Nominations opened in January for the 2020 Riverland Community College Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes contributions Riverland alumni make and increases the pride all alumni, students, staff and faculty have for Riverland.

The award is bestowed on an individual who attended Riverland and has distinguished himself or herself. Since 1979, 23 Distinguished Alumni Awards have been conferred.

The awardees are 16 males and seven females. Seven had careers in education, seven in business, three in health care, three in the law, two in the arts, and one in ministry. Seven awardees have been elected to public office at a local or regional level.

“This is an opportunity for our amazing alumni to be recognized for their achievements. I am so excited to see the nominations for Distinguished Alumni 2020” said Kim Nelson, Riverland director of grants and alumni relations, in a press release.

The most recent Distinguished Alumni, Nancy Chistophersen, was named in 2018. Christophersen is now retired from a long career as an instructor at Riverland Community College.

Nominees for the 2020 award will be evaluated on a significant contribution to the achievement of Riverland’s vision, established and/or strengthened Riverland’s community partnerships and contributed to a community in a significant way. The Distinguished Alumni recipient will be recognized at the Riverland Community College commencement on May 15.

To be considered for the award, a nominee must have attended one of these colleges that now are considered Riverland Community College:

• Albert Lea Area Vocational Technical Institute
• Albert Lea/Mankato Technical College
• Albert Lea Technical College
• Albert Lea Technical Institute
• Austin Area Vocational School
• Austin Community College
• Austin Junior College
• Austin State Junior College
• Austin Technical College
• Austin Technical Institute
• Minnesota Riverland Technical College
• Owatonna Extension Center – Austin State Junior College
• Owatonna Higher Education Center
• Owatonna College and University Center
• Riverland Community College

Deadline to nominate is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6. Late nominations will not be considered. Online nominations to www.riverland.edu/alumni are encouraged.