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Montclair Kimberley Academy annually celebrates the accomplishments of our extraordinary alumni. Four awards specifically honor outstanding alumni achievement: The Distinguished Alumni Award, The Young Alumni Award, The Honorary Alumni Award, and The Biennial Athletic Hall of Fame Award. Additionally, the Alumni Association presents the Founders’ Cup each June to honor teaching excellence. The entire alumni and greater MKA community are invited to submit nominations for any of the awards presented.

For information on the Alumni Awards program, please email the Alumni Engagement Department.

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME AWARD


Presented every other year, the Athletic Hall of Fame Award recognizes those who have brought distinction, honor, and excellence to the school through athletics. All honorees must have been an outstanding varsity athlete, coach, athletic director, trainer, or major contributor (financial and/or participant) at MA, TKS, or MKA, and/or brought distinction to the school through related and subsequent athletic accomplishment.

Eligibility for Nomination

  • A nominee may nominate themselves or be nominated by alumni or others.
  • A nominee must have attended MA, TKS, Brookside, or MKA for at least one year.
  • A nominee must have graduated from MA, TKS, Brookside, or MKA at least five years prior to the year of nomination.
  • A team and/or coach may be inducted.
  • The nomination can be a posthumous award.

2021
Paul Edwards, lacrosse coach

2020
Robert Fortunato '08, lacrosse

2018
Alexander Gephart '06, lacrosse
George Hrab, coach and athletic director
2004 girls' tennis team

2015
Edward Conlin ’84, lacrosse
Karen Ladenheim-Martos ’85, fencing

2013
Wiemi Douoguih ’88, lacrosse
Caitlin Lehmann ’01 (posthumous), swimming

2011
Frank Herrmann ’02, baseball
Chisako Sugiyama ’05, tennis

2009
Terry Detorie, girls’ soccer, basketball and softball coach
Anthony Barnes ’79, football, basketball, track

2007
Gerard “Jeff” Podesta ’35, tennis
Lauren Stefanchik ’01, softball

2005
Nancy Tiernan Swenson ’42
John Pellecchia ’84
Liza Boutsikaris ’99

2004
Jennifer Lonsinger Rutherford ’92, soccer, basketball, lacrosse
1984 boys’ lacrosse team

2003
Gloria Evans Dodd ’43, tennis, platform tennis
Gerald Jones ’77, track
Solomon Johnson ’87, football
Wayne Elliott ’88, tennis, soccer
1954 men’s basketball team

2002
Maryl Riter Walker ’39, equestrian
Peter S. McMullen ’77, ice hockey
Alphonsus “Rick” Doerr ’78, sailing
Tom Boutsikaris, fencing coach
1988 girls’ fencing team

2001
Mark Baran ’74, swimming, water polo
Judith Dixon ’67, tennis
William Hall ’82, lacrosse
Jeremy Kahn ’93, fencing
Betty Logan (posthumous), field hockey coach

2000
David Jacobs ’40, football
Max Jones ’78, football, lacrosse
India Hayes Larrier ’80, fencing
Mark McGowan ’85, football, golf
Earl Perretti ’74, wrestling, cycling
Alexa Magna Yannuzzi ’87, tennis

1999
Donald Bren ’48, football
James Johnson ’79, track
Elizabeth Nolley ’86, all-around
Michael Sucoff ’56, football, baseball, track
Jill Tobia Sorger ’88, fencing, tennis
1984 boys’ tennis team

1998
Georgia S. Carrington ’54, racquet sports
E. Alden Dunham ’49, tennis
Laura Marnell Garvey ’78, basketball
1982 ice hockey team

1997
Robert J. Cerfolio ’80, baseball
Kimberley E. Charlton ’90, fencing
Waldemar L. Deetjen ’12 (posthumous), all-around
Philip E. Donlin ’54, football

1996
Betsy Gelenitis Alison ’77, sailing
Robert T. Cottingham Jr. ’84, fencing
Helen Jones Gordon ’42, equestrian
Sean Jones ’80, football
Mary Rachael Hayes McDaniel ’82, fencing
Carmen M. Marnell, coach
Scott Schulte ’77, water polo
Edwin Van Brunt (posthumous), coach

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD


The purpose of the Montclair Kimberley Academy Distinguished Alumni Award is to bestow recognition and appreciation for alumni who have achieved distinction in a field of endeavor, or, through outstanding character or dedication, have been of special service to humanity. The award is a meritorious reflection on the school and provides inspiration and encouragement for our young people. An alumnus may nominate themselves or be nominated by alumni or others.

