The Wisconsin Alumni Association announced Monday it will honor four notable Badger alumni with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
The award is the most prestigious honor given by the WAA and recognizes alumni who made professional achievements, contributions to society and support the university, according to a UW-Madison release.
Justice Geraldine Hines, a Juris Doctor graduate in 1971, started her career as a civil rights attorney and is now the first African American to serve on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
"She's been a beloved and respected colleague, praised by judges and lawyers alike, for being smart, prepared, fair, tough, decisive, warm, thoughtful and gentle," Gov. Deval Patrick said in his nomination of Hines, according to the release.
Best known for his work as co-creator and executive producer of “Modern Family,” Steve Levitan is an Emmy award-winning television director, producer and writer from the class of 1984.
“[The university] has such a tremendous spirit, and it offers a wonderful combination of serious academics and serious fun, and that's tough to beat,” Levitan said to the WAA. “I'm very proud to be a UW-Madison graduate.”
The world’s foremost retinal surgeon Alice McPherson, a Medical Doctor graduate in 1948, will be awarded for her work as the first woman to start a practice as a full-time vitreoretinal specialist.
The WAA will also honor 1980 UW-Madison graduate Michael Shannon, the founder and chairman of a $6.5 billion firm that invests in hospitality, real estate and leisure industries called KSL Capital Partners.
