Meet the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards honorees

The Boise State University Alumni Association will kick off Homecoming + Parent and Family Weekend with one of its signature traditions: the Distinguished Alumni Awards. On Thursday, Oct. 1, the association will recognize five accomplished graduates and one longtime university champion whose leadership, achievements and service have made a lasting difference at Boise State and beyond.

"The Distinguished Alumni Awards are the highest honor the Alumni Association can bestow," said Rich Brown, associate vice president for central development and engagement at the Boise State University Foundation. "This year's group shares exceptional ties to Boise State. Together, they have shaped the university as students, educators, mentors, volunteers and donors, and we could not be more proud to share their stories with the Bronco community."

2026 honorees

• Matthew Bott '01 | Distinguished Alumni Award | Bott is a congressional advisor and foreign affairs officer for the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, U.S. Department of State. He graduated from Boise State in 2001 with bachelor's degrees in political science and criminal justice.
• Linda L. Clark '70 | Distinguished Alumni Award | Clark is a retired superintendent for the West Ada School District. She graduated from Boise State College in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education.
• James Crawford '72 | Distinguished Alumni Award | Crawford is a retired vice president and chief financial officer for the Wilbur-Ellis Company. He graduated from Boise State College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.
• David Johnson '73, P'98 | Distinguished Alumni Award | Johnson is the chief executive officer at Fletcher Group, Inc. He graduated from Boise State College in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work before earning a Master of Social Work from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
• Anna Sparrell '03 | Distinguished Alumni Award | Sparrell is vice president and partner at CM Company, Inc. She graduated from Boise State University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.
• Bill Lathen | Honorary Alumni Award | Lathen is a retired professor of accountancy at Boise State. Along with his wife, Rebecca, his lifelong commitment to education, service and philanthropy has impacted countless students at Boise State and around the world.

Register for the awards

Join in honoring this year's recipients at the Distinguished Alumni Awards from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, in the Stueckle Sky Center. Tickets are $95 for individuals or $700 for a table of eight. Guests are invited to dress in semi-formal attire to match the celebratory nature of the evening.

Please register by Sept. 23 to secure a place at this Homecoming tradition.

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