Scott Sanderson received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his contributions to professional baseball. Scott was a member of the Class of 1974. He began his professional career in 1978, at 21, with the Montreal Expos. He played for several major league teams, including the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, amassing an impressive array of accomplishments. 

His professional baseball career seeds were sown in Northbrook as a Little Leaguer and Pony Leaguer and at Glenbrook North High School, where he stood out in basketball and baseball. During his senior year at GBN, he led the basketball team in rebounding. During this season, the team also had an impressive twenty-game winning streak. The baseball season was even more successful. With Scott's phenomenal pitching ability, he led the GBN baseball team to the State championship. He also was an All-State selection in baseball in both his junior and senior years. After graduating from Glenbrook North, Scott attended Vanderbilt University, where he graduated with a business finance and history degree. While at Vanderbilt, he focused his athletic attention on baseball. He played on the United States National Team at the Intercontinental Cup in Montreal in 1975 and was named to the College All-Star team. He also played in the Pan American games in Mexico City in 1976. 

Scott began his professional baseball career in the minor leagues in 1978 in Memphis and was promoted to the Montreal Expos after only twenty-eight games of minor league experience. He completed his first season in the majors and made twenty consecutive starts. 1980, he logged thirty-three starts and totaled over two hundred innings pitched. In 1981, he was 6 and 2, and his earned run average ranked fifth in the National League. In 1984, he joined the Chicago Cubs and was back playing in his hometown area. 

Scott faced a severe back problem in 1988 while with the Cubs and his tenth year in baseball. He underwent surgery, which required an extensive rehabilitation program. At the same time as his surgery, his wife, Cathleen, was expecting their first child. Throughout all the difficulties that surrounded surgery, the most important issue to Scott was the birth of his son, Patrick.

 In 1990, while playing for the Oakland Athletics, Scott won his one-hundredth career and was selected to the American League All-Star team. Scott's major league highlights include earning victories against every major league club except for the Colorado Rockies. He was the tenth pitcher in history to defeat all twenty-six clubs, and, while playing for the New York Yankees, he was the first Yankee pitcher to reach at least thirty-three starts. In 1991, he led the Yankees' pitching staff in wins, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Scott has been highly respected as a family and religious man throughout his career. He and his wife, Cathleen, have two children. 

Upon receiving the Distinguished Alumnus Award, Scott reflected on his experience at GBN: "I remember the teachers and the big impact they had on me. I remember the coaches, especially Blaine Royer and Dan Perry, for showing me how to step out of the box and achieve more. I was fortunate to attend a school where the teachers and administrators cared about me and how I turned out. This high school is special. Be proud of it."