Distinguished Alumni Awards

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.

2023 Honorees

Filza Ali
Associate of Arts ‘17
Associate Research Strategy and Operations Analyst
Tempus Labs, Inc., Chicago

Nathan M. Norman
Associate of Arts ‘18
Workforce Development Manager, City of Evanston
Julian G. Thompson
2005-2006
Assistant Professor of Criminology, Law, and Justice
University of Illinois at Chicago

Jerrod W. Tucker
2005-2007
Head Coach, Jacksonville 95ers (Florida)
Dean and Head Varsity Basketball Coach, Global Outreach Charter Academy

Nominations for the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards are now open! Complete your nomination by June 3.

For questions or more information, please contact the Oakton Educational Foundation at 847.635.1893 or foundation@oakton.edu

Past Distinguished Alumni Honorees

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