At �ֲ���ý Reunion in June, the Alumni Association gathered to present the annual Alumni Council Awards, recognizing the exceptional career and service achievements of five alumni.

“It is truly inspiring to witness the transformative power of our alumni as they engage in informed civic action and lead in diverse fields,” said Leah Elsmore ’12, president of the Alumni Association for the 2025-26 academic year. “This year’s recipients reflect the ardor and devotion — Amore ac Studio — that define the �ֲ���ý experience, serving as a powerful reminder of the potential within our entire alumni network.”

Peter R. Basiliere ’76 received the Alumni Community Service Award in recognition of his leadership and civic service in Milford, N.H., where he was elected town moderator and school district moderator. After retiring from a career as a leader in additive manufacturing, Basiliere, an active Rotarian, began serving as a volunteer with the American Red Cross. Since then he has joined disaster relief teams in California, Vermont, the Carolinas, and, most recently, Guam, where he oversaw the Red Cross’ food operations after a super typhoon hit the island. Basiliere’s commitment to service and strengthening communities around the country reflects �ֲ���ý’ ideals of purposeful work and responsible stewardship of the wider world.

Scientist Noah E. Petro ’01 earned the Alumni Professional Recognition Award in recognition of his career and leadership at NASA, where he has worked since 2007. Since 2017, he has been the lab chief of NASA’s Planetary Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry lab, which conducts research on Mercury, Venus, Earth, and their satellites. He is the project scientist for Artemis III, the 2027 mission that will bring astronauts to the moon’s surface for the first time since 1972. Petro’s work at NASA, both highly scientific and serving the general public, exemplifies �ֲ���ý’ mission of combining intellectual rigor with public good.

Physician Christopher B. Lanoue ’99, P’26 earned the Bruce Stangle ’70, P’96, GP’26 Award for Distinguished Service to the �ֲ���ý Community in recognition of his commitment to supporting �ֲ���ý students and alumni through their medical school journeys. An emergency medicine specialist with MaineHealth, Lanoue has worked closely with the Center for Purposeful Work, mentoring �ֲ���ýies pursuing medical careers, and done so with “generosity, warmth, and openness.” His leadership and service, emblematic of �ֲ���ý’ values, has touched countless people as they themselves prepare for a career of serving others through medicine.

Rachel Ebersole ’17 was presented with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award in recognition of her career as a museum educator and her leadership within the alumni community. Ebersole is the manager of teen programs at The New York Historical museum and library, where she also oversees a digital learning lab and makerspace. Ebersole is a dedicated leader within the New York �ֲ���ý Network, fostering alumni community and hosting events. Her volunteer service to the college is an inspiring example of the transformative power of the young alumni network.

Erica Seifert Plunkett ’86 earned the Helen A. Papaioanou ’49 Distinguished Alumni Service Award, which recognizes alumni who have given exceptional service to the college. Plunkett served as class co-president while at �ֲ���ý and, since graduating, as an Alumni Council member, a dedicated class agent, and a committee leader. Plunkett has also led an accomplished career in research; she spent more than 25 years at the Wellesley Centers for Women supporting research projects studying mental health literacy and mental health in adolescents. She is now a project manager at Brown University’s Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute, working on projects related to adolescent depression prevention.

The Office of College Advancement also presented Kathryn (Kali) M. Brown ’21, Craig E. Comins ’81, and Meg W. Curran ’11 with �ֲ���ý’ Best Awards, which recognize dedicated volunteers who have expressed a passion and commitment for advancing the mission of the college.

“Our alumni continue to do incredible work in their communities and professions, and honoring this year’s award recipients is a privilege,” said Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement Sarah Cameron. “Every year, these awards remind us of the strength and reach of the �ֲ���ý network, and we look forward to seeing who our community nominates next.”

Want to nominate someone for a 2027 award? Nominating forms are available now. 

The Alumni Community Service Award is given annually to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated distinguished leadership and commitment to serving the community in which they live or work.

The award recognizes the values of service and civic responsibility that are fundamental to a �ֲ���ý education.

This year the award was presented to Esther Rosenthal Mechler ’64 at the Annual Gathering of the Alumni Association on June 7, 2014, by President Clayton Spencer and Jennifer Lemkin Bouchard ’99, president of the Alumni Association.

Mechler was joined by fellow award recipients William “Chick” Leahey ’52 (Papaioanou Award for Extraordinary Service), Christian Rogers ’04 and Katherine Papadonis Rogers ’04 (Distinguished Young Alumni Award), and, receiving �ֲ���ý’ Best awards, Elizabeth Metz McNab ’64 and Victoria Wyeth ’01.

Citation for Esther Rosenthal Mechler ’64

Many of us share our homes with dogs, cats and other family pets. But for every animal who finds its “forever home,” countless others are discarded at shelters and along roadsides throughout the country. For decades, millions of these unwanted cats and dogs were euthanized in shelters across the country.

