Illini Comeback Award (Est. 1980)

Every year, the University of Illinois Alumni Association invite a group of prominent and accomplished alumni back to the campus to participate in various activities during Homecoming Weekend, with a focus on providing opportunities for honorees to interact with current students, sharing information about their professional experiences and the value of their University of Illinois education.

2023 Recipient

  • Karen P. Layng, ’84 LAS, JD ’87

    Karen P. Layng is the CEO of M.A.I.T. Co., which she founded in 2018. The company serves as a strategic partner in the construction, manufacturing, energy and engineering industries. Her 35 years of legal expertise includes as a shareholder and board member of the international law firm Vedder Price. She is a licensed arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and serves on its board of directors. She is a member of the Industry Advisory Board and an adjunct professor in Northwestern University’s Master of Science in Engineering Executive Management in Design Construction Program. She also was the first woman president of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association.

    Layng has a mission to develop women leaders and mentor girls from kindergarten to the C-suite. She grew up as a Girl Scout and is passionate about finding opportunities for girls to impact the world through their volunteerism, talents, leadership and service. To that end, she has served the Girl Scouts in key leadership roles for decades. She is the immediate past national president of the Girl Scouts of the USA, serving as a board member from 2017 to 2023. For the last three years, as chair of the board, she oversaw the 30-member National Board managing the organization’s governance, legal and fiduciary responsibilities. 

    Among her many awards and honors, Layng recently received the University of Illinois Economics Alumni 2021 Social Impact Award and was named to Crain’s 2022 Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders list. She also has served the University in many roles including as the president of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alumni Association, as a member of the UIAA Board of Directors and as chair of the President’s Council. Additionally, Layng has earned the University’s Loyalty and Distinguished Service Awards.

