The Alumni Association Board of Directors annually honors a distinguished graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University. This is the most prestigious award the association bestows upon an FGCU graduate in recognition of the recipient's contributions to society.
The criteria for this award include a distinguished professional career (both regionally and nationally), distinguished in community and recognized for service to others and dedicated to providing ongoing service to the University.
2009 Alumna of Distinction Award:
Laura Holquist is no stranger to the history and growth of Florida Gulf Coast University. As a part of Allete Properties, Inc., Holquist was involved in the early stages of University planning as FGCU reviewed potential land selections.
Holquist, a 2000 Executive MBA graduate, is a licensed real estate broker and a certified public accountant. Employed by Allete Properties, Inc. since 1991, Holquist has risen through the ranks from senior business analyst to chief financial officer, senior vice-president and finally to her current role as president since 2001.
As a lifetime member of the FGCU Alumni Association, Holquist remains active in the FGCU community through her participation on the Lutgert College of Business Advisory Council, her support to the Lutgert College of Business endowment fund, as well as her recent appointment to the FGCU Foundation Board of Directors.
For all of her accomplishments, Holquist was named as the 2009 Alumna of Distinction and has become the sixth recipient of the award.
Alumni of Distinction Society
| Past Recipient |
Award Year |
| Nola Theiss, '02 |
2008 |
| Guenther Gosch, '03 |
2007 |
| Robert Mulhere, '01 |
2006 |
| Dr. Allen Weiss, '01 |
2005 |
| Dr. John Little, '03 |
2004 |
Nominate a graduate today!
Download the Award Nomination Form (.pdf - 51.5 kb).
