DENTON (UNT), Texas – The University of North Texas Alumni Association will honor outstanding alumni at the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards dinner at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 in UNT's University Union. Reception starts at 6 p.m.

This is the 51st anniversary of the alumni awards program, which showcases the caliber of the university's alumni and celebrates the depth and breadth of their professional accomplishments and service to the community. This Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards coincide with the university's homecoming weekend, which sees the return of many alumni. Seven recipients will receive awards this year, including:

Distinguished Alumni Awards – First presented in 1965, this is one of the university's most prestigious awards. It is given to individuals who have achieved prominence in their profession.

• Bryan Milner (ʼ00) will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. Milner is senior vice president of loan originations at Wells Fargo Capital Finance. He is responsible for originating corporate loans from $30 million to $5 billion or more in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. As a member of the board of directors for UNT’s Professional Leadership Program, he was instrumental in helping the program grow from 40 students to more than 100 annually. He is a member of the College of Business FIREL Advisory Board and Campaign Action Team, and a lifetime member of the UNT Kuehne Speaker Series.
• Jerome “Bruzzy” Westheimer, Jr. (ʼ65) will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. Westheimer is president of Valbel West, an oil and gas producer and geology business in Ardmore, Okla., and president and CEO of the Jerome Westheimer Family Foundation. He is a life member of the UNT Alumni Association, a lifetime member of the UNT Kuehne Speaker Series and a member of the President’s Leadership Board.
• Jim McNatt (ʼ66), will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. McNatt built an automobile empire and successfully sold Jim McNatt Auto Group in 2014. He continues in the industry as a partner in Luttrull-McNatt dealerships in Sanger and Gainesville, and is vice president of McNatt Properties LC, a real estate construction and apartment management business. He is a member of the UNT Alumni Association, a lifetime member of the UNT Kuehne Speaker Series, a member of the UNT Foundation Board of Directors and a member of the President’s Leadership Board.

Distinguished Young Alumni Award – Created in 2011, this honor was established to recognize alumni under age 40 for distinguished career achievement.

• Beau LaMothe (ʼ07), will receive the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. LaMothe is the chief commercial officer for PGL, a third-party logistics provider. He is responsible for PGL’s long-term strategic direction, marketing, sales and service offerings. He is the youngest person to serve on the College of Business’ Advisory Board.
• Laura Dominguez (ʼ05), will receive the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Dominguez works on humanitarian projects in the United States, Central America and Africa. She is a program officer for FHI 360, an international human development non-profit focused on health, education, economic development, gender, civil society and youth. She provides operational and administrative support to the USAID-funded Haiti Ann ALE and the Ghana Partnership for Education.

Outstanding Alumni Service – First presented in 1974, this award honors individuals who have provided exceptional volunteer service to UNT or the community.

• Peggy Rouh (ʼ95 M.S., ʼ01 Ph.D.), will receive the Outstanding Alumni Service Award. Rouh retired from IBM as a senior manager responsible for corporate training and development, consulting, sales, marketing and customer service. She has been a supporter of UNT’s College of Information, having served as the college’s recent Capital Campaign co-chair. She also created an endowed scholarship for students in UNT’s Department of Learning Technologies, and has worked as an adjunct professor and lecturer in the department since 2004. She serves on the college’s Academic Affairs Committee and is chairwoman of the Learning Technologies Awards Committee.

Ulys Knight Spirit Award – Presented since 1975, this award is given to any individual or group that has made noteworthy efforts to sustain spirit among the UNT family.

• Benjamin Joyner (ʼ74, ʼ76 M.B.A.), will receive the Ulys Knight Spirit Award. Joyner serves as senior vice president of commercial banking with Meridian Bank Texas. He has held similar roles at BBVA Compass Bank, Texas Bank and First State Bank. He serves on the UNT Foundation Board, is past-president and life member of the UNT Alumni Association and a long-time member of the Mean Green Club.

For information about the UNT Alumni Association or the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards, call 940-565-2834 or email alumni@unt.edu.