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Award Winners

Awards are intended to recognize members of the organization that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support students in New York State and advance the mission of NYSACAC. Awards are presented annually at the NYSACAC Annual Conference.

Congratulations to our 2026 Award Winners!
Please use the below links to learn more about each award and see the list of past winners.

President's Award: Joanna "JB" Broda, School of the Holy Child

Distinguished Service Award, College: Brenna May, Bennington College

Distinguished Service Award, Community Based Organization: Donald Ruff, The Eagle Academy Foundation

Distinguished Service Award, High School: Courtney Stern, Brighton High School

Inclusion, Access, and Success Award: Lauren Quigley, AECI Charter Schools Network

Rising Star Award: Hannah Kingsley, St. Lawrence University
 
 
This NYSACAC award is presented to an individual who, over a period of years, has performed outstanding service to NYSACAC, to our profession, and to the community.
 
YearAward Recipient NameAward Recipient Institution
2026Joanna "JB" BrodaSchool of the Holy Child
2025Marie NocellaSarah Lawrence College
2024Kathleen McArthurNYSACAC
2023Erica PadillaUniversity of Rochester
2022Jane MathiasNardin Academy
2021Stephanie EspinaAdelphi University
2020Dave FollickNassau Community College
2019Peter HaganSyracuse University
2018David CoatesCoates College Consulting
2017Dr. Timothy LeeSUNY University at Albany
2016Kent RinehartMarist College
2015Mary Lou BatesSkidmore College
2014Greg WassermanThe Wheatley School
2013Carl "Sandy" BehrendOrchard Park High School (retired)
2012Susan DavidsonThe Cooper Union
2011Michael AcquilanoStaten Island Academy
2010Sean P. KaylorMarist College
2009Richard AlvarezCity University of New York
2008Lisa SohmerGarden School
2007Janet PacificoJohn J. High School
2006Susan DonovanSyracuse University
2005Scott HookerAlfred University
2004Beryl S. JeffersSUNY Metropolitan Recruitment Center
2003Barry WardManhattanville College
2002Geoff GouldSUNY Binghamton (retired)
2001Mary Ann ReichhardtRye Country Day School
2000Joan ZinnerGarden School
1999Hugh JohnsonPittsford Middle School
1998Larry AppelSullivan County Community College
1997Joie' Ray-AlexanderSUNY System Administration
1996Rodney MorrisonUniversity of Rochester
1995Jose FloresManhattanville College 
 
 
 
This NYSACAC award recognizes an individual employed at a college for their exceptional service to our profession.

 
YearAward Recipient NameAward Recipient Institution
2026Brenna MayBennington College
2025Lisa SearleIthaca College
2024Gerard TurbideWells College
2023Craig BroccoliBinghamton University
2022Lauren SangiminoStony Brook University
2021Joanna KucharskiCUNY
2020Bryan RothsteinHofstra University
2019Meylin AndaresState University of New York (SUNY)
2018Sarah IrelandSkidmore College
2017Tom BlossIthaca College
2016Donna SchaffnerUtica College
2015Charlotte TefftSyracuse University
2014Susan ReantilloNYU Polytechnic School of Engineering
2013Peter JohnsonColumbia University
2012Denny NicholsonLeMoyne College
2011Stacey LedermanSt. John Fisher College
2010Dr. Patricia PeekFordham University
2009John YoungHobart & William Smith Colleges
2008Tom DaRinNazareth College
2007Fran BersteinSUNY Buffalo
2006Catherine DelorenzoSkidmore College
2005Richard BoryCooper Union
2004Kitty McCarthySUNY System Administration
2003Marcy KrausUniversity of Rochester
2002John BuckleyFordham University
2001Dianne CrozierUnion College
2000Joanna BrodaPace University
1999Peter JordanCollege of Aeronautics
1998Paula MitchellIthaca College
1997Mary Lou BatesSkidmore College
1996Mary Claire BauerCanisius College
1995Ann Fleming BrownUnion College
 


 

 
 

Distinguished Service Award: Community Based Organization (CBO)
This NYSACAC award recognizes an individual employed at a CBO for their exceptional service to our profession.

YearAward Recipient NameAward Recipient Institution
2026Donald RuffThe Eagle Academy Foundation
2025Maria Jose LascarroStudent Leadership Network
2024Rob RobinsonCollege Bound Initiative
2023John RoureCollege Bound Initiative
2022No recipient 
2021Kory McBrideNew Visions for Public Schools
2020Robyn German PhillipsThe Urban Assembly
2019Sandy JimenezGoddard Riverside Options Center


 

 
This NYSACAC award recognizes an individual employed at a high school for their exceptional service to our profession.
 
