Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who was involved with the scholarship scandal last year that rocked the Congressional Black Caucus last year, has been awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from SMU earlier this month.

D Magazine's FrontBurner first reported the news about Johnson receiving the award, which was done during a private reception in Washington, D.C. that was attended by former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk and congressional colleagues Charlie Rangel, Sheila Jackson Lee and others.

Johnson came under the national spotlight last year when it was discovered that she had directed $31,000 in scholarship money to her own two grandchildren, two grand-nephews and to two children of a top aide. The money was intended to go to children in her district that were not family members.

Since then, the congresswoman has repaid the money and asked the media and the nation to move on. SMU has not released any information about the award being given to Johnson on their website.