Alumni Award

Alumni Award

The Alumni Award is presented each year to honor an alumna or alumnus who best embodies the statement from the school’s mission: New Canaan Country School inspires students to be lifelong learners with the courage and confidence to make a positive contribution to the world.

The Alumni Council reviews all nominations during the council's fall meeting. The award recipient is determined by majority vote.

Read more about our Alumni Award winners.

List of 15 news stories.

  • Alumni Award Presentation Honored Nicholas Britell ’96

    Earlier this week, the Middle and Upper School communities gathered in the auditorium to celebrate Nicholas Britell ’96, the recipient of the school's Alumni Award. Alumni and additional members of the community also joined via livestream.

    “The Alumni Award is presented annually to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated the courage and confidence to make a positive contribution to the world,” explained Head of School Aaron Cooper.

  • Welcoming Nick Britell ’96 Back to Campus: A Reflection on Growth and Creativity

    This past week, we had the privilege of welcoming back Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated composer Nicholas Britell ’96 to accept the Alumni Award, an honor that celebrates the courage and confidence to make a positive contribution to the world. Watching Nicholas speak to our Middle and Upper School students, faculty, staff, and alumni about his journey as a composer and creative artist was deeply inspiring.
  • Head of Early Childhood (and Lisa's Classmate), Jeannie Staunton Bean '83, Lisa Pike Sheehy '83 and Head of School Aaron Cooper

    Environmental Activist Lisa Pike Sheehy ’83 Wins 2022 Alumni Award

    The New Canaan Country School Alumni Council presented the 2022 Alumni Award to Lisa Pike Sheehy ’83. Lisa, formerly of New Canaan​, returned to campus May 19 to accept the honor and to share with students, alumni and guests her work as an environmental activist and pioneer in advocating for climate awareness. This event kicked off Alumni Weekend.

    The Alumni Award is presented each year to honor an alumna or alumnus who best embodies the statement from the school’s mission, “New Canaan Country School inspires students to live lives of impact and purpose.”

  • Lisa Pike Sheehy '83 to Receive New Canaan Country School's 2022 Alumni Award

    The New Canaan Country School Alumni Council will present the 2022 Alumni Award to Lisa Pike Sheehy ’83. Lisa will return to campus on May 19 to accept the honor and to share with students, alumni and guests her work as an environmental activist and pioneer in advocating for climate awareness. This event kicks off Alumni Weekend 2022.
     
    The Alumni Award is presented each year to honor an alumna or alumnus who best embodies the statement from the school’s mission, “New Canaan Country School inspires students to live lives of impact and purpose.”


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  • A.J. Mleczko ’90 to Receive New Canaan Country School’s Alumni Award

    New Canaan Country School is pleased to announce that Olympic gold-medal winning athlete and an ESPN and MSG ice hockey analyst A.J. Mleczko ’90 will be presented with the 2021 Alumni Award. A.J. will accept the honor and share highlights of her career with students, alumni and guests during the 2021-2022 school year.

  • Miami HEAT Business Operations President Eric Woolworth ’80  Reflects on the Importance of Social Responsibility 

    New Canaan Country School’s 2020 Alumni Award winner Eric Woolworth ’80 spoke to Middle and Upper School students (Grades 5 - 9) about his path to the executive office of the Miami HEAT Group and discussed the importance of creating diverse, equitable and inclusive environments, professional organizations and communities during a virtual event on Oct. 30. (View the recording.)

  • Eric Woolworth ’80 to Receive New Canaan Country School’s 2020 Alumni Award

    New Canaan Country School is pleased to announce that Eric Woolworth ’80 will be presented with the 2020 Alumni Award. Eric is scheduled to accept the honor and share with students, alumni and guests highlights of his career in professional basketball and as a leader in diversity and inclusion initiatives Friday, Oct. 30, live via an online platform.
  • Alumni Council President Tucker Golden ’90, Alumni Award winner Allison Kessler Vear ’00 and Head of School Aaron Cooper

    Allison Kessler Vear ’00 Receives New Canaan Country School Alumni Award

    Allison Kessler Vear ’00 was presented with the 2019 New Canaan Country School Alumni Award on the school’s campus May 17. Allison is an attending physician at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a leading rehabilitation hospital in Chicago, where she specializes in spinal cord injury medicine. Paralyzed from the waist down since the age of 15, Allison is also an Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. View video presentation. 
     

