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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).

Submit an Online Nomination

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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Building Championship Programs

A love for the Hawkeyes has motivated Brian Luing and his family to support Iowa women?s gymnastics PHOTO: Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com Brian Luing (fifth from right) recently attended the grand opening of the Nagle-Duda Gymnastics & Spirit Squads Training Center. Luing and his family made a leadership gift to the facility project. Brian Luing will never forget the puzzled look on Hayden Fry?s face. Donning an Iowa sweatshirt, Luing?a college student at the time?decided to take a stroll onto the Kinnick Stadium field during pregame warm-ups. ?Back in the 1980s, when you sat in the end zone, you could easily walk onto the field before the game,? says Luing. ?I saw Coach Fry on the 50-yard line, so I decided to walk over and wish him good luck. He gave me the strangest look?but thanked me.? It was one of many memories he made with his father, Larry (51BSC), who started taking him to games as a teenager. Now, he?s passing his love for the Hawkeyes along to his two daughters, Danielle and Erica. ?My father got me hooked, and as time went on, that?s how I really connected with him?through Iowa football,? says Luing. ?I see that with my own daughters now, because they love Iowa sports, too.? PHOTO: Submitted Photo Brian Luing (upper right) poses with Kevin Collins, assistant vice president for athletics development, and Beth Goetz, the Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair, during a recent women's gymnastics meet in Iowa City. Hawkeye Memories Fuel Philanthropy After his father passed away in 2016, Luing and his three brothers wanted to find a meaningful way to honor their dad. Through their charitable foundation, the family made a $500,000 gift to support renovations to Kinnick Stadium?s north end zone. It was a fitting tribute to someone who introduced the entire family to Iowa football. ?One of the things we love about Iowa City is that when you wake up there on a Saturday morning, there?s an energy in the town,? says Luing. ?Everyone has waited all week for the football game. There aren?t pro sports in Iowa, and for us, Kinnick Stadium is the state?s Yankee Stadium. That seemed like a great way to give back while honoring my dad, because our connection to Iowa started with football.? Despite living in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, Luing attends Iowa football games and is a passionate, die-hard Hawkeye fan. But, a once-in-a-generation talent, Caitlin Clark (24BBA), opened up his interests to more of Iowa?s sports teams. ?I started to go to the women?s basketball games and ended up going to the 2023 and 2024 Final Fours. I was also in Iowa City when she broke the national scoring record,? says Luing. ?I was much more involved?thanks to Caitlin?and she supercharged my interest.? He also watched his two daughters compete on college club synchronized skating teams and started to find a deeper passion for all women?s sports. ?Not all of the sports get the recognition they deserve,? says Luing. ?We started going to Iowa gymnastics meets, and those student-athletes work so hard. I found a really meaningful connection between my daughters and sports like gymnastics.? PHOTO: Submitted Photo Caitlin Clark takes a selfie with Brian Luing after the 2024 Big Ten Tournament Championship win in Minneapolis. A Vital Partner in a New Facility Although Luing was never a gymnast, he?s awestruck by their talent and skills. ?I really enjoy the floor exercise?that?s probably my favorite event,? says Luing. ?The tumbling passes are amazing to watch. Their athleticism is very apparent?not only on the floor, but in all the events.? He has attended several Iowa women?s gymnastics meets over the years?both in Iowa City and closer to his home in New Jersey. He also attended their recent NCAA regional appearance in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and has appreciated getting to know the team. ?It?s been great meeting some of the student-athletes,? says Luing. ?I can tell that they are a close-knit team?and that?s a testament to the coaching staff and the positive environment they have created.? To elevate Iowa women?s gymnastics?as well as all women?s sports?Brian and his wife, Tara, supported the new Nagle-Duda Gymnastics & Spirit Squads Training Center that opened earlier this year. To honor their commitment, the multipurpose team room is named in the family?s honor. ?I hope this new facility gives the GymHawks a competitive advantage in recruiting, as well as training for meets,? says Luing. ?Giving the Iowa Spirit Squads a home is also important as well, because they are a vital part of so many Iowa athletics events. We?ve gotten a lot from Iowa, and we?re glad to give back in this way.?

Alumni Affinity Groups and Affiliated Alumni Networks

Iowa alumni with shared connections are invited to join an affinity group. Some of these organizations are an extension of student interests, like Alumni Band or Dance Marathon Alumni Group.

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