The UVM Foundation and the UVM Alumni Association honored outstanding graduates and philanthropists at an evening event on Thursday, October 4 at UVM Alumni House in Burlington, Vermont.
The annual “Celebrating Excellence” ceremony was attended by over 225 people and featured remarks by UVM President Tom Sullivan. UVM Foundation President and CEO Shane Jacobson and UVM Alumni Association President Penrose Jackson ’70 presented the 2018 awards to the honorees.
The 2018 award recipients are:
UVM Foundation Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy Award: Robert E Miller HON’15 & Holly D Miller HON’15
Outstanding UVM Young Alumni Award: Jessica R Bullock ’12 and Elliot J Kennedy ’08
UVM Alumni Achievement Award: Briar Alpert ’83 & G’92
UVM Alumni Achievement Award: Dr Wanda R Heading-Grant ’87 & G’03
UVM Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award: Paul T Malone ’68
2018 UVM Foundation Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy Award:
Robert E Miller HON’15 & Holly D Miller HON’15
Holly and Bob Miller are passionate philanthropists who have given many years of outstanding service to the people of Vermont. Through their energy, collaborative leadership, and philanthropic investment, they have made an enormous difference to Vermonters at all points along life’s path. Holly has long been an important advocate in the areas of nursing and end-of-life care, among others, and has worked tirelessly to advance these causes with several local and regional organizations. For his part, Bob has played a crucial role in the economic health of Northern Vermont as founder and owner of REM Development, the region’s largest developer and lessor of commercial real estate. The Millers are deeply committed to improving the experiences of patients and their families by supporting the education, research, and clinical missions of the UVM Larner College of Medicine, UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and the UVM Medical Center. Their philanthropy and vision have also benefited many other Vermont organizations, including the Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties, the Boys and Girls Club, the Flynn Theatre, the King Street Center, Champlain College, and the Vermont Women’s Fund. Residents of Burlington, Bob and Holly hold honorary degrees from Champlain College and the University of Vermont.
2018 Outstanding UVM Young Alumni Award:
Jessica R Bullock ’12
Jessica R Bullock ’12 is the founding director of the non-profit organization SPEAK Inc., an attorney, and a national and international debate lecturer. Passionate about all things debate, Jessica served as president of the Lawrence Debate Union during her time at UVM. Since graduating, Jessica has returned to the University to help volunteer, coach debate practices, and run the annual Huber Debate Tournament. In 2014, Jessica began her law studies at Vermont Law School and founded a student group called SPEAK to provide debate and public speaking training for traditionally underrepresented groups. In 2016, Jessica converted the group into the non-profit organization, SPEAK Inc., and she continues to serve as its lead instructor and Chair of the Board of Directors. SPEAK empowers historically muted voices within our society and inspires volunteerism. Jessica is a judicial law clerk at the Vermont Supreme Court in Montpelier, Vermont. She and her husband Liam Donnelly ’12 & MD’18 reside in Montpelier, Vermont.
2018 Outstanding UVM Young Alumni Award:
Elliot J Kennedy ’08
Elliot, a 2008 graduate of the University of Vermont, discovered his passion for working on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community while a student. During his undergraduate years at UVM, he played a vital role in advocating for transgender and gender non-conforming students to be able to use preferred names and pronouns in University systems. Elliot championed policy changes and oversaw their implementation into UVM’s student information system. Elliot earned a law degree in 2012 from American University’s Washington College of Law, and went on to work with The Trevor Project (a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth) as a policy counsel in Washington, D.C. In 2014, he joined the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as a Special Expert for LGBT Affairs, and in 2016 he became the first-ever Senior Advisor for LGBT Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. Elliot has dedicated his career to advancing the rights and improving the well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals through law and policy. Elliot and his wife, Sarah, reside in University Park, Maryland.
