Penn State’s Board of Trustees selected eight alumni to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor presented to the university’s alumni. The award recognizes achievements of standout alumni whose “personal lives, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of their alma mater.”

The Board invited the following Penn Staters to accept the award in 2024:

Abdul F. Alias: Alias graduated from Penn State with a bachelor of science from the Smeal College of Business in 1990. He was the former group president and CEO of May Bank and is currently on the boards of directors for Bursa Malaysia Berhad, Digi.com Berhad, and CapitaLand Investment Limited.

Toni R. Ardabell: Ardabell graduated with a bachelor of science from the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing in 1976. Ardabell is the chief of clinical enterprise operations for Inova Health System.

Barbara G. Cohen: Cohen graduated with a bachelor of arts from the College of Liberal Arts in 1974. She was the founder and president of Kannon Consulting, a marketing and strategy consulting firm, before retiring in 2019. She was named a Penn State Alumni Fellow in 2016.

Gregory T. Lucier: Lucier graduated with honors from the University Scholars Program and with a bachelor of science from the College of Engineering in 1986. He is the CEO of Corza Health and managing director of RiverRoad Capital Partners.

Fredrick L. Metzger, Jr.: Metzger graduated in 1981 with a bachelor of science from the College of Agricultural Sciences. He is the founder and medical director of Metzger Animal Hospital.

George H. Miller: Miller graduated with a bachelor of science from the College of Arts and Architecture in 1973. He is the managing partner and chief operating officer for Meier Partners.

Ala Stanford: Stanford graduated with a bachelor of science from the Eberly College of Science in 1991 before earning her doctorate in medicine in 1997 from the College of Medicine. She is a pediatric surgeon and the founder of R.E.A.L Concierge Medicine. Her work and impact have been recognized by national outlets, and she was named a Top 10 hero by CNN in 2021.

Thomas M. Verducci: Verducci graduated with a bachelor of arts from the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications in 1982. He’s a sportswriter, commentator, and analyst focusing on MLB. Verducci is a five-time Emmy Award winner, a New York Times bestselling author, and a member of the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame.