62nd Annual Alumni Awards Celebration

October 6, 2023 at 5 p.m. EST

Eastern Michigan University continues its tradition of recognizing outstanding graduates who have demonstrated excellence within their professional careers and respective communities. In celebration of their achievements, the University hosted the 62nd Annual Alumni Awards on Friday, Oct. 6. in the George Gervin GameAbove Convocation Center.

In The News

Eastern Michigan University celebrates 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award recipients

Read the EMU Today Story

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Chaz Stewart-Bunting (BS11)

After graduating from EMU, Chaz began working with Jonathan Adler in the local Soho Flagship stores and quickly ascended from assistant to lead of client-facing design services. Chaz’s natural flair in design caught the attention of Jonathan Adler’s corporate offices in New York City, where he currently resides.

  • About the Outstanding Young Alumni Award Expand dropdown
    The Outstanding Young Alumni Award is presented to alumni whose achievements have been signified by personal honors bestowed upon them by their peers and who have demonstrated the worth of their education through their post-college achievements. Generally, recipients have been graduates of Eastern Michigan University for less than ten years

Alumni Achievement Award

Brian James Egen (BA92)

Since 1992, Brian James Egen has worked at The Henry Ford, where he started his career as a program development officer. Since then, Brian has been able to achieve many accolades in his production work at The Henry Ford, such as serving as the production coordinator for CBS’s Emmy Winning Series, “The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation with Mo Rocca,” and winning the Pure Michigan® Governor's Award for Innovative Marketing in Tourism for Monroe County Museum millage marketing campaign called, "A Vision for a New Decade."

  • About the Alumni Achievement Award Expand dropdown
    The Alumni Achievement Award is presented to alumni who have achieved distinction in their chosen field, clearly demonstrated the value of their college education, and maintained a continuing interest in Eastern Michigan University. Generally, recipients have been graduates of Eastern Michigan University for ten to twenty-five years.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Hon. Daniel Opperman (BA78)

Judge Opperman has been impacting EMU for over 34 years and shows continued involvement and support for student engagement initiatives, scholarship support programs, and the advancement of the College of Arts and Sciences. Opperman has been instrumental in supporting university programs such as the new Center for Civil Rights & Social Justice and the Opperman Graduate Fellowships in History.

  • About the Distinguished Alumni Award Expand dropdown
    The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to alumni who have achieved extraordinary distinction in their chosen field, demonstrated unusual service to others, and maintained a continuing interest in Eastern Michigan University. Generally, recipients have been graduates of EMU for more than 25 years.

John W. Porter Distinguished Service Award

Dr. Linda Pritchard

In her tenure at EMU, Dr. Linda Pritchard served as a Professor of History, Department Head for Women’s and Gender Studies, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Pritchard has an extensive history of facilitating change at EMU, building the Women and Gender Studies Department, fundraising for Women in Philanthropy, and planning activities in the local community.

Photo Gallery

View photos from the 62nd Annual Alumni Awards Celebration, where alumni came together to enjoy great food, and fun, catch up with old friends, and make new ones. During the event, four alumni were presented with awards for excellence in various categories.