Distinguished Alumnus Award - 2005: Kenneth "Ken" Ho Sung Kwak '62

Published on April 9, 2026

2005: Kenneth "Ken" Ho Sung Kwak '62

A simple and very humble man, Ken refused a nomination to receive Notre Dame's Distinguished Alumnus award in the summer of 2005. In September 2005, Ken passed away in front of the Notre Dame bookstore as he was carrying materials to the Alumni Office in preparation for the annual APA of ND mini-reunion that weekend and the APA of ND Board meeting the following week.

Appointed posthumously by University President Fr. John Jenkins, Ken is one of only ten graduates to ever be awarded the distinction of Distinguished Alumnus of Notre Dame. Chuck Lennon '61, '62, former Executive Director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association, presented the award at a memorial Mass for Ken held at Notre Dame on September 16, 2005.

 

Learn More

Other news

Distinguished Alumnus Award - 2019: Joe Newman ’36 & Peter Schivarelli ’71

April 9, 2026
2019: Joe Newman ’36 & Peter Schivarelli ’71  For a lifetime of service, Joe Newman ’36 was honored with the 2019 Distinguished Alumnus Award. As a parent of a child with special needs, Newman, a South Bend native, helped to found Logan Center in 1950. The center supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so that they, and their families, can achieve their desired quality of

Honorary Alumni - 2016: Patrick Murphy

April 9, 2026
2016 Honorary Alumnus For his nearly five decades of serving drinks and conversation at the Morris Inn, Patrick Murphy — universally known as Murf — has been named an honorary alumnus, joining a distinguished group whose ranks include Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz. Murf started as a busboy at the Morris Inn at age 15 and continued to work there even after he was drafted and stationed in Maryland, b