Alumni Spotlight & Awards
It's always a pleasure to applaud our Pioneers!
We are forever looking for opportunities to give our alumni members the recognition they deserve. One way we do this is by bestowing Alumni Awards to those who are eligible.
An alumni member of Western Reserve Academy may receive the following Alumni Awards:
- Alumni Association Award
- Morley Science Medal
- Waring Prize
- Sonia Minikel Vallabh '02 Young Alumni Award
Take a Look at Past Recipients and Ways to Nominate
- Alumni Association Award
- Morley Science Medal
- Waring Prize
- SONIA MINIKEL VALLABH '02 YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
Alumni Association Award
Originating in 1982, the Alumni Association Award is presented annually to an alumnus or alumna "who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to Reserve." It is the Alumni Association's highest honor.
The award primarily recognizes significant volunteer work on behalf of the school. Although fundraising activities are not a focus of the evaluation process, recipients have often been involved in many of the activities raising money requires (The WRA Fund chair, capital campaigns or Reunion).
To nominate an alumnus or an alumna for the Alumni Association Award, please complete and submit the nomination form. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Alumni Relations & Special Events Abbey Swegan Baker '94.
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS:
- 2022-23 | Brooke Anderson '57, Harrison "Hub" Bubb '57, Loren Raymond '58
- 2020-21 | Robert E. C. Little '51
- 2018-19 | Thomas F. Seligson '69
- 2017-18 | Dr. Philip K. MacBride '50 and Mr. Peter S. Hellman '68
- 2016-17 | Robert S. McCulloch '69
- 2015-16 | William F. Roemer '51
- 2014-15 | Carl R. Apthorp '50, Walter F. Miner '49, Charles E. Mullins '65
- 2013-14 | John M. Fowler '67
- 2012-13 | Harrison “Hub” Bubb ’57
- 2011-12 | Charles Hammel '65
- 2010-11 | Donovan D. Husat '64
- 2009-10 | Dr. John Kirk '56
- 2008-09 | Fred A. Cummings '85
- 2007-08 | Holsey Gates Handyside '45
- 2006-07 | T. Dixon Long '51
- 2005-06 | David M. Hunter '68
- 2004-05 | Dagmar Fleischmann Fellowes '75
- 2003-04 | Jefferson W. Keener Jr. '50
- 2002-03 | James Gramentine '52
- 2001-02 | Mary Katherine Ong-Landini '83
- 2000-01 | Class of 1950-2000 Club, Inc.
- 1999-00 | Jack Theibert '40
- 1998-99 | Stephan Cole '66, Sid Kaplan '52
- 1997-98 | Robert Hirshberg '36, David M. Hildreth '35
- 1996-97 | Ralph Harding '38
- 1995-96 | Rudolph Garfield '46
- 1994-95 | Martin Hauser '71
- 1993-94 | Bruce Rogers '47
- 1992-93 | Baxter Fullerton '32, James Milholland '40
- 1991-92 | William Laub '46
- 1990-91 | David Warshawsky '51
- 1989-90 | James Stevenson '43
- 1988-89 | Ada Cooper Miller '24
- 1987-88 | No Recipient
- 1986-87 | No Recipient
- 1985-86 | Robert Gulick '34, Kenneth Goldsmith '43. Jacob Brown '48, Philip Kennedy '50, Karl Limbach '50, George Limbach '51, William Jastromb '57, Jonathan Newman '61, John Kaufman '68
- 1984-85 | No Recipient
- 1983-84 | William Danforth '34
- 1982-83 | No Recipient
- 1981-82 | Class of 1932
Morley Science Medal
Established in 2003, the Morley Science Medal is named for Edward W. Morley, who was a faculty member at Western Reserve College from 1869 to 1906 and is best known for his role in the landmark Michelson-Morley Experiment in 1887, which attempted to measure the velocity of the earth and the speed of light, an experiment that paved the way for Einstein’s theory of relativity. Morley was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1902.
