Alumni Awards Recipients

Alumni Loyalty Award – Chuck Schoffner, JO’72

Chuck Schoffner, a 1972 graduate of Drake University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, has built a legacy defined by professional excellence and an extraordinary commitment to his alma mater. A native of Lima, Ohio, Schoffner arrived at Drake after graduating from Clay High School in South Bend, Indiana, bringing with him a passion for storytelling that would eventually take him around the globe. During his undergraduate years, he was deeply immersed in the heart of campus life. He was a familiar face in the newsroom of the Times-Delphic, where he rose through the ranks as assistant sports editor, sports editor, and eventually managing editor. His versatility was displayed as the co-editor of sports for the Quax yearbook, capturing the athletic history of the University.

Schoffner’s academic and extracurricular leadership earned him induction into several of the most prestigious societies in higher education. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Kappa Tau Alpha, the national society honoring scholarship in journalism. His leadership skills were recognized by Omicron Delta Kappa and Gamma Gamma, the national Greek honorary for outstanding members of the fraternity community. He was also a dedicated member of Sigma Delta Chi — now the Society of Professional Journalists — and was named to Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges.

In fact, Schoffner’s professional career began before he crossed the graduation stage. He was working as a newsman for United Press International (UPI) by the time he received his degree in 1972. This launched a distinguished 34-year tenure in the demanding world of wire service journalism. Over the next three decades — seven years with UPI and 27 years with the Associated Press (AP) — he became one of the most respected voices in the industry. As a world-class sportswriter, he covered five Summer Olympic Games, bringing international competition to readers worldwide.

Schoffner’s curiosity extended beyond the stadium. He developed insightful, human-interest features on a wide range of subjects, including university professors, pioneering scientists, famous authors, and iconic Iowans. His ability to find the "story behind the story" made him a staple of Iowa journalism. He retired from the Associated Press in 2005 after serving as the organization’s Iowa sports editor and the national women’s college basketball writer. However, retirement was simply the start of a freelance career; he is currently finishing his second book.

Schoffner’s dedication to Drake University remains one of the most rewarding chapters of his life. He is committed to the Drake Relays, having missed only one meet since 1969 — whether attending as a student, a professional reporter, or a volunteer. Now in his 21st year on the Drake Relays Committee, he plays a vital role in selecting high school qualifiers and verifying collegiate data. As the chair of the Drake Relays Hall of Fame Committee, he ensures the meet’s legends are honored. During the event itself, he is a permanent fixture in the press box, identifying records and milestones, and sharing historical facts with the media.

His loyalty to Drake Athletics is unwavering. Schoffner occasionally can be seen at Drake football and volleyball games, but his primary contribution is at the Knapp Center. He sits on press row for men’s and women’s basketball, writing game stories for the University’s athletics website. His dedication was apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he was the lone journalist provided with a seat in the arena. His reporting allowed fans to stay connected to their teams when they could not be there in person.

Beyond the sidelines, Schoffner has served as the co-chair for the Class of 1972’s 50-year reunion and is an active member of the President’s Circle Advisory Board. His volunteerism also impacts the state at large, where he chairs the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s four Hall of Fame committees. Together, with his wife, Pam, Schoffner is a passionate supporter of the Elevate the IX campaign and the National Alumni Scholarship Selection Committee.

Alumni Loyalty Award honors an alumnus or alumna for his or her commitment and dedicated service to Drake University.

Alumni Achievement Award – Jon Bowermaster, JO’76

Jon Bowermaster, a 1976 graduate of Drake University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, has spent his life traveling the world to tell stories about nature and the environment. A six-time grantee of the National Geographic Expeditions Council and designated as one of the Society’s "Ocean Heroes," he has spent decades documenting the planet’s environment. His journey began in Des Moines, where his classmates and friends remember him as a quiet, smart student with a drive to succeed.

