Each year Illinois State University’s Alumni Association recognizes alumni for their outstanding contributions to their fields, their impact on society, and their passion for Illinois State through the Alumni Awards program. They include:

Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Jenny Pan-Yun Ting ’75
William R. Kenan Professor of Genetics, Microbiology-Immunology
Immunology Program Co-Leader at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Director of Center for Translational Immunology
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Major/College: Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Science and Technology

Alumni Achievement Award
Carl Hulse ’76
Chief Washington Correspondent, The New York Times
Major/College: Communication, College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Tom D. Wang ’77
Physician; Professor and Director at Oregon Health Science University
Major/College: Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

Senator John W. Maitland Jr., Commitment to Education Award
Ralph E. Grimm ’83, M.S. ’86
Retired Superintendent
Major/College: Business Education/Educational Administration, College of Business/College of Education

E. Burton Mercier Alumni Service Award
Robert L. Freitag ’84
Retired Circuit Judge
Major/College: Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences

Andrew Purnell Jr. Trailblazer Award
James L. Bennett ’87
Director of Illinois Department of Human Rights
Major/College: Marketing, College of Business

Tiara M. Tucker ’04, M.S. ’09
Founder/CEO of Tiara PR Network and Speak That! Movement
Major/College: Public Relations/Communication, College of Arts and Sciences

Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Dr. Jennifer J. Parker ’04
Physician Scientist at Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University
Major/College: Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Julie Raeder Schumacher, M.S. ’05, Ed.D. ’09
Professor for Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Illinois State University
Major/College: Dietetic Internship/Teaching and Learning, College of Applied Science and Technology/College of Education

Nominations are also being sought for the 2023 Alumni Awards. Deadline to submit is May 31, 2022.