The award was created in honor of Walter Seward, RC 1917, who was a most devoted Loyal Son of Rutgers since his years On the Banks.  Walter passed away in 2008 just short of his 112th birthday.  He was the Class President for many years, attended almost every reunion since his graduation, and founded the Reunion Memorial Chapel Service.  His spirit and devotion to Rutgers form the basis for this award.

A recipient of this award will be a person with a lengthy, positive and spirited relation with the University; someone who has participated in numerous reunion activities over the years either as an attendee or an organizer/volunteer.  Recipients promote good will to other alums and, as described in the plaque inscription, foster friendship and camaraderie in the Rutgers community.

Preference is given to Rutgers University alumni.  However, a person who has a long time relation with the RAA and the University, and who meets the criteria of the award, will also be considered.  The word “lifelong” is a key consideration in making the award.

Past Recipients

• 2007    Walter Seward RC’17 
• 2008    Tom Carpenter RC’57 
• 2009    Athena Angelus 
• 2010    Pete Jennings RC’45 
• 2011    Bob Frisch RC’78 
• 2012    Greg Bender ENG’68
• 2013    Walter Leib RC’51, NLAW’53  
• 2014    Jim Cuviello RC’69
• 2015    Ray Bodnar RC’51, GSNB’55 
• 2016    Bruce Marich RC’63, GSNB’65 
• 2017    Bernie Parkhurst RC’87 
• 2019    Helen Pirrello UNCB ’00 SSW ’05
• 2020    Derek Young RC ’87
• 2021    Robert Kanarick RC ‘63
• 2022    Robert Eichert RC ‘78
• 2023    Marty Siederer LC ’77
• 2024    Mary Ann Hager RC ’79

The Class of 1931 Award honors a recent graduate, ten years or more from graduation, for volunteer services to the RAA, to one’s class or community, or to other Rutgers constituencies.  The award also recognizes potential for leadership in the future.

Past recipients:

• 2009 Ellen Yu RC’99
• 2010 Elizabeth Franke RC’00 
• 2011 Shawn Illingworth RC’01, SCILS’04 
• 2012 Melissa Daniel DC’00, SMLR’01
• 2013 Jason Goldstein LC’02. RBS’05
• 2014 Erin Clarke RC’03
• 2015 Melissa Lieberman-Elimanco DC’05, GSE’06,’14
• 2015 David Singer CC’01 
• 2016 Matt Lunemann ENG’06, GSNB’09 
• 2018 Aaron Richton ENG’03, BSPP’08
• 2019 Anthony Battiato RC ’08 SMLR ’08
• 2020 Nicole Setzer ENG ’07
• 2021 Kenny Kolanko RC/ RBS ’07, GSE ‘13
• 2022 John Hester LC ’94
• 2023 Raylene Ravarra RC ’95
• 2024  Anu Khare DC ’00

The award is presented to an alumnus/alumna who has achieved an outstanding record of service to Alma Mater.

Past recipients:

• 2009 Bob Eichert RC’78
• 2010 Raymond Bodnar RC’51 
• 2011 Mary Ann Hager RC’79 
• 2012 Cara Bufanio MGSA ’85
• 2013 John Hendricks RC’62 
• 2014 Bruce Marich RC’63, GSNB ’65
• 2015 Ken Johnson ENG’66 
• 2016 Gene Armstead 
• 2017 Jimmy DeMarco RC’09
• 2018 Melissa Daniel DC ’00 GMLR ’01
• 2020 Houshang Parsa  RC ’80
• 2021 James O’Neill, Jr. RC’76, GSM’84
• 2022 Anu Khare DC ‘00
• 2023 Jen Chenu DC ’92
• 2024 Danielle Bechta SAS ’11

The award is presented to an outstanding Rutgers Undergraduate who has made an effort on behalf of the Rutgers Alumni Association. The student has shown interest in and has provided outstanding service to the Rutgers Alumni Association.  An undergraduate student of any class year is eligible to receive the award, however, preference shall be given to a more senior undergraduate if several are under consideration and are equally deserving.

Past Recipients

• 2009    Cassie Kingsbury SAS’11 
• 2010    Victoria Woodworth SAS’10 
• 2011    Vasilis Chantzis SAS’13 
• 2012    Sarah O’Meara ENG’12
• 2013    Phylisha Moore SAS’13 
• 2014    Uzma Arif RBS’14
• 2015    Esther Kang SAS’16 
• 2016    Michael Andrasakes SAS’16 
• 2017    Anish Patel SAS’17
• 2019    Christine Botvinnik SAS ’19
• 2020 Aabha Joshi RBS ’21
• 2021 Laura Vorbach SAS ‘22

New in 2014, and bestowed very sparingly, the President’s Award heralds outstanding support for the RAA and its activities, along with exemplary leadership of a student organization.

Past Recipients

• 2014    Gregory Cui SAS’14 for Mock Trial Org 
• 2019   Cara Bufanio MGSA ’85
• 2020  Jimmy DeMarco RC ’09
• 2021 Jordan Cohen SAS ‘18, Lytisha “Tee” Williams DC ‘93
• 2022 Jim Kelly RC’76, RGSM ’84 and David Singer CC’01
• 2023 Donna Usiskin, RC’91 & Thomas Recchio, RC’76, GSNB’80/82
• 2024 Erik Kent RC ’92

A book clock is presented to the recipient.  The inscription is:  “Rutgers Alumni Association, May (year), Alumni Trustee, (date years of service), (name and class year)”.

Past Recipients

• 2009    Robert Frisch RC’78 
• 2010    George Rears RC’89, RBS’95 
• 2011    Barbara Pollison-Beck DC’82 
• 2012    Gregory Bender ENG’68
• 2013    John Futey RC’69, CLAW’72 
• 2014    John Hugelmeyer RC’72
• 2015    Frank Hundley RC’86 
• 2016    Laurel Van Leer CC’03 
• 2017    Heather Taylor RC’89 

An 11 x 15 inch walnut plaque with a removable gavel attached will be presented to the recipient. The inscription is: “(name, school abbreviation, and class year), President, (date years of service)”.

Past Recipients

• 2009 Frank Hundley RC’86
• 2010 Cara Bufanio MGSA’85 
• 2011 Ralph Zemel ENG’69, RC’69 
• 2012 Melissa Daniel DC’00, SMLR’01
• 2013 Tom Carpenter RC’57 
• 2014 Ken Johnson ENG’66
• 2015 Mike Brill RC’77
• 2016 Marty Siederer LC’77 
• 2017 Erin Clarke RC’03
• 2018 Eugene Gentile RC ’80
• 2019 Anwar Hussain RC ’89
• 2021 Danielle Bechta SAS ‘11
• 2023 Brian Tobin, RC ’96/GSN ’17