Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Distinguished Alumni Awards honor Oakton College alumni who exemplify the College’s values through professional excellence, community service, and overall achievement. Honorees are recognized for their leadership, innovation, and integrity in their careers; meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteerism and civic engagement; and their broader impact as role models who inspire personal growth, resilience, and a commitment to equity and inclusion. These awards celebrate what is possible through an Oakton education.

Nominations for the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards will open again this spring.

Join us to celebrate the newest cohort of Distinguished Alumni on September 11. Register here.

Those selected to receive the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award will be honored at an on-campus ceremony on September 11, 2025.

2025 Honorees

Broderick Hollins Sr.
Associate of Arts '22
Therapist (MHP), GRO Chicago


Monika Makurath
2010
Postdoctoral Fellow, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia
Scott Sophier
Associate of Arts '03
Commander of Police, City of Evanston Police Department


Dorothy Wisniewski
2000
City Manager, City of Des Plaines

Past Distinguished Alumni Honorees

2024
Dario Castañeda ‘08
Helen Hurry ‘07
Maciej Padowski ‘10
Cindi-Marie Willoughby ‘03

2023
Filza Ali '17
Nathan M. Norman ‘18
Julian G. Thompson '06
Jerrod W. Tucker '07

2022
Alan J. Berkowsky '91
Deyanira Cardenas '99-'06
Samuel J. Lopez '05
Julian Serafin Gil '97

2020
Suzy Hakimian '87
Tzvi Montrose ' 09
Jill Schmidt ’83
Terri Severin ’76

2019
Theresa Bashiri-Remetio ’09
Cathy Bromberg ’84
Maryam Coskun, ’09 - ’11
George Lungu, ’90
Jhay Spottswood '10

2018
Kristina Garcia ‘09
Franklin Ortega Palaguachi, 2008 - 2011
Jaqueline Saper ‘92
Randi Schneider, Ph.D. ‘81

2017
Marc Hornstein ‘91
Felicia Kurkowski ‘90
Marc Menet ‘00
Steven Swanson, Ph.D. 1977 - 1978
Susan Trieschmann ’06 - 2017 Illinois Community College Trustee Association Distinguished Alumna

2016
Dayani Pieri ‘09

2015
Paul Johnson ‘92

2014
Timothy J. Panfil ’88 and ‘89

2013
Cheryl-Lynn May ‘06

2012
Anthony B. Churchill ‘98

2011
Felicia Kurkowski ‘90

2010
Karen M. Haigh, Ph.D. 74

2007
Melissa L. Bean ‘82

2002
Ann E. Tennes, 1981 - 1988
Howard M. Tennes, J.D. ‘82

2001
Joseph Kolb Jr. ‘81

2000
Mark Klapperich ‘91

1999
Donald J. Terras ‘74

1998
Joselito Gatdula, ‘94

1997
Bettye Cohns ‘94

1996
Catherine Rondenet, 1977 – 1980

1995
James H. Lawlor III, J.D. ‘81

1994
Elaine T. Michelini ‘92

1993
Ray Lester ‘86

1992
John R. Provost, J.D. ‘80

1991
Captain Joseph W. Lutz, 1971 - 1973
 
1990
James Lago, D.D.S. ‘80

1989
Andrea Jill Dybus ‘81

1988
Joan Margolis Spigelman ‘78

1987
Craig Johns ‘80

1986
Peter Hansen, Ph.D. ‘76

1985
Donald E. Long ‘77

1984
Evelyn Meine ‘73

1983
Bruce E. Brown ‘77

1982
Carol Richards Lutz, J.D. ‘73