Alumni Awards

Congratulations to our 2009 Alumni Award recipients!

Sue Smith Yeaw '49, Non Nobis Solum Award
Dorothy Braude Edinbrug '38, Distinguished Alumni Award
Melissa Marotto '99, Young Alumni Award

The Non Nobis Solum Award honors a person whose accomplishments exemplify the tradition of giving of oneself that Walnut Hill seeks to foster in its students. Past recipients have demonstrated a continued commitment to Walnut Hill by serving on the Board of Trustees, Visitors, or Overseers and supporting the many events and projects that Walnut Hill undertakes. Some recipients have supported students through the Student Sponsorship Program. Others introduce friends and neighbors to the school at the annual Benefit Gala in NYC or Boston and productions on campus. Recipients are also committed to their local communities and can often be found serving others through volunteering at organizations like the local hospital, library, schools, and arts organizations.

About Sue Smith Yeaw '49 
Sue Smith Yeaw has been involved in just about every way possible at the school. She has served on the Board of Overseers, and for many years on the Board of Visitors, including as chair of that group. Sue has helped coordinate class reunions as a liaison, including for this year's Class of 1949 60th Reunion. She has shown her annual commitment to the school as a member of the Star Society, having given to the Annual Fund for more than 20 consecutive years.

The business owner of EtCetera for 30 years, even Sue's business approach is philanthropic.  She and daughter Karen sell items at fundraisers and donate
20% of their proceeds right back to the organization which she is helping. In addition to volunteering for Walnut Hill, she is involved as a deacon at her church where she is active delivering flowers to people unable to leave their homes, working on the church grounds during clean up days, with their rummage sales, and cooking for every event needed.  Sue has been a member of the Junior League, and president of the women's group of the Madison Golf Club in New Jersey where she assists with their many events. Sue loves playing golf and tennis in her spare time! And, of course one of her proudest accomplishments is her family - her three children Karen, Bruce, and Sally, her grandchildren Megan, Hunt, and Leigh, and her partner, Ed Whalen.

Past recipients of the Non Nobis Solum Award include:
Molly Hunter Dobson '40 (1993)
Carol Nulman '74 (1994)
†Amy Flynn-Ramirez '74 (1994)
†Margaret Klous Williams '12 (1995)
Connie Allen Eastburn '54 (1996)
Connie Shen Pittman '47 (1997)
Meg Fallon Wheeler '62 (1998)
Joan Griggs Babbott '44 (1999)
Sally Winter French '49 (1999)
Ralph Farris '89 (2000)
Lois Aronson Lopatin '58 (2001)
Ellie Phillips Sanderson '52 (2002)
Pixley Lewis Schiciano '78 (2003)
Priscilla Clapp '59 (2004)
Betsy Paine McClendon '65 (2005)
Linda Harper McLane '66 (2006)
Sarah Cross Mills '62 (2007)
Pam Aposotol Kukla '63 (2008)

The Distinguished Alumni Award is given in recognition of extraordinary achievement in one's field. Recipients of this award are devoted to the contribution of their life's work for the betterment of society abroad and stateside. Alumni to whom this award has been given work in many different fields, including theater, judicial government, photography, medicine, and development, to name a few. Some have worked to prevent domestic violence, eradicate iodine deficiency around the world, and support organizations that empower young girls to be confident.

About Dorothy Braude Edinburg '38
Dorothy grew up surrounded by art in her parents' Brookline, MA, home and, as an adult, has developed a passion for acquiring art. An expert in two fields: Asian Ceramics from the 7th  to 13th centuries and works on paper from the renaissance onward, one hundred pieces of Korean and Chinese ceramics from Dorothy's personal collection are presently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago in the exhibit Deft Hands, Discerning Eyes. If you live near or will be visiting Chicago before June 7, go see it. Throughout her collecting career, Dorothy has met many of the distinguished artists of the 20th century, including Roualt and Léger. Her commitment to beauty extends to the preservation of historic architecture and she has campaigned whole-heartedly to save the London neighborhood once occupied by Pre-Raphaelite artists.

Dorothy studied art history at Wellesley College, and now divides her time between Brookline and London. She is an avid supporter of Walnut Hill and its post-1970's transition to a focus on arts and academics and has been actively involved in the annual benefit Gala, as a member of Walnut Hill's Board of Visitors and the Board of Overseers. Dorothy is a member of the Star Society, having given to the Annual Fund for more than 20 consecutive years. As many of our students are in pursuit of beauty through art, so are Dorothy's strong convictions for that which is beautiful and rare, as James Cuno, the director of the Art Institute of Chicago and longtime friend of Dorothy's, has said of her.

Past recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award include:
Meg Fallon Wheeler '62 (1993)
Sherry Howell Hatch '52 (1994)
Lola Fortmiller Baldwin '51 (1995)
Martha Legg Katz '48 (1996)
Susan Still Kilrain '79 (1997)
Helen Patton-Plusczyk '80 (1998)
Esther Budiardjo-Pickett '90 (1999)
Lucinda Weil Bunnen '48 (2000)
Susan Stampler Paresky '64 (2001)
Ruth Stoller Scheer '57 (2002)
Bobi Kline Eldridge '53 (2003)
Helen Hays '49 (2004)
Helen Patton-Plusczyk '80 (2005) 
Lee Marks '66 (2006)
Joyce Wheeler '66 (2006)
Constance Shen Pittman '47 (2007)
Hae Sun Paik '83 (2008)

The Young Alumni Award is given to an alumna/us who has graduated within the last 20 years and who has already achieved great heights in their chosen field during the short time since graduating from Walnut Hill. This, our newest award, has gone to four alumni who have dedicated much of their busy schedules to engaging other young alumni in Walnut Hill happenings. They volunteer as Reunion Class Liaisons, have helped to originate new events like the college alumni reunion WinterVisit, and the Young Alumni Gala Party. Young Alumni to whom this award has been presented have used their art in many ways including opportunities to create dialogue between nations and also opportunities for minority populations.

About Melissa Marotto '99
Melissa Marotto is a Walnut Hill ambassador through and through.  Even before joining the Board of Visitors she was spreading the word about the school in New York City and among her own students at Chrystie Street Ballet Academy, the ballet studio in NYC's Chinatown which she opened in 2007. There, she uses the teaching methods she says she learned at Walnut Hill. Melissa helps Walnut Hill evaluate and re-evaluate how to stay connected with young alumni. She has participated in the planning, outreach, and hosting of the last 4 out of 7 New York fall young alumni gatherings. She invests in the future of Walnut Hill and her belief in arts education by participating in the Annual Fund. A Boston native who went on to attend Boston Conservatory, Melissa has made NYC her home, where so many Walnuts flock. But, she has kept Walnut Hill in her heart. Thank you, Melissa, for exemplifying how young alumni can be active in Walnut Hill in whatever way makes sense for them.

Past recipients of the Young Alumni Award include:
Allison Perry Iantosca '90 (2003)
Audrey White '85 (2005)
Mike Kelley '92 (2007)
Mucuy Bolles '88 (2008)