2006 – Jack Hetrick, Chicago Federal Executive Board
Since 2004, the CUPPA Alumni Association Board of Directors has presented the Alumni Appreciation Award recognizing individuals or groups for their dedication to the fields of urban planning and public administration and their contributions to the development of the college's students and alumni. The recipient of the 2006 award is Jack Hetrick, incoming chair of the Chicago Federal Executive Board (FEB) and Director of the Edward Hines, Jr. Hospital for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Graduate Program in Public Administration (GPPA) and CUPPA have developed a close partnership with the Chicago FEB over the last several years. This partnership has worked to the benefit of GPPA, CUPPA, the FEB, federal employees, local offices of federal departments and CUPPA students.
The partnership began in 2000 when GPPA introduced a certificate program in information technology designed specifically for federal employees. Two other certificate programs also tailored to the federal audience were subsequently introduced. Between 1 and 10 federal employees have participated in these programs each semester since their introduction. A few of the federal employees subsequently applied for and were admitted to the Masters in Public Administration program. The certificate programs have provided development opportunities for federal employees while simultaneously generating revenue for GPPA. Students in classes with the federal employees also benefit from the insights and ideas that the employees bring to the classroom.
In 2001, the FEB initiated a scholarship in conjunction with its annual employee awards ceremony. For each of the past several years, the FEB has asked GPPA to identify two recipients of the scholarship, which is intended for students interested in employment with the federal government. The $2000 scholarships are intended to support each student’s studies. Recipients of the scholarship have included Pamela Freese, Heather Persky, Quincy Fountain, Marlita White, Kate Henderson, Jim Cogley, Lisa Kremer, and Solomon Odafe.
Several CUPPA faculty have also participated in various training programs for the FEB. These off-site training events have been attended by between 40 and 60 managers and executives from the local offices of federal agencies. Participating faculty members have a chance to engage the attendees in a discussion of public management-related issues.
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The CUPPA Alumni Association has presented the CUPPA Alumni Appreciation Award recognizing individuals or groups for their dedication to the fields of urban planning and public administration and their contributions to the development of the college's students and alumni. In November 2010, the Board of Directors of the CUPPA-AA voted unanimously to rename the award to the Jim Marek Alumni Appreciation Award honoring the former CUPPA assistant dean for student services, Jim Marek. Marek retired from his post in CUPPA on February 6, 2007 after over twenty-nine years of service to the university, its students and alumni. He unexpectedly died on August 13, 2010.