Founded in 1986, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor Rawls College can bestow upon alumni and friends. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a record of distinguished service and extraordinary achievement in their chosen field. Honorees have made a positive impact on both Rawls College and Texas Tech, serving as an inspiration to current students and alumni.

Congratulations to the 2020 honorees, and thank you for the dedication you have shown to Rawls College and Texas Tech University.

David Alderson

BBA General Business 1986
President & CEO, Alderson Enterprises, LP
Lubbock, Texas

David G. Alderson embodies leadership. From his service to the city, community, and alma mater, to his rise in the automobile industry, David's reach and influence are remarkable.

The Texas Tech alumnus began his tenure at Alderson Enterprises in 1984 while working toward his business degree, beginning as a sales person. Less than a decade later, in 1992, David was named General Manager, and he became President/CEO in 1998.

Kay Matthews

BBA Accounting 1980
Retired, Ernst & Young
The Woodlands, Texas

Kay retired from Ernst & Young (EY) in June 2019, where she held several leadership roles over her 36-year career. EY is a global organization, operating in over 150 countries, with over $31 billion in revenues globally and $14.5 billion in the Americas. Most recently at EY, Kay served as a Vice Chair of the EY Americas Board, a member of the of the EY Global Practice Group and as the Managing Partner of the West Region with P&L responsibilities for all services delivered to clients in the region.

Landon Smith

BBA Accounting 1991
Founder & CEO, Riveron
Dallas, Texas

Landon Smith founded Riveron in 2006, a national business advisory firm that specializes in accounting, finance, and operations. As part of his vision, Landon aimed to create a hands-on and agile team that would match its clients' entrepreneurship. Since that time, Riveron has experienced exponential growth across an expanded geographical footprint, becoming a go-to source for transformative and innovative solutions that span the entire transaction and business lifecycle.

Linda Zukauckas

BBA Accounting 1984
CFO, Nielsen Holdings plc
New York, New York

Linda is the Chief Financial Officer for Nielsen Holdings plc, a global measurement and data analytics company. Linda joined Nielsen in February 2020 and is responsible for the company's financial strategy.

Prior to Nielsen, Linda was EVP and Deputy CFO of American Express. Over her 8+ years with American Express she also held the positions of Controller & Chief Accounting Officer and was the executive sponsor of the company's global women's interest network.