Boston College continued its tradition of celebrating alumni service at the Alumni Association's annual Distinguished Volunteer Awards Dinner.
The association presented its highest honor, the William V. McKenney Award – given to a BC graduate whose service reflects honor on the University – to Bronx (NY) District Attorney Darcel D. Clark ’83, a University trustee associate. The first African-American woman to hold the office of district attorney in New York State, Clark has dedicated her life to public service. Prior to her election, she was associate justice for the NYS Supreme Court Appellate Division, a NYS Supreme Court Justice in Bronx County, and a criminal court judge in Bronx and New York counties.
The James F. Cleary Masters Award, for volunteers who act as masters by providing ideas, energy, and leadership, was presented to Margot C. Connell H’09, chair of the advisory board of Connell Limited Partnership and a University trustee. Connell, whose late husband William F. Connell ’59 is the namesake for BC’s School of Nursing, received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Boston College in 2009 and served as a convening co-chair of BC’s “Light the World” campaign.
Sherman W. “Whip” Saltmarsh Jr. ’53 received the John P. Curley Award for a volunteer who has dedicated time and resources to advance the efforts of BC, especially the Athletics Department. The founder of the Saltmarsh Insurance Agency, Saltmarsh has received many awards for his contributions and service in public and private sectors, including youth sports and education programs.
Roshan N. Rajkumar ’95, a partner and established trial attorney in the office of Bowman and Brooke LLP, was named winner of the John J. Griffin Sr. Alumni Association Award, which honors volunteers whose service advances the academic mission of higher education in the Jesuit tradition.
Kathryn M. Balch ’08, producer for HuffPost Live, was this year’s recipient of the Philip J. Callan Sr. Young Alumni Award for her contributions as a donor and volunteer. Balch continues to serve as co-chair of the GOLD Leadership Council.
Nicholas R. Solazzo ’15 and Meghan C. Dunn ’15 were honored with the James F. Stanton Senior Class Gift Award. Solazzo, a management consultant for Gap International, and Dunn, a third-grade teacher in Tulsa, Okla., continue to showcase their service and leadership within the Boston College community.
To learn more about this years winners and their awards, visit the alumni service page.
By Siobhan Sullivan | News & Public Affairs
