The Distinguished Alumni Awards program at Harper College recognizes Harper College
Alumni who have distinguished themselves in their careers and in their service to
the community. The program launched in 2008 and to date, a total of 97 individuals
have been honored. In 2019, a new award, the Distinguished Recent Alumni Award, was
added to honor an alumna/alumnus who is less than 10 years out from Harper College
and making an early impact in their careers and community. The Distinguished Alumni
Program celebrates exceptional alumni while fostering meaningful, ongoing connections
between honorees and Harper College students. Honorees serve as role models and ambassadors
by engaging directly with students through on-campus visits, speaking opportunities,
and other involvement throughout the academic year.
Learn more about previous Harper College Distinguished Alumni honorees by visiting
the Distinguished Alumni digital display on Harper’s campus on the main level in Building
A or click here.
The Distinguished Alumni Awards nominations will open in March 2026. Click here to review the criteria for nominations.
Thank you to all who joined us for the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony!
Ryan Suby has quickly ascended into a leadership role in technology, fueled by his Harper College education and technical expertise in data, analytics and cloud infrastructure. Today he’s director of technology operations for legal operations at Zurich North America. Meet Ryan Suby
Harper College’s renowned fashion design program launched the successful marketing career of Karen Durante, a 1982 graduate. Today, she is vice president of partnerships and member development for the 7,000 members of Finishing Contractors Association (FCA) International. Meet Karen Durante
Marc Klemencic credits his academic successes and distinguished career in human resources and organizational development to the structure and learning environment he found at Harper College – on his second try. He acknowledges that his academic journey took several turns and unique pathways. Meet Marc Klemencic
Maryfran H. Leno represents the rare professional who has devoted almost an entire career – in her case, nearly 32 years – to a single organization. Leno started her full-time parks and recreation career in 1994 with the Itasca Park District and has led the district for the past 21 years as executive director. Meet Maryfran Leno
Izabela Pieniadz began her distinguished career in arts administration and historic preservation with a transformative experience at Harper College. Today, Pieniadz is executive director of the Ellwood House Museum in DeKalb, overseeing the preservation of a 10-acre historic site and its role as a community resource. Meet Izabela Pieniadz
Pinderski & Pinderski, Ltd.
Linda J. Lang
Distinguished Alumni Award nominations take place each spring. Questions about the
nominations? Email alumni@harpercollege.edu.
Click here to review the criteria for a future nomination. Nominations will open in spring 2026.
For information on sponsoring or about the Distinguished Alumni Awards event, please contact Harper College Alumni Relations at alumni@harpercollege.edu or 847.925.6701.
Invest in a Strong Future: Support the Distinguished Alumni Scholarship Fund.
Questions? Contact us at 847.925.6701 or alumni@harpercollege.edu.