Alumni 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 communiations industry, including advertising, public relations, print journalism, broadcast journalism, photography, and academia.

The list of past winners of the Alumni Award for Excellence is below. For more information about the award, contact Len Mitsch (SJMC B.A. '68), Chair of the SJMC Alumni Board.

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
D.J. 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