Oswego Alumni Association recognizes 7 achievers with awards

The Oswego Alumni Association will honor seven notable alumni with a 2019 Alumni Award for their exceptional contributions and accomplishments.

“The Awards Committee was thrilled with the results of this reinvigorated alumni awards selection process,” said committee chair Jennifer Shropshire, a 1986 alumna who is a former president and long-time member of the Oswego Alumni Association (OAA) and a current member of the Oswego College Foundation Inc.

“We were impressed by the caliber of the award recipients,” Shropshire said. “They represent a broad definition of success, reflecting Oswego’s varied programs and the wide-ranging paths that alums take after graduation.”

The OAA recently revamped its awards program to broaden the categories, reflecting the growing diversity and talents of the 86,000 SUNY Oswego alumni. The awards program recognizes individuals for their contributions while also elevating that person as a model for students and other alumni.

“This reboot of the Alumni Awards program is already proving to be a success in helping us to engage more alumni in the nomination process, to identify the many accomplishments of alumni (some of whom we didn’t know) and, most importantly, to properly recognize our alumni who are doing amazing things,” said Laura Pavlus Kelly, a 2009 graduate who is director of alumni and parent relations. “Our Lakers continue to make their alma mater proud each day!”

The Distinguished Alumnus Award -- the association’s most prestigious award -- recognizes those who have achieved national or international recognition in their field. This year’s recipients are:

• David DeVillers ’89 of Columbus, Ohio, assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and one of four prosecutors on the Saddam Hussein trial
• Robert Moritiz ’85 of Thornwood, New York, global chairman of PwC (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers), the second largest professional services firm in the world, and a member of the Oswego College Foundation Board of Directors

Honoring alumni who have demonstrated a lifetime of both professional and civic leadership, the Lifetime Award of Merit will be presented to:

• Stephen Butler ’85 of Syracuse, executive director of CNY ARTS and a tireless arts advocate
• Craig Fisher ’65 of Poughkeepsie, computer programmer/information systems manager, educator, and data and information quality scholar 
• Diane Larsen-Freeman ’67 of Ann Arbor, Michigan, a linguist, educator and scholar in second language acquisition

Receiving the Community Service Award for outstanding achievement in service to others is:

• Christy Harrison Huynh ’98 of Mexico, New York, associate director of Career Services at SUNY Oswego, United Way of Greater Oswego County board member and volunteer on many committees, boards and organizations.

The GOLD Award is presented to Graduates Of the Last Decade (GOLD) alumni who achieved career success and demonstrated significant volunteer service to their communities and/or the Oswego Alumni Association Inc. or the college. This award will be presented to:

• Cameron Jones ’09 of Jersey City, New Jersey, Daytime Emmy Award winner, operations coordinator for ABC News’ Good Morning America, contributing digital reporter/producer for ABC News and former member of the OAA’s GOLD Leadership Council 

The awards for DeVillers, Butler, Fisher, Larsen-Freeman and Huynh will be presented at Reunion 2019, June 6 to 9 in Oswego. Jones will receive his award during the Communication Studies Dinner on Oct. 5 during Homecoming 2019, and the award for Moritz will be presented in New York City in May. 

To learn more about this year's honorees, visit alumni.oswego.edu/2019winners. For information on nominating alumni for future awards, visit alumni.oswego.edu/alumniawards.