Alumni Awards

This award recognizes an outstanding graduate or friend of the University of Pennsylvania, preferably of the Graduate School of Education, who demonstrates unusual involvement in and commitment to identifying and helping to resolve school problems and current issues in education. The recipient of this award must be a dedicated educator who is an inspiration, risk-taker, innovator, and role model and who demonstrates a commitment to the betterment of Penn GSE.

>> Past Honorees
2024: Christina Grant, GRD’21
2023, Joy Anderson Davis, C'96, GRD'17
2022: Ufuoma C. Abiola, GED’12, GRD’17
2021: Annette Anderson, GED’97 GR’06
2020: James B. Johnston, WG’66, GRD’76
2018: Christian T. Edge, G’12, GED’13
2017: Noah Tennant, GRD’06
2016: Gregory J. Vincent, GRD’04
2015: Erlinda B. Juliano, GED’93
2013: Janine D. Remillard
2012: Irving P. McPhail, GRD’76
2011: Dina H. Portnoy, CW’69, GRD’98
2010: NancyLee R. Bergey, CW’75, GED’79, GRD’16
2009: Marsha Evans, GED’90
2007: Kenneth E. Hartman, GR’69
2005: Leslie J. Nicholas, GED’85
2004: Elaine Atkins, GED’76, GR’82
2003: Martin Galvin, GED’98
2002: Leslie C. Rogers, C’98, GED’99, GRD’12
1998: Stephanie T. Childs, GR’91
1997: Sandra M. Griffin, GRD’90
1994: James J. Gallagher, GED’71
1993: Diane Scott, GED’89

This award recognizes an outstanding graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education who has brought recognition and status to Penn GSE and the University of Pennsylvania. The recipient of this award must have made a distinctive contribution to the field of education and to Penn GSE, including but not limited to contributions made through research, exceptional professional involvement, or publications. 

>> Past Honorees 
2024: Charlotte E. Jacobs, GRD ’17
2023: Daniel Rice, GED'20
2022: Cecilia M. Orphan, GR’15
2021: Katherine Clonan-Roy, GR’16
2020: Caroline Brayer Ebby, GR’97
2018: Abigail Gray, GR’14
2017: Keith F. Look, GED’97 GRD’02
2016: Kendall A. King, GED’93 GR97
2015: Wallace Boston, GRD’10
2013: Anna Martin Dapice, NU’74, GR’80
2010: Angela E. Creese, GED’92, GR’97
2009: Jolley Bruce Christman, GED’71, GR’87
2007: Teresa P. Pica, GR’82
2005: Marcine C. Pickron-Davis, GR’99
2004: Ruth M. Silverman, ED’57
2003: Letita Pricipato
2002: Amy Silverstein Sichel, GED’76, GR’81
1997: Ryda Dwarys Rose, CW’50, GRD’71
1996: Jeanette W. Brewer, GRD’81
1995: Susan L. Lytle, GR’82
1993: Arthur R. Smith, C’69, GRD’75
1990: A. Richard Polis, GED’66
1989: Ernestine J. Rouse, GED’67
1988: Joseph S. Schmuckler, ED’52, GRD’68
1987: Albert E. Filano, ED’48, GED’49
1986: Loretta E. Scuderi, ED’51, GED’63, GRD’77
1985: Morton Botel, ED’45, GED’48, GR’53
1984: Constance E. Clayton, GRD’81
1984: Dorothy McKenna Brown, GRD’73
1979: Jerome A. Revello, GED’48
1976: William B. Castetter, GR48
1975: Ruth Wright Hayre, ED’30, G’31, GR’49, HON’89
1973: Edwin B. Keim, GRD’51
1970: Marcus A. Foster, GED’49
1969: Rosemary D. Mazzatenta, ED’53, GED’56
1968: Frederick C. Gruber, ED’28, GR’34
1967: Lillian L. Batchelor, ED’30
1966: Quincy A. W. Rohrbach, GR’25
1965: Evelyn G. Marcantonio, ED’46, GED’46
1964: Althea Kratz Hottel, ED’29, GR’40, HON’59
1963: William J. Hamilton, ED’30, GR’58
1962: Dorothea P. Walker, ED’24, G’26
1961: Margaret Efraemson, ED’36, GED’45
1960: Carl Seifert
1959: Mary Carter, ED’39
1958: Ruth S. Cotton, ED’19
1957: Zita Mallon
1956: Helen C. Bailey, ED’19, GED’31

This award recognizes an outstanding graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education for significant service to Penn GSE. Service to the school may include serving as volunteer alumni leader with Penn GSE, the Penn Alumni Board, Penn Regional Clubs, or other leadership opportunities with the University of Pennsylvania. The recipient should have a longstanding relationship with the School and exemplify volunteer leadership.

