Past Award Recipients

Tradition of Excellence
Award Recipients By Year

Established by the Class of 1982, the annual Tradition of Excellence Awards are given to recognize OPRFHS alumni who have made outstanding contgributions to society throught their personal and professional pursuits. Awards are presented annually in November. Alumni who have graduated 10 years prior to the date of the current graduating year and earlier are eligible for consideration - e.g. Class of 2000 graduates and earlier would be eligible in the 2009-2010 school year.

Follow this link for Nomination form and instructions

Iris Krasnow was born and raised in Oak Park. She is a nationally known author and keynote speaker specializing in relationships and personal growth. A graduate of Stanford University, she became the fashion writer for the DallasTimes Herald, then moved to United Press International in Washington, D.C. to become the national feature writer. In her several years at UPI, Krasnow specialized in celebrity profiles, including Yoko Ono,Billy Graham, Ted Kennedy and Queen Noor of Jordan.   
Iris is the bestselling author of Surrendering to Motherhood, Surrendering to Marriage, Surrendering to Yourself and I Am My Mother's Daughter. Her new book, The Secret Lives of Wives: Women Share What It Really Takes to Stay Married, was published by Penguin Books in October 2011.

Her writing has been featured in many national publications, including Parade, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Huffington Post. Krasnow has been a guest on numerous national television and radio programs including twice on Oprah. Iris is a journalism professor at American University in Washington, D.C. and is the mother of four sons. She encourages you to connect with her on:  www.iriskrasnow.com

  Phillip Radford
   Environmentalist
   1994

Philip Radford is the Executive Director of Greenpeace. At the helm of one of the most influential environmental organizations in the country, he leads a national team of 500 environmental leaders working in 23 cities on national and global campaigns to protect our planet’s oceans, forests, and climate.

With his roots in local organizing and fundraising, Phil has always specialized in mobilizing people to raise their voices for the right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet for our children. Phil began his environmental career as a student organizing the shutdown of incinerators on the West Side of Chicago.

As Greenpeace’s Grassroots and National Canvass Director, his team doubled the agency’s U.S. budget, quadrupled its staff, launched a national student organizing program, and created an online to offline mobilization program.

Over the past decade, Phil has managed several high-impact national campaigns, including Global Warming 2000, which convinced Senator John McCain to take leadership on global warming and The Global Climate Coalition Campaign that forced major corporations to stop funding an industry front-group supporting global warming skeptics. He persuaded Citigroup and more than a dozen communities to make investments in clean energy.

He is a regular contributor to Huffington Post and has appeared on CNN, Fox News, NBC, and ABC News, Phil has a degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and a certificate in Non-profit Management from Georgetown University.

Kevin Sorensen, Class of 1985, is a stuntman from Oak Park, Illinois. He grew up working in the movie industry for his Dad, Gilbert Sorensen, doing numerous commercials and industrial films. After graduating from OPRFHS, Kevin spent four months in California learning how to perform stunts.  Upon returning from California, Kevin enrolled at Columbia College pursuing a career in film, television and radio. His passion for stunts led him to follow his dream as a stuntman. While working as a part-time OPRF custodian on and off, Kevin also performed with a traveling stunt show across the United States for two years in the late 80's. He came back to work as a full-time custodian in 1993 while launching his career as a stuntman in the movie, Groundhog Day. He continued to perform stunts in television shows such as Easy Street, Turks, Early Edition (stunt double for Ron Dean), Prison Break, Ride Along and ATF. His film career also included numerous films, including Natural Born Killers, The Jackal, Mercury Rising, Death of a President, Fred Claus, Wanted, Public Enemies, On the Road to Perdition, Stranger Than Fiction, The Lake House, Witless Protection (stunt double for Larry the Cable Guy), Batman Begins and The Dark Knight (winner of The Screen Actors Guild for "Best Stunt Ensemble"). Kevin Sorensen, an OPRFHS custodian for 21 years, continues to follow his dreams as a stuntman. Always looking for the next big stunt!

