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Homecoming Awards

Lifetime Achievement

This prestigious award honors an alumna or alumnus of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, or a friend of the University, who has demonstrated a lifetime of exceptional achievements in their career, community, and in service to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.

Criteria:

  • Must have made significant contributions to their profession, community, and/or society over three or more decades.
  • Demonstrates a long-standing commitment to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ through support, engagement, or advocacy.
  • Exemplifies the values and mission of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.

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2026 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Johnny Simpson '90 

Johnny Simpson ’90, of Florence, is the owner of Simpson’s Collision Repair and Wrecker Service, a fourth-generation family business. For more than 30 years, Simpson has been a steadfast supporter of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ. He is an active member and president of the North Alabama Lions Athletic Club and is now serving on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Foundation Board, helping advance the university’s mission through leadership, advocacy, and philanthropy.

 

Alumnus or Alumna of the Year

This award honors an alumna or alumnus of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ who has made outstanding contributions in their field or community within the past year.

Criteria:

  • Must be a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ graduate.
  • Demonstrates exceptional accomplishments in their career, public service, or volunteerism, and has had a notable impact at a regional, national, or international level in the past year.
  • Has positively impacted the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ community through engagement and support.
  • Exemplifies the values and mission of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.

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2026 Alumna of the Year Award Winner, Deanna Ritchie Tidwell '96, '03  

Deanna Ritchie Tidwell ’96 ’03, of Florence, is a nationally recognized advocate for victims of crime, with a career spanning more than three decades of service to the people of Alabama. As a first-generation college graduate, Deanna is deeply committed to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ. She mentors students in counseling and social work, serves as the President of the Greater Shoals Area Alumni Chapter, and continues to inspire others through her unwavering commitment to resilience, service, and transformational leadership.

Friend of the University

 This award recognizes a non-alumna or non-alumnus (individual or couple) who has provided outstanding service, leadership, or support to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.

Criteria:

  • Must not be a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ graduate.
  • Has significantly impacted the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ community through their service, advocacy, and philanthropy.
  • Actively engages with and supports Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s mission, programs, and initiatives.
  • Although not a graduate of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, they exemplify the values and mission of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.

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2026 Friend of the University Award Winner, Town and Gown Work Group

Michelle Eubanks, Justin McGill, Sheena Burgreen, Michael Butz, Kyrel Buchanan, Rachel Mansell, Anna Hovater, Butler Cain, Conner White, Samuel Mashburn, Abby Carpenter

Town and Gown Workgroup is a collaborative partnership comprised of representatives from both Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and the City of Florence and united by a shared commitment to strengthening the relationship between the university and the broader community.
Through innovation, collaboration, and service, the Town and Gown Workgroup has developed lasting relationships, expanded opportunities for community engagement, and enhanced the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s impact throughout the Shoals.
Its members represent a variety of areas on campus and in the community, from Athletics to local banking and all areas in between. Further, the work group has provided advocacy on behalf of both entities and served as a bridge to provide ongoing and relevant communication. To that end, the University and City are best served and thriving.

Young Alumnus or Alumna of the Year

This award honors a recent graduate who has demonstrated exceptional achievements in their early career and ongoing dedication to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.

Criteria:

  • Must have graduated from Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ within the past 10 years and be under the age of 35.
  • Shows early career excellence and leadership in their profession or community.
  • Actively engages with and supports Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s mission, programs, and initiatives.
  • Exemplifies the values and mission of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.

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2026 Young Alumnus of the Year Award Winner, Hugo Dante Jr. '18

 

Hugo Dante Jr., ’18, of Muscle Shoals, AL, has built a career that reflects exceptional leadership, academic excellence, and a steadfast commitment to public service. He is currently serving as Senior Adviser to the Chairman and a Senior Economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers. He has also worked as an economist for the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, and has worked in the private sector at Amazon Web Services and advising investors at Washington Analysis. As a respected economist and public servant, he exemplifies Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s values of excellence, lifelong learning, service, and leadership. Dante’s accomplishments on the national stage reflect the transformative impact of a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ education and make him a distinguished ambassador for his alma mater.