EIU Alumni Association

Alumni Awards

Nominations are currently closed for EIU's 2023 Alumni Awards. To nominate someone for an alumni award, please complete and submit the nomination form along with any required supplementary materials to Amber May at ammay@eiu.edu by May 15, 2024.

Distinguished Alumna/us Award

Established in 1973, the Distinguished Alumna/us Award is the most prestigious award which is bestowed by the Alumni Association. This award is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves in either academic or literary fields, business, public service and/or service to the University and who, through their accomplishments and service, have brought prestige to their alma mater.

Alumni nominated for this award must have celebrated at least their sixth class reunion. In the case of an alumna/us who has not graduated, class year would be determined by the year he or she would have graduated.

Past recipients have included an Illinois Governor, Oscar-nominated actors, a nuclear physicist, educators at all levels, CEOs, athletes and many others.

Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award

First presented in 1988, the Alumni Service Award is presented to alumni who have repeatedly displayed outstanding voluntary service to the University. In 2007 the name was changed to the Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award in honor of Eastern's outgoing president. Lou Hencken served Eastern in a variety of administrative positions for over 40 years and was named University president on August 1, 2001. He retired from the presidency on June 30, 2007.

Outstanding Young Alumna/us

First presented in 1988, the Outstanding Young Alumna/us is presented to an alumna/us who is 35 years of age or younger and has excelled in a new career and/or public service.

Distinguished Educator Award

Established in 2004, the Distinguished Educator Award is presented to alumni who have distinguished themselves in the field of K-12 education.

2024 Award Recipients

Congratulations to EIU's 2024 Alumni Award recipients!
Those recognized included:

Outstanding Young Alumna Award

Faythe Missick '13, '15

Missick, who received her undergraduate degree in political science and graduate degree in international politics from EIU, is an accomplished professional dedicated to education, sustainability and community service. She began her career by teaching in China for a year before returning stateside to teach in the Chicago charter school system as a world history instructor. During the summers, she taught international students in Washington, D.C., at a high school conference focused on careers in Global Affairs. Transitioning from her teaching career, Missick moved to Paris, France, in 2022 to obtain a graduate degree in sustainability at the American University of Paris. That led her to her role as a Sustainability project manager in Dallas, Texas, where she focuses on ESG reporting and regulatory compliance. She also is a three-time published author and the founder of Missick Publishing Company, which provides a platform for aspiring black authors to share their stories with the world. During her time at EIU, she co-founded the Worthy Women Improving Lives chapter of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, an organization that remains active on campus today.

Distinguished Educator Award

Erin Eddinger ’94

Eddinger is currently teaching in her 30th year at Neoga High school, serving as the school’s special education teacher. She strives to encourage her students to continue education beyond high school and prepare students for adult life. A graduate of Mount Carmel High School, Eddinger has served on various committees and sponsored four classes at Neoga and is currently developing a new Life Skills program. She also has volunteered through the years as a children’s church teacher and youth group leader. Eddinger, who resides in Charleston, is very proud of the EIU tradition in her family. Her husband of 31 years, Sam Eddinger, daughter, Allyson Blagg, and son in law Justyn Blagg are all Eastern Illinois University alumni, while her son Chase Eddinger is a current sophomore at EIU.

Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award

Dr. Phillip 'PJ' Thompson ’03

Dr. Thompson has an extensive professional history in higher education advancement and over 15 years of experience in alumni relations. He currently is the executive director of the Indiana State University Alumni Association, where he oversees the group’s initiatives and manages its advisory board comprising of distinguished alumni and key stakeholders. He previously served as senior development officer at Benedictine University, where he successfully developed an affinity group programming structure to increase alumni engagement, restructured and increased annual donations to the Benedictine Fund, and renewed relationships with alumni and donors who had disengaged with the university. Prior to his tenure at Benedictine University, Dr. Thompson held positions at Kankakee Community College, McKendree University, Bradley University and Eastern Illinois University. An EIU graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, he also has a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Maryville University of Saint Louis and a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from McKendree University. His service to EIU includes being past member of the Board of Trustees; organizer of the STRONG Male Summit; creator of the Zeta Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; and raising $10,000 to go toward EIU scholarships.

