Alumni Achievement Award (Est. 1957)
The highest honor bestowed upon alumni by the University of Illinois Alumni Association on behalf 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.
David W. Hafemeister, MS '60 PHYSICS, PHD '64 PHYSICS
David W. Hafemeister is recognized as a global leader in arms control efforts. Most notably, he worked on technical issues related to the United Nations’ 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a multilateral agreement that banned nuclear weapons test explosions worldwide. Winner of the 1996 Leo Szilard Lectureship Award from the American Physical Society and a professor emeritus of physics at California Polytechnic State University, Hafemeister spent significant time working on national security matters throughout his career. He started with U.S. Senator John Glenn in the 1970s; worked for the State Department in the ’70s and ’80s; and, in the ’90s, he worked for both the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Governmental Affairs and the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Hafemeister also has worked with the National Academy of Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University and Stanford University, as well as many national research laboratories.
Halil Ceylan, MS ’95 ENG, PHD ’02 ENG
Halil Ceylan, MS ’95 ENG, PHD ’02 ENG, is director of the Program for Sustainable Pavement Engineering and Research, or PROSPER, at Iowa State University’s Institute for Transportation. He also serves as a professor in Iowa State’s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. Ceylan has been involved in 125 research projects, with cumulative funding of more than $22 million from top government agencies. His work has resulted in the creation of smart, sustainable and resilient transportation systems, including roads that can clear themselves of ice and snow. Ceylan has been lauded for his innovative approach of employing artificial intelligence and neural network techniques to concrete structural analysis and design. A member of more than 30 national and international committees and organizations, Ceylan has received more than 20 career awards.
Amber Faye McReynolds, ’01 LAS
Amber Faye McReynolds, ’01 LAS, is the founding CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute, dedicated to expanding and improving vote-by-mail systems in all 50 states. In 2021, President Biden appointed her to the United States Postal Service Board of Governors. Through her work and advocacy, she has improved the voting process and enfranchised millions of voters. During the pandemic, McReynolds ensured that people in 42 states could vote safely, and she was instrumental in pushing the Postal Service to create a COVID-19 test kit program to deliver in-home tests to more than 250 million people nationwide. McReynolds also led efforts to modernize Colorado’s voting process, creating a national model for turnout, access, equity, transparency and security. Finally, she serves as a senior strategic advisor to national such organizations as Election Reformers Network, Fair Vote and Issue One.
2020
Angela Sinickas Shiromani, ’75 MEDIA
Joseph Glas, MS ’62 LAS, PHD ’65 LAS
2019
Dale Kempf, PHD '82 LAS
Laura E. Niklason, '83 LAS, '83 LAS
2018
Robert H. Liebeck, ’61 ENG, MS ’62 ENG, PHD ’68 ENG
James A. Spudich, ’63 LAS
2017
William F. Baker, MS ’80 ENG
Structural Engineering Design Partner at Skidmore, Owings & MerrillStephen J. Elledge, ’78 LAS
World renowned geneticist and cancer researcher
2016
Mary-Dell Chilton, ’60 LAS, PHD ’67 LAS
2015
Nick Holonyak Jr., ’50 ENG, MS ’51 ENG, PHD ’54 ENG
Retired Professor of Electrical EngineeringSylvia Puente, MS ’80 LAS
Executive director of the Latino Policy Forum in ChicagoDon B. Wilmeth, PHD ’64 LAS
Asa Messer Professor Emeritus & former Department head of Theatre at Brown University
2014
George R. Carruthers, ’61 ENG, MS ’62 ENG, PHD ’64 ENG
Senior Astrophysicist, Naval Research LaboratoryFred R. Volkmar, ’72 LAS
Irving B. Harris Professor, Yale UniversityDonald R. Scifres, MS ’70 ENG, PHD ’72 ENG
Founder and Managing Director, SDL Ventures LLC
2013
Thomas Siebel, ’75 LAS, MBA ’83, MS ’85 ENG
Chairman and CEO, C3 EnergyWilliam Edelstein, ’65 LAS
Retired General Electric Researcher
2012
Bradley Oltmanns, PHD ’79 BUS
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd.Shahid Khan, ’71 ENG
President, Flex-N-Gate
2011
Brenton Wadsworth, ’52 FAA
Founder, The Wadsworth Golf Construction Co.Fu-Kuen Lin, PHD ’71 ACES
