Volunteers

Awards Programs: Overview

The Alumnae Association of Mount Holyoke College recognizes the unique contributions of alumnae with the following distinguished awards.

› Awards Recommendation Form

Nominate an alumna for one of these awards.

› Current Recipients

Here you can read about the alumnae who were presented with awards this year.   

› Past Recipients

Here you can find a list of all the alumnae who have received awards in the past.

Award Descriptions

Alumnae Medal of Honor

Awarded for eminent service in promoting the effectiveness of the Alumnae Association, for signal service in completing definite projects undertaken by the College, or for other noteworthy services which strengthen the position of the College. Deadline for submission: August 15 prior to Reunion year.

Alumnae Trustee

Selected for her willingness and ability to involve herself actively in the workings of the College, to participate in the policy making discussions of the Board of Trustees, and use her expertise in special areas to enrich those discussions. Deadline for submission: January 15 annually.

Mary Lyon Award

Awarded to a young alumna who has been out of College fifteen years or less, who demonstrates promise or sustained achievement in her life, profession, or community consistent with the humane values which Mary Lyon exemplified in her life and inspired in others.

Elizabeth Topham Kennan Award

Given periodically to an outstanding alumna educator, honoring the service former president Elizabeth Topham Kennan ’60 has given to the College and to higher education in general.

Alumnae Honorary Degrees

Awarded to an alumna of genuine achievement and distinction who has contributed to learning in the arts and sciences or who has contributed to society in some service, career or otherwise, distinguished for both intellect and character.

Achievement Award

Presented to an alumna whose achievements and service to the larger society, through salaried or volunteer fields of endeavor, exemplify the ideals of excellence of a liberal arts education, who uses her talents with professional distinction, sustained commitment, and creativity, and who reflects the visions and pioneering spirit of Mary Lyon.

Loyalty Award
The Loyalty Award will honor an alumna who has demonstrated consistent effort and active involvement in one area of service over an extended period of time. Volunteer effort can be on behalf of a class, club, affinity group, the Association, or the College. Nominees should be from classes that will hold reunions in the following spring. Deadline for submission: January 15, 2007.

Young Alumna Loyalty Award
The Young Alumna Loyalty Award will honor an alumna who has demonstrated consistent effort and active involvement in one area of service over an extended period of time.  Volunteer effort can be on behalf of a class, club, affinity group, the Association, or the College.  Nominees may be from any class that has graduated ten years or fewer from the date of the upcoming reunion.  Deadline for submission: January 15, 2007.

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because if you don’t have courage you cannot practice any of the other virtues with consistency. You can’t be consistently fair or kind or generous or honest or giving or loving without courage. I wish I had written that first. Actually, it was Aristotle who said it, but never mind. — Maya Angelou, commencement address, 1987