The Distinguished Alumni Awards are the highest non-degree recognition bestowed by the University on an alum. Whether through community service, education, professional achievement, or service to the University, these awardees exemplify the true strengths of WSU. Nominations for the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awards has closed. Nominations for the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards open on November 1, 2023. Please click here on or after this date for more information about the Distinguished Alumni Awards or to submit a nomination.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Outstanding Volunteer Service to the Community
2023 Celia Johnston Blue '00
2021 Michael Mills '72
2019 Michael Patrick Lyons, M.Ed. '10
2018 Jamie T. Binienda ’99
2017 Patricia A. (Fell) Pennucci ’62, M.Ed. ’67
2016 Sharon (O'Brien) Woodbury, M.S. '07
2015 Christine M. (Mitchell) Gaffney '89
2014 Robert F. Dixon '87 2013 Lesa A. Patrock '84, M.Ed. '08 2012 Stephen M. Sycks '91 2011 Mary F. (Sharry) Leary '73 2010 Lucille A. (Banionis) Barton ’59 2009 Jo Ann (Elliott) Luikey '67 2008 Ruth (Sadick) Rubin ’52 2007 Beth Sannella ’69 2006 John Degnan ’65 2005 Randolph G. Mogren Jr. ’52, M.Ed. ’59 2004 William J. Cahill ’85 2003 Mary E. Madden ’34, M.Ed. ’59 2002 Philip J. Niddrie ’71, M.Ed. ’77 2001 Eva P. Casavant ’31 2000 Gladys Rodriquez-Parker ’84, M.S. ’97 1999 Theresa Trainor ’77 1998 Jill C. (Reina) Dagilis ’78 1997 Leo Quinn ’90 1996 John J. Binienda ’70 1995 Raymond V. Mariano ’74
1994 Edward P. Gardella '76
2023 Renah Razzaq '02, Ph.D.
2021 Beverly George '72
2019 Frances Friedman '69
2018 James M. Lewis ’94
2017 Gail E. (Smith) Carberry ’70, Ed.D.
2016 William F. O'Brien '84, Ph.D.
2015 Janet F. (Dorscheimer) Lyons '90, M.Ed. '05
2014 Sheila M. Harrity, M.Ed. '93 2013 Joseph J. Klimavich '74, A.P.R. 2012 Todd J. Leach '83, Ph.D. 2011 Margaret E. (Couhig) Kursonis '71, M.Ed. '97 2010 Ann M. McGreevy ’64, M.Ed. ’68, Ph.D. 2009 Thomas Marsh, M.S., '86 2008 Dorothy E. Petralis ’63 2007 Robert P. McNamara ’72, M.Ed. ’82 2006 Eileen (Whelan) Ariza ’86 2005 Shirley A. Steele ’59 2004 Robert E. Melican ’69, M.Ed. ’72 2003 Claire A. (Loughlin) McManus ’53 2002 Martha A. Garabedian-Urbanowski ’75, Ph.D. 2001 John F. Gaumond ’61, M.Ed. ’64 2000 Esther Matthews ’40 1999 Dorothy Hargrove ’63, M.Ed. ’68 1998 Reza Namin ’82, M.Ed. ’85, C.A.G.S. ’88, Ph.D. 1997 Norman Najimy ’51 1996 William F. O’Neil ’63 1995 Vincent J. Mara ’52
1994 John F. Monfredo '64, M.Ed. '67
2023 George E. Annan '21
2021 Derek Canton '15
2019 Amy L. (Wilfong) Peterson '03
2018 Joseph D. Nawn ’13
2017 Andrew R. Frigon ’12
2016 Renee King '12
2015 Derek Brindisi '99
2014 Allison A. Alaimo '05 2013 Kathryn M. Audette '06 2012 Catheryn C. McEvoy-Zdonczyk '95 2011 John R. Buckley III '94, CPA 2010 Imoigele P. Aisiku ’92, M.D. 2009 Rocco Perla '94, Ed.D. 2008 Kimberly M. Harmon ’95 2007 William Murphy ’93 2006 Judy (Alves) Carmody ’88, Ph.D. 2005 Gregg Rosen ’86
