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Alumni Awards

We honor outstanding alumni each year with the Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award and the Early Career Distinguished Alumni Award.

Submission deadline for 2027 awards is September 1, 2026.

Alumni awards banquet tables

Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award

The award honors alumni whose career-long achievements have made a lasting, positive difference in their profession and beyond.

  • Eligibility
    • Nominees must have earned a degree (DVM, PhD, MS or BS) more than 10 years ago from the college or any degree that now resides in the college.
  • Criteria
    • Exemplary and sustained accomplishment in the nominee’s respective field. The primary criterion is demonstrable positive impact.
  • Submission process
    • Nomination letter (max two pages) highlighting the nominee’s accomplishments and the nominee’s CV. One or more additional letters of support encouraged. 
Submit a nomination
Table with alumni award trophies

Early Career Distinguished Alumni Award

The award celebrates emerging leaders by recognizing remarkable accomplishments within the first decade after graduation.

  • Eligibility
    • Nominees must have earned a degree (DVM, PhD, MS or BS) from the college 10 years ago or less.
  • Criteria
    • Nominees should have distinguished themselves professionally in their career. The primary criterion is demonstrable positive impact.
  • Submission process
    • Nomination letter (max 2 pages) highlighting the nominee’s accomplishments and the nominee’s CV. One or more additional letters of support encouraged.
Submit a nomination

Awards selection process

  • The Alumni Awards Selection Committee will consist of department and school chairs and directors, or their designee (total of 5 faculty members).
  • The committee will be responsible for reviewing nominations and making recommendations to the Dean. 
  • The Dean will make the final selection for both awards.

Awards presentation and recognition

  • The awards are presented each year at the college’s Alumni Awards Celebration—an evening that brings alumni together to reconnect, reflect, and honor the outstanding achievements of their peers.
  • Alumni may be recognized in Notes from the Palouse the college’s monthly electronic newsletter or on the college’s social media channels.
  • View the Alumni Association’s Patterson Wall of Honor

Past award recipients

View more stories about past award recipients

2026 Lifetime Achievement Awards

  • Dr. Rena Calrson (’86 BS, ’89 DVM)
  • Dr. Robert Olds (’64 BS, ’67 DVM)
  • Dr. Julie Oxford (’85 MS, ’86 DVM)
  • Dr. Pamela Tuomi (’70 DVM)

2025

  • Dr. Terry McElwain (’86 PhD) earned the Graduate Alumni Award
  • Dr. Duane Wolverton (’77 DVM) was recognized with the college’s Outstanding Service Alumni Award
  • Dr. Jennifer Erickson (’06 BS Neuroscience) earned the Undergraduate Alumni Award
  • Dr. Peter Anderson (’81 DVM) and Dr. Paul Morley (’86 BS, ’87 BS, ’89 DVM) earned the Excellence in Teaching and Research Award

2024

  • (The award date was changed from year nominated to year award was received for clarity, so the group who would have been 2024 is now 2025 and there is no 2024.)

2023

  • Dr. Steve Vredenburg (’81 DVM) Excellence in Practice Award
  • Dr. Khursheed Mama (’86 BS, ’89 DVM) Excellence in Teaching and Research Award
  • Dr. Gary Marshall (’84 BS, ’89 DVM); Dr. Leslie Sprunger (’87 DVM) Outstanding Service Awards

2022

  • Dr. Raymond D. Ediger (’61 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Dr. Harold C. Schott II (’91 PhD) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards
  • Dr. Jerry W. Brown (’79 DVM) was recognized posthumously with an Outstanding Service Award

2021

  • Dr. Robert Corbett (’74 BS,’78 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Dr. Barbara R. Gores (’89 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Dr. Jon Pennell (’81 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Dr. Rachel Pollard (’96 DVM) Excellence in Teaching and Research

2020 (No award ceremony was held due to Covid)

2019

  • Dr. Linda Fineman (’92 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Dr. Emily Pieracci (’09 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Dr. Susan J. Tornquist (’96 PhD) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards
  • Dr. Stacy L. Pritt (’97 DVM) Outstanding Service Awards

2018

  • Dr. Scott C. Bender (’94 BVSc, ’95 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Dr. Louise C. Abbott (’88 DVM) Excellence in Teaching and Research
  • Dr. Guy Palmer (’84 PhD) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards

2017

  • John Middleton (’90 BS, ’93 DVM, ’01 PhD) Excellence in Practice
  • Stephen Weisbroth (’64 DVM) Excellence in Practice

2016

  • Scott Adams (’72 DVM, ’79 Ph.D.) Excellence in Teaching and Research
  • Rodney A. Miller (’79 PhD) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards

2014

  • Michael Garner (’87 DVM) Excellence in Teaching and Research
  • Mark Jutila (’86 PhD) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards

2013

  • Robert B. Wilson (’61 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Roger A. Renne (’66 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Gary L. Cook (’71 DVM) Excellence in Practice

