Awards

The current Montclair Kimberley Academy Distinguished Alumni Award was inspired by its predecessor, the Montclair Academy Outstanding Alumnus Award. The purpose is to bestow recognition and appreciation for alumni who have achieved distinction in a field of endeavor, or, through outstanding character or dedication, 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.

Must be an alumnus of either MA, TKS, or MKA

The nomination can be a posthumous award.

Distinguished Alumni Award

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
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

The Honorary Alumni Award (previously named the Honorary Alumni Distinction) 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. 

As an Honorary Alumna/us, award recipients are considered members of a specific graduating class of MKA. As such, they will receive all invitations, recognitions, and notices of events just like those who’ve received diplomas from the Academy. 

Does not need to be a current faculty, staff or administrator.

Must be/have been a faculty member or employee, in any capacity of the school, for at least 10 years.

The nomination can be a posthumous award.