Stephen J. Altemus (’87) admits that success did not come easy for him. That’s what made receiving Embry-Riddle’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award even more special, he says.

“I was not a stellar student,” says Altemus, president and CEO of Intuitive Machines LLC and former deputy director at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “I struggled to get through engineering school.”

Altemus and five other graduates were honored for their outstanding accomplishments at the Eagle Alumni Awards ceremony on April 5, 2019. Nominated by their respective college or program, the awardees included Altemus (College of Engineering), Brian Hirshman (’90; College of Aviation), John Longshore (’81, ’84; David B. O’Maley College of Business), Patrick Marsden (’91; College of Arts & Sciences), Michelle Lucas (’00; Eagle Entrepreneur/Communications) and Edmund Otubuah (’03; Alumni Network Volunteer).

“This program is a celebration of what Embry-Riddle graduates achieve across multiple business sectors and around the world,” says Bill Thompson, executive director of alumni engagement.

The awardees also serve as role models to current Embry-Riddle students, adds Marc Archambault, senior vice president of philanthropy and alumni engagement.

“What you have achieved is a great testament to the impact of our university and our alumni, and of what we can become when we work together,” Archambault told the honorees at the ceremony.

For more about each award winner: alumni.erau.edu/2019awards.