North Central honors outstanding alum from Naperville
North Central College is honoring Steven Hoeft of Naperville with a 2013 Outstanding Alumni Award. He graduated from North Central in 1973 with a degree in both English studies and political science.
Hoeft and six others will be honored during the college’s Homecoming Convocation at 4:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave.
He is known for his expertise in the field of construction and real estate litigation at the international law firm of McDermott Will and Emery in Chicago. As one of Illinois’ top lawyers, Hoeft focuses his practice on securities and commodities, product liability, intellectual property litigation, construction and real estate litigation. He has worked extensively with manufacturers, inventors, banks, underwriters and investors, and has had first-chair responsibility for jury and bench trials, preliminary injunction hearings, arbitrations and appeals.
At North Central, his extraordinary vision and leadership were instrumental in guiding the North Central College Board of Trustees during the important transition from the presidency of Harold R. Wilde to Troy D. Hammond. He assumed the role of board chair in 2009, and in 2012 helped oversee the presidential search process, transition and inauguration. His expertise and insight also have been important to many trustee committees, and the college has benefited from his work on many levels.
While a student at North Central, Hoeft became the third-leading scorer in the history of Cardinal basketball. He also participated in track and field as a triple jumper and was chosen to appear in the 1972 edition of “Outstanding College Athletes of America.”
Hoeft earned a juris doctor from Northwestern University School of Law in 1976. He was named among the Leading Lawyers in Illinois in 2007, 2009 and 2010 by Leading Lawyers Network magazine. A member of the American Bar Association, he also is a member of the bars of the state of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (trial bar), and the United States Court of Appeals for the fifth, seventh, eighth and 11th circuits.
Others being honored during North Central’s Homecoming are Outstanding Alumni Award recipients Charles Bartsch of Washington, D.C.; John Giannini of Mullica Hill, N.J.; the Rev. Dr. Tracy Smith-Malone of Aurora; and William Soper of Arlington Heights.
The Alumni Recognition Award recipient is Josh Stumpenhorst of Oswego, and Wilber C. Harr will be honored with a posthumous Wall of Witness honor.