The Morley Science Medal is awarded to an alumnus or an alumna of Western Reserve Academy for scientific attainment. Through a particular achievement, a series of achievements or a career of noteworthy accomplishments, medal recipients have made a significant contribution to a field of basic or applied science, or to the application of science, technology or engineering to the improvement of the human condition. Selecting a recipient is the job of the Morley Science Medal Committee:
To nominate an alumnus or an alumna for the Morley Science Medal, please complete and submit the nomination form. If you have questions about the nomination process or timeframe, please contact Director of Alumni Relations & Special Events Abbey Swegan Baker '94.
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS:
- 2022-23 | Dr. Wendy Green Halpern '84
- 2021-22 | Dr. William E. Kraus '73
- 2020-21 | Dr. Paul Klotman '68
- 2019-20 | Mr. Arthur G. Palmer '75
- 2018-19 | Dr. Leslee L. Subak '79
- 2017-18 | Dr. George T. Spencer-Green '65
- 2016-17 | Dr. Anthony J. Wynshaw-Boris '73
- 2015-16 | Mr. Richard P. Van Berg '60
- 2014-15 | Dr. Glenn D. Stone '72
- 2013-14 | Dr. W. Brechner Owens '64
- 2012-13 | Dr. Jean Frazier ’77
- 2011-12 | Dr. Andre Clewell '52
- 2010-11 | Dr. Paul D. Sniegowski '77
- 2009-10 | Dr. William E. Crisp Jr. '43
- 2008-09 | Dr. William W. Shilts '59
- 2007-08 | Dr. Robert Wilson '65
- 2006-07 | Dr. Barbara Chapman '80
- 2005-06 | Dr. Robert S. McCuskey '56
- 2004-05 | Dr. James Manwell '65
- 2003-04 | Dr. Michael McCally ’52
- 2002-03 | Dr. K. Frank Austen ’46, Dr. W. Gerald Austen ’47, Dr. John T. Mickel ’52, Dr. William H. Durham ’69, Capt. Lee M. E. Morin (USN) ’70, Dr. Kathryn I Clark ’76, Dr. Roland K. Strong ’80
The Morley Science Medal Committee must choose from a pool of immensely talented and dynamic candidates. Below is a listing of current committee members:
Dr. Jean A. Frazier '77
Dr. Brechner W. Owens '64
Mr. Charles E. Mullins '65
Dr. Christopher R. Wren '89
Mrs. Carrie Miller Smith '91
Dr. Glenn D. Stone '72
Mrs. Wanda Boesch, Dean of Academic Affairs
Dr. Anthony J. Wynshaw - Boris '73
Mr. Richard P. Van Berg '60
Dr. George T. Spencer-Green '65
William E. Kraus '73
Waring Prize
Established in 1972 to honor faculty master J. Frederick Waring, the Waring Prize is awarded to "an alumnus or alumna of Western Reserve Academy who, by his or her way of life and achievements, whether at the beginning, middle or near the end of his or her career, represents the human and individual values the Academy strives to foster, as well as the many graduates known or unknown who have similarly made their contribution to society." Past recipients include alumni from various walks of life including poets, educators, scientists, writers and clergy.
If you would like to nominate an alumnus or alumna for the Waring Prize, you may do so at any time by using the Waring Prize Nomination Form to submit your candidate. If you have questions about the selection process or timeframe, please contact Director of Alumni Relations & Special Events Abbey Swegan Baker '94.
