Overarching Standards
- National Recognition
- Long and distinguished career
- May include active, former, and retired roles (if a person is former/retired they—and the company/organization—need to remain nationally well-known, “a household name,” beyond their tenure in notable position)
- Living alumnus/a
Arts and Entertainment Category
- Producer / Director of a nationally-recognized film or TV show
- Lead actor/actress on a nationally-broadcast show or Broadway production
- Radio or Television Personality in a major media market
- Editor-in-Chief or publisher of a national publication
- National Award Winner (Pulitzer, Academy, Grammy, Emmy, Tony, etc.)
Business and Engineering Category
- President/Chairman/CEO of a nationally-recognized company OR President/Chairman/CEO of a regionally-prominent company.
- Top-ranking corporate officer of a Fortune 500, NYSE, or Nasdaq company.
Education and Research Category
- College/University President
- Dean or higher level position at an accredited nationally-recognized 4-year college/university
- Writer with a large following outside of academia
- Nationally-prominent and recognized expert in an academic field
Public Service Category
- Must have attained specified high rank in Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines (Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves)
- Army/Air Force: Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, General
- Navy/Marines: Rear Admiral, Lower Half Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, Admiral
- President or Executive Director of a nationally-recognized non-profit organization
- Member of U.S. Congress
- Ranking Member of Cabinet, U.S. Presidential Staff, or other key Presidential Appointment
- State or Federal Supreme Court Judge
- United States Court of Appeals Judge (The United States courts of appeals (or circuit courts) are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system.)
- Mayor of a large city (500,000+ population, city referenced in USA today) or higher (i.e. elected state official, governor)
Sports Category
- Prominent player on a professional top-level sports team, Olympic team, World Cup team, or other national (international) team
- Manager, head coach, or higher administration of a professional sports team
- Head Coach of a nationally-recognized college sports program
- Nationally-recognized agent or nationally-recognized official/higher level administrator in a professional sports league/federation/association
- Former professional athletes remain on the list if they have a long and distinguished career of at least 10 years or more
*At the discretion of the University, other names may be added.
