Alumni Achievement Awards

Each year, the Office of Alumni Relations honors the best and brightest of the Benedictine University alumni family through the Alumni Achievement Awards. These awards were established to recognize alumni for the many personal and professional accomplishments they have achieved since graduating from Benedictine. With a mix of professions, personal histories and achievements, Benedictine alumni represent a diverse group of incredibly talented and gifted individuals. These awards celebrate that diversity and highlight those who have embraced the Benedictine values in their personal and professional lives.

The Alumni Achievement Awards are split into three categories: the Rising Stars, Visionaries and Distinguished Alumni awards.

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star award recognizes alumni whose careers and lives are on the rise. They have accomplished much in their relatively short time since leaving Benedictine (less than 25 years ago). These alumni are well on their way to leading boardrooms, curing seemingly "incurable" diseases and affecting policy changes at state and national levels. They have already begun to set themselves apart from their peers in their respective industries. The Rising Stars represent the "ones to watch" among our alumni as their careers are just taking off. We look forward to seeing them continue to shape the world around them as their lives continue to progress.

In order to be considered for a Rising Star award, nominees must:

1. Be a Benedictine University or Illinois Benedictine College alumnus who has completed a minimum of 48 credit hours
2. Have earned an undergraduate degree* from a collegiate institution within the last 25 years (1992-present)
3. Have made a considerable impact in their respective career field in a short amount of time and shown dedication to continuing to make an impact in their area(s) of expertise
4. Display a growing commitment to community and philanthropic endeavors

*Alumni who graduated from Benedictine with their Master's degree are still eligible for a Rising Star award. However, their eligibility is measured from the year they earned their undergraduate degree, even if that degree was earned at another institution.

Visionary Award

The Visionaries represent alumni from our institution who have gone out into the world, affected change and transformed their industries for the better. While these alumni come from a variety of backgrounds, all Visionaries have one thing in common: their leadership, ideas and passion have helped to move their field forward. As the name of the award suggests, their "vision" has been a driving force in their lives and that vision has inspired and improved the lives of others. 

In order to be considered for a Visionary award, nominees must:

1. Be a Benedictine University, Illinois Benedictine College or St. Procopius College alumnus who has completed a minimum of 48 credit hours
2. Have reached the upper echelon of their respective career field. This can mean many things depending on the field: In business, he or she may be a senior executive from a Fortune 100 company or the founder and C.E.O. of a small business; in science, a Visionary might be doctor who has conducted ground-breaking research; in education, they may be principals, college professors or award-winning teachers.
3. Have effectively created, developed and implemented a vision that drives their field forward
4. Have made a significant impact on their community through work with non-profit organizations, volunteer boards or other philanthropic endeavors

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Distinguished Alumni award is given in recognition of outstanding achievement in a career field or personal endeavor. It is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an alumnus of the University. The Distinguished Alumni award goes to one alumnus every year who embodies the Benedictine values and uses them as guiding principles for personal and professional success. These alumni have reached the pinnacles of their careers, but they show no signs of slowing down. They are lifelong learners, movers and shakers who will continue to make a difference in the world professionally and philanthropically.

In order to be considered for a Distinguished Alumni award, nominees must:

1. Be a Benedictine University, Illinois Benedictine College or St. Procopius College alumnus who has completed a minimum of 48 credit hours
2. Have one or more notable achievements in their personal or professional lives making them worthy of recognition as one of the University's top alumni
3. Embody the Benedictine values and be able to speak to the impact those values have had on them throughout their lives
4. Have made a significant impact on their community through work with non-profit organizations, volunteer boards or other philanthropic endeavors

While the Rising Star award is reserved for alumni who graduated less than 25 years ago, the Visionary and Distinguished Alumni awards are not restricted by class year. Those alumni who might otherwise be nominated for a Rising Star award based on class year may be considered for the other two awards if they meet the criteria listed above.

Those who received a Rising Star award in the past may also be considered for a Visionary and/or Distinguished Alumni award as their careers continue to progress. Similarly, Visionaries are eligible to receive a Distinguished Alumni award in the future.

Please note: We receive many deserving nominations every year, but unfortunately we cannot honor everyone with an award. All nominations are kept on file so that nominees not chosen one year may be considered in subsequent years and/or for other alumni awards.