For Special Distinction

About the Award

The Special Achievement Award is presented to alumni who have earned a special distinction in civic or professional activities and have, by their actions, reflected honor on the Alumni Association and the University. The Special Achievement Award is given for outstanding achievement in business, in industry, through professional excellence, by civic activity or by service to the community. To be eligible, a person must hold a degree from the University of Dayton.


2025 Honorees
Campus and Community
06.27.2025

Special Achievement Award: Don Dailey ’74 link-arrow link-arrow

In all of Don Dailey’s roles — accountant, executive, adjunct faculty member, volunteer, philanthropist, or husband and father — his commitment to serving those around him has been at the core of his work.
Campus and Community
06.27.2025

Special Achievement Award: Ankur Gopal ’00 link-arrow link-arrow

Ankur Gopal exemplifies the University of Dayton’s mission of using business as a force for the common good — a principle that has guided his extraordinary career.

Past Recipients

View Recipients of the Special Achievement Award

  • Bucky Albers '68
  • Herbert J. Ammerman '69
  • Thomas J. Archdeacon, Jr. '72
  • Robert Arnzen '51
  • Robert L. Bates '67
  • Steven C. Bergman '77
  • Arthur B. Bok III '74
  • Susann M. Brady-Kalnay '87
  • Jacqueline M. Brumfield '71
  • Steven Budd '76, '78
  • Paul J. Campbell '67
  • John R. Castignola '47
  • James L. Charles '53
  • Erica Chenoweth '02
  • Jacqueline K. Collier '67
  • Ronald W. Collins '57
  • Valerie M. Dahlem '85, '94
  • Daniel E. Denlinger '79
  • Daklak Cao Do '89
  • Donald J. Donoher '54
  • Wendy Humphrey Doolittle '98
  • Elizabeth Duell '58
  • Timothy L. Dues '74
  • Diana R. Dunn '59
  • Martha J. Dunsky '75
  • James L. Dutt '66
  • James A. Eiting '58
  • Ahmed K. Elmagarmid '77
  • Kathleen J. Emery '69
  • William M. Fackovec, S.M. '49
  • Gerald A. Faust, Jr. '58
  • Arthur O. Fisher '48
  • David P. Fitzgerald '71
  • Frances Longo Franchina '60
  • Terri Lee Freeman '81
  • Manuel L. Garlikov '43
  • Barbara P. Gorman '74 '77
  • Garry B. Grice '64
  • Jon Gruden '86
  • William J. Gutbrod '50
  • Thomas M. Hannigan '66
  • Gerald M. Hauer '56
  • Nancy K. Hayes '73
  • Allen Hill '67, '72
  • Joseph Hinrichs '89
  • Daniel J. Hornbach '74
  • Sharon Davis Howard '78
  • Ann Hudock '90, '93
  • Arthur J. Huber '54
  • Natasha Hurt-Hayes '02
  • Mary Josephine Huth '50
  • Charles B. Jones '49
  • Jeffrey J. Jones II '90
  • Henry M. Josefczyk '60
  • Jonathan Judge '93
  • Robert S. Kennedy '65
  • William P. King '96
  • Victoria Knipper Hughes '74
  • Wayne D. Lancaster '69
  • Jan Lepore-Jentleson '71
  • John D. Lewis '70
  • Lloyd E. Lewis '48
  • C. LaShea (Smith) Lofton '91
  • Claire R. Longman '77
  • Sr. Grace A. Luther, F.M.I. '48
  • Craig E. Lyon '73
  • Charles V. Magatti '71
  • Jon J. Major '80
  • Westina L. Matthews '70
  • Thomas F Mazza '81
  • Linda J. Mercuri '69
  • John F. Michitsch '65
  • Michele Mirto '91
  • John E. Moore '55
  • Charles H. Noll '53
  • Kenneth G. Oaks '87
  • Joseph A. Oths '56
  • Kenneth Perko '63
  • John J. Peterangelo '67
  • Margaret E. Peters '59
  • Diane Kitzerow Phillips '64
  • Shirley A. Pohl '57
  • Daniel Patrick Pugh '79
  • Francis X. Quinn '51
  • William M. Raveis, Jr. '68
  • Mary Anne Reilly-Dirlam '75
  • B. William Ricco '58
  • Elmo E. Roach '63
  • John D. Rossi '58
  • Joseph M. Scaminace '75
  • Earl Scheidler '57
  • Joseph Scherger '71
  • Katherine A. Schipper '71
  • Rosemary Schmidt '52
  • Richard M. Schoen '72
  • Roman U. Schoenherr '56
  • Stephen P. Scovic '66
  • Deborah J. Seifert '70
  • Michael Sewell '85
  • Gerald S. Sharkey '65
  • Mary Ann Sharkey '74
  • Ned J. Sifferlen '63
  • Michael S. Someck '62
  • Robert G. Stachler '51
  • Virginia MacMillan Varga '51
  • Lisa Payne Wansley '84
  • Howard Watkins '86
  • Robert L. Westerheide '56
  • Marcy Weston '66
  • A. William Wiggenhorn '66
  • Michael D. Wilson '70
  • Kevin J. Wood '69
  • Helen A. Yura-Petro '53
  • Haleem N. Zihenni '88