alumni awards
Deerfield alumni go on to live the values they encountered here. They strive to achieve greatness by embodying goodness. Their accomplishments deserved to be celebrated.
The Heritage Award
The Heritage Award was initiated by the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association in 1984 to recognize a Deerfield alumnus/a whose professional and personal achievements represent a special contribution to the betterment of society — someone whose life exemplifies the Academy’s motto, “Be Worthy of Your Heritage.”
In addition to honoring the recipient, this award makes the current Deerfield student body aware of the scope and substance of the accomplishments and contributions of the Academy’s alumni.
The sole stipulation is that the recipient of the Heritage Award comes to Deerfield to receive the award and address the student body and faculty at an all-school assembly. The hope is that this experience will inspire those present and make them alive to the possibility of a life dedicated to public service, education, science or the arts. Recipients receive a framed citation, a copy of which hangs in the lobby of the Hess Center for the Arts alongside those of previous recipients.
Recipients
2022 — Dr. Adam Weinberg ’83 – higher education
2021 — Col. Brietta Larmon ’93 – military service
2020 — Stephen Hannock ’70 – the arts
2019 — Roberto Powers ’71 – public service
2018 — Milton J. Sands ’88 – military service
2017 — Alan Hassenfeld ’66 – business and global philanthropy
2016 — Arthur Roberts ’61 – medicine and professional athletics
2015 — Frank Michelman ’53 – education and law
2014 — Hugh G. Hardy ’50 – architecture
2013 — Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr. ’52 – medicine
2012 — Kerry Emanuel ’73 – education
2011 — Eric Widmer ’57, H’54,’06 –former Headmaster of DA & King’s Academy
2010 — William Zinsser ’40 – author, teacher, editor
2009 — Ambassador Ralph Earle II ’46 – public service
2008 — Brian A. Rosborough ’58 – public service – environmental conservation
2007 — Michael K. Frith ’59 – public service/ arts – children’s educational programs
2006 — Father Thomas Keating ’40 – public service – philosophy & ministry
2005 — Thomas C. Reed ’51- public service – national security
2004 — Frederick C. Barton ’67 – public service – humanitarian
2003 — James W. Symington ’45 – public service – politics
2002 — Christopher J. Waddell ’87 – athletics – paralympian
2001 — John Chittick ’66 – public service – HIV/AIDS
2000 — Nathaniel Reed ’51 – educator – environment
1999 — Francis L’Esperance ’49 – medicine
1998 — Robert E. Ives ’65 – public service – boat building
1997 — David M. Childs ’59 arts – architecture
1996 — William M. Boyd II ’59 – education
1995 — John A. McPhee ’49 – arts – writing
1994 — Michael B. Mayor ’55 – medicine
1993 — Warren Zimmermann ’52 – public service – diplomacy
1992 — Robert B. Binswanger ’48 – education
1991 — Henry W. Kendall ’45 – science
1990 — Henry P. Becton Jr. ’61 – arts – television
1989 — Gilbert M. Grosvenor ’49 – arts – publishing
1988 — John H. Chafee ’40 – public service – politics
1987 — Bruce McClellan ’41 – education
1986 — Budd Schulberg ’32 – arts – literature
1985 — Robert M. Morgenthau ’37 – public service – law
1984 — John L. Ashbery ’45 – arts – poetry
1983 — Edward P. Bullard ’53 – public service – philanthropy
The Ashley Award
Tom Ashley, Class of 1911, is remembered for his loyalty to Deerfield, his outstanding character, and his tireless service to others. The Ashley Award is presented each year to an alumnus/a who graduated from Deerfield less than 20 years ago and demonstrates Tom Ashley’s exemplary character and extraordinary devotion to a people, cause, or place through unwavering volunteer service or through work in a field of philanthropic activity.
In addition to honoring the recipient, this award is intended to inspire current students and encourage their aspirations to “do good” in the world. To that end, the sole condition of accepting the award is that the recipient must agree to receive the award and address the student body and faculty at an all-school assembly.
Recipients
2024 — Alexandra “Ali” Berry ’05
2022 — Maya & Dana “Denley” Delaney ’13
2021 — Kristin Drouin ’08 (award April 2022)
2020 — Lis Reed ’05
2019 — Gigi Parris ’99
2018 — Molly Schaus ’06
2017 — Lilly Hartley ’97
2016 — Jessica Harrison Fullerton ’00
2015 — Andy Hunt ’00
2014 — Mujib Mashal ’07
2010 — Peter Trovato ’01
The Mimi Morsman Award
Presented each year to that individual (either alumnus/alumna or Deerfield staff member) who has distinguished themselves through extraordinary effort and service on behalf of the Academy’s alumni body…in the tradition of Mimi Morsman, who transformed the Alumni Association through her boundless energy, creativity, good humor and tireless devotion to all things Deerfield.
Recipients
2023 — Aaron Daniels ’53, Craig Fanning ’53, and Hugh Smith ’53
2022 — K.C. Ramsay ’71 and Robert “Bobby” Vuyosevich ’72
2021 — None – pandemic year; virtual reunion
2020 — None – pandemic year; no reunion
2019 — Gordon R. “Zeke” Knight ’54 G’03 TE
2018 — Chuck Williams ’72 P’97,’97,’02
2017 — Dick Boyden ’52 & JR Allen ‘52
2016 — Jan Wondolowski
2014 — Sam Skillings
Alumni Award Nomination
Nominations are received throughout the year, with no deadline and no anticipated timeline for award, should a candidate be selected. The review process is completely confidential and candidates are not notified of their nomination.
Please read the descriptions above and submit your entries. Thank you!
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