2018 UVM Alumni Achievement Award:
Briar Alpert ’83 &G’92
Briar Alpert has an outstanding commitment to Vermont, the University, and his local community. A graduate of UVM’s Mechanical Engineering and MBA programs, Briar started his career working as an engineer for Pizzagalli Construction. He joined BioTek Instruments in 1986 beginning as a manufacturing engineer. Today he is President and CEO of BioTek, headquartered in Winooski, Vermont. BioTek is a worldwide leader of innovative life science instrumentation with a commitment to developing and manufacturing 100% of their products in Vermont. With over 500 employee’s BioTek is one of Vermont’s premier technology companies, and has had a significant positive impact on the Vermont economy. With cumulative exports of over $1,000,000,000. BioTek has been recognized as one of the “best places to work in Vermont,” employing many UVM graduates. In addition to his career in biotechnology, Briar has given tirelessly to his community as a volunteer leader. He is an active charter member of the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies and serves on the University of Vermont Board of Trustees. Briar amplifies his dedication to the community by encouraging his own employees to volunteer and providing paid time off for those who do. Briar and his wife, Susan ’81, reside in Charlotte, Vermont and have two daughters Sage and Carly.
2018 UVM Alumni Achievement Award:
Dr Wanda R Heading-Grant ’87 & G’03
Dr Wanda R Heading-Grant is Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at the University of Vermont. A “cultural architect,” she provides vision, leadership, and coordination for university-wide diversity, inclusion, and equity programs, as well as affirmative recruitment and employment services, benefits and compensation, employee and labor relations, and professional development. A dedicated alum and senior leader, Dr. Heading-Grant has served UVM for more than 28-years in roles including: Director of the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity; Associate Dean of the College of Education and Social Services; Associate Provost, Chief Diversity Officer and Special Assistant to the President for Multicultural Initiatives; and her current role as a Vice President since 2013. She has also served on numerous boards and commissions throughout Chittenden County helping organizations become more diverse, inclusive and socially dynamic. Her accomplishments in academia, community service and outreach have been widely recognized. She was most recently awarded the 2018 Individual Leadership Award recipient from the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE). Dr. Heading-Grant earned her BA in Social Work and her Ed.D in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at UVM. She resides in Colchester with her husband, Jarvis, and is the proud parent of three young adults.
2018 UVM Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award:
Paul T Malone ’68
Serving continuously since graduating from UVM fifty years ago, Paul has given his heart and soul to the University of Vermont—most notably as the president of his class. Paul’s tireless, effective leadership has created an unprecedented cohesiveness among his classmates. His inclusive approach has resulted in some of the largest volunteer committees on record and has consistently yielded excellent reunion attendance numbers. Paul is a true role model, demonstrating the impact a class president can have on sustained class engagement. As leader who is not afraid of active involvement and innovation Paul works with his class committee and the alumni office to continue many class traditions that consist of hikes, boat cruises and cocktail parties just to name a few. In addition to serving as class president, Paul initiated and led, along with Rick Farnham ’69 two football reunions. Paul has tallied more than thirty-three consecutive years of philanthropy to the University of Vermont. He spearheaded a $50,000 fundraising effort for the UVM Alumni House renovation project in remembrance and recognition of his former classmate and football teammate, Colin Hurd ’68, who passed away while piloting a helicopter in Vietnam.
About the Awards
The Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy Award is given by the University of Vermont Foundation to deserving individuals or couples who have demonstrated a passionate commitment to UVM through their leadership, vision, volunteerism, and personal philanthropy. Recipients of this award must be lifetime members of the Ira Allen Society with demonstrated impact in promoting and expanding philanthropy that supports the University of Vermont. The Young Alumni Award has been awarded since 1979 to alumni who graduated within the past ten years for volunteer service to the University of Vermont and to the Alumni Association, and for commitment to furthering the mission of the University. The Alumni Achievement Award has been awarded to alumni since 1985 for outstanding achievement that has been recognized at the local, state, and/or national level. The Alumni Distinguished Service Award has been awarded since 1958 to volunteer alumni leaders whose service to the University of Vermont and the Alumni Association has enhanced the reputation and furthered the mission of the university.
You may submit nominations for the 2019 awards here.
About The University of Vermont Foundation
The University of Vermont Foundation is a nonprofit corporation established to secure and manage private support for the benefit of the University of Vermont (UVM), one of the nation’s premier small research universities. The UVM Foundation, in partnership with the University and the University of Vermont Medical Center, is currently engaged in a comprehensive fundraising campaign with five strategic priorities: student access and scholarship; faculty research and support; student-centered programs; patient- and family-centered clinical care; and long-term investment in facilities. Move Mountains: The Campaign for The University of Vermont surpassed its initial goal of $500 million in private support in July 2018, and will conclude on June 30, 2019. For further information about giving to UVM, contact the University of Vermont Foundation, 411 Grasse Mount, Burlington VT 05401; 802-656-2010; email [email protected].