The Texas Tech Alumni Association honored three graduates on Friday evening at the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center as the 2016 Distinguished Alumni of Texas Tech University.

The honorees were Mark Lanier, Class of 1984; Laura Nieto, Class of 1995; and Jaston Williams, Class of 1971.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed to alumni by the TTAA and the university.

A written statement from Texas Tech said, “The award recognizes and honors alumni who have made significant contributions to further the excellence of Texas Tech through outstanding accomplishments, careers and/or through extraordinary measures of service.”

According to Texas Tech, Lanier graduated in 1984 with a juris doctorate from the Texas Tech School of Law. He is the founder of The Lanier Law Firm, with offices in New York, Houston, Los Angeles and Palo Alto, California. An attorney, author, teacher, pastor and expert storyteller, Lanier has earned international recognition as one of the country’s top trial lawyers based on courtroom battles involving some of the world’s largest companies.

Texas Tech said in 2006, he and his wife, Becky, donated $6 million to the school for the creation of the Mark and Becky Lanier Professional Development Center.

According to TTU, Williams is a Texas Tech alumnus from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. A playwright, performer, writer, teacher and West Texas native, Williams is best known for his performances in the “Greater Tuna” series. His work with the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research at Texas Tech led to the creation of the BurkTech players, a performance group composed of Burkhart students.

According to Texas Tech, Nieto graduated from Texas Tech in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Media and Communication. She serves as senior manager of community affairs and grassroots at Southwest Airlines.  TTU said she is a a fellow of the National Hispana Leadership Institute’s Executive Leadership Program and was recently named to the Top 25 Latino Leaders list.