The Latino Faculty and Staff Council Executive Board is happy to announce the nomination of former national correspondent for the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Phil Ponce for the IU Distinguished Alumni Service Award. Ponce earned his Bachelor's degree from IU in 1971 and is also married to IU alumnus, Ann Walls (B.A. 1970; M. A. 1974) who is an artist. Her portrait of former President John Ryan hangs in the Indiana Memorial Union.

Ponce has had two distinguished careers, first as an attorney where he served the public interest as Attorney General for Colorado, and secondly, as a political analyst and correspondent. He has moderated numerous political debates, and most recently between Barak Obama and Alan Keyes. Currently he is seen on Chicago Tonight every week night on Chicago’s public television station, he conducts in-depth news analysis on issues of the day including politics, arts and culture.  Mr. Ponce’s special interest in the arts can also be seen in his ongoing hosting of an award-winning arts program, Artbeat Chicago, also on WTTW 11.

He has demonstrated his strong ties to IU as our university’s 1999 Baccalaureate Speaker and as the father of three IU graduates. He has been recognized by his peers with numerous awards. The Northern Illinois University Department of Communications named him Illinois Journalist of the Year Award in 1998.  The Chicago Chapter of Professional Journalists recognized him in 1993 for Public Service; 1996 for Business Journalism and Sports Journalism; 1999 for Business Journalism; and in 2002 for In-Depth Reporting.
 
2004 was a year of recognition for Mr. Ponce. He was the commencement speaker at both Elmhurst College and Loyola University-Chicago and received honorary doctorates from both institutions. He also received the prestigious Studs Terkel Award for Journalism.   These honors illustrate Mr. Ponce as a leader in broadcast journalism, a facilitator of public discourse and an important role model for IU graduates. He has been recognized by his peers and other institutions of higher education and the IUB Latino Faculty and Staff Council strongly and enthusiastically recommend him for the IU Distinguished Alumni Service Award.