Arents Award

The George Arents Award is Syracuse University’s highest alumni honor, presented annually to alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their chosen fields. The award is named for George Arents, a successful manufacturer who served on Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees from 1930 until his death in 1960. Among his many legacies to the University is a fund he endowed in 1939 to provide the Arents Award, an annual honor recognizing SU alumni for their extraordinary achievements

Past Recipients

2022

• Robbin Armstrong ’85, Excellence in Visual Arts
• Joanna Geraghty G’97, L’97, Excellence in Business Leadership
• Stacey Mindich ’86, Excellence in Theatrical Production
• Robert J. Miron ’59, Excellence in Cable Television

2021

• Keith Cartwright '97, Excellence in Advertising
• María D. Meléndez ’89, Excellence in Law and Diversity Initiatives
• Dan Mezzalingua '60, Excellence in Business
• Jim Morris '77, G'78, Excellence in Entertainment

2020

Syracuse University did not present its annual alumni awards due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

• Dr. Alicia Carroll '88, Excellence in Medicine
• Mary Cotter '69, Excellence in Business
• Sean McDonough '84, Excellence in Sports Broadcasting

2018

• Kevin Bell ’74, H’16, Excellence in Wildlife Conservation and Education
• Dr. Sharon Brangman ’77, Excellence in Medicine
• Emme ’85, Excellence in Fashion and Women's Advocacy
• Joseph Strasser ’53, G’58, Excellence in Public Administration
• Abdallah Yabroudi ’78, G’79, Excellence in Engineering and Business

2017

• Thomas R. Coughlin ’68, G’69, Excellence in Athletics and Philanthropic Leadership
• Daniel A. D’Aniello ’68, Excellence in Business and Philanthropic Leadership
• Diane Nelson ’89, Excellence in Entertainment
• Mary Spio ’98, Excellence in Innovation

2016

• Jim Brown ’57, Excellence in Athletics and Social Activism
• Ambassador James Cunningham ’74, Excellence in Public Service and Diplomacy
• Robert Jarvik, M.D. ’68, H’83, Excellence in Medical Science
• Arielle Tepper Madover ’94, Excellence in Theater Producing and Arts Leadership

2015

• Erica Branch-Ridley ’87, Excellence in Media and Education
• Eric Mower ’66, G’68, Excellence in Advertising and Public Relations
• Donna Shalala G’70, H’87, Excellence in Public Service and Education
• Brandon Steiner ’81, Excellence in Sports Marketing
  

2014

• Richard M. Jones G’95, L’95, Excellence in Financial Law
• Angela Y. Robinson ’78, Excellence in Broadcasting
• Donald Schupak ’64, L’66, Excellence in Entrepreneurship
  

2013

• Taye Diggs ’93, Excellence in Performing Arts
• Carole Swid Eisner ’58, Excellence in Art
• Henry E. Grethel ’54, Excellence in Fashion Design
• Sid Lerner ’53, Excellence in Advertising, Wellness, and Philanthropy
• George Saunders G’88, Excellence in Literature
  

2012

• Dennis P. Crowley ’98, Excellence in Social Media Innovation
• Thom Filicia ’93, Excellence in Design
• James Arthur Monk Sr. ’80, Excellence in Athletic Achievement and Community Service
• Jane Werner Present ’56, Excellence in Philanthropy and Public Service
  

2011

• Joann F. Alper ’72, Excellence in Law
• S. Richard Fedrizzi G’87, Excellence in Sustainability Innovation
• Oren R. Lyons, ’58, H’93, Excellence in Social and Environmental Activism
• Sean C. O’Keefe G’78, Excellence in Public Service
  

2010

• Suzanne C. de Passe ′68, Excellence in Entertainment
• Brian P. McLane ′69, Excellence in Social Activism and Disability Rights
• Bill Viola ′73, H′95, Excellence in Video Art
• Karen B. Winnick ′68, Excellence in the Arts and Literacy Advocacy
  

2009

• Karen L. DeCrow L′72, Excellence in Advocacy of Civil Liberties and Women’s Rights
• Samuel V. Goekjian ′52, Excellence in International Business and Law
• Frank A. Langella ′59, Excellence in Performing Arts
• Donald G. McPherson ′87, Excellence in Social Activism
• Joyce Carol Oates ′60, H′00, Excellence in Letters
  

2008

• Shirley Jackson ′40, Literature
• Edwin London ′49, Entertainment Industry Management
• Andrea Davis Pinkney ′85, Publishing
• Daniel Present ′55, Medicine
• William Ronan ′34, Public Service
  

