Alumni Awards
Each year, the Alumni Association recognizes the outstanding service and accomplishments of its members at a ceremony on UE's Founder's Day.
The Distinguished Alumnus/a Award, Distinguished Young Alummnus/a Award, the Samuel Orr Honorary Alumnus/a Award, and the Edie Bates Alumni Volunteer Service Award are presented to exceptional and active alumni nominated by their friends and classmates. So if you know a fellow alum doing worthy things in their hometown community, professional field, or in service to UE, nominate them today!
Individual award guidelines are listed below, alongside a list of the past recipients of each award.
How To Nominate
To nominate a fellow alumnus/a who shows exemplary service to his/her community and to UE, print out and complete the pdf nomination form (inset) and return it to the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN 47722, fax to 812 488-2560 or email to alumni@evansville.edu. Nominations are accepted year-round and the Alumni Awards committee of the Alumni Association Board of Directors makes their selection each fall.
UE Alumni Association Presents Annual Awards at Founders Day 2013
The UE Alumni Association presented their annual Alumni Association awards as part of UE's 159th Founders Day on Sunday, February 17, 2013. These recipients are just a few of the bright stars in the UE Community exemplifying outstanding service and accomplishment. Their passion and loyalty is recognized by both the university and the community. The University of Evansville Alumni Association would like to thank each of them for dedication and support.
Distinguished Alumnus Award
On November 28th, 2012, the University of Evansville as well as the Evansville community as a whole lost a great servant. Marjorie Soyugenc M’73 was a devoted supporter of UE, serving on the Board of Trustees since 1995, as well as many local organizations and groups. Her service to the university and her career with Welborn Baptist Foundation and Welborn Baptist Hospital have left a lasting mark upon the Evansville community; as such her posthumous recognition via this award is very much well-deserved.
Young Alumnus Award
Since graduating from the University of Evansville in 1995, George Day has continually shown his commitment to the University. George has held leadership positions in the UE community including co-chair of the Harlaxton Society Board of Directors, treasurer of Sigma Phi Epsilon housing corporation, and treasurer and Adopt-a-Student Parent for the UE Theater Society Board. He has continually advanced in his career at Old National Bank and is currently Senior Vice President, Corporate Lending Executive.
Edie Bates Volunteer Service Award
Steve and Kathie Bugg have contributed to the professional world of Evansville for numerous years and have served their community to the upmost. Both Steve and Kathie have been members of several groups and organizations across the local community, including Historic Newburgh Inc., the Reitz Home, and Mesker Park. In addition to their community service, the Buggs passionately support UE by serving on a number of boards including the Harlaxton Society, the Neu Chapel Society, the Purple Aces Club, Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Men’s Basketball Blue Ribbon Committee.
Samuel Orr Honorary Alumna Award
Despite not having graduated from the University of Evansville, Patricia A. Kishline is very much a friend of the university. Throughout the years, Patti Kishline has dedicated herself to UE through various mediums. She is an ardent supporter of the UE Theatre Society, the UE President’s Club, and the UE Sponsor-a-Student Program. She has also been passionately involved with the Neu Chapel Society Board of Directors. Her dedication to UE is only equaled by her career as a professional and her support of her community. Patti is retired from Bristol Myers Squibb as manager of nursing education.
Past Winners
Distinguished Alumni Award - The Distinguished Alumni Award was established by the Alumni Association Board of Directors in 1990. This is the highest honor which the Association can bestow upon an alumnus/a. The award recognizes an individual's achievements in his/her professional field, service to his/her community and exceptional leadership and service to the University.
Distinguished Alumnus/a Award Recipients:
- 1990 - Wayne A. Davidson '56
- 1991 - D.W. '31 & Alma Vaughn '34
- 1992 - Arad A. McCutchan '34
- 1993 - Matt Williams '73
- 1994 - No award presented
- 1995 - Lt. Gen. John B. Conaway '56 H '86
- 1996 - Dr. J. Allen McCutchan '64
- 1997 - Dr. Richard H. Lyon '52 H '76
- 1998 - Donald W. Griffin '61
- 1999 - No Award Presented
- 2000 - Donald Ricketts '55
- 2001 - David '73 & Elizabeth (Wagner) McFadzean '74
- 2002 - Rita (Patry) Eykamp '59
- 2003 - Maj. Gen. Verna Fairchild (Ret.) '72
- 2004 - Larry Mackey '73
- 2005 - Jerry Sloan '65, M'73
- 2006 - B. James Dawson '67, M'70
- 2007 - Maj Gen R. Martin Umbarger '69
- 2008 - Ronald Glass '68
- 2009 - Robert A. Plane '48
- 2010 - Rose (Cole) Mays '67
- 2011 - Steve Harkness '70
- 2012 - R. Edward Coleman '65
Distinguished Young Alumni Award - The Distinguished Young Alumni Award was established in 1997. This honor is presented to an alumnus/a under the age of 40 who has made significant strides in his/her personal and professional development and who has demonstrated service to the University and his/her community.
