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
