Over 100 graduates of Florida State University have been recognized as Grads Made Good, a program honoring alumni who have made outstanding contributions in their community or chosen field. The Grads Made Good award, presented in partnership with the FSU Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), recognizes alumni who have made exceptional contributions in their community or field and the accomplishments of notable alumni, faculty and staff who have secured their place in the history of Florida State University by pushing boundaries and redefining standards within their respective fields.
2024 Honorees
Ryan Dorrell
(B.S. ’95)
College of Business
Lutz, Florida
Devonta Freeman
(B.S.’22)
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Buford, Florida
Jared Lyon
(B.S. ’11)
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Tampa, Florida
Greg Thomas
(B.M. ’87)
College of Music
Nashville, Tennessee
Nomination Information
- Hold an earned bachelor's or graduate degree from this institution
- Have been in their career field for at least five years
- Have accomplishments recognized at the national/international level
- Must not be employed by Florida State University
- Nomination form: Please provide accurate and current information for the nominee and the nominator.
- Statement of nomination: Please provide a statement of nomination describing why you feel this individual should be considered for this award, including any known involvement related to FSU since graduation.
- At least two letters of support: A completed nomination will include at least two Letters of Support. A strong nomination will contain at least one letter from a respected colleague in the nominee's area of professional distinction and a second letter from a current dean, chair or colleague from Florida State University.
Nominees must be placed in formal nomination each year with a completed online nomination form. Nominations can be made by anyone. Nominations will be solicited through the Florida State University Alumni Association’s newsletters, social media and alumni chapters and networks. All nominations must be received by the Alumni Association upon the designated due date each year.
- November 22,2024 - Nominations open
- February 9, 2025 - Nominations close
- Late January-February - Verification and review process
- Spring/Summer 2025 - Honorees are notified
- Fall 2025 - Honorees are recognized during Homecoming
Process: A committee appointed will select the recipients of the Grad Made Good Award. Each year's recipients are notified upon approval of the Alumni Association National Board of Directors' Engagement Committee in Spring 2024. If a nominee is not selected in a particular year, they may be re-nominated in succeeding years.
Self-nominations will not be considered.
Florida State University Alumni Association reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine the final list.