2023 David F. Cawley '74
2019 Nancy J. (Murdock) Hardy '97
2018 Susan R. (Harris) O’Connor ’85
2017 Lisa M. Colombo ’87, D.N.P., M.H.A., R.N.
2016 Steven J. Ward '76
2015 Kristen M. (Lee) Costa '96
2014 John R. Phillipo, III '74, M.Ed. '79 2013 Brian J. Skerry '84 2012 Vincent V. Nieroda '68 2011 Ellen J. (Marszalek) Gaucher '76, MSN, MSPH, FAAN 2010 DeAnne M. (Wellman) Owre, M.S. ’85 2009 Diane Aramony '73 2008 Craig A. Bovaird ’77 2007 Vivianne Holmes ’69, Ph.D. 2006 Stephen Minichiello ’75 2005 Howard D. McGinn ’83 2004 Robert E. Mullin ’53, M.Ed. ’56 2003 Maureen C. Mondor ’77 2002 Bernadine F. (O'Gorman) Sullivan ’34 2001 Stephanie M. (Chrzsiewski) Chalupka ’80 2000 Robert K. ’58 and Barbara H. (Hickey) '57 O’Brien 1999 Stephen J. Bostic ’77, M.Ed. ’86 1998 Susan Nest ’77 1997 Gordon Paul Hargrove ’61 1996 Matthew Broderick ’68 1995 John Dufresne ’70
1994 Daniel P. Moen '80
2023 Maryanne M. (Ballantine) Hammond '69, M.Ed. '72, M.Ed. '77
2021 Charlotte (Zitowitz) Klein '75 (posthumously)
2019 Blair E. Deeney '73
2018 Sharon S. (Valiquette) McDonald ’86
2017 Elaine G. (Sharistanian) Tateronis ’63, M.Ed. ’74, Ed.D.
2016 Margaret C. (McMaster) Farrey '54, M.Ed. '78
2015 Jack Hehir '73
2014 John P. Brissette '88 2013 Judith O. (O'Connell) Hoyer '65 2011 Mary A. (Breen) Duffy '58 2010 John E. Durkin ’54, M.Ed. ’58, Ed.D. 2009 Phillip Wasylean II '63 2008 Rosanne (Sullivan) ’65 & Vincent J. Matulaitis ’66 2007 Gregory Hunter ’84 2006 Elizabeth Mahan ’53, M.Ed. ’56 2005 Jo-Anne L. Cronin ’64 2004 Catherine D. (Henigan) Sullivan ’47, ’52
Ellen E. (McKeon) Blanchard '50*
Barbara E. (Wiseman) Waters '50, M.Ed. '53*
2003 Margaret M. Curran ’54, M.Ed. ’56 2002 Dorothy F. McLoughlin ’54, M.Ed. ’56 2001 Kathleen (Mohan) Hair ’70, M.Ed. ’75 2000 Claire (Cavanaugh) Cunningham ’57, M.Ed. ’60 1999 Vera Dowden Baldwin ’34, M.Ed. ’53 1998 James Polito ’86 1997 George Albro ’65 1996 Lucille (Paquette) Daley ’40 1995 Elaine Bafaro ’75
1994 Mary V. Leary '27
1993 Maurice J. O'Brien, Jr. '71
Maureen C. (Cusson) Stefanini '58, M.Ed. '61, Ed.D.
1992 Marjorie L. (Hurd) Rabidou '40, M.Ed. '53
1991 John T. O'Leary '61, M.Ed. '65
1990 Helen G. (Grogan) Shaughnessy '43
1989 Catherine I. Quint '39, Ed.D.
1988 Anna H. (Howe) Stead '40
*In Conjunction with the 130th Anniversary Celebration of Worcester State, Extraordinary Dedication to the College Mission From Alumni Awards were awarded, recognizing outstanding service to Alma Mater.