Past Recipients

  • 2022

    • Kevin Finke, ’92 MEDIA

    • James N. Ludwig, ’87 FAA

  • 2020

    • John Graf, ’80 LAS

    • Mary (Vest) Mason, ’90 LAS

  • 2019

    • Doris Derby, MA ’75 LAS, PHD, ’80 LAS

    • Leslie Geissler Munger, ’78 ACES

  • 2018

    • Christina A. Brodbeck, ’01 LAS

    • Nick Ciffone, ’10 LAS, ’10 MEDIA

  • 2017

    • Emily S. Gardner, ’05 BUS, ’05 AHS

    • Robert P. Gaynes, ’75 LAS

    • Thomas F. Larwin, ’65 ENG

  • 2016

    • Michael Strautmanis, ’91 MEDIA, JD ’94

  • 2015

    • James E. Sparks, ’77 MEDIA

    • Lyle Orwig, ’74 ACES

  • 2014

    • Suheily Natal Davis, ’04 MEDIA

    • James E. Schlueter, ’80 MEDIA

    • Dr. Der-Tsai Lee, ’76 ENG, PHD ’ 78 ENG

  • 2013

    • Jeffrey D. Breslow, ’65 FAA

    • Col. Michael S. McBride, ’84 LAS

    • Tonise Paul, ’79 MEDIA, MS ’ 80 MEDIA

  • 2012

    • Ron Bess, ’69 BUS, MS ’72 MEDIA

    • Sheldon Siegel, ’80 BUS

    • Beverly Washington, ’78 FAA

  • 2011

    • Ryan Baker, ’91 MEDIA

    • Paul Schrage, MS ’59 MEDIA

    • Bud Strom, ’54 AHS

  • 2010

    • Bob Epstein, ’74 MEDIA

    • G. Robert Hillman, ’72 MEDIA

    • Jon Khachaturian, ’78 ENG

    • Laura Rowley, ’87 MEDIA

  • 2009

    • Mark Filip, ’88 LAS

    • Robert G. Kennedy, ’78 ENG

    • Marvin White, ’69 LAS

  • 2008

    • Scott W. Atlas, '77 LAS

    • Barry Sabath, '74 LAS

  • 2007

    • Lee Archambault, ’82 ENG, MS ’84 ENG

    • Cathy Larson Koerner, ’87 ENG, MS ’89 ENG

    • Maj. Matthew C. Shortal, ’94 BUS

  • 2006

    • C.O. “Doc” Erickson, ’43 ACES

    • Gregory Paw, ’85 MEDIA

    • Betty Lee Sung, ’48 LAS

  • 2005

    • Andrea Darlas, ’94 MEDIA

    • Stuart M. Kaminsky, ’57 MEDIA, AM ’60 LAS

    • Ann Davenport McBrien, ’82 BUS

  • 2004

    • Mary Frances Fagan, ’76 MEDIA, MA ’83 LAS

    • Bridget Later Lamont, MS '72 LIS

    • John David Mooney, MFA ’65 FAA

    • Grover “Russ” Whitehurst, AM ’68 LAS, PHD ’70 LAS

  • 2003

    • John Burgstone, ’95 ENG

    • Londa Jorgensen Dewey, ’82 LAS

    • Carol Hillsman Sagers, ’79 MEDIA

  • 2002

    • Scott Altman, ’81 ENG

    • Temple Grandin, PHD ’89 ACES

    • Laura McInerney Jennings, ’83 BUS

    • Barbara Baxter Pillinger, ’56 AHS

    • Andrew A. Sorensen, ’59 LAS

  • 2001

    • Daniel J. Balz, ’68 MEDIA, MS ’72 MEDIA

    • Henry Givens Jr., EDM ‘61

    • Edward L. McMillan, ’69 ACES

    • Sheldon B. Rubin, ’64 LAS, ’66 VM, DVM ’68

  • 2000

    • Dr. Scott Anderson, MS ’36 ENG, PHD ’40 ENG

    • Carol Ross Barney, ’71 FAA

    • Dianne Sautter Campbell, ’71 ED

    • Merle Gilmore, ’70 ENG

    • Mary Kay Kretch Haben, ’77 BUS

  • 1999

    • Cheryl R. Berman, ’74 MEDIA

    • Lu Ann Walker Maddox, ’74 AHS, MS ’76 AHS

    • Peer Pedersen, ’47 DSSWV, LLB ’48 LAW

    • Fred A. Rubin, ’72 FAA

    • Lt. Gov. Corinne J. Giese Wood, ’76 LAS

  • 1998

    • Doris Kelley Christopher, ’67 ACES

    • Eileen F. Fisher, ’72 ACES

    • Fred F. Guyton Jr., ’61 FAA

    • John A. Johnson, ’64 ENG, MS ’65 ENG

    • Arthur Ramer Wyatt, ’49 BUS, MS ’50 BUS, PHD ’53 BUS

  • 1997

    • Rowine Hayes Brown-Truitt, ’38 MEDIA, MD ’39 MEDIA

    • Julia J. Henderson, ’36 LAS, AM ’37 LAS

    • David F. Linowes, ’41 BUS

    • Park C. Livingston, ’30 LAS, MED ’81

    • Charles B. Shuman, ’28 ACES, MS ’29 ACES

  • 1996

    • James M. Benson, ’68 LAS

    • Judge Maynard Glitman, ’55 LAS

    • Debra L. Mitchell, ’75 FAA

    • Cordell Reed, ’60 ENG

    • Dr. Katie Harper Wright, ’44 LAS, EDM ‘59

  • 1995

    • Judge Eugene N. Hamilton, ’55 LAS, LLB ’59 LAW

    • R. Rolando Hinojosa-Smith, PHD ’69 LAS

    • Carol Ann Keiser, ’68 ACES

    • Robert D. Novak, ’52 LAS, HON ’98

    • Gary K. Wolf, ’63 MEDIA, MS ’69 MEDIA

  • 1994

    • K. Kenn Allen, ’71 LAS

    • Samuel T. Balen, ’57 FAA

    • Steven H. Gerdes, ’77 ACES

    • Nada J. Rowand, ’58 FAA

    • Joyce E. Tucker, ’70 LAS

  • 1993

    • Emiel Hamberlin, EDM ’77, EDD ’83