Bowermaster’s roots are in the Midwest — he is originally from Rockford, Illinois — but his time at Drake expanded his horizons in ways that would eventually take him to the ends of the Earth. After graduation he earned a master's degree in public affairs reporting from American University and then returned to Des Moines and teamed up with fellow journalism students to launch The Daily Planet, an alternative biweekly newspaper that focused on politics, the arts, community news and the environment.

His undergraduate years were not solely defined by the newsroom. Bowermaster was an outdoorsman even then, spending his free time sailing his catamaran at Big Creek and captaining ultimate frisbee teams. Professionally, he was already reaching for the national stage, securing an internship at the bi-monthly New Times in New York City. This experience introduced him to high-quality reporting and inspired him to tackle significant storytelling in a variety of mediums.

After Drake, graduate school, five years editing the Planet, and writing his first book — an oral biography of five-term Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray — Bowermaster’s career transformed into a series of global expeditions. His first assignment for National Geographic Magazine was documenting a 3,741-mile crossing of Antarctica by dogsled. This grueling trek set the tone for a career defined by sharing places that most humans will never see and using adventure to tell important stories. Over the next several decades, he authored 11 books and produced or directed more than 30 documentary films. His feature films, such as “Dear President Obama,” “Antarctica, on the Edge,” and “Ghost Fleet,” have provided audiences with a unique perspective on environmental health.

Perhaps his most ambitious undertaking was the National Geographic-sponsored "Oceans 8" project. From 1999 to 2008, Bowermaster and his teams traveled the world by sea kayak, reporting on how the planet's coastlines were faring in a rapidly changing world. These expeditions took him and his teams from the Aleutian Islands to French Polynesia, from Gabon to Tasmania and to Chile/Argentina/Bolivia, Vietnam, Croatia and Antarctica. By choosing kayaks as his primary mode of transportation, he was able to get closer to the environment and the people living on the planet’s edges than other journalists. Continued support from the National Geographic Society served as entry to some of the most remote parts of the world.

While Bowermaster’s home-base for the past nearly forty years has been New York’s Hudson Valley (with a decade spent splitting time in France), his connection to the Bulldog community remains strong. Whether he is hosting fellow Drake alumni in Paris or visiting New York City with old friends, he has proven that making friends for life around the globe is the most valuable gain from a life spent traveling. At home, he serves as the President of the One Ocean Media Foundation, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Adventure Science, a Creative Affiliate of the Safina Center, a Fellow of the Explorers Club, and a visiting lecturer at Bard College.

Bowermaster continues to advocate for the environment through his "Hudson River Stories" film series and his weekly podcast, “The Green Radio Hour.” His 2026 Alumni Achievement Award recognizes a career that has brought global awareness to the evolving environmental concerns and how best to preserve the planet.

Alumni Achievement Award honors alumni for outstanding achievement in their career or profession.

Community Service Award – Mary Sconiers-Chapman, ED’73, EdS’82

Mary Chapman, vice president emeritus at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), has dedicated her life’s work to educational equity and social justice. Her academic journey provided the foundation for this success; she is a two-time alumna of Drake University, where she earned both her Bachelor of Science and her Education Specialist’s degree. She later added a doctoral degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Science from Iowa State University.

Chapman's leadership started in the Des Moines Public School District. After serving 17 years in the district, she joined Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in 1990. She initially served as the Executive Dean and Provost of the Urban Des Moines Campus. During this pivotal era, her visionary guidance led the campus to record-breaking enrollment levels. She recognized early on that for students to succeed in a modern economy, the curriculum had to evolve. She spearheaded the creation of innovative academic programs in business and information technology, ensuring that students had direct access to high-growth career paths.

In 2000, Chapman’s role expanded as she became the Vice President for Community and Workforce Partnerships. In this role, she acted as a bridge between the academic world and the Central Iowa business community. She worked tirelessly with local employers to identify employment opportunities and design programs specifically for underrepresented and disenfranchised populations. A well-regarded achievement during this period was the development of the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families. This center remains a cornerstone of the Des Moines community, providing a one-stop resource for job training, financial literacy, and career coaching for individuals and families striving for economic stability.

