Auburn Alumni Association celebrates Lifetime Achievement, Young Alumni honorees

The Auburn Alumni Association celebrated its 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA) recipients and Young Alumni Achievement Award (YAA) recipient at a gala on June 7, at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center.

R. Douglas Meckes, Raymond J. Harbert, Sonny Smith and Susan Nolen Story were named LAA recipients while Kirsty Coventry received the YAA award, given to alumni under the age of 40. The black-tie event featured videos and photos of the honorees and recipients spoke of their life and love of Auburn.

"What a wonderful night to celebrate our honorees," said Kurt Sasser, chief engagement officer for Auburn Advancement and director of the Auburn Alumni Association. "The impact they have had, and will continue to have, in our communities and around the world is inspiring and a credit to the Auburn Family."

Full bios of the LAA honorees and the YAA recipient are avialable online.

The Lifetime Achievement Award and Young Alumni Achievement Award recognize alumni for outstanding achievements in their professional lives, personal integrity and stature, and service to the university.

Established in 2001, the awards are the highest given by the association. A committee of Auburn administrators, trustees, faculty and alumni select the recipients.

Nominations for the 2026 awards open on July 1.