Consultant, AmgenScott W. Atlas, ’77 LAS
Chief of neuroradiology and professor of radiology, Stanford University Medical Center
2010
Roger L. Plummer, ’64 ENG
Operations Vice President, Illinois BellMohamed T. El-Ashry, MS ’63 LAS, PHD ’66 LAS
Geology scholar and former adviser to Environmental Defense FundJames M. Benson, ’68 LAS
CEO, Clark Benson LLC
2009
Gerald Schoenfeld, ’47 DSSWV
Chairman, Schubert OrganizationWilliam E. Geist, ’68 MEDIA
Correspondent, CBS “Sunday Morning”; author, humorist
2008
Sheila C. Johnson, ’70 FAA
CEO, Salamander Hospitality LLC; Musician, PhilanthropistFreeman A. Hrabowski III, AM ’71 LAS, PHD ’75 ED
President, University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyDoris Kelley Christopher, ’67 ACES
Founder & Chair, The Pampered Chef
2007
Dr. Arnyce R. Pock, ’81 LAS
Director, United States Air Force Medical CorpsR. Eden Martin, ’62 LAS
President, The Commercial Club of ChicagoPhillip L. Francis, ’68 ACES
President & CEO, PetSmart
2006
John McDonald, ’43 LAS, JD ’46 LAW
Retired Diplomat and Co-Founder of the Institute for Multi-Track DiplomacySusan Lindquist, ’71 LAS
Director of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyRoger Ebert, ’64 MEDIA
Film Critic, Author and TV Personality
2005
James J. Stukel, MS '63 ENG, PHD '68 ENG
President, University of Illinois (1995-2005)Alfred G. Harms Jr., '71 LAS
Retired Vice Admiral, U.S. NavyRoxanne Decyk, '73 LAS
Director-International, Royal Dutch Shell Group of Companies
2004
Clifford B. Saper, '72 LAS, MS '72 LAS
Groundbreaking Neuroscience ResearcherRobert T. Fraley, '74 LAS, MS '76 LAS, PHD '79 LAS
Agricultural Biotechnology PioneerRobert Falls, '76 FAA
Tony Award Winning Broadway Director, Artistic Director, Goodman Theatre
2003
Phillip Allen Sharp, PHD '69 LAS
Founding Director and Institute Professor McGovern Institute for Brain Research Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPaul D. Schrage, MS '59 MEDIA
Retired Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer McDonald's Corporation Chairman, Ronald McDonald House CharitiesRobert Badgett Morgan, PHD '74 FAA
Retired Director of Jazz Studies High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, Texas
2002
Sophie Lau Leung, '69 LAS
Chair, Women's Commission Legislative Council of Hong KongSteven L. Miller, '67 ENG
Chairman, President and CEO Shell Oil Co.Jerry A. Hadley, MS '77 FAA
Grammy Award-Winning and Internationally Renowned Opera Singer
2001
Walter L. Robb, MS '49 ENG, PHD '51 ENG
Senior Vice President for Corporate Research and Development General Electric Co.Charles William Gear, MS '57 LAS, PHD '60 LAS
President Computer Science Research Division at the NEC Research Institute
2000
Sheldon Good, '55 CBA
Founder and Chairman Sheldon Good & Company President International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI)Alfred Y. Cho, '60 ENG, MS '61 ENG, PHD '68 ENG
Semiconductor Research Vice President Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies Father of Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE)Linda K. Bunker, '68 ALS, MS '69, PHD '73
Nationally Renowned Sport Psychologist and Author
1999
Joseph H. Burckhalter, '38 LAS
Research Professor, Chemist Florida Institute of Technology
1998
R. Rolando Hinojosa-Smith, PHD '69 LAS
Author Professor of English and Creative Writing The University of Texas at AustinArchie R. Clemins, '66, ENG, MS '72 ENG
Admiral, U. S. Navy Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet Pearl Harbor, HawaiiGary K. Bielfeldt, '58, ACES, MS '59 ACES
ACES Managing Partner, Bielfeldt and Company Chairman, The Bielfeldt Foundation
1997
Robert D. Novak, AB '52 LAS
Newspaper Columnist, Television Commentator, Author Washington, D.C.Leo M. Henikoff, Jr., MD '63 MED (UIC)
President, Rush University President and Chief Executive Officer Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center Pediatric CardiologistJohn A. Georges, '51 LAS
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer International Paper CompanyJerry J. Colangelo, '62 ALS
Owner, Phoenix Suns (National Basketball Association) Owner, Arizona Diamondbacks (Major League Baseball Team)
1996
Cesar Pelli, '54 ARCH
Architect, Designer, and Distinguished Architectural Educator Cesar Pelli & AssociatesH. Richard McFarland, '52 ACES
Businessman, Philanthropist, Patriot President and Owner McFarland Foods CorporationMannie L. Jackson, '60 ALS
Chairman and Owner, Harlem Globetrotters Retired Senior Vice President and Corporate Officer Honeywell, Inc.
