The Alumni Fellow Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed by the Penn State Alumni Association and is administered in cooperation with Penn State's academic colleges. Since 1973, the award has been given to a select group of alumni who are leaders in their professional fields. The program provides recipients with the opportunity to accept an invitation from the president of the University to share their knowledge and expertise with the college community. As leaders in their professions, Alumni Fellows add a dimension to the academic curriculum not available in the traditional college classroom. While meeting with students, Alumni Fellows stimulate thought, debate, and action, frequently pointing students toward previously unconsidered goals. The University's Board of Trustees has designated the title of Alumni Fellow as permanent and lifelong.