  • Juliana “Topsy” Post ’66 Receives New Canaan Country School Alumni Award

    Juliana “Topsy” Post, was presented with the 2018 New Canaan Country School Alumni Award on the school’s campus May 18. Mrs. Post was a longstanding member of the school’s World Cultures faculty and a graduate from the school’s class of 1966. VIEW VIDEO

  • Juliana “Topsy” Post ’66 to Receive New Canaan Country School Alumni Award

    The New Canaan Country School Alumni Council will present the 2018 Alumni Award to Juliana “Topsy” Post ’66. Topsy will return to campus on May 17 to accept the honor and to share with students, alumni and guests highlights of her career as an educator. This event kicks off Alumni Weekend 2018.


  • Data Communications Pioneer, David Forney ’54, Receives New Canaan Country School Alumni Award

    The New Canaan Country School Alumni Council is pleased to announce that Dr. G. David Forney, Jr. ‘54 was presented with the 2016 Alumni Award. Dr. Forney returned to campus on Friday, May 20 to accept the honor and to share with students, alumni and guests highlights of his unique career as a pioneer in the field of data communications. 

  • Marine Officer, Iraq Veteran and Entrepreneur Zach Iscol Receives 2015 Alumni Award

    Zach Iscol ’94 was presented with the New Canaan Country School Alumni Award on the school’s campus May 15, 2015.  

  • Human Rights Policy Advocate Katherine “Kathy” Ward Receives 2014 Country School Alumni Award

    Katherine Ward`79 was presented with the New Canaan Country School Alumni Award on the school’s campus Friday, Jan. 10, 2014.

  • Liz Barratt-Brown ’74 Named 2013 Alumni Award Winner

    Environmental attorney Liz Barratt-Brown '74 was named the New Canaan Country School 2013 Alumni Award winner.

  • Matt Heineman Receives Country School 2012 Alumni Award

    Filmmaker Matt Heineman ’98 was named the 2012 Alumni Award winner.  While on campus to receive the award, Mr. Heineman spoke to Middle and Upper School students about his journey to becoming a filmmaker. He also showed clips from his documentary on the healthcare industry, entitled ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare.
More Stories

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  • Alumni Award Recipients:

    2024: Lucy Adams Billings '63
    2023: Nicholas Britell '96
    2022: Lisa Pike Sheehy '83
    2021: AJ Mleczko '90
    2020: Eric Woolworth ’80 
    2019: Allison Kessler Vear ’00
    2018: Topsy Post ’66
    2017: Mo Vaughn ’82
    2016: G. David Forney ’54
    2015: Zach Iscol ’94
    2014: Katherine Ward ’79
    2013: Liz Barratt-Brown ’74
    2012: Matt Heineman '98
    2011: Rick Ackerly '60
    2010: Edward Hoagland '47
    2009: Patricia Gates Lynch Ewell '41
    2008: Hardy Jones '58
    2007: Elizabeth Spelke '64
    2006: L. Paul Bremer '56
    2005: Edmund L. Resor '66
    2004: William A. Shutkin '80
    2003: Emily Mead '41
    2002: Keith H. Brodie '54
    2001: Samuel Sachs '50
    2000: Elizabeth S. Crow '61
    1999: Hedrick Smith '47
    1998: Jonathan B. O’Brien '53 and Joan Dominick O’Brien '53
    1997: Peter Goldmark '55

Please Nominate:

If you would like to nominate an alumna/us for this award, please email the candidate's name and background to Holly Donaldson Casella '04 at hcasella@countryschool.net.

New Canaan Country School

635 Frogtown Road, New Canaan, CT 06840
Phone: (203) 972-0771
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.