Previous Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients
2023
Deneen Hernandez '88
Forensic Examiner, Federal Bureau of Investigation
2022
Dianne Baumert-Moyik, '87
Public Relations, Northrop Grumman
Michael Bonitatibus, '79
Retired Owner, Millington Lockwood LLC
Dr. Rose Thevenin, '90
American and African-American Historian
2021
Linda Appleby, '80
Musician, Music Educator, Children's Advocate
Michael Garner, '83
Chief Diversity Officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NYC
2020
Kenneth Huff, '92, '98
Science Educator, STEM Advocate
Rick W. Kennedy, '77
Managing Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP, Attorneys
2019
Michele Fairchild Marko, '72
Non-Profit Community Leader
2018
Michael Toppo, '87
Vice President and Senior Editorial Director, CNN Digital
Amilee Cattouse-Scott, '85
Radio Host, KISS-FM and Founder of Sisterly Kiss Foundation
2017
Eduard Feibischoff, '79
Emmy Award-winning Producer of Sports Television
Ruthann E. Grey, '66, '71
Business Executive and Founder of the Caunos Group
2016
Catherine F. Collins, ’75
New York State Regent, 8th Judicial District
David J. Cywinski, ’87
Orthopedic Physician at Finger Lakes Bone & Joint Center
David Dror, '67
Chairman and Managing Director, Micro Insurance Academy
2015
Roger J. Wood ‘85
President & CEO, Dana Holding Corporation
Jacqueline V. LoRusso ’62, ‘64
Owner, JVL Management Company
2014
Frank B. Mesiah, ’61, ’69
President, Buffalo Branch NAACP
Valerie A. Logan, ’89
Information sciences thought leader and former global vice president of strategy, Information Management and Analytics Services Division, Hewlett-Packard Company
2013
Brenda McDuffie, '74
President & CEO, Buffalo Urban League
William T. (Bill) Cleary, '69, '73
Founder, Cleary & Partners, Saratoga, CA
2012
Crystal Davis Peoples-Stokes, '74, '02
New York State assemblywoman, 141st District
Thomas Lytle, '82
Senior vice president of 5LINX
2011
Stephen Musolino, ’76
Certified health physicist with the United States Department of Energy (DOE)
Bob Williams, '79
Vice President of Communications at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
2010
Dr. Barbara Seals-Nevergold, '66
Author, Student Support Coordinator at University at Buffalo
Linda Dobmeier, '71
Vice President, Dobmeier Janitorial Supplies
Buffalo State College Foundation Board President
2009
Anthony Baynes,'79
CEO, owner and founder A. J. Baynes Group
Todd Brason, '85
Chief Executive Officer, Willcare, Inc.
Ronald Kelley, '86
Founder and President, Eionic
Karen Penfold, '69
Retired owner/executive, CID Refuse Group; community leader; and philanthropist
2008
Byron W. Brown, '83
Mayor of Buffalo
Brian M. Higgins, '85
Member, U.S. House of Representatives
Leonard S. Sikora, '50
Retired Administrator, Buffalo Public Schools
2007
Richard C. Auerbach, '52, '55
Educator, U.S. Naval Reserve Captain (Retired), Philanthropist
David Lazerson, '77
Author, Educator, Musician
Stan Szymanski, '78
Senior Vice President Digital Productions
Sony Pictures Imageworks
2006
Sylvia L. Rosen, ' 71
Artist and Educator
Edwin F. Rosinski, ' 50
Medical educator and executive vice chancellor for the University of California, San Francisco
2005
Harry Ausprich, '54
President Emeritus, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Robert J. Kaupelis, '51
Artist and Educator
Theodore G. Sturgis, '53
Educator and Civic Leader
2004
Rita Argen Auerbach, '54, '74
Artist and Educator
Marcia Mule, '81
Television Producer
E. Jeanette Ogden, '77
Buffalo City Court Judge
2003
Susan Schmidt Bies, '67
Member, Federal Reserve System Board of Governors
Robert J. Lamendola, '72
Executive Vice President, The St. Paul Companies;
President and CEO, Global Surety and Construction
Howard S. Muscott, '77
Professor of Education, River College
Anne Rogovin, '40, '62
Educator, Author
Paul A. Tokasz, '71
Marjority Leader, New York State Assembly
2002
Marion Canedo, '74, '81
Superintendent, Buffalo Public Schools
Norma Munger Sutter, '42, '59
Educator and Volunteer
2001
Scott A. Baxter, '84
Founder and CEO, Vesta Technologies
Kathleen Gaffney, '71
Playwright and Actress
President, Artsgenesis Inc.
