Alumni Awards and News
Alumni awards and news
Stay connected with the latest from Gies College of Business. Discover inspiring stories from our alumni community, celebrate those making a meaningful impact, and find out how you can stay engaged and informed.
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Alumni awards
Gies Business and the Gies Business Alumni Association (GBAA) proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements and contributions of our alumni and faculty. These awards celebrate those who exemplify excellence in their careers and communities.
Gies College of Business Awards
Gies Business has tens of thousands of exceptional alumni and friends who work every day to make the world a better place. The following awards are presented at the Spring Luncheon each year for outstanding career achievements and service to Gies Business.
Congratulations to our 2026 winners:
- Distinguished Alumnus Award - Donald J. Edwards, ‘88 FIN; Founder & Executive Chairman, Flexpoint Ford LLC
- Gies College of Business Alumni Impact Award - Jane Romweber Santogrossi, ‘75 ACCY; Partner, Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (Retired)
GBAA Excellence-in-Teaching Award Recipients
Congratulations to the 2026 GBAA Excellence-in-Teaching Award Recipients:
- Sandra Corredor - Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
- Xing Gao - Excellence in Graduate Teaching
- Chengyuan (Nicko) Wei - Excellence in Teaching for Teaching Assistants
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Alumni in the News
Stay up-to-date with the remarkable achievements of our alumni. Discover the latest news featuring their successes and contributions. Want to see more? Browse all alumni news.
Changing the game: Gies MSM grad Sam Phillips advocates for LGBTQ+ athletes
Aug 20, 2026
Sam Phillips (MSM '26) transformed his experiences as a collegiate gymnast and LGBTQ+ advocate into a career with Athlete Ally, where he promotes inclusion in sports while applying the business skills he gained at Gies College of Business.
Gies Business alumna and Culver's CEO Julie Fussner named to Forbes 50 Over 50 list
Aug 18, 2026
The first woman to lead Culver’s, Fussner credits her broad University of Illinois education with helping shape her approach to leadership and problem-solving. Since joining Culver’s in 2017, she has helped drive the brand’s growth and evolution while maintaining its Midwest roots and people-first culture.
How Gies Business iMBA elevated Butrymovich’s career from a mountaintop
Aug 17, 2026
Olivia Butrymovich (MBA ’26) balanced a demanding role at Colorado’s Copper Mountain Resort with Gies Business’ flexible online iMBA program, applying what she learned immediately to lead projects and manage teams.
At 2026 Cozad Lecture, Kent Dauten shares insights on the investing field
Aug 14, 2026
Private equity veteran Kent Dauten drew on more than 40 years in investing to share career and leadership lessons with Gies Business students, encouraging them to approach networking with curiosity, seek early-career roles with steep learning curves, and value diverse perspectives when making major decisions.
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