MCC Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest award presented to an alumnus by the Metropolitan Community College Foundation. The award recognizes an alumnus who has brought honor to the College through professional achievements, leadership and community impact.
Nominations can be made by current MCC students and employees as well as community members. A nominee's name remains in status for three years, after which the nomination may be resubmitted. Acknowledgment of nominations will be sent to the nominators. Nominations will be accepted until selections are made.
The Distinguished Alumni honoree will receive the award at MCC's commencement ceremony. A formal invitation will be sent to the honoree; attendance is mandatory. If the honoree is deceased, someone may accept the award posthumously.
2023 MCC Distinguished Alumni Award recipients
Meet Jon Stephens and Fahteema Parrish, 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Metropolitan Community College Foundation
How to nominate
Any member of the MCC community may nominate a Metropolitan Community College alumnus by completing a nomination form. Please note that nominees remain nominated for three years after receipt of their nomination.
Nomination process
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The recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award will be decided by the MCC Foundation Board of Directors Alumni Committee. A formal invitation to commencement will be sent to the honoree and a plaque will be displayed at MCC in their honor.
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A nominee is eligible to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award if they have received a degree or certificate from Metropolitan Community College and have met the following criteria:
- Must be distinguished in their profession and/or community.
- Must demonstrate outstanding contributions at MCC and/or in the community.
- Must support MCC through any one, or combination, of the following:
- Involvement
- Providing internships for MCC students
- Philanthropic contributions
- Must be a person of such integrity and stature that MCC will take pride in their recognition.
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An individual is ineligible to receive the award if:
- They are currently a candidate for any public office
- They are currently a member of the award selection committee
- They are a previous recipient of the award
- They are a member of the MCC Foundation Board of Directors or MCC Board of Trustees
- They are employed by the MCC Foundation.
Are you ready to nominate?
Provide the following:
- Completed Distinguished Alumni Nomination Form (PDF)
- A cover letter nominating the alumnus to be honored
- A vita or professional resume of the nominee
- Two letters of support for the nominee from individuals other than the nominator
- A list of awards and/or honors
Send completed nomination form and documents to:
MCC Foundation
ATTN: Distinguished Alumni Nomination
3200 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64111
MCC alumni
Since the first graduating class in 1916, our alumni have distinguished themselves in many fields. These are just a few of the many stars launched from MCC during the last century-plus.
Paul Berardi, former Kansas City, Missouri, fire chief
Jake Blackwood, major league baseball player
Don Blim, M.D., renowned pediatrician
Allen Block, real estate icon
Hal Boyle, Associated Press columnist, Pulitzer Prize winner
Alvin Brooks, social justice activist
Nancy Bruns, executive director, Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce
Bob Dernier, former major league baseball player
William N. Deramus III, former president, Kansas City Southern
Carl DiCapo, community leader and restaurateur
Jean Dunn, philanthropist
Marvin Dunn, M.D., former University of Kansas Health System cardiologist
Rick Easley, former Kansas City, Missouri, police chief
Steve Edwards, president and CEO, Black & Veatch
Denise Farris, founder, Farris Law Firm
John Fierro, executive director, Mattie Rhodes Center
Tyrone Flowers, founder, Higher M-Pact
Darryl Forté, Jackson County, Missouri, sheriff and former Kansas City, Missouri, police chief
Jo Anne Gabbert, founder, Gabbert and Associates
Christopher Gentile, president, Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies
William G. Gray, judge
Mamie Hughes, community activist
Terin Humphrey, 2004 Olympic silver medalist
Mary Hunkeler, community volunteer
Sly James, former Kansas City, Missouri, mayor
Clay Johnson, former NBA player
Ewing Kauffman, entrepreneur and philanthropist
Jack Kilroy Sr., co-founder, Shughart Thomson & Kilroy PC
Bonyen Lee, former KCTV5 news reporter and anchor
Brian Lincoln, co-founder and CEO, Ultrax Aerospace Inc.
Mark Long, president & CEO; Newark Zimmer
Matt Mason, U.S. Navy SEAL
Logan Morrison, major league baseball player
Michael Murphy, director of programming, Kansas City PBS
William Nofsinger, former president, Nofsinger Inc.
Jerry Nolte, former Missouri state representative
Norman Polsky, philanthropist
William Powell, actor and three-time Academy Award nominee
Albert Pujols, major league baseball player
Louis Quijas, president, Datong PLC; former assistant director, FBI
Charlie Shields, president and CEO, University Health; former Missouri Senate president pro tem
Edgar Snow, writer, Saturday Evening Post
Erik Timpson, Ph.D., principal electrical engineer, Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies
Virgil Thomson, composer and Pulitzer Prize winner
Henry Wash, founder, High Aspirations Inc.
Charles Wheeler, M.D., J.D., former Kansas City, Missouri, mayor
Frank White, Jackson County, Missouri, Executive and former baseball player and coach