Eligibility for Nomination

  • Must be an alumnus of either MA, TKS, or MKA.
  • The nomination can be a posthumous award.

2025 - Jim Friedlich ’75
CEO of The Lenfest Institute for Journalism

2024 - Polly Smith ’67
8x Emmy Winner and Inventor of the Sports Bra

2023 - Macaya Douoguih, M.D., M.P.H. ’90
Head of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Janssen Vaccines and Prevention

2022 - Ryan Young '91
Chief Operating Officer of Textile Exchange

2021 - Stephen M. Smith MD '81
Infectious Disease specialist and Founder of Smith Center for Infectious Disease & Urban Health PA

2020 - Thomas Galligan '73
Dean and Professor of Law, LSU Paul M. Herbert Law Center

2019 - Nithya Nathan-Pineau, Esq. '03
Senior Program Director-Detained Children's Program

2018 - Dr. Lawrence Rosen '84 Integrative Pediatrician and founder of the "Whole Child Center"

2017 - Dr. Karestan Chase Koenen ’86
Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

2016 - Dr. Chris H. Smith '85
Clinical Associate Professor at USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

2015 - Kassie Canter ’75 Executive VP of Communications, Viacom Music & Entertainment Group

2014 - Susan Schadler ’69
Economist, International Monetary Fund (retired)

2013 - Paige Cottingham-Streater ’79
International relations expert

2012 - Bruce Guernsey ’62
Poet and educator

2011 - Sally Minard ’60
Philanthropist and businesswoman

2010 - Nancy Booth Kelly ’52
Philanthropist and businesswoman

2009 - Jeffrey B. Kindler ’73
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer and philanthropist

2008 - Dr. Alphonsus “Rick” Doerr, Jr. ’78
Surgeon and Olympic sailor

2007 - Melissa Cohn ’78
Philanthropist and businesswoman

2006 - Peter N. Perretti, Jr. ’49
Attorney General for the State of New Jersey and Academy trustee

2005 - Ross I.S. Zbar ’84
Surgeon and humanitarian

2004 - Virginia Hamilton Adair ’29
Poet and educator

2003 - Barry W. Ridings ’70
Investment banker, Lazard Frères’ Restructuring Group

2002 - Laura Scher ’76
Pioneering entrepreneur, Working Assets Funding Service

2001 - Parker B. Armstrong ’37
Vice Admiral, USN (retired)

2000 - James E. Johnson ’ 79
Undersecretary of the Treasury for Enforcement

1999 - William H. Cook ’30
Aeronautical engineer, Boeing Aircraft

1998 - Robert L. Clifford ’42
New Jersey Supreme Court Justice

1997 - Peter V. K. Funk ’39
Author and lexical semanticist

1996 - Doris Keller Hamlin ’36
Pioneering environmentalist

1995 - Herbert H. Tate Jr. ’71
President, N.J. Board of Public Utilities

1994 - Rudolph H. Deetjen ’50
Educator

1993 - Ellen R. Malcolm ’65
Founder, EMILY’s List

1992 - Michael S. Yamashita ’67
International photographer

1991 - Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner ’70
Founder, Lyme Disease Foundation

1990 - Thomas G. Stockham Jr. ’51
Electrical engineer and inventor of digital recording

1989 - Philip L. Fradkin ’53
Author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

1988 - Aubin Zabriskie Ames ’54
Quintessential volunteer

1987 - James A. Courter ’59
U.S. congressman and military expert

1986 - Joseph E. Wiedenmayer ’24
Career diplomat and advocate for the deaf

1985 - Elizabeth Jones ’53
Chief Sculptor-Engraver, U.S. Mint

Outstanding Alumnus Award (Predecessor for the Distinguished Alumni Award)


1974 - Roger B. Etherington ’41
President, American National Bank & Trust Co.

1973 - S. Barksdale Penick Jr. ’21
President, S.B. Penick Co., New York

1972 - Arthur A. Goldman ’25
Hotelier and owner, All Seasons Hotel & Golf Club

1971 - Dallas S. Townsend Jr. ’36
CBS News journalist

1970 - Spruille Braden ’10
U.S. Ambassador to Colombia (1939–1942), Cuba (1942–1945) and Argentina (1945)

1969 - Howard Van Vleck ’22
Landscape architect and Academy trustee

1968 - Richard B. Scudder ’31
Publisher, Newark Evening News

1967 - Gustave E. Wiedenmayer ’25
President, National Newark and Essex Banking Co.

