Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø Illinois University (NEIU) takes great pride in the success of its alumni. The NEIU community celebrates these achievements through the annual Alumni Awards. The 2024 Call for Nominations has closed. Alumni, employees and students can submit nominations for the annual Alumni Awards to honor alumni and future alumni for significant achievements in their work, service or leadership activities.
Nominations to be considered for the 2025 Alumni Awards can be submitted via the Alumni Award Nominator Form below.
Congratulations to our 2024 Alumni Award honorees!
Distinguished Alumna Award
Iris Y. Martinez
B.A. 2009 Nontraditional Degree Program, University Without Walls
Alumni Service Award
Damaris Tapia
B.A. 2001 Speech; M.A. 2014 Communications, Media and Theatre
Community Leadership Award
Rudy Lozano Jr.
B.A. 2002 Nontraditional Degree Program, University Without Walls
Outstanding GOLD Alumni Award
Albert P. Chanthaboury, PhD
M.A. 2018 Higher Education Leadership
Future Alumni Leader Award
Luis Kevin Islas
NEIU student
Distinguished Alumnus Award
The Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø Illinois University Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest alumni honor the University bestows. It recognizes a particular achievement of note, a series of such achievements or a career of outstanding accomplishment. Since the award's inception in 2005, Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø has recognized alumni who have distinguished themselves as preeminent in their fields, excelling in their vocations and avocations.
*The Distinguished Alumnus Awardee will also be expected to bring remarks to the December 2021 graduates during the December Commencement ceremony.
Alumni Service Award
The Alumni Service Award is given for outstanding service to the University. The award recognizes the achievements of individuals working on behalf of the University through service in alumni programs, on advocacy committees, and through efforts made to ensure the welfare of the institution.
Community Leadership Award
The Community Leadership Award honors an outstanding alumnus or alumna who has fulfilled the obligations of his or her education through distinguished leadership and service to his or her community beyond what is required by his or her job or profession.
Outstanding GOLD Alumni Award
The GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Alumni award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who graduated within the last ten years and has excelled in his or her chosen profession. Each year, honorees offer inspiration and encouragement as models for principled leadership and a commitment to serving others. In addition, the GOLD Alumni Award serves as an opportunity for the University community to recognize the tremendous accomplishments of alumni who have achieved notable success quickly following graduation.
Future Alumni Leader Award
The Future Alumni Leader Award is presented to current students who are recognized by the University community as demonstrating exceptional service. The Future Alumni Leader Award was established to give campus divisions, academic departments and colleges the opportunity to recognize one student for outstanding service to Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø Illinois University and who demonstrates potential as an alumni leader. This award is based on the premise that students who are highly involved in service efforts will continue their commitment to service after graduation and will become alumni leaders.
Note: With the exception of the Future Alumni Leader Award, all nominees must have graduated from Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø Illinois University to be considered. All recipients are selected by the Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø Illinois University president and the NEIU Alumni Association.
