Daniel Garcia ’01, MBA ’09, will receive the Rev. Vincent J. Guinan 2020 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award. Garcia, former two-time Alumni Association Board President, served for a total of nine years.

Highest Alumni Honor

This is the highest alumni honor presented by University of St. Thomas. The award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has remained engaged with UST after graduation and made outstanding contributions to their alma mater and to society through professional and personal excellence and community involvement.

"It is an honor for me to be selected for the 2020 Rev. Vincent J. Guinan, CSB, Distinguished  Alumnus of the Year Award,” Garcia said. “St. Thomas has been a part of my life since the summer of 1994 and I often credit this institution for making me the person I am today. I incorporate all the values and morals St. Thomas has taught me in my everyday life and pass those teachings onto my own students so that they can go on and thrive in a college setting. I will continue to give all the time, treasure and talent that I can to UST and will always contribute to the low-income, first generation and veteran students on campus to ensure their success at UST to help create amazing alumni,” he said.

Garcia Makes the World a Better Place

The nominator wrote that “Dan Garcia exemplifies what it means to be a leader of faith and character…, and he has shown through his words and deeds how one should truly live and embody the core values of our founders, the Basilian Fathers – discipline, goodness, knowledge and community. Dan is driven out of a pure desire to help others and to make UST – and the world around it – a better place.”

Senior Director of Alumni Relations Carla E. Alsandor, Ph.D, shared, “Dan’s commitment to his alma mater is inspirational. He is ever present and always willing to help in whatever ways are needed, no matter how large or small the tasks. He is a strong advocate for education and really understands how important alumni are to the ongoing success of a university. I am truly grateful to him for setting such a beautiful and consistent example. UST is fortunate to have amongst its alumni leaders, this year’s Guinan Award recipient, Mr. Dan Garcia.”