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.
Donald L. Bitzer, ’55 ENG, MS ’56 ENG, PHD ’60 ENG
Donald L. Bitzer has been doing research and teaching for over 65 years. His research has covered a variety of areas including radar, communications devices, new displays, voice analyses, large computer networks and genetics. This work has led to 19 patents and over 100 papers. Presently, he serves as a distinguished university research professor at North Carolina State University.
In 1960, Bitzer’s dedication to education led him to invent the University of Illinois’s PLATO system, the first automatic multi-user multimedia teaching system flexible enough to provide both local and remote instruction. As part of PLATO, the plasma display panel (PDP) was invented to provide large high resolution and high contrast graphic displays for students’ viewing. The PDP became important for television terminals in the early 1990s with the introduction of high definition television. For his work inventing the PDP, Bitzer received the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Award in 2002.
Some of Bitzer’s other awards include the Industrial Research 100 Award and the Data Processing Management Association’s Computer Sciences “Man of the Year” Award. He was elected a laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, and he received the American Federation of Information Processing Societies Education Award for contributions to the spectrum of educational processes, most notably through his invention of the PLATO system. From the University of Illinois, he received the 1992 Distinguished Electrical and Computer Engineering Alumnus Award and was elected into Grainger College of Engineering’s Hall of Fame in 2010.
Suzanne Koenig, ’82 SW
Suzanne Koenig is president and founder of SAK Management Services, a nationally recognized healthcare management and consulting services firm, with specific expertise in senior living, skilled nursing and long-term care facilities. Koenig and SAK provide skills in operations improvement, staff development and quality assurance. Koenig brings expertise in expense management, financial oversight, marketing, census development, clinical review and regulatory improvement to healthcare facilities in order to develop operational enhancements.
As a nursing home administrator and social worker, Koenig has provided turnaround, consulting and restructuring services throughout the U.S. She regularly serves as a court-appointed receiver to oversee and manage healthcare facilities. Having participated in the writing of the Patient Care Ombudsman statute found within the United States Bankruptcy Code, Koenig frequently is appointed as a patient care ombudsman to oversee patient care in healthcare facilities across the country.
Koenig also holds a Master of Science degree from Spertus College. She is a frequent speaker for various healthcare industry associations and business affiliates where she conducts continuing education and training programs. In 2022, she received a New York Institute of Credit Women’s Division Renaissance Award and was inducted into the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation Hall of Fame.
2022
David W. Hafemeister, MS '60 PHYSICS, PHD '64 PHYSICS
Halil Ceylan, MS ’95 ENG, PHD ’02 ENG
Amber Faye McReynolds, ’01 LAS
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.