Connecticut College presents awards to alumni for their contributions to the College and the community at Alumni Convocation during Reunion weekend each year. The 2018 award winners are:

Martha Joynt Kumar ’63

Agnes Berkeley Leahy Award

The College’s longest-standing alumni prize, the Agnes Berkeley Leahy Award honors alumni who have contributed outstanding service and sustained active participation in Alumni Association activities. This award, established in 1961, is presented in honor of outstanding service demonstrated by continued interest in the Alumni Association and sustained active participation in class, club, or Board of Directors activities. It was established to honor the memory of Agnes Berkeley Leahy ’21 who was twice president of the Alumni Association and a member of the Board of Trustees for ten years.

Nancy Dorian ’58 and Marjorie Bussmann Gillis ’73

Harriet Buescher Lawrence ’34 Prize

The Harriet Buescher Lawrence ’34 Prize has been established for the purpose of recognizing outstanding contributions to society by any member of the Connecticut College community. It is created in honor of an alumna who in the last years of her life became increasingly involved with charitable activities and the support of higher education. The Lawrence Prize recognizes life achievements. Any member of the Connecticut College family making contributions in any field may be nominated. The following criteria will be used in evaluating nominations for the Lawrence Prize. The candidate will have undertaken notable leadership in changing society for the better and inspired others for good, through direct service or through changing the climate of human life materially, socially,ethically or spiritually. The candidate’s life achievements will have equaled or surpassed those by other leaders in the field of endeavor and reflected the values and education instilled in graduates of Connecticut College.

Robert T. Hale ’88 P’20

The Goss Award

This award was established by Cassandra Goss Simonds ’55 to be presented annually. This award is to be given: “to a member (s) of the Alumni Association who through his or her enthusiastic participation in the area of Association programs or activities has made a significant contribution to the Connecticut College community.” This award will be given at the discretion of the President of the Alumni Association only and will be endowed, which means that it does not require the Board of Directors’ approval nor does it have to be extracted from the Association budget. The President who gives the award must select a gift that is appropriate for the recipient.

Christopher Hensman ’03

Mach Arom ’89 Award

The Mach Arom ’89 Award honors young alumni for service to Connecticut College and for distinguished achievements in their professional field or in society. Named in honor of the late Mach Arom ’89, this award honors an alumnus/a for service to Connecticut College and for distinguished achievements in his or her professional field or within society. Any member of a class that graduated within the past fifteen years is eligible to be nominated. Exceptions to this are current members of the Board of Trustees of the College and current members of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association. Mach Arom ’89 served his Class and Connecticut College in a variety of ways including as a member of SOAR, SAC chair in his senior year, Alumni Admissions Representative, and as Reunion Chair for 15 years. More importantly is how he carried out everything he did – with intense commitment, strong presence, attention to detail, and unbelievable energy. A successful Executive Creative Director at Foote, Cone & Belding, Mach accomplished an amazing amount in his short life. He was a beloved friend and mentor to those who worked with him, and spent huge amounts of time and energy in humanitarian relief in many parts of the world including Asia, Cuba and Africa. Mach died unexpectedly in August.

Marcia Asquith Kaufman ’73 (posthumously)

The Alumni Tribute Award

The Alumni Tribute Award was established in 1986 to honor alumni for sustained and extraordinary service to Connecticut College in keeping with the spirit of the Alumni Association. Established in 1986, the Alumni Tribute Award is given to an alumna or alumnus who has given sustained and extraordinary service to Connecticut College. While service must be in keeping with purposes and spirit of the Alumni Association, it may be given by means other than activities initiated or sponsored by the Alumni Association. Nominees cannot be currently employed by the College or be members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.