David G. Russell ’66 Award
Each year, the Office of Admission presents the David G. Russell ’66 Award to exemplary Alumni in Admission volunteers. Usually presented during Back to Bates: Homecoming & Family Weekend or Reunion Weekend, the David G. Russell Award is named in honor of the late Hartford, Conn., chairperson. David was devoted to the AIA program, and this award is intended to celebrate those in AIA who embody his same loyalty to Bates.
+Cat Djang ’13
In 2016, the following alumni received the award on June 11 at Reunion Weekend.
Cat, you have been a selfless, highly engaging ambassador for the Bates Admission Office in the New York City area.
Building on your success as a fellow in the Admission Office — where, in your senior year, you conducted interviews with prospective students to yield the Class of 2014 — you show prospective students and their families the power of a Bates education through your own accomplishments — as a member of the College Key, the award-winning Brooks Quimby Debate Council, and now a student at Columbia Law School.
The demands of your studies at Columbia beg the question about your service to Bates: Where do you find the time? And yet we are so glad you do!
Cat, for your work in guiding and welcoming new students to Bates and thereby ensuring there is both opportunity and excellence at the college, I am honored on behalf of the Alumni Association to present you with the David G. Russell ’66 Alumni in Admission Award.
+Jill Kopicki Blankenhorn ’03
In 2016, the following alumni received the award on June 11 at Reunion Weekend.
Jill, you have been a critical part of the college’s outreach to prospective students in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Utah, and New Mexico — attending admission fairs and meeting with individuals to educate them about the strength of Bates’ academic programs as well as our distinctive history and values.
With your master’s in higher education administration from Syracuse and your experience as associate director of academic services at Providence College and as an academic adviser at the University of New Mexico, you are ideally suited to counsel students — and, as you put it, help them with “the major life decision of choosing the right college.”
Jill, you have said that Bates continues to be one of the greatest gifts given to you. For your willingness to give back by helping to bring the next generation of students to Bates, I am honored on behalf of the Alumni Association to present you with the David G. Russell ’66 Alumni in Admission Award.