Distinguished Alumni Award Criteria

Distinguished Alumni Award recipients are chosen from a wide range of industries, reflecting our alumni community. To help guide the selection process, general criteria are provided to highlight the types of professions and roles that may lead to a strong nomination for the award. The below guide highlights the level of achievement across diverse professions that may lead to a strong nomination for the award. This list is provided for reference and is not used in formal evaluation of nominations. 

General Standards

  • Significant accomplishment/contribution locally, nationally, or globally in the field of community service, social justice, advocacy, and/or civil/human rights.
  • National recognition and/or global recognition.
  • Long and distinguished career.
  • May include active, former, and retired roles.

Public Service, Community Service, Social Justice, Advocacy, and Civil Rights

  • High rank in Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines (Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves).
  • Army/Air Force: Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, General.
  • Navy/Marines: Rear Admiral, Lower Half Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, Admiral.
  • President or Executive Director of a nationally recognized nonprofit organization
  • Member of U.S. Congress.
  • Ranking Member of Cabinet, U.S. Presidential Staff, or other key Presidential Appointment.
  • State or Federal Supreme Court Judge.
  • Mayor of a large city (500,000 or higher population).
  • Elected state official, such as governor.

Business & Technology

  • President/Chairperson/CEO of a nationally recognized company.
  • Top-ranking corporate officer of a Fortune 500, NYSE, or Nasdaq company.

Education, Research, Science, and Medicine

  • College/University President.
  • Dean or higher level position at an accredited, nationally recognized 4-year college/university.
  • Writer with a large following outside of academia.
  • Nationally prominent and recognized expert in an academic field who is covered in the mainstream media.
  • Leading role at a nationally known company or institution.
  • Contributed to a major discovery or advancement.

Actors, Arts, Entertainment, Media, and Design

  • Producer/Director of a nationally recognized film or TV show.
  • Lead actor/actress on a nationally broadcast show or Broadway production.
  • Radio or television personality in a major media market.
  • Editor-in-Chief or publisher of a national publication.
  • National Award Winner (Pulitzer, Academy, Grammy, Emmy, Tony, etc.).
  • Architects who designed buildings or structures of major significance to the world or the Texas State community.

Sports

  • Prominent player on a professional top-level sports team, Olympic team, World Cup team, or other national/international team.
  • Individual sport athlete who has competed at the professional and/or Olympic level.
  • Manager, head coach, or higher administration of a professional sports team.
  • Head coach of a nationally recognized college sports program.
  • Nationally recognized agent or nationally recognized official/higher level administrator in a professional sports league/federation/association.