The Maryland Awards
The Maryland Awards
Each year, we celebrate and honor the achievements of seven outstanding Terps at A Celebration of Terps: Featuring The Maryland Awards. These awards recognize fearless alumni who have risen to the highest levels of public service, launched successful companies and made groundbreaking discoveries.
Award Categories
Alumni Association Hall of Fame Inductee
Honors a UMCP alumnus/a who has received state, national or global fame for their significant, positive impact on society. This award is presented to our most notable alumni who instill Maryland pride and reflect the core values of the university.
President’s Award
Honors a UMCP alumnus/a who has achieved national recognition for excellence in his/her profession or field. This award is presented to our most noteworthy alumni who excel in their field.
Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
Honors a UMCP alumnus/a under 35 years old who has completed their undergraduate degree within the last 10 years and has distinguished themselves personally and professionally. This award is presented to an accomplished alumnus/a who is on the rise.
Spirit of Maryland Award
Honors a UMCP alumnus/a or community member who reflects the best of the university spirit. This award celebrates those who embody and inspire Maryland pride.
Tyser Gottwals Award
Honors a UMCP alumnus/a who has demonstrated outstanding service to the university, gifting their time and/or talents. This award is named for Ralph J. Tyser ’40 and Abram Z. Gottwals.
Elaine Johnson Coates Award
Honors an alumnus/a who has made a significant and sustained contribution that fosters diversity and inclusion nationally and/or globally. This award is named for Elaine Johnson Coates ’59, who is also the inaugural recipient.
Do Good Award
Honors an alumnus/a who has provided extraordinary service to the world and who represents the ideals of Doing Good.
Nomination Process
Nominations are collected annually from August 1 - January 10.
- All members of the Terp community are welcome to submit a deserving alumnus/a for one of the highlighted above (self-nominations are also accepted).
- Alumni may be nominated for more than one award.
- Nominations must be submitted electronically through the online nomination form which consists of:
- Nominator's contact information
- Nominee’s contact information
- The nominator's personal case for why this candidate should receive the award
- Any supporting documentation
Selection and Recognition
- All nominations must be received by January 10.
- All nominations will be reviewed by the University of Maryland Alumni Association Board of Governors (BOG) awards & recognition committee. The committee will make selections and recommendations to the BOG executive committee and university leadership who will confirm the selections.
- There is one recipient per award.
- Acceptance of the award is contingent upon attending the Celebration of Terps event.
The Maryland Awards Archive
- 2024
Jeanette Epps M.S. ’94, Ph.D. ’00
Astronaut, NASA Johnson Space Center - 2023
Craig S. Spangler '82
Senior Principal, Ballinger - 2022
Dr. Sherita Hill Golden MD, MHS ‘90
Hugh P. McCormick Family Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, John Hopkins Medicine - 2021
Jody K. Olsen Ph.D. ‘79
Former Peace Corps Director - 2019
V. Raymond Ferrara, CFP® ‘70
Chair/CEO, ProVise Management Group, LLC - 2016
Kevin Plank '96
Founder & CEO, Under Armour - 2013
Harvey L. Sanders `72
Former President and CEO, Nautica Enterprises Inc. - 2012
Edward Snider '55 - 2011
William E. Mayer '66, M.B.A. '67 - 2009
Robert Fischell M.S. '53, D.Sc. (Hon.) '96 - 2008
Lt. Gen. Julius Becton, Jr. (Ret.) M.A. '67
former commissioner, American Battle Monuments Commission - 2007
Michael D. Griffin Ph.D. '77
administrator, NASA - 2006
Robert M. Parker, Jr. '70
publisher, The Wine Advocate - 2005
Jeong H. Kim Ph.D. '91
president, Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Inc. - 2004
Charles Fefferman '66, Ph.D. (Hon.) '79 - 2003
Herbert Hauptman Ph.D. '55, D.Sc. (Hon.) '85
president, Hauptman-Woodward Institute - 2002
Gordon England '61
deputy secretary, Homeland Security - 2001
John Apel '57, M.S. '61
president, Global Ocean Associates - 2000
Carleton Fiorina M.B.A. '80
CEO, Hewlett Packard - 1999
Norman "Boomer" Esiason '84
Maryland quarterback; NFL MVP; founder, Boomer Esiason Foundation - 1998
Odonna Mathews '72, M.B.A. '82
vice president for consumer affairs, Giant Foods - 1997
Robert H. Smith '50
president, Charles E. Smith Construction, Inc. - 1996
Joseph Gildenhorn '51
ambassador to Switzerland - 1995
James D. McGroddy '65
vice president of research, IBM - 1994
Joseph R. Hardiman '59
president, NASDAQ - 1993
Ruth M. Davis M.A. '52, Ph.D. '55
scientist - 1992
Joseph D. Tydings '51
attorney, former U.S. Senator - 1991
Michael D. Dingman D.B.M. (Hon.) '89
chairman, Henley Group - 1990
Jane N. Henson '55
vice president, Jim Henson Associates - 1989
Jay Nussbaum '66
vice president, Xerox - 1988
Gen. John W. Vessey, Jr.
