EVANSTON, Ill. --- Samuel Zell will receive the 2007 Kellogg Award for Distinguished Leadership Wednesday (April 11) from the Kellogg School of Management and its student-run Business Leadership Club.

Zell will be recognized at a ceremony at 5:15 p.m. in the Tribune Auditorium at the James L. Allen Center on Northwestern University's Evanston campus. He will deliver brief remarks to the students. (Zell will not be available for interviews.)

In nominating Zell, David Moore, a 2008 MBA candidate, said, “Mr. Zell has been a pioneer since his first days as a real estate entrepreneur, and his creativity and tenacity have allowed him to succeed where others thought it was not possible. He started out with little more than hard work and an idea as a college undergrad, and he has been able to excel throughout his career.” In addition, members of the Business Leadership Club cited Zell's strong leadership, integrity and professionalism as qualities contributing to their choosing him to receive the award.

Established in honor of Kellogg Dean Emeritus Donald P. Jacobs and created by the Business Leadership Club, this award recognizes leadership that is aligned with the Kellogg School's ideals and promotes its dedication to producing outstanding leaders.

Zell founded the entrepreneurial investment firm Equity Group Investments L.L.C., based in his native Chicago, where he serves as the company's president. He also serves as chairman of the board for many companies, including Anixter International, Equity Lifestyle Properties Inc., Equity Residential, Capital Trust and Covanta Holding Corp. Zell most recently submitted the winning bid in the sale of the Tribune Co. announced April 2 and valued at $8.2 billion. Once the deal is complete, Zell will become chairman of the company's board.

Zell endowed the Kellogg School Zell Center for Risk Management, which promotes the study and understanding of the way people perceive risk, the effects of these perceptions and the management of risk.

Candidates for the award include business and community leaders from around the world; Kellogg faculty, alumni and students nominate their choices from this exemplary group, while a selection committee -- comprised of members of the Kellogg School community and McKinsey & Company -- perform a rigorous review before presenting finalists to the Business Leadership Club.

Past recipients of the Distinguished Leadership Award include Gary Mecklenburg, president and CEO of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, in 2006; Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, in 2004; and James Kinsey, founding CEO of America Online, in 2002.

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