Alumni Association Achievement and Service Awards
Nominate a Wagner College alumni for an Alumni Association Award!
The Wagner College Alumni Association annually recognizes outstanding alumni who have given distinguished service to Wagner College and the community at large. The Alumni Association Award Winners will be honored this year at Wagner Weekend.
The nominations are reviewed by an Awards Committee, comprised of members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Members of the Awards Committee have selected the recipients of the annual awards.
Expand each award category below to view a description of the award and the list of award recipients from 2004-present.
Service Awards
The Barbes Award is presented to a Wagner graduate who has given long and distinguished service to the College. This is Wagner’s highest service award.
2023- Linda McLarty ’68
2022- Walter “Wally” Pagan ’61
2020- Donna Mollica New ’68
2019- Elisabeth Cardiello ’06 M’07
2018- Polly Peck Moles ’68
2017- Dr. Jay Hartig ’67 H ’09
2016- Aletta Kipp Diamond ’65 H’15 & Robert Diamond
2015 – Alfred Palladino ’61 & Christine Zullo Palladino ’64
2014 – Don Fox ’64 (posthumously)
2013 – Fred Lange ’53 H’06
2012 – Evelyn Lindfors Spiro ’49 H’92
2011 – John “Johnny K” Knudson ’57
2010 – Col. (R) Norman Schaefer ’49, MD
2009 – Julia Sinisgalli Barchitta ’64 M’81
2008 – Bob ’50 and Muriel Peirano
2007 – Dr. Albert B. Accettola ’41
2006 – Michael Nicolais ’49 & Margaret Christie Nicolais ’49
2005 – Ruth Traeg ’56 & Howard Braren ’50 H’12
2004 – John “Bunny” Barbes ’39 & Lila T. Barbes ’40
The Sheehy Medal is presented to an individual who has demonstrated leadership and service to the Wagner College Alumni Association.
2023- Lillian G. Burry ’57 & James Hickey, Ph.D. ’94 M’97
2022- Jeffrey D. Forchelli ’66
2020- Michael Muccino ’73
2019- Charlie Siedenburg ’95
2018- Russell H. Johnson ’67 M’72
2017- Henry ’71 & Elizabeth Hartung Cruz ’71
2016- Charles “Tad” Bender ’06
2015 – Pat Pappalardo ’70
2014 – Harold Theurer ’79
2013 – Henry “Hank” Murphy ’63 M’69 & John Isaparro ’72 M’76
2012 – Rita King ’62
2011 – Maureen Robinson ’67 H’03
2010 – Bruce Liozzi ’64
2009 – Carl Westerdahl ’59
2008 – Elizabeth Ebers Press ’58
2007 – Jack H. Irving ’69
2006 – Louis De Luca ’59 & Richard Herburger ’66
2005 – Ted Gibson ’42
2004 – Frederick C. Williamson Jr. ’64
Achievement Awards
The Distinguished Graduate Award is presented to a graduate who has made unique career contributions to his or her community, state or nation. This is Wagner’s highest achievement award.
2023- Arno Rafael Minkkinen ’67
2022- Christine Fleming Mahon ’70
2020- Kathleen Gerbing ’70 M’74
2019- Anita Carroll Sabatino ’69
2018- Dr. Kurt M. Landgraf ’68 H’08
2017- Nick Lacey ’69
2016- Dr. Dennis Galanakis ’58
2015 – Patricia Amis ’90 (posthumously)
2014 – Nancy DeBasio ’68
2013 – Harold Archinal ’50
2012 – Andrew Cortese ’72
2011 – Carl Fischer ’64 & Laura Graham ’95
2010 – Col. (R) Sharon Richie-Melvan ’71, PhD
2009 – Carol Lewis Bellamy ’81
2008 – Robert Litzenberger ’64
2007 – John “Pat” Dugan ’57
2006 – Dr. John Myers ’67 H’02
2004 – Kathleen Ahern ’78 M’81
The Alumni Key recognizes a graduate of the last 15 years for extraordinary achievements in their personal and professional endeavors. Among the qualities considered are notable success in a profession or business and loyalty to Wagner College.
2023- McKenzy Hupke ’22
2022 – Alex Boniello ’13
2020 – Caitlin McGee ’10
2019 – Monette McKay ’07
2018 – Justin Joseph “Lefty” Lefkowitz ’12 & Jamie Lynn Macchia ’13
2017 – Kellie Griffith ’14
2016 – Luke Morris ’06
2015 – Jeannine Morris-Lombardi ’05
2014 – Renee Marino ’04
2013 – Lisa Krawciw ’10 M’12
2012 – Kinsey Casey ’02
2011 – Andrew Bailey ’06
2010 – Lisa De Respino Bennett ’85
2008 – George and Gabriella Lepore Gaspar ’88
2007 – Joseph D. “Joedy” Smith Jr. & Donald Cavalli ’62
2006 – Dr. Egon Wendel’49, Katherine Wendel M’67, Diane Borst-Manning ’59 M’62, Dr. Bruce Barnhard ’64 & Rev. Lyle Guttu
2005 – Walt Hameline & Carol Maniscalchi
2004 – Marie Attonito Alberti ’57, Julia Sinisgalli Barchitta ’64, & Claire Regan ’80
* Note: The criteria for the Alumni Key was reclassified in 2011 to recognize graduates of the last decade.