For questions, please contact Erin Sylvester Philpot, M.Ed, ODK faculty secretary, at 850.644.2775 or esylvester@fsu.edu.
Former Grads Made Good Honorees
1974
Honorable Reubin O ’D. Askew (B.S. ’51) d
Dr. H. Richard Blieden (Ph.D. ’62)
Thomas M. Hall (B.M. ’64, M.M. ’66)
1975
Ney C. Landrum (B.A. ’52, M.A. ’56)
Dr. Sean Patrick McGlynn (Ph.D. ’56)
Al (Albert L. Smelko) Stratton (’60)
1976
Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas (Ph.D. ’66)
Dr. David Ward-Steinman (B.M. ’57)
Robert M. Urich (B.A. ’68) d
1977
Dr. Jacqueline L. DuPont (B.S. ’55, Ph.D. ’62)
James B. Tippin, Jr. (B.S. ’50)
Philip G. Boggs (B.S. ’71) d
1978
Dr. Neil L. Frank (M.S. ’59, Ph.D. ’70)
Dr. Virginia Spencer Carr (B.A. ’51, Ph.D. ’69) d
William O. Cullom (B.S. ’58)
1979
Sister Mary Michelle (Patricia E.) Carroll (B.S. ’44)
Maj Gen Norma Elaine Brown (B.S. ’49) d
Justice Alan C. Sundberg (B.S. ’55) d
1980
Sir Jack D. L. Holmes, PhD, OIC (B.A. ’52) d
Bishop Marjorie S. Matthews (M.A. ’71, Ph.D. ’76) d
James C. Smith (B.S. ’62)
1981
Dr. Mostafa F. El-Sayed (Ph.D. ’59)
Dr. Jane Srygley Mouton (M.S. ’51) d
General William H. Ginn, Jr. (B.A. ’58) d
1982
Arnold T. Diaz (B.A. ’71)
Dr. Mark S. Wrighton (B.S. ’69)
Herbert F. Morgan (B.S. ’66) d
1983
Charles G. Rex (B.M. ’71, M.M. ’72)
Cynthia G. Taylor (M.S. ’76)
Dr. Norman Earl Thagard (B.S. ’65, M.S. ’66)
1984
Dr. Orrin H. Pilkey, Jr. (Ph.D. ’62)
Stephen J. Rothman (B.S. ’72, M.F.A. ’74)
Brigadier General Michael K. Sheridan (B.S. ’56)
1985
Richard D. “Dick" Howser (B.S. ’58) d
Dr. Willis W. Tyrrell, Jr. (B.S. ’52)
Dr. Douglas M. Windham (B.A. ’64, M.A. ’67, Ph.D. ’69) d
1986
Dr. Sylvia A. Earle (B.S. ’55)
Dr. Raul P. deGuzman (M.S. ’55, Ph.D. ’57)
Maj Gen Winfield S. (Scott) Harpe (B.S. ’59) d
1987
Dr. A. Hugh Adams (B.S. ’50, M.S. ’56, Ed.D. ’62) d
John J. (Joe) Gangloff (B.S. ’65)
Mary Anne Loughlin (B.S. ’77)
1988
Dr. Joseph W. Cullen (Ph.D. ’68) d
Thomas M. Culligan (B.A. ’73, M.P.A. ’77)
Dr. Howard L. Simmons (Ph.D. ’75)
1989
James L. Massey (B.S. ’65)
Gayle Sierens Martin (B.S. ’76)
Henry Polic, II (B.A. ’67, M.A. ’69)
1990
Davis P. Gaines (B.A. ’76)
Dr. Clyda Stokes Rent (B.A. ’64, M.S. ’66, Ph.D. ’68)
Dr. Isabel Wood Rogers (B.A. ’45)
1991
Admiral Paul D. Miller (B.S. ’63)
Dr. Alan R. Price (B.S. ’64)
Dr. Betty L. Siegel (Ph.D. ’61)
1992
Jennifer L. Howse (B.A. ’66, M.A. ’68)
Robert L. Ward (B.A. ’71)
William F. “Woody” Woodward (B.S. ’66, M.S. ’70)
1993
Dr. A. Blanton Godfrey (M.S. ’70, Ph.D. ’74)
Judy Patton Lotas (B.A. ’64)
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (B.M. ’60, M.M. ’62)
1994
Dr. Gwynn Collins Akin (B.S. ’61)
Lt. Gen. Charles J. Cunningham, Jr. (B.S. ’57)
Dr. Robert “Bud” Grace (B.S. ’65, Ph.D. ’71)
1995
Dr. Michael G. Berenbaum (Ph.D. ’75)
Antonio Busalacchi, Jr. (B.S. ’77, M.S. ’80, Ph.D. ’82)