Distinguished Alumnus/a Awards

Chris Caldwell ’87

Caldwell is the communications, community relations and education outreach manager for United Cleanup Oak Ridge, an industry-leading federal contractor working an $8.3 billion environmental cleanup and reindustrialization contract in Tennessee. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from EIU, he has had nearly 40 years in advocacy and government relations leadership roles in the nuclear, chemical, and forest products industries, which includes more than $800 million in U.S. manufacturing investments. Caldwell was a 2011 recipient of the American Chemistry Council’s “Energy Efficiency Project Team Award” for a natural gas project that led to DuPont’s largest global environmental emissions reduction that year and also is a past recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Community Service Award. He was also a member of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce board of directors and is a graduate of Leadership Virginia. A Delta Chi Fraternity alum and former EIU Alumni Association board member, Caldwell and his wife, Melinda, have a son, Evan, and a daughter, Ashley.

Todd Connor ’87

Connor is a retired journalist with more than three decades of experience sharing news around the world in local and national newscasts. He was one of the original anchors for FOX News Channel in New York.  Connor reported for the cable news network for 12 years on major news events such as the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Iraq war and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. He has covered hurricanes in Florida and Texas and reported internationally from Baghdad, London, Israel, Jordan and the Vatican. He also has served as an anchor and correspondent for ABC News before joining WRTV-6 in Indianapolis in 2010 where he received an Emmy award for his special report, “Inside College Admissions”.  During his career, he also worked in Terre Haute, Louisville and central Illinois, and he credits the staff at WEIU-TV for putting him on the road to success.  He retired from the anchor desk in 2022 after four years at WSBT in South Bend, Indiana to spend more time with his family. He and his wife, Sheryl live near Indy and have two children who currently attend the University of Alabama.

Michael Copeland ’77

Copeland is retired after spending more than 40 years in public accounting and the banking industry. After graduating from EIU in 1977 with a degree in business administration, he went to work in public accounting and received his CPA certificate.  He later obtained a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He has experience in the healthcare industry, banking, oil and gas, and taxation. The last 30 years of his career were spent in the banking industry, where he retired as president and C.E.O. of The Fairfield National Bank in Fairfield, Ill. Family has remained important to him throughout his life. He met his wife, Cori, while attending EIU and they have been married for almost 47 years. They have two sons, Reece and Heath (1985-2010), and two grandchildren, Myra and Jack.  His parents, Gene and Jackie, are still living and recently celebrated their 70^th wedding anniversary.  He says, “They are the people responsible for instilling the values that have made me successful in my daily life and career.”

Jerry Esker ’90

Esker was President and CEO of Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System from 2016 until his retirement in July 2022. Under his leadership, the Health System experienced significant growth in services, patient volume and revenues. Sarah Bush Lincoln opened seven newly constructed primary care clinics, a free-standing Regional Cancer Center, a new Heart Center with 22 additional patient rooms, a free-standing surgery center, and a $30 million orthopedic and multi-purpose building in Effingham during his tenure. The Sarah Bush Lincoln service area now covers 10 counties and the number of SBL employees has grown to over 3,000, making it the largest employer in the region and the third largest employer in all of East Central Illinois. Esker joined SBL in 1985 as a staff pharmacist. He became Director of Pharmacy in 1989 and Vice President of Practice Management in 2007. Esker, a native of Teutopolis, earned a BS in Pharmacy from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1982 and subsequently earned an MBA from EIU in 1990. He and his wife, Lana, are the parents of five grown children and reside in Charleston.

Joe Gardella ’89

Gardella is the CEO of Sweetener Supply Corp, a family-owned business his father and a close friend started in 1990. As CEO, Gardella has led organic and geographic growth, making Sweetener Supply one of North America's premier food ingredient suppliers. He also is the founder and managing partner of Spyglass Properties LLC. Gardella has pledged to support Eastern Illinois University by establishing Sonny's Scholarship in 2024 in recognition of his father. Gardella also has pledged to fund the renovation of McAfee Gym into a volleyball-centric arena, with modernization plans already in place. He was a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity and is currently re-establishing a new Sigma Pi house for the EIU chapter to relocate to by the fall of 2025. Gardella is proud to have one of his daughters, Paige, joining the EIU family as she started the MBA program this fall and joins the women's volleyball program as the graduate assistant coach. He is equally proud of Paige’s twin sister, Jessica, who has joined Spyglass Properties LLC and will help oversee the renovations for the Sigma Pi house and the recently purchased University Village. Gardella is an avid golfer and boater and adores spending time with his wife, Leta.

