Commitments to Public Service Recognized through Public Service Leadership Awards Celebration
Middlebury recognized students, alumni, educators, and community partnerships for their commitment to public service at the 32nd annual Patrick J. Durkin, Class of 1979, Public Service Leadership Awards ceremony on May 6, hosted by the Center for Community Engagement (CCE).
“When I see these honorees, I see a bright future—for them, for us, for society,” said Interim President Steve Snyder in his opening remarks. “Today we honor all you are doing to better our community and to better the world we inhabit.”
Snyder noted that civic engagement becomes even more important during difficult times. “When politics and discourse can feel divisive, it’s heartening to see our students, faculty, and staff working together across divides even as we face these challenging circumstances,” said Snyder. “They know that their actions matter and that they can move to a place of active civic and democratic engagement. They show that we can all make connections with people with whom we do not have much in common—and with those who are different from us.”
Keynote speaker Elise Shanbacker ’07, executive director of Addison Housing Works—a nonprofit organization that develops and manages housing properties for low- and moderate-income people in Addison County—spoke about her path to returning to the area after graduating from Middlebury College. She said her connections and experiences helped shape her beliefs about what is possible through public service.
Shanbacker’s journey has come full circle, as she now provides experiential learning opportunities for Middlebury students to gain knowledge and skills related to housing and home access in Addison County. She acknowledged the many local community members who continue to offer their support during times of deep division and instability.
“Their work reminds us that public service doesn’t follow a single path—it takes shape wherever people step up to do what needs doing. And it always begins with the decision to show up—and keep showing up,” said Shanbacker.
Named Awards
The following students, alumni, educators, and community partners were recognized at the 2025 Patrick J. Durkin, Class of 1979, Public Service Leadership Awards. The Center for Community Engagement presented four named awards honoring individuals with close ties to Middlebury College, many of whom attended virtually via Zoom.
- The John M. McCardell Jr. Public Service Leadership Award, which recognizes a student who exemplifies efforts to bring Middlebury—both College and town—closer together for public benefit, was presented to Freya Rich ’25.
- The Bonnie McCardell Public Service Award is presented to a student who demonstrates commitment to youth and family services, literacy, and/or the needs of middle and early high school students. This year’s recipient was Aliya Hosford ’25.
- The Dana Morosini Reeve (’84, P’14) Endowed Memorial Public Service Award honors a student who best exemplifies Dana’s spirit and determination, reflected in her lifelong dedication to caring for her husband, Christopher Reeve, and her advocacy through the Christopher Reeve Foundation. This year’s recipient was Samuel Medina ’25.
- The Tiffany Nourse Sargent ’79 Engaged Partnership Award honors collaborations between Middlebury College and community organizations addressing local needs. Two partnerships were recognized in 2025:
- The first award went to the Go for Broke National Education Center (Los Angeles, Calif.) in partnership with the Service Translation Program. Claudia Lopez ’26 presented the award to Mitch Maki, president and CEO of Go for Broke, who joined via Zoom.
- The second award went to Middlebury Union High School (MUHS) in partnership with the Middlebury College Access Mentors Program. Sarah Soule, now retired, received the award for her work as Post-Secondary Planning Coordinator at MUHS. The award was presented by co-presidents of Access Mentors, Elinor Keehn ’25 and Russell Thorndike ’25.
General Awards
- Maria Jose Gonzales ’26
- Laura McDow ’26
- Taniya Noori ’25.5
- Jasper Pearcy-Kahn ’26
- Nancy Rivera ’26
- Hamilton Smith ’25
Non-Student Awards
- Public Service Alumni Leadership Award: Amy Sheldon ’88, Vermont State Representative (Addison-1 District), was recognized for her dedication to public service and leadership.
- Public Service Leadership Award for Community-Engaged Teaching and Scholarship: This award recognizes Middlebury educators for integrating community engagement into their teaching and research. In 2025, the recipients were Assistant Professor of Biology Gregory Pask and Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Alexis Mychajliw. Samuel Medina ’25, who worked closely with both faculty members, assisted in presenting the awards.
About the Patrick J. Durkin Awards
Patrick J. Durkin, Class of 1979, was the founder of the Public Service Leadership Awards. Durkin, who died by suicide in 2020, deeply valued public service and worked to build partnerships between Middlebury and communities locally, nationally, and internationally. The awards were renamed in his honor in 2021 to reflect his legacy of civic engagement and to ensure that students committed to public service receive recognition comparable to that given for achievements in academics, athletics, and the arts.
With support from the Durkin Fund, the CCE donates $500 on behalf of each award recipient to a nonprofit of their choice. The fund also supports other programs that promote public service leadership. To date, 275 students have been recognized, and $92,000 has been distributed to nonprofit organizations selected by award winners.
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health challenges, support is available through Middlebury Counseling and MiddTelehealth, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and the Crisis Text Line.