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2025 Alumni Award winners pose with their awards and GAB

Awards and Recognition

Bentley celebrates alumni and parents whose leadership, service, innovation and generosity reflect our values and create meaningful impact. Explore the awards and recognition programs that spotlight those making a difference in their professions, communities and at Bentley.

Founders Medal

Bentley’s highest honor, the Founders Medal (formerly the Distinguished Alumni Award) recognizes a community member whose sustained leadership, service, professional excellence and philanthropy have made a transformative impact on Bentley, their industry and their community. Honorees demonstrate a commitment to Bentley’s mission by embodying the university’s founding principles and vision.

The Bentley University campus, focusing on the library
Founders Medal Past Recipients

Edward Anderson ’65

Robert Anderson ’59

Kevin Armata ’78, P’19

Joaquin Bacardi ’89

Frank Brenton ’49*

Paul Briggs ’42*

Benjamin Brown ’21*

Roy Buck ’36*

William Buckley ’31*

Beryl (Hardacker) Bunker ’58*

Lillian Call ’60*

Michael Cameron ’78*

Terry Carleton ’77, P’09

Wayne Coffin ’67

John Collins ’69, P’02

Walter Corcoran ’42*

Paul Dunphy ’41*

William Egan ’55, P’82, ’82*

Louis Falcone ’37, P’94*

M. Anthony Fisher ’72*

Milton Glass ’48*

John Graham ’42*

Robert Harkness ’33*

Joanne (Severino) Hofmann Sexeny ’73

Coleman Hogan ’42*

John Holleran ’38*

Donald Holmes, Sr. ’69, P’08

John Hurley ’66

Walter Jennings ’55*

George Kane ’25*

John Kazanjian, Sr. ’32*

Stuart Keay ’30*

Arthur Koumantzelis ’49, P’04*

Todd Leach MBA ’85

Darald Libby ’40*

Alphonse Lucchese ’70*

Arthur MacKinnon ’30*

James Maguire ’63, P’07*

Christine (Smith) Manfredi ’73, P’10

Steven P. Manfredi ’73, P’10

George Massaro ’69, P’91, ’95

I. Norman Massry ’78, P’08

Elkin McCallum ’67

Gordon McLenithan ’67*

Roy McPherson ’29*

Nathan Miller ’54*

Timothy O’Brien ’70

William O’Brien ’67

Raymond O’Keefe ’29*

Ed Pendergast ’65, MST ’77

James Pendergast ’32*

William Pruyn ’41*

John Rhodes ’33*

Roger Schoerner ’38*

Mark Skaletsky ’70*

James Smith ’56*

Richard Steele ’37*

Ernest Washington, Jr. ’73

John Webster ’23*

Lester Weighill ’30*

Francis White ’49*

Donald Whittemore ’28*

Ellen (Farwell) Winters ’47, P’89*

Norman Wise ’65

Brian Zino ’74

* Denotes deceased

alumni getting awards

Alumni Achievement Award

Celebrates alumni who have demonstrated exceptional commitment by investing their time, expertise and leadership to advance Bentley and its global community. The volunteer embodies Bentley’s values and fosters belonging and innovation to strengthen the Bentley community and upholds the university’s legacy of excellence. The award is presented by the Global Alumni Board at the Bentley Alumni Conference.

Learn About the 2026 Recipients

Alumni Achievement Award Past Recipients

2025: Lance Colwell ’92

2025: Mary Ann Jackson ’95

2024: Melissa L. Hector ’11

2023: Sonya Yee Coleman ’86

2022: J. Terence Carleton ’77, P ’08 ’09

2021: Paul Mastrocola ’90, P ’24

2019: Susan Gorman ’84 and Janine Danielson ’84

2018: James Maguire ’63

2017: Marcelo Claure ’93, Carla M. (Stella) McCall ’89 and Darryl Poole ’68

Falcons to Watch

Falcons to Watch recognizes emerging Bentley alumni who are making an early impact through leadership, innovation, and service. This recognition celebrates rising stars who exemplify Bentley’s values, contribute meaningfully to their professions and communities, and remain engaged with the university as advocates, mentors, recruiters, and industry leaders.

Learn About the Current Recipients

the falcon statue
woman receiving an award

Emerging Alumni Leader

Recognizes a graduating senior in recognition of the student’s cumulative acts and contributions over their time at Bentley, focusing on three key criteria: impact, inclusivity and honesty. The Global Alumni Board (GAB) recognizes how this student leader’s activities and behavior reflect their potential to be an esteemed and involved member of the alumni community. The award is presented by GAB at the Bentley Alumni Conference.

Learn About the 2026 Recipient

Emerging Alumni Leader Past Recipients

Laila Altanbour ’25

Humberto Zepeda ’24 and Megan Forman ’24

Bobby Olejarczyk ’23, Anyfern Gonzalez ’23 and Wei “Victor” Liu ’23

Rona Mejiritski ’22

Anjela Maravilla ’21

Casey Hutnyan ’19

Shalini Chandrakanth ’18


Volunteer Appreciation

Bentley celebrates the alumni and friends who generously share their time, expertise and enthusiasm with the community. Through service, mentorship, leadership and advocacy, the university’s dedicated volunteers strengthen connections, enrich the alumni experience and help advance the mission while making a lasting impact on fellow Falcons.

Zahra Alavi ’14, MSA ’15

Whether she’s organizing a yoga-on-the-beach event or chatting with fellow alums at a happy hour for Falcons Forward Giving Day, Zahra Alavi ’14, MSA’15 is a Bentley regional volunteer on a mission.

Read Zahra’s Story

Jim Burnham ’80

A volunteer in Bentley’s E-Hub and in the New York region, Jim Burnham ’80 exemplifies the lasting impact of supporting student entrepreneurs, strengthening alumni connections and advancing Bentley’s mission through leadership.

Read Jim’s Story
Caldwell
Serving as a volunteer for Bentley is my way of showing gratitude to a place that did so much for me. It also allows me to stay connected to a community that meant so much to me and to help ensure that current and future students have the same opportunities that I did.
Jenna Caldwell ’94
Global Alumni Board

Volunteers help shape Bentley alumni experiences

Contact Us

Get in touch with the Office of Alumni and Family Engagement at alumni@bentley.edu or 781-891-2025.