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2025 MBKU Distinguished Alumni Awards

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Nomination Deadline Extended to March 22, 2025!

The MBKU Distinguished Alumni awards program honors and recognizes alumni whose professional prominence, healthcare service and contributions to their field make a difference in their community and beyond. 

  • Distinguished Alumni Award – This award recognizes MBKU alumni whose personal or professional achievements since graduating, bring honor and distinction to their college or school, and enhance MBKU’s reputation. It recognizes significant accomplishments, lifetime career achievements, and exceptional professional excellence.
  • Recent Graduate Alumni Award – This award recognizes MBKU alumni who earned their degree within the last 10 years and celebrates accomplishments in their professional career, community service, or professional leadership. 
  • Professional Achievement Alumni Award – This award recognizes alumni who have achieved significant prominence in their chosen field, complimented by a history of outstanding contributions to their profession throughout their career.

All nominations will be kept confidential. Nominations are due by March 22, 2025. 

PLEASE NOTE: 

A completed application form must include a  letter detailing the nominee’s qualifications for the award. Supplementary materials such as CV/resumes, and other supporting documents must be uploaded with the nomination. Incomplete forms or nominations missing required information will not be reviewed by the committee. 

 

Click here to submit your nomination

Past Distinguished Alumni Recipients

Name

Award Year

 Renald J. Anelle, O.D., ’65

1995

 J. Davis Armistead, O.D., ’48*

1990

 Gary Asano, OD, '78

2021

Wynette Augustine, OD, ’84

2023

Carmen Barnhardt, OD, MSEd, ’95 (Professional Achievement Alumni)

2024

 Paul C. Barr, O.D., ’48*

1986

 Elizabeth Bergman, PA-C, ’16 (Distinguished Young Alumni)

2019

Beverly Bianes, OD, ’91

2023

 Carl Boeck, OD, ‘79

2019

Jacqueline “Jacquie” M. Bowen, OD, ’92

2024

Dat Bui, OD, '15 (Recent Graduate Achievement)

2024

 Gene D. Calkins, O.D., J.D., ’68

2008

Tony Carnevali, O.D., ’75

2001

 M. H. (Marty) Carroll, OD, ‘81

2015

 Abie R. Chadderdon, O.D., ’81

2014

 Hannah Cho, OD, '12 (Distinguished Young Alumni)

2021

James L. Cox, O.D., ’67

2003

 Wiley F. Curtis, O.D., ’82

2009

 O. Doyle Dannenberg, O.D., ’48*

1985

Duane A. deCroupet, O.D., ’70

2002

 Lynn Caffrey Gabriel, O.D., ’78

1993

Raveena Garcha, PharmD, ’20 (Recent Graduate Achievement)

2024

 Robert L. Gordon, O.D., ’71

1998

 James R. Gregg, O.D., ’48*

1989

 Timothy Harkins, PA-C, '18 (Distinguished Young Alumni)

2021

 Arthur C. Heinsen, O.D., ’48*

1988

Homer H. Hendrickson, O.D., ’38*

1983

Catherine Heyman, OD, '93 (Professional Achievement Alumni)

2024

Wayne W. Hoeft, O.D., ’59

2004

Aaron Hunro, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, ’20 (Recent Graduate Achievement)

2024

 L. Earl James, O.D., ’48*

1991

 Louis H. Jaques Sr., O.D., ’11*

1979

 Donald E. Jarnagin, O.D., ’70*

2007

Rodger T. Kame, O.D., ’62*

2000

Akio Kanai, O.D., ’72

1997

  Richard H. Kendall, O.D., ’51*

1994

 Robert F. Kettenhofen, O.D., ’46*

1987

 Warren Harvard Low, O.D., ’52*

1996

 Harold R. Lutes, O.D., ’38*

1984

 Dawn M. Miller, O.D., ’83

2012

 Miriam Morkos, PharmD, '20 (Distinguished Young Alumni)

2021

 Mark M. Morris, O.D., ’63*

2005

Mitchell T. Munson, O.D., ’86

2016

John Nishimoto, OD, ’87

2023

Alyssa Pack, OD, '20 (Recent Graduate Achievement)

2024

 Brian Park, OD, ’14 (Distinguished Young Alumni)

2019

 Barton M. Pedersen, O.D., ’63

2013

Andrew Perry, PA-C, '20 (Recent Graduate Achievement)

2024

Cathy Van Pham, PharmD, '22 (Recent Graduate Achievement)

2024

Briana Riddlebarger, PA-C, ’19

2023

 Leslie W. Scown, O.D., ’21*

1980

 Michael Sellers, OD, '78

2021

 Robert L. Severtson, O.D., ’51*

1992

April Shaw, PA-C, ‘20 (Recent Graduate Achievement)

2024

 Bill Simons, O.D., ’82

2011

 Philip B. Smith, O.D., ’68

2010

Donald Spaulding, OD, '79

2024

Emily Stephey, OD, FAAO, ’17 (Recent Graduate Achievement)

2024

Michael Sullivan-Mee, OD, '90

2024

 Joshua Terry, OD, ’07

2018

Judy Tong, OD, FAAO, '91

2024

Melanie Vela, PharmD, ’22

2023

 David T. Wakabayashi, O.D., ’70

2006

Hershel B. Welton, O.D., ’64

1999

Stephanie Woo, OD, FAAO, '11 (Professional Achievement Alumni)

2024

Chen Young, OD, '95 (Professional Achievement Alumni)

2024

NOTE: No award was given in 1981 or 1982

*Deceased