Upon her retirement in 2013, DMACC honored her decades of service by designating her with the prestigious title of Vice President Emeritus. However, for Chapman, retirement was simply a transition into a new phase of advocacy. She hasn’t slowed down, continuing to devote her energy to closing the opportunity gap that affects so many marginalized communities. She established the endowed Second Chance Scholarship at DMACC. This scholarship is specifically designed to support African American men, providing them with the financial means and institutional support to pursue higher education and career technical training.

The depth of her impact was recognized by the Iowa Department of Corrections’ decision to name the Mary Chapman Computer Lab in her honor. Located within the Education Center at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women, the lab serves as a symbol of her belief that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their past.

Beyond her professional and philanthropic endeavors, Chapman is a pillar of the Des Moines civic landscape. Her leadership is sought after by a number of organizations. She currently serves or has served on the boards of the Des Moines Art Center, the Des Moines Public Arts Foundation, the Hoyt Sherman Foundation, and the DMACC Foundation. Her commitment to grassroots change is evident through her work with the Urban Dreams Board, the Taste of the Junction Board, and the NAACP Executive Committee. Additionally, she is a dedicated mentor in the Lead DSM Community Connect program, helping to shape the next generation of Iowa leaders. As a Platinum member of the Des Moines Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and a Golden Life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, she remains deeply embedded in the sisterhood of service.

The honors Chapman has received reflect a lifetime of excellence. She has been inducted into both the Iowa African American Hall of Fame and the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame. Other recognitions include being named a Business Record Woman of Influence and receiving the Young Women Resource Center Visionary Woman Award. Most recently, she was honored as the 2023 YMCA Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast "Making A Difference" recipient.

Community Service Award recognizes the significant accomplishments of alumni who have engaged in outstanding and meaningful community service.

Distinguished Alumni Award – John August, JO’92

John August, a 1992 graduate of Drake University, has become one of the most successful and creative writers in Hollywood. From big-budget movies to popular books and even software, August has shown that he can tell a great story in a variety of ways. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, he came to Drake to study journalism. This training helped him learn how to research and write clearly — skills he would later use to write some of the world’s favorite films. After finishing his degree in Des Moines, he moved to Los Angeles to study film at the University of Southern California (USC), which launched his career in the movie business.

As a screenwriter, August is well-known for his work with director Tim Burton on movies like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and the animated hits “Corpse Bride” and “Frankenweenie.” He also wrote the scripts for the 2019 version of “Aladdin” and the first two “Charlie’s Angels” movies. One of his most famous works is the movie “Big Fish” for which he was nominated for a BAFTA award. He turned “Big Fish” into a Broadway musical, writing the script for the stage show.

In 2007, he wrote and directed a movie called “The Nines,” starring Ryan Reynolds and Melissa McCarthy. The movie was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival. His talents even extend to music; he once received a GRAMMY nomination for a song he wrote for the chocolate factory movie.

August’s talents extend beyond the writer’s room into the director’s chair. The Writers Guild of America gave him a special award for his service and humanitarian work in 2016. He is also very passionate about helping other writers. Since 2011, he has co-hosted a weekly podcast called “Scriptnotes.” Every week, thousands of people listen to him talk about how to write movies and how the film industry works. He also started a company called Quote-Unquote Apps. This company makes helpful tools for writers, such as "Highland," a program that makes it easier to format movie scripts. He also created the "Writer Emergency Pack," which is a set of cards that helps students and writers break through creative blocks. Today, these packs are used in more than 2,000 classrooms across the country.

August is a successful author of books for young readers. He wrote a popular series called the “Arlo Finch trilogy.” These books follow a boy on a magical adventure and have been enjoyed by kids all over the world. In addition, August is an active leader in the writing community. He currently serves as a leader for the writers' union (the WGA), helping to make sure that writers are treated fairly and paid well for their work.