Warren Trezevant is a Character Animator and Creative Lead for the 360 group at Pixar Animation Studios.  Hired in 1995, Warren helped animate seven of Pixar’s feature films: A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars and Ratatouille.  In addition to successfully bringing characters to life on the big screen, Warren expanded his role at Pixar by creating the ‘Toy Story Zoetrope,’ an updated version of an 18th century ‘illusion of movement’ device that pre-dates cinema and animation. The Toy Story Zoetrope premiered as part of the Pixar: 20 years of Animation exhibit, which opened at the New York Museum of Modern Art. By introducing Pixar to a new technology in the form of 3D printing, Warren took animation he created on the computer and printed each frame as a unique dimensional figurine. The Zoetrope gives the illusion that these figurines are springing to life right in front of your eyes.  As part of the touring Pixar exhibit, the Zoetrope has been showcased in leading museums throughout the world in England, Japan, Scotland, Australia, Finland, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Mexico, and Oakland.  Two additional Zoetropes were permanently installed at the Disney California Adventure theme park in California and Hong Kong Disneyland.  Continuing the exploration of computer animation and dimensional figures, Warren helped animate the animatronic versions of Pixar's WALL-e and Luxo Jr. characters.  Warren is currently working with the software teams at Pixar to help design and implement a renovation of their production software to improve the process of animating for feature films.

Aaron Parchem
Olympian
1995

Paul Broucek
Film/Music
1970

Former President of Music/New Line Cinema, coverseeing music or many films, including Austin Powers, Wag the Dog, Blow, I am Sam; executive music producer for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, winning 3 Oscar nominations for music.  Launched his career as assistant engineer on Apocalypse Now to famed Sound Designer, Walter Murch.  Currently producer/consultant on music productions, working with record producer Salaam Remi and as executive producer for musical score of Laundry Warrior.
 

Joe Contafio
Music
1973
 

Youngest Music Director of Dick Clark’s live Good Ol’ Rock & Roll Show, performing w/ artists like Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beach Boys; noted voice over artist; created “Let Freedom Sing” one-man show, benefiting NY firefighters in 9/11 aftermath; his 101st Rock Division band entertains troops in Mideast and his Forgotten Hero Foundation produces entertainment for veterans; Board member/ Director, National American Veterans Museum.

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2007     Return to Top

Charles P. Carey
Finance
1971

Three consecutive terms, Chairman/ Chicago Board of Trade, transitioning it to a NY Stock Exchange-listed public company; Anti-Defamation Leagues’ Lifetime of Achievement Award; Ellis Island Medal of Honor award; Rerum Novarum Award; President of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame; Distinguished Alumni Award – Western Illinois University.

John Register
Athletics/Olympian
1995

Silver Medalist and long-jump record holder in the Paralympic Gammes  (2000 Sydney); manager of the U.S. Olympic Committee's (USOC) Paralympic Academy, Director of USOC Paralympic Sports Military Program; NCAA All-American honors winner; U.S. Army Meritorious Service Medal

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2006     Return to Top

Jayne Carr Thompson
Government/Law
1964

Former first lady of Illinois; noted public affairs specialist and public relations practioner, as well as former trial and appellate lawyer; severed three Illinois governors on issues on issues relating to health and human service systems and status of women.

Sara Giddings Bode
Government
1953

Recipient of Rudy Bruner Award for “excellence in the urban environment;” served on boards of Michigan Avenue National Bank and the First Bank of Americas monitoring red-lining; Mayor Daley’s Task Force on Welfare Reform; forome rturee/president of Village of Oak Park board and Director of the Oak Park Development Corporation.

Terry C. Isaacson
Education
1960

Vice Provost at Arizona State Universitiy, overseeing the conversion of the former military base in to the vibrant university campus now serving 6,500 students; U.S. Air Force career of 27 years, holding many command positions, include Wing Commander at Williams AFB.

George Trafton
Athletics
1916

Elected to Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1964; partnered w;/ George Halas in development of National Football League, playing 13 seasons w/ the Chicago Bears; coached Green Bay Packers.

Scott McAdam
Landscaping/Business
1975

Mr. McAdam, a Registered Landscape Architect/Horticulture Specialist and President of McAdam Landscaping, Inc. for more than 26 years, has been responsible for the design of more than 1,500 commercial and residential installations.  Mr. McAdam served as President of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) in 1992/1993 and received the ILCA’s Man of the Year Award.  He continues to be a supporting member of the Chicago Department of Environment Greencorps Program and has served as a member of the University of Illinois Horticultural Advisory Board.  He is a member of the Chicago Flower and Garden Show board and of the American Nursery and Landscape Association’s Information Technology Committee.

