Distinguished Alumni
The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually at commencement to a Corning Community College alum. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes graduates who have been positive role models, involved in their community, exhibited accomplishments in their field and enhanced the quality of CCC. If you would like to nominate someone, please download a Distinguished Alumni Award nomination form or contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (607) 962-9473 or alumni@corning-cc.edu.
2009 Distinguished Alum
William Lewis Perdue, III, Class of 1970
The Corning Community College Alumni Association is pleased to announce William “Lew” Perdue III ‘70 as the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. This award is given annually to a CCC alumnus and recognizes the exemplary lifetime career and community achievements of the individual. Previous recipients include Eileen Collins ’76, retired NASA Astronaut; Dr. Jay Hanas ’68, scientist and educator; Clarence “Butch” Bercher ’66, entrepreneur; and Dr. Edward A. Franklin, Jr. ’72, visiting assistant professor of Human Anatomy & Physiology at CCC, chiropractor, and mayor of Painted Post, NY. The award will be presented at the 50th Commencement Ceremony held on May 22, 2009.
William “Lew” Perdue graduated with distinction from Corning Community College in 1970 with an A.S. degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences: Mathematics & Sciences. His many achievements include graduating first in his class and sharing Pennon Bearer honors with his roommate, William Christian Nellis III ’70. Perdue and Nellis were the first to ever graduate from CCC with 4.0 GPAs. Building upon his success at CCC, Perdue transferred to Cornell University to pursue a B.S. degree and graduated with distinction in 1972. His accomplishments at Cornell University resulted in Perdue graduating first in his major. During his pursuit of education, Perdue worked in a variety of positions as a sports reporter for the Elmira Star-Gazette and as a police/fire/court reporter for the Ithaca Journal.
As an avid writer, Lew is featured as a New York Times best-selling author with 20 published books selling more than four million copies, translated into every major language in the world along with more than a dozen other tongues. His books span a spectrum of topics including thrillers, wine, technology, and the way in which pornography has driven the technology and business model of the World Wide Web. Perdue has coordinated Congressional campaigns and also worked as a Washington, D.C. correspondent with Ottaway/Dow-Jones and States News Service. He has served as a columnist for Gannett, The Wall Street Journal Online, CBS Marketwatch, and TheStreet.Com; and also writes book reviews for Barron’s.
In addition to serving on the faculties at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Cornell University, Perdue founded four companies including two technology firms, a wine company and a magazine; and has been a top aide to a United States Senator and a state Governor.
As the founder of Pocketpass, Perdue has served in various capacities including Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technology Officer. Pocketpass, a transaction and phone card system, was conceived and brought to fruition by Perdue as he drove the vision for a series of strategic partnerships that made it the premier “brick-to-click” payment system. He also conceived and designed Tibanna, the world’s only integrated Digital Rights Management and micropayment system, which allows autonomous, standalone digital goods to be protected and sold by any method.
The award will be presented at the 50th Commencement Ceremony held on May 22, 2009.