Meet Homecoming’s Alumni Awardees

Posted on September 18, 2019 by collegecomm

Alumni Awards

Deborah Lawrence ’74, Alumni of the Year

Gordon Alumni of the Year Award | Deborah Lawrence ’74, senior vice president, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Deborah Lawrence has served a long and fruitful career at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she is now the senior vice president. She leads a team in providing treasury, credit, investment banking, risk management, international and wealth management solutions. Lawrence is a mentor with Global Ambassadors Program and serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, and the Governing Board of Mass Mentoring Partnership.

A. J. Gordon Missionary Service Award | Rich ’92 and Marla ’91 Henderson, Asia area director, One Challenge; human resources director, Faith Academy, Inc.

Christ’s directive to “make disciples of all nations” is vital for Rich and Marla Henderson, who have made the Philippines their home. Rich manages over 50 missionaries in eight countries across Southeast Asia and works to support the emotional and spiritual needs of missionaries in many fields. Marla recruits and supports the staff of Faith Academy, a school for missionary children in the heart of the Philippines. Rich and Marla met during their time at Gordon.

Jack Good Community Service Award | Sada Andrews ’01, founder and lead instructor, Mama Can Surf

Sada Andrews is many things: lecturer, attorney, disaster responder, surfer and mother. She founded Mama Can Surf, a surf school on California’s Central Coast, to help woman gain new skills and confidence. Her attorney practice tackles a wide variety of issues, from helping those seeking asylum to nonprofit and small business start-ups. Andrews recognizes that her vocations are varied but feels called through whatever she does to “be an advocate and amplify others’ voices.”

Winifred Currie Award in Education | Beth Mollenhauer ’94, president and co-founder, Teaching Training Together

The mission to train teachers in Haiti was strong in Beth Mollenhauer and a group of like-minded educators in 2010. Today, Teaching Training Together (TTT) has trained school leaders and teachers in 279 schools. With a staffed office in Haiti, they will train 6,000 more participants over the next five years. And with eyes on training beyond Haiti, Mollenhauer partnered with graduate education alumna Ollie White ’18 to launch TTT in Liberia this month.

Gordon Young Alumni Award | Nick ’09 and Ashley (Herron) ’10 Shultz, founders, Miss Pink Organization

With the goal of helping breast cancer victims in times of great need, Nick and Ashley Shultz founded the Miss Pink organization. Recognizing the many needs of affected individuals, the nonprofit provides financial, emotional and logistical support for women who have breast cancer. Miss Pink, which celebrates one decade this year, was recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives for its outstanding work. Ashley is president of the organization and Nick serves on its board.

Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year Award | Josh Sturgeon ’07, co-founder, EmberTribe

Josh Sturgeon is co-founder of EmberTribe, a digital marketing company that helps create explosive growth for new companies. Sturgeon’s work is far in scope; he is involved in a number of startups in the tech industry, serves as a mentor at Techstars and recently launched a new podcast, Remote Well. EmberTribe is currently on track to hit the Inc. 5000, a list of America’s top entrepreneurs and their ventures.

Marv Wilson Award for the Career and Connection Institute | Andrew Beckwith ’99, president, Massachusetts Family Institute

A Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, Andrew Beckwith serves as the president of Massachusetts Family Institute. With a mission to preserve religious liberty in the state, Beckwith describes his current job as a “shield” against legislation and larger cultural issues that threaten the culture of faith-forming institutions and the families they serve. Before becoming president of the Institute, he was a board member then executive vice president, and previously worked in the Department of Homeland Security as an immigration attorney.

Athletics Hall of Honor

Brianna Riddell ’04, Field Hockey

National Academic Squad award (2000–03)
All-Conference Academic team (2000–03)
Conference Senior Scholar-athlete (2003)
New England East Regional selection as goalkeeper (2002)
All-Conference team as goalkeeper (2000–03)
Record-holder for goalkeeper wins—55 (2000–03)
Season record for goalkeeper wins—15 (2001)
Season record for least goals allowed—14 (2001)
Season lowest goals against average—.74 (2001)
Record-holder for career shutouts—41 (2000-03)
Season record for shutouts—11 (2001)
Two-time captain (2002, 2003)

George Richardson ’67B, Men’s Basketball, Men’s Soccer, Baseball (Barrington College)

Earned 11 varsity letters in his career
Played in regional championships for both Basketball (1965–66) and Soccer (1966–67)
First in Barrington history to receive All New England selection—Soccer (1965)
Named to three all-conference teams—Soccer (1964-67)
Top pitcher and top hitter for two seasons—Baseball (1966, 1967)
Four-time captain—Soccer (1966, 1967) and Baseball (1966, 1967)
Recipient of Gordon College Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Divinity (2015)

The 2019 Homecoming Awards Ceremony will also include the presentation of the George F. Bennett Leadership Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, F. L. Chapell Award and student awards. Following the awards, guest musician David Leonard formerly of All Sons and Daughters will lead guests in worship.

Purchase tickets to the Homecoming Awards Ceremony >

Pictured top: Sada Andrews ’01

Category: Alumni Stories, Featured, News Tags: alumni, alumni awards, athletics, hall of honor, homecoming, outcomes