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Alumni Association Awards

2012 Alumni Association Award Honorees

Congratulations to the inaugural class of recipients of the Marist College Alumni Association Awards. These alumni were recognized during Homecoming & Reunion Weekend in an on-campus ceremony on Saturday, September 22.

Dr. Linus Richard Foy Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna Award

Brother Seán D. Sammon, FMS '70

In 1987, Brother Seán was elected Provincial of the Poughkeepsie Province of the Marist Brothers and continued in that position until 1993. During that time he also served as the President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. In late 1993 he was elected Vicar General of the Marist Brothers. Brother Seán was Superior General of the Marist Brothers from 2001 to 2009. In that role, he led Marist Brothers from around the world in their care of countless children involved in Marist institutions. Brother Seán helped expand the group’s reach by establishing a relationship between the congregation and the United Nations Human Rights Council, working on behalf of the rights of children. He lectures widely to groups in the U.S. and abroad and has published 10 books and numerous articles on topics addressing the interconnectedness of faith and the social sciences. In 2009, he received the title of Doctor honoris causa, from the Catholic Pontifical University of Paraná, Brazil and in 2011 was awarded the Saint Edmund’s Medal of Honor for service to Church and Society.

Marist College Distinguished Service Award

Brendan T. Burke '68

After graduation, Brendan spent three years in the Marine Corps including a year in Vietnam where he served with four fellow Marist graduates. Brendan served as the Alumni Executive Board President from 1982-1986 and is a recipient of the Marist President’s Award. He has been a member of the Marist Board of Trustees for the past 24 years and served as a Marist Fund chair for both the national and alumni divisions. Brendan’s commitment to the College extends to the student body where he has served as a guest lecturer and as the first broadcasting professional to participate in a Marist career and employment fair. One of Brendan’s most notable contributions to students was to help establish Marist’s communications internship program. Through this program, he and Robert Norman developed the very first internship in broadcasting.

Marist College Young Alumnus/Alumna Award

Edward Summers '04/'06M

After graduation, Eddie served as Marist’s presidential fellow for seven years, providing support to President Dennis Murray, his team, and the College. In 2011, Eddie was appointed Chief of Staff at Union College. Eddie currently serves on the Board of Directors for five organizations including the Catharine Street Community Center, Eleanor Roosevelt at Val Kill, and “Protect the Dream” Youth Programs. As a result of his work with the these boards as well as numerous presentations, workshops, and papers for the American Society for Public Administration, Mid-Western Political Science Association, and others, Eddie was selected by the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce as one of the Hudson Valley’s “Top 40 Under 40”.

Award Descriptions

Dr. Linus Richard Foy Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna Award

This award is the highest honor bestowed by the Marist College Alumni Association and is named in honor of Dr. Linus Richard Foy, a 1950 graduate and president of Marist from 1958 to 1979. The award recognizes distinguished service by an alumnus or alumna to a profession, to the college, to the nation, or to humanity. The criterion for this award is a continuous record of distinguished service in a chosen field of endeavor that is related to the objectives and purposes of Marist. The candidate must have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from Marist.

Recommendations may come from the Marist community. Final nominations will be made by the Alumni Awards Committee and approved by the president of Marist College. The Linus Richard Foy Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna Award consists of a citation and medal which are presented to the recipient by Marist College’s president, assisted by the president of the Alumni Association. A maximum of one award may be presented each year.

Marist College Distinguished Service Award

The Marist College Distinguished Service Award will be presented to an alumnus or alumna who has diligently and faithfully served the Marist Alumni Association for an extended period of time. Service can be in the form of a regional chapter position (officer or committee member) or any involvement that advances the mission of Marist through dedicated volunteer efforts (e.g., Marist Fund volunteer, Admissions volunteer, Advancement event host, etc.) The candidate must have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from Marist.

Recipients can be nominated by any active member of the Marist College Community. Final nominations will be made by the Alumni Awards Committee and approved by the vice president for college advancement. Alumni Executive Board members are not eligible. A maximum of two awards may be presented each year.

Marist College Young Alumnus/Alumna Award

The Marist Young Alumnus/Alumna Award will be presented to an alumnus or alumna who has reached a significant level of achievement in his/her profession and who is a model of the quality and caliber of today’s Marist student. One Young Alumnus/Alumna Medal will be given annually. The candidate must have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from Marist within the past 10 years and achieved a significant level of distinction within his/her chosen field.

Recipients can be nominated by any active member of the Marist College Community. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Final nominations will be made by the Alumni Awards Committee and approved by the vice president for college advancement. Current members of the Alumni Executive Board are not eligible for nomination. A maximum of two awards may be presented each year.

The Alumni Awards Committee shall be comprised of:

President of the Marist Alumni Association
Two Alumni Executive Board members (one male and one female), to be assigned by board president
One trustee
Executive director of alumni relations
Student body president
One member of the Reynard Board