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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

Debra S. Newman '02 Cornell Tradition Community Recognition Award

The Cornell Tradition Student Advisory Council (SAC), a group that plans and implements service projects with community agencies throughout Tompkins County, established the Community Recognition Award to recognize and honor a non-student community member who has demonstrated a strong commitment to service and/or leadership in a community service setting. Debra Newman, a graduate of The Cornell Tradition, was a Tradition fellow who exemplified these ideals. She firmly believed that a true appreciation of the value-indeed the necessity-of applying our best efforts in service to the community was a lesson best learned by interacting with community leaders. In the fall of 2002, Debra was killed in a tragic automobile accident while attending law school. Shortly thereafter, the SAC renamed the Community Recognition Award in her honor.

The award will be presented in February at an already scheduled Tradition event at Cornell. The recipient of the award will also be commemorated on a permanent plaque that resides in Cornell University's Kennedy Hall and given $1,000 to be designated as a charitable contribution to the non-profit organization of his or her choice. Nominations will be accepted for any community member serving the Ithaca area who has not already received the award. No self-nominations will be considered. A selection committee comprised of Cornell students, alumni, staff, and community members will choose the recipient from the nominees. The recipient of the award will be notified in mid-December.

The selection committee will be looking for a demonstrated contribution to Ithaca primarily, Cornell and/or the surrounding area secondarily. Familiarity with The Cornell Tradition is not a prerequisite for nomination. All nominations must be submitted by Monday, December 2, 2024, at 4:30pm. Please address all questions and concerns to Jacinta Stark, Assistant Director of The Cornell Commitment Office, via email at jj87@cornell.edu or by calling 607-255-8595.

 

Debra S. Newman '02 Cornell Tradition Community Recognition Award Nomination Form
 

Past recipients:

  • 2023-2024 Lesley Lisa Greene
  • 2022-2023 Deborah Dietrich
  • 2021-2022 Ana Ortiz
  • 2019-2020 Julie Coulumbe
  • 2018-2019 Martha Mapes
  • 2017-2018 Louise Miller
  • 2016-2017 Charles Trautmann
  • 2015-2016 Cal Walker