USD College of Arts & Sciences to Host 2026 Pillars of Distinction Awards Night and Hall of Fame
The Pillars of Distinction Awards Night and Hall of Fame will honor and recognize those who have paved the way for the future of the College of Arts & Sciences. These exceptional members uphold USD’s efforts to offer a world-class education in the liberal arts and sciences, to create and disseminate knowledge and to serve the people of South Dakota, the nation and the world.
“We're excited to continue the momentum established by last year's event. The recipients of our Pillars of Distinction and the inductees into our hall of fame represent an extraordinary group of people who inspire us all with their contributions,” said John Dudley, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “The College of Arts and Sciences has a proud tradition of preparing our students to become leaders in their communities and their professions, and this year's honorees have helped carry on that tradition.”
The 2026 Pillars of Distinction recipients include the following:
- Gary Conradi ’61, Pillar of Service Award
- Kathleen C.M. Campbell, Ph.D., M.A. ’77, Pillar of Discovery Award
- Paul Van Buren* ’60, Pillar of Leadership Award
- Kenneth Meier, Ph.D. ’72, Pillar of Enlightenment Award
Hall of Fame recipients include the following:
- Tom Brokaw ’64
- Dick Brown, ’67, ’66
- Cleland Cook ’69, ’62
- Pete Dexter ’10 (Honorary), ’69
- Nancy McCahren*, Ed.D. ’86, M.A. ’62, B.A. ’57
- Diane Jones Meier, J.D., B.S. ’72
- Ted Muenster ’78
- Bruce Nolop* ’72
- Blair Tremere ’71, ’68, and Linda Tremere ’70
- Douglas Tuve and Susan Tuve
- Sophie Two Hawk, M.D. ’87, ’83
*Honored posthumously.
The College of Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame is displayed on campus to recognize the recipients’ contributions to the college and university.
The Pillars of Distinction Awards Night and Hall of Fame event is free and open to the public, with registration details available on the event webpage.
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