Originally published by Judy Moore
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An audience of close to 400 alumni, faculty, administrators, family and friends gathered to celebrate Northwestern University’s 81st annual Alumni Awards April 12. ISEN co-Director Mark Ratner was among those recognized with merit awards. Ratner earned his Ph.D. in the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences in 1969.
After earning his Ph.D., Ratner embarked on a career as a professor and acclaimed theoretical materials chemist. He has spent four decades studying electron transfer, which is one of the most important processes in chemistry, required for life’s most basic functions. The study of electron transfer led to the development of nanotechnology. Among his hundreds of publications and significant honors, in 2011 he received the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Bourke Award. The Society honored Ratner for his “seminal contributions to the areas of electron transfer, nonlinear optics, relaxation dynamics, polymer electrolytes and theoretical chemistry, and for key efforts in establishing, defining and championing of the field of molecular electronics.”
The top award of the program, the Alumni Medal, was given to Dennis H. Chookaszian, a University Life Trustee and retired chairman and CEO of CNA Insurance Companies.
Eighteen others received alumni merit, service, emerging leader and achievement awards during the ceremony, held at the Union League Club of Chicago.
Welcoming addresses were given by Dan Jones, president of the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) and a 1961 business alumnus, and Laura Wayland, executive director of the NAA.
Among the awardees was Cody Keenan, a 2002 graduate of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, who was honored with the 2014 Emerging Leader Award. Keenan serves as assistant to the president of the United States and as director of speechwriting at the White House, overseeing all public remarks for President Barack Obama. President Obama congratulated Keenan in a brief video, saying, “Over the years, I have come to rely on Cody not only as a brilliant writer but as somebody who is focused on doing right by the American people every single day."
Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) has honored alumni who have distinguished themselves as outstanding professional and personal achievers and who have loyally dedicated their time and service to Northwestern. This year’s award recipients have earned acclaim in business, law, medicine, economics, the sciences, education, philanthropy and the arts.
In his opening remarks, Northwestern President Morton Schapiro thanked award recipients for their impressive contributions to the world and to Northwestern.
The awards were presented by Peter Alexander, 1998 graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. He is a White House correspondent for NBC’s “Today” show and NBC Nightly News. An Emmy Award-winning journalist, Alexander has covered the globe from Afghanistan to the Arctic Circle.