Enter Esther Mechler. Esther has worked for decades to ensure that every animal is a wanted animal, and through her advocacy she has helped change the face of animal welfare programs around the world. Her deep sense of responsibility and compassion for animals has made her a leading advocate for low-cost spay and neuter programs, tackling the problem of animal overpopulation at its source.

Esther Rosenthal Mechler ’64, right, receives the Alumni Community Service Award from President Clayton Spencer at the Annual Gathering of the Alumni Association on June 7, 2014. (H. Lincoln Benedict ’09)

This passion has been a defining part of Esther’s life from an early age. When Esther was young, her father brought home a pair of kittens from work for her sister Marian. Marian grew up with these kittens and was devoted to them. Sadly, Marian died of cancer at a young age, but her love of animals inspired Esther to found Marian’s Dream, a foundation that provides philanthropic support to programs aimed at ending pet overpopulation.

That was in 1981. Since then Esther has founded or co-founded nine animal welfare programs. Most notable among them is Spay/USA, the nation’s first and largest spay and neuter database, which serves as a model for similar services throughout the country.

Her leadership of and knowledge in animal welfare organizing has taken Esther around the world as a consultant to hundreds of start-up spay and neuter programs.

For this work she received the inaugural Geraldine R. Dodge Humane Ethics in Action Award in 1995.

Esther retired from Spay/USA in 2008 but continues to serve as president of Marian’s Dream. She is also a member of the advisory board for SpayFIRST!, and organizes and speaks at various conferences each year.

In a recent editorial, Esther underscored the continuing problem of animal overpopulation, arguing against so-called “kill shelters,” but acknowledging that “like it or not, there are still not enough good homes for all of the cats and dogs born.” That leaves spay and neuter programs, which Esther says “have been working and need to continue.”

Indeed, they have been working: Thanks to Esther and her fellow advocates, the number of animals killed in U.S. shelters has gone from 12.5 million in 1990 to about 3 million today. With Esther around, we are confident those numbers will continue to shrink.

One of her classmates once described Esther’s warm smile and the joy she bring to others. Today we see that her smile shines just as bright as it did 50 years ago — perhaps even brighter.

Esther, you have dedicated a lifetime of service to the creatures so many of us cherish as companions. You have improved the quality of life for countless animals and their humans. For your passion and conviction, it is an honor to recognize you with the Alumni Community Service Award.

This year’s recipient has served as a lifelong minister of the Congregational Church in Connecticut. Arthur Higgins has been a pioneer in establishing two new kinds of ministry and church work, both of which have been broadly emulated in other churches throughout America. Higgins was the founder and president of the New Samaritan Corporation, a wing of the Congregational Church that oversees the building of suitable and affordable housing for elderly and low-income people in Connecticut. It is a national model for the involvement of the church in low-income and elderly housing.Higgins was also the first Connecticut Conference Minister of the Department of Church and Society, an innovative example of church organizations at the state and national level becoming involved in broad issues of social justice and fairness.

Higgins was instrumental in introducing philanthropist Charles Dana, a member of his congregation, to �ֲ���ý College. The results of the relationship between Dana and �ֲ���ý include Dana Chemistry Hall, the Dana Professorships and the Dana Scholarship program.

The Distinguished Young Alumni Award recognizes recent graduates who are outstanding in their careers or their service to the college. Colahan is a member of the �ֲ���ý Boston Council and a former member of the Alumni Council. She is a Partner of the President and a President’s Circle member. She has been a gift committee and a social committee member for Reunion, and has served on the Alumni Fund Committee, the Alumni Steering Committee, and as class agent, a Boston �ֲ���ý Club leader, an alumni class officer, an OCS career advisor and phone-a-thon volunteer.

The Alumni Community Service Award was created by the Alumni Council in 1999 and is given annually to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated distinguished leadership and commitment to serving the community in which they live or work. The award is designed to recognize the values of service and civic responsibility that are fundamental to the �ֲ���ý education.

Brackett received this award for his service to �ֲ���ý, to his community in the Portland area and to Maine. For �ֲ���ý, he has served on the Maine �ֲ���ý Council and as a class agent. He funded the Norman E. Brackett Scholarship, which is given annually with preference for Maine students. He has served as class president and as co-chair of two reunion gift committees.

Brackett has served on the boards of the Portland Stage Company, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Cancer Community Center, and is a corporator of Maine Medical Center. He has participated in many fund-raising efforts for non-profit organizations in Greater Portland. He has been especially active with the United Way of Greater Portland during the past 25 years, chairing its board of directors, the United Way Foundation Board of Trustees and the 1987 Annual Campaign. In 1999, he received the Mary Rines Thompson Award as Volunteer of the Year.

