Outstanding Achievement Award recipients are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Listed beneath each awardee name is the nominating college and date of award presentation. Biographies, where available, are as-of date of award presentation.
John Patrick Guider received a bachelor degree in electrical engineering from the College of Science and Engineering in 1969 at the University of Minnesota. He went on to work at Honeywell, Sperry Corporation, and then Star Technologies where he served as director of hardware development from 1982-1987. In 1987, he co-founded Tricord Systems, a high-performance server company, which succumbed to business pressures in 2002.
David R. Metzen received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education (1964), a master of science degree in educational administration (1970), and an Ed.D. in educational administration (1973) from the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. He is described as a lifelong learner and educator and as someone who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in a variety of professions. Metzen served as superintendent of the South St.
John Edward Haugo received a master’s degree in educational administration (1964) and a Ph.D. in educational administration and management information systems (1968) from the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. An accomplished entrepreneur, Haugo is the retired chair of SearchAmerica, Inc.; founder and CEO of MedService Link, Inc.; and founder and CEO of Serving Software, Inc.
Pamela N. Edstrom, a pioneer in the field of public relations and strategic communications, received a bachelor of arts degree in sociology in 1971 from the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) at the University of Minnesota. After serving as Microsoft’s first director of public relations, Edstrom co-founded and played a key role in building Waggener Edstrom Communications, the second largest independent strategic communications agency in the world.
Stanley L. Deno, emeritus professor of educational psychology in the College of Education and Human Development, received a Ph.D. in educational psychology in 1965 from the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. He spent 40 years as a faculty member in his home department. Deno was highly recognized as an international scholar in educational psychology, and in special education and disability studies.
Zhao "Alex" Zhang received his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1989. He is the co-chair for the Asia practice group and the partner-in-charge of the Greater China Practice for Dorsey & Whitney. With more than twelve years of international business experience, he has become one of China's recognized specialists in cross-border corporate and commercial transactions.
Larry Dean Yore, described as a pioneer in the field of science learning, received a bachelor of science in physical science and mathematics (1964), a master of art in education (1968), and a Ph.D. in philosophy (1973) from the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. A native of Minnesota, Yore spent more than 41 years at the University of Victoria as a faculty member. He retired in June 2011.
Leo Yau is widely recognized as a leader in the development of technologies that have enabled the explosive emergence of microchips as the building blocks for computers and the information age. Yau received his master's of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1965.
Michael Wright, a native Minnesotan, attended the University of Minnesota where he was captain of the 1959 Gopher football team and an Academic All-American. He earned his bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts in 1961, and his Juris Doctor degree, with honors and the Order of the Coif, from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1963. Currently, he is the Chairman, CEO, and President of SUPERVALU INC. Michael Wright is active in many professional and civic organizations.