ICCTA Distinguished Alumnus Award

2025 Nominees

Dr. Doug Brining
Executive director
Office of Animal Resources
University of Texas Medical Branch ‐ Galveston

Carl Sandburg College                                                              

Casey Butler                                                                  
Lead game programmer
American Pinball Inc.

John A. Logan College

Shannon S. Butler 
Social work coordinator
DeKalb County Government

Shawnee Community College                                                           

Dario Castañeda
Attorney / founder
N400 Harbor Immigration Law

Oakton College                                                               

Matt Duffy  
Executive director
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce

Kishwaukee College

Nicolas Farley 
IT manager
Americana Building Products

Kaskaskia College                                                               

Dr. Jermaine Ford 
President
Florence-Darlington Technical College

Moraine Valley Community College                                                            

David Fowler 
Executive director
Computer Banc

Lincoln Land Community College

Gene Honn  
Former president
JCI USA

Lake Land College                                                             

Dr. Keith Knepp 
President
Carle Health Greater Peoria

Illinois Central College                                                              

Zach Laidlaw  
Executive chef / Vice president of experiences
Hua Momona Farms & Foundations

Elgin Community College                                                                

Bing Liu 
Filmmaker / director

Rock Valley College                                                                     

Michael McGrone, Sr. 
Principal
Illinois Youth Center – Chicago

Triton College                                                   

Dr. Judy Mitchell                                                             
President emerita
Joliet Junior College

Joliet Junior College

Jacqueline Ruiz 
Author / entrepreneur / pilot

College of DuPage                                                            

Simran Sandhu 
Director of strategy and innovation
Illinois Farm Bureau

Heartland Community College                                                                

Terrance “Tat” Taylor
President and CEO
TAT Global Enterprises

Richland Community College                                                         

Edward Torrez 
Architect / President
Arda Design

College of Lake County

Walt Zukowski
Legal counsel
Illinois Valley Community College

Illinois Valley Community College

Congratulations to all of our nominees! The recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumnus Award will be announced at ICCTA's June 6 awards banquet in Normal. For additional information, please contact Kim Villanueva at 1-800-454-2282, ext. 101.