- 2023 | Dr. Menna Demessie '98 - Senior VP and Executive Director of Universal Music Group's global Task Force for Meaningful Change
- 2022 | No Selection
- 2021 | Mrs. Lillian Kuri '88 - VP and Chief Operating Officer, Cleveland Foundation
- 2020 | No Selection
- 2019 | Dr. Joseph S. Wood '64 - Cultural geographer
- 2018 | Mr. Lee D. Williams '79 - U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
- 2017 | Dr. Damon A. Williams '90 - Chief Educational Officer, Boys and Girls Clubs of America
- 2016 | Sara S. Wroblewski '09 - Owner, One Bead
- 2015 | Meredith Broadbent '77 - Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission
- 2014 | John Hewko '75 - General Secretary, Rotary International
- 2013 | No Selection
- 2012 | Theodore S. Gup '68 - Professor, author
- 2011 | James B. Hurlock ‘51 - International lawyer, pioneer, humanitarian
- 2010 | Dr. John McDonald '77 Professor, musician, composer
- 2009 | Andrew "Sandy" B. Meldrum '70 - Journalist
- 2008 | Colin Bradford ’57 - Global economist
- 2007 | S. Duncan Hill '73 - Founder, Uganda Orphans Fund
- 2006 | Anne Campbell Goodman '84 - Anti-Hunger Activist
- 2005 | Bancroft R. Poor '74 - Environmentalist
- 2004 | Richard D. Geyer '73 - Economic redeveloper
- 2003 | Rudolph H. Garfield '46 - Businessman, philanthropist
- 2002 | Theodore H. Moran '61 - Educator, researcher
- 2001 | James Robertson '55 - U.S. District Court judge
- 2000 | Kathryn I. Clark '76 - Space scientist
- 1999 | William Z. Potter '62 - Psychopharmacologist
- 1998I | Ian A. Frazier '69 - Non-fiction writer
- 1997 | Frederick C. Danforth '68 - Pewterer, businessman
- 1996 | Verne R. Read '40 - Philanthropist
- 1995 | Joseph H. Millar IV '62 - Poet
- 1994 | Lee M. Morin '70 - Physician, computer scientist
- 1993 | Hilary G. Worthen '65 - Physician
- 1992 | Edward J. Pope '37 - International business leader
- 1991 | Tien Wei Yang '41 - Educator, researcher
- 1990 | Daniel W. Christman '61 - Military leader
- 1989 | Bryant Whitman Dennison '39 - Clergyman
- 1988 | No Selection
- 1987 | W. Gerald Austen '47- Research scientist, immunologist; K. Frank Austen '46 - Cardiologist, surgeon, professor
- 1986 | Joel B. Hayden Jr. '39 - Independent school founder
- 1985 | No Selection
- 1984 | Norman H. Moore '34 - Engineer, entrepreneur
- 1983 | No Selection
- 1982 | John B. Shaw '40 - Dramatist, Shakespeare professor
- 1981 | Robert J. Izant Jr. '39 - Pediatric surgeon, professor
- 1980 | E. Bruce Brooks '54 - History professor, musician, Orientalist
- 1979 | No Selection
- 1978 | Edward W. Jones '47 - Bishop
- 1977 | Holsey Gates Handyside '45 - Statesman
- 1976 | R. W. Apple Jr. '52 - Journalist
- 1975 | No Selection
- 1974 | Scott E. Forbush '20 - Physicist
- 1973 | John H. Stewart '58 - Tenor
- 1972 | Richard H. Bliss '38 - Headmaster
The Waring Prize Committee and the selection process. Selecting a prize recipient is the job of the Waring Prize Committee. Comprised of alumni and faculty, the committee must choose just one person from a pool of immensely talented and dynamic candidates. Committee membership rotates on a two-, three-, and four-year basis, with a certain percentage of the membership turning over at designated intervals. Below is a listing of current committee members:
Mrs. Erin Dickinson '99
Ms. Annetta Hewko '78
Mr. William Cudney '05
Mr. Donovan Husat '64
Mr. Steven Simons '64
Mr. Thomas Seligson '69
Dr. Ralf Bormann, faculty
Mrs. Inga Walker '91
Mrs. Sarah Horgan, faculty
SONIA MINIKEL VALLABH '02 YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
The Sonia Minikel Vallabh '02 Young Alumni Award recognizes an outstanding young alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated excellence in his or her professional field and/or has demonstrated service to his or her community, embodying the values and spirit of Western Reserve Academy.
To nominate an alumnus or an alumna for the Young Alumni Award, please complete and submit the nomination form. If you have questions about the nomination process or timeframe, please contact Director of Alumni Relations & Special Events Abbey Swegan Baker '94.
- 2022 | Dr. Sonia Minikel Vallabh '02