Selection criteria | Nomination form | Recipients

Established in 1972, the Distinguished Service Award is bestowed upon alumni, faculty, staff or friends of the University of Illinois by the University of Illinois Alumni Association, on behalf of the University of Illinois. It is awarded to those individuals who have consistently demonstrated extraordinary commitment, dedication, and service to the advancement of the University of Illinois.

2008 Recipient

A graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, businessman Stephen J. Sinclair has proven himself to be a great friend to UIC through his dedicated service to the University. In 1997, Sinclair was one of three founding members of the Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases (GILD) Council, which has raised more than $1.4 million in support of UIC’s College of Medicine. The GILD Council’s mission is to support important educational, research and patient care programs in the fields of transplantation and digestive, liver and nutritional diseases. The money raised by the GILD Council helps fund the work of faculty physicians and researchers at the UIC Medical Center. While serving as president of the council for 10 years, Sinclair participated in many solicitation and cultivation gatherings for the UIC Medical Center, using his influence and professional connections in the Chicago business community to promote GILD Council activities and increase awareness. Sinclair continues to support the GILD Council, as well as the UIC Medical Development Council and the College of Medicine Advancement Board. He is also a President’s Council Member at the Centuria Circle Level and was named a University of Illinois Foundation member in 2003. In his position as chief operating officer at Northbrook Energy, a Chicago-based power company, Sinclair is responsible for its finance and acquisition activities. Prior to that, he served as president and CEO of ORIX Real Estate Equities.