The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented to any individual Missouri School for the Deaf (MSD) Alumnus for his or her outstanding contribution to the Deaf Community. Recipients have demonstrated excellence in a chose profession/athletics, community service, education, leadership or other noteworthy endeavors. This award also may be awarded posthumously.

The alumnus is nominated by MSD alumni and chosen by a committee assembled by the incumbent MSD Superintendent. The Superintendent then presents the Award at the MSDAA triennial reunions.

~ PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD ~

1982 – Jack Gannon
1985 – Arthur Merklin *
1988 – Lester Guenther
1988 – Edgar Templeton
1991 – Archie Stack
1991 – Mary Belle Worshan Coll
2001 – Harold Deuel
2001 – Medford Magill
2001 – Howard Palmer
2001 – Claude Johnson *
2001 – O. Ernest Shipman

* Posthumously

2008 – Harold Hankins
2008 – Paul Hrabovsky
2008 – Frankie Morris
2012 – Don Hill *
2012 – Max Mossell *
2016 – Tom Bastean, Jr.
2016 – Darlene Clark-Gunsauls
2019 – Antonina Biondo
2019 – Norma Vickers
2019 – Robert Colopy