2007

• Lou Reed ′64, The Arts
  

2006

• Gerald B. Cramer ′52, Business
• David M. Crane G′80, International Law
• Ali Khalif Galaydh G′69, G′72, Government Service
• Richard J. Gluckman ′70, G′71, Architecture
• Ned Rifkin ′72, Arts Administration and Education
• Kathrine V. Switzer ′68, G′72, Athletics
  

2005

• Joseph R. Biden Jr. L′68, Public Affairs
• Nicholas M. Donofrio G′71, Technology Innovation
• Joyce Hergenhan ′63, Corporate Communications
• Ted Koppel ′60, H′82, Broadcast Journalism
• Albert Maysles ′49, Art
• Michael T. Tirico ′88, Sports Broadcasting
  

2004

• Rev. Joseph C. Ehrmann Jr. ′73, Ministry
• Carole Wolfe Korngold ′57, Education
• Chancellor Emeritus Kenneth A. Shaw H′04, Educational Administration
• Mary Ann Shaw H′04, Educational Administration
• Kenneth R. Sparks ′56, G′61, G′64, Public Service
• Martin J. Whitman ′49, H′08, Business
  

2003

• Gil Cates ′55, G′65, Television Production
• Nina V. Fedoroff ′66, Scientific Research
• Ralph Ketcham G′56, H′99, Education
• Joseph O. Lampe ′53, L′55, H′05, Business and Service to Alma Mater
  

2002

• Roger S. Berkowitz ′74, Food Service Management
• Walter H. Diamond ′34, International Taxation and Trade
• Warren L. Kimble ′57, Art
• Roberta Chamberlain Schofield ′57, G′77, Human Services
• Marilyn Smith Tennity ′42, Philanthropy
  

2001

• Lansing G. Baker G′64, G′72, Education
• Walter D. Broadnax G′75, Public Service
• Robert Q. Costas ′74, Sports Broadcasting

• Bruce S. Fowle ′60, Architecture

• Elsa Reichmanis ′72, G′75, Chemistry
• Aaron Sorkin ′83, Dramatic Writing
  

2000

• James A. Boeheim ′66, G′73, Intercollegiate Athletics
• Renée Schine Crown ′50, H′84, Civic Leadership
• Robert Fagenson ′70, Business
• Antje B. Lemke G′56, Humanitarianism
• Charles V. Willie G′57, H′92, Education
  

1999

• Lynn Ahrens ′70, Musical Theater
• Bradley J. Anderson ′51, Cartooning
• Molly Corbett Broad ′62, H’09, Educational Administration
• Bernard J. Wohl ′51, Social Work Practice
  

1998

• M. Elizabeth Carnegie G′52, H′98, Nursing
• David Falk ′72, Management in Sports Industry
• Marty Glickman ′39, Sportscasting
• Alan Rafkin ′50, Television
  

1997

• Irma Kalish ′44, Entertainment
• F. Story Musgrave ′58, G′85, Space Exploration
• Arthur Rock ′48, Business
• William L. Safire ′51, H′78, Journalism
  

1996

• Eileen M. Collins ′78, H′01, Space Exploration
• Ruth J. Colvin ′59, H′84, Literacy
• Marshall Gelfand ′50, Management in Entertainment Industry
• Vanessa L. Williams ′85, Entertainment
  

1995

• Richard W. Clark ′51, Entertainment
  

1994

• Martin N. Bandier ′62, Business
• David Bing ′66, H′06, Business
• JoAnn Heffernan Heisen ′72, Business
  

1993

• George W. Campbell Jr. G′77, H′03, Physics
• Mary Schmidt Campbell G′73, G′80, G′82, Art
• John A. Couri ′63, H′08, Business
• Marvin K. Lender ′63, Business
  

1992

• Stephen F. Kroft ′67, Broadcast Journalism
• Susan C. Penny ′70, Business
• Robert S. Rigolosi ′57, Medicine
• Anthony Y.C. Yeh ′49, Business
  

1991

• L. Ross Love ′68, Advertising
• Joan Lines Oates ′50, Archaeology
• J. Robert Tomlinson ′41, Business
  

1990

• Diane Camper ′68, Journalism
• Theresa Howard-Carter ′50, Archaeology
• Eleanor Ludwig ′43, G′45, Alumni Relations
• Albert Murray ′30, Art
• Richard C. Pietrafesa ′50, Business
  

