NYU Volunteer & Service Awards

The Alumni Volunteer & Service Awards recognize alumni volunteers, whose service to NYU furthers the mission of the NYU Alumni Association.

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Award Categories

Award recipients can be recognized in six distinct categories to celebrate and recognize their exemplary commitment. Alumni clubs and volunteers are reviewed and selected by the NYU Alumni Association Board and celebrated at the annual alumni volunteer recognition event.

Event of the Year

This award is given to any officially-recognized NYU-affiliated club or group, who has developed and executed an original and creative academic, social, cultural, career, or community service event during the past year, which has effectively engaged their alumni constituency and fulfilled or furthered the mission of the NYU Alumni Association.

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Innovation of the Year

This award is given to any officially-recognized NYU-affiliated club or group, or individual volunteer, who has developed and executed a unique and innovative community-building idea or strategy during the past year, which has effectively engaged their alumni constituency and fulfilled or furthered the mission of the NYU Alumni Association.

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Volunteer of the Year

This award is given to a volunteer from any officially-recognized NYU-affiliated club or group, who has demonstrated sustained exemplary service and leadership in engaging alumni, exhibited success in developing and executing meaningful alumni programming, and cultivated the spirit of NYU pride within their constituency of the alumni community.

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New Volunteer of the Year

This award is given to a volunteer from any officially recognized NYU-affiliated club or group, who has assumed a volunteer role within the past year, and has demonstrated creativity and passion in fulfilling the NYUAA’s mission to engage alumni, exhibited initiative in becoming an effective alumni leader, and cultivated the spirit of NYU pride within their constituency of the alumni community.

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Club of Distinction

This award is given to an officially-recognized NYU-affiliated club or group that has continuously and consistently developed significant programming to engage the NYU alumni community throughout the previous five years. This award recognizes the alumni club or group’s legacy of hard work and commitment to their NYU alumni community. This award recognizes long standing exemplary service and is not given every year. Clubs can only receive this award once.

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Meritorious Service Award

This award is given to a member of the NYU alumni community of significant renown and who has provided exemplary service to volunteer programs.

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Current Honorees

The most recent NYU Alumni Volunteer Recognition and Service Award honorees were celebrated on September 10, 2026. Alumni from across the globe joined us in celebrating the many alumni volunteers who support the NYU community. Learn more about the honorees below:

  • Milk Tea Happy Hour attendees

    2026 Event of the Year

    Milk Tea Happy Hour

    NYU Asian, Pacific Islander, & Desi Alumni Network

    Launched in May 2025 during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Milk Tea Happy Hour series was conceived by the NYU Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi Alumni (APIDA) Network to build an inclusive, light-hearted space for alumni to connect.

    Learn about Milk Tea Happy Hour

  • NYU Alumni Reception in Cannes attendees

    2026 Innovation of the Year

    NYU Alumni Reception in Cannes

    NYU Alumni Club in France

    On May 17, 2025, NYU Alumni Relations hosted an alumni gathering during the Cannes Film Festival, welcoming 76 alumni from 10 NYU schools and 10 countries, two professors, and an alumnus whose film was featured during the festival.

    Learn about NYU Alumni Reception in Cannes

  • Headshot of Rebecca Alva

    2026 Volunteer of the Year

    Rebecca Alva [she/her]

    STEINHARDT ’96

    NYU Alumni Club in South Florida

    Rebecca Alva is a dedicated pillar of the NYU Alumni community in South Florida. Recently celebrating a major milestone: Rebecca surpassed ten years of service to the NYU Alumni Association through the NYU Alumni Club in South Florida. During that time, she has organized, hosted, and promoted more than 50 NYU events.

    Meet Rebecca

  • Headshot of Ife Lawal

    2026 New Volunteer of the Year

    Ife Lawal [he/him]

    TANDON ’18

    NYU Alumni in Tech

    From the moment he stepped into his role with the NYU Alumni in Tech club, Ife didn’t just volunteer, he transformed. As a brand-new volunteer, he immediately recognized the potential of the club and took on the challenge of revitalizing its presence and impact.

