Distinguished Alumni Award
Since 1936, the Wisconsin Alumni Association has been presenting the award to some of the most prestigious graduates of UW–Madison for their professional achievements, contributions to society, and support of the university. Past recipients include fashion icon Iris Apfel ’43, former Wisconsin senator Herb Kohl ’56, actor André De Shields ’70, and brain researcher Ann McKee ’75.
2025 Award Recipients
Agrawal is widely hailed as the father of data mining. His work fundamentally changed how the world extracts insight and value from data, laying th...
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield credits the UW with preparing her to succeed on the global stage, citing the university’s academic rigor, its in...
Sprecher’s entrepreneurial spirit led to a career transforming how energy, data, and mortgages move through the global economy.
Past Award Recipients
Please note: the titles listed here represent the positions the honorees held at the time they received their awards. Many later went on to fill other prestigious roles. The Distinguished Alumni Award has undergone various name changes over the years, but each reflects a version of the same core recognition category.