Honorees
Celebration 2026 Honorees and Past Honorees.
2026 HONOREES:
To Be Announced.
2025 HONOR ROLL:
University Medal for Lifetime Achievement
| The Honorable Thomas H. Kean ’83 HON - 2014 Governor State of New Jersey | Saul K. Fenster – 1998 President New Jersey Institute of Technology |
The Albert Dorman ’45, ’99 HON Medal for Lifetime Achievement*
| Dieter Weisssenrieder '76 - 2024 Industrial Engineering CEO and Founder Weiss-Aug Group | James J. Coleman, Jr., Esq. - 2010 Chairman International –Matex Tank Terminals |
| John W. Seazholtz '59 - 2022 Chief Technology Officer, Bell Atlantic (retired) Managing Partner, BaciTV Founder Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School | J. Robert Hillier, FAIA - 2009 Founder Hillier Architecture |
| Martin Tuchman '62 - 2021 Chief Executive Officer The Tuchman Group | Steven Kalafer - 2008 Chairman of the Board Flemington Car and Truck Company |
| Demetrios J. Stamatis '85 – 2019 CEO Louis Berger, A WSP Company | Jeffrey Vanderbeek - 2007 Owner New Jersey Devils |
| R. Cynthia Pruett `55 – 2018 Director of Environmental Affairs (RET) IBM Corporation | Frank Cassidy ’69 – 2006 President & COO PSE&G Power, LLC |
| The Honorable Paul A. Sarlo`92 – 2017 Senator State of New Jersey | Fred Hassan – 2005 Chairman of the Board & CEO Schering-Plough Corp. |
| Raymond J. McGowan ’64 - 2016 Executive Vice President (Ret.) ExxonMobil Chemical | Derish Wolff – 2003 Chairman Berger Holdings, Inc. |
| Albert Dorman ’45, ’99 HON - 2015 Founding Chairman (Ret.) AECOM Technology Corporation | Josh S. Weston – 2002 Honorary Chair ADP |
| The Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen - 2014 United States House of Representatives State of New Jersey | James A. Kennedy, Jr. – 2000 Chairman & CEO (Ret.) National Starch & Chemical Co. Chair, NJIT Board of Trustees |
| Dr. Anthony J. Sartor - 2013 Chairman and CEO Paulus, Sokolowski, & Sartor | Russ Berrie – 1999 Founder, Chairman & CEO Russ Berrie and Company, Inc. |
| Dennis M. Bone - 2012 President (Ret.) Verizon New Jersey, Inc. | Kevork S. Hovnanian –1996 Chairman & Director Hovanian Enterprises, Inc. |
| Larry Raia ’65 - 2011 Principal & Executive Officer RAIA Properties Corporation |
Lifetime Alumni Leadership Award
| Edward J. Schmeltz ’71 – 2017 Senior Vice President and Director Maritime & Special Projects AECOM |
Edward F. Weston Medal for Professional Achievement*
| Virginia C. Sulzberger (nee Thomas) '62 '66 - 2023 Director-Engineering (retired) North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) | Paul Eng-Wong ’75, ’80 - 2014 Principal Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. |
| Jordan Hu '89 - 2022 Founder and Chief Executive Officer RiskVal Financial Solutions, LLC | Anita Rubino ’83 - 2013 Owner EVOS Carrollwood Restaurant |
| Ellen M. Pawlikowski, '78, '13 HON - 2021 General (Retired) US Air Force | Steven B. Saperstein ’84 - 2012 Chief Operating Officer Prudential Fixed Income |
| Marion A. Conway, '70, '73 – 2019 Marion Conway Consulting | Ying Wu `88 – 2011 Chairman China Capital Group |
| Daniel J. Carroll, Jr. `65, `70 – 2018 Retired President & Chief Executive Officer Telcordia Technologies | Clifford M. Samuel ’88 – 2010 Vice President Gilead Sciences, Inc. |
| Raymond A. Cassetta `70 – 2017 Chair, Martin Tuchman School of Management, Board of Advisors | C. Stephen Cordes ’72 – 2009 Managing Director ING Clarion Partners |
| Theodore D. Cassera ’72 - 2016 Executive Vice President Bowman Consulting Group | |
Outstanding Alumnus Award*
| Edward Cruz ’63 - 2008 President and CEO E.E. Cruz & Company, Inc. | Raymond J. McGowan ’64 – 2001 Executive Vice President (Ret.) ExxonMobil Chemical Company |
| Vincent Naimoli ’62 - 2007 Chairman Tampa Bay Rays | William S. Guttenberg ’44 – 2000 Founder Wilco Electric, Inc. |
