The West Virginia University Alumni Association is currently seeking nominations for the 2006 Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

For nearly 20 years, the Academy has honored and recognized WVU graduates who are nationally or internationally recognized in their professions. Inductees are nominated by the general membership or their respective schools/colleges and selected based on their personal and professional achievements, dedication to WVU and commitment to their communities.

We have outstanding alumni who have done extraordinary things in their professions. The Academy enables us to recognize these individuals for their accomplishments and honor their achievements,said Stephen Douglas, president and chief executive officer of the WVU Alumni Association.

Since its inception in 1988, the Academy has recognized more than 65 alumni, including best-selling novelist Stephen Coonts; Jerry West, president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies; Loretta Ucelli, senior vice president of Pfizer Inc.; Ray Lane, general partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield&Byers and former CEO of Oracle; and Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cevera, president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute.

The Academy of Distinguished Alumni inductions will be held Feb. 11. The WVU Alumni Association must receive all nominations by 3 p.m. Oct. 28. For nomination criteria, including nomination information, please visit http://alumni.wvu.edu or call 1-866-WVU-ALUM.

The WVU Alumni Association, chartered in 1873, represents more than 165,000 University graduates residing in every county in West Virginia, every state in the union and approximately 60 foreign nations. With nearly 100 registered chapters and constituent groups, the Association’s 26,000 dues-paying members support Homecoming Weekend, the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni and dozens of other social and philanthropic programs. For more information, visit http://alumni.wvu.edu .