Alumni Honors Award Recipients
Each year the Board of Alumni honors alumni who have achieved distinction in their chosen field, have shown exceptional leadership qualities and/or have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service in their communities and the college.
Alumni Honors Celebration 2025
Celebrating members of the L&C Community!
During Alumni Weekend 2025, we celebrated four outstanding members of the L&C Community:
Frances Swanson ’17 - Outstanding Young Alumna Award
Kim Stafford - Don Balmer Citation for Service to the College
Hanako Imber ’10 - L&C Alumni Leadership Award
Michael Graham ’05- Distinguished Alumnus Award
Our honorees are pictured above with Board of Alumni President Stacy Thompson ’79 and L&C’s President Dr. Robin Holmes-Sullivan.
You can submit a nomination by completing the nomination form here. Our next group of award winners will be announced in early 2026, and honored at the Alumni Honors Celebration during Alumni Weekend in June of 2026.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
This award honors an alumnus/a for superior performance in a chosen field and/or superior service to a chosen community, 15 or more years after graduation.
Michael Graham
2024
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Michael has worked in both the public and private sectors, including at the Center for Genocide Prevention at the U.S. Holocaust Museum, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, and Guidehouse LLP. His work has taken him around the world and has included building technology partnerships aimed at preventing atrocities, conflict research and photography, analyzing large US development programs, and consulting for local and federal government agencies.
Watch the 2025 Alumni Honors Celebration!
Outstanding Young Alumni Award Recipients
This award honors an alumnus/a for superior performance in a chosen field and/or superior service to a chosen community within 15 years of graduation.
Frances Swanson BA ’17
2024
Outstanding Young Alumna Award
Appointed on the first day of the Biden administration, Frances served four years at the Department of Energy, working to advance the President’s climate, jobs, and equity priorities. Her responsibilities included serving as the special advisor to the first-ever Under Secretary for Infrastructure, a branch of the DOE created to implement the department’s funding of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Watch the 2025 Alumni Honors Celebration!
Donald G. Balmer Citation Recipients
This award honors an alumnus/a, faculty or staff member, or friend of Lewis & Clark for outstanding voluntary service to the college. Originally called the “Alumni Citation”, this award was renamed in 1991 to recognize Don Balmer’s selfless support of the college and to encourage others to follow his example.
Kim Stafford
2024
Donald G. Balmer Citation for Service to the college
Kim, founding director of L&C’s Northwest Writing Institute, teaches and travels to raise the human spirit. He often represents Lewis & Clark as a speaker and advocate for the cultural life of Oregon. Kim has crafted numerous poems for some of the most important moments at L&C, including presidential inaugurations, retirements, and tributes.
Watch the 2025 Alumni Honors Celebration!
L&C Alumni Leadership Award Recipients
This award (previously named the Pioneer Alumni Leadership Award) honors an alumnus/a for demonstrating extraordinary leadership in service to Lewis & Clark alumni.
Hanako Imber BA ’10
2024
L&C Alumni Leadership Award
Hanako has served on L&C’s Alumni of Color Advisory Council and Board of Alumni, and was the founding president of the Young Alumni Council. She has contributed to a number of career-focused initiatives, including Winterim, career panels, and one-on-one mentoring of students. Hanako recently joined the Board of Trustees.
Watch the 2025 Alumni Honors Celebration!
Alumni is located in Alumni Gatehouse on the Undergraduate Campus.
MSC: 77
email alumni@lclark.edu
voice 503-768-7950
Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement
Katie Jo Walter ’09