Award Description
The Honors Program, with the support of the Honors Board of Associate Directors, annually awards an Honors alumni with the distinction of Honors Distinguished Alumni. Nominees are Honors Scholar graduates who have excelled in their career fields while making significant contributions to society or academia. Nominations may be submitted by students, faculty members, staff members, or friends to the Honors Program via the online nomination form. Self-nominations are also accepted.
Requirements for Nominations
- The nominee must have graduated from the University of Connecticut as an Honors Scholar or University Honors Laureate.
- Typically, the nominee should have graduated at least 15 years prior to receiving the award.
- The nominee should exhibit excellence in their professional life or have made a significant contribution to society or academia.
- The nominee must agree to appear in person at the Honors Medals Ceremony.
Nomination Process
- Applications for the 2023 Honors Distinguished Alumni Award have closed. Thank you.
Selection Process
- Nominees will be notified of their nomination during the spring semester.
- The Honors Program will confirm each nominee’s availability to attend the Honors Medals Ceremony.
- More than one nominee may receive the award in a given year.
Awardee Expectations
- The awardee will submit a biography and photograph (high resolution/black & white) of themself for use by the University. The biography and image will be included in the event program and posted on the Honors website.
- The awardee agrees to attend the Honors Medals Ceremony. They are encouraged to invite faculty, family, and friends. They will wear regalia and accept their medal on stage.
For More Information
Please email honors@uconn.edu to request additional information.
Past Recipients of the Honors Distinguished Alumni Award
2022: Peter Langer ’68 CLAS
2020: Sarah Wojiski ’97 CAHNR (Diagnostic Genetic Sciences) is the Director of Education at the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, CT. Following a Ph.D. in genetics from Harvard University, she completed a teaching and curriculum fellowship at Harvard Medical School, working on graduate and medical genetics curriculum reform.
2019: Alan Bennett ’69 CLAS
2018: The Honors Inaugural Class of 1968
2017: Sarah D. Kambou ’80 CLAS
2017: Kate C. Farrar, ’97 CLAS
2016: David Fetterman’76 CLAS (Anthropology; History) Recognized as a leading scholar in American education, Dr. Fetterman is author to 16 books and hundreds of articles and chapters on the subject. The recommendations from his book, Excellence and Equality, led the U.S. Department of Education to formulate a panel to select a national center for the gifted and talented.
2016: Mark Romanoff ’79 CLAS (Biopsychology) Dr. Romanoff is on the committee on Narcotic Use and Diversion of the North Carolina Medical Society in North Carolina (NC), one of four states with the highest incidence of abuse. In 2007, Dr. Romanoff helped create a centralized database of all controlled medicines in NC.
2015: Patricia Friar ’80 BUS is a retired GE human resources business leader who dedicated 26 years to the company. She was responsible for thousands of employees, led due diligence initiatives, and contributed to millions in income growth.
2015: Robert LaBarre ’76 CLAS (Mathematics), ’76 CLAS, ’92 CLAS has been an industrial mathematician at United Technologies Research Center for nearly forty years. He is a lead scientist, inventor, mentor, and educator.
2014: Howard M. Sandler ’78 CLAS (Physics), ’91 CLAS, ’85 MEDICINE is a researcher expert in radiation oncology, and Professor and Chairman of Radiation Oncology at the Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
2014: Brian Preleski ’87 (English), ’91 LAW is Connecticut State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Britain, who is active in professional associations and teaches a graduate seminar at the University of St. Joseph.
2013: Anthony E. Chiodo ’80 CLAS (Psychology), ’84 MEDICINE is an expert in spinal injury and recovery, a researcher and medical director, and a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
2013: Chad A. Landmon ’96 CLAS (Political Science and Economics), ’99 LAW is a leading litigator and counselor, focusing on FDA processes and litigating complex patent cases involving drug products.
2012: Marian Kennedy ’70 CLAS (Psychology) is an accomplished attorney, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has practiced law in the U.S. and The Netherlands.
2012: Bill DeWalt ’69 CLAS (Sociology/Anthropology), ’76 CLAS (Cultural Anthropology) has applied his expansive background in world cultures to a diverse career as a scholar, educator, administrator, consultant, fundraiser, author, and director.
2011: Robert M. Holster ’68 CLAS (Economics) is an expert business leader with extensive experience managing healthcare financial organizations.
2011: Nicole McKinney Lindsay ’96 BUS (Business Administration) is a civic-minded businesswoman who has used her education and experience to advance opportunities for underrepresented minorities.
2010: Roger Ballentine ’85 CLAS (Economics) is an energy and environmental entrepreneur and advisor for both public and private industry.
2010: Virginia DeJohn Anderson ’76 CLAS (History) is a scholar, educator, and prolific author of colonial and Revolutionary American history.
2009: Daniel LeVine ’78 CLAS (Mathematics) provided a unique approach to hedge fund trading through his vast knowledge of mathematical techniques.
2009: Mark Weidenbaum ’77 CLAS (Chemistry) is an orthopedic surgeon known internationally for his professional and academic contributions to his field.
2008: Bonnie Sarno Vontell ’81 CLAS (History), ’84 LAW has represented her community as a public servant, business owner, and non-profit leader.
2007: Carolyn Runowicz ’73 (Biological Sciences) is a physician, researcher, educator, author, and fearless advocate of women’s health.