 The proposal was approved on May 9, 1972.Prior to that point, an Honors College had existed previously since 1964.Famous alumni include actress Piper Perabo, Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter Joe Mahr, NASA scientist Lori Poultz-Snyder, CEO at the biotechnology and pharmaceutical company Nodality, Inc Laura Brege, NPR correspondent Adam Hochberg, and Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Matt Wickline.