Harper College will be closed Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day.
The Distinguished Alumni Awards program at Harper College recognizes Harper College Alumni who have distinguished themselves in their careers and in their service to the community. The program launched in 2008 and to date, a total of 92 individuals have been honored. In 2019, a new award, the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award, was added to honor an alumna/alumnus who is less than 10 years out from Harper College and making an early impact in their careers and community. Learn more about previous Harper College Distinguished Alumni honorees by visiting the Distinguished Alumni digital display on Harper’s campus on the main level in Building A or click here.
Join us for the 2025 awards event!
Thursday, November 6, 2025
6 - 8 p.m.
Wojcik Conference Center at Harper College
Ryan Suby has quickly ascended into a leadership role in technology, fueled by his Harper College education and technical expertise in data, analytics and cloud infrastructure. Today he’s director of technology operations for legal operations at Zurich North America. Meet Ryan Suby
Maryfran H. Leno represents the rare professional who has devoted almost an entire career – in her case, nearly 32 years – to a single organization. Leno started her full-time parks and recreation career in 1994 with the Itasca Park District and has led the district for the past 21 years as executive director. Meet Maryfran Leno
Marc Klemencic credits his academic successes and distinguished career in human resources and organizational development to the structure and learning environment he found at Harper College – on his second try. He acknowledges that his academic journey took several turns and unique pathways. Meet Mark Klemencic
Harper College’s renowned fashion design program launched the successful marketing career of Karen Durante, a 1982 graduate. Today, she is vice president of partnerships and member development for the 7,000 members of Finishing Contractors Association (FCA) International. Meet Karen Durante
Izabela Pieniadz began her distinguished career in arts administration and historic preservation with a transformative experience at Harper College. Today, Pieniadz is executive director of the Ellwood House Museum in DeKalb, overseeing the preservation of a 10-acre historic site and its role as a community resource. Meet Izabela Pieniadz
Pinderski & Pinderski, Ltd.
Follett Higher Education
Linda J. Lang
Distinguished Alumni Award nominations take place each spring. Questions about the
nominations? Email alumni@harpercollege.edu.
Click here to review the criteria for a future nomination. Nominations will open in spring 2026.
For information on sponsoring or about the Distinguished Alumni Awards event, please contact Harper College Alumni Relations at alumni@harpercollege.edu or 847.925.6701.
Invest in a Strong Future: Support the Distinguished Alumni Scholarship Fund.
Questions? Contact us at 847.925.6701 or alumni@harpercollege.edu.