Indiana University Alumni Association honors outstanding alumni with 2025 President’s Award and Volunteer Leadership Award

Bloomington, Ind. — The Indiana University Alumni Association (IUAA) recognized alumni volunteers for their leadership and commitment to Indiana University (IU) with the President’s Award and Volunteer Leadership Awards. The honorees were celebrated for their remarkable contributions to the university and presented with their awards at the Alumni Leaders Conference on June 26, 2025.

“We are thrilled to recognize Evelyn, Pat, and Cindy for their outstanding volunteer leadership with the IU Alumni Association,” says Chief Alumni Officer Tricia Riveire Stumpf. “Their devotion and service to IU have left an indelible impact on our alumni community and the university as a whole. We are deeply grateful for their continuing commitment to engaging with one of the nation’s largest alumni communities.”

Presidents Award

Established in 1990, the IUAA President’s Award is the highest volunteer honor, as it recognizes the exceptional contributions of alumni who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, leadership, and service to IU and its global alumni community.

This year’s President’s Award honorees are:

Evelyn Pierce-Hicks, BS’74, MS’78, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has filled numerous leadership positions with the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club Board, including a term as president from 2017–2020. She is a devoted member of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, and has been an active participant of the Executive Council since 2016. A dedicated supporter of the Indianapolis campus, Pierce-Hicks encourages new alumni to attend events, inspiring graduates to become active members of the IU community. She has been a Top 100 judge and a faithful participant in many IU Indianapolis events, such as the Regatta Alumni Celebration, the Alumni Leaders Dinner, and the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club Jazz Brunch. Her welcoming spirit and consistent outreach to alumni has expanded engagement across multiple generations of graduates.

Pat Shoulders, BA’75, JD’78, of Evansville, Indiana, served for almost 20 years as a member of the IU Board of Trustees and was chair of the IU Alumni Association in 2000—01. A member of the IU Foundation’s Board of Directors for more than 18 years, he also served a term on the IU Varsity Club board. During his tenure, he consistently demonstrated independent judgment, and voiced different perspectives about a variety of topics. His deep commitment to serving the best interests of students and the university was always unmistakable. Shoulders received the Hine Award from IU Indianapolis for his work with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and was awarded the Chancellor’s Medallion from IU Southeast for his tireless advocacy for residential housing. 

Cindy Stone, BS’78, MS’08, Bloomington, Indiana, was elected in 1993 by alumni to serve on IU’s Board of Trustees, the first openly gay member on the Board. As a trustee, she pursued policy changes to recognize all types of faculty, staff and student families, including the eventual addition of domestic partner benefits. She was a founding member of the LGBTQ+ Alumni Association and the IU Foundation’s Queer Philanthropy Circle, and she was awarded the LGBTQ+ Culture Center’s Spirit Award. Most recently, Stone served on IUAA’s Board of Managers, where she provided mentorship and guidance to future leaders. Her insights helped guide the group to become as successful as possible. Stone’s service also extends to the Bloomington community, where she has worked with Women in the Arts, Girl Scouts of Tulip Trace, the Interfaith Winter Shelter, Community Kitchen, and the Bloomington Feminist Chorus.

The IUAA also announced recipients of the Volunteer Leadership Award. Five alumni received the award for their impactful service, innovative alumni engagement, and community-building efforts.

“These individuals exemplify what it means to be a leader among alumni, consistently going above and beyond to connect, support, and uplift fellow IU graduates and students,” Riveire Stumpf said.

The 2025 Volunteer Leadership Award honorees are:

For information about these awards and honorees, please contact Rebecca Keith at rekeith@iu.edu or 812-855-1713.