Award-winning Alumni

The Tulane Alumni Association spotlighted its alumni stars on Sunday (April 3) at the annual awards celebration. Headlining the honorees was noted political commentator Newt Gingrich, who was on hand to receive the 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award at the Audubon Tea Room.

The former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Gingrich addresses the alumni awards gathering. He holds two degrees from Tulane — a master's degree (1968) and Ph.D. (1971), both in history.

Phyllis M. Taylor, left, is congratulated by Tulane President Scott Cowen for her new honor, the Dermot McGlinchey Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a 1966 graduate of Tulane Law School.

Top volunteers are recognized annually by the alumni association. This year's honorees are Carol Squarcy Showley, left, who holds two Tulane degrees (Newcomb College, 1974, and the School of Architecture, 1977), and former Green Wave football star James K. Ordeneaux, a 1999 Tulane College graduate.