Deborah Oppenheimer
Film and Television Producer
President, Mohawk Productions
2000
Ernestine R. Green, '59
Educator and Volunteer
Evelyn S. Lieberman, '66
Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Christine N. Thrun, '81
President and CEO
Thrun Manufacturing
1999
James Brandys, '71, '73
First Vice President, Investments
Merrill Lynch Private Client Group
Tom Calderone, '86
Vice President for Music Programming and Talent, MTV
Hank Nuwer, '68
Author
1998
William Murabito, '66
Associate Vice Chancellor for University Life,
SUNY System Administration
Kevin O'Connell, '71
Emmy Award-Winning Broadcaster
Meteorologist - WGRZ, Channel 2
1997
Robert Ian Bruck, '73
Director, Institute of Environmental Technology Education
North Carolina State University
Lynne M. Shuster, '68
Volunteer Coordinator
Alliance for the Mentally Ill
1996
Linda Duch, '76
Buffalo District President, Key Bank
Margaret J. Barr, '61
Vice President for Student Affairs
Northwestern University
1995
Mary Lou Rath, '56
New York State Senator
1994
Diane English, '70
Television Writer/Producer (Murphy Brown)
1993
Susan Bring Tobe, '71
Assistant Attorney General of New York State
1992
Kathleen A. Moskal, '65
President, Hue Legwear Company
Randolph Smith, '71
Hartford Hellcats Head Coach
Former Player, Buffalo Braves and New York Knicks
1991
Alden F. Schutte, '63
President, The Schutte Group
Nancy Walter Volkert, '57
Former President, Volkert Meeting Planners Inc.
1990
Thomas L. Clark Jr., '70
President, Carver Federal Savings Bank
Thomas F. Higgins, '71
Erie County Sheriff
1989
Robert L'Italien, '50
General Manager, Teledyne Hanau Division Inc
1988
Thomas Y. Hobart Jr., '60
President, NYS United Teachers, AFT/AFL-CIO
1987
Tom Fontana, '73
Television Writer/Producer:
St. Elsewhere and Homicide: Life on the Street
1986
Daniel R. Idzik, '56
Senior Vice President
General Counsel and Secretary,
Booz, Allen, and Hamilton Inc.
1984
Donald P. Quinlan, '53
CEO and President
Graphic Controls Corp.
Eugene T. Reville, '53
Superintendent, Buffalo Public Schools
1983
Dr. Lenora Cole, '57
Director for Women's Bureau
U.S. Department of Labor
Richard M. Cooke, '52, '73
Major General, U.S. Marine Corps
1982
Kenneth J. Braun, '75
Erie County Sheriff
Michael J. Feniello, '38
Deputy Administrator, Federal Aviation Commission
1981
Edward T. Hunt Jr., '52
General Manager, Western Area, New York Telephone
1980
William E. Lawson, '72
Executive Director, Veterans Federal Coordinating Commission
1979
Margaret Goff Clark, '36
Children's Novelist
1978
Albert N. Abgott, '47
Chairman, Eire County Legislature;
President, Partners' Press Inc.
1977
George F. Budd, '42
President Emeritus, Kansas State College of Pittsburgh
G. Wesley Ketcham, 34
Former Education Consultant
Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Education, Connecticut State Department of Education
1976
Helen Bickel Wolfe, '55
Dean, Western Maryland College
1975
Dr. Eldene Cook Woellhof, '45
Director, Psychology Department, Topeka State Hospital
1974
Edward W. Sontag, '62, '67
Department Head, University of Wisconsin School of Education
1973
Martin Fried, '28
Professor of English, Buffalo State College
1972
Mildred Keller Campbell, '28
Community Volunteer and Philanthropist
1971
Howard S. VanHoff, '26
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education, Buffalo Public Schools
Jack Wolsky, '55
Associate Professor
State University of New York College at Brockport
1970
Rev. Laman H. Bruner Jr., '39
Chaplain, New York State Assembly
A. Marie Murphy, '32
Faculty Member, Lockport Senior High School
1969
Evelyn G. Bell, '27
Director of Personnel, City of Buffalo School Department
George R. Sherrie, '37
Vice President Emeritus for Administration, Buffalo State College
1968
John P. Walsh, '39
President Emeritus, The William Hood Dunwoody Industrial Institute
Stanley H. Witmeyer, '39
Director, School of Art and Design, Rochester Institute of Technology
1967
Margaret A. Grant, '29
Director, Home Economics Division, Buffalo State College
Marion G. Olsen, '22
Principal, Buffalo Public School 84
1966
Donald G. Brossman, '36
Former Associate Director
New York State Schools Boards Association
Veronica E. Connor, '35
Supervising Principal
Grand Island Public Schools
1965
David O. Cooke, '41
Assistant Secretary of Defense
William J. Fairlie, '52
Principal, Woodlawn Junior High School, Buffalo
Titles listed were current at the time awards were presented.