retired chairman, Joint Chiefs - 1987
George V. McGowan '51
president, BG&E - 1986
Allen J. Krowe '54, B.D.M. (Hon.) '94, Sr.
vice president, IBM - 1985
James W. Rouse
founder, Rouse Company - 1984
John M. Dennis '43
dean, University of Maryland Medical School - 1983
Waldo H. Burnside '49
president, Carter Hawley Hale - 1982
Louis L. Goldstein D.P.S. (Hon.) '89
comptroller, State of Maryland - 1981
A. James Clark '50
president, Clark Enterprises - 1980
The Hon. Harry R. Hughes '49
former governor, Maryland - 1979
James M. Henson '60
creator of "The Muppets" - 1978
James H. Kehoe, Jr. '40
athletic director, University of Maryland - 1977
The Hon. Charles M. Mathias
U.S. Senator - 1976
Steny H. Hoyer '63, D.P.S. (Hon.) '88
president, Maryland Senate - 1975
Jane Cahill Pfeiffer '54, Litt.D. (Hon.) '79
vice president of communications, IBM
H. Russell Knust '40
vice president, Bethlehem Steel - 1974
Robert C. Murphy '48
chief judge, Court of Appeals of Maryland - 1973
David K.E. Bruce '22
ambassador to Great Britain, West Germany and France
Mary Stallings Coleman '35
judge, Michigan Supreme Court - 1972
Marvin Mandel '39
former governor, Maryland - 1971
Arthur B. Hersberger '32, M.S.'33, Ph.D. '36
executive vice president, Atlantic Refining Co. - 1970
Samuel J. LeFrak '40, D.P.S. (Hon.) '90
chairman, LeFrak Organization - 1969
Carlisle Humelsine '37
president, Historic Williamsburg Foundation - 1968
Galo Plaza
former president, Ecuador and secretary general of OAS - 1967
John W. Smith '21
chairman, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad - 1966
Russell W. McFall '49
chairman, Western Union - 1965
Jerome S. Hardy '39
publisher, "Life" magazine
- 2024
Evan Lutz '14
CEO and Founder, Hungry Harvest - 2023
Veeraj Shah '21
Co-founder and CEO, Vitalize Care - 2022
Cedric Nwafor '18
Executive Director, ROOTS Africa - 2021
Jazz Lewis '11, MPP '14
Democratic Caucus Chair, Maryland State Delegate - 2019
Jonathan Fix '16
Founder and Chairman, Terps Against Hunger - 2016
Ali von Paris '12
CEO & Founder, Route One Apparel - 2013
Kevin M. Schoonover `06
Director of Strategy and Business Development, Alliant Techsystems - 2012
Eddie Frederick '03 - 2011
Joshua K. Goldstein '05 - 2009
D. Haroon Mokhtarzada '01
Zekeria Mokhtarzada '01 - 2008
Christina M. Lagdameo '98
Social Welfare Advocate - 2007
Michael R. Kerr '99
founding principal, Achievement First Crown Heights Charter School - 2006
E. J. Henderson '02
linebacker, Minnesota Vikings - 2005
Sujal M. Patel '96
founder and chairman, Isilon Systems, Inc. - 2004
Kevin Plank '97 - 2003
Sergey Brin '93 - 2002
Aaron McGruder '98 - 2001
Craig A. Thompson '92 - 2000
Ranjit S. Dhindsa '91, '92 - 1998
Patti Kim, '92
author - 1997
Brian LeGette '89
entrepeneur - 1996
Martin B. Goldberg '84
