Six members of the University of Iowa community who served their country in the United States Army and United States Navy are being honored with the 2024 Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans Award. 

Criteria for the award — which was established in 2015 — include a strong UI connection, honorable service to the U.S., military accomplishment or contributions, and service to the community. 

Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans Award recipients will be honored in a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, in the Richey Ballroom at the Iowa Memorial Union. All are welcome to attend the ceremony. 

The 2024 Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans Award recipients are:

Edwin “Andy” Anderson, United States Army

Howard Cowen, United States Navy

David Dierks, United States Army

John H. Fraser, United States Navy

Robert Hedgepeth, United States Army

Zachary Graham, United States Army. Graham will receive the Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans “Larry Lockwood” Student Award. 

Read more about the honorees. 

Colonel Edwin “Andy” Anderson served in the United States Army for 30 years, including 23 years as a Green Beret. During his service, he earned the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, and numerous foreign Jump Wings. After retirement, Anderson served on the Board of Directors for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation for 14 years; co-founded the Soldier, Family, and Command Support Association; and serves as an ambassador for the World War II Foundation. Anderson served four years as UI assistant professor of military science with Army ROTC and established the UI’s Army ROTC inaugural “Ranger Challenge” team. 

Lieutenant Howard Cowen served eight years in the United States Navy. As an Iowa City resident, Cowen has served as commissioner for the Iowa City Human Rights Council and the Johnson County Health Improvement Planning Committee, as well as a consultant for the Emergency Housing Project. Cowen graduated from Iowa with a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1976 and a Master of Science in dental public health in 1995. He has served as a College of Dentistry faculty member for more than 40 years. 

Master Sergeant David Dierks served 28 years in the United States Army. For his service, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal. During his 50 years at the UI Center for Advancement, Dierks raised awareness and philanthropic support to meet the needs of Veterans in the UI community. Within the community, he served on the boards for the Iowa City Free Lunch Program and the Hoover Presidential Foundation. Dierks received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication from Iowa in 1970.

Captain John H. Fraser served in the United States Navy on active duty for seven years, followed by 18 years in the Naval Air Reserve. He was awarded the Air Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and two Vietnam Service Medals. Fraser has been a member of the Iowa City Noon Rotary Club since 2012 and is a past chair and current member of Iowa City’s Iowa Climate Action Commission. Fraser graduated from Iowa in 1996 with a Master of Business Administration. He served as the Henry B. Tippie School of Management Executive MBA Program director from 1997 to 2011 and is a current board member of the Tippie College of Business Institute for International Business. 

Colonel Robert Hedgepeth served in the United States Army for 30 years. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army and Air Force Commendation Medals, and the Iowa National Guard’s Medal of Merit. Hedgepeth serves on the board of directors for Safeguard Iowa, a public private partnership for disaster response and recovery, and helped found the Army ROTC’s Mighty Hawkeye Battalion Alumni Association. He recently served on the advisory board for the university’s Iowa Technology Institute. Hedgepeth graduated from Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in engineering in 1989. 

Captain Zachary Graham served four years in the United States Army. For his service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal and earned the Pathfinder and Air Assault badges. Within his community, Graham has served as president of the Tau Sigma Military Dental Club, which organizes fundraisers for dental treatments for low-income Veterans. He co-founded the Pediatric Smiles Fund, which raises money to support dental care for underinsured pediatric patients. Graham is a fourth-year student in the College of Dentistry.