1989

• H. Peter Guber ′64, Motion Pictures
• Luise Meyers Kaish ′46, G′51, Art
• John L. Martin ′59, L′62, Government Service
  

1988

• Candace Bahouth ′68, Art
• Douglas D. Danforth ′47, H′99, Business
• Robert S. Phillips ′60, G′63, Writing
• Peter W. Yenawine ′69, Design
  

1987

• George H. Babikian ′53, Business
• Robin R. Burns-McNeill ′74, Marketing
• Anthony C. Chevins ′47, Communications
• William J. Smith ′50, Business
  

1986

• Robert A. Beck ′50, Business
• Vincent H. Cohen ′57, L′60, Law
• Michael O. Sawyer ′41, G′47, G′52, Education
  

1985

• Alfonse D’Amato ′59, L′61, Government Service
• Richard S. Hayden ′60, Architecture
• Betsey Johnson ′64, Fashion Design
• Richard Stockton ′64, Broadcast Journalism
  

1984

• H. Douglas Barclay L′61, H′98, Law and Public Service
• Mel Elfin ′51, Journalism
• Robert Pietrafesa ′47, Business
• Maxine D. Singer ′33, Business
  

1983

• Stella Biercuk Blum ′38, Museology
• William J. Brodsky ′65, L′68, Business
• Sidney L. Krawitz ′33, Law
• Tarky J. Lombardi ′51, L′54, H′87, Government and Health
  

1982

• P. Gordon Gould ′27, Education
• Eva Holmes Lee ′41, Science
• George A. Sisson ′42, G′45, Medicine
• Lewis Slingerland ′27, Architecture
  

1981

• Mark A. Clements ′36, Business
• Carlisle S. Floyd Jr. ′46, G′49, H′97, Music and Drama
• Athena C. Kouray ′41, Community and Legal Service
• Christian X. Kouray ′41, G′43, Community and Legal Service
  

1980

• James A. Britton ′25, Architecture
• Lora S. Flanagan ′50, Business
• Robert B. Menschel ′51, H′91, Business
• Chester Soling ′54, Business
  

1979

• Louis F. Bantle ′51, H′94, Business
• Charles E. Boddie ′33, Human Relations
• Gerald Stiller ′50, Entertainment
  

1978

• Robert W. Cornell ′28, Business
• Seymour M. Leslie ′45, Business
• L. Douglas Meredith ′26, G′27, Public Business
• Dorothy E. Rowe ′38, Business
  

1977

• Susan Reid Greene ′62, Public Service
• Gerald J. Leider ′53, Communications
• Harry A. Devlin ′39, Art and Literature
• Dorothy Wende Devlin ′40, Art and Literature
  

1976

• Floyd D. Little ′67, Athletics
• Nancy Harvey Steorts ′59, Government
• Lee J. Topp ′51, Business
  

1975

• Horace J. Landry ′34, G′36, Business
• Rosemary S. Nesbitt ′47, Education
• Lawrence R. White ′48, Communications
  

1974

• Phyllis Hickman Demong ′40, Art
• Robert T. Schuler ′52, Public Service
• Demetria Taylor ′24, Food Science
  

1973

• Arthur J. Barry ′32, G′36, Science
• Marjorie Reeve Elliot ’15, Music
• Howard F. Miller ′42, Government

1972

• Elizabeth Barstow Alton ′29, Public Service
• Albert W. Brown ′49, G′52, Education
• Kenneth E. Buhrmaster ′37, Business
  

1971

• Shirley Martine Burdick Clayton ′50, Nursing
• John D. MacDonald ′38, Writing
• Bernard M. Singer ′27, Liability Law
  

1970

• Louis R. Bruce ′30, Government
• Julia Chase Fuller ′43, Communications
• John A. Olver ′39, G′42, International Relations
  

1969

• Franklyn S. Barry ′31, G′41, G′56, Education
• Donald S. MacNaughton ′39, L′48, H′78, Business Administration
• Cornelia T. Snell ′19, Chemistry
  

1968

• Robert W. Cutler ′28, Architecture
• Delmont K. Pfeffer ′23, Business
• Madeline J. Thornton ′23, Medicine
  

1967

• Jean DuBois Galkin ′48, Nursing
• Sheldon Leonard ′29, Television Production
• Joseph H. Murphy ′37, G′39, L′40, Law and Public Service
  

1966

• James F. Bunting ′27, Social Service
• Helen R. Hagan ′33, G′36, Child Welfare
• Millard G. Roberts ′39, Education
  

