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.
Paul Rudolph, ’89 FAA
Paul Rudolph, ’89 FAA, is a musician, composer, arranger, music director, Emmy Award-winner and instrument builder. Since 2008, the Normal, Ill., native has been the vocal arranger and music director for Sesame Street, where he received Emmy nominations for music direction in 2009 and 2013 and won three consecutive Emmys for sound editing from 2016 to 2018. He also composes music for the educational children’s TV series, directs voiceover and looping sessions, records Muppet character and guest vocals and music-directs live performances. His musical guests have included such well-known contemporary artists as Elvis Costello, Jason Mraz, Billy Porter, Sia, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Audra McDonald, Usher, Bruno Mars, Jimmy Fallon and the U. S. Marine Corps Band.
From 1997 to 2008, Rudolph worked with commercial composing team Trivers/Myers Music, where he sharpened his conducting skills during sessions with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and top studio musicians. As a percussionist and instrument builder, Rudolph’s unique found-object instruments have been featured in films, TV shows and commercials, and his percussion performance art group, GLANK, has been entertaining audiences since 2002.
Rudolph’s music-industry career began in 1995 with composer and music director Richard Gibbs, assisting him on The Tracey Ullman Show. Commercial and film projects followed, and Rudolph eventually joined Muppets Tonight as its assistant music director, where he met his wife, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph (Sesame Street’s Abby Cadabby). The couple divide their time between Astoria, N.Y., and Glendale, Calif., and have co-produced a CD for Carrara’s children’s play, Wake Up Your Weird.
Annie Crawley, ’90 MEDIA
Annie Crawley, ’90 MEDIA, a.k.a. “Ocean Annie,” is a pioneering underwater filmmaker, environmental photojournalist, author and ocean advocate whose career spans more than three decades. A Chicago native, she has become a driving force for ocean literacy, exploration and conservation through immersive storytelling and education.
After discovering scuba diving post-college, Crawley charted a bold course—becoming a 100-ton U.S. Coast Guard captain, a PADI Master Scuba Instructor and a 2010 inductee to the Women Divers Hall of Fame. Her award-winning books and films—including Plastic Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Planet Ocean: Why We All Need a Healthy Ocean and Ocean Life From A to Z—have reached global audiences, inspiring millions to care for and become a voice for our oceans.
Through her Our Ocean and You campaign, Crawley leads a youth scuba diving team in the Pacific Northwest. Her team conducts underwater cleanups, documents marine life and speaks at community events—empowering the next generation of environmental changemakers.
Her recent work includes ocean-themed visual compositions for symphonies with renowned composer Dr. Stella Sung—merging science, music and art to spotlight noise, chemical and sound pollution. Her latest documentary, The Island of the Shark: Guardians of Malpelo, highlights shark conservation and the fight against illegal fishing in Colombia.
As a columnist for Scuba Diving Magazine and an in-demand speaker, Crawley connects audiences to the ocean—the blue heart of our planet. Whether she’s on stage, in classrooms or underwater with fins on her feet and cameras in hand, Crawley challenges us to dive deeper—to hear the ocean’s story and recognize the role we all play in the ocean’s future.
2023
Karen P. Layng, ’84 LAS, JD ’87
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