Col. Leon Rogers ’99

Leon hails from Chicago, Illinois. In 1996, he enlisted in the Illinois National Guard as an 88M Truck Driver and served with the 634th Forward Support Battalion while completing undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He matriculated to Eastern Illinois University, where he enrolled in ROTC and received his Masters of Business Administration and commission as an Armor Officer. In 2006, he was accessed into the Acquisition Corps and is certified as Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level III in Contracting and Level III in Program Management.

COL Rogers also holds an M.S. in Management of Information Systems from the Florida Institute of Technology and an M.S. in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School of National Security and Resources Strategy. COL Rogers is a Joint and Combined Warfighter School and Joint Logistics Course graduate.

COL Rogers' command assignments include Tank Platoon Leader, Comanche Troop, HHT Commander in the 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, Director of Contracting, and Battalion Commander of the Regional Contracting Center Qatar.

In his current position as the Project Manager for Combat Ammunition Systems, COL Rogers is responsible for developing, producing, and equipping the Joint Warfighter with conventional artillery and mortar munition, precision munitions, mortar weapons, and mortar fire control within the Department of Defense and ensuring the delivery of lethal conventional and leap-ahead munitions and weapons to the Warfighter, giving them a material edge over the adversary.

His key staff assignments include service as Squadron Maintenance Officer, Chief of Contracting (OEF), Warranted Contracting Officer for the Apache 64E ACAT1 Program, Contracting Division Chief for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Executive Officer to the ACC’s Commanding General, and Joint Staff Branch Chief of Operations and Plans for the Operational Contract Support Division, the ACoS, G4/Program Integrator to the Arlington National Cemetery, and Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology) (ASA(ALT)). 

His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (silver and oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (three oak leaf clusters), and the Joint Staff Badge and Army Staff Badge. He is also the recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. COL Rogers’s wife of 22+ years, Latrease, and their sons, Leon III (17) and Landon (13), reside in Stafford, VA.