1965

• Donald J. Grout ′23, Music
• J.G. Fred Hiss ′15, G′17, Medicine
• Shirley Jackson '40
  

1964

• Frances Clark Dietzold ′20, Metallurgy
• Samuel Rosen ′21, Medicine
  

1963

• Lewis P. Andreas ′21, Athletics
• Mary C. Egan ′44, Food and Nutrition
• Frederick G. Vosburgh ′25, Journalism
  

1962

• Margaret Long Arnold ′34, Citizenship
• Norris O. Johnson ′27, Economics
• Eric W. Will ′18, Business & Community Leadership
  

1961

• William G. Atwell ′86, Religion
• Harvey O. Banks ′30, Civil Engineering
• Marion Clayton Link ′29, Archaeology
  

1960

• Donald Q. Faragher ′30, Architecture
• J. Burch McMorran ′22, Civil Engineering
• Eloise Andrews Woolever ′09, Christian Service
  

1959

• Vernon L. deTar ′27, Sacred Music
• Eric H. Faigle ′28, G′30, H′68, Education
• Clare Brown Williams ′31, Public Affairs
  

1958

• Darius A. Davis ′07, International Service
• Elizabeth Sweeney Herbert ′42, G′45, Home Economics
• Lester O. Schriver ′17, Insurance
  

1957

• Walter S. Bourlier ′05, Engineering
• Pyo Wook Han ′42, Diplomacy
• Agnes E. Law ′15, Radio and Television
  

1956

• Florence Kerins Murray ′38, Law and Public Service
• D. Kenneth Sargent ′27, Architecture
• Clarence L. VanSchaick ′29, Industry (Forestry)
  

1955

• Leslie A. Bryan ′24, G′24, L′39, Aviation Education
• June Buchanan ′13, Education
• Malcolm P. Ferguson ′18, H′55, Engineering
  

1954

• Gertrude Skerritt Brooks ′13, Political and Social Betterment
• Edward C. Reifenstein ′04, Medicine
• Chancellor Emeritus William P. Tolley ′22, G′24, H′69, Education
  

1953

• Mary Ames Becker ′28, Musical Theater
• Martha Keefe Phillips ′94, Human Relations
• Carlton F. Sharpe ′26, Municipal Government
  

1952

• Evelyn Millis Duvall ′27, Family Relations
• Edgar B. Ingraham ′12, Business
• William D. Lewis ′92, Education
  

1951

• T. Frank Dolan, Jr. L′16, Business and Community Leadership
• Helene W. Hartley ′20, Education
• Gordon D. Hoople ′15, G′19, H′67, Otology
  

1950

• Harry J. Carman ′09, Social Services and Educational Administration
• Clara Bannister Congdon ′75, Humane and Cultural Pursuits
• Florence Bailey Crouse ′99, Service to Alma Mater
  

1949

• Hilda Grossman Taylor ′12, Fine Arts
• Harry E. Weston ′21, Industrial Education
• Nelia Gardner White ′15, Writing
  

1948

• LeGrande A. Diller ′23, Military Service
• Welthy Honsinger Fisher ′00, H′65, International Culture
• Drew Middleton ′41, H′63, Journalism
  

1947

• T. Aaron Levy ′95, Public Service
• Harry L. Upperman ′22, G′28, Christian Science
  

1946

• J. Roscoe Drummond ′24, H′55, Journalism
• Winifred Fisher ′15, Education
  

1945

• Neal Brewster ′02, Public Service
• Ernest H. Hawkins ′07, Engineering
• Katharine Sibley ′36, Education
  

1944

• J. Winifred Hughes ′14, H′58, Human Relationships
• Edmund H. Lewis ′09, H′37, Administration of Justice
  

1943

• Carl L. Bausch ′09, H′56, Scientific Research
• DeWitt T. MacKenzie ′07, Journalism
• Marguerite W. Wriston ′18, G′28, Education
  

1942

• Cora Dodson Graham ′94, Cultural and Human Pursuits
• William P. Graham ′93, Educational Administration
  

1941

• Lurelle Van Arsdale Guild ′20, Industrial Design
• Cecilia B. Martin ′26, Newspaper Photography
• J. Robert Rubin ′04, Public Service

1940

• Frank J. O’Neill ′04, Business Administration
• Anna V. Rice ′04, Christian Science
• Herman G. Weiskotten ′06, G′09, H′51, Medical Education
  

1939

• William M. Smallwood ′96, Science (Zoology)
• Dorothy C. Thompson ′14, Journalism
• John Shaw Young ′24, Radio