1995
Edwin G. Krebs, AB '40 LAS
Professor Emeritus, University of Washington Senior Investigator Emeritus Howard Hughes Medical Institute Nobel Prize WinnerDonald C. Johanson, AB '66 LAS
Physical Anthropologist President, Institute of Human OriginsNancy Goodman Brinker, AB '68 LAS
Founding Chairman The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
1994
Richard Cline, AB '57 LAS
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer NICOR Inc.Steven B. Sample, '62 ENG, MS '63 ENG, PHD '65 ENG
Educator, Inventor, Administrator President, University of Southern CaliforniaDavid H. Blackwell, AB '38 LAS, AM '39 LAS, PHD '41 LAS
Statistician, Educator, Author University of California, Berkeley Member, National Academy of Sciences
1993
Lynn Morley Martin, AB '60 LAS
Congresswoman, Teacher Former Secretary of LaborGeorge M.C. Fisher, '62 ENG
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer MotorolaAlbert Leslie Babb, MS '49 LAS, PHD '51 LAS
Chemical Engineer, Biomedical Engineer, Humanitarian Designer of the First Portable Kidney Dialysis Machine
1992
Dennis D. Swanson, '61 MEDIA, MS '66 MEDIA
President ABC Sports, Daytime and Children's Programming New YorkSteven R. Nagel, '69 AAE
Colonel, U. S. Air Force NASA AstronautRichard H. Frank, '65 CBA
President Walt Disney Studios
1991
Samuel K. Skinner, '60 CBA
United States Secretary of TransportationJohn F. Burke, '47 LAS
Surgeon, Scientist and Educator Harvard University Medical SchoolJames S. Brady, '62 MEDIA
Vice Chairman National Organization on Disability, Washington, D.C. Former Press Secretary for President Ronald Reagan
1990
B. Kenneth West, AB '55 LAS
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Harris Bankcorp, Inc.Arnold R. Weber, AB '50 LAS, AM '51 LAS
President Northwestern UniversityCharles Marshall, '51 ACES
Vice Chairman of the Board American Telephone and Telegraph Co.
1989
Sybil C. Mobley, PHD '64 CBA
Dean, School of Business and Industry Florida A & M UniversityDavid F. Linowes, '41 CBA
Educator, Political Economist, CPA Consultant to U.S. Presidents Professor of Political Economy and Boeschenstein Professor Emeritus University of IllinoisDavid Herbert Donald, AM '42 LAS, PHD '46 LAS
Distinguished Civil War Historian Pulitzer Prize Winning Biographer Charles Warren Professor, Harvard University
1988
Charlotte Herman Kerr, '40 ACES '46 MED, MD '48 MED
President American Medical Women's AssociationRichard E. Heckert, MS '47 LAS, PHD '49 LAS
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Du Pont CompanySidney D. Drell, AM '47 PHYSICS, PHD '49 PHYSICS, HON. '81
Physicist, Educator, Arms Control Specialist, Professor and Deputy Director Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
1987
Robert C. Underwood, JD '39 LAW
Justice, Illinois Supreme Court (Deceased)Godfrey Sperling, Jr., '37 MEDIA
Chief, Washington News Bureau Christian Science MonitorJerome S. Gore, '41 CBA
Chairman Hartmarx Corporation
1986
Prentice H. Marshall, '49 LAS, JD '51 LAW
Judge, United States District Court Northern District of IllinoisKarl A. Folkers, '28 LAS
Director, Institute of Biomedical Research Ashbel Smith Professor of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin (Deceased)Helene R. Foellinger, AB '32 LAS
President of Foellinger Foundation Former publisher, News-Sentinel Fort Wayne, Indiana (Deceased)
1985
Alfred B. Swanson, '45 MED, MD '47 MED
Physician, Orthopaedic Surgeon, TeacherJames R. Martin, '40 LAS
Chairman of the Board Massachusetts Mutual Life Ins. Company (Deceased)Alan M. Hallene, '51 ENG
President Montgomery Elevator Company
1984
Julia Henderson, AB '36 LAS, AM '37 LAS
Former Secretary General International Planned Parenthood FederationHarold R. Bruno, Jr., '50 MEDIA
