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.
Kate D. McMahon, ’91 LAS
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.
Christopher S. Carpenter, ’87 LAS
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.
2025
Paul Rudolph, ’89 FAA
Annie Crawley, ’90 MEDIA
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