2012

  • Terrence J. Brown (’74 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • E. Eugene Elefson (’63 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Robert T. Franklin (’75 BS, ’76 BS, ’79 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • John L. Poppe (’86 DVM ) Excellence in Practice
  • Gary L. Seawright (’63 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Steven C. Budsberg (’80 BS, ’83 DVM, ’83 MS) Teaching and Research

2011

  • Steven M. Niemi (’82 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Norm Rantanen (’67 DVM, ’71 MS) Teaching and Research
  • Glenn Cantor (’93 PhD)  Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards
  • David Prieur (’71 PhD) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards

2010

  • Charles Sedgwick (’57 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Thomas Meyer (’73 DVM) Excellence in Practice
  • Susan Stover (’74 BS, ’76 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Lance Perryman (’70 DVM, ’75 PhD) Teaching and Research

2009

  • Kathryn Bayne (’87 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Dr. James Lincoln (’79 MS) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards
  • Dr. Francisco Trigo (’83 PhD) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards
  • Dr. James McBain (’68) Outstanding Service Awards

2008

  • Steve Krakowka (’71 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Robert Nakamura (’59 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Steve Parish (’73 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Jack Robinette (’54 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Dr. Yong Ho Park (’91 PhD) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards
  • Dr. Matthew Maberry (’47) Outstanding Service Awards

2007

  • David Anderson (’61 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Nancy Gillett (’76 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Michael Hauser (’84 DVM) Practice
  • Dr. Linda Cork (’74 PhD) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards
  • Dr. Valery Shean (’88) Outstanding Service Awards

2006

  • Steve Haskins (’69 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Loren Koller (’65 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Charles Martin (’65 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Kenneth Sinibaldi (’69 DVM) Practice
  • Dr. Marc Mattix (’83) Outstanding Service Awards
  • Dr. Douglas Butchart (’54) Outstanding Service Awards

2005

  • Fletcher Hahn (’64 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Thomas Newland (’54 DVM) Practice
  • Marvin Prentice (’51 DVM) Practice

2004

  • Jack Reynolds (’75 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Dean Smith (’49 DVM) Practice

2003

  • Tats Matsuoka (’59 DVM) Teaching and Research

2002

  • Joe Bergevin (’60 DVM), Practice
  • Dr. Mark Knudson (’74 PhD) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awards

2001

  • Conrad Ferreira (’45 DVM), Practice
  • Orland Soave, (’44 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • Barrie Grant, (’67 DVM) Practice
  • Dr. Willard Gregory Nelson (’61) Outstanding Service Awards

pre-2001

  • 2000: None awarded
  • 1999: Kyle Frandle (’80 DVM) Practice
  • 1999: Roger McClellan (’60 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • 1998: L. Everett Macomber (’63 DVM) Practice
  • 1998: Raymond E. Reed (’51 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • 1997: Charles Capen (’60 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • 1997: Major Nilson (’53 DVM) Practice
  • 1996: Stan B. Coe (’57 DVM) Practice
  • 1996: Floris M. Garner (’50 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • 1995: Bernard R. Pinckney (’44 DVM) Practice
  • 1995: Jack G. Stevens (’57 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • 1994: Robert Leader (’52 DVM) Teaching and Research
  • 1994: Robert Whitaker (’54 DVM) Practice
  • 1994: Mary Ellen Gorham (’79 BA General Studies) Outstanding Service Awards
  • 1993: George Migaki (’52 DVM) 
  • 1993: Roy Peterson (’45 DVM) 
  • 1992: Nels Konnerup (’42 DVM) 
  • 1992: Harold Warsinske (’42 DVM) 
  • 1991: James Kraft (’41 DVM) 
  • 1991: William McGee (’40 DVM) 
  • 1990: Richard Hall (’58 DVM) 
  • 1989: Robert Burch (’43 DVM) 
  • 1989: Gabel Conner (’41 DVM) 
  • 1988: Leo K. Bustad (’49 DVM) 
  • 1988: John Gorham (’46 DVM) 
  • 1987: Richard Ott (’45 DVM) 
  • 1986: Arnold Slater (’51 DVM) 
  • 1985: Phillip R. Morgan (’51 DVM) 
  • 1984: Floyd Frank (’51 DVM) 
  • 1983: Alex Ryncarz (’44 DVM) 
  • 1982: George D. Duby (’43 DVM) 
  • 1981: R. Keith Farrell (’55 DVM) 
  • 1980: Donald Jasper (’42 DVM) 
  • 1978: Walter Stiern (’38 DVM) 
  • 1976: Arturs Vitums 
  • 1974: M. R.Clarkson (’30 DVM) 
  • 1974: Thomas C. Jones (’35 DVM) 
  • 1974: Fred D. Maurer (’37 DVM) 
  • 1974: Charles Schroeder (’29 DVM) 
  • 1974: Ernest C. Stone (’42 DVM) 
  • 1974: Myron A. Thom (’29 DVM) 
  • 1954?: Charles S. Phillips (1902 DVM)