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2005     Return to Top

Paul Harvey Aurandt, Jr.
Author/Radio Producer
1970

Creator, Producer, and writer of the longest-running and most popular series in radio history, “The Rest of the Story®”. Inducted into the Radio Hall of fame in 2001.

Mike Feinberg
Education
1987

Co-founder of the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Foundation and the Superintendent of KIPP Houston.

Patricia S. Paulsen
Community Service
1945

Served as the President of the League of Women Voters and in 1973, she became the first woman elected as a Trustee of the Village of Flossmoor.

Alex Wurman
Music/Composer
1984

Versatile film composer with compositions including piano melodies of “Confession of A Dangerous Mind", orchestral chases of “Hollywood Homicide", the Emmy-nominated HBO film “Normal”, and soulful melodies combined with ethereal orchestrations for “March of the Penguins”.

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2004     Return to Top

E. Paul Braucher
Military
1939

Graduated from West Point Military Academy, MIT, and George Washington University. He went on to a distinguished 30-year career in U.S. Army and achieved the rank of Brigadier General in 1970.

Robyn Davis
Dance
1981
 

Has been a member of the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theater and has performed in several performances at the Civic Center for Performing Arts in Chicago under the artistic director, Randy Duncan.

Gregory V. Fera
Film and Television
1974

Producer, writer and director. Among his many films and television shows are “Mysterious Ways,” “Muppets Tonight,” and “News in Revue.” Additionally, he has produced music videos for the Rolling Stones and Elton John.

Chad Trujillo
Science/Astonomy
1991

Astronomer at the Bemini Observatory, Hilo ,Hawaii.
He co-discovered Quaoar, a rock and ice lanetoid residing in the Keiper Belt.

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2003     Return to Top

Bruce Hay
Law
1981

Graduated the top of his class from Harvard Law School in 1988. He went on to clerk for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and is currently a Professor of Law at Harvard University.

Evelyn Holmes
Television News
1983

Has been the weekend morning anchor at CLTV in Chicago and is now a reporter for ABC 7 in Chicago
 

Amy Morton
Theatre/Actress
1977

Has been a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company since 1997.

Martin Pearlman
Music
1963

Founder and Director of the Boston Baroque. This group is internationally acclaimed and has been nominated three times for the Grammy Award.

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2002     Return to Top

Stewart Goldman, M.D.
Medicine
1977

Currently is the Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University School of Medicine and Medical Director of Neuro-Oncology at Children’s Memorial Hospital.

John Maienza
Architecture/Design
1977

Danielle Tyler
Athletics/Olympian
1992

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2001     Return to Top

Donna Conlon-Brosal
Public Service
1973

Laura Kragie, M.D.
Medicine
1975

Current Adjunct Research Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Division of Clinical Pharmacology at Georgetown University Medical School in Washington D.C.

Jacqueline Schiff Nemerovski
Community Service
1950

Served as President of the San Francisco Arts Commission, Chair of the San Francisco Education Fund, and Former Associate Director of Development of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Jay Ruby
Anthropology
1953

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2000    Return to Top

Stephen Gawne
Medicine
1974

Accomplished physician and teacher.

Elsie Lunde Jacobsen
Community Service
1932

Kevin Roy
Journalism
1986

Reporter and news anchor

Alice Sinkevitch
Architectual History
1971

Edited the “AIA Guide to Chicago” / written several pieces on historical buildings in Chicago.

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1999     Return to Top

Amy Ellen Anderson
Arts/Opera
1981

Sang with the Aldeburgh Festival, appeared with Aspen Opera Theatre and the Bronx Opera

 http://www.timesthree.org/index.html

Robert Condor
Journalism
1974

Writer for Chicago Tribune’s “Food Guide” and “Feeling Good”

Percy Lavon Julian, Jr.
Law
1958

Specializes in Civil Rights Cases

Janet Wolter
Medicine
1943

Professor of Medicine. Oncologist known for her breast cancer research

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1998     Return to Top

Richard C. Atkinson
Science
Attended 1942-44

Member of National Academy of Sciences / President of the University of California system.
 

