The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually during the MassArt Common Good Awards ceremony. This prestigious recognition honors the outstanding accomplishments, service, and impact that our alumni have achieved in their professional practice and within their communities.
The award reflects MassArt’s core values and is presented to individuals who embody excellence, creativity, and a commitment to the common good.
Elka, founder of Future Chefs, has made a profound impact on youth development through culinary arts in Boston. Her nonprofit provides life skills, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to prepare young people for success. Elka’s leadership has been nationally recognized for empowering youth and fostering social change.
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MassArt Distinguished Alumni will consistently demonstrate at least one of the criteria listed below:
Mastery
Nominee has developed a mature body of work, achieved an outstanding level of recognition during a significant career in the arts, or has significantly influenced contemporary practice through their creative accomplishments
MassArt Spirit
Embodies the character of MassArt
Mission and Values
Sustains advocacy for the mission and values of the college, either through actions or philanthropic support
Innovation
Advances the potential, pushes the boundaries of expectation, or creates new ways of thinking in their field of practice
Creative Economy
Nominee has made significant contributions to the creative economy either through their work or through professional-to-student involvement
Citizenship and Community
Engages in the well-being of society or has made a significant commitment to community service through the arts. Fosters community-building, diversity, good citizenship, inclusiveness, sustainability, or social justice
Young Alumni Achiever (Emerging Alumni Achiever)
Outstanding achievement by a MassArt alum in the first 10 years post-graduation
2023
2021
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007 – Arne Glimcher ’60 BFA Painting
2006 – Christian Marclay ’80 BFA Studio for Interrelated Media
2004 – Brian Collins ’82 BFA Graphic Design
2003 – Albert Petitto ’44 BFA Art Education
2001 – Ellen Rothenberg ’78 MFA Graduate Media & Performing Arts
2000
1999 – Paul Goodnight ’75 BFA Painting
1998 – Francis and Priscilla Merritt ’34 BFA Fashion Design
1997 – May Stevens ’46 BFA Painting
1996 – Jackie Winsor ’65 BFA Painting & Illustration
1995 – Nancy Haigh ’68 BFA Ceramics
1994 – William Daley ’50 BFA Art Education
1993 – David Rose ’31 BFA Painting & ’34 MSAE
1992 – Jean Day Zallinger ’39 BFA Drawing & Painting
1991 – Robert Cumming ’65 BFA Painting
1990
1989 – William Hannon ’56 BFA Industrial Design
1988 – William Gunn ’45 BFA Drawing & Painting
1987 – William Wegman ’65 BFA Painting
1986
1985 – Marilyn Pappas ’52 BFA Art Education
1983 – Muriel Cooper ’48 BFA Art Education
1979 – Sylvia Feinburg ’79 BFA Art Education
Nominations are welcomed from MassArt alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends of the college. You may nominate more than one person, but please submit a separate nomination form for each individual.
MassArt alumni can be nominated individually or as key members of a collective or organization.
Honoree is selected by a committee of alumni, faculty, and staff, from nominations made by the MassArt community and friends of the college.
The MassArt Common Good Awards honor individuals and organizations pushing the boundaries of advocacy, teaching, placemaking, design thinking, and the arts, emphasizing their impact on public life, problem-solving, and quality of life.
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