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:

2022

Name Public Service
Angelo Lynn Publisher of the Addison County Independent, Addison County Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Middlebury Business Association, board member of Porter Medical Center, president and longtime executive board member of the Vermont Press Association, president of the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, Middlebury Maple Run, Town Hall Theater, Opera Company of Middlebury, and the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival
Sarah Soule Supervisor of Middlebury College Access Mentors (MiddCAM), a partnership between the high school and College that pairs college students with high schoolers, mostly first-generation college-bound students, as they navigate the college admissions process.
David Shaw Mentor to Middlebury College student firefighting volunteers, coach and director of the Middlebury Youth Football Program, a member of the Vermont State High School Wrestling Officials Association, and as a board member of Addison County Home Health and Hospice.
Bethanie Farrell Founder of Giving Fridge in Middlebury, a nonprofit collaborative that works with local restaurants to supply weekly fresh, high quality meals to anyone in need.

2021

Name Public Service
Laura Asermily Middlebury Selectboard, Earth Day Fair (now the Middlebury Co-op’s Spring Festival), energy coordinator of Middlebury, Energy Committee, Walk & Roll to School, Alateen, Al-Anon, Turning Point Center of Addison County
Kelly Hickey Bundle, National Arts Strategies Creative Community Fellow, Reimagine Addison County
Tom Scanlon American Legion Post 27, Middlebury Sports Commission, Addison Regional Planning Commission, Addison County Transportation Advisory Committee, Town of Middlebury Public Safety Committee, Addison County Local Emergency Planning Committee, emergency management director of the town of Salisbury

2020

Name Public Service
Glenn Andres Historic preservation, community planning and the performing arts
Sadie Brightman Middlebury Community Music Center, performing arts
Emily Joselson Community Conversations, youth, family and social services
Amy Mason Supporting services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, Addison County Mutual Aid, early childhood education and community schools
   

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
Kerri Louray Duquette-Hoffman and President Laurie Patton

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 President Laurie Patton honors 2017 Citizens Award Recipients

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

President Patton presents the Citizen's Award to State Rep. Betty Nuovo.

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

President Laurie L. Patton presents the Bonnie and John McCardell Citizen’s Awards

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

Ron Liebowitz with McCardell Citizen's Award winners David Brynn and Douglas Anderson

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

The 2012-13 citizens award is presented to Joanne Corbett and Donald M. Keeler Jr.

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

Thomas Munschauer, Nancy Malcolm, and Ronald D. Liebowitz

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

Ron Liebowitz with recipients Liz Cronin, Mickey Heinecken, and Susan Vigne

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.

2009-2010

Name Public Service

Margaret M. Carothers

Habitat for Humanity of Addison County

F. Peter Carothers

Habitat for Humanity of Addison County

George T. Murdoch II

Middlebury Volunteer Ambulance Association and United States Army

J. Douglas Sinclair

Middlebury Community Care Coalition

2008-2009

Name Public Service

Margaret Funk Martin

Middlebury Select Board, Middlebury Day Care Center, and Champlain Valley Community Action Organization

Gordon Kenneth Perine ’49

Addison County Chamber of Commerce

Ann McGinley Ross ’53

Addison Peace Coalition, Education and the Arts

2007-2008

Name Public Service

Richard Bullock

Middlebury Union High School and Public and Community Service

Anne Hoover

Public and Community Service

Peggy J. Peabody

Fire District 1 and Middlebury Historical Society

William J. Scott, Jr.

Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center

2006-2007

Name Public Service

Lucien Paquette

Addison County Fair and Field Days

Fletcher Brush

Co-Operative insurance Companies, Middlebury Community House, and Addison County Chamber of Commerce

Christie and Michael Steier

Addison County’s Open Door Clinic

2005-2006

Name Public Service

Al Stiles

Middlebury Area Land Trust and Wright Park

Reverend Paul B. Bortz

Spirit of Nature and Middlebury Global Warming Action Coalition

Roth W. “T” Tall ’65 and Cynthia Day Tall

Middlebury Volunteer Ambulance Association, Cornwall Historical Society, and United Way of Addison County

2004-2005

Name Public Service

John V. Craven

Addison County Community Action Group

Abbott T. Fenn

Keewaydin Environmental Education Center, Keewaydin Wilderness Canoe Trips, and the High Pond Audubon Youth Camp

Linda C. Waterman

Neat Repeats

2003-2004

Name Public Service

Diana L. Barnard, M.D.

Community Health Service of Addison County

Patricia A. Boera

Festival on the Green

Betty Jo Calhoun

Cornwall Town Government and Community Service

Helen G. Haerle ’73

Middlebury Union High School Board of Directors and Middlebury Downtown Business Bureau

Henry B. Prickitt

Middlebury College and Community Service

Lawrence E. Volkert

Veterans Service Officer and Veterans of Foreign Wars

Gregory Wry

Greg’s Market and the Middlebury Lions Club

2002-2003

Name Public Service

Dorothea Nelson

Addison County Humane Society and Middlebury Union High School

Adèle E. Pierce

Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History

Frederic D. Powell

Middlebury Union High School

James W. Rubright

Middlebury Bagel & Deli

Barbara A.B. Wagner

Porter Hospital and Town Line First Response

2001-2002

Name Public Service

Richard A. Goodro

Town of Middlebury

Dorothy B. Neuberger ’58

Counseling Service of Addison County

Sonja J. Olson

Vermont Coalition of Clinics for the Underserved

Marguerite A. Quinn

State of Vermont and Community Service

James D. Ross ’51

Middlebury College and Community Service

2000-2001

Name Public Service

Eugene P. Childers

Vermont Music Educators’ Association

Ray W. Collins, Jr.

Porter Hospital

Joseph A. DeGray

American Legion Post 27 and Community Service

George W. Foster, Sr.

Community Service

Roch F. MacIntyre

Vermont National Guard and Addison County Chamber of Commerce

Cheryl W. Mitchell

Addison County Parent/Child Center and Vermont Agency of Human Resources

Alice Neef Perine ’47

Middlebury Union High School and Vermont National Education Association

Gordon C. Perine ’49

Middlebury College and Community Service

Thomas J. Plumb ’75

Addison County Community Action Group

Connie L. Staats

Mary Johnson Children’s Center