Summer image of Carpenter Academic Building at Transylvania University.

Alumni Awards

We are proud to recognize these alumni and friends for their exemplary service to Transylvania and their communities and for distinguishing themselves in their respective professions. The awards were presented during the Alumni Celebration Convocation on April 27.

Jan Allinder Anestis ’67
Morrison Medallion

Jan Allinder Anestis graduated from Transylvania in 1967 with a degree in elementary education, and she earned a master’s degree from New York University. As an educator, Jan taught a wide range of students, including individuals in residential mental health facilities. A lifelong educator, she spent much of her time advocating for children, including her own. 

While raising her children, Jan volunteered for a number of civic positions on town boards and was active in her parent-teacher organization. In the mid 1980s, she was elected as a write-in candidate to the nonpartisan Weston, Connecticut, Board of Education. She served on the board for eight years.

Over the years, Jan’s love of writing led to opportunities as a columnist for the Weston Forum, a blog author and, most recently, a novelist and co-author with classmates Wanda Cole, Bill McDonald and others. 

A dedicated and longtime supporter of Transylvania, Jan has represented the Class of 1967 for many years, as a reunion gift chair and class agent. She served on the Transylvania Alumni Board from 2007-12 and on the Board of Regents from 2017-23. Jan’s support includes her work as a Together for Transy giving day challenge donor to support diversity and equity initiatives and the student food pantry, as well as playing an important role in generating interest for two endowed scholarships. One of these funds memorialized a Transy friend’s late daughter, and the other served to honor her graduating class.

Brittany Horsley Lauder ’14
Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Mary Rankin ’74
Distinguished Achievement Award

Lisbon Davis Hardy ’79
Distinguished Achievement Award

Liz Phearson Fulkerson ’84
Distinguished Service Award

Dexter Meyer ’69
Distinguished Service Award

Shannan Stamper ’94
Distinguished Service Award

Danielle Tharp Clore ’94
Distinguished Achievement Award

Erwin Roberts ’94
Distinguished Achievement Award

Amit B. Patel ’99
Distinguished Achievement Award

Ashley Willoughby King ’09
Distinguished Service Award

Larry W. Moore ’74
Distinguished Service Award


More from this issue

Transylvania Alumna Mariju Bofill

A Life of Service

Students providing tax preparation assistance

Students Gain real-world Skills

Professor Alan Bartley's Senior Economics Seminar meets with Gatton Park on Town Branch

Learning Through Engagement