Brackett was a Westbrook College trustee for several years and chaired the board of trustees when Westbrook College merged with the University of New England in 1996. He is now a trustee emeritus of UNE.

Each year the Alumni Association recognizes an outstanding graduate or graduates for their performance of truly unparalleled service to the College. Until Reunion 1999, the association recognized that service with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award. At that time, it was renamed the Helen A. Papaioanou ’49 Distinguished Alumni Service Award to honor the deep love for �ֲ���ý displayed by Helen Papaioanou ’49, M.D., D.Sc. ’97, in her service to the College and the board of trustees from 1965 to 1999.

This year’s winners, David and Carol Huntington Boone, have been heavily involved in �ֲ���ý activities for 40 years, spanning two �ֲ���ý presidencies with a third about to start. Dave is the retired chairman of Boone Young Associates, and Carol has been a Realtor for most of her career. Their daughter Karin graduated from �ֲ���ý in 1987.

David and Carol funded a scholarship given annually to a �ֲ���ý student. David serves on the board of trustees and, in a time commitment equivalent to a part-time job, served on the recent Presidential Search Committee. He has also been president of the College Key honorary society. David and Carol were instrumental on the Pettengill Hall building project and have been involved for decades in the College’s recruitment efforts. David began bringing multicultural students up from New Jersey and New York to see �ֲ���ý during the 1960s, an activity that evolved into the College’s October Weekend program for multicultural students. Carol has been an Alumni in Admissions volunteer since the program was founded in the 1970s. Both Carol and David served on their Reunion Gift Committees.

Stacey Kabat, class of 1985, received the Alumni Community Service Award, and Norma Crooks and Richard Coughlin, class of 1952 and 1953, respectively, received the Helen A. Papaioanou Distinguished Alumni Service Award.The Benjamin Elijah Mays Medal is given only when �ֲ���ý wishes to honor an alumnus or alumna who has made extraordinary contributions to America and to worldwide society. This award was established during Mays’ lifetime, and he was the inaugural recipient of the award in 1982. Other recipients have included Edmund Muskie, class of 36; Frank Coffin, class of 1940; Vincent McKusick, class of 1944; and Peter Gomes, class of 1965.

John A. Kenney was born in Tuskegee, Ala., where his father was physician to Booker T. Washington and George Carver. He earned his bachelor’s degree from �ֲ���ý in biology and chemistry, and a medical degree in 1945 from Howard University School of Medicine, where he later became a member of the faculty.

For more than 25 years Kenney served as chairman of the department of dermatology at Howard, a medical consultant in dermatology to the Department of State, an officer of national medical associations and trustee of �ֲ���ý College for 23 years.

The Distinguished Young Alumni Award recognizes recent graduates who have given distinctive service to the college or have achieved distinction in their careers. A native of the Lewiston-Auburn community, Sally Ehrenfried majored in political science at �ֲ���ý and, after graduation, took a position on then Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell’s staff. After Mitchell left public office, Ehrenfried served both Republican and Democratic senators from Maine and currently serves as the personal assistant to Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon. But, every Thursday afternoon, she works as a reading tutor in a Washington D.C program called Everybody Wins, a commitment Sally has maintained since the program’s founding six years ago.

Winner of the Alumni Community Service Award, Stacey Kabat, graduated from �ֲ���ý in 1985 and, nine years later, she won an Academy Award for co-producing and co-directing “Defending Our Lives,” a documentary which portrays the terrible choices faced by battered women. A survivor of an abusive home as a child, Kabat came to �ֲ���ý and found, in her words, “some amazing human rights activists.” She has spent the fifteen years since graduating working with battered women and for human rights, receiving worldwide recognition for her efforts. She was awarded the 1992 Reebok International Human Rights Award for raising consciousness that acts of domestic violence are violations of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Kabat used the $25,000 Reebok prize to found Peace at Home, a not-for-profit organization devoted to stopping domestic violence. She also received the Clara Barton Award from the American Red Cross for outstanding dedication to easing human suffering.

Each year, the �ֲ���ý Alumni Association recognizes an outstanding graduate or graduates for their distinguished service to the college. Historically known as the Distinguished Alumni Service Award, the 1999 award was renamed the Helen A. Papaioanou Distinguished Alumni Service Award, to honor Helen Papaioanou, class of 1949, M.D., for her decades of service to �ֲ���ý and to the board of trustees from 1965 to 1999.

In the nearly five decades since their graduation, Norma and Richard Coughlin have served �ֲ���ý tirelessly. The Coughlin’s have served as class president, alumni class officers, reunion volunteers, club officers, College Key and campaign and leaders trustees. In 1987, they established the Richard F. Coughlin and Norma Crooks Coughlin Scholarship Fund, to benefit needy and deserving students.