The Pasadena Independent School District Alumni Association is accepting nominations for the district's Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2007.

This annual award recognizes an alumnus who has made significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments and career have brought credit to the Pasadena school district. The honoree will be recognized in March 2007. Deadline for applications is Jan. 5, 2007.

The South Belt physician Mary Campbell-Fox was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumna award last year. She is a 1976 Dobie graduate and the founder of Campbell Family Practice and Internal Medicine Associates. She also served as the Chief of Staff at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital in 2003. In many various roles, Campbell-Fox has served as a mentor and role model to many students in Pasadena ISD. For many years, she has volunteered her time for well-baby clinics at Tegeler Career Center. She also serves as the medical director for the WAVE Clinic, which is a school-based clinic in the Pasadena school district that serves the needs of children and families that cannot afford regular health care.

In 2005, 1971 Sam Rayburn High School graduate and international attorney J. Michael Solar received the award. Solar headed the legal team that drafted the North American Free Trade Agreement and is also involved in a number of humanitarian issues.

The award began in 1996, when the late Jonah Boyd was honored with the award. He was a 1955 graduate of Pasadena High School and served as principal of L.F. Smith Elementary from 1971-1995. The following year 1962 PHS graduate Larry Forehand received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Forehand is founder and vice-president of Casa Ole' Restaurants.

California lawyer Robert Smith, a 1971 PHS graduate, was the 1998 honoree; while Bill McMillin, a 1958 PHS graduate and owner of McMillin Insurance and Real Estate, was the 1999 honoree and Ben Meador, a 1957 PHS graduate and president and CEO of Meador Staffing Services, received the award in 2000. Bill Shock, a school volunteer and former employee of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., received the award in March 2001. The late Dr. Bill Allen, a pioneer in the field of nuclear medicine and 1951 PHS graduate, was honored posthumorously in 2002. Allen's wife, Elizabeth, accepted the award in his memory. Martin Cominsky, 1976 Pasadena High School graduate and executive director for the southwest division of the Anti-Defamation League, was named as the district's 2003 Distinguished Alumnus.

The late Dr. Paul Zanowiak, a 1965 South Houston High graduate was honored posthumously in 2004. He had operated a well-known Houston area dental practice, The Smile Store, and also was known for performing humanitarian work overseas.

The eligibility criteria for the Distinguished Alumnus Award are as follows:
* The award is a one-time honor; therefore previous award recipients are not eligible.
* Current employees of Pasadena ISD are not eligible. 
* Members of the Pasadena ISD Alumni Association Board, the Award Nominating Committee or their relatives are not eligible for consideration. 
* Must have attended any Pasadena ISD school during his or her elementary or secondary school years. 
* Be distinguished in his or her business, profession, life work or other worthy endeavor. 
* Be a person of such integrity, stature and demonstrated ability that the award will reflect honor on the Pasadena school district and create a sense of pride among the members of the community. 
* Nominee must be present to receive the award unless the nomination is submitted
posthumously. 
* No person will be chosen for the award while a candidate for an elected public office in the year of the award.

Those wishing to nominate an alumnus can print off a nomination form on the district website at www.pasadenaisd.org/alumni/awardnominate.htm. Return this completed form with any supporting documentation (resume, letter of recommendation, etc.) to the Pasadena Independent School District, Attn. Candace Ahlfinger, 1515 Cherrybrook, Pasadena, Texas 77502.