The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Alumni Association has honored seven outstanding alumni volunteers for their exceptional service to UMUC.

Now in its 25th year, the association's annual alumni awards celebration recognizes individual alumni, faculty, staff, or friends who enrich the UMUC community through their intellectual, social, cultural, and service contributions.

Awards are granted in four categories:

The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest alumni award granted at UMUC. It was created in 1976 to recognize an alumna or alumnus who has realized outstanding personal and professional achievement while demonstrating exemplary service. This year's recipient, Michèle Jacobs '74, is managing director of special events at Union Station in Washington, D.C., and serves as chair of the UMUC Arts Advisory Board. Read more.

The Edward A. Parnell Outstanding Alumnus Award recognizes a UMUC alumnus or individual who has shown exemplary volunteer service over the course of the current year. The 2015 awardee, Joey Price '11, CEO of Jumpstart: HR, LLC, works with teammates and service-provider partners to help small business owners and start-up founders build better businesses. Read more.

The Alumni Executive Business Leader Award honors those who serve in a leadership role in their community and promote involvement in the university. Dr. Paula Pitcher '12, who received the award this year, is vice president of Enrollment Management, Research, and Planning at Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts. She works closely with college administrators to develop success models that help students acquire the resources they need to attain their degrees. Read more.

The Alumni Achiever Award pays tribute to UMUC alumni and community members who have made a significant contribution to supporting the university's mission. There were four honorees for 2015:

Dr. Barclay Butler '13 is director of Healthcare Technology Integration for the Defense Health Agency and a member of the Senior Executive Service. He has worked for more than 30 years to support the delivery of IT services to improve the quality and experience of healthcare while reducing costs.

Harriett Hayes-Hubbard, administrative assistant for Alumni Relations at UMUC, is an integral member of the UMUC staff and has dedicated her professional vision to helping advance the Alumni Association.

Jaemellah Kemp '14 is director of Member Services Operations at the U.S. Naval Institute, an Annapolis-based nonprofit that focuses on preserving the history of the nation's sea services. She is founder of IT TAKES TWO, INC, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that awards scholarships to students living in single-parent homes.

David Welch '10 is owner and chief executive officer of Welch and Rushe, Inc., a mechanical and plumbing contracting firm in metropolitan Washington, D.C., that has completed work on a variety of notable projects, including the National World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument renovation, and the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Welch is a mentor with the UMUC Career Mentor program.

Read more about the 2015 Alumni Achiever Award recipients.

UMUC President Javier Miyares has praised UMUC alumni as a group for distinguishing themselves through their service, philanthropy, and professional achievements.

"You are ambassadors. Your every success increases the success of your UMUC degree, for yourself, for alumni around the world, and for the future students who will join your ranks."