Alumni

Alumni Association Awards

The Penn State Alumni Association annually honors alumni, individually and in groups. Numerous Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications alumni have been recognized through the prestigious program.

Alumni Achievement Award

The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes approximately 10 graduates per year, 35 years of age or younger, who have shown extraordinary professional accomplishment. The award is open to all colleges within the University.

  • 2024: Mikel Jones ('15) VIDEO
  • 2023: Stephanie Shirley ('09) VIDEO
  • 2018: Bjorn Trowery ('08) VIDEO
  • 2017: Shannon Furman ('03) VIDEO
  • 2017: Melissa Schipke ('09) VIDEO
  • 2016: Mandy Murphy ('02) 
  • 2015: Kim Kinglsey ('02) 
  • 2014: Amanda Gifford ('04) 
  • 2013: Dan Victor ('06) 
  • 2012: Ellyn Fisher ('99) 
  • 2011: Ryan Hockensmith ('01) 
  • 2010: Christopher D. Krewson ('98)
  • 2009: Riva Marker ('00)
  • 2008: Jessica Stuart ('96)
  • 2007: Michael Signora ('96)
  • 2006: Jarred L. Romesburg ('98)
  • 2005: Jill L. Cordes ('92)

Alumni Fellow Award

The Alumni Fellow Award is given to 18 to 25 Penn State graduates per year who have proven to be outstanding in their chosen field. All graduates of the University are eligible.

  • 2022: David Skidmore ('79) VIDEO
  • 2021: Terry Mutchler ('87)
  • 2019: Kathy Heasley ('83) VIDEO
  • 2018: Ben Feller ('92) VIDEO
  • 2016: Mary Meder ('84) VIDEO
  • 2016: Tom Ortenberg ('82) VIDEO
  • 2015: Lisa Miles ('91) VIDEO
  • 2014: Marty Aronoff ('60) 
  • 2013: Mark Lima ('87) 
  • 2012: Thomas J. Hayden ('77) 
  • 2011: Linda Yaccarino ('85) 
  • 2010: T. Robert Boulware ('86) 
  • 2009: Marc A. Brownstein ('81) 
  • 2008: David H. Lipson Jr. ('78) 
  • 2008: Mary Beth Long ('85) 
  • 2007: Jimmy Cefalo ('78) 
  • 2007: Alisia Salters ('88) 
  • 2006: Frank P. Brennan Jr. ('69, '71g)
  • 2006: Mary Lee Schneider ('84)
  • 2005: Eric W. Rabe ('68)
  • 2004: Peter Warburton Shih ('67)
  • 2003: Jon M. Saraceno ('79)
  • 2002: Geraldine Warren-Merrick ('73)
  • 2001: Donald R. King ('69)
  • 2001: Richard A. Mallary ('64, '71g)
  • 2000: Donald R. Blair ('52)
  • 2000: Robert J. O'Leary ('71)
  • 1999: Jayne E. Jamison ('78)
  • 1998: Elizabeth A. Fetter ('80)
  • 1997: Marian U. Barash Coppersmith ('54)
  • 1997: Arnold S. Hoffman ('57)
  • 1997: Theodore A. Serrill ('32)
  • 1996: William A. Jaffe ('60)
  • 1996: Robert K. Zimmerman ('58)
  • 1995: Warren L. Maurer ('55)
  • 1994: Jane Perry Shoemaker ('70)
  • 1994: James R. Wiggins ('72)
  • 1993: Paul J. Levine ('69)
  • 1993: Jayne E. Miller ('76)
  • 1992: Lawrence G. Foster ('48)
  • 1992: Elliot S. Schreiber ('74g, '77g)
  • 1991: Carmen J. Finestra ('71)
  • 1990: Arthur M. Cooper ('59)
  • 1990: Rodney L. Nordland ('72)
  • 1990: Annette Capone Wright ('66)
  • 1989: Ronald S. Bonn ('52)
  • 1989: Marvin L. Krasnansky ('52)
  • 1989: Linda L. Salzberg ('56)
  • 1988: Brian M. Healy ('67)
  • 1987: David R. Jones ('54)
  • 1987: Norman C. Miller ('56)
  • 1982: Stanley B. Lathan ('67)
  • 1981: Samuel S. Vaughan ('51)
  • 1980: Charles J. Bierbauer ('66, '70g)
  • 1974: John Troan ('39)
  • 1973: Donald W. Davis ('42)

Distinguished Alumni Award

There is no limit to the number of Distinguished Alumni Awards granted annually by the University, but awards have averaged fewer than 10 per year to preserve the stature of the designation -- which is the highest-possible honor for a Penn State alumus.

  • 2024: Tom Verducci ('82)
  • 2022: Diane Salvatore ('81)
  • 2020: Linda Yaccarino ('85) 
  • 2020: Tanya Kennedy ('89)
  • 2018: Jacob Corman ('93)
  • 2018: Hal Sadoff ('86)
  • 2018: Roger Williams ('75 MA)
  • 2016: Donald R. King ('69)
    VIDEO: Q&A with Director of 'Saturday Night Live'
  • 2016: Mary Beth Long ('85)
  • 2013: William Jaffe (’61)
  • 2009: Todd Blackledge (’83)
  • 2007: Rodney Nordland (’72)
  • 2005: Jayne Jamison (’78)
  • 2005: Alan Pottasch (’49)
  • 2003: Paul Levine (’69)
  • 2001: Donald Bellisario (’61)
  • 1998: Carmen Finestra (’71)
  • 1998: Marian Coppersmith Fredman (’53)
  • 1991: Charles Bierbauer (’66, '70g)
  • 1989: Sidney Friedman (’42)
  • 1986: Gerald W. Abrams (’61)
  • 1985: James Jimirro ('58)
  • 1985: Richard Smyser (’44)
  • 1984: Stanley Lathan (’67)
  • 1979: Lawrence Foster (’48)
  • 1979: David Jones (’54)
  • 1978: Norman Miller (’56)
  • 1977: Samuel Vaughn (’51)
  • 1976: Adam Smyser (’41)
  • 1974: Herbert Nipson (’40)
  • 1972: Donald Davis (’42)
  • 1969: William Ulerich (’31)
  • 1968: John Troan (’39)

Honorary Alumni

  • 2023: Vivienne "Viv" Bellisario
  • 2008: Fran Fisher
  • 2002: Jane Zimmerman
  • 2001: Phillip Radcliffe
  • 1999: John Curley