Distinguished Alumni Award

The Distinguished Alumni Awards were authorized by the Board of Trustees in 1951. It is the University’s highest honor presented to its alumni.

Nominations for the 2026 Penn State Distinguished Alumni Award are accepted from July 15 to September 30, 2025.

Nominations may include living alumni of Penn State “whose personal lives, professional achievements and community service exemplify the objectives of their Alma Mater.” For your information, links are provided to lists of the current Society of Distinguished Alumni membership, as well as to lists of previous recipients of Alumni Fellow and Alumni Achievement Awards.

Current members of the Board of Trustees, current employees of the University, and current officers and members of the Executive Board of the Alumni Association are not eligible for the award.

The nomination form can be found by clicking here.

The nomination form will be used by the Board of Trustees screening committee to determine which individuals will be recommended for the award. The recipients of the award will be selected by ballot at the November 2025 Board of Trustees meeting.

Please direct any questions about the award or candidate nominations to the Board Office at dku5025@psu.edu or 814-867-1246.