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Home Distinguished Alumni Awards Distinguished Alumni Awards Nomination Information

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS NOMINATION INFORMATION

Recognizing Our Alumni Successes

The University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Awards Committee—which includes members of our Alumni Leadership Council—aims to recognize a broad range of qualified candidates who embody the university’s core values by honoring them with Distinguished Alumni Awards. The committee selects an annual recipient in each of the following categories:

  • The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award recognizes graduates or former students who demonstrate significant accomplishments in their business or professional lives as well as distinguished service to their university, community, state, or nation.
  • The Distinguished Alumni Service Award recognizes graduates or former students who demonstrate specific and meritorious service to their university, community, state, or nation.
  • The Distinguished Alumni Hickerson Recognition Award recognizes graduates or former students for outstanding contributions to their alma mater. This award is named in honor of the late Loren Hickerson (40BA), the university’s first full-time alumni director and an ardent UI champion.
  • The Distinguished Recent Graduate Award recognizes graduates or former students, age 40 or younger at their time of nomination, for significant accomplishments in their business or professional lives as well as for distinguished service to their university, community, state, or nation.
  • The Distinguished Friend of the University Award recognizes individuals who are not alumni for specific and meritorious service that enhances and advances the university.
  • The Distinguished Faculty Award recognizes retired or former faculty for significant achievements and for specific meritorious service that enhances and advances the university. Nominees need not be alumni.
  • The Distinguished “Forevermore” Staff Award recognizes retired or former staff for significant achievements and for specific meritorious service that enhances and advances the university. Nominees need not be alumni.

NOMINATION FORMAT

Graduates, former students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University of Iowa may make nominations (the Distinguished Alumni Awards Committee reserves the right to reassign nomination categories, if deemed applicable). Nominators should submit the following:

  • Cover letter that states the nomination category, endorses the candidate’s qualifications, and highlights how the nominee embodies the UI's core values
  • Nominee's vita or professional résumé, including a current address
  • Three or more letters of recommendation from other individuals who support the nomination
  • Any additional information that would further substantiate the nomination

EXCLUSION FROM ELIGIBILITY

Current members of the University of Iowa Center for Advancement’s board of directors and staff, members of the Alumni Leadership Council, and current full‑time university faculty and staff are not eligible to receive these awards. Individuals currently in a position of elected or appointed office or known to be launching a campaign are also not eligible to receive these awards. All nominees must be living at the time of nomination and cannot have received a University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Award in the same category in the past. Nominations by active Awards Committee members will not be reviewed until the member’s term has concluded on the committee. The Awards Committee reserves the right to consider and approve exceptions to the exclusions from eligibility.

AWARDS TIMELINE

Nominations for the 2026 awards will open in May 2025 and close on January 31, 2026. The Distinguished Alumni Awards Committee will meet in April 2026 to review all nominations and make the annual selections. Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented at a special ceremony on the Friday before the University of Iowa's Homecoming (Fall 2026).

MAIL NOMINATIONS TO:

The University of Iowa Center for Advancement
Distinguished Alumni Awards
One West Park Road
Iowa City, Iowa 52244

For more information, email Nici Bontrager or call 319-467-3607.

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Providing Support Amid a Pandemic

Hawkeyes are giving back to help with challenges stemming from the coronavirus. Suddenly unemployed and without access to a lab, Tania Tapia wondered how she would complete her chemistry degree. The University of Iowa senior previously worked nearly 30 hours a week between two jobs, but now she couldn't afford her apartment rent or internet?a necessity with all UI classes moving to online instruction on March 30. Many UI students are facing a similar situation as the coronavirus has drastically altered the lives of the entire UI community. The closure of most on-campus housing and numerous area businesses has forced many UI students to relocate and look for new sources of income to pay for rent, food, and utilities, while also preparing for a completely different classroom experience. Tania Tapia The University of Iowa is asking its alumni and friends to help these students by making a gift to the UI Student Life Emergency Fund. The fund, which was created to assist UI students who encounter an unforeseen financial emergency or catastrophic event that negatively impacts their academic success, awards microgrants that average between $50-$350. That need is now greater than ever before. Tapia is one of the first students who has benefited from the fund, allowing her to focus on her education. ?These microgrants make a huge difference in the lives of students,? says Tapia. ?It?s the difference in being able to attend online lectures and not being evicted from your apartment.? Although the UI will continue to pay its student employees, many students are facing unexpected expenses and the loss of work in the community. More than 900 students have already applied for assistance from the UI Student Life Emergency Fund, which is funded by the University of Iowa Student Government, the University of Iowa Graduate and Professional Student Government, and donations from alumni and friends. Nikki Hodous, the director of student care and assistance in the UI Office of the Dean of Stu-dents, expects hundreds more to apply for assistance as they face unanticipated challenges stemming from COVID-19. ?The student experience, both academically and socially, has completely shifted in a very short amount of time,? says Hodous. ?This fund will help alleviate some of the students? immediate worries to allow them to continue to focus on their academics and find options for long-term support.? Hodous also works with the UI Office of Student Financial Aid to seek additional funding options that students may qualify for. While these microgrants may only cover a portion of a student's expenses, each award can provide a significant emotional boost during a time of uncertainty and anxiety. ?These expenses that many take for granted are the ones keeping students up at night, wondering whether or not they'll be able to keep the lights on,? says Noel Mills, president of the UI Student Government. ?A microgrant might not save the world, but for a struggling student it could mean the world.? As the entire UI community continues to be affected by COVID-19, Hawkeyes from across the state, nation, and world are reaching out to help one another. ?We are grateful to the many donors who are supporting our students,? says Lynette Marshall, president and CEO of the UI Center for Advancement. ?During this time of great uncertainty, it?s no surprise that our network of alumni and friends are reaching out, in full force, to take care of their fellow Hawkeyes.? Please support the UI Student Life Emergency Fund today!

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NOTICE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is an operational name for the State University of Iowa Foundation, an independent, Iowa nonprofit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable entity that works to advance the University of Iowa. Please review its full disclosure statement.

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