The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor the Institute bestows upon a graduate, and is in recognition of "a particular achievement of noteworthy value,
a series of such achievements, or a career of noteworthy accomplishment." Selections are made by a faculty and alumni committee and confirmed by the Board of Trustees.
Since the award's inception in 1966 Caltech has recognized a total of 217 alumni as standouts in science, engineering, business and the arts.
Awarded 1986
The former Prime Minister of Iceland, Steingrimur Hermannsson originally worked as an engineer in both Iceland and the U.S. until he began his political career. In 1957 he was a member of the Icelandic delegation to the United Nations; that same year he became director of the National Research Council of Iceland, a post he held until 1978. He has served as chairman of Iceland's Progressive Party and held the position of Progressive Party secretary from 1971-1979. A member of the Althing, Iceland's parliament, he served as Minister of Justice, Ecclesiastic Affairs and Agriculture 1978-1979; and Minister of Fisheries and Communications 1980-1983. He has written several articles on scientific research in Iceland.
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