In 1992, the College of Engineering Alumni Society established a recognition program to honor those alumni who personify the College’s tradition of excellence. The awards are presented at the Alumni Society Awards Dinner, which is traditionally held during Michigan Engineering Homecoming Weekend each fall. Initially, the Alumni Society Board established two categories of awards to be presented annually:

• The College of Engineering Alumni Society Medal, to be presented to one alumnus/a who has shown extraordinary overall distinction, and
• The College of Engineering Alumni Society Merit Awards, recognizing distinction at the department level, one to be presented from each academic department.

The Board voted in 1997 to establish a third category to be awarded beginning 1998:

• The College of Engineering Alumni Society Distinguished Service Award, to be presented annually to one alumnus/a who has generously volunteered service to the College.

In 2001, the Board established a fourth category to be awarded beginning 2002:

• The Recent Engineering Graduate Award, recognizing the meritorious contributions by an alumnus/a in the early stages of his/her career.