1966 - James S. Vandermade ’35
President, Sowerbutt Quarries, Inc., and MA trustee

1965 - Fairleigh S. Dickinson ’37
President, Becton, Dickinson & Co.

1963 - Lewis Douglas ’12
U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain (1947–1950)

1962 - Edwin D. Etherington ’42
President, American Stock Exchange, and President, Wesleyan University

FOUNDERS' CUP AWARD


The Founders’ Cup Award, established in 1993, recognizes MKA’s strong tradition of teaching excellence dating back to 1887. The award is presented to an outstanding faculty member representative of the best qualities of teaching at MKA, inside and outside of the classroom, including coaching and mentoring.

The Alumni Association welcomes nominations for the Founders’ Cup award from all members of the MKA family, including current students, parents, alumni, administration, and faculty.

Eligibility for Nomination

  • Must be a full-time MKA faculty member.
  • Course load must be at least 50% of the time.
  • Must be devoted to teaching.
  • Must have already completed, prior to the award year, three full years of teaching at MKA.

2025 - Daniela Vespucci, Primary School  Third Grade

2024 - Shelia Smith, Middle School Fourth Grade

2023 - Ruth Miller, Middle School English

2022 - CherylAnne Amendola, Middle School History

2021- Alex Langbein ’03, Primary School Kindergarten

2020 - Caroline Toman, Upper School English

2019 - Tony Jones, Upper School Science

2018 - Nicole Hoppe, Upper School Fine & Performing Arts

2017 - Thomas Fleming, Middle School Grade 4 and Cross Country/Track and Field Coach

2016 - Dimitri Hadjipetkov, Tri-Campus Strings Director

2015 - Ken Smith, Middle School PE

2014 - John Jacobs, Upper School Latin

2013 - David Hessler, Upper School History

2012 - Ben Goodrich, Upper School Math

2011 - Michael Houston, Upper School French

2010 - Nancy Gratz, Middle School Math

2009 - Jane Smith, Primary School Music

2008 - Patricia Forbes, Upper School English

2007 - Sonia Tyson, Primary School Spanish

2006 - Lynn Salehi, Middle School History

2005 - Barbara DuRant, Primary School Art

2004 - Geoffrey Branigan, Upper School History

2003 - Laura Lemaire, Middle School, Grade 4

2002 - J. C. Svec, Upper School Fine and Performing Arts

2001 - Donna Blanes, Primary School, Grade 1

2000 - George E. Berry III, Upper School English

1999 - Ken Bishe, Middle School History

1998 - Linda Stark, Middle School English

1997 - Karen Newman, Upper School English

1996 - George Hrab, Upper School Science

1995 - Pat Parke, Primary School, Grade 2

1994 - Ken Gibson, Upper School History

1993 - Helen Faulkner, Middle School Math

YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD


This annual award recognizes an alumna or alumnus who graduated from MKA within the past 15 years, has demonstrated significant service to MKA, and/or has made significant contributions to their profession and community. The accomplishments being considered need not be publicly renowned but should reflect a deep and inspirational commitment to the improvement of society.

Eligibility for Nomination

  • Must have graduated from MKA in the past fifteen years of the award year.
  • Nominees may nominate themselves or be nominated by alumni or others.
  • The nomination can be a posthumous award.

2025 - Robert Pannullo '13

2024 - Dillon Carroll '16

2023 - Kassie Dantzler Press '06, Ph.D.

2022 - Melanie Brady '08

2021 - Isaiah Thompson '15

2020 - Kristen Vdorick '06

2019 - Lauren Morisseau '11

2018 - Devika Patel '12

HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD


The Honorary Alumni Award was created in spring 2010 to address both the perceived need for and the strong desire of the MKA Alumni Council to honor those members of the MKA family who have made a significant, easily recognizable, and direct impact on MKA students.

Eligibility for Nomination

  • Does not need to be a current faculty, staff, or administrator.
  • Must be a faculty or employee, in any capacity, of the school for at least 10 years.
  • The nomination can be a posthumous award.

2025 - Spencer Pyke

2024 - Ralph Pacifico

2023 - Patty Forbes

2022 - Joe Romaglia

2021 - George Hrab

2020 - Tom Nammack

2019 - Ronnie Califano

2018 - Ginger Kriegel

2017 - Debra Allen

2016 - Mary Elliot

2015 - No award was presented

2014 - Donna Carrara and Nixon Bicknell

2013 - Elvoid Christmas

2012 - Nate Fuller (posthumous) and Dr. David Flocco

2011 - Al Rehus and Robert C. Hemmeter (posthumous)

2010 - Judy Nesbit and Denise Brown-Allen

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