Director of Political Coverage ABC NewsRichard E. Albrecht, '40 ACES
Former President Farm Progress Publications (Deceased)
1983
Wilma L. Vaught, '52 CBA
Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force Commander, U.S. Military Entrance Processing CommandJohn L. Strohm, '35 MEDIA
Editor, Publisher, Foreign Correspondent, Founder, National Wildlife Magazine (Deceased)Dorothy Martin Simon, PHD '45 LAS
Vice President, Research AVCO Corporation
1982
Julius B. Richmond, '37 MED, MS '39 MED, MD MED
Professor, Harvard Medical School Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General U.S.P.H.S. 1977-81Eugene P. Odum, PHD '39 ZOOLOGY
Distinguished Professor and Director Institute of Ecology University of GeorgiaHelen 0. Dickens, '32 MED, MD '34 MED
Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology University of Pennsylvania
1981
Mark Shepherd, Jr., MS '47 ENG
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Texas Instruments, Inc.Mostafa Khalil, MS '48 ENG, PHD '51 ENG
Former Prime Minister of EgyptEarl B. Dickerson, AB '14 LAS
Honorary Chairman of the Board Supreme Life Insurance Co. of America (Deceased)
1980
Gardner W. Heidrick, '35 CBA
Co-founder, Heidrick and Struggles, Inc. International Recruiter, Organization Builder, Industry LeaderHarry J. Gray, '41 MEDIA, MS '47 MEDIA
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, United Technologies CorporationLew Allen, Jr., '52 PHYSICS, PHD '54 PHYSICS
Chief of Staff United States Air Force
1979
J. Robert Schrieffer, MS '54 PHYSICS, PHD '57 PHYSICS
Professor of Physics University of PennsylvaniaEverette B. Harris, AB '35 LAS
President Emeritus Chicago Mercantile Exchange (Deceased)Rowine Hayes Brown, MD '39 MED
Medical Director Cook County Hospital (Deceased)
1978
Rosalyn S. Yalow, MS '42 PHYSICS, PHD '45 PHYSICS
Senior Medical Investigator Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital Nobel Prize WinnerLee L. Morgan, '41 ACES
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Caterpillar Tractor CompanyGayle B. Aydelott, '36 CBA
President & Chairman Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (Deceased)
1977
George W. English, '21 CBA
Attorney, Bank Executive Community Builder (Deceased)Kenneth 0. Emery, '37 GEOLOGY, PHD '41 GEOLOGY
Marine Geologist, Senior Scientist Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Deceased)Temple Hoyne Buell, '16 ARCH
Architect, Founder, Chief Executive Officer Buell Development Corporation (Deceased)
1976
Thomas A. Murphy, '38 CBA
Chairman, General Motors CorporationCarl S. Marvel, AM '19 LAS, PHD '20
Professor of Chemistry University of Arizona (Deceased)Arthur W. Sloan, '22 LAS
Founder, President Atlantic Research Corporation (Deceased)
1975
W. Leonard Evans, Jr., '35 CBA
President and Publisher Tuesday Publications, Inc.Clayton Kirkpatrick, AB '37 LAS
Editor, Chicago TribunePolykarp Kusch, MS '33 PHYSICS, PHD '36 PHYSICS
Professor of Physics The University of Texas at Dallas Nobel Prize Winner (Deceased)
1974
Robert W. Holley, '42 LAS
Professor of Molecular Biology, The Salk Institute. (Deceased)Roy J. Carver, '34 ENG
Founder and Chairman, Bandag, Inc. (Deceased)Walter P. Blount, AB '21 LAS, BS '23 MED
Physician, Surgeon and Teacher (Deceased)
1973
William L. Pereira, '30 ARCH
Architect, Planner, William L. Pereira Associates (Deceased)William A. Marsteller, '37 MEDIA
Charman of the Board, Marsteller, Inc. (Deceased)Jack S. Kilby, '47 ENG
Inventor, Engineer, Dallas, Texas
1972
George H. Lesch, '31 CBA
Chairman of the Board, Colgate-Palmolive Company (Deceased)Philip Handler, PHD '39 LAS
President, National Academy of Sciences (Deceased)Barton A. Cummings, '35 MEDIA
Chairman, Executive Committee, Compton Advertising, Inc. (Deceased)
1971
