The University of Illinois Alumni Association (UIAA) Alumni Achievement Award was established in 1957 to recognize alumni of the University of Illinois who have attained outstanding success and national or international distinction in their chosen business, profession or life's work, and whose accomplishments reflect admirably on or bring honor to their Alma Mater.

Below is a list of Chemistry at Illinois alumni who have received this award.

2018
James A. Spudich, '63 BS
One of the world’s most respected biochemists

2017
Stephen J. Elledge, '78 BS
World renowned geneticist and cancer researcher

2016
Marydell M. Chilton, '67 PhD (Hager, L.)
Fellow and founder of Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc.

2003
Phillip Allen Sharp, '69 PhD (Bloomfield, V.)
Founding director and institute professor
McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT

1999
Joseph H. Burckhalter, '38 MS (Fuson, R.)
Research Professor, Chemist
Florida Institute of Technology

1995
Edwin Krebs, '40 AB
Professor, University of Washington
Howard Hughes Medical Investigator
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1992)

1988
Richard E. Heckert, PhD '49 (Synder, H.)
Chairman and CEO, Du Pont

1986
Karl A. Folkers, BS '28
Director, Institute of Biomedical Research,
Ashbel Smith Professor of Chemistry
University of Texas, Austin

1976
Carl S. Marvel, AM/MA, '19 PhD '20 (Noyes, W.)
Professor of Chemistry
University of Arizona

1976
Arthur W. Sloan, '22 BS
Founder, President
Atlantic Research Corporation

1974
Robert W. Holley, '42 AB/BA
Professor of Molecular Biology
The Salk Institute

1972
Philip Handler, '39 PhD (Carter, H.)
President National Academy of Sciences

1971
Ralph A. Connor, '29 BS
Chairman, Executive Committee
Rohm and Haas Company

1969
Louis K. Eilers, '29 BS
President and CEO,
Eastman Kodak Company

1960
Arnold O. Beckman, '22 BS, '23 MS
President, Beckman Instruments, Inc.

1959
Vincent du Vigneaud, '23 BS, '24 MS
HON '60
Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1955)

1958
Edward A. Doisy, '14 AB, '16 MS
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1943)