The Guttu Award is presented to an individual who has contributed to the Wagner community, the local community or the global world in a spiritual way.
2023- Rev. Debra Q. Bennett ’80
2022- Joan F. O’Connor ’66 M’69
2020- Rev. Leila Ortiz ’05
2019- Marilyn Dobbin Kinelski ’69
2018- Gotfred C. Jacobsen ’54
2017- Bishop John O’Hara
2016- Erik Unhjem ’72
2015 – Rev. Carl Wilfrid ’65
2014 – Rev. Bruce Buchanan ’73
2013 – Ruth Qualben, M.D.
2012 – Rev. Richard Michael, PhD
2011 – Rabbi Abraham Unger, PhD
2010 – Rev. David Gaise ’35 (posthumously)
2009 – Rev. Burton Vincent ’57
2008 – Rev. Alan William Kamens ’58
Archival Information (Bios and Past Awards)
Service Award
The Certification of Appreciation is presented to an individual who has recently become active in the work of the Alumni Association.
*Note, this award was last given in 2018.
2018- Michael V. Barrett ’68 and Rebecca M. Colucci-Kelly ’06
2017- Rena Piscopo Ianiello ’48 & Douglas W. Matthius ’72 M’77 (posthumously)
2016- Robert Perretta ’12
2015 – Wendell Martin’69 (posthumously)
2014 – Bianca Formica ’80 & William Formica ’81
2013 – Anthony Hurtado’79 & Mary Caracappa ’82
2012 – Paul Hansen
2011 – Alonzo “Lonnie” Brandon, Jr. ’72
2008 – Daymon S. Yizar ’82
2007 – Dana Baranello ’06, M’07, M’10 & Kenneth C. Mitchell ’87
2007 – Burt Wilcke, Jr. M’71
2006 – Kam Chang ’01, Bob McDermott ’80 & Karen Robinson ’00, PhD
2004 – Walter Baumhoff ’59
2004 – Marie Mann-Oliveras ’77
Service Award
The Alumni Fellows honors alumni for holding distinguished careers in a defined element of the college’s academic program.
*Note, this award was last given in 2018.
2018
Richard Byrne ’85 – Theatre
Andrew Dick M’02 – Microbiology
Nicole Giammarinaro ’07 – Nursing
Nancy H. Haig ’75 M’81 – Economics/Business Administration
2017
Mystica M. Alexander ’87 – Economics/Business Law
Lawrence Ambrosino ’69 – Education
Kim Linda Joho ’79 M ’82 – Bacteriology
Susan Nock ’85 – Theatre
2016
Elizabeth Dawson Barker ’66 – Nursing
Randy DeMeno ’82 – Computer Science & Information Systems
Gregory J. Kovar ’93 – Sociology
Dr. Scott Lieberman ’83 – Biology
Mel Powers ’05 – Education
2015
Scott Fink ’83 – Business/Accounting
Christina Sisko ’02 – Theater Performance
2014
Joyce Anastasi ’79 – Nursing
Ernie Jackson ’87 – Music
2013
Keith Giglio ’85 – English
Jodi Pulice ’78 – Business
2012
Rosa Graziano ’88 – Arts Administration
Mary Ellen Peters O’brien ’54 – Nursing
Wanda Schweizer Praisner ’54 M’57 – Education
2011
Carmine Carullo ’71 M’74 – Business
Lorraine McNeill-Popper ’78 – Marketing
2010
Sally Reibel Maertens ’60 – Education
Robert Mazur ’72 – Business
2009
Richard Baratta ’73 – Theatre and the Arts
Dr. G. Roy Horst ’59 – Biology
George Lewis ’56 – Business and Civic Engagement
Richard Negrin Esq. ’88 – Pre-Law Studies
Dr. Carolyn Ceder Root ’77 – Physics
2008
Veronica Cahill Brown ’93 – Political Science
John Dean ’53 – Art
Richard P. Emery Jr. ’65 – Business/Economics
Dan Stormer ’68 – Law
Caryle Wolahan ’64 – Nursing
2007
Tim Capstraw ’82 – Business
Louis DuPart ’72 – History
Michelle Fabozzi ’90 – Business
Donna Lupardo ’76 – Government and Politics
Janet A. Rodgers ’57 – Nursing
Beverly Whipple ’62 – Nursing
2006
Rev. Charles Biegner ’60 – Religion/Philosophy
Robert Van Caneghan ’69 – Economics/Business Administration
Jeanine LaManna ’88 – Theatre
Dr. Philip Marraccini ’41- Biology
2005
Capt. Allan Brier ’55
Kathy Brier ’97
2004
Tanya Brown ’99
Marilyn DeSario
Dominic Fontano, III
Lucille Mistretta
Rev. Dan Risch ’77
Joan Schaeffer Stiggelbout ’54