| Norma J. Clayton ’81 - 2006 Vice President Global Sourcing Integrated Defense Systems The Boeing Co. | Dr. Michael J. Pappas ’59, ’64 – 1999 President Endotec, Inc. |
| Amy A. Pappas ’87 - 2005 Managing Director, CFO Asset Management America JP Morgan Chase | W. Frank Hurlburt ’35 – 1998 Chairman & CEO (Ret.) Automatic Switch Company |
| King K. Moy ’74, ’77 - 2004 Senior Vice President and Partner EcolSciences, Inc. | Seymour “Zoom” Fleisher ’51 – 1997 Chairman (Ret.) Pilot Technologies |
| John Olson ’61, ’66 - 2003 Managing Director (Ret.) Morgan Stanley | Martin Tuchman ’61 – 1996 Chairman & CEO Interpol, Inc. |
| Barbara Littman ’94 - 2002 Designer The Hillier Group | Victor A. Pelson ’59 – 1995 Senior Advisor SBC Warburg Dillon Read, Inc. |
Outstanding Corporate Partner
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) - 2022 Langan Engineering & Environmental Services – 2019 IBM Corporation – 2018 Gourmet Dining Services LLC – 2017 JPMorgan Chase & Co. – 2016 Torcon, Inc. – 2014 Berger Group Holdings, Inc. – 2013 Renard Communications, Inc. – 2012 AECOM Technology Corporation – 2011 Hatch Mott MacDonald - 2010 Hess Corporation - 2009 Wachovia Bank, N.A. - 2008 Verizon Communications – 2007
| Turner Construction Co. – 2006 Pepsi Bottling Group – 2005 Schoor DePalma - 2004 Merck & Co., Inc. – 2003 United Parcel Service – 2002 Schering-Plough Corporation – 2001 Prudential Insurance Co., of America – 2000 BD - 1999 Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) - 1998 Exxon - 1997 National Starch & Chemical Co. – 1996 Panasonic Industrial Company |
University Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership
| Brian G. Kiernan '70 – 2017 Student Mentor and Angel Investor | Reginald Best – 2004 Co-founder, President and CEO Netilla Networks, Inc. |
| Marjorie A. Perry '05 – 2016 President and CEO MZM Construction Co., Inc. | Richard E. Bader '60 – 2003 Founder Raytel Medical Corporation |
| Richard P. Sweeney '82 – 2006 Co-Founder and Vice President Keurig, Inc. | N. Eric Johanson '65 – 2001 Chairman Johanson Dielectrics, Inc. |
| Philip L. Rinaldi '68 – 2005 Founding and Former CEO Coffeyville Resources, LLC | John J. Martinson – 2000 Managing Partner Edison Venture Fund |
Special Friends to the University
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| Steven Plate – 2013 Deputy Chief of Capital Planning Director, WTC Construction The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey |
| J. Robert Hillier '17 HON and Barbara A. Hillier – 2019 Studio Hillier | Richard S. Bowles III, Ph.D. – 2011 Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer Merck & Co., Inc. |
| James F. Stevenson, Ph.D. – 2017 Fellow (Ret.) Honeywell International | Emil C. Herkert – 2002 President and CEO The Killam Group |
| Joseph M. Taylor '11 HON – 2016 Chairman and CEO Panasonic Corporation of North America | Daniel A. Henderson – 2001 President Phonetel Communications, Inc. |
* The Weston Medal, named in memory of Edward Faraday Weston, who served on the Board of Trustees of NCE for nearly 40 years, was previously awarded at Convocation to an alumnus in recognition of outstanding personal, professional and civic achievement, and commitment to the development of the university.
In 2009 it was determined that the intent of the Weston Medal and that of the Outstanding Alumnus Award at Celebration were the same; that they should become one award; and that Celebration was the best venue for its presentation.
* The Albert Dorman ’45, ’99 HON Medal for Lifetime Achievement, previously known as the President’s Medal for Lifetime Achievement, was renamed in memory of Dr. Albert A. Dorman, ’45, ’99 HON, NJIT alumnus and founding benefactor of the Albert Dorman Honors College (ADHC), who passed away on November 14, 2023.