Boise State to celebrate five honorees at 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards Gala

The Boise State University Alumni Association will honor five outstanding individuals at the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Gala on Thursday, Oct. 9, during Homecoming celebrations.

Since 1988, these awards have honored extraordinary Boise State alumni and friends who are changing the world through their professions and personal endeavors. These individuals exemplify the loyalty, passion and innovation found in all dedicated Broncos.

The Distinguished Alumni Award celebrates graduates whose impact extends regionally, nationally or internationally, while the Honorary Alumni Award recognizes individuals who may not have earned a degree from Boise State but have shown an outstanding level of service to the university.

"The Distinguished Alumni Awards represent the highest honor the Alumni Association can bestow," said David Johnston, associate vice president of alumni and constituent engagement. "This year's honorees join an extraordinary circle of proud and loyal Broncos whose leadership and achievements exemplify Boise State's values and extend the university's impact across communities."

2025 Award Recipients

• Lonny J. Ashworth '76 '77 - Distinguished Alumni Award. Ashworth has devoted his career to advancing respiratory care education and practice in Idaho and around the world. As the former chair of Boise State's Department of Respiratory Care, he taught for 45 years and mentored generations of students who now serve in hospitals and clinics across the country.
• David Estrada '07 - Distinguished Alumni Award. Estrada is a Boise State professor and site director for the National Science Foundation's Center for Atomically Thin Multifunctional Coatings. His expertise spans energy, water and health care, with a focus on training the next generation of engineers for emerging materials, microelectronics and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Nick Oldham '99 - Distinguished Alumni Award. Oldham has built a trailblazing career at the intersection of law, technology and operations. Today, he is the global chief risk, privacy and compliance officer and chief operations officer for Equifax U.S. Information Solutions, leading risk management, AI governance and enterprise transformation. He credits his Boise State experience with instilling the resilience and boldness that shaped his leadership.
• Lesley Slaton Brown '88 - Distinguished Alumni Award. Brown is a transformative executive leader known for driving business results through equity, inclusion, culture and economic sustainability. She has held senior leadership roles at the NBA and HP, where she embedded DEI into core business strategy. A recognized trailblazer, Brown has been honored by Black Enterprise, Forbes and Business Insider, and she continues to serve on national boards while championing inclusive economic impact.
• John D. Jackson - Honorary Alumni Award. Jackson opened his first service station in Caldwell at age 20. From that single location in 1975, he grew Jacksons Food Stores, ExtraMile and Jackson BevCo to more than 1,500 stores across eleven states. A proud Bronco, he has remained closely connected to Boise State through philanthropy that enhances the student experience, supports Athletics and invests in community education and health care.

Register for the Gala

Join in honoring this year's recipients at the Distinguished Alumni Awards Gala from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9 in the Stueckle Sky Center. Tickets are $85 for individuals or $650 for a table of eight. Semi-formal attire is preferred.

Please register by Oct. 1 to secure a place at this Homecoming tradition.

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