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April 15, 2025 ̶ ̶ ̶ The University of Memphis is proud to celebrate esteemed alumni and friends at the 42nd Distinguished Alumni Awards, presented by Lowe’s, on Saturday, April. 26 at the Maxine A. Smith University Center. The welcome reception and cocktail hour begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a dinner and awards program at 7 p.m.
As a signature event for the University of Memphis, the Distinguished Alumni Awards invites the community to gather and bestow the honors of Distinguished Alum, Distinguished Young Alum, Cornerstone Award and Illustrious Service Award to alumni and friends who have exemplified excellence in their personal and professional lives.
The 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award honorees are:
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Cortney Richardson (BPS ’11), Chief Executive Officer of Peer Power Foundation, will be honored as a Distinguished Young Alumnus.
A dynamic leader and community advocate, Richardson empowers Memphis youth through high-impact tutoring and mentoring through the Peer Power Foundation.
A former Peer Power participant himself, he now leads the organization with a vision rooted in opportunity and transformation.
Richardson is also a pastor, internationally acclaimed gospel artist and speaker dedicated to inspiring future leaders through faith, educational support and service.
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Larry Jensen (BA ’74), Chairman and Principal of Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Advisors Partners, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of his five decades of leadership in business and civic service.
Jensen has advised major clients in commercial real estate across the Mid-South.
He’s served on numerous boards, including the Tennessee State Board of Education, Ducks Unlimited and Shelby Farms Park Conservancy. He continues to give back to the University of Memphis through scholarships and service.
A lifelong Memphian, Jensen is also a Sunday School teacher of over 45 years, a proud grandfather of nine and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity.
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Bertha Rogers Looney (BA ’79, MA ’06), former professor, author, community activist and minister, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for a lifetime defined by courage, education and advocacy. In 1959, Looney made history as one of the Memphis State Eight, the first African American students to integrate then-Memphis State University.
Inspired by her belief that learning unlocks opportunity, her 45-year career in education spanned from Memphis to the Czech Republic.
She was honored among the 100 most influential women in the University’s history and has received numerous accolades for her leadership, including the Arthur S. Holmon Lifetime Achievement Award.
Her forthcoming memoir, “Dare to be First,” reflects her personal journey and her powerful legacy of progress.
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Dr. Jane Howles Hooker (BSEd ’68, Med ’69), former professor and women’s sports pioneer, will receive the Illustrious Service Award for a lifetime of championing women’s athletics and youth development.
As a trailblazer in women’s sports, Hooker broke barriers as both a student-athlete and educator. Those efforts culminated in her co-founding the Tennessee Women’s Sports Foundation.
Over her decades-long career, she taught, coached and advocated for equity and opportunity in sports. Even in retirement, her impact continues through historical preservation and numerous publications.
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The University of Memphis will also honor Marian and Mike Bruns with the Cornerstone Award. High school sweethearts turned philanthropic powerhouses, the Bruns built Comtrak Logistics into a national industry leader that employed numerous UofM graduates. Thanks to these hardworking alumni, the Bruns reinvested in the institution that helped fuel their success. Their Bruns Challenge scholarship initiative raised $3 million, transforming the lives of generations of students at the University of Memphis. From PTA meetings to boardrooms and Youth Villages to Junior Achievement, the Bruns have quietly shaped generations with a philosophy rooted in gratitude, opportunity and giving back.
The Cornerstone Award is the highest philanthropic honor the University of Memphis can bestow and is reserved for individuals whose giving has been transformational for the University.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Parker King
Director of Media and Public Relations
(O) 901.678.4822
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