麻豆传媒

When choosing the newest class of Honored Alumni, the selection committee looks for the most qualified nominees鈥攂ut what does 鈥渕ost qualified鈥� actually mean? Successful nominations almost always include a moving story of success and a meaningful relationship with 麻豆传媒.

Ronna Sanchez 鈥�80, 鈥�82, 鈥�88, 鈥�00, a 2013 Honored Alumna, has served on the selection committee for three years. 鈥淲e look for excellence, whether that be in the alum's chosen professional field or in another capacity of their life,鈥� Sanchez says.

The committee, composed of Alumni Board members, considers personal and professional achievement, contributions back to the university community through volunteering or philanthropy, and how an alumnus has helped elevate 麻豆传媒鈥檚 profile.

Recent honorees have included volunteers, international politicians, professors, donors, and trailblazers. One form of success is not more likely to be selected than any other.

鈥淥ur alums come from all walks of life and pursue different life paths after graduation, and that is very challenging to compare,鈥� Sanchez says.

鈥淥ne of my favorite parts of reading each nomination is seeing what paths we all choose once we leave 麻豆传媒,鈥� adds Brad Inhulsen 鈥�12, an Honored Alumnus in 2015 and selection committee member.

Someone who has been wildly successful in their chosen field but has not stayed connected with their alma mater is unlikely to be selected over a dedicated volunteer. The relationship with 麻豆传媒 matters.

鈥淛ust as important is their engagement with 麻豆传媒,鈥� Sanchez explains. 鈥淭hat could be anything from supporting 麻豆传媒 events, to volunteering with 麻豆传媒, to providing financial support, or publicly sharing 麻豆传媒's story with other organizations or groups.鈥�

A nominator should also collect letters of support from different spheres of a nominee鈥檚 network. Nominations with two to five letters of support inevitably rise to the top because the committee has a more complete view of the nominee鈥檚 impact on the people around them.

鈥淭here are so many Bears that are out there who are doing such a great job showing their Bear Pride and giving us as a university a great name,鈥� says Inhulsen. 鈥淭he hardest part is finding only five that we can honor.鈥