When the Department of Chemistry celebrated its 125^th Anniversary in 2000, a history of the Department and its many great scientific achievements was prepared. It was also decided that it was time to begin to recognize those alumni whose contributions to the field of chemistry has placed great honor on the Department and the University. Thus the biennial Distinguished Alumni Award was begun. Past winners are listed below.

This year's distinguished awardees are:

Dennis Kleid (PhD 1972), a pioneer in the field of recombinant DNA technology;

Geraldine Sowinski Pinkus (BS 1961), Professor of Pathology at the Harvard Medical School and a pioneer in the field of immunohistochemistry;

L. Dennis McKeever (BS 1962), a renowned scientific leader with a forty year record of great achievements in senior technical and business management; and

J. Matthew Simon (PhD 1969) former President of Point Park University with an exemplary career as a leader and educator.