    • Mannie L. Jackson, ’60 AHS

    • Robert B. Levin, ’65 MEDIA

    • Terri L. Ludwig, ’85 LAS

    • David A. McConnell, ’54 VM, DVM ’56

    • Eleanor H. Moty, ’68 FAA

  • 1992

    • Jacqueline Triche Atkins, ’69 LAS, JD ’73 LAW

    • Herbert Y. Chang, ’60 ENG, MS ’62 ENG, PHD ’64 ENG

    • George M.C. Fisher, ’62 ENG, HON 96

    • Graham C. Grady, ’80 LAS

    • John G. “Red” Kerr, ’54 UIUC

    • Cecilia McCane “Ceil” Kuzma, ’70 LAS

    • Miriam J. “Jess” Marlow, ’58 DSSWV

    • Lester H. McKeever Jr., ’55 BUS

  • 1991

    • William F. Kirk, ’64 ACES

    • Landon Parvin, ’70 BUS

    • Roger L. Plummer, ’64 ENG

    • David A. Powless, ’66 BUS

    • Christina Walton Tanner, ’86 LAS

    • Eddie N. Williams, ’54 MEDIA

  • 1990

    • Stewart D. Daniels Jr., ’49 LAS

    • Stanley L. Elkin, ’52 LAS, AM ’53 LAS, PHD ’61 LAS, HON ’86

    • Laura Barber Fraley, ’77 LAS, MS ’79 BUS

    • William E. Geist, ’68 MEDIA

    • Charla M. Krupp, ’75 MEDIA

    • Robert “Bob” Martinez, AM ’64 LIR

    • William F. Mellberg, ’75 BUS

    • Dora Dougherty Strother, AM ’53 ED

    • Barbara Seaquist Williams, ’49 BUS

  • 1989

    • Nancy Goodman Brinker, ’68 LAS

    • Richard B. Fink, ’50 VM, DVM ’52

    • Rita Bell, ’65 BUS

    • Jacquelyn Knight Gates, ’71 UIUC

    • H. Richard McFarland, ’52 ACES

    • Susan Sowle Suter, ’72 LAS

  • 1988

    • Gary K. Bielfeldt, ’58 ACES, MS ’59 ACES

    • Lee H. Falk, ’32 LAS

    • Richard H. Frank, ’65 BUS

    • Grover G. Hankins, JD ’72 LAW

    • Hachiro “Buddy” Koyama, AM ’80 LIR, HON ’95

    • Kathy Olesker Pounds, ’71 LAS

    • Gail Shapiro Steinberg, ’69 LAS

  • 1987

    • Max Abramovitz, ’29 FAA

    • Barton A. Cummings, ’35 MEDIA

    • W. Leonard Evans. Jr., ’35 BUS

    • John C. Houbolt, ’40 ENG, MS ’42 ENG, HON ’05

    • George E. Keck, ’32 BUS

    • Jack S. Kilby, ’47 ENG

    • Thomas A. Murphy, ’38 BUS

    • James B. “Scotty” Reston, ’32 MEDIA

    • Alfred B. Swanson, ’45 MEDIA, MD ’47 MEDIA

    • Phillips Talbot, ’36 MEDIA, ’36 LAS

    • Robert C. Underwood, JD ’39 LAW

    • Wilma L. Vaught, ’52 BUS

  • 1986

    • Lee L. Morgan, ’41 ACES

    • Steven R. Nagel, ’69 ENG

    • Lou Proana, ’66 LAS

    • Edith Ann Stotler, ’68 LAS

    • John L. Strom, ’35 MEDIA

  • 1985

    • Michael Colgrass Jr., ’56 FAA

    • Donald C. Johanson, ’66 LAS

    • Barbara Miller Knuckles, ’70 LAS, MS ’71 MEDIA

    • Prentice H. Marshall, ’49 DSSWV, JD ’51 LAW

    • Lynn Morley Martin, ’60 LAS

    • Sherman Ted Rice, ’43 ACES, MS ’48 ACES, PHD ’50 ACES

    • B. Kenneth West, ’55 LAS

  • 1984

    • Andrew Barr, ’23 BUS, MS ’24 BUS

    • Richard A. Campbell, ’49 ENG, MS ’50 ENG

    • Roger J. Ebert, ’64 MEDIA

    • Richard A. Greenberg, ’70 FAA, MFA ’72 FAA

    • Charles Marshall, ’51 ACES

    • Cesar Pelli, MS ’54 FAA

    • Meredith Pleasant Sparks, PHD ’36 LAS

  • 1983

    • James S. Brady, ’62 MEDIA

    • Harry J. Gray, ’41 MEDIA, MS ’47 MEDIA

    • Gardner W. Heidrick, ’35 BUS

    • Herbert H. McKenley, ’49 UIUC

    • Godfrey Sperling Jr., ’37 MEDIA

    • Marion Morse Wood, PHD ’65 MEDIA

  • 1982

    • John B. Anderson, ’42 LAS, JD ’46 LAW

    • Arnold Orville Beckman, ’22 LAS, MS ’23 ENG

    • Carole Kamin Bellows, ’57 LAS

    • Earl B. Dickerson, ’14 LAS, HON ’84

    • Malcolm C. Todd, ’34 LAS

    • Craig S. Virgin, ’77 MEDIA

  • 1981

    • Harold R. “Hal” Bruno Jr., ’50 MEDIA

    • Arthur S. “Arte” Johnson, ’49 MEDIA

    • Kathleen K. Kellaigh, ’76 FAA

    • Alfred N. Koplin, ’49 DSSWV

    • Lester G. Leutwiler, ’29 ENG

    • Timothy J. McCarthy, ’72 BUS

    • Nina Temple Shepherd, ’55 LAS

    • Larry A. Werries, ’62 ACES

  • 1980

    • John S. Coleman, ’57 MEDIA

    • Sheldon F. Good, ’55 BUS

    • Alan M. Hallene Sr., ’51 ENG

    • Nancy Thies Marshall, ’79 LAS

    • Cirilo A. McSween, ’54 LAS

    • Judith Ford Johnson Nash, ’73 AHS

    • Jane Hayes Rader, ’54 LAS