Anthony T. Browder
History
1969

Founder/Director of the Institute of Karmic Guidance / Historian specializing in Egyptology.

Robert Follett
Business/Publishing
1946

Former president and CEO of Follett Corporation / Community Service.

James J. McClure, Jr.
Law/Public Service
1938

President, Village of Oak Park 1973-81 / Who’s Who in America.

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1997     Return to Top

Wallace S. Broecker
Science/Education
1949

Clissold (Budd) Hill
Theatre/Set Design
1949

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1996    Return to Top

Thomas G. Colmey
Medicine
1953

Distinguished local physician

John W. McCarter
Community Service
1956

Director of Field Museum, Chicago

David A. Morowitz
Medicine
1956

Distinguished physician in Gastroenterology, author, and photographer.

Lewis R. Pope
Business
1938

Outstanding business leader

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1995     Return to Top

Lincoln S. Dring, Jr.
Humanitarian
1952

Outstanding business leader.

Jane Hamilton
Literature
1975

Banta Book Award / PEN/Hemingway Foundation Award

Carol Warner Shields
Literature
1953

Pulitzer Prize in Literature, 1995

William Zwecker
Journalism
1967

Columnist, Chicago Sun-Times

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1994    Return to Top

Dan Castellaneta
Performing Arts
1975

Performed with “Second City” and is the voice of Homer Simpson on the TV show “The Simpsons” .

Marjorie Judith Vincent
1991 Miss America
1983

Traveled  throughout the world as an Ambassador of Goodwill.

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1993    Return to Top

William J. Adelman
Education
1951

Professor, Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Illinois-Chicago / Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World.

Virginia Cassin
Commuity Service
1942

Clerk of the Village of Oak Park, 1973-1993 / Served as advisor to the presidents of Rosary and Concordia Colleges / Board Member of the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park.

Vida Brown Olinick
Dance
1940

Prominent ballerina of the 1940’s and 1950’s / One of Balanchine’s major dancers and served as his assistant.

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1992     Return to Top

Allen D. Moses
Architecture
1947

Loren M. Smith
Environmental Science
1974

John V. Wehausen
Matematics
1931

Marcelline Hemingway Sanford
Arts and Letters
1917

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1991    Return to Top

Betsy Rasmussen-Guyer
Medical Physiology
1945

Missionary in Thailand

William F. May
Business
1933

Dean of the New York University Graduate School of  Business Administration, 1980- 84 / Chairman and CEO of American Can Company, 1965 – 1980 / Chairman and CEO of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation.

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Drama
1976

Academy Award nominee

Charles Simic
Literature
1956

Pulitzer Prize in Poetry,1990 : "The World Doesn't End: Prose Poems -1989"

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1990     Return to Top

Helene Alexopoulos
Dance
1976

Prima Ballerina – New York City Ballet

Roberta L. Raymond
Government/Public Service
1955

Executive Director, Oak Park Housing Center / Board of Directors, National Federation for Neighborhood Diversity / Community Merit Award (OPDC), 1987 / Award for High Achievement in Social Services presented by the National Organization of Women, 1990.

Anitra Thorhaug
Marine Botonist
1958

Professor, Florida International University / Global 500 Honour for Environmental Achievement, 1987 (UNE of Rome

Edward C. Wagenknecht
Biographer
1917

Professor Emeritus, Boston University, Who’s Who in America / Featured Reviewer, Chicago Sunday Tribune / Principal Biographer:  Lillian Gish, Geraldine Farrar, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain.

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1989     Return to Top

James Duffy
Brodadcast Journalism
1979

President, ABC Communications, Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. / President’s Volunteer Action Award, 1987 / Illinois State Broadcaster of the Year, 1978.

Kermit E. Krantz
Medicine
1941

Professor and Chairman, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics; Professor of Anatomy and Lecturer – History of Medicine, University of Kansas.

Donald Lesh
Public Service
1941

Executive Director, Global Tomorrow Coalition / Former Foreign Service Officer / National Woodrow Wilson Fellow.

Howard Nemerovski
Law
1941

Senior Member of Howard, Rice, Nemerovksi, Canady, Robertson and Falk / Board of Trustees, American Conservatory Theatre / Board of Trustees, San Francisco Chamber Symphony / White House Fellow, 1965-1966 .

