• 2014-15 Baylor Meritorious Achievement Award winners to be honored at Homecoming

    Baylor's Meritorious Achievement Award winners, 2014

    Baylor’s Meritorious Achievement Award winners annually demonstrate the wide reach of alumni across virtually every field; this year’s honorees cover industries from Hollywood to healthcare, Scripture translation to track and field, and with graduation dates spanning from the 1950s up to 2008.

    Names like Packard and Hart are instantly recognized across the Baylor family; other names are less familiar, but you may know their work (from organizations like the U.S. Department of Education and Baylor Scott & White Health to TV shows and movies like Chicago Fire and The Blind Side).

    Alumni of the Year: Michael Brandt, BBA ’91, MA ’94, and Derek Haas, BA ’91, MA ’95, writers, directors and producers of movies such as 2 Fast 2 Furious and Wanted and TV shows such as Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. The duo’s willingness to share has informed future plans for Baylor’s Department of Film and Digital Media and increased Baylor’s profile in Hollywood.

    Young Alumna of the Year: Katie Norris, BSFCS ’08, CEO and founder of Fotolanthropy, which pairs film, photography and philanthropy to document inspiring true stories of people overcoming adversity.

    Pro Ecclesia: Jim and Jamie (BSEd ’82) Loker, longtime missionaries in Mexico and Guatemala who have translated the Bible into audio formats for 90+ different languages, serving non-literate Indian groups and indigenous peoples.

    Pro Texana: Will D. Davis Sr., BBA ’54, LLB ’54, an active leader in public education at the city, state and national levels and a leading legal representative in the world of insurance.

    Contributions to the Professions: Medicine/Healthcare: Robert “Bob” Pryor, BS ’73, CMO, COO and president of Baylor Scott & White Health; one of the nation’s first certified pediatric intensivists, Pryor was involved in the formative years of pediatric intensive care.

    Contributions to the Professions: Media & Arts: John Lee Hancock Jr., BA ’79, JD ’82, the acclaimed writer, director and producer of such films as A Perfect World, My Dog Skip, The Rookie, The Blind Side and Saving Mr. Banks.

    W.R. White Meritorious Service Award: Pearl Beverly, MSEd ’01, a beloved Baylor recruiter and administrator since 1988 now in her 10th year as director of the Department of Multicultural Affairs.

    Legendary Mentor: Dr. Bob and Joyce Packard, devoted teachers and mentors; Bob, a professor emeritus of physics and Master Teacher, taught at Baylor for 50 years, while Joyce, a former assistant dean of Baylor women, spent 23 years helping young people make wise decisions as a high school counselor.

    Distinguished Achievement: Clyde Hart, BBA ’56, the legendary Baylor track & field coach whose athletes have won 34 NCAA titles and 13 Olympic gold medals.

    Baylor Legacy: Kate McLane Dimmitt, BBA ’56, a longtime Baylor advocate whose family has generously supported projects such as the McLane Carillon in Pat Neff Hall and McLane Stadium on the banks of the Brazos.

    Baylor Founders Medal recipients, 2014-15Baylor Legacy: Tom (BBA ’60) and Pat (BBA ’62) Powers, who have used their successful careers in banking and design to establish multiple Baylor scholarships and support projects all across campus.

    Baylor Legacy: Sheila and Walter (BBA ’59, JD ’65) Umphrey, longtime supporters of the university; Walter, a renowned lawyer, and Sheila have supported Baylor Law School’s home on the Brazos and the pedestrian bridge the connects campus to McLane Stadium.

    Founders Medal: Gale (BBA ’52) and Connie Galloway, Baylor supporters for decades; Gale served as a Baylor Regent from 1990-98, and together the couple has supported Baylor scholarships and athletics.

    Sic ’em, Bears!

    [Learn about past Meritorious Achievement Award winners: 2010-11 || 2011-12 || 2012-13 || 2013-14