During this regularly occurring event, we honor the extraordinary work and service of Catholic University's most distinguished alumni. 

Catholic University has an extensive, diverse, and growing list of graduates who exemplify the highest ideas of education, leadership, and service from various majors, industries, and regions. After receiving nominations from the greater Cardinal community, the Office of Alumni Engagement and Alumni Board of Directors Awards Committee collaborate to choose alumni who are most deserving of the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award and Young Alumni Achievement Award.

The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award honors alumni who have distinguished themselves as leaders in their respective fields of endeavor. We may select up to five alumni to receive this recognition in a given cycle. The Young Alumni Achievement Award recognizes an alumnus/a who graduated less than ten years ago and has demonstrated high levels of achievement early in his or her career. We may select up to two alumni to receive this recognition in a given cycle.

We encourage you to join us as we welcome this year's award winners back to campus and celebrate their success during Cardinal Weekend 2026. 

Stories featuring our alumni award winners
Carolyn Rickard-Brideau
Carolyn Rickard-Brideau, B.S.Arch. 1983

May 01, 2019

Carolyn Rickard-Brideau, B.S.Arch. 1983, understands how spaces affect people mentally and physically. As the corporate president of Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, she is at the forefront of salutogenic design, which focuses on creating spaces that improve human well being.
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Jeffrey Moreland
Jeffrey Moreland, J.D. 1970

April 29, 2019

Attending night classes at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Jeffrey Moreland, J.D. 1970, could have earned his degree and moved on to the next stage of his career. But through the years, he came to understand what makes Catholic University so special.
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Luigi Alvarez
Luigi Alvarado, B.S. 2009

April 17, 2019

Many young alumni know him for his tennis prowess. For eight years, Luigi Alvarado, B.S. 2009, was an integral member of the Catholic University tennis team. As senior, he held the second-best singles record in NCAA Division III. For five years after he graduated, he served as the assistant coach and, with the late Marty Dowd, B.A. 1960, led the team to a Landmark Conference Championship in 2014.
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