2025 Nominations: February 10 - March 7

To be eligible, candidates must have graduated with at least one Samford University degree. These awards are the highest awards presented by the Samford University Alumni Association.

Announcements will take place this summer and will be awarded during Homecoming Weekend (November 7-8).

Thanks in advance for submitting your nominations for these prestigious awards!

Award Requirements

Alumnus of the Year

The Alumnus of the Year award honors Samford University graduates of true distinction in their careers, making significant contributions through their professions. Honorees are widely known and acknowledged as a person of national or global distinction, display substantial leadership and embody the Samford University mission.

Submit a Nomination

Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year

The Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year award honors alumni between the ages of 21 and 39 who have made significant contributions through their professional careers, displayed true distinction in leadership and embody the Samford University mission.

Submit a Nomination

Humanitarian of the Year

The Humanitarian of the Year award honors Samford University graduates of true distinction, wide respect and acknowledged leadership. Nominees are recognized for having given selflessly and working tirelessly to better the lives of others and society at large as well as embody the Samford University mission.

Submit a Nomination

Past Recipients

2023

  • Alumnus of the Year - Eric Motley
  • Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year - Isaac Cooper
  • Humanitarian of the Year - Jenny Waltman

2022

  • Alumnus of the Year – Lynn Boggs
  • Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year – Chad Trull
  • Humanitarians of the Year – Susan and Ken Berg
  • Humanitarian of the Year – Lindy Cleveland

2021

  • Alumnus of the Year – Gary Cooney
  • Alumnus of the Year – Jody Hunt
  • Outstanding Young Alumna of the Year – Alex McLure Colvin
  • Humanitarian of the Year – Herbie Newell
  • Humanitarian of the Year – Lynn Smith

2020

  • Alumnus of the Year – G. Michael Escoe
  • Outstanding Young Alumna of the Year – Lindsey Harris
  • Outstanding Young Alumna of the Year – Mary Kathryn Steel
  • Humanitarians of the Year – Katherine and Jay Wolf

2019

  • Alumnus of the Year - John Floyd
  • Outstanding Young Alumna of the Year - Jewel Littleton-Williams
  • Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year - Randall Woodfin
  • Humanitarian of the Year - Meredith Toering

2018

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Bradley Dennis
  • Alumna of the Year - Kimeran Brown Stevens
  • Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year - Jeremy Towns
  • Humanitarians of the Year - Dr. Tyler and Allison Pittman Fuqua

2017

  • Alumnus of the Year - Joel Brooks
  • Alumnus of the Year - Chief Judge Stephen Louis Armstrong Dillard
  • Outstanding Young Alumna of the Year - Lauren Lunceford Dunnam
  • Humanitarian of the Year - Amy Jo Osborn
  • Humanitarians of the Year - Jade and Shelah Hubbard Acker

2016

  • Outstanding Young Alumna - Katie Murnane
  • Alumna of the Year - Anne Glaze Stone
  • Alumnus of the Year - William R. Baggett
  • Alumnus of the Year - Keith Herron
  • Alumnus of the Year - Fred Kingren
  • Humanitarian of the Year - Carolyn Maull McKinstry
  • Humanitarian of the Year - Stephen B. Moss

2015

  • Outstanding Young Alumnus - Andrew Patterson
  • Alumna of the Year - Karen Carlisle
  • Alumnus of the Year - Todd Carlisle
  • Alumnus of the Year - Larry Cox

2014

  • Outstanding Young Alumnus - Houston Estes
  • Alumna of the Year - Brenda Mitchell Hackney
  • Alumna of the Year - Hon. Helen Shores Lee
  • Alumnus of the Year - Bryan K. Owens

2013

  • Outstanding Young Alumnus - Jeff Stephens
  • Alumnus of the Year - Mark Cottingham
  • Alumnus of the Year - Mickey Newsome
  • Alumna of the Year - Sylvia Snider Young

2012

  • Outstanding Young Alumnus - Patrick Devereux
  • Alumnus of the Year - James Huskey
  • Alumnus of the Year - Kerry Gossett
  • Alumna of the Year - MaryAnn Buffington Moon
  • Alumnus of the Year - Rickie D. Moon

2011

  • Outstanding Young Alumna - Kitty Brown
  • Alumnus of the Year - Joe McDade
  • Alumnus of the Year - Mark Davidson

2010

  • Outstanding Young Alumnus - Ted Alling
  • Outstanding Young Alumnus - Barry Large
  • Outstanding Young Alumnus - Allan Davis
  • Alumna of the Year - Ann Thornton Field
  • Alumnus of the Year - William J. Stevens

2009

  • Outstanding Young Alumnus - Eric Motley
  • Alumna of the Year - Carolyn Yeager Robinson
  • Alumnus of the Year - Col. Michael Robinson

2008

  • Alumnus of the Year - Bennie Bumpers
  • Alumna of the Year - Paula Hovater
  • Alumnus of the Year - Rod Hovater

2007

  • Alumnus of the Year - Walt Barnes
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Sigurd F. Bryan
  • Alumna of the Year - Carol J. Guthrie
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. George Irons, Jr.

