U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation announces official date and schedule for the 2025 Distinguished Graduate Award Ceremony
The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (USNA AA&F) is pleased to announce the 2025 Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) ceremony and recognition events will be held on the following dates:
- • 2025 DGA Medal Ceremony: Thursday, 4 September at 4:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall
- • 2025 DGA Banquet Dinner (invitation only): Thursday, 4 September at the Fluegel Alumni Center
- • 2025 On-field recognition Navy vs. UAB football game: Saturday, 6 September
In February 2025, USNA AA&F announced the 2025 DGA ceremony, originally scheduled for 21 March 2025, would be rescheduled so DGA recipient CAPT Sunita L. Williams '87, USN (Ret.) could celebrate in-person with her family, friends, '87 classmates and fellow 2025 DGA awardees after her return from the International Space Station (ISS).
This year's honorees, along with their classmates and loved ones, made the collective decision to delay the events so they could celebrate in-person, together.
On 4 September, the following 2025 DGA recipients will be honored with their loved ones and the 4,400 members of the Brigade of Midshipmen:
- • ADM Jonathan W. Greenert '75, USN (Ret.)
- • VADM Anthony L. Winns '78, USN (Ret.)
- • CAPT Sunita L. Williams '87, USN (Ret.)
- • Ms. JoAnna L. Sohovich '93
Read the press release sent in December 2024 to discover more about each DGA.
The Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) program honors living U.S. Naval Academy graduates who have made a distinctive contribution to their field or community and have demonstrated sustained, active support for the Naval Academy, Naval Academy Alumni Association, Naval Academy Foundation, or affiliate groups.
Each year up to four graduates are chosen from a field of candidates nominated by their alumni peers for this, the highest honor the Alumni Association bestows on a living graduate and selected by the DGA Selection Panel, chaired by ADM Harry B. Harris, Jr. ’78, USN (Ret.).
Nominations for the 2026 DGA award will open on July 1, 2025. For more information on the nomination and selection process for the Distinguished Graduate Award, and a list of past honorees, please visit usna.com/DGA.
The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and the United States Naval Academy Foundation are two independent, not-for-profit non-stock Maryland corporations operating as an integrated organization in support of the Naval Academy and its mission with more than 69,000 members, 77 active alumni classes, and 102 chapters around the world. For more information, visit www.usna.com.