    Meet Ife

  • NYU Alumni Club in Los Angeles members

    2026 Club of Distinction

    NYU Alumni Club in Los Angeles

    For over a decade, the NYU Alumni Club in Los Angeles has stood out as a leader in the alumni community through the sheer quantity and exceptional quality of its programming, having hosted over 300 events that have brought together more than 7,000 attendees. The club maintains a steady, active presence year after year, hosting creative and varied gatherings tailored to its diverse audience—even pivoting seamlessly to virtual programming during the height of the pandemic.

    Meet the NYU Alumni Club in Los Angeles

  • Headshot of Elio Martinez, Jr.

    2026 Meritorious Service Award

    Elio Martinez, Jr. [he/him]

    LAW ’85

    NYUAA Past President

    Elio F. Martinez, Jr., a proud NYU Law graduate, is the immediate Past President of the NYU Alumni Association, leading the Board of Directors with consistency and humility from 2024-2026. His wife, Patricia, obtained her undergraduate degree from the NYU College of Arts & Science, as did his daughter, Katrina. Thus, the color violet runs strong in the Martinez household.

    Meet Elio

Nominations

Submit a nomination for an alum now.
Please check the nomination form for details about the current submission deadlines. Learn how to compile a nomination by reviewing this sample nomination.

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Alumni Volunteer Awards Directory

View past NYUAA Award honorees from 2015 through today. Additional honorees are available in a list below. To reset filters, scroll back to the default title (i.e., if using the Industry filter, navigate back to the word Industry at the top of the filter.)

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Alumni Volunteer Awards Honorees

View additional award recipients. To reset filters, scroll back to the default title (i.e., if using the School filter, navigate back to the word "Filter by school" at the top of the filter.)

