# @illinois_alumni on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DdUJZ2ngN44
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70591419-illinois-alumni-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/1244913780.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-15T16:32:06.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Illinois Alumni (@Illinois_Alumni) — https://gondola.cc/Illinois_Alumni

## Caption

From Fighting Illini walk-on to team captain to NASA astronaut. 🏈🚀

Michael S. Hopkins (’92 ENG) carried the same tenacity and determination from Memorial Stadium to the stars, completing two spaceflights, logging more than 330 days in orbit and conducting five spacewalks. 🌎✨👨🏾‍🚀

We’re proud to recognize him with the 2026 Alumni Achievement Award. 🏆

Meet Hopkins and the rest of this year's awards recipients: go.illinois.edu/AlumniAwards26

#ILLINOISalumni #AlumniAwards #ILLINIpride uofigrainger illinifootball

## Stats

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- **Likes:** 1,446
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## Tags

illinipride, alumniawards, illinoisalumni

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