On Saturday, November 14, ten distinguished professors from around the U.S. will be honored with a $25,000 cash tribute from the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Trust for motivating a former student to make a difference in his or her community. The ceremony will take place at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead at 5 p.m.

The Beckman Award Trust was originated in 2008 and has since bestowed an amount of over $1.7 million to 73 professors and faculty. The idea for the Beckman Trust was conceived by Gail McKnight Beckman in recognition of her mother Dr. Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman.

“A professor who can motivate a student to change the world is one of the most valuable resources we have in America. It is an honor for the Beckman Trust Award committee to pay tribute to ten more exceptional mentors this year," said Dr. Andrew Davidson, Beckman Award Trust committee member.

Dr. Beckman was a notable instructor and an esteemed author. She made history in her field for being one of the first female psychology professors at Columbia University. Dr. Beckman also later taught at the University of Pennsylvania. The full list of 2015 recipients is featured below.

2015 Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Recipients:

David M. Becker, J.D.
Washington University School of Law    St. Louis, MO       

Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander, J.D.
University of Georgia                          Athens,GA                                                                                                    
Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor, Ph.D.
University of  Georgia                         Athens, GA

Michael Joseph Chorney, Ph.D.
Penn State College of Medicine             Hershey, PA

Daniel Wallace Close, Ph.D.
University of Oregon                              Eugene, OR

Marie Anita Failinger, LLM
Hamline University School of Law        St. Paul, MN

Ralph David Fertig, ABD for Ph.D.
University of Southern California           Los Angeles, CA

Elizabeth Gerber, Ph.D.
Northwestern University                         Evanston, IL

K. Daniel O’Leary, Ph.D.
Stony Brook University                           Stony Brook, NY

Florence Wagman Roisman, LL.B.
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney   
School of Law                                        Indianapolis, IN