Name School Award year Award
NYU Nursing Administration Alumni Advisory Council N/A 2020 Event of the Year
NYU Tisch West N/A 2020 Innovation of the Year
NYU Alumni Club in Singapore N/A 2020 Club of Distinction
Antonio Miceli CAS ’11 2020 New Volunteer of the Year
Alice Cheng SSSW ’10 2020 New Volunteer of the Year
Oded Agam STERN ’01 2020 Volunteer of the Year
NYU LGBTQ+ Alumni Network N/A 2019 Event of the Year
NYU LatinX Alumni Club N/A 2019 Innovation of the Year
Renee Sanchez MEYERS ’13 2019 New Volunteer of the Year
Jessica Bynoe CAS ’04, WAG, ’05 2019 Volunteer of the Year
NYU LGBTQ+ Alumni Network N/A 2018 Event of the Year
NYU Alumni Club in Shanghai N/A 2018 Innovation of the Year
Kevin Ortiz STERN ’13 2018 New Volunteer of the Year
William Wang CAS ’17 2018 New Volunteer of the Year
Daniel Esquivel STEINHARDT ’11 2018 Volunteer of the Year
NYU Alumni Club in South China N/A 2017 Innovation of the Year
Jennifer Kitson WAG ’15 2017 New Volunteer of the Year
Ashley Putnam WAG ’15 2017 New Volunteer of the Year
Gerry Dawes TANDON ’84, ’89 2017 Volunteer of the Year
Pujan Amin STERN ’06 2016 New Volunteer of the Year
Mark Yang CIMS ’00 2016 New Volunteer of the Year
Nick Jensen CAS ’11 2016 Volunteer of the Year
Caleb Hodes GAL ’13 2016 Volunteer of the Year
Gale Drukier STEINHARDT ’72 2013 Alumni Meritorious Service
Judith Haber MEYERS ’67, ’84 2013 Alumni Meritorious Service
David M. Costabile TSOA ’95 2012 Alumni Meritorious Service
E. O’Brien Murray SPS ’01 2012 Alumni Meritorious Service
John A. Calvo STERN ’91, LAW ’95 2011 Alumni Meritorious Service
Steven S. Miller LAW ’70 2011 Alumni Meritorious Service
Craig Behrenfeld LAW ’91 2010 Alumni Meritorious Service
Evelyn Berezin WSC ’46 2010 Alumni Meritorious Service
Beverly Hyman STEINHARDT ’80 2008 Alumni Meritorious Service
Jeffrey S. Gould WSC ’79 2008 Alumni Meritorious Service
Karen Siff-Exkorn GAL ’96 2007 Alumni Meritorious Service
Norma Z. Paige WSC ’44, LAW ’46 2007 Alumni Meritorious Service
Daniel J. Brodsky WAG ’70 2006 Alumni Meritorious Service
H. Dale Hemmerdinger WSC ’67 2006 Alumni Meritorious Service
Melvin A. Stein STERN ’53 2005 Alumni Meritorious Service
Stanley N. Turetzky DEN ’62 2005 Alumni Meritorious Service
Evan R. Chesler ARTS ’70, LAW ’75 2004 Alumni Meritorious Service
Joan Martens STERN ’75 2004 Alumni Meritorious Service
Andre De Shields GAL ’91 2003 Alumni Meritorious Service
Florence A. Davis LAW ’79 2003 Alumni Meritorious Service
Mary Tanaskovic Bitting STERN ’68, ’71 2002 Alumni Meritorious Service
Gloria Samuels-Flood SSW ’89 2002 Alumni Meritorious Service
Joseph A. Rice TANDON ’52, GSAS ’68 2002 Alumni Meritorious Service
Jane Dresner Sadaka STERN ’80 2000 Alumni Meritorious Service
Seymour Evans WSC ’49, DEN ’53 2000 Alumni Meritorious Service
Kevin R. Brine STERN ’81 1999 Alumni Meritorious Service
Susan Goren ARTS ’75 1999 Alumni Meritorious Service
Stephen Golden GAL ’90 1998 Alumni Meritorious Service
William A. Cook SSW ’71 1998 Alumni Meritorious Service
Lawrence I. Konstan WSC ’63, GSAS ’70 1997 Alumni Meritorious Service
Mary Farrell STERN ’76 1997 Alumni Meritorious Service
E. Jon de Revere ARTS ’60 1996 Alumni Meritorious Service
Jonathan M. Herman ARTS ’69, LAW ’73 1996 Alumni Meritorious Service
Robert Kavesh STERN ’49 1996 Alumni Meritorious Service
Leonard N. Stern STERN ’57, ’59 1995 Alumni Meritorious Service
Martin D. Payson LAW ’61 1995 Alumni Meritorious Service
Anthony A. Ginsberg GSAS ’73 1994 Alumni Meritorious Service
Betty W. Ellerin WSC ’50, LAW ’52 1994 Alumni Meritorious Service
Carl W. Greene STERN ’60 1994 Alumni Meritorious Service
Marvin Barasch STERN ’47 1994 Alumni Meritorious Service
Bruce Berger STERN ’66 1993 Alumni Meritorious Service
Kathleen M. Kelly STERN ’62 1993 Alumni Meritorious Service
Laurence M. Lerner ARTS ’61 1993 Alumni Meritorious Service
