
Steve Trager, community leader and chairman and CEO of Republic Bank, is the University of Louisville 2023 Alumnus of the Year.
Trager received his juris doctorate from UofL in 1985. As a student, he was active in Delta Theta Phi and the University of Louisville Brandeis Law Journal.
He has had a long career with Republic Bank, joining as vice president and general counsel in 1989 and being promoted to his most recent positions as chairman and CEO in 2012. Trager is a member of the UofL President鈥檚 Council and President of the Trager Family Foundation.

鈥淲e are excited and proud to announce Steve Trager as our 2023 Alumnus of the Year. Steve is profoundly committed to the university and the overall community. His work to improve Louisville is an inspiration to us all. We look forward to celebrating his accomplishments at this year鈥檚 Alumni Awards,鈥 said Josh Hawkins, assistant vice president for alumni relations and annual giving.
Trager is the son of UofL adopted alumni Jean Trager and the late Bernard Trager. Through the generosity of the Trager Family and the Trager Family Foundation, the university is home to the Trager Field Hockey Stadium; the 90,000-square-foot Trager Center; Trager Plaza, located between the Miller Information Technology Center and Lutz Hall; and the Trager Institute and Republic Bank Foundation Optimal Aging Clinic.
The Alumnus of the Year honoree personifies the qualities, mission and values of the university. The award is presented to a graduate who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in professional and philanthropic endeavors and who has shown loyalty and support to the entire university.
Trager leads an exceptional group of 20 Alumni Awards honorees who represent each of UofL鈥檚 colleges, schools, libraries and student affairs division, as well as the signature award winners, who are recognized for extraordinary achievements in their profession and enduring service in their community.
New to the program this year is the first-ever Military Alumni Award, an honor that allows the university to celebrate its commitment, support and appreciation of UofL鈥檚 many military-connected alumni.
The 2023 Alumni Fellows are:
- Steve Trager 鈥85 – 2023 Alumnus of the Year
- Hank Conn 鈥64, 鈥69, 鈥72 – 2023 Alumni Ambassador (Awarded posthumously)
- Karina Barillas 鈥96, 鈥02 – 2023 Diversity Leadership Award
- Alex Frommeyer 鈥10, 鈥11 – 2023 Emerging Leader Award
- Michael L. Kaelin – 2023 Military Alumni Award
- Angela McCormick Bisig 鈥87,鈥90 – Brandeis School of Law
- Marianne Butler 鈥89,鈥93 – College of Arts and Sciences
- Camilla Abel Schroeder 鈥90 – College of Business
- Wade Houston 鈥66, 鈥73 – College of 成人直播 and Human Development
- Cedric Francois 鈥04 – Graduate School
- Leo B. Jenkins, Jr. 鈥52, 鈥58, 鈥72 – J.B. Speed School of Engineering
- Tomarra Adams 鈥96, 鈥97, 鈥04 – Kent School of Social Work and Family Science
- James Strull 鈥62, 鈥65 – School of Dentistry
- Thomas Whitley Uhde 鈥75 – School of Medicine
- Zhiyi Wang 鈥06 – School of Music
- Dedra Hayden 鈥97, 鈥09, 鈥19 and William 鈥淏ill鈥 Hayden II 鈥90, 鈥97 – School of Nursing
- Kimberly Hockman Mascaro 鈥13 – School of Public Health and Information Sciences
- Oscar Ronaldo Leon Oliva 鈥88, 鈥89 – Student Affairs Legacy Award
- Michael A. Kelly 鈥70 – University Libraries
The Alumni Awards are the highest honors bestowed by Louisville Alumni. The 2023 Alumni Awards will be held Thursday, Oct. 26. Read winner bios, get ceremony details and connect with UofL alumni at www.uoflalumni.org/awards.





















