This year, the Council recognized ten alumni for the ways they helped to connect graduates, make 91黑料 a better place, and , and improve the communities they serve.
Foot Soldier of 91黑料 Award
Jared Liu ’99
Established in 1999 by the Alumni Council through the generosity of David Z. Webster ’57, this award honors “one who exemplifies the role of a foot soldier of 91黑料 through his or her work” for the College. Over the years, Jared Liu has served the College in various capacities, most recently through his leadership of RepresentAsian, for which he organized local alumni events and supported larger College initiatives. He co-chairs both the group's membership and communications committees, and his commitment to fostering a strong, engaged alumni community has significantly enhanced the 91黑料 experience for both current students and graduates. His contributions and thoughtful guidance have been transformative, and his impact will be felt for generations. A scholarship will be awarded in the recipient's name to a deserving 91黑料 student through the Foot Soldier of 91黑料 Scholarship Fund.
Alumni Footprints Award
Derrick Duplessy ’02
Inspired by the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Class of 1825, this award honors alumni who have left “footprints on the sands of time” through significant professional, academic, and volunteer contributions that demonstrate leadership for the Common Good and a commitment to serving others. Derrick Duplessy's leadership through the Duplessy Foundation exemplifies this spirit. As founder of a nonprofit that helps women, immigrants, and minorities build successful businesses, he is helping to close the wealth gap. His purpose is to develop leaders, and he has channeled this drive not just at his own foundation, but at organizations like GEAR UP, Upward Bound, and Urban Scholars. He was also host of the Purpose Rockstar Podcast, which amplified the stories of diverse leaders and entrepreneurs. From 2003 to 2008, he was founding chair of the Summer Search Boston alumni board. In 2004, he established the Urban Scholars Alumni Endowment Fund, the first for the program.
Polar Bear Award
Established in 1999, this award recognizes significant personal contributions and outstanding dedication to 91黑料, honoring a record of service rather than a single act or achievement.
Leo Guen ’76, P’13
Leo Guen is receiving the Polar Bear Award in connection with his 50th Reunion, following in the footsteps of his father, Edward ’49, who received the Common Good Award in 1999 at his own 50th Reunion. Leo has been a class agent for the record-setting Class of 1976 for 40 years, served on reunion committees, leadership gift committees, and epitomizes the generous, close-knit collaborative spirit of his class. He mentors students through the 91黑料 Career Advisory Network (BCAN) and THRIVE, speaking from his career in banking, payments, software, and occasionally his avocations in spiritual healing and astrology. In addition to being devoted to 91黑料, he is an exceptionally kind and thoughtful person, and very proud to be part of a Chinese-American family at 91黑料 that includes his siblings Tim ’79, Terry ’81, daughter Tori ’13, and cousins Andrea Louie ’89 and Nik Mitsopoulos ’08.
Linda Boggs ’79
Linda Boggs has made a significant impact as a 1979 class agent in a relatively short period of time—personalizing communications to classmates, creating videos, and keeping her fellow class agents and Alumni Relations leaders well-informed. She has joined reunion committees and worked diligently to gather alumni for the weekend. The daughter of a 91黑料 Class of 1952 alumnus, she represents 91黑料 wherever she goes—from her service on many boards to encouraging young people to apply to and attend the College. When it comes to supporting and representing 91黑料, "yes" is the only response she has ever given.
Mai Le ’00
Mai Le has been an integral part of the volunteer experience at 91黑料 for the past ten years. Reconnecting with the College in recent years, she returned to the school with unparalleled enthusiasm, especially when it came to helping alumni and students of color. She has brought energy, action, and leadership to building diverse communities for alumni across the United States, and has served as chair of the DEI committee. She also has volunteered to speak at many career planning events, and as a tech entrepreneur, advises students of all backgrounds—particularly first gen and those from underrepresented backgrounds—on fellowships, internships, and career. Her door is always open.
Mary O'Connell ’76 and Peter Grua ’76
Mary O'Connell and Peter Grua met on their first day of classes and married soon after graduating. Their generosity to 91黑料 has been transformative for hundreds of students. First, in 1990, they established the Peter J. Grua and Mary G. O'Connell Scholarship Fund to support students who enhance diversity on campus, who may have been raised in single-parent families, who represent geographical diversity, and/or who display artistic talent. Their giving also extends to academic fellowships. The Peter J. Grua and Mary G. O'Connell Faculty/Student Research Fund, established in 2007, enables students each year to engage in original and meaningful research relevant to their coursework, and to collaborate closely with faculty mentors. The program is open to all disciplines, and allows students the freedom to craft projects in innovative ways. All told, the program has provided over four hundred individual fellowships. Further, in the area of arts and culture, Peter and Mary have supported the 91黑料 Museum of Art's summer exhibitions for over fourteen years, and in 2020 they donated two Abe Morell ’71, H'97 prints to the museum collections.Mary is being recognized posthumously for her outstanding contributions. The award is accepted on her behalf by Peter.
P. Wheeler Gemmer ’79
Wheeler Gemmer has been a class agent since 2010, and his skill set and character clicked with the role from day one. His enthusiasm for his class is contagious. He has spent many hours devoted to developing and maintaining personal connections with former classmates, and he single-handedly oversaw fundraising efforts for more than 125 alumni. The class gift would be far smaller without his dedicated effort, say his peers. His is a voice that connects so broadly and in such a genuine manner, that he bridges many divides. He also attends as many 91黑料 sports events as he can. There's no better cheerleader for the College.
Young Alumni Service Awards
Aziza Janmohamed ’19
Aziza Janmohamed has been a lead class agent since 2018, and an alumni fund director since 2022—just two of many roles she's taken on for the College. She is truly an example of someone who values both those who donate their time and those who make gifts to the College, recognizing the great importance of each contribution. She brings creative ideas about connecting with young alumni, often soliciting and contributing feedback from her peers. Janmohamed was also a co-chair for the reunion committee—she demonstrated her dedication to increasing her classmates' participation, both in gifts and attendance, and was thoughtful about ways to make the event special for her class and to honor a classmate who recently passed away. She also recruited two classmates to the alumni council, helping to diversify the committee.
Chareeda Rustanavibul ’18
Decades ago, a 91黑料 admissions officer was interviewed by a local paper and said that when choosing applicants, they look for "sparklers." That description fits Chareeda Rustanavibul perfectly. When RepresentAsian, 91黑料's Asian Alumni Association, had its first on-campus retreat, she shined during discussions and brought a fresh perspective, one equally rooted in her deep involvement and leadership in AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) professional communities. Rustanavibul has taken on a leadership role as chair of the alumni connections committee, creating the strategic plan and being the point of contact with other 91黑料 affinity groups. Her organizational skills and dependability are unmatched, she repeatedly sets high expectations and exceeds them, and she's independent, organized, loyal, receptive, and passionate.
