Dario Castañeda
2008
Immigration Attorney and Founder, N400 Harbor Immigration Law
Helen Hurry
Associate of Arts '07
Family Advocate, Family Focus
The Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrate Oakton graduates who have gone on to exemplify the College's vision and values in their respective careers and communities.
The Office of Alumni Relations seeks nominations for the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards. Nominees for the award must have earned an Oakton degree or certificate or completed a minimum of 24 credit hours at the College. Candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by a friend, colleague or family member.
Those selected to receive the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award will be notified in late June and honored at an on-campus ceremony on September 11, 2025.
The nomination deadline is Monday, June 16.
For questions or more information, please contact the Oakton Educational Foundation at 847.635.1893 or foundation@oakton.edu. Submit the form below, or if you prefer, complete the Distinguished Alumni Nomination Form (PDF) (253 KB). Email the form and the nominee's resume to alumni@oakton.edu.
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