The Gettysburg College Alumni Association's Board of Directors selected President Neal Smatresk to receive a 2011 Gettysburg College Distinguished Alumni Award. The school considers this to be the most prestigious of all their awards for professional and civic achievement, and it is the highest award given by the Alumni Association.

The award was presented on May 21 during the college's commencement weekend. The award was presented during the same ceremony as the student awards, thus enabling Distinguished Alumni to serve as inspiring role models for the schools most outstanding and engaged students.

Smatresk was named UNLV's president in August 2009, after serving two years as executive vice president and provost here. Previously, he held executive positions at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Texas, Arlington.

In addition to a bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College, he holds a master's degree in biology from State University of New York at Buffalo and a doctorate in zoology from University of Texas at Austin.