WAA seeks nominations for Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) is calling for nominations for its top honors, the Distinguished Alumni Award and Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to graduates of the University of Wisconsin–Madison who have made outstanding achievements in professional or volunteer service. WAA has been presenting the awards since 1936.

"These awards recognize UW–Madison’s most prestigious graduates for their professional achievements, contributions to society and support of the university," said Paula Bonner MS’78, WAA president and CEO.

Past honorees include Earth-Day founder Gaylord Nelson LLB’42, former UW athletic director Pat Richter ’64, JD’71, and actress Jane Kaczmarek ’79.

The Distinguished Young Alumni Award, established in 2002, goes to a graduate under the age of 40 who has demonstrated unusual achievement or initiative. Ben Karlin ’93, former producer of The Daily Show, is a previous Distinguished Young Alumni honoree.

WAA will honor the recipients in May at its 72nd annual awards program in Madison.

Nomination guidelines and forms are available online. Send nominations by Oct. 31, 2007, to the Wisconsin Alumni Association, Attention: Nominations, 650 N. Lake St., Madison, WI 53706-1476.