Citizens Awards
The Middlebury College Citizen’s Awards program recognizes local residents who have helped to strengthen the Addison County community.
The Middlebury College Citizen’s Awards program began during the College’s Bicentennial year in 2000. It recognizes local residents who have helped to strengthen the Addison County community. In 2009 the Citizen’s Awards were renamed in honor of President Emeritus John M. McCardell Jr. and his wife Bonnie, who fostered an ethic of public service in the Middlebury community.
Medals have been presented to residents of Middlebury and surrounding towns for their service in fields including medicine, education, business, philanthropy, government, the arts, and civic contributions. The selection committee particularly seeks to honor those who have contributed through their volunteerism, community service, and engagement of issues facing our community.
Awardees
To date there have been more than 70 recipients of the Citizen’s Award presented by Middlebury College to recognize local residents who have helped strengthen the Addison County community through their public service:
2019
Name | Public Service |
---|---|
Cleon Bigelow |
Addison Fair and Field Days, Lions Volunteer |
Helen Bigelow |
Board of Retired Senior Volunteers, Lions, American Legion Auxiliary |
Carol Green |
After Dark Music Series |
Harvey Green |
After Dark Music Series |
Barbara Saunders |
Mary Johnson Children’s Center |
Claire Ayer ’92 |
Former State Senator for Addison County |
Mark Perrin |
Green Peppers Restaurant, Community Volunteer |
2018
Name | Public Service |
---|---|
David Donahue |
Community Relations |
Kerri Louray Duquette-Hoffman |
WomenSafe |
Fran Putnam |
Teacher and Environmental Activist |
Harold Strassner |
Habitat for Humanity |
Edmund F. Sullivan |
Safety Officer and First Responder |

Middlebury Honors Community Members with McCardell Citizen’s Award
Kerri Louray Duquette-Hoffman, left, the executive director of WomenSafe, in Middlebury, was one of five recipients of the 2018 Bonnie and John McCardell Citizen’s Awards. President Laurie Patton hosted the awards dinner at the President’s House on October 29, 2018.
2017
Name | Public Service |
---|---|
Johana Brakeley |
Pediatrician |
Barry King |
Environmental Educator |
Warren King |
Conservationist |
Richard Thodal |
Community TV Producer |

Middlebury Honors Four Citizens for Exemplary Service to the Community
President Patton honored Johana Brakeley, Barry King, Warren King, and Richard Thodal at a ceremony on October 30, 2017.
2016
Name | Public Service |
---|---|
Betty Nuovo |
State Representative |
David M. Sears |
Cornwall firefighter and local sports announcer |

Middlebury Honors Betty Nuovo and David Sears for Community Service
President Patton presents the Citizen’s Award to State Rep. Betty Nuovo.
2014-2015
Name | Public Service |
---|---|
Bruce Byers ’55 |
Town Hall Theater and Community Volunteer |
Suzanne H. Byers ’55 |
Porter Hospital Auxiliary and Community Volunteer |
Robin Huestis |
Round Robin and Middlebury Community Players |
Natalie D. Peters |
Mary Johnson Children’s Center, Addison County Parent/Child Center, and Community Volunteer |

Middlebury Honors Four Residents for Exceptional Service to the Community
Middlebury College President Laurie L. Patton presented the Bonnie and John McCardell Citizen’s Awards for outstanding community service to Addison County residents Bruce and Suzanne Byers, Robin Huestis, and Natalie Peters at a celebratory dinner on January 26, 2016, on the college campus.
2013-2014
Name | Public Service |
---|---|
Douglas Anderson |
Town Hall Theater |
David Brynn |
Vermont Family Forests Foundation |

College Honors Two Citizens for Public Service
Past Middlebury president Ron Liebowitz with McCardell Citizen’s Award winners David Brynn (center) and Douglas Anderson.
2012-2013
Name | Public Service |
---|---|
Joanne Corbett |
Elderly Services, Inc. |
Don Keeler |
Public Service and Sheriff’s Department |

College Honors Two Citizens for Public Service
Past president Ronald D. Liebowitz presented the Bonnie and John McCardell Citizen’s Awards for outstanding community service to Addison County residents Joanne Corbett and Donald M. Keeler Jr. on June 4 at a dinner on the college campus.
2011-2012
Name | Public Service |
---|---|
Nancy C. Malcolm |
Public and Community Service |
Thomas L. Munschauer |
Addison County Humane Society and Arts |

Malcolm, Munschauer receive Citizens’ Awards
Past Middlebury College President Ronald D. Liebowitz presented the Bonnie and John McCardell Citizens’ Awards for outstanding community service to Middlebury residents Nancy Malcolm and Thomas Munschauer on June 11, 2012 on the college campus.
2010-2011
Name | Public Service |
---|---|
Liz Cronin |
Face Off Against Breast Cancer Hockey Tournament and Health Educator |
Michael G. (Mickey) Heinecken |
United Way of Addison County and Middlebury Volunteer Ambulance Association |
Susan Carpenter Vigne ’83 |
Aurora School and Community Service |

College honors three residents for community service
Past Middlebury College President Ronald D. Liebowitz presented the Bonnie and John McCardell Citizen’s Awards for outstanding community service to three area residents on April 11, 2011, at Kirk Alumni Center on the college campus.
Center for Community Engagement
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
05753