2006

  • Alumnus of the Year - William E. Cash
  • Alumnus of the Year - Pat M. Courington, Sr.
  • Alumna of the Year - Martha Ann Cox
  • Alumnus of the Year - S. Todd Crider

2005

  • Alumna of the Year - Betsy Box
  • Alumnus of the Year - William E. Hull
  • Alumnus of the Year - Luther Durwood McAlister

2004

  • Alumna of the Year - Dr. Wanda Lee
  • Alumnus of the Year - Marvin Mann

2003

  • Alumna of the Year - Hon. Karon O. Bowdre
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. William C. Dooley
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. W. Randall Lolley
  • Alumna of the Year - Dr. Betsy Rogers

2002

  • Alumna of the Year - S. Elizabeth Futral

2001

  • Alumnus of the Year - Howard G. Clark III
  • Alumnus of the Year - Francois Coutu

2000

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. George F. Scofield
  • Alumna of the Year - Patricia Trent Scofield

1999

  • Alumnus of the Year - Eddie Miller
  • Alumna of the Year - Anne George
  • Alumnus of the Year - Carl E. Miller, Jr.

1998

  • Alumna of the Year - Dr. Mary Lynne H. Capilouto
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Lonnie W. Funderburg
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. James D. Moebes
  • Alumnus of the Year - Herman Moore

1997

  • Alumna of the Year - Margaret W. Morland
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. James A. Ward, Jr.
  • Alumnus of the Year - William J. Ward

1996

  • Alumnus of the Year - William S. Propst

1995

  • Alumnus of the Year - Malcolm K. Miller, Jr.

1994

  • Alumnus of the Year - John W. Duren

1993

  • Alumnus of the Year - Herschel H. Hobbs

1992

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Robert Glen Waldrop

1991

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Ray C. Williams

1990

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Clayton McWhorter

1989

  • Alumna of the Year - Dr. Grace E. Marquez

1988

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Arthur L. Walker, Jr.

1987

  • Alumna of the Year - Ida V. Moffett

1986

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Frank W. Donaldson

1985

  • Alumnus of the Year - J. Wayne Flynt

1984

  • Alumnus of the Year - Cecil E. Wanninger

1983

  • Alumnus of the Year - Tracy B. Burger
  • Alumnus of the Year - Gene C. Kelser
  • Alumnus of the Year - Howard F. McCord
  • Alumna of the Year - Hon. Janie L. Shores

1982

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. J. Claude Bennett
  • Alumna of the Year - Miss Mildred Blankenship

1981

  • Alumna of the Year - Mary Louise S. Hodges
  • Alumnus of the Year - Loyal Phillips
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. William C. Rhodes

1980

  • Alumna of the Year - Dr. Catherine B. Allen
  • Alumnus of the Year - Robert C. Bowden

1979

  • Alumnus of the Year - John Will Gay
  • Alumna of the Year - Dr. Martha Hagood
  • Alumnus of the Year - A. Gerow Hodges

1978

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Hugh Mattison Linder
  • Alumna of the Year - Irene McCombs

1977

  • Alumna of the Year - Mrs. May L. Adams
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Ira Simmons

1976

  • Alumnus of the Year - Guy H. Caffey, Jr.
  • Alumna of the Year - Dr. Martha J. Stewart
  • Alumna of the Year - Elsie D. Waller

1975

  • Alumna of the Year - Lucille Dorroh Burton
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. L. August Lovegren

1974

  • Alumnus of the Year - Robert E. Lambert, Jr.

1973

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Clyde J. Dotson
  • Alumna of the Year - Lucille Ford Moore
  • Alumna of the Year - Dorothy Youngblood Woodyerd

1972

  • Alumna of the Year - Edwina A. Rose
  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Carl Whirley

1971

  • Alumna of the Year - Dean Margaret S. Douglass
  • Alumnus of the Year - Curtis Bush Hasty

1970

  • Alumnus of the Year - Harold E. Martin
  • Alumna of the Year - Nina Miglionico

1969

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Charles Bowdon Kingry
  • Alumna of the Year - Ada Rae Pass

1968

  • Alumnus of the Year - Emmett David Bates
  • Alumna of the Year - Ruth Davis O'Kelley

1967

  • Alumnus of the Year - Andrew Hendrix Knight

1966

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Hamilton Reid

1965

  • Alumnus of the Year - Earl Goodwin

1964

  • Alumnus of the Year - Charles W. Gross

1963

  • Alumnus of the Year - J. Orlando Ogle

1962

  • Alumnus of the Year - Dr. Wiley Ogletree

1961

  • Alumnus of the Year - A.P. Longshore

1960

  • Alumnus of the Year - Albert Lee Smith

1959

  • Alumnus of the Year - Algermon L. Smith

1958

  • Alumnus of the Year - J. C. Inzer

1957

  • Alumnus of the Year - Peyton A. Eubank

1956

  • Alumnus of the Year - Joseph D. Heacock