Young Alumnus Award Recipients:
- 1997 - Andrew Benes '89
- 1998 - Anita Horn Rizek '89
- 1999 - Joe J. Wallace '82
- 2000 - James Purucker '86
- 2001 - Michael Alden '80, '85
- 2002 - Michael A. Parker '84
- 2003 - J. Bryan Nicol '87
- 2004 - Sharon Grandberry '97
- 2005 - David Bertorello '89
- 2006 - No award presented
- 2007 - Holly (Collier) Marks '96
- 2008 - Sally Rideout Lambert '92
- 2009 - Danette G. Scudder '96
- 2010 - Len Devaisher '98
- 2011 - Melissa Guthrie Wagler '04
- 2012 - Craig Bryan '01
Samuel Orr Honorary Alumni Award - This award was established in 1971 as the Honorary Alumni Award; in 1997, the award was renamed in honor of Dr. Samuel Orr. Dr. Orr served the University as a trustee for 59 years. This award recognizes a non-alumnus/a for his/her personal and professional accomplishments and service to the University. It is the highest honor the Association can bestow upon a non-alumnus.
Samuel Orr Honorary Alumnus/a Award Recipients:
- 1971 - A.C. Biggs & Robert W. Hudson
- 1973 - Virgil C. Bailey, Dr. Ralph H. Coleman & Carl H. Hottenstein
- 1974 - Dale D. Campbell, Dr. and Mrs. Donald W. Dunham, Dr. and Mrs. Robert R. Rowland & Dr. J. Harry Whetstone
- 1975 - William F. Montrastelle, Major Thomas A. Morrison & William F. Robertson
- 1976 - Oscar H. Jeude, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse E. Kent Jr. & Thomas C. Rose
- 1977 - Alvin V. Dauble, Dr. and Mrs. Melvin W. Hyde, Dr. Dean Long & Aubrey D. Ryals
- 1978 - Mr. and Mrs. Raymond O. Clutter, John M. Cooke & Robert E. Green
- 1979 - James A. Byers & John M. Oberhelman
- 1980 - Dr. and Mrs. Wallace B. Graves
- 1981 - Clarence Harrison & Clarence R. Pitman
- 1982 - John H. Schroeder
- 1983 - Robert M. Kent & Dr. Samuel Orr
- 1984 - William H. Suhrheinrich & C. Wayne Worthington
- 1985 - Robert L. Koch
- 1986 - Wahnita DeLong, Phillip E. Drachman & Dallas Suhrheinrich
- 1987 - Dr. Orville J. Jaebker
- 1988 - H. Lee Cooper III
- 1990 - Judy M. Steenberg
- 1991 - Melvin M. Peterson & Dr. William L. Ridgway
- 1992 - Barbara St. Clair McKenna & Virginia G. Schroeder
- 1993 - Dr. Virginia Grabill
- 1994 - no award presented
- 1995 - Dan W. Mitchell
- 1996 - Robert H. Menke
- 1997 - Dr. and Mrs. James S. Vinson
- 1998 - Mrs. Mary Kay Powell
- 1999 - Larry E. Dunigan
- 2000 - John C. Schroeder & Ruth Bromm
- 2001 - Alan Braun
- 2002 - Richard Shymanski
- 2003 - Robert L. Koch II
- 2004 - Sharon and Burkley McCarthy
- 2005 - Frank Hirschman
- 2006 - Niel and Karen Ellerbrook
- 2007 - Sally and Stephen Jennings
- 2008 - Dr. David Gugin
- 2009 - Donald B. and Jean O. Korb
- 2010 - G. Richard Eykamp
- 2011 - Laurel Vaughn
- 2012 - Richard and Patrice Schroeder
Edie Bates Alumni Volunteer Service Award - The Edie Bates Alumni Volunteer Service Award was established in 1998. The award is named in honor of Edie Bates'42, a University trustee. This award was established to recognize an alumnus/a for his/her exemplary volunteer service to his/her community and the University.
Edie Bates Alumni Volunteer Service Award Recipients:
- 1999 - Edie Bates '42
- 2000 - Meg Dettwiler '73 (posthumously)
- 2001 - Jerry Purdie '59
- 2002 - Michael Woodard '70
- 2003 - Wilfred C. Bussing III '77
- 2004 - Jerry Linzy '66, M'73
- 2005 - Linda Alvers '74, M'79
- 2006 - Curran Cotton '57
- 2007 - Sue (O'Keefe) Hodapp '82
- 2008 - Thornton Patberg '52
- 2009 - Susan E. '74 and Steve W. '73 Worthington
- 2010 - Thomas Southwood '81
- 2011 - Barbara Price '66