Alumni awards
Honoring service to Duke and beyond
Each year, we honor individuals who embody the spirit of Forever Duke and advance the Duke ideal of knowledge in service to society. We thank these extraordinary members of the Duke community for their effort and dedication to the university and broader communities.
Recognition
Distinguished Alumni Award
Established in 1983 by the Duke Alumni Board of Directors, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest award presented by the board. It is awarded to alumni who have distinguished themselves by the contributions they have made in their own fields or professions, in service to Duke University and to the betterment of humanity.
2026 Recipient: Bill Kaelin ’79, M.D.’83
Service
Charles A. Dukes Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service
This award recognizes alumni volunteers who serve in Duke leadership roles and have devoted themselves to extraordinary, long-term efforts that help Duke further its mission.
2026 Recipients:
Pat Baker-Simon ’86
Julie Borger Ferguson ’81, P’10, P’12, P’15 and Ritson Ferguson ’81, P’10, P’12, P’15
Daniel Karslake ’87
Jamie Khanna M.B.A.’06
Vikas Patel ’96, M.D.’00, H.S.’04
Ari Redbord ’97
Leadership
Beyond Duke Service and Leadership Award
Inaugurated in 2014, the award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves through service to their community, their country or to society at large. Awards are given in three categories: Young Alumni, Local Community, and Global Community.
2026 Recipients:
Maya Ajmera M.P.P.’93
Sophia Jamal ’17
Peter Kremers ’77, P'07, P'09
Mark Mazzetti ’96
Cameron Oglesby ’21, M.P.P.’23
Frank D. “Trey” Whitworth ’89, P’18
Community
Forever Duke Award
Presented for the first time in 2009, this award recognizes exceptional recent volunteer service by alumni and Duke Parents, to Duke and the alumni community.
2026 Recipients:
Individual Awardees
Melissa Bauer M.E.M.’15
John Chang ’91
Ruibin Chen M.B.A.’06
Josh Gabay ’19
Ashley Jordaan ’92
Andrew Layton ’90
Emma Leventer ’19
Debbie Messner ’98
Logan Lex Miller ’05
Markus Nauheim LL.M.’96
Patricia (Pat) Northrop J.D.’97
Patricia Parada M.Eng.M.'17
Chris Peck M.B.A.’05
Nermis Rosario M.B.A.’12
Hayley Sanon ’17
Geetha Rao Sant ’86, P’25
Vincent Tse M.B.A.’19
Susan Walley ’96, P’25, P’28
Jason Wang M.B.A.’07
Group Awardees
Duke DC Women of Color Coalition: Nourish & Flourish Organizing Team and Speakers
Adonica Black ’11
Gloria Bowles-Johnson, Duke Friend
Kirsten Denney ’84
Karen Dixon ’96
Nadia Ford ’19
Monika Goyal ’99
Edith Hawkins M.P.P’00
Rayan Izzeldin ’12
Jasmin Johansen-Hickman M.B.A.’19
Shama Milon ’11
Alex Nichols B.S.E.’10
Kristin Pfeiffer ’08
Duke NY Blue Devils Beyond Mentorship Program Co-Chairs
Lana Gesinsky ’23
Amir Mokari ’05
Duke Future Initiative Advisory Group
Chris Dapolito ’05
Heath Freeman ’02
William L. (“B.J”) Hill B.S.E.’02
Reggie Love ’05
Jamin Pastore ’05
Greg Pritchard ’80, P’08
Craig Richardson ’87, M.B.A.’92
Mike Schneider ’06
Ryan Wolitzer ’20
Teaching awards
Dr. Allan Friedman ’99, Lecturing Fellow of Music
The Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award is a student-selected award honoring a Duke professor who has excelled as a teacher, advisor, and leader of undergraduate students.
Student leaders
Forever Duke Student Leadership Award
The Forever Duke Student Leadership award is a new award recognizing students who embody the “Forever Duke” spirit in their service to the university.
Few-Glasson Alumni Society
Cassie Kozyrkov A.M.’12
The Few-Glasson Alumni Society, created in 2016, honors Duke graduates who have distinguished themselves through their career accomplishments, the potential of their current endeavors, or their support of graduate education and students at Duke.