Alumni Award Winners Announced
Katie DuBoff - June 15, 2021
The Alumni Awards were announced on June 5 during the Reunion Weekend 2021 virtual Town Hall event. This year's honorees were among class years that end in a 1, 5, 6, or 0.
Since 1976, the Rosemont College Alumni Association Awards Program has honored professional achievements, contributions to community, and service to the College after graduation. Three prestigious awards are given each year to honorees elected by the Alumni Board of Directors from a ballot of candidates from the Undergraduate College and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Mission in Action: Leadership & Professional Achievement Award
This honor recognizes alumni who exemplify the spirit and values of Rosemont College
by demonstrating outstanding professional leadership and a dedication to the betterment
of their community and its citizens.
Erin McCarthy Adams '06
Erin McCarthy is a mother, global health advocate, and connector. Erin currently works at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she helps leaders and teams maximize their time and voice to achieve impact on a local, national, and global scale. She is currently the Senior Program Officer in the Office of the President of the Global Development Program. She serves as the Global Development Program’s lead for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Erin also is a board member of the Washington Global Health Alliance.
Previously, she has also served as Chief of Staff to the Director of the Foundation’s Nigeria Country Office, working to expand the office and the foundation’s partnerships in Nigeria as well as other roles to include the Philanthropic Partnerships and Government Affairs teams.
She has taken affinity for women’s health issues both nationally and globally. She is a born leader with compassion, caring, and determination to help those in need through her position at the Gates Foundation. She loves to set an example to her daughter, Amelia, that through hard work and kindness you can grow to be a strong female leader who makes an impact on the lives of many.
Sharon Latchaw Hirsh, PhD '70
Dr. Hirsh served as Rosemont’s President from 2005 until 2020. During that time, she led the way for Rosemont’s transition to co-education, added degrees to the Schools of Graduate and Professional Studies, launched online degree programs, partnered with other institutions, reduced Rosemont's undergraduate tuition, and transformed the campus through Reflect Renew Rejoice: the Campaign for Rosemont College. The campaign was for $40 million, and, overall, during Dr. Hirsh's tenure, the college benefitted from more than $60 million in donations. She is credited with building a culture of caring on campus and in the community.
Bonnie Hilferty Freney '64 Memorial Award
This honor is presented to alumni who have served Rosemont College with the dedication,
love, and sense of humor characteristic of Bonnie Hilferty Freney, Class of 1964.
Solita Hanna '86
Solita has served Rosemont in so many ways since commencement in 1986. Solita is the cheerleader for Rosemont College and always holds Rosemont near and dear to her heart. Solita rallies alumni to attend gatherings at the College and off campus (Kelly’s), and each time we meet up it is because of Solita's dedication to keeping our Rosemont spirit alive.
To say that Solita has a sense of humor is an understatement. She sees life differently than most people and has managed to stay despite many hardships. Solita is the one to go to when someone needs cheering up. She has an incredible wit and is always willing to help you. Solita is very close to Rosemont alumni in other classes - not just the class of 1986 - and she was that way when we were in school as well.
Solita in Basque means “ray of sunshine,” and Solita is just that. Solita and Bonnie Hilferty Freney would certainly be friends if they ever had met one another. They would certainly have a lot of laughs together!
Anne "Nancy" Dougherty Lavin '60 (Accepted by classmate Frances Kelly Smith ’60)
Nancy was the glue that held the Class of 1960 together over the past 60-plus years.
She served as a class officer during her four years at Rosemont and then as class
secretary for all our years as alumnae. The class could always count on Nancy to organize
the Reunions and we appreciate the loving support of her family, who always lent
their helping hands. The Reunion booklets she produced are treasures.
Nancy personified the Holy Child spirit daily as a student, teacher, wife, mother,
grandmother, friend, and neighbor - always sharing her love, strength, grace, and
compassion with anyone she encountered.
After graduation, Nancy taught grade school in inner-city Philadelphia, married, and raised five children. The children attended St. John Neumann School in Bryn Mawr, PA, where she was very active as a class mother and chairing many fundraisers. This continued as she always supported their activities through high school and college.
During this time, she also was a very active volunteer at Rosemont College and at St. John Neumann parish in the choir and organizing fundraisers. Always there to organize and get it done!
Nancy taught the Great Books program in elementary school to the delight of all the children who adored her. Nancy truly personifies the Bonnie Hilferty spirit with her giving spirit and great sense of humor. She was such fun to have as a friend and classmate who touched all that she encountered with a great outlook on life.
Recent Alumni Award
Awarded to alumni of less than 10 years who have demonstrated leadership and outstanding
promise or success in their professional life and in the life of their community.
Shakira Hansley '11
Shakira is a Case Supervisor at CASA Youth Advocates, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps abused and neglected children live well, achieve academic excellence, and experience the joys of childhood by providing them with trained volunteer advocates who speak for their best interests. She has also served Rosemont as a Class Representative for the Class of 2011 for the past few years.
Christina Angelos '11
Christina is an educator who has worked in the following schools: Formative Years Preschool, Together We Grow, William Dick School, The Children’s School at St. John’s, Harcum’s Children Academy. She has also served Rosemont as a Class Representative for the Class of 2011.
For any questions about the process for nominating someone for an alumni award, please email Joe Darrah, Director of Alumni Relations.