YearAward Recipient NameAward Recipient Institution
2026Courtney SternBrighton High School
2025Sheryl KavanaghGrand Island High School
2024Haniya MeeOakwood Friends School
2023Mark MasonNottingham High School
2022Annemarie CervoniOrchard Park High School
2021Maria FranquiUrban Assembly School for Leadership
& Empowerment
2020Luis BarceloPelham Memorial High School
2019Ummi Modeste-RogersonCity-As-School High School
2018Kevin BrooksBronx Academy of Letters
2017Mitchell L. Thompson, Jr.Scarsdale High School
2015Pauline BrookfieldMarymount School
2014Kent JonesEmma Willard School
2013Annie BrickelFLAGS High School (retired)
2012Jane MathiasNardin Academy
2011Jeff MakrisHigh School of Economics & Finance
2010Heidi GreenFayetteville-Manlius High School
2009Ann WallaceRye Neck Schools
2008Jan GoldsteinSolomon-Schechter School
2007Marlene MuscaneraThe Mary Louis Academy
2006Mike RocheSchool Without Walls
2005Marjorie JacobsScarsdale High School
2004Ralph DonnellClarkstown High School South
2003Rose Ellen RacanefiScarsdale High School
2002Tom YannoEast Syracuse-Minoa High School
2001Jeff SpielvogelFrancis Lewis High School
2000Katie MasonRush-Henrietta Senior High School
1999Roslyn SternliebGrover Cleveland High School
1998Judith KlempererHerbert H. Lehman High School
1997Penny ObergHorace Greeley High School
1996Hazel TischoffEdward R. Murrow High School
1995Patty TaylorBronxville High School
1993Carl "Sandy" BehrendOrchard Park High School
 
 


 

 
 
Inclusion, Access, and Success Award
(formerly known as the Human Relations Award)
 
The Inclusion, Access, and Success award is given to an individual or program that champions the issues of access, and making post-secondary opportunities available to historically underrepresented students. 
 
 
YearAward Recipient NameAward Recipient Institution
2026Lauren QuigleyAECI Charter Schools Network
2025Costas SolomouSUNY Geneseo
2024Alex El HelouSUNY Maritime
2023Briana Avery
Emmanuel Moses		Dream Charter High School
The Opportunity Network
2022Karen Archibee
Danielle Robinson		SUNY Oswego
SUNY Maritime
2021Estrella RedondoMarymount Manhattan College
2020Aaron RaySkidmore College
2019Jonathan HosterSyracuse University
2018Jo Anne PhangSyracuse University
2017Tom NesbittSUNY Potsdam
2016Kristen HarrisNYC Department of Education
2015Marie NocellaSiena College
2014James AgnelloBronxville High School
2013Cassie MagesisThe Urban Assembly
2012Chris FarmerYoung Women's Leadership School of East Harlem
2011Bill ShortSt. Lawrence University
2010Susan CohenThe Cooper Union
2009Karen StallerLawrence High School
2008Beryl S. JeffersSUNY Metropolitan Recruitment Center
2007Christopher MiltonSUNY Buffalo State College
2006Brian PetraitisCollege Board
2005Mitchell ThompsonScarsdale High School
2004Lonnie MorrisonSyracuse University
2003Angel PerezHigh School for Economics & Finance
2002Sean CallawayCenter for Urban Education/Pace University
2001Carla ShereThe Riverside Church in the City of New York
 
 
 
 
The Rising Star Award honors individuals and programs that exemplify excellence and dedication to serving the needs of students in the transition from high school to college. Preference will be given to those who have worked in the field for no more than five years. They must be new members who are striving to make a difference within the association through their work in committees. The winner of the NYSACAC Rising Star Award will automatically be the NYSACAC nominee for the NACAC Rising Star Award.

 
YearAward Recipient NameAward Recipient Institution
2026Hannah KingsleySt. Lawrence University
2025Madison MorganUniversity of Rochester
2024Caitlin DomagalSyracuse University
2023Tyree VannSt. John's University
2022Tyler AndersonBethlehem Central School
2021Betty ChenEast Harlem Tutorial Program
2020Emily TaskNew Visions for Public Schools
2020Julia ForemanNew Visions for Public Schools
2019Robert KaercherByron-Bergen Jr/Sr High School
2018Estrella RedondoMarymount Manhattan College
2017Daryl Hornick-BeckerCUNY Welcome Center
2017Brian CulliganSUNY Welcome Center
2016Bryan RothsteinAdelphi University
2015Alexandra TramposchNiagara University
2014Lisa SearleIthaca College
2013Casey PedrickStuyvesant High School