach of the Fighting Illini baseball team, and Gina is a former teacher and a current volunteer at the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club, offering philanthropic support to help with development and opportunities for area youth.

The Hartlebs have been the heartbeat of the Illinois baseball program for nearly four decades. Dan came to Illinois as an assistant coach in 1990 before taking over as head coach in 2006. The 2015 and 2024 Big Ten Coach of the Year and the 2010s Big Ten Coach of the Decade, he is the winningest coach in school history, leading the Illini to five NCAA tournament appearances, three Big Ten regular season titles, and one Big Ten Tournament title. He has also mentored hundreds of student athletes, many of whom have gone on to play professionally.

Gina joins Dan to form what many call a coaching family. They have been the architects of a culture rooted in leadership, integrity, and lifelong mentorship.

As volunteers, the couple has been active with the American Cancer Society, Special Olympics, United Way, NAMI, CASA, Crisis Nursery, Courage Connection, Habitat to Humanity, iRead • iCount, Cunningham Children’s Home, Women in Transition, and Roundhouse Foundation. The Hartlebs’ generosity also extends to the university. Along with their work with the baseball program, they host alumni gatherings, speak at U. of I. functions, and devote their time to support the university’s mission.

ILLINI COMEBACK AWARD

Christopher S. Carpenter

Christopher S. Carpenter, ’87 LAS, a former Fighting Illini football defensive end and a bartender at Campustown’s C.O. Daniels, is an internationally acclaimed vintner. He leveraged his Illinois degree in biology to excel in winemaking, a craft he describes as “80 percent science and 20 percent art.”

Carpenter works with top Napa Valley wineries—Lokoya, Cardinale, Mt. Brave, La Jota, and Caladan—as well as Hickinbotham Winery in Australia. His craft involves overseeing every aspect of the winemaking process, from grape harvesting to fermentation and aging, as he blends rigorous scientific principles with creative finesse. His ability to apply disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, climatology, and geology—subjects he learned at Illinois—demonstrates how a strong academic foundation can lead to extraordinary success.

The culmination of his efforts is blending wines in the lab, finalizing blends in the cellar, and bottling the wine for consumers. During the off season, Carpenter oversees the farming of the vineyards and the aging operations of his wines. He also travels, representing the wines in the market by visiting restaurants and retail outlets and attending wine shows and events.

Carpenter has been instrumental in promoting sustainable and regenerative viticulture practices, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 and actively participating in initiatives such as International Wineries for Climate Action. In 2024, he was honored as the master winemaker of the year at VinExpo Paris, a recognition that highlights his exceptional skill and influence in the wine industry.

ILLINI COMEBACK AWARD

Kate D. McMahon

Kate D. McMahon, ’91 LAS, started marketing concerts as a member of the university’s oldest student-run organization, Star Course. Through her work with Messina Touring Group and Anschutz Entertainment Group, McMahon leads a team that brings in more than $1.1 billion in concert grosses, promoting music industry giants such as Kenny Chesney, Ed Sheeran, and George Strait.

McMahon has been involved in routing, booking, and marketing for Chesney since 2002 and Strait since 1996. She played an instrumental role in Chesney becoming the first country artist to have a residency at Sphere in Las Vegas. For Strait, McMahon marketed his 30-plus Las Vegas engagements, as well as his stadium shows. In 2024, she helped Strait set a U.S. attendance record—previously held by The Grateful Dead—when 110,905 fans packed Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.

McMahon’s first job out of college was with the Chicago-based Jam Productions, marketing shows throughout the Midwest. In 1996, she landed her dream job in Houston, working for Louis Messina at PACE Concerts as part of the concert marketing team, and eventually working for PACE Touring. She founded Messina Touring Group with Messina and her husband in 2001.

McMahon has been honored with the Billboard Women in Music Award (2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, and 2025), the Venues Now Women of Influence Award (2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024), and the Pollstar Marketing and PR Executive of the Year Award (2018). In 2022, she was named to the Impact 50 list, which recognizes the 50 most influential people in music touring.

YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

Kathryn M. Polkoff

Kathryn M. Polkoff, ’15 ACES, MS ’17 ACES, is a leader in the fields of biotechnology and livestock science, with over a decade of experience at the intersection of animal sciences and environmental sustainability. As co-founder and CEO of Hoofprint Biome, based in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Polkoff is pioneering innovative solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges in livestock production.

In 2022, Polkoff earned her Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in veterinary biomedical sciences, with a focus on cell biology. Her doctoral research and postdoctoral work have solidified her expertise in biotechnology and its application in animal health and productivity.

Polkoff’s leadership extends beyond the lab; she is a passionate advocate for building symbiotic relationships between humans, animals, and the planet through sustainable livestock production. Since founding Hoofprint Biome in 2023, Polkoff and her team have developed cutting-edge enzyme solutions to reduce methane emissions from cattle farming, aiming to make livestock farming a critical part of mitigating climate change. Hoofprint’s work promises not only environmental benefits, but also improved animal health and enhanced farm profitability. Under Polkoff’s leadership, the company has raised venture capital funding, in addition to grants from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Foundation for net zero carbon emissions.

As an Illinois student, Polkoff was a member of the volleyball team that made three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances from 2013 to 2015; was a Bronze Tablet, Summa Cum Laude, and James Scholar; and received the College of ACES’ Jonathan Baldwin Turner Graduate Fellowship.

LOU LIAY SPIRIT AWARD

Loren B. Tate

Loren B. Tate, ’53 MEDIA, has covered Fighting Illini athletics since 1966, when he became a sportswriter, columnist, and sports editor for Champaign’s News-Gazette. After earning his journalism degree from the U. of I. in 1953, he began a two-year stint in the U.S. Army (where he made the basketball team and led in scoring), before starting his newspaper career working for his stepfather at the Piatt County Republican in Monticello, Illinois.

From there, Tate covered local sports for the Hammond (Indiana) Times and also played semi-pro baseball. He hung up his cleats when he joined The News-Gazette.

At the Champaign paper, he became known and loved for his column “Tatelines” and as editor of one of the nation’s most respected local sports sections. Although technically retired for nearly three decades, he continues to work for the paper as a contract writer.

Tate also has a considerable radio broadcast career related to Illini sports. He provided color commentary for men’s basketball from 1968 to 2001, called football games for several years, and appears regularly on the local station WDWS to discuss the highs and lows of Illinois athletics.

Tate, whose books A Century of Orange and Blue (2004) and Tatelines (2008) are essentials for Illini sports fans, was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1974 and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame in 2021. A local legend, his Champaign-Urbana honors are legion, with one notable example: The street adjacent to the former News-Gazette building was named Loren Tate Way by the City of Champaign.