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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One spring afternoon in 1950, Bob Osterhaus (52BSPh) was in his University of Iowa room studying for a botany exam when fate came knocking. ?Bill Wallace, who lived down the hall, came to my door and asked if I wanted to join him and a girl from his hometown for a picnic at Lake Macbride,? says Bob. ?I told him that I needed a date, so Bill found me one.? That date turned out to be Ann Duhigg Osterhaus (52BA), and their first outing led to a lasting romance. ?I remember thinking, ?Wow, she is something,?? says Bob, who has been married to Ann for more than 65 years. Ann and Bob Osterhaus Neither Bob nor Ann could have envisioned that a picnic at Lake Macbride would be the start of a lasting connection with the University of Iowa. Now, 68 years later, three generations of Osterhauses have graduated from Iowa, and in turn, have become its strong advocates and supporters. On Saturday, Nov. 10, the Osterhauses will be recognized as the inaugural recipients of the University of Iowa?s Family Spirit Award at halftime of the Iowa-Northwestern football game. The newly created award recognizes a Hawkeye family?spanning at least three generations?that supports, or volunteers time to, the University of Iowa and personally or professionally contributes toward bettering the state of Iowa and its communities. A total of 46 Osterhaus family members will be in attendance for Family Weekend. ?The Osterhaus legacy of generosity and volunteerism is truly inspirational and has made a significant impact on the College of Pharmacy and the University of Iowa,? says Lynette Marshall, president and CEO of the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. ?This is a well-deserved honor for a tremendous family, and I?m excited for them to receive the inaugural Family Spirit Award.? The Iowa connection runs deep for the Osterhauses. Five of Bob and Ann?s children graduated from Iowa?the Rev. Mark Osterhaus (78BA), Matt Osterhaus (80BSPh), Jane Osterhaus (81BSPh), Molly Osterhaus Whitmore (84BSN) and Meg Osterhaus McNaught (87BS). In addition, three grandchildren are Iowa graduates and one is a current UI student. ?The University of Iowa played a large part in my upbringing and my husband?s, and our children have been singing the Iowa Fight Song since they could talk,? says Molly, whose husband, Robert Whitmore (86BSE), and in-laws also graduated from Iowa. ?My parents have given so much back to Iowa, and I think it?s a great award to give on Family Weekend. It?s truly a special honor.? Molly and her siblings developed these strong Iowa connections in Maquoketa, Iowa, where Bob owned and operated Osterhaus Pharmacy for 30 years. He tirelessly served the health needs of the community and was involved in numerous national and international pharmacy organizations. Both Bob and his son, Matt?who now runs Osterhaus Pharmacy with his wife, Marilyn Slee Osterhaus (80BSPh)?have been active in statewide initiatives through advocacy and volunteerism in campaigns, councils, steering committees and boards. The father and son have served as presidents of the Iowa Pharmacy Association and the American Pharmacists Association; Bob and Ann received the Outstanding Community Partner Award from the UI Office of Outreach and Engagement for helping stimulate renewal efforts in Maquoketa; and Matt received the State of Iowa Governor?s Volunteer Award. Osterhaus Pharmacy was one of the first pharmacies to host University of Iowa students from the post-graduate residency program for clinical rotations, and to date, more than 300 UI students and professionals have benefitted from these hands-on experiences. Today, Osterhaus Pharmacy continues to be a champion for pharmaceutical care, pharmacy education and the pharmacy profession in Iowa and around the world. ?The University of Iowa is part of the fabric of our lives,? says Matt, whose father-in-law, Jack Slee (58BSPh), also was a graduate of the UI College of Pharmacy. ?We believe it?s a place that attracts people who want to go out and be successful?not only doing well in the world, but doing well for the world.? Besides providing valuable learning opportunities for future pharmacists, the Osterhauses also have given financially to the university that has given them so much. ?We have made so many wonderful friendships at Iowa,? says Ann. ?When you?ve been very fortunate?with happy lives and success in the community?you should give back with your time and your treasure, and we?ve tried to do that at the University of Iowa.? Learn more about the latest news, programming and events for alumni and friends.

The Iowa Black Alumni Network (IBAN) connects African-American alumni and current students with one another.

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