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Alumni award recipients recognized at May 4 banquet

May 14, 2017

Every year, the NIU Alumni Association recognizes 10 alumni for their professional accomplishments. The 2017 alumni award recipients recognized at the Thursday, May 4, banquet were:

Frank M. Drendel, Distinguished Alumni Award
Chairman of the board and founder of CommScope Inc.
B.S. marketing, 1970

Ronald J. Modell, F.R. Geigle Service Award
World-class trumpeter and music educator
Former director, NIU Jazz Ensemble
B.A. and M.A., University of Tulsa

Mary P. Haynes, Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Academic success coach, College of Lake County
B.S. family and child studies, 2012
M.S.Ed. adult and higher education, 2014

Recipients of the Outstanding College Alumni Awards

Ann E. Rondeau, Ed.D., College of Education
President, College of DuPage
Vice admiral, U.S. Navy (retired)
Ed.D. adult and higher education, 2010

Robert H. Rothkopf, College of Business
Retired president and CEO, Semblex Corp.
B.S. management, 1967
M.S. management, 1973

Rebecca Downing Pelley, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Art Department chair, Boylan Catholic High School, Rockford
M.A. studio art/painting, 1980

Joyce Marie Barra, Ph.D., RN, College of Health and Human Sciences
Faculty, Weber State University
Owner, JMB Consulting
B.S. nursing, 1980

Heather Wier Vaught, College of Law
Special counsel to Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan
and the Democratic Caucus of the Illinois House of Representatives
Juris doctor, 2005

Daniel J. Bailey, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
Supply chain analyst, Nestle USA
B.S. industrial engineering, 2005
M.S. industrial engineering, 2006

Jennifer Anne Weidman, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Managing director/CEO of Space Bangkok
B.A. Southeast Asian studies, 1999
M.A. anthropology, 2005

Visit the Alumni Association’s website to read about the strides that these alumni have made in their careers and their contributions to society.