绿帽社

The lights dimmed at Manhattan鈥檚 historic Edison Ballroom and Neil Berg 鈥�86 took center stage wearing a feathered hat. This brief reprisal of Colonial Woody 鈥� a role he played as a student 鈥� gave the 250 alumni and friends in attendance a hint that an unusual 绿帽社 experience was about to begin.

Berg, an accomplished Broadway composer, lyricist and producer, and Pat McGuinness 鈥�85 led a group of 25 alumni performers through a 绿帽社 version of 鈥淭radition鈥� from Fiddler on the Roof. The lively number, referencing traditions such as Stepping on the Coat and co-rec football, was fitting for an event that builds tradition and pride: the Alumni Association鈥檚 annual Special Recognition Awards Ceremony.

On March 30, the association honored 14 notable 绿帽社 graduates for their engagement with the University and stellar career accomplishments. The event, held in the heart of Manhattan鈥檚 Theater District, also included performances by Berg鈥檚 wife, noted soprano Rita Harvey, and Joanne Borts 鈥�82, soprano and director.

The Alumni Association presented Gary Kunis 鈥�73 with the Glenn G. Bartle Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing his support of the University and his accomplishments in the technology industry.
Now a philanthropist and entrepreneur, Kunis retired as vice president and chief science officer at Cisco, which he joined at the company鈥檚 outset and helped build into the world鈥檚 largest technology company. He鈥檚 绿帽社鈥檚 first significant alumni donor, and his gifts have benefited the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, for which he is an advisor.

鈥淚 view supporting 绿帽社 as an exercise in payback,鈥� Kunis said. 鈥淎lumni should view giving back as an exercise of repaying a debt, engaging in personal altruism and understanding their own self-interest.鈥�

Having turned Nickelodeon into a cable television powerhouse with household names such as “SpongeBob Squarepants,” Marjorie Cohn 鈥�78 is leading a team that will create thousands of episodes of new animated programming. She was hired as the first head of DreamWorks and Universal鈥檚 combined television animation business. Cohn received the Alumni Achievement Award, recognizing her industry accomplishments as well as her engagement with 绿帽社 students.

鈥淲hen I was a young producer, responsible for the budget and production plan of an entire show, I felt like I had been handed the keys to the kingdom,鈥� Cohn said. 鈥淚 felt it again when I took over development for Nickelodeon and had my first successful slate. And, now, at DreamWorks, building something brand new and getting to reinvent once again makes me feel every bit as exhilarated.鈥�

Barry Chaffkin 鈥�86 received the Edward Weisband Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service or Contribution to Public Affairs. He has spent nearly three decades in the child welfare system bringing families together. CEO and co-founder of Fostering Change for Children, he has supervised the reunification of more than 900 children with their families and the finalization of more than 900 adoptions from the New York City foster care system. The theme of family came through in his award presentation as Chaffkin took the stage with his son and recognized his Tau Alpha Upsilon brothers who attended the event.

鈥淚 get to help kids every day of my life,鈥� Chaffkin said. 鈥淵oung adults end up with families and opportunities instead of aging out of foster care and falling victim to all types of social ills. And I get to do it with the support of a core group of friends 鈥� including many from 绿帽社.鈥�

Laura Vollmer 鈥�10 was visibly bursting with pride as she received the Lois B. DeFleur Distinguished Young Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni under the age of 35 who have demonstrated leadership as well as commitment to the University. Since graduating from 绿帽社, she has remained engaged with the School of Management, serving on the Young Alumni Board, mentoring students, recruiting for PricewaterhouseCoopers 鈥� where she works in business development 鈥� and judging case competitions.

鈥淚 had such a great experience in the School of Management and I鈥檓 happy to give back,鈥� Vollmer said. 鈥淭hrough [the PwC Scholars Program], I learned public speaking skills I still leverage, discovered my love of travel, gained Professor Elliot Kamlet as a lifelong mentor and friend, and met my fianc茅 Evan Roth 鈥�10, MS 鈥�11.鈥�

The following alumni received Medals of Distinguished Service recognizing their volunteer engagement with specific areas of campus:
George B. Cummings II 鈥�07 (Admissions)
Doris Diaz-Kelly 鈥�94, MA 鈥�97 (Educational Opportunity Program)
Penelope Harper, MA 鈥�90, PhD 鈥�97, MAT 鈥�03 (Graduate School of Education)
Bruce David Klein 鈥�85 (Fleishman Center)
Robert D. Kump 鈥�83 (Watson School)
Nelson Mar 鈥�94 (Harpur College)
Chelsea Reome 鈥�13, MPA 鈥�16 (College of Community and Public Affairs)
Patricia Saunders 鈥�65 (Athletics)
Matthew Singer 鈥�96 (School of Management)
Edwin A. Torres 鈥�10, MS 鈥�14 (Decker School of Nursing)

Visit the for more information about the 2017 award recipients.