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1988     Return to Top

John Dreiske
Journalism
1925

Political Editor, Chicago Sun-Times, 1942-1972 / Marshall Field Award – Editorials / Outstanding Contribution to the Newspaper Industry, Chicago Newspaper Guild / Distinguished Service Award, Chicago Press Veterans.

Robert Fritts
Foreign Service
1952

Ambassador, United States Department of State / Superior Honor Award, Department of  State.

Phil Neal
Law
1936

Nan Stockholm
Environmental Law
1972

Associate Majority Counsel, US Senate – Committee on the Environment / President, Stanford Environment Law Society / Director, Conference of Western Attorneys General, 1984-85 / President’s Environmental Merit Award, 1972.

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1987     Return to Top

Don Canham
Intercollegiate Athletics
1937

Athletic Director, University of Michigan / United States Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Howard Hamilton
Medical Science
1937

Chief, Clinical Laboratories, Atomic Bomb / Casualty Commission, Hiroshima, Japan / International Who’s Who of Contemporary Achievement / Science Award, United States National Academy of Science

Thomas Soderstrom
Botany
1953

Curator, Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institute / Fellow of the Linnean Society (FLS), London / Honorary Associate, Botanical Society of Brazil

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1986     Return to Top

Harry John Brown
Music
1942

Distinguished Professor, SUNY, Fredonia, New York / Founder, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra / Founder, Chautauqua Civic Orchestra, New York

Robert L. Kroc
Science
1925

President, Kroc Foundation / Director of  Physiology, Warner-Lambert Pharmaceutical Research Institute /Humanitarian Award, Juvenile Diabetes / Found International, 1984

Alice Lohrer
Library Science
1924

Professor Emeritus, Library Science, University of Illinois / Former President, Illinois Library Association / Rockefeller Grant, University of Keio, Tokyo, Japan

Bruce Morton
Broadcast Journalism
1948

CBS News Correspondent / Peabody Award, 1977 / Emmy Award, 1971, 1974

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1985     Return to Top

Edith Heal Berrien
Literature/Education
1922

Author, Professor, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Kenneth Douglas
Business
1940

Chairman and CEO, Dean Foods Corporation / Director, Centel Corporation / Director, Milk Industry Foundation.

Faith Jefferson Jones
Social Work
1923

Dean of Women, Hampton Institute / Director, Parkway Community House.

Wilton Krogman
Forensic Anthropology
1921

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1984     Return to Top

Thomas F. Barnum
Business
1970

Chairman and Division Executive, Citicorp Services / Senior Advisor on Internatal Trade to the United States Secretary of Commerce.

Richard Christiansen
Journalism
1949

Entertainment Editor, Chicago Tribune

Bruce Davidson
Photography
1952

Guggenheim Fellowship / One-man Show, Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1963 / First Prize – Fiction, American Film Festival.

Prentice H. Marshall
Law
1944

Judge, United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois.

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1983     Return to Top

Bruce Barton
Advertising/Writer
1903

Founder, Batten, Barton, Dustine & Osborne, Inc (One of the largest and Award winning (CLIO) Advertising agencies in the world. United States Congressman, 1937-1941 (Representing Manhatten district , New York).

http://www.answers.com/topic/bruce-barton
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000211

May Estelle Cook
Civic Leadership
1884

A Founder of the 19th Century Woman’s Club / Author, "Little Old Oak Park".

Frederick J. Doyle
Space Science
1937

1st Chairman, Department of Geodetic Science, Ohio State University, 1959 / NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, 1971.  President of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (1980-1984)
  http://www.oprf.com/oprfhist/doylef.htm

Walter Burley Griffin
Architecture
1896

1ST member of Chicago School of Architecture to be awarded a foreign commission for the plan of new Australian capital, Canberra.

Ernest Hemingway
Literature
1917

Nobel Prize, Literature 1954,  Pulitzer Prize, Fiction 1953.

James Herrick
Medicine
1877

Founder, Chicago Heart Association /Founder, Chicago Society of Internal Medicine.

Ray Kroc
Business
1920

Founder, McDonald’s Corporation

John La Montaine
Music/Composer
1938

Pulitzer Prize, Music 1959

George Schaefer
Performing Arts/Director
1937

Emmy Award  Winner, Directors of American Award. Bette Davis called him, "The finest director in television,"