12 Alumni Honored with Anchor Awards

The University of Hartford's most prestigious alumni awards are given each fall to alumni who have excelled professionally and made significant contributions to their communities. This year a dozen alumni, from the 1960s to as recently as 2020, were recognized at the awards ceremony in Wilde Auditorium.

Kenniel Martin A'06, '07, the founder and executive director of the Hartford Lions Soccer Academy, was honored in the category Impact on Social Responsibility & Civic Engagement for his work combining his love of soccer with his passion for community-building. Several young members of the Lions were in attendance to cheer Martin's award.

"As a young man growing up in Hartford, I dreamt of playing soccer here," he said. "This campus gave me more than an education. It gave me mentors, friendships, and opportunities that shaped my life."

Stephen Cusano '15 and Jillian Foley Cusano '16 were recognized in the category of Outstanding Alum: Early Career Professional for their work in creating the recording studio Parkville Sounds, as well as many community-based creative and philanthropic projects.

Having recently celebrated the birth of their son, they accepted their awards with a video message, calling out their time at The Hartt School: "Hartt brought us to Hartford, and it gave us connections, training, and inspiration that allowed us to plant roots here."

Charles Pious '80, P'09, the president of Putnam-Thompson Protective Packaging, accepted an award in the category of Exceptional Professional Success. "It is impossible to fail if you work hard," he said. "And for the young people in the audience that are still in school here, my only advice is if you work hard, the cream always rises to the top and you will be noticed in whatever profession."

The Anchor Awards are stewarded by the Alumni Advisory Council, with nominations solicited from the full University community each year.

Two former faculty members were among the honorees. Francis Besancon C'63, '67 received a Posthumous Honor, recognizing the remarkable achievements and lasting legacy of an individual who made significant contributions to UHart during their lifetime.

Celia R. Lofink '79, P'16 received the award for Impact on the University of Hartford. She returned to the University of Hartford after a career in business to become a clinical professor of management at the Barney School of Business, coordinator of its career-ready programs, and assistant dean.

"Students, for me, are the force of hope," she said. "They're the hope for the future. And that is the driving force of my life that made it so special to come back here after my corporate career and work here."

UHart President Lawrence P. Ward told the honorees that he's continually inspired by his interactions with alumni across the country. "They all tell a story of transformation," he said. "Whether they realized it or not, they came to the University for a transformational experience. They can point to that faculty member or that staff member that changed their life forever."

"And now you are having a transformative impact in organizations and institutions, across geographies, across generations," Ward said. "This is the amplifying effect of a University of Hartford education. You represent a light that we so desperately need in our community and in our world-a light of inspiration and a light of hope."

UHart extends its congratulations to all 12 honorees!