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Past Award Recipients

Distinguished Alumni	Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award	Outstanding Young Alumni	Distinguished Educator
2023 Kimberly Cheatle '92 Dr. Brandon Combs '03 Howard Kamerer '91, '92 Dr. Charles Maris '71 Stephanie Moritz '95, '02 Tom Rodgers '75 Byran Stewart '80	2023 June Giffin '48	2023 Andre Allen '12, '14	2023 Cori Copeland '77
2022 Henry Domercant '03 Dawn Johnson '83 J. Thomas Long '73 Steve Rich '06 Sal Viviano '82	2022 Randy Johnson '74, '75	2022 Jamie Enge '11	2022 Deb Will '93
2021 Cheryl Fraker '85, '86 Dale Morrissey '76, '77 Jeff Rice '86 Tony Romo ex '03	2021 Krupal Swami '95	2021 Reginald Thedford Jr. '15 Samantha Sauer '11, '13	2021 Todd J. Vilardo '91, '96, '00
2020 Randy Bailey '78 Melissa Conyears-Ervin '97 Steve Ferguson '90 Judy Ethell '82 Cam Simpson '06	2020 Mike Finkle '72	2020 Kraig Koch '08 Lauren Adewole '13	2020 Eric Combs '05, '18
2019 James Bailey '84 Jeff Ludwig '93 Dave McKinney '86 Herbert Russell '64	2019 Elmer Pullen '70, '73	2019 Mike McKenna '10	2019 Monica Genta '09 Erin Reichert '00
2018 Mary Kay Armour '70 Robert Genetski '64 Mark Geninatti '75 Paul Hoffman '79 Bill Skeens '77	2018 Madeleine Doubek '85	2018 Rahul Wahi '08 Anthony Zipparro '08,'09	2018 Nate Anderson '73,'77 Angela McQueen '99, '08, '14
2017 Roscoe "Dan" Cougill '63 John Craft '69 '74 Major Charles B. Hall ex '42 Larry Morton '82 Alan Nielsen '87 Jennifer Wyss '94	2017	2017 Timothy Martin '06	2017 Kevin Settle '76
2016 Kathy Bollinger '77, '78 Steve Corbin '13 Joe Fatheree '89, '05 Nancie King Mertz '77 Lawrence Tucker '89, '91 Randy Wright '70	2016 Matt Davidson '82, '84	2016 Maurice Cheeks '07	2016 PJ Caposey '04 Harry Cavanaugh '69
2015 Dr. Robert Collier '69, '73 Habeeb Habeeb ’97, ‘99 Kent Johnson ‘81 Dr. Alvin M. Maurice ‘76 Ross McCullough ’87 Judge Robert L. Schatz '56	2015 Dr. Larry Ankenbrand '59	2015 Aaron Grobengieser '05, '06	2015 Dr. Kenneth Spells '01, '03
2014 Dr. Suzanne Barchers ‘67 Chuck Bell ’67, ‘69 Dr. Nancy Elwess ‘76 Dr. Michelle Hanlon ‘93 Dr. Mary Anne Hanner ’72, ‘74	2014 Jerry Zachary '61, '88	2014 Kristofer Howard '00	2014 Eric Bright ’12
2013 Barbara Baurer '75, '76 Harry Frost '60 Jonathan Gosse '74 Dennis Muchmore '68 Robert Sinkler '83	2013 R. Scott Smith '88, '93	2013 David Cesar '08	2013 Corey Duzan '03
2012 Jack Dadam '65 Christopher Desmond '94, '96 Jaime Martinez '86 William McNulty '96 Jill Nilsen '74, '75 Julie Nimmons '77 Kevin Seitzer '85	2012 Carl Mito '72	2012 Richard Keaton '99	2012 Tim McCollum '73, '77
2011 Larry Closson '74 Will Keiper '72 Gregg Kirkland '83 Keith Kohanzo '69, '71 Ron Woods '86	2011 Tim '71, '72 and Vickie Burke '72, '75	2011 Jake Byrne ‘07, ‘09	2011 Craig Lindvahl ‘79
2010 Michael Cunningham '70 Roseann Drew '70 Julie Lupien '81 Sean Payton '87 Bob Provost '70 Chuck Witters '68	2010 Carl Dolson '76	2010 Jennifer Ketchmark Brehm '06	2010 Roy Fenton '65, '66
2009 James Allen '79 Robert Corn-Revere '77 Ed Escalante '74 Lou Hencken '66, '67 Tim Manning '93	2009 Tom McDaniel '69	2009 Ryan Bailey '99 Ellen Eardley '99	2009 Cheryl Crates '70
2008 Roger Claar '67, '68 Kenneth Damann '66 Daryll D. Fletcher '75, '76 Ted Gregory '81 Barbara Hundley '65, '69 Robert C. Manion '66	2008 Jim Erdmann '59	2008 Anthony Pleasant '06	2008 John Marsaglia '76 Dorothy Bennett '74, '80
2007 Joni Comstock '79 Don Gher '73 Marty Hickman '80 Kevin Savoree '81 Jim Schnorf '76	2007 Betty Smithson '63	2007 Tony Romo ex '03	2007 Joe Fatheree '89, '05
2006 Gregg Altobella '88 Brigadier General Joseph Balskus '76, '77 John Currey '62 Gordon Grado, M.D. '74 Jerry Van Dyke ex '55 Paul Ward '71, '74	2006 Ivan “Ike” Kennard ex '44	2006 Captain Gary Kelly '01	2006 Linda Kirby '74, '82, '89