attorney, Lash & Goldberg
- 2024
Jim Spencer '90
Chief Financial Officer, DecisionPoint Technologies, Inc. - 2023
Alyssa T. Krumlauf Ph.D. '15
Associate Director, Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute - 2022
Kirk Bell '88
Director, Enterprise Data, Fannie Mae - 2021
Johnny Holliday
Voice of Maryland Basketball and Football (UMD Athletics) - 2019
Anne S.K. Turkos
University Archivist Emerita - 2016
Michael '81 and Mary M. Dana
CEO & President, Onex Real Estate Partners, and Four-Time Terp Parents - 2013
Waldo H. `49 and Jean C. Burnside `50
Emeritus Trustee and Alumni Hostess - 2012
Cliff '54 & Camille Kendall - 2011
Charles '65 & Judith E. '66 Iager - 2006
John "Jack" '47 and Jacqueline '49 Heise
long-time supporters of Maryland
Please note this award was established in 2004. It combines the Abram Z. Gottwals Award presented first in 1965, and the Ralph J. Tyser Medallion presented first in 1992. Both awards were presented for service to the university, and now one award bears both names.
- 2024
Sharon L. Akers '78
President, Edward St. John Foundation; Executive Director, Special Projects, St. John Properties - 2023
Maurice Nick '12, MBA '16, M.S. '16
Senior Supply Chain Manager, Under Armour - 2022
Jeremy D. Rachlin, ESQ. '02
Principal, Bulman, Dunie, Burke & Feld - 2021
Wanda Alexis Alexander '81
President and CEO, WAA-LLC - 2019
Steve Leonard '78
President and CEO American Bus & Sprinter Vans - 2016
Robert Bedingfield '70
Retired Senior Partner, EY - 2013
Erik B. Young, M.D. `74
Benefactor - 2012
Leo Van Munching, Jr. '50 - 2011
John M. Brophy '71 - 2009
Alma Gildenhorn '53 - 2008
Pedro E. Wasmer '62
retired president, Somerset Capital Group, Ltd. - 2007
Marilyn Berman Pollans M.A. '73, Ph.D. '79
retired associate dean, A. James Clark School of Engineering - 2005
Marvin J. Perry '53
- 2024
Sylvie DeLaHunt ’14, M.S. ’16
Discovery Program Assistant Group Supervisor, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory - 2023
Morten Ender M.A. '91, Ph.D. '96
Professor of Sociology, United States Military Academy - 2022
Reginald Dwayne Betts ’09
Founder and Director, Freedom Reads - 2021
Joseph Kunkel M.Arch. ’09
Principal, MASS Design Group; Director, Sustainable Native Communities Design Lab - 2019
Elaine Johnson Coates ’59
LCSW-C
- 2024
Oneyda Hernandez ’23
Director of Operations, Audelia Community Response Team - 2023
Kahlil Kettering M.P.M. '15
Executive Director, Maryland/D.C. Chapter, The Nature Conservancy - 2022
Lumnwi Audrey Awasom ’18
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Noble Uprising - 2021
Seth Statler MBA ’87
Director of Government Affairs, National Fire Protection Association - 2019
Linda Powers ’15
2019 DDS candidate, University of Maryland School of Dentistry