Even with all his success in Los Angeles, August has remained an active, dedicated member of the Bulldog community. He served on the Drake University Board of Trustees from 2007–2011 and continues to return to campus as a guest lecturer, sharing his insights and inspiring the next generation of great writers. In addition to his loyal service to Drake, August and his husband, Michael, are leadership donors to the University. Their support includes leadership gifts to The Drake Fund, an endowment fund advancing Drake's Honor's Program, and most recently a named space in the Johansen Student Center.

August's 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award celebrates his accomplished career, dedication to helping other storytellers succeed, and longtime commitment to Drake University.

Distinguished Alumni Award is the top honor bestowed upon alumni of Drake, recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual in a career or profession and exemplary service to the community and University.

Young Alumni Achievement Award – Emily Steele, BN’12

Emily Steele, a 2012 graduate of Drake University, has transformed the marketing landscape through her passion for community and local connection. As the CEO and cofounder of Hummingbirds, Steele leads a cutting-edge platform that connects consumer brands with everyday content creators.

During her time at Drake, Steele began building the foundation for her future as a community leader. After graduation, she quickly became a fixture in the Des Moines business scene, launching initiatives that championed small businesses and female entrepreneurs. She founded Love Local, a marketing agency dedicated to helping neighborhood brands thrive, and established an annual pitch competition that provided funding and visibility for women-owned startups. Her leadership was also evident during her tenure at FemCity Des Moines; under her guidance, the group became the most successful chapter in the United States, fostering a massive network of professional women.

In recent years, Steele’s focus has shifted toward scaling Hummingbirds into a national powerhouse. The platform helps brands reach real people in their own backyards, and the results have been staggering. Under her leadership, the company has expanded its reach to more than 40 cities and grown to include more than 40,000 creators. By 2025, the company achieved a remarkable 350% year-over-year growth, raised over $13 million in venture capital, and scaled to a dedicated team of 40 employees.

Even with her professional success, Steele remains committed to her community. She is frequently found exploring local trails, visiting neighborhood coffee shops, or trying out new restaurants with her family.

Young Alumni Achievement Award honors alumni, age 40 or younger, for outstanding achievement in their career or profession.

Young Alumni Loyalty Award – Molly Wilensky Nguyen, AS’13

Molly Wilensky Nguyen is a dedicated leader who has spent her career helping others succeed. Whether she is supporting students directly or supporting integrity and transparency in law school reporting and disclosures, Nguyen focuses on excellence and service. Her journey began at Drake University, where she was a National Alumni Scholar — a prestigious honor that set the stage for her remarkable undergraduate career before she graduated in 2013.

While at Drake, Nguyen was a central figure in campus leadership. She served as the President of Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, and held key roles in Psi Chi, the honors society for psychology, and the Honors Student Council. Her dedication to her peers was so significant that she was named the first-ever recipient of the Wanda Everage Outstanding Peer Mentor Award. Recognized for her academic and extracurricular achievements, she was named both a "Top Junior" and a "Top Senior." Beyond leadership, she contributed to the academic community as a research assistant in the English department and helped manage the daily operations of the Student Life Center.

Despite her busy career, Nguyen’s devotion to Drake University has remained constant. She has served as a leader for alumni groups across the Midwest, including tenures as the Chair of the Chicago Regional Alumni Board and Co-Chair of the Kansas City Regional Alumni Board. She remains passionate about welcoming new students into the Drake family, frequently participating in events for admitted students and in letter-writing campaigns to help high schoolers discover the university.

Nguyen’s commitment to her alma mater is perhaps most evident in her work with the National Alumni Scholarship. Years after receiving the award herself, she has spent countless hours reviewing applications and interviewing the next generation of scholars. Today, she serves as a member of the National Alumni Board, where she helps guide the future of the university's global alumni network. She hopes her daughter, born in August 2025, will be a Class of 2048 Bulldog!

Young Alumni Loyalty Award honors alumni age 40 or younger for commitment and dedicated service to Drake.