The Van Winkle Achievement Award
The Van Winkle Achievement Award honors a distinguished person or professional who has extraordinary accomplishments including outstanding service to Centenary College and the community at large, and who brings honor to our institution. Alumni and all others closely associated with Centenary College are eligible for nomination.
2012 honoree:
Linda Dey McDonald ’62
Linda Dey McDonald has devoted a large portion of her life to education, both in the classroom and in the dance studio, and both of children and the elderly. More impressively, she is a three-time cancer survivor. Now, her book, Dancing Cancer, is a personal story of survival and perseverance, inspiring others to overcome challenges and live their dreams. It is designed to teach young people about cancer and how it affects lives, as well as offering a hopeful and supportive message to those touched by cancer directly or indirectly. She is a graduate of Centenary, as well as Rollins College and Dance Educators of America, and in her professional life she designs innovative programs that combine her educational and dance experience. She has also served as a U.S. delegate to the World Health Organization’s Congress on “Aging, Physical Activity and Sports” in Germany in 1996, as well as a U.S. representative to the International Team for Dance and Dance Education in China the same year. Her community service work includes being a founder of the Board of Visitors at Presbyterian College, a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and a sponsor of the I Have a Dream Program. At Centenary, she was involved in many activities as a student, including Student Council and serving as Hall President. In recent years, she has been an active member of the Centenary College President’s Circle, including serving as Chair for a number of years, and has been a fixture at Centenary events, particularly in her home state of Florida. Her book is the latest achievement in a career that has also seen her release two educational records and create a public service film and booklet.
To download a list of past honorees, click here.
The Gold Dome Award
Each year at the annual Centenary College Scholarship Gala, honorees are chosen to receive the Gold Dome Award. The Award was first presented in 1999 to recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations who, through extraordinary vision and dedication, advance the mission of Centenary College and exemplify the values we hold dear.
2012 honorees:
Chuck Mueller
Chuck Mueller, Senior Vice President, Major Accounts, with Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP), is a seasoned and passionate leader with 20 years of experience at ADP. He leads 1,200 sales associates and 200 sales leaders, and is responsible for generating $300 million in new sales and $2 billion in revenue annually. Centenary College and ADP have enjoyed a relationship since 1976, including both professional services and philanthropic support. In addition, many Centenary alumni have been hired by ADP, and many ADP employees have found opportunities to advance their education at the College.
Norman Worth and WRNJ Radio
Norman Worth is President and General Manager of WRNJ Radio, and has served on the Centenary College Board of Trustees from 1993-97 and 2003-present. Mr. Worth, currently the 2nd Vice Chairman of the Centenary Board, alos serves as a member of many civic organizations, helping local charities and nonprofits raise more than $4 million during the course of his career. WRNJ's endeavors with Centenary include the bi-weekly "Inside Centenary" show, which can be heard Thursday mornings, along with its broad support for Centenary Stage Company and WNTI for over 25 years.
The Van Winkle family
The Van Winkle family has been a part of Centenary College for more than a century, spanning four generations. Three members of the family have served on the College Board of Trustees, which has included a Van Winkle since 1941. In 1951, Van Winkle Hall was dedicated and named in honor of Charles A. Van Winkle. The annual Van Winkle Achievement Award honors a distinguished person who has provided outstanding service to the College and community. There is also the Van Winkle Musical Instrument Endowed Fund, and the Van Winkle Board of Trustees Room is located in the David and Carol Lackland Center.
To download a list of past recipients, click here.
Distinguished Alumni
Established in 1992, during Centenary College’s 125th anniversary, 125 alumni were honored; 10 additional alumni were added to the list in 2002, in conjunction with the inauguration of Centenary College President Dr. Kenneth L. Hoyt. Five new awards were conferred at the Distinguished Alumni Brunch on Sunday, October 14, 2012, as part of the Homecoming & Alumni Weekend festivities. The purpose of this award is to recognize the personal or professional achievements of Centenary Alumni, and their service to the College or the community-at-large. The criteria used to select the recipients along with a nomination form are downloadable. Nominations will be reviewed by the selection committee, which is comprised of a representative of the Alumni Association Executive Board, the President of the College, a member of the President’s Circle and the Director of Alumni Relations.
To download a list of the 147 Distinguished Alumni, click here.