Established by the Board of Trustees in 1951, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed by Penn State upon an outstanding alumna or alumnus. The award salutes the achievements of alumni whose "personal lives, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of their alma mater."
 

Award Recipients

Dr. Ala Stanford '91, '97g

Dr. Ala Stanford '91, '97g

2024 Distinguished Alumna

Dr. Ala Stanford is the founder of the Black Doctors Consortium and Center for Health Equity and R.E.A.L. Concierge Medicine. She is a national leader in health equity, a health care policy adviser, and former regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of the mid-Atlantic, appointed by President Biden. A practicing physician for over twenty years, Stanford is board certified by the American Board of Surgery in both pediatric and adult general surgery, and she serves as a medical and health correspondent for national media outlets.

Read more about Dr. Ala Stanford.

 

Robert D. Metzgar '60Mr. Robert D. Metzgar '60

2012 Distinguished Alumnus

Robert D. Metzgar '60 is the retired owner and president of Warren-based North Penn Pipe and Supply, Inc., a wholesale supplier of materials, goods, and services to oil and gas exploration companies and industrial suppliers. In July 2008, Metzgar and his wife, Sally Nelson Metzgar, committed $2 million to Penn State Behrend for the creation of the Robert and Sally Metzgar Admissions and Alumni Center.

Read more about Robert D. Metzgar (Web) | (PDF)

 

Edward P. Junker III '59

Mr. Edward P. Junker III '59

2011 Distinguished Alumnus

Edward P. "Ted" Junker III '59 was the retired vice chairman of PNC Bank Corp. and served as vice chairman and director of PNC Bank, N.A. He was a member of the Penn State Board of Trustees, and served as both its president and vice president. Junker was active in the development efforts of Penn State, helping to lead three capital campaigns and chairing various committees. In 2007, he received the University's Philanthropist of the Year award.

Read more about Edward P. Junker III (Web) | (PDF)

 

Daniel S. Mead ’75, ’77

Mr. Daniel S. Mead '75, '77g

2010 Distinguished Alumnus

Daniel S. Mead '75, '77g is the retired chief operating officer of Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless company, where he managed $62 billion in annual revenue, 93 million customers, and 80,000 employees. Mead is also a passionate advocate of his company's award-winning HopeLine program, which distributes phones and provides wireless service to victims of domestic violence and awards cash grants to domestic violence agencies nationwide.

Read more about Daniel S. Mead (Web) | (PDF)

 

Richard J. Fasenmyer ’69

Mr. Richard J. Fasenmyer '69

2000 Distinguished Alumnus

Richard J. Fasenmyer '69 was the founder, president, and chief executive officer of RJF International Corp. Based in nearby Fairlawn, Ohio, RJF manufactures engineered polymer products for select specialty markets, including wall coverings, flooring, dry-erase presentation surfaces, commercial and industrial mattings, and specialty films for custom and commercial use.

 

Gary W. Lyons ’56

Dr. Gary W. Lyons '56

1989 Distinguished Alumnus

Dr. Gary W. Lyons '56 was the retired chief of Saint Vincent Health Center's Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. He worked with Dr. C. Walton Lillehei, one of the first physicians to perform open-heart surgery in the United States. In 1971, Lyons was recruited by Saint Vincent to return to Erie and build the hospital's first open-heart surgery program.