A minister, a businessman and a nonprofit founder will receive SMU's 2009 Distinguished Alumni Awards, the highest honor the university bestows upon its graduates.

This year's 2009 recipients include:

• Frederick B. Hegi Jr. ('66), founding partner of the private investment firm Wingate Partners
• Joe T. White ('70), founder of Kanakuk Kamps and Kids Across America and president and board chair of Kanakuk Ministries
• Cecil Williams ('55), minister and leader of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco, one of the nation's most racially and culturally diverse congregations

Artist Amanda Dunbar ('04, right) will receive the Emerging Leader Award, which recognizes an outstanding alumnus or alumna who has graduated within the last 15 years. Dunbar became the youngest woman and the first painter to be inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 2006. With proceeds from her painting sales, she has formed a charitable organization to fund arts programs for young children.

The DAA Award banquet and ceremony takes place at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, 2201 Stemmons Freeway. For more information, visit smu.edu/homecoming.