UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Eight Penn State alumni selected by the Penn State Board of Trustees will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, which is the University's highest honor presented to its alumni. The following individuals have been officially notified of their selection by the Board and are invited to accept the award from the University in 2023.

The recipients are:

• Mark P. Becker, president of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, Georgia State University. He earned his doctorate in statistics from the Eberly College of Science in 1985.
• Louis J. D’Ambrosio, senior strategic advisor, Goldman Sachs; executive chairman, Aptos. He earned his bachelor of science degree in management from the Smeal College of Business in 1986.
• John R. Hoke, III, chief design officer, Nike. He earned his bachelor of science degree in architecture from the College of Arts and Architecture in 1988.
• Theresa G. Kotanchek, CEO, Evolved Analytics LLC. She earned her bachelor of science degree in ceramic science and engineering in 1984; master of science in ceramic science in 1987, and doctorate in material science in 1991 from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
• Gay A. Krause, executive director, Krause Center for Innovation. She earned her bachelor of science in elementary and kindergarten education from the College of Education.
• Julie M. McHugh, board director, Life Sciences. She earned her bachelor of science in finance from the Smeal College of Business in 1986.
• John R. McWhirter, senior CEO and founder, Copper Beech Townhomes, LLC. He earned his master of science in chemical engineering in 1961 and doctorate in chemical engineering in 1962 from the College of Engineering.
• James H. Stith, emeritus vice president - physics resources, American Institute of Physics. He earned his doctorate of education in physics from the Eberly College of Science in 1972.

Established by the Board of Trustees in 1951, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor Penn State bestows upon an outstanding alumna or alumnus.

The award salutes the achievements of outstanding alumni whose “personal lives, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of their alma mater.” 

The award is commemorated by the presentation of both an inscribed certificate, and an engraved bronze medallion displayed in a box handcrafted from the wood of the historic Penn State American elm trees that once flourished on the University Park campus.