Arnold L. Goren STEINHARDT ’47, ’48 1992 Alumni Meritorious Service
Jane Eisner Bram WSC ’58, SSW ’79 1992 Alumni Meritorious Service
Meryl R. Grayer STEINHARDT ’48, ’49 1991 Alumni Meritorious Service
Myron Kove ARTS ’56, LAW ’67 1991 Alumni Meritorious Service
Thomas H. Wysmuller ARTS ’66 1991 Alumni Meritorious Service
Jack I. Appel WSC ’51 1990 Alumni Meritorious Service
Jeffrey G. Leeds ARTS ’68, DEN ’72 1990 Alumni Meritorious Service
Lena Rettig LAW ’60 1990 Alumni Meritorious Service
A. Milton Bell WSC ’47, DEN ’51 1989 Alumni Meritorious Service
Anne L. Martin STEINHARDT ’71 1989 Alumni Meritorious Service
Ira A. Laufer WSC ’48, MED ’53 1989 Alumni Meritorious Service
Norman Goodman ARTS ’47, LAW ’50 1989 Alumni Meritorious Service
Susan Tabor Wahman ARTS ’61 1989 Alumni Meritorious Service
Alfred H. Horowitz STERN ’51 1988 Alumni Meritorious Service
Alonzo H. Shockley, Jr. STEINHARDT ’56 1988 Alumni Meritorious Service
Edward E. Blakeslee LAW ’47 1988 Alumni Meritorious Service
Herman L. Bosboom DEN ’44 1988 Alumni Meritorious Service
Cathy Goldsmith STEINHARDT ’68, ’71, ’74 1987 Alumni Meritorious Service
Herbert M. Paul STERN ’56, LAW ’61 1987 Alumni Meritorious Service
David S. Slater STEINHARDT ’51 1986 Alumni Meritorious Service
Frances H. Lee GSAS ’62 1986 Alumni Meritorious Service
Arthur H. Rubin STEINHARDT ’50 1985 Alumni Meritorious Service
Arthur W. Harrigan STERN ’42, ’48 1985 Alumni Meritorious Service
Frederick C. Schult, Jr. ARTS ’50, GSAS ’51 1985 Alumni Meritorious Service
Joseph H. Press WSC ’37, MED ’41 1985 Alumni Meritorious Service
Vincent V. LaBruna DEN ’58 1985 Alumni Meritorious Service
John J. Creedon STERN ’52, LAW ’55 1984 Alumni Meritorious Service
Philip M. Hahn STERN ’59 1984 Alumni Meritorious Service
Audrey Schmidt Rubin STEINHARDT ’54, GSAS ’61 1983 Alumni Meritorious Service
Frances K. Barasch GSAS ’64 1983 Alumni Meritorious Service
Thomas J. Kraner WSC ’53, STERN ’56 1983 Alumni Meritorious Service
Daniel D. Robinson STERN ’50 1981 Alumni Meritorious Service
Gerald S. Wank WSC ’45, DEN ’49 1981 Alumni Meritorious Service
Roger K. Baumberger STERN ’64 1981 Alumni Meritorious Service
Martin Tucker GSAS ’49, ’63 1980 Alumni Meritorious Service
Robert H. Stovall STERN ’57 1980 Alumni Meritorious Service
Lester Pollack LAW ’57 1979 Alumni Meritorious Service
Norman Rogoff DEN ’41 1979 Alumni Meritorious Service
Donald T. Fox LAW ’56 1978 Alumni Meritorious Service
Joseph W. Handelman STERN ’64 1978 Alumni Meritorious Service
Elizabeth Iannizzi STEINHARDT ’52, ’67 1977 Alumni Meritorious Service
Howard L. Greenberger LAW ’54 1977 Alumni Meritorious Service
Martin Lipton LAW ’55 1976 Alumni Meritorious Service
Thomas J. Kane ARTS ’42 1975 Alumni Meritorious Service
Robert F. Wright STERN ’51 1974 Alumni Meritorious Service
Eugene J. T. Flanagan STERN ’57, LAW ’60 1973 Alumni Meritorious Service
I. Stanley Kriegel STERN ’29 1973 Alumni Meritorious Service
Alan A. Scheer MED ’46 1972 Alumni Meritorious Service
Henry A. Trow DEN ’37 1972 Alumni Meritorious Service
Larry A. Silverstein ARTS ’52 1970 Alumni Meritorious Service
Marvin Leffler STERN ’42, ’51 1970 Alumni Meritorious Service
John H. Leonard STERN ’42, ’51 1969 Alumni Meritorious Service
Robert Rubinger ARTS ’45 1969 Alumni Meritorious Service
Gloria Hirsch Soloff STERN ’49 1968 Alumni Meritorious Service
Ignatius N. Quartararo DEN ’52 1967 Alumni Meritorious Service
Leonard J. Greenthal STERN ’32, ’35 1967 Alumni Meritorious Service
Leo Botwinick DEN ’43 1966 Alumni Meritorious Service
Martin G. Waldman WSC ’48, STEINHARDT ’51 1965 Alumni Meritorious Service
Madeline H. McWhinney STERN ’47 1962 Alumni Meritorious Service
Nathan P. Tanners DEN ’30 1960 Alumni Meritorious Service
Martha K. Bosshart STEINHARDT ’28, ’31 1941 Alumni Meritorious Service

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