2005 Rita Bleser '77 Robert Glover '82 Mark Grier '74, '75 Barbara Hill '58, '63, '70 Craig Titley '89 Bill Weir '69 Therese Supple Kinkade '80	2005 Therese Supple Kinkade '80	2005 Luke Ryan '01	2005 Cathy Ruwe Anderson '74, '83
2004 Rudy Hlavek '64 Jimmy Liautaud ex '88 Carlos Ogden ex '40 Sue Payton '72 Matthew Polenzani '91 Gail Richard '77	2004 John Schmitt '76, '78	2004 Karla Porch '99	2004 Barbara McLaughlin '71
2003 Joseph Dively '81 Stephen Gosselin '79 Col. Joseph Kelly '38 William Robinson '76 Sen. Dale Righter '88	2003 Mike Lester '66	2003 Erin Weed '99	2003 William Thiel '50
2002 James Evans '68 Dr. H. Ray Hoops '62 Captain Howard Skidmore, USN (ret) ex '42 Larry Smith ex '91	2002 Judy Ethell '82	2002 Sarah Livesay '98
2001 Frank Blum '76 '77 Brent Manning '75 '76 Pat Sullivan '75	2001 Joe Strohm '86 '87	2001 Cheryl Warner '96 '00
2000 Bob Jachino '59 Dr. Lyle Jensen '70 Rep. Joe Knollenberg '55 Karen Meyer '76	2000 Dennis Spice '78	2000 Susan Gerling '95
1999 Dr. Sharon LeDuc '65 Dr. Gail Richardson '60 '63 Dr. Stephen Wilson '68 '74	1999 Greg Gardner '78 '80 Ken Hesler '51	1999 Amelia Heape '94
1998 Joan Allen ex '78 Vicki Freimuth '66 Allen Grosboll '73 Mike Shanahan '74 '75		1998 Michelle Koehler '93
1997 Jerry Gilomen, '66 Robert Knollenberg '61 Stephen K. Woodland '70, '81	1997 Louis V. Hencken '66, '67	1997 Michael R. Gagliardo
1996 Janet M. Treichel, '64, '71	1996 Dick Cain '64	1996 Thomas P. Wiesenmayer '92
1995 Gwendolyn Jordan Dungy '65,'67 Craig Peyton Gaumer '84,'85 Emma Chenault Kelly '25 Jeffrey G. Scott '68		1995 Gregory A. Curl, '92
1994 J. Allen Brent '43 Glen Owens Gabbard '72 Roger Roberson '64	1994 Nancy W. Owen '72	1994 Thomas M. Faulkner, '90, '91 Sherry L. McCoy, '90
1993 Stephen B. Schnorf '66,'73	1993 Jill Fulton Nilsen '74, '75	1993 Craig Titley, '89
1992 Jan Spivey Gilchrist '73 John Malkovich ex '75	1992 Eulalee Anderson '63,'84	1992 Robert Haycock, '87
1991 Juan F. Rojas '58 Randall Arney '78	1991 Roger Roberson '64	1991 Cathy Berns Rund, '86
1990 Michael W. Conlin '70 Robert A. Ingram '65 John G. Wargo, Jr. '50	1990 Gary Rogers '61,'65 Roger Dettro '53
1989 Margaret "Peggy" Allan '71 Robert A. Bain '54 John A. Dively '54 Marvin E. Edwards '67 Joan Embery-Pillsbury '86 Violet Podesta Meyer '39	1989 Mike Weaver '73,'74,'82	1989 Jennifer Schulze, '80
1988 Arthur L. Aikman '50 Theodore P. Cavins '26 James F. Giffin '46	1988 Margaret Campbell Hollowell '68 Eli Sidwell '58 J. W. Oglesby '58	1988 Rex Rund, '84
1987 Burl Ives, ex'31 Carolyn A. Fischer '55 Rex D. Cooley '59 James L. Hanks '47 Raymond L. Fischer '54 K. Wayne Ratts '54
1986 James L. Breen '48 Charles O. Austin '36 Donald L. Calvin '54 Norm Endsley '53 Margaret D. Podesta '58 William L. Podesta '76
1985 Gerald D. Fines '65 Joe P. Meyer '58 C. John Tolch '49
1984 Eugene Aikman '54 Alden Cutshall '32 Ronald W. Davis '64 John L. Heath '58 Elizabeth Podesta Hickman '43
1983 John W. Voigt '42 Robert L. Hill '44 Jack Payan '52 George Woodyard '54
1982 Jim Edgar '68 Roger F. Hibbs '43
1981 H Ogden Brainard '25 Hal Middlesworth '31 John H. Keiser '58
1980 Tressa Bennett '58 James R. Galloway '58 Donald L. Shawver '47 Philip W. Smith '44
1979 Helen F. Daringer '14 Dario A. Covi '43 Claibourne I. Dungy '62 Robert Millis '63
1978 Leallyn B. Clapp '35 C. Nelson Grote James H. Roberts '46 Roy K. Wilson '36
1977 John S. Redden '26 Allyn A. Cook '48 Donald K. Neal '40 L. Lou Stanek '54
1976 Don Grantham '37 R. Gene Gresham '51 Author Hughes '51 Darrell Judge '56 James Phipps '42
1975 Gladys Campbell '14 D. F. Fleming '12 Stella Craft Tremble '22 E. Errett Warner '25 Stanley Elam '38
1974 Harry Fitzhugh '34 James Gindler '50 Dorothy Leggitt '23 Carlos Talbott '40 Ralph Wickiser '34
1973 Arthur Glen Hesler '25 Frederick Earl Newman '59 M. Alice Phillips '33 Newton E. Tarble '08 Aubert North '33