Each year the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is proud to honor and celebrate the achievements of alumni who have distinguished themselves through contributions to their profession and communities.
Distinguished alumni awarded in 2020 and 2021 will be honored virtually in fall 2021 or during an in-person ceremony in 2022, if possible.
2021 Alumni Award Recipients
Maurice O. Graff Distinguished Alumni Award
Margaret Van Bree, ’82 +
- Revered health executive, educator; collaborator; mentor.
- Recipient of Exemplary Leadership Award, Ronald McDonald House of Providence; Career Achievement Award, Providence Business News; Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women, others.
- Retired president of Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
- Bachelor’s in community health education; master’s in hospital administration, University of Minnesota; doctorate in public health, Tulane University.
Rada Distinguished Alumni Award
Anna Hatch, ’09 +
- Renowned scientist in biomedical research, science diplomacy and science communication.
- Recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship; P.E.O. Scholar Award.
- Currently a Declaration on Research Assessment Program Director at the American Society for Cell Biology in Rockville, Maryland.
- Bachelor’s in biology and chemistry; doctorate in biochemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
Burt and Norma Altman Teacher Education Award
Scott Noet, ’90 +
- Dedicated and respected long-time educator.
- Recipient of the Goethe Institute American Fellow of the Year; Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Minnesota Teacher of the Year; state and school Teacher of the Year; Transatlantic Outreach Program Fellow of the Year; others.
- Currently a 7th and 8th grade social studies teacher at Owatonna, Minnesota, Public Schools.
- Bachelor’s in history; master’s in education, Southwest State, Marshall, Minnesota.
Learn more about the 2021 recipients here.
2020 Alumni Award Recipients
Maurice O. Graff Distinguished Alumni Award
James Burkhart, ’68 - Physics and Math+
Michael McGinley, ’82 - Microbiology*
Rada Distinguished Alumni Award
Kara Pennoyer, ’06 - Political Science and Communication Studies*
Parker Distinguished Multicultural Alumni Award
Jennifer Miller, ’70 - History*
Burt and Norma Altman Teacher Education Award
Penny Kroening, ’85 - Physical Education*
Steven Olson, ’85 - Broadfield Social Studies*
Learn more about the 2020 recipients here.
*Receiving award during virtual event at 9 a.m. on September 18, 2021.
+Receiving award during in-person event, September 2022.
