Alumni and Community Awards

Every year, the University of Arizona salutes a group of alumni for their achievements, public service, advocacy for education, volunteerism and service to students, the colleges and the university. Alumni from the University of Arizona are changing the world. They are teachers, doctors, engineers, entertainers, environmentalists and so much more. Together with the university's colleges, we are honored to celebrate the Alumni of the Year.

2026 - Cathleen Peterson-Layne, 1988

2025 - Alan Barreuther, 1973 and Christine Barreuther, 1977

2024 - John Musil, 1994

2022/2023 - Marion K. Slack, 1989

2020/2021 - John "Andy" Ware, 1967

2018 - Richard Katz, 1970

2017 - R. Ken Coit, 1967

2016 - Richard M. Wiedhopf, 1965, 1972

2015 - Harland Wand, 1979

2014 - Kevin Boesen, 1996

2013 - Jack R. Cole, 1953

2010 - Metta Lou Henderson, 1961, 1966, 1978

This award established in 1992, recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has:

• Achieved success in pharmaceutical capacity or other capacities
• Helped to further the mission of the College of Pharmacy
• Provided leadership to the profession and the community
• Made a positive impact on the state, nation and world

• Candidates for the Cole Distinguished Alumnus Award must be a graduate of the UA College of Pharmacy. Two or more individuals may be nominated together if they performed as a team in their contributions or achievements
• Nominations should consist of up to three letters from nominators describing the contributions of the individual that make him/her eligible for this award, together with a short biography of the nominee and the nominee's curriculum vitae

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This award is named for Jack Cole, dean emeritus and professor at the college. Dean from 1977 to 1990, he twice was named acting provost of the University of Arizona in the late 1980s and served as UA senior vice president for academic affairs and provost from 1990 to 1992. After two years with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, he returned to our college as a professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science in 1994. 

2025 - Rick Schnellmann

2024 - Thomas Reed, Graduated 1969

2021 - Alan Barreuther, Graduated 1973

2020 - Jenny Bingham, Graduated 2010

2019 - Kevin Boesen, Graduated 1996

2018 - Bill Smith, Graduated 1990

2016 - Larry Schallock, Graduated 1968

2015 - Mary J. Ryan, Graduated 1974

2014 - Richard Katz, Graduated 1970 

2013 - Michael & Kathryn Kalsman, Graduated (Michael) 1953

2012 - Nancy Alvarez, Graduated 1992

2011 - John Bailey, Graduated 1965

2010 - Richard Wiedhopf, Graduated 1965, 1972

2009 - Edward Saba, Graduated 1957

2008 - Carl Trinca, Graduated 1970, 1974; Hal Wand, Graduated 1979

2007 - William Fritz, Graduated 1970, 1977; Mary Relling, Graduated 1982

2006 - Robert Pittman, Graduated 1984

2002 - Mette Lou Henderson, Graduated 1961, 1965, 1978

1993 - Mark Pulido, Graduated 1976

1992 - Jack Cole, Graduated 1953; Stanley Goldenberg, Graduated 1968
 

This award recognizes outstanding pharmacy practitioners for their quality of practice and service to the community and profession. Recipients must be graduates of the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy or have another significant relationship to the college (i.e., faculty appointment, donor, adviser or other service commitment) that has lasted five or more years. Two or more individuals may be nominated together if they performed as a team. Additionally, a recipient must: 

• Practice pharmacy in an innovative and patient-oriented manner
• Demonstrate high standards of compassion and caring
• Be actively involved in service to the profession through state and/or national professional organizations
• Be actively involved in service to his or her community 

• Anyone 21 years of age or over may nominate
• Nominations should consist of up to three letters of support

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The grown children of 1952 College of Pharmacy alumnus Danny Jacob and his wife, Rae, established this award in honor of their parents, who owned and operated pharmacies in Tucson, held leadership positions in the state pharmacy organization and auxiliary and were known widely for their caring concern for patients and support of their employees. The first two recipients are faculty who teach in the Jacob Pharmacy Practice Laboratory, also funded by the Jacob family. 

This award, established in 2024, recognizes an alumus or alumna who has:

• Achieved success in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, and toxicology research or related fields
• Helped to further the mission of the College of Pharmacy
• Provided leadership to the profession and the community
• Made a positive impact on the state, nation and world

Candidates for the Halpert Graduate Alumni Award must be a graduate of the UA College of Pharmacy and have received their MS, MSPS, or PhD. Two or more individuals may be nominated together if they performed as a team in their contributions or achievements.

Nominations should consist of:

• Up to three letters of support from nominators describing the contributions of the individual that make them eligible for this award
• A short biography of the nominee
• The nominee's curriculum vitae, if available, or a link to their LinkedIn or professional website

This award is named in memory of Dr. James. R. Halpert, professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Joining the college in 1983, he mentored many graduate students during his time on faculty and developed independent research in the structure and function of cytochromes P450 of the 2B and 3A subfamilies. This award honors Dr. Halpert’s impact in research as well as his guidance to many generations of graduate students here at the university.

Established in 1992, this award recognizes an individual who is not a graduate of the UA College of Pharmacy who has: 

• Achieved success in a health care profession or other capacity
• Helped to further the mission of the College of Pharmacy
• Provided leadership to the profession and the community
• Made a positive impact on the state, nation and world 

• Two or more individuals may be nominated together if they performed as a team in their contributions or achievements
• Nominations should consist of up to three letters from nominators describing the contributions of the individual that make him/her eligible for this award, together with a short biography of the nominee and the nominee's curriculum vitae.

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Findlay Russell joined the faculty of the UA College of Pharmacy in 1981 after serving as professor of neurology, biology and physiology at the University of Southern California and director of the Laboratory of Neurological Research and Venom Poisoning Center at Los Angeles County - USC Medical Center. He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Santa Barbara in 1989. Dr. Russell died in September 2011, a few days before his 92nd birthday. 

1992 - Alfred Mannino, Donald Dahlin 
1998 - Findlay Russell
2002 - Albert Picchioni 
2007 - A. Jay Gandolfi
2008 - George Cunningham
2009 - Mel and Enid Zuckerman
2010 - Mike and Elaine Jacobson
2011 - Bill Fink
2012 - Fred Paavola
2013 - Theodore Tong
2014 - James Kloster
2015 - Shaun Kirkpatrick
2016 - Samuel Yalkowsky
2018 - John Murphy
2019 - Ivo Abraham
2020 - Terri Warholak
2021 - Kelly Fine

This award is given to an alum of the college who has attained prominence in their field. Service to the University is not required.

• Students, faculty and alumni are allowed to submit nominations
• Nominees will be asked to provide a current CV to the Awards Committee for review

2025 - Jerry Overman, Lisa Whittington
2024 - Matthew Bertsch, Amanda Klein

This award recognizes an alum of the college who has given back to the community. This includes setting up a food bank, community activities, free health screenings/services, training the community for emergencies, etc.

• Students, faculty and alumni are allowed to submit nominations
• Nominees will be asked to provide a current CV to the Awards Committee for review

2025 - Marjorie Ford Nenadich

This award recognizes the professional achievements of an alum who has been a graduate of the college for no more than 10 years.

• Students, faculty and alumni are allowed to submit nominations
• Nominees will be asked to provide a current CV to the Awards Committee for review