Linda Zoghby (B.M. ’71, M.M. ’74)
1996
Clifford L. Freeman (B.S. ’63)
Dr. Robert C. Harriss (B.S. ’62)
J. Bailey White (B.S. ’73)
1997
Monsignor William A. Kerr (M.S. ’73, Ph.D. ’75)
Carolyn A. O ’Neil (B.S. ’76)
Willa Jo Zollar (M.F.A. ’79)
1998
Mark S. Ellis (B.S. ’79, J.D. ’84)
Barbara S. Harris (B.S. ’78)
Douglas W. Marlette (B.S. ’71) d
1999
Cdr. Douglas J. Allen (B.S. ’76)
Winston E. Scott (B.M.E. ’72)
Janet L. Stoner (B.S. ’70, M.S. ’72)
Charlotte West (B.S. ’54)
2000
Dr. Larry H. Crow (B.S. ’66, M.S. ’67, Ph.D. ’67)
Carolyn Spencer Griner (B.S. ’67)
Lt. Gen. Kenneth A. Minihan (B.A. ’66)
2001
E. L. (Chip) Chalmers (B.F.A. ’76)
Dr. Paul Robinson (Ph.D. ’67)
Dr. Suzan Zeder (Ph.D. ’78)
2002
Janice Huff (B.S. ’82)
Lynda Keever (B.A. ’69)
Hansel E. Tookes, II (B.S. ’69)
2003
Mel R. Martinez (B.A. ’69, J.D. ’73)
Dr. Diane Roberts (B.A. ’79, M.A. ’80)
H. James Towey (B.S. ’78, J.D. ’81)
2004
Raymond G. Hemann (B.S. ’57) d
Vice Admiral Gordon S. Holder (B.M.E. ’68)
Reverend Glenda B. Hope (B.A. ’58)
2005
James L. Bacchus (J.D. ’78)
Dr. M. Dianne Murphy (Ph.D. ’80)
R. Eugene Taylor (B.S. ’89)
2006
Laird B. Anderson (B.S. ’58)
Max Mayfield (M.S. ’87)
Peter F. Romero (B.S. ’71, M.A. ’72)
Steven L. Sears (B.A. ’80)
2007
William D. Clay (B.A. ’71, M.S. ’74)
Charlie Crist (B.S. ’78)
Marvalene Hughes (Ph.D. ’69)
Mark H. Thiemens (Ph.D. ’77)
2008
Jonathan G. King (M.F.A. ’92)
Neil H. McKee (M.S. ’88)
Kathleen Parker (B.A. ’73, M.A. ’76)
2009
Carol J. Cooper (B.S. ’73, M.S. ’76, J.D. ’77)
Manuel H. Johnson (M.S. ’75, Ph.D. ’77)
Barry V. Qualls (B.A. ’67)
2010
Lt. General Franklin L. “Frank” Hagenbeck (M.S. ’78)
Dr. James H. Oliver, Jr. (M.S. ’54)
2011
Susan Hassmiller (B.S. ’77, M.S. ’79)
Mike Pate (B.S. ’68)
2012
Senator Bob Johnson (B.S. ’58)
John Osterlund (M.S. ’90)
2013
Judy Bense (B.A. ’67, M.S. ’69)
Jimi Cook (B.S. ’88)
Meg Crofton (B.S. ’74, M.B.A. ’75)
2014
Randy Hanna (J.D. ’83)
Gail Skofronick-Jackson (B.S. ’86)
John Thiel (B.S. ’83)
2015
Dale Burton (Ph.D. ’81)
Wendy Clark (B.A. ’91)
Rodney Hero (B.S. ’75)
J. Marshall Shepherd (B.S. ’91, M.S. ’93, Ph.D. ’99)
2016
Marion Hargett (B.S. '93)
Craig Nance (B.S. '91, M.S. '94)
Montego Glover (B.F.A. '96)
2017
Damon Andrew (Ph.D. '04)
Dulcidio de la Guardia (B.S. '84)
Sandra Dunbar (B.S. '72)
2018
Sandra Barker (M.S. ’76, Ph.D. ’78)
JoAnne Graf (B.S. ’75, Ph.D. ’92)
Nancy McKay (B.A. ’78)
Gene Stearns (B.A. ’66, J.D. ’72)
2019
Arthur L Fleming (B.S. '81)
Myrna Hoover (B.S. '83, M.S. '84)
David James Kennedy (B.S. '99)
2021
Inez Cohen (B.S. '74)
Bruce McNeilage (B.S. '88)
Neil St John Rambana (B.A. '92, M.A. '96)
2022
Lisa Balskus (B.S.N. ’84)
Jose B. Fernandez (B.A. ’70, M.A. ’71, Ph.D. ’73)
Jocelyne Fliger (M.S.W. ’15)
Sean Pittman (A.A. ’89, B.S. ’90, J.D. ’94)
2023
Captain Julie Kim Moss (B.S. ’88)
Patricia Ragan (B.S. ’70)
Tevin Wooten (B.S. ’18)
denotes video is available
(d) denotes deceased