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Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
The Distinguished Alumni Award program began in 1979 to honor distinguished alumni in recognition of their personal and professional achievements, contributions to the achievement of the college’s and/or foundation’s mission, community leadership that promotes partnerships with the college, and/or significant contributions to society or the community. Beginning 2004, the award is bestowed every even-numbered year.
| Award Year | Recipient | Position at Time of Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | James Mork | Judge, Minnesota District Court |
| 1980 | LaVonne Painter | Physician |
| 1981 | Colleen Ashton | Actress |
| 1982 | Phyllis (Dankers) Yes | Artist & Educator |
| 1983 | Stephen Wright | Engineer |
| 1985 | Tom Nelson | Senator, State of Minnesota |
| 1987 | Mary Weber Keenan | County Commissioner |
| 1988 | Paul Goodnature | Educator |
| 1989 | Charles Jahren | ACC Instructor |
| 1990 | James Flannery | ACC President |
| 1991 | Jerry Anfinson | Certified Public Accountant |
| 1992 | Fred Robinson | Business Owner, Robinson Business Forms |
| 1993 | Joe Mott | Minister, Crane Community Chapel |
| 1994 | J. Douglas Myers | Superintendent, Austin Public Schools |
| 1995 | Greg Meyer | Business Owner, State Farm Insurance |
| 2004 | C. Jerry Nelson | Professor of Agronomy, University of Missouri - Columbia |
| 2006 | Ardell Brede | Mayor of Rochester, Minnesota |
| 2008 | J. Thomas Mott | Judge, Minnesota District Court |
| 2010 | Scott Richardson | Attorney-at-Law |
| 2012 | Dr. Donna R. Schumacher | Nursing Education Specialist for the Multidisciplinary Simulation Center, Mayo Clinic |
| 2014 | John J. Gray, Jr. | Assistant Secretary-Treasurer of the Hormel Foundation |
| 2016 | Alice Holst | Austin Branch President, US Bank |
| 2018 | Nancy Christopherson | Retired Riverland Instructor |
| 2022 | Darlene Voeltz | Retired RCTC Instructor |