Milton C. Mumford, AB '35 LAS
Chairman of the Board Lever Brothers Company (Deceased)Fred H. Turner, AB '22 LAS, AM '29 PSY, PHD '31 EDU
Dean of Students, Emeritus University of Illinois (Deceased)Ralph A. Connor, '29 LAS
Chairman, Executive Committee, Rohm and Haas Company (Deceased)
1970
John W. Queenan, '27 CBA
Managing Partner, Haskins and Sells (Deceased)Charles Luckman, '31 ARCH
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Charles Luckman Associates (Deceased)John C. Houbolt, '40 ENG
Senior Vice President, Aeronautical Research Associates of Princeton
1969
Glen P. Brock, Sr., '22 CBA
President Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad CompanyLouis K. Eilers, '29 LAS
President and Chief Executive Officer, Eastman Kodak CompanyDorothy Hunt Needham, '22 LAS
President, North American Benefit Association
1968
Dr. L. Emmerson Ward, AB '39 LAS
Chairman, Mayo Clinic Board of GovernorsGeorge E. Keck, '32 CBA
President, United Air Lines, Inc.Wayne A. Johnston, '19
Chairman, Illinois Central Industries and Illinois Central RailroadRexford S. Blazer, AB '28 LAS
Chairman of the Board, Ashland Oil and Refining Company
1967
Oliver J. Troster, '16 ACES
Partner, Troster, Singer and Company (Deceased)Phillips Talbot, AB '36 LAS, BS '36 MEDIA
United States Ambassador to GreeceJoseph B. Lanterman, '36 CBA
President, Amsted Industries, Inc. (Deceased)
1966
Irna Phillips, '23 LAS
Creator, Writer, Radio and Television Serials (Deceased)Albert E. Jenner, Jr., LLB '30 LAW
Attorney, Raymond, Mayer, Jenner & Block (Deceased)Harry 0. Bercher, '28 CBA
President, International Harvester Co. (Deceased)
1965
Allan Nevins, AB '12 LAS, AM '13 LAS
Historian, Teacher, Biographer (Deceased)William G. Karnes, '33 CBA
President, Beatrice Foods Co. (Deceased)George S. Halas, '18 ENG
Owner/Coach, Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc. (Deceased)
1964
Leslie B. Worthington, '23 CBA
President, United States Steel Corp. (Deceased)Stewart D. Owen, AB '20 LAS
Managing Editor, The Chicago Tribune (Deceased)Mark Van Doren, AB '14 LAS, AM '15 LAS
Poet, Author, Teacher, Literary Critic (Deceased)
1963
Donald R. Grimes, AB '28 LAS
President, Independent Grocers Alliance Distributing Co. (Deceased)William B. Greene, '08 ENG
Chairman of the Board Barber-Greene Co. (Deceased)Max Abramovitz, BAR '29 ARCH
Architect, Harrison and Abramovitz
1962
Clifford S. Strike, '24 ENG
President, F.H. McGraw & Co. (Deceased)Dr. Karl A. Meyer, MD '08
Medical Director, Cook County Medical Institutions (Deceased)George Chandler, '22 CBA
President of the Board Screen Actors Guild (Deceased)
1961
James B. Reston, '32 MEDIA
Chief, Washington Bureau The New York Times (Deceased)Karl M. Dallenbach, AB '10 LAS
Distinguished Professor of Psychology University of Texas (Deceased)Harold Boeschenstein, '20 CBA
President, Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. (Deceased)
1960
Robert L. Latzer, '08 ACES
Chairman of the Board Pet Milk Co. (Deceased)Herman C. Krannert, '12 ENG
Chairman of the Board Inland Container Corp. (Deceased)Arnold 0. Beckman, '22 LAS
President, Beckman Instruments, Inc.
1959
Collett E. Woolman, '12 ACES
President, Delta Air LinesVicente Y. Orosa, '11 ENG
Public Works Engineer, Philippine GovernmentVincent du Vigneaud, '23 LAS, MS '24 LAS, HON '60
Nobel Prize Winner Chemistry
1958
Louis C. Goad, '23 ENG
Executive Vice President, General Motors Corp.Edward A. Doisy, AB '14 LAS
Nobel Prize Winner ChemistryAvery Brundage, '09 ENG
President, International Olympic Committee
1957
Charles B. Shuman, '28 ACES, MS '29 ACES
President American, Farm Bureau FederationWilliam E. Levis, LLB '13 LAW
Chairman of the Board Owens Illinois Glass Co.Clifford F. Hood, '15 ENG
President, United States Steel Corp.