>> Past Honorees  
2024: Hang Qin, GED ’18
2023: Lawrence Ward, GRD'11
2022: Melissa Calvert, GED’00
2021: Jeffrey Berger, GR’91
2020: Marsha H. Comegno, GED’98, GRD’04
2018: Julie D. Filizetti, GRD’03
2017: Diane R. Waff, C’76, GRD’07
2016: Julian A. McNeil, GED’09, WEV’11
2015: Michael F. Malone, GED’97
2013: Lionel A. Anderson Perez, C’04, GED’07
2009: Jennifer Michelle Johnson, GED’08
2007: Matthew Vincent O'Malley, GED’95
2005: Joan Myerson Shrager, ED’60
2004: Holden T. Waterman, GRD’85
2003: Barbara Russo Bravo, CW’68, GED’69
2002: Cecelia Gartrell Evans, GED’76, GRD’85
1998: Jerry A. Caponigro, ED’41, GED’42
1997: Amy Silverstein Sichel, GED’76, GR’81
1994: Evelyn G. Marcantonio, ED’46, GED’46
1993: G. M. Davis, GRD’83
1991: Ellen Linky, GRD’84
1987: Rosemary D. Mazzatenta, ED’53, GED’56
1986: Timothy A. Daniels, GRD’74
1985: Ida Gartrell Peterson, GRD’83

Established in 2004, this award recognizes significant service to the education community by an esteemed graduate or friend of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. The award honors the memory of Ethel Carruth, ED’43, a distinguished alumna, benefactor, and friend of Penn GSE. Mrs. Carruth and her late husband, Allen Carruth, left an extraordinary legacy, fostering enthusiastic dedication and support of numerous causes, inspiring benevolence and a lifetime of involvement. Their support of education impacted many in the field and motivated unprecedented achievement and guidance throughout the community. The recipient of this award will serve as an inspiration to others, transcending expectations and providing opportunities in service. 

>> Past Honorees 
2024: DeAngela Burns-Wallace, GRD ’09
2023: Noah D. Drezner, GED'04, GR'08
2022: Dr. Kristin Clark, GRD’12
2021: Ronald Whitaker, GED’11
2020: Saqi Mehta, GED’01
2018: Karen P. Boback, GR’85
2017: Natasha M. Murray, GRD’05
2016: Sydney H. Coffin, GED’00
2016: Christine Hernandez, GED’10
2013: Scott H. Reikofski, GRD’08
2012: Dawn Pleas, GRD’07
2011: William E. Macht, ED’43, GED’48
2010: Corrinne A. Caldwell, GR85
2009: M. Ginny Sutton, GR’95
2007: Althier M. Lazar, GR’93
2005: Robert M. Aiken, ED’64, GED’66

This award recognizes an outstanding graduate who has shown outstanding service to the University of Pennsylvania and Graduate School of Education prior to their 10th reunion year and is setting an inspirational example for future alumni of Penn GSE. This includes but is not limited to significant contributions by an individual in their field of endeavor, whether through professional achievement or community service, and the devotion of significant time, energy, and enthusiasm to volunteerism and cultivation. 
 

