Hall of Achievement
The highest honor Monmouth can bestow.
Sen. Mattie Hunter ’76
State Senator Mattie Hunter ’76 knew she wanted a career in politics even before arriving on the steps of Wallace Hall. Before her classes with Political Science professor Roy McClintock, she was volunteering on campaigns from alderman to president. His urging to “get out there” and “make mistakes” lit a fire under Hunter at Monmouth.
That fire led her to spending a semester in Washington D.C. along with other Monmouth students, and then an internship under Congressman Ralph Metcalfe. Senator Hunter now serves in the Illinois State Senate as the Chair of the Executive Committee, the Majority Caucus Chair, the vice-chair of the Transportation Committee, and has served on the Human Services, Public Health, Energy and Appropriations I committees.
This award follows Senator Hunter’s 2008 Commencement Address at Monmouth College, as well as her accompanying Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
Dr. Rick Kaskel ’67
Dr. Rick Kaskel ’76 travelled 15 hours and 59 minutes from NYC to MC as a freshman. This leap of faith would be rewarded by guidance from Biology professor Robert Buchholz who “gave [him] the inspiration to engage in the excitement and rewards in the field of science and medicine.”
Both came in spades for Kaskel, who would go on to become one of the nation’s leading pediatric nephrologists (doctor who specializes in children’s kidney diseases). His leadership at the Section of Pediatric Nephrology at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx, New York is another feather in the cap of a career of medical breakthroughs as well as leadership positions in Tau Kappa Epsilon, varsity football, M Club, and Blue Key.
This award follows Dr. Kaskel’s 2007 receipt of the Distinguished Alumnus Award and 1990 Mcmullen Lecture.