Distinguished Alumni Award is established: send us your choice:

Mary Ann and Doug Looney

Just about every longstanding institution eventually creates some version of a hall of fame, and the time has come for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication to do just that. I'm sure that each alum of the School can name (and name with pride) at least one person of distinction who graduated from our School.

And I'm happy to report that now we also have the wherewithal to establish, with some style, this exclusive award. Doug Looney ('63), who enjoyed a storied career writing for Sports Illustrated, and his wife, Mary Ann, have funded the new Distinguished Alumni Award, which will honor one graduate of the School each year. The fund will support each recipient's trip to Boulder to receive the award at commencement each May and will establish a portrait wall at the School to remind students each day of the legacies our distinguished alums have left.

But we need your help in launching this effort. You can do that by submitting your nominations for the new Distinguished Alumni Award. This annual award will recognize alumni for extraordinary achievement (especially in the communication professions) or for ongoing support for the School, or for both. A committee of retired faculty, alumni and Advisory Board members will join Alumni Coordinator Beth Gaeddert in sifting through the nominations and making the selection each year.

Send your nominations to Bylines@Colorado.edu before Jan. 15 with "Distinguished Alumni" in the subject line, and tell us in two or three sentences why you think your nominee deserves this recognition.

– Paul Voakes