2024 Graduate Awards

This award is presented to a person (or persons) whose assistance played a significant role in helping a graduate earn an Excelsior University degree.

This award recognizes the leadership and vision of founding trustee Lt. General Arthur J. Gregg [U.S. Army (Ret.)]. General Gregg chaired Excelsior’s Board of Overseers and guided the transition to independence as a private institution, becoming the first chair of the Board of Trustees. With a distinguished career in the U.S. Army, General Gregg has contributed greatly to Excelsior’s service to the U.S. military. The award is presented to a graduate who is on active duty in the U.S. military and who demonstrates outstanding academic and career or professional achievement.

Click to see additional details about the nomination process for the Arthur J. Gregg Award

This award is given in memory of Catherine Craig-Erhardt, a member of Excelsior staff beginning in 1980. From 1984 until her untimely death in 1986, she served as Excelsior’s liaison to the military. The award recognizes and commemorates her commitment to helping military servicemembers attain their educational goals and is presented for service to others, commitment to education, and for academic, professional, and personal achievement.

This award is presented to nominees of the current year’s Excelsior University graduating class. Active duty service members, National Guard members, or Reservists are eligible. Veterans who were on active duty during most of the period of enrollment in Excelsior University are eligible.

Click to see additional details about the nomination process for the Catherine Craig-Erhardt Award

This award is in recognition of Charles W. Laffin whose vision and leadership gave momentum to a fledgling Community College movement and left a legacy of opportunity to millions of adult learners. In gratitude for his invaluable service to Excelsior University, the faculty of Excelsior presents this award for academic excellence and outstanding achievement. To be eligible for the Charles W. Laffin Jr. Award, the graduate must have earned credit from a Community College before attending Excelsior University. The graduate must have received a master’s degree from Excelsior University (non-Nursing).

This annual award recognizes significant achievements of an Excelsior University student who has consistently modeled a core Excelsior University value: respecting the uniqueness of each individual; celebrating and learning from differences; ensuring that all voices are heard, particularly those who have been historically underrepresented; and leading efforts that enhance inclusion, equity and justice in their classroom, their organization or their community.

This award is presented in recognition of Excelsior University alumnus Dwayn Hanford. As past president of the Excelsior University Alumni Association and Alumni Leadership Council, a C. Wayne Williams Award recipient, and adjunct instructor, Hanford is a strong advocate and ally of Excelsior and the mission to educate 21st-century public sector leaders and citizens. The recipient of the Dwayn Hanford Award has completed a public service degree with academic excellence and significant community involvement.

This award was created in recognition of Dr. Long’s service and contribution to Excelsior University. He was regarded as an expert in nuclear education and a proponent of the link between training and education and the safe operation of nuclear facilities. Students selected for this award must work in the nuclear power industry and be a member of the American Nuclear Society.

The recipient of the Graduate Excellence Award has demonstrated academic excellence inside the classroom and has applied their discipline-specific learning and leadership skills to make a positive impact in their profession or community. Eligible candidates must have received a master’s degree from Excelsior University, with a minimum GPA of 3.8 (non-transfer credit).

This award recognizes the leadership and vision of founding trustee Jean Smith. Smith’s career in banking has been characterized by a deep commitment to institutions that are devoted to improving society. Her passion for social justice informed her work with Excelsior, first as an overseer and later as a trustee, as she worked to support its students. The award is presented to a graduate who has demonstrated outstanding academic and professional achievement in the world of business.

This award recognizes the leadership and vision of founding trustee Joshua L. Smith. During his three years as chair of the Excelsior University Board of Trustees, he encouraged Excelsior to expand graduate degree programs. Smith, a retired professor and director of the Program in Higher Education and Center for Urban Community College Leadership, New York University, School of Education, dedicated his career to education. This award recognizes the sacrifices graduate students have made to serve others while balancing their own academic studies. The recipient of this award has persevered in their education while also volunteering in an organization such as the military, a medical agency, non-profit group, or place of worship.

This award is given in memory and recognition of the vision and contribution of Marvin Curling to the development of collaboration between industry and education through the integration of corporate-sponsored training and college-level learning. A New York Power Authority training superintendent, Curling motivated employees at NYPA to persist in educational advancement and helped establish degrees in technology at Excelsior (then Regents) University. In honor of the superior model of collaboration that he helped establish, the New York Power Authority contributed the endowment to maintain this annual award which is presented to a graduate who achieved outstanding academic achievement while pursuing a degree in a technology program.

This award is presented to an Allied Health graduate in memory and recognition of the contributions of Michael J. Cooley, a beloved and dedicated adjunct Allied Health faculty member. The recipient of the award earned an Allied Health degree and embodies exemplary academic achievement and exceptional perseverance. This graduate accepts the challenges that befall an adult learner and embraces the opportunity to grow academically, professionally, and personally within the health sciences discipline.

This award is given in recognition of Dr. Mildred L. Montag’s national leadership in nursing and nursing education and her distinguished contribution to the development of the nursing programs offered by Excelsior University. The graduate selected to receive this award has completed the Excelsior University Master of Science in Nursing program and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and excellence in all the nursing courses, including the capstone course.

In recognition of Dr. Robert P. Mahoney’s outstanding contributions to liberal arts education at this University and his devotion to serving his community, this award is presented to a liberal arts graduate who completed his/her degree in the face of significant challenges and demonstrated a dedication to community and volunteer service.

This award is given in memory and recognition of the distinguished contributions of Ruth V. Matheney to nursing and nursing education, her nationally acclaimed leadership toward progressive, patient-centered practices in the classroom and at the bedside, and of her wise and willing counsel to the Excelsior University nursing programs. The recipient of this award has completed an undergraduate degree in nursing at Excelsior University and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.

This award recognizes the leadership and vision of founding Trustee Dr. Robert E. Kinsinger. As the first chair of Excelsior’s Board of Overseers, Dr. Kinsinger built upon his earlier relationship to Excelsior as a vice president of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. While at the foundation, Dr. Kinsinger encouraged and supported the development of the Regents College nursing degree programs, an interest that he carried forward into his work as an overseer and later as a Trustee. Eligible graduates must have completed a master’s degree through Excelsior University. The graduate must have volunteer and/or career experience in a non-profit organization.