We are excited to share that Red Hat president and CEO Jim Whitehurst was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, Rice University. Whitehurst graduated from Rice University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and computer science in 1989.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is designed to recognize Rice alumni who have advanced the interest and standards of excellence of Rice University through distinctive professional or volunteer careers. Recipients of the award are nominated by their peers, then winners are selected by a committee of Rice alumni.

Whitehurst was recognized for his impressive career as a celebrated business leader and an innovator of organizational management. He received the award on May 13 at the 2017 Laureates Dinner which honored recipients of the Laureates Awards Program. The program was created by the Association of Rice Alumni in 1937 to recognize highly distinguished individuals for extraordinary achievements and contributions to their professions, local communities, and Rice University. Every year, three major awards celebrate outstanding Rice alumni and friends of the university, including the Meritorious Service Award, the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Gold Medal, the highest possible honor for service to the university.

On Sept. 28, Jim will be back at Rice to deliver a presentation as part of the Ken Kennedy Institute’s Distinguished Lecture Series.​

Congratulations Jim!