Alumni & Friends

SJMC Alumni Awards

Outstanding Achievement Award

The University confers its Outstanding Achievement Award on graduates or former students of the University who have attained unusual distinction in their chosen fields or professions or in public service, and who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership on a community, state, national, or international level. The following list includes SJMC alumni who have received the OAA since 1952. Recipients are listed alphabetically.

1950s: Nat S. Finney, 1952; Harrison Salisbury, 1955; Eric Sevareid, 1955
1960s: Roy Wilkins, 1960; Raymond O. Mithun, 1961; Carl T. Rowan, 1961; Richard M. Scammon, 1963; Malcolm S. Maclean, 1968
1970s: Harry Reasoner, 1970; Harry E. Atwood, 1971; Warren Agee, 1973; Harold L. Nelson, 1973; Theodore B. Peterson, 1973; John R. Finnegan, 1974; Geri Joseph, 1974; Otta A. Silha, 1974; Robert M. Pirsig, 1975; Bob Eddy, 1976; Larry Gates, 1976; Victor Cohn, 1978
1980s: Graham Hovey, 1985; Charles W. Roberts, 1985; Albert Milgrom, 1988
1990s: Raymond P. Christensen, 1991; William Allard, 1994; Stone K. Shih, 1995
2000s: Burton Cohen, 2005; Michele Norris, 2006; Dave Mona, 2008

Other University honors awarded to SJMC alumni

Roy Wilkins, Honorary Doctor of Laws, 1976
Mohamed Benaissa, Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2007
Chikuen (C. K.) Lau, University’s Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals, 2008
Carl T. Rowan, Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2000

SJMC Alumni Society Award for Excellence

Every year, the SJMC Alumni Board names a recipient of the Alumni Award for Excellence. The award is given to an SJMC alumni/ae who exemplifies excellence, leadership, and creativity in his or her chosen field. The award is presented at the School’s annual Spring Celebration in May. The award, first given in 1980, has been awarded to graduates of the School representing many different facets of the communications industry, including advertising, public relations, print journalism, broadcast journalism, photography, and academia.

Nomination procedures and award criteria (PDF)

For more information about the award, contact the SJMC Alumni Society Board.

2010-11
Scott Meyer, founding member, Mona, Meyer, McGrath & Gavin and former CEO of Weber Shandwick, B.A., 2004.

2009-10
Chuck Porter, chairman, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, B.A., 1967.

2008-09: Don Gillmor, professor emeritus, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, M.A., 1950; Ph.D., 1961
2007-08: Regina McCombs, senior producer for multimedia, Star Tribune, M.A., 2003
2006-07: Carol Pine, owner/founder of Pine and Partners, B.A., 1967
2005-06: Howard Liszt, CEO of Campbell Mithun and Senior Fellow in the SJMC, B.A., 1968
2004-05: DJ Leary, political media consultant and Minnesota Politics co-founder and editor, B.A., 1961
2003-04: William Albert Allard, photographer and writer, National Geographic Society, B.A., 1964
2002-03: Paul Brainerd, Founder, Aldus Corporation and Brainerd Foundation, M.A., 1975
2001-02: Lynn Casey, CEO of Padilla Speer Beardsley, M.A., 1980
2000-01: Trish Van Pilsum, WCCO-TV, B.A. 1984
1999-00: David Royle, National Geographic Explorer's executive producer, M.A. 1988
1998-99: Jean Ward, SJMC Professor Emeritus, B.A. 1952, M.A. 1961
1997-98: Not awarded
1996-97: Dave Floren, Martin Williams Inc., B.A. 1961
1995-96: James J. Klobuchar, Star Tribune, B.A. 1950
1993-94: Burton D. Cohen, MSP Communications, B.A. 1955
1992-93: Wilbur E. Elston, Grosse Pointe News, B.A. 1934
1991-92: Dave Mona, Mona, Meyer, McGrath & Gavin, B.A. 1965
1990-91: Betty M. Wilson, Star Tribune, M.A. 1969
1989-90: Charles W. Roberts, Newsweek, B.A. 1940
1988-89: John R. Finnegan, Sr., St. Paul Pioneer Press, B.A., 1948, M.A., 1965
1987-88: Marshall Tanick, Mansfield & Tanick Law Firm, B.A. 1948, M.A. 1965
1985-86: Otto A. Silha, Cowles Media, B.A. 1940
1984-85: Geri Joseph, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota, B.A. 1945
1983-84: Ron Handberg, WCCO-TV, B.A. 1960
1982-83: James Whalen, University of St. Thomas, B.A. 1947
1981-82: Bob Shaw, Minnesota Newspaper Association, B.A. 1949
1980-81: Harold Chucker, Star Tribune, B.A. 1940

Above the Fold Award

In 2011, the SJMC Alumni Society Board announced a new award: the Above the Fold. The award recognizes alums under the age of 40 who have achieved great accomplishment and prestige early in their careers. The award will have a minimum of two winners, one from each track of study at SJMC: professional journalism and strategic communication.

Click here for to nominate an alum