Alumni Awards
We proudly recognize our outstanding UIU alumni award recipients.
Each of the individuals highlighted below has received one of our prestigious alumni awards. We are inspired by their outstanding professional accomplishments as an emerging alumni, or through service to the University, community or country.
If you know someone who is especially deserving of recognition, please nominate them for one of our Homecoming Alumni Awards. Recipients are honored each year during the Alumni Awards & Honor Class Brunch.
The nomination deadline is Monday, June 27. Questions? Please contact the Alumni Office at [email protected] or 563-425-5388.
2022 Service to University Award

Marcia Andrews
Class of 1973
As co-founder of UIU’s E.Y.E. fraternity, Marcia Andrews helped to establish the group as a freshman in 1969. Over five decades later, she continues to dedicate a tremendous amount of time and effort to keep the legacy of E.Y.E. alive at UIU. Andrews is normally the point person for annual E.Y.E. reunions and leads the effort to celebrate the organization’s other milestone anniversaries. In 2019, she helped reconnect nearly 200 UIU alumni by organizing E.Y.E.’s 50-year reunion. Her dedication to UIU and E.Y.E. is about more than simply sending letters and invitations. For example, when Graff Hall was razed at Fayette Campus, Andrews filled the trunk of her car with bricks to deliver to as many E.Y.E. members as she could so they would always have a piece of UIU with them. At reunions, she organizes elaborate trivia games on the subject of E.Y.E. and UIU women. The end result has been cementing countless lifelong friendships and an endless passion for UIU.
2022 Professional Accomplishment Award

David Stevens
Class of 1977
David Stevens has been a longtime contributor to the information technology industry. Between 1993 and 1997, Stevens served as a University of Iowa adjunct professor of business policy. He has since held key IT leadership roles with nationally and globally recognized companies including Alliant Energy, Hewlett-Packard (formerly EDS), and Fujitsu America, where he currently holds the head position of governance and assurance. Throughout his business career, Stevens has helped transition and transform the IT services and systems of customers including those for NASA, US Military Health System, Navy-Marine Corps, Kraft, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Department of Homeland Security.
2022 Service to Community Award

Jon Miller
Class of 1975
While attending UIU, Jon Miller was a founding member of the Acacia fraternity. His dedication to the organization continued long after graduation, assisting with its 45-year reunion, including a corresponding golf event, brunch, tailgate and dinner. Similarly, he has provided a lifetime of service to his local churches, youth programs, and other community organizations and events. A Knights of Columbus member, he has planted Tulips for the Pella Tulip festival, umpired baseball and softball games, coached Little League, organized an AAU girls’ basketball program, organized two Mar-Mac all-school reunions, and volunteers at the local Hospice Comfort House and Principal Charity Classic. In 2011, Miller retired after a long career as a business manager/school board secretary for the Mar-Mac (Marquette/McGregor), Carlisle, Independence and Pella, Iowa, school districts.
2022 Service to Country Award

Dietrich Denali Cerna
Class of 20f11
Dietrich Denali Cerna joined the U.S. Army in December 1993. He attained the rank of sergeant first class and was a leader in multiple facets all through his career in the Army. Cerna retired after over 20 years of honorable military service, which included numerous deployments and oversea tours. He was deployed to Kosovo and Iraq twice in America’s effort to counter terrorism. His oversea tours included Alaska, Germany and Korea. Cerna’s many awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2), Commendation Medal (6), Achievement Medal (5), Army Good Conduct Medal (6), National Defense Service Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Kosovo Campaign Medal.
2022 Emerging Alumni Award

