The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest award that may be bestowed on an alumnus by the Ball State University Alumni Association. The award salutes both a commitment to Ball State and the achievements of alumni whose personal lives, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of their alma mater.

PAST DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS 2000–Present

2000

Beverley J. Pitts, MA  '71 EdD  '81
Kent A. Lebherz,  '68
Dale D. Cochard,  '76

2001

Niel C. Ellerbrook,  '70
Craig W. Hartman,  '73

2002

James C. Lintzenich,  '75
Donald W. Mikesell,  '60 MA  '63
Anthony W. Smith,  '68

2003

Rex W. Bolinger,  '73 EdS  '90 EdD  '92
Richard C. McKee,  '53

2004

Philip M. Faris,  '70
Timothy N. Lautzenheiser,  '69
Earl C. Yestingsmeier, ‘55 MA  '58

2005

Annette V. Johnson, MA  '72
Morry E. Mannies,  '60 MA  '64
Eugene G. White, EdS  '81 EdD  '82 

2006

Wilbur R. Davis,  '75
Jane E. Hardisty,  '74
Charles "Chuck" Lazzara,  '74

2007

J. Robert Browning,  '75
Matthew J. Momper,  '83
Michael P. Smith,  '73

2008

Myra J. Borshoff Cook,  '69
Aaron B. Floyd,  '60
Michael D. McDaniel,  '73 MPA  '79

2009

Erwin C. Mueller,  '54 DA  '77
Roger L. Neuenschwander,  '73
Randall E. Pond,  '77

2010

Michael L. Johnston,  '77 MA  '81
James H. Gooden,  '54 BAR  '71
John H. Surovek,  '68

2011

Ramon A. Avila,  '77 MBA  '79
Thomas L. DeWeese,  '68 MBA  '69
Dennis D. Oklak,  '77

2012

Angela J. Ahrendts,  '81 LHD  '10
Kenneth R. Briner,  '69 
Kirk M. Ray,  '92

2013

Terry L. Walker,  '68

2014

Mark R. Holden,  '81
Bryan A. Mills,  '82

2015

Charles “Charlie” W. Brown,  '71

2016

Dick L. Moake,  '72
Greg A. Schenkel,  '70

2017

Vince M. Bertram,  '91 MAE  '98 EdS  '01 EdD  '06
Jacqueline "Jackie"  J. Johnston,  '64 MA  '67

2018

Frank Hancock, '70 

2019

R. Wayne Estopinal, '79 
Edwin "Ed" Dale Shipley, '68 MA '71 

2020

Robert "Bob" G. Hunt, '69 LLD '18 

2021

Mary Dollison, '64 MAE '74
Daniel Prickel, '76 MBA '80 
Roy Weaver, '68 MAE '71 

2022

Dennis Morrison, '73

2023

Jeff Papa, MA '99
Brad Saar, '86

2024

Hollis Hughes, '65 MA '72