As you may have read earlier in this edition, we recently hosted our fourth annual Awards of Excellence at the Syracuse University Washington, D.C. Center.

This is undoubtedly among my favorite evenings of the year. It is a tremendous privilege to have the opportunity each year to share outstanding examples of public service impact through the recognition of five alumni and their work. The Awards of Excellence also provide an opportunity for the Maxwell community to come together to celebrate a shared commitment to public service and the impact being made in so many ways by Maxwell alumni around the globe.

And, given the awards’ convening at Maxwell’s annual spring event in Washington, they provide the welcome opportunity to meet and reconnect with the 4,200 alumni in our D.C. community. I was grateful to catch up with so many individuals this year! They included:

• M.P.A. student Jonathan Garcia, one of the volunteer members of the awards nominations review committee, who traveled from Syracuse to experience the evening firsthand.
• Alumnus Al Mattei ’93 M.P.A., a longtime supporter of Maxwell’s alumni programming, who brings cheer with his tradition of sporting an extensive collection of Maxwell and University attire and memorabilia (see related photo).
• Former Maxwell faculty and staff members Francine D’Amico, Michael Schneider and Anne Stewart ’78 M.P.A., who continue to demonstrate their commitment to our community in supporting the awards and reconnecting with former students and colleagues.

Members of the Maxwell Advisory Board and Syracuse University’s Office of Multicultural Advancement Advisory Council, both of which convened meetings at the D.C. center.

While the Awards of Excellence are celebrated one night a year, the event serves as a bright spot of my work to affirm both the impact of our awards honorees and the continual striving of the greater Maxwell community to leave their communities better, brighter and more beautiful.

Looking ahead, we are planning several events and other opportunities to engage and reconnect, including Orange Central Homecoming Weekend (Oct. 17–19). Please consider bookmarking the Maxwell alumni events calendar for up-to-date information and registration details.

Jessica Murray
Director of Alumni Relations