Distinguished Alumni Awards

ACHIEVEMENT:

T.C. Boyle, 74MFA, 77PhD

A graduate of the UI Department of English and the Writers’ Workshop, T.C. Boyle has earned acclaim as a prolific and talented writer whose works compare to those of Mark Twain for their deft blend of satire and biting social commentary. The quality of Boyle’s work has been recognized by the Academy of Arts and Sciences, and his 11 novels and eight short story collections have received numerous literary awards, including five O. Henry Awards and two awards from the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. As Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southern California, Boyle inspires future generations of writers with his skills, insight, and engaged teaching.

Milo Hamilton, 50BA

Known as the “Voice of the Houston Astros,” Milo Hamilton has enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a sports broadcaster. In more than 50 years of broadcasting major league baseball, he has worked for six teams and called some of the most memorable plays of all time, including when Henry Aaron bypassed Babe Ruth to become baseball’s homerun king. A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and National Radio Hall of Fame, Hamilton has also raised millions of dollars for charities such as the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society.

Pamela J. Haylock, 71BSN, 77MA

Cancer patients and survivors have a true friend in Pamela Haylock. A highly respected oncology nurse and consultant, Haylock has dedicated her career to improving the lives of people with cancer—a priority she first displayed in her visionary UI thesis on fatigue among patients receiving radiation. An advocate of the mind-body-spirit approach to cancer care and survivorship, Haylock has proven an international leader in the development of effective cancer programs, including the acclaimed “Cancer Survival Toolbox.” Past-president of the national Oncology Nursing Society, Haylock is a doctoral student in the University of Texas at Galveston School of Nursing.

Richard J. Schnieders, 70BA

From tending the cash register in his family’s small grocery in Remsen, Iowa, Richard J. Schnieders went on to become chairman and CEO of SYSCO, the largest food service marketing and distribution company in North America. Schnieders’ business acumen is matched by his civic involvement and deeply held moral beliefs, which he demonstrates through support of Habitat for Humanity, sustainable agriculture, family farmers, and other worthy causes. Lauded as a role model for the benefits of a liberal arts and sciences education, he also shares his time, energy, and knowledge with UI faculty, staff, and students.

MaryFran Sowers, 84PhD

An internationally known researcher in musculoskeletal disorders, MaryFran Sowers has contributed significantly to the understanding of osteoporosis and bone health in women. Her groundbreaking studies have deepened the medical community’s understanding of the physiological changes of the aging female body, including the genetic and nutritional factors of bone loss and other diseases. A professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan, Sowers also serves as director of the school’s Center for Integrated Approaches to Complex Diseases. In addition, she is the principal investigator for six National Institutes of Health grants that generate more than $11 million for her research.

SERVICE:

Rafat Jan Rukanuddin, 04PhD

Rafat Jan Rukanuddin, an assistant professor and director of the BScN program at Aga Khan University’s School of Nursing in Pakistan, has shown commitment not only to her students and profession, but also to the service of others. In the aftermath of an earthquake in Kashmir in October 2005, she led a team of nurses to remote, dangerous areas to treat victims. A member of numerous health and education committees, Rukanuddin is founding president of Aga Khan’s Nursing Honor Society. She is also the first woman to hold the position of President of the Regional Ismaili Council for Karachi and Balochistan.

Thomas R. Temple, 77MS

For the past 27 years, Thomas Temple has inspired healthcare leaders across the state and nation with his dedication to patients and commitment to pharmacy. As executive vice president of the Iowa Pharmacy Association, Temple provides advice on health policy to legislators, insurance companies, and government programs. Awards from the American Pharmacists Association, the Iowa Department of Human Services, and the Colleges of Pharmacy at the University of Illinois and the UI honor his commitment, leadership, and public service. Through initiatives such as immunization services, patient case management, and standardized pharmacy degrees, Temple has helped change the role and status of pharmacists in health care.

Stephen West, 69BBA

The president of West Music Company, Stephen West has made it his professional—and personal—mission to promote music education and educators on a local, state, and national level. For decades, West has generously supported UI programs and departments, repairing instruments and offering discounts to the School of Music’s faculty and students, and allowing Hancher Auditorium artists to conduct master classes and workshops in his stores. One of the most respected music dealers in the United States, West recently made possible the restoration and transportation of a 19th century Steinway grand piano to its new home in the Old Capitol’s Senate Chamber.

YOUNG ALUMNI:

Ori J. Sivan, 04BSE

One of the Midwest’s most respected leaders in environmental sustainability, Ori J. Sivan co-founded the Greenmaker Supply Company, Chicago’s only “green” provider of building supplies. Selected as one of Illinois’s most innovative small businesses, Greenmaker Supply reflects Sivan’s belief in providing consumers with environmentally friendly and energy-efficient alternatives. As an undergraduate at Iowa, Sivan co-created the UI’s International Engineering Service Program and the Engineers for a Sustainable World organization. Today, he continues his service to his alma mater as one of the charter members of the UI College of Engineering’s Young Alumni Advisory Board.

FACULTY/STAFF:

Enzo O. and Matilde C. Macagno, 58MS

Through seminal and internationally acclaimed research into the work of one of the world’s true geniuses—Leonardo da Vinci—UI emeritus professors Enzo and Matilde Macagno have advanced both the field of hydraulics and the University of Iowa. Even after retiring from the university, the couple continued to unravel the mysteries of da Vinci’s cryptic drawings, sketches, and notebooks. The Macagnos applied their knowledge and expertise in engineering, mathematics, fluid dynamics, and water science to uncover substantial new insights into the work of this legendary figure. These passionate and dedicated scholars have ensured da Vinci’s discoveries will continue to inspire generations to come.

FRIEND:

Mary Joy Stead

When Mary Joy Stead and her husband, Jerre, studied at the UI in the 1960s, they lived in a trailer court. Although Jerre’s successful career later took them all over the world, they never forgot about their beginnings at the University of Iowa. The couple is recognized for generously supporting various organizations, but Mary Joy has particularly impressed the UI community with her extraordinary efforts on behalf of the university. A member of the UI Foundation Board of Directors, Mary Joy recently served with distinction and passion as vice chair of the national steering committee for the Foundation campaign that raised $1 billion for the UI.

HICKERSON RECOGNITION:

Eva C. Dahl, 73BA, 76DDS, 79MA, 82MS

Eva Dahl has leveraged her distinguished career in endodontics to the advantage of the University of Iowa. Through her involvement in many state and national groups—from the American Association of Women Dentists to the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine Committee on the Future of Dental Education—Dahl has established a reputation as a tireless crusader for her profession. Dahl has also repeatedly devoted her time and energy to the university—notably through her role as an adjunct professor, past UIAA board president, and board member of the UI Dental Alumni Association, which honored her as Dental Alumna of the Year in 2001.