Previous Alumni Award Winners
2020
Connecticut College presents awards to alumni for their significant contributions to the College and society at Alumni Convocation during Reunion weekend each year. The following are the 2020 award winners:
Harriet Buescher Lawrence ’34 Prize
2020 Recipients: Mary-Jane Atwater ’70, Katherine O’Sullivan See ’70
The Harriet Buescher Lawrence ’34 Prize recognizes alumni who are leaders in improving society or inspiring others for good, either through direct service or through changing the climate of human life materially, socially, ethically or spiritually. Harriet Buescher Lawrence spent the last years of her life increasingly involved with charitable activities and in support of higher education.
Mary-Jane Atwater ’70
Mary-Jane transformed her community and strengthened ties between neighbors by creating a unique program for elders that enables them to remain in their homes. It features a variety of programs and recruits volunteers to meet the needs of each person. Mary-Jane is also an active and generous supporter of Connecticut College and an award-winning public relations executive.
Katherine O’Sullivan See ’70
Katherine dedicated her distinguished academic career to the study and understanding of comparative race and ethnic relations, social stratification, gender relations, and political sociology in our global society. She is widely published and has received a number of awards for excellence in teaching and research. Katherine is also a generous supporter of internships, faculty, scholarships, and the annual fund at Connecticut College.
Mach Arom ’89 Award
2020 Recipient: Alexandra Felfle ’10
The Mach Arom ’89 Award honors young alumni for service to Connecticut College and for distinguished achievements in their professional field or in society. The award is named in honor of Mach Arom who died of a heart attack in Rwanda while on a humanitarian mission for the International Rescue Committee. Mach is remembered for his service to his class and Connecticut College and the ways in which he carried out everything he did with intense commitment, strong presence, attention to detail and unbelievable energy.
Alexandra Felfle ’10
Alex has worked tirelessly to create internship and job pipelines for Conn students and is a mentor to many undergraduates interested in finance and business. Alex is an engaged volunteer and consistent annual fund donor. She is currently a vice president at JP Morgan Chase, where she is a Relationship Manager covering corporates and financial institutions in Central America and the Caribbean.
Agnes Berkeley Leahy Award
2020 Recipient: Gwendolyn H. Goffe ’70
The Agnes Berkeley Leahy Award, established in 1961, honors alumni who have contributed outstanding service, demonstrated by continued interest in the Alumni Association and sustained active participation in class, club or Board of Directors activities. Agnes Berkeley Leahy ’21 served as president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors twice and was a member of the Board of Trustees for ten years.
Gwendolyn H. Goffe ’70
Gwen has been deeply committed to the College since graduation and is an inspiration to her classmates. Serving in a wide range of capacities over the years, she is currently class president and has been very active in fundraising, using her professional skills to benefit the College. Gwen retired as director of investment and finance at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston in 2013.
The Alumni Tribute Award
2020 Recipient: Eric J. Kaplan ’85
The Alumni Tribute Award, established in 1986, honors an alumna or alumnus who has given sustained and extraordinary service to the College. Service must be in keeping with the purposes and spirit of the Alumni Association, but it doesn’t have to be given through the Association. Nominees cannot be currently employed by the College or members of the Association’s Board of Directors. Nominees must be approved by the Board. The award is presented annually to a member of a Reunion class during the Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association.
Eric J. Kaplan ’85
Chief of Staff, Dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania Eric has been an enduring supporter of the College and its mission. He currently serves as the class vice president and nominating chair for the Class of 1985, co-chaired the 25th Reunion Gift committee and is a member of the Board of Trustees. He is a generous supporter of the internship and financial aid programs at Conn.
The Goss Award
2020 Recipient: Dr. Lois Mendez Catlin ’80
The Goss Award recognizes alumni who, through their enthusiastic participation in programs and activities, have made a significant contribution to the Connecticut College community. This award was established by Cassandra Goss Simonds ’55. Cassandra served in a wide range of positions as a student and as an alumna, including as class president and as president of the Alumni Association Board or Directors.
Dr. Lois Mendez Catlin ’80
Lois has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to Connecticut College and her class, having served as vice president of the CC Alumni Board, class correspondent, CCAC volunteer and admissions representative. Lois has been instrumental in furthering equity and inclusion initiatives at the College. She is the co-founder of Renovatio Youth Leadership Program and the Executive Director of the Take Stock In Children Mentoring and OnTarget: College and Career Exploration Programs in Franklin County, Florida.
Do you know a CC alum you would like to nominate for one of these awards? Please email the name of the nominee and a brief description as to what qualifies them for this honor to alumni@conncoll.edu and the Alumni Association Board of Directors will consider that nominee.