Spirit of GW Awards Celebrate Leadership, Service and Excellence

October 30, 2025

Authored by:

Brook Endale

The Spirit of GW Awards ceremony, an annual tradition at George Washington University that recognizes notable individuals for their outstanding contributions to society and to the GW community was held Saturday evening in the University Student Center Grand Ballroom as part of Alumni and Families Weekend celebrations.

GW President Ellen M. Granberg thanked attendees and praised the honorees for their impact and achievements.

"Each year, GW celebrates the achievements of our most outstanding alumni and friends," Granberg said. "Tonight, we will be adding to this list five remarkable people, who have redefined their chosen professions and have gone above and beyond to help make GW the institution that it is today."

There are more than 330,000 GW alumni in over 150 countries. The outstanding recipients were selected for honors in four distinct categories. Here are the 2025 honorees:

Recent Alumni Achievement Award

Cheryl A. Thaxton, CERT '13, D.N.P. '18

Patty Carocci, associate vice president for Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, presented the Recent Alumni Achievement Award, which recognizes graduates of the past 10 years who have attained notable achievements in their professional field or community endeavors, to Cheryl Thaxton.

Thaxton is a distinguished nurse, leader and educator with more than 33 years of experience in nursing care, specializing in pediatrics, family practice, and palliative and hospice care. She is dual board certified as a pediatric and family nurse practitioner and serves as the founding associate dean, professor and chair of graduate studies for the College of Nursing at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

"At the heart of Cheryl's work is a profound compassion for others, a belief that every patient, student or colleague deserves to be seen, heard and supported," Carocci said. "Her career stands as a testament to GW's enduring mission to turn passion into purpose and purpose into impact."

Thaxton credited her GW education for fostering both intellect and empathy and thanked those who encouraged her leadership and commitment to service.

She said her passion for her work in hospice and palliative care comes from the desire to serve patients and families during their most vulnerable moments. "It honors the dignity of every human being," Thaxton said, "because it reminds us that even though medicine has its limits, love and presence remain as boundless forms of healing."

She closed by encouraging GW students to carry forward the values they learn during their time at the university.

"May you always carry forward what you've learned here as students," Thaxton said. "A mind that questions. A heart that feels. Hands that want to serve Him. Let your gratitude yield your greatness and your compassion guide your purpose."

Alumni Outstanding Service Award

Gregory S. Stevens, M.A.T. '01

Madeleine Jacobs, B.S. '68, HON '03, chair of the GW Alumni Council, presented the Alumni Outstanding Service Award to Gregory S. Stevens. The award recognizes a graduate who has rendered an outstanding level of long-standing service to GW.

Stevens has dedicated his career to education, creative expression and mentorship. His diverse background includes roles as a theater designer, elementary arts educator, museum professional, and university faculty member. For over two decades, Stevens has been a leading voice in career development for the museum field.

"Greg reminds us that service is not a single act. It's a way of living," Jacobs said. "Through his example, he continues to strengthen the GW family and inspire others to do the same."

Stevens reflected on his decades-long journey with GW, which began when he enrolled in the museum education graduate program. He said his GW experience shaped his curiosity about the world, his passion for teaching and his empathy as a leader.

Referencing one of his favorite poems by Spanish poet Antonio Machado, Stevens said, "Walker, there is no path. You make the path by walking."

He said that philosophy continues to guide him as he helps others find meaning and purpose in their work.

"I am absolutely grateful for this award," Stevens said. "And I'm also grateful that I get to do what I love, which is help people forge their own paths, give back to my community and hopefully make the world a better place."

GW Philanthropy Award

Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr., B.A. '94, and Jacki Cisneros

GW Vice President for University Advancement David Unruh presented the GW Philanthropy Award to Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr. and Jacki Cisneros. The award recognizes extraordinary, long-term support that has had a significant and inspiring impact on GW.

In 2015, Gilbert and Jacki Cisneros Foundation launched the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute at GW to support talented students with financial, academic and social resources. The institute has produced Fulbright finalists and numerous success stories.

"Gil and Jacki continually find ways to connect and inspire," Unruh said. "Over the past decade, their generosity has directly affected more than a thousand young lives across its programs, and its ripple effect spreads wide. Their generosity has become part of the very fabric of GW, reminding us that community begins with a sense of belonging and shared purpose."

Gilbert Cisneros, a longtime public servant and current member of Congress representing California's 31st Congressional District, expressed gratitude to the GW administration, faculty and staff for the honor and to his family, including his two sons, Christopher and Alexander, for their support.

"Jacki and I had a tremendous gift, and we wanted to be able to share that gift as much as we could to help make a difference in our community and help uplift students and give them the opportunity that we had," Gilbert Cisneros said.

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

Josh N. Kuriloff, B.B.A. '81

Granberg presented the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award to Josh N. Kuriloff. The award recognizes alumni who have achieved a high level of success and distinguished accomplishments in their professional lives.

Kuriloff is executive vice chairman and one of the highest-ranking brokerage professionals at Cushman & Wakefield. A veteran of the commercial real estate industry, he has earned multiple recognitions as C&W's top brokerage professional worldwide.

Granberg said Kuriloff is a visionary leader who has transformed the landscape of commercial real estate.

"Josh has built a career defined by transformative deals and enduring impact," Granberg said. "His strategic guidance has helped some of the world's most prominent organizations reimagine the spaces where people work, innovate and connect."

Kuriloff said the mentorships and friendships he built while at GW helped shape his professional path and personal life. He pointed to his wife, whom he met through a GW classmate. "My biggest success is our family," Kuriloff said.

He said the energy on GW's campus embodied a world of possibilities.

"Winston Churchill once said, 'We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,'" Kuriloff said. "So, thank you to GW for this incredible honor, to my wife and family for their love and patience, and to my lifelong friends who have made this journey so meaningful. Well, GW, you were my first village, and for that I am grateful."