Hadeel Osman
Class of 2014
An active student while attending UIU, Hadeel Osman is credited for always been a deeply passionate, motivated and creative individual. As the founder of DAVU Studio, she was most recently listed among the 2020 Forbes Africa 30 Under 30. Osman is a creative director, mentor, stylist and designer who has worked on several projects with clients in Dubai, Kenya, Singapore, Egypt, Zimbabwe and Sudan to enhance their visual branding strategies. Detail-oriented and solutions-driven, she is an advocate for change and development in Sudan and across Africa, and is heavily involved in the pursuit of evolving the local and regional contemporary fashion scene into a fully functioning industry. An ambassador for the Slow Fashion Movement, country coordinator of Fashion Revolution Sudan, and board member of the Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion, Osman has taken a stand against the negative impacts of industrial fashion practices, while embracing a more holistic and decolonized approach to making, wearing and restoring garments.
Wall of Fame
We honor past recipients of our prestigious alumni awards.
Service to Community Award
Name | Awarded Year | Graduate Year |
---|---|---|
Jon Miller | 2021 | 1975 |
Larry Kaberle | 2020 | 1965 |
Jason Zilk | 2019 | 1994 |
Cheryl (Dale) Hand | 2018 | 1971 |
Daniel Bencivenga | 2017 | 2013 |
Freddie Northern | 2016 | 1976 |
Lowell Tiedt | 2015 | 1971 |
Edie Sieg-Reed | 2014 | 2008 |
Mike Aschinger | 2013 | 2011 |
Leota (Morgan) Didier | 2012 | 1943 |
Brad Mattear | 2010 | 1995 |
Fred Tully | 2009 | 1963 |
Lon Butikofer | 2008 | 1983 |
Jacquelyn (Bowers) McTaggart | 2007 | 1964 |
Wacinque Amistad Kaizen BeMende | 2006 | 1996 |
Pamela Whitmore | 2005 | 1965 |
Scott Lebin | 2004 | 1964 |
Warren Mitchell | 2003 | 1942, 1976 |
Richard Smith | 2002 | 1952 |
Professional Accomplishment Award
Name | Awarded Year | Graduate Year |
---|---|---|
David Stevens | 2021 | 1977 |
Rick McGeough | 2020 | 1968 |
Bill DeLauro | 2019 | 1978 |
Kathleen (Kerrigan) Horstmeyer | 2018 | 1966 |
Marcia Anderson | 2017 | 1972 |
Veryl Sell | 2016 | 1960 |
Urmilah Dass | 2015 | 2003 |
William Daniels | 2014 | 1962 |
Teri (Vanderheiden) Salmons | 2012 | 1976 |
Jamie Bunn | 2012 | 1992 |
Michael Prochaska | 2010 | 1989 |
Harry Maue | 2009 | 1976 |
Mark Ebetino | 2008 | 1998 |
Victor Miller | 2007 | 1969 |
David Vaudt | 2006 | 1976 |
Michael Daniels | 2005 | 1978 |
Derek Mosley | 2004 | 1992 |
Bill Ites | 2003 | 1988 |
Kris Hansen | 2002 | 1992 |
Service to Country Award
Name | Awarded Year | Graduate Year |
---|---|---|
Dietrich Denali Cerna | 2021 | 2011 |
John Welch | 2020 | 2017 |
Tito Reed | 2019 | 2013 |
Bob King | 2018 | 1987 |
Michael Knight | 2017 | 2001 |
Wacinque Amistad Kaizen BeMende | 2016 | 1996 |
J.R. Richardson | 2015 | 1981 |
Robert Betz | 2014 | 1989 |
Lawson Coapstick | 2013 | 1983 |
Benjamin Cooper | 2012 | 1998 |
Angie (Kimball) Joseph | 2012 | 1982 |
Service to University Award
Name | Awarded Year | Graduate Year |
---|---|---|
Marcia Andrews | 2021 | 1973 |
Jeffrey Stavnes | 2020 | 1976 |
Pamela Whitmore | 2019 | 1965 |
LaVerne McCoy | 2018 | 1998 |
Jann (Schellhammer) Henkes | 2017 | 1978 |
Becky (Anderegg) Wadian | 2016 | 1972 |
Sabrina Schmitt | 2016 | 2000 |
Shankar Thiruchelvam | 2015 | 2003 |
Raleigh Amyx | 2013 | 1974 |
Roger Bowen | 2012 | 1955 |
Foster Cass | 2011 | 1941 |
Lewis Churbuck | 2010 | 1967 |
Betty (Follett) Andres | 2009 | 1946 |
Bob Firth | 2008 | 1989 |
Jim Day | 2007 | 1967 |
Bill Prochaska | 2006 | 1963 |
Bruce Campbell | 2004 | 1969 |
Cabby Caballero | 2003 | 1956 |
Emerging Alumni Award
Name | Awarded Year | Graduate Year |
---|---|---|
Hadeel Osman | 2021 | 2014 |
Matthew Beatty | 2020 | 2015 |
James Ebert | 2019 | 2011 |
La'Mont Williams | 2017 | 2010 |
Jeremy Johnson | 2016 | 2008 |
Dano Grayson | 2015 | 2010 |
Dave Wenger | 2014 | 2006 |
Natalie Brown | 2013 | 2005 |
Narthreza Abdullah | 2012 | 2004 |
Scott Michels | 2009 | 2003 |
Ryan Kramer | 2008 | 2001 |
Matthew Snitkey | 2007 | 2001 |
Neil Wilkinson | 2006 | 1999 |
Matthew Cowley | 2005 | 2000 |
Amy (Peterson) Hayek | 2004 | 2002 |
* Previously known as Young Alumni Award. | ||
Founder's Day Award
Name | Awarded Year | Graduate Year |
---|---|---|
Cabby Caballero | 1995 | 1956 |
Dick Clark | 1994 | 1953 |
Louise P. Herring | 1994 | |
Mary (Moore) Kimball | 1993 | 1956 |
Lawrence Pande | 1993 | |
Church Williams | 1992 | |
Stan Lee | 1992 | 1946 |
Consuela Washington | 1991 | 1970 |
Grace Meyer | 1991 | |
Bill Andres | 1990 | 1948 |
Eugene Garbee | 1990 | |
Bill Hiller | 1989 | 1950 |
David Bolger | 1989 |