>> Past Honorees 
2024: ArCasia D. James-Gallaway, GED ’16, and Nora D. S. Rodman, GED ’20
2023: Felecia E. Commodore, GR'15, and Qian (Sylvia) He, GED'20
2022: Aizhan Kul-Mukhammed, GED’19
2021: Rina Madhani, GED’19
2020: Tian Song, GED’09
2018: Eduardo A. Alleyne, GRD’16 
2018: Nina DePena Hoe, GED’10, GR’14
2017: Steve Mobley, Jr., GED’06
2017: Anthony J. Zarate, C’12, GED’13
2016: Noah D. Drezner, GED’04, GR’08
2015: Kara Jackson, GR’07
2015: Aviva Shoshana Habib, GED’10
2013: Tryan McMickens, GRD’11
2012: Francis M. Hult, GR’07
2011: Karen Weaver, GRD’09
2010: Kenneth D. Grcich, SW’00, GRD’08
2009: Marc L. Hill, GR’05
2007: Nicole M. Cappillino, GED’02
2005: Jennifer A. Isom O'Malley, GED’98

Established in 2019, this award recognizes an illustrious graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE) or the former University of Pennsylvania School of Education who has made distinct and transformative contributions to the field of education in the nation or the world. The award honors Kwame Nkrumah, GED’43, G’44, the first president of independent Ghana. Nkrumah fought for Ghana’s independence and was a founding member of the Organization of African Unity. As President, Nkrumah set up a strong system of basic education, initiating compulsory primary education in 1962. In 2000, he was voted African Man of the Millennium by listeners of the BBC World Service who described him as a "hero of independence," and an "international symbol of freedom as the leader of the first black African country to shake off the chains of colonial rule."

The recipient of this award will have made a demonstrative and uncommon impact in education through research, policy, and/or service. Their contribution will have had a global impact on improving circumstances for historically oppressed or marginalized communities. The recipient will reflect the values and aspirations of Penn GSE and its commitment to equity and opportunity and serve as a role model for Penn GSE students and alumni.
 

>> Past Honorees
2024: Jasmine L. Blanks Jones, GR ’21
2023: Lourdes M. DelRosso, GED'16
2022: Dr. Robert Asante, GRD’19
2021: Desmond Diggs, GED’16

The National Award of Distinction from Penn GSE
This award recognizes a person of national or international reputation who is making an outstanding contribution in the field of education.
 

>> Past Honorees 
2009: Helen Hae-Liun Gym, C’93, GED’96
2007: Helen F. Giles-Gee, CW’72, GED’73, GR’83
2005: Salome Thomas-El
2004: Richard M. Ingersoll, G’88, GR’92
2003: Sheila A. Sydnor, CW’74
2002: Ana C. Zentella, GR’81
1998: Kevin Ryan
1997: James W. Stigler, GED’77
1996: Ann Leiberman
1995: Jean W. Oakes
1994: Edward Zigler
1993: Theodore Sizer
1991: Francis Ianni
1990: Morton Botel, ED’45, GED’48, GR’53
1988: Beatrice C. Showers, ED’38, GED’42
1988: Bruce Joyce
1987: Dell H. Hymes
1986: Madeline Hunter
1985: The Honorable Sheldon Hackney, HON’93
1984: Patricia Graham
1980: Vartan Gregorian, HON’88
1979: Jacqueline Wexler
1976: Loren C. Eiseley, GR’37
1974: T.E. McMullin
1970: Gaylord P. Harnwell, HON’53
1969: James Allen
1967: William Arnold
1966: Robert Havighurst
1965: John A. Wallace, ED’37, GED’39, GRD’49
1964: Ralph Tyler
1963: Harold H. Taylor, GED’64
1961: Arnold J. Toynbee, HON’61
1960: Thomas Woody
1959: Henry Commanger

The Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Distinguished Alumni Award
The Penn GSE Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management prepares an emerging generation of top higher education leaders who demonstrate effective leadership, manage resources strategically, apply evidence-based decision-making, create entrepreneurial opportunities, challenge practices critically, and enhance the dynamics of complex organizations, while respecting institutional culture and the central role of faculty in higher education. This award annually recognizes an alumna/us of the program who has demonstrated significant and effective leadership and management and has had a substantial impact or influence at an organizational, regional, or national level. Award recipients exhibit exceptional competencies and have a demonstrated record of significant positive outcomes in one or more of the areas noted above. 

For more information including the nomination and selection process, please contact execdoc@gse.upenn.edu.

University of Pennsylvania Alumni Award of Merit Gala
The Alumni Award of Merit Gala is an annual event that highlights and honors outstanding efforts by alumni volunteers across the globe. Learn more.