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About MSAD · Awards

Four decades of people who showed up

Nine awards, presented at MSAD's biennial conference, honoring the individuals and organizations who move the Deaf community forward — since 1978.
The Dr. Richard Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award artwork
Most recent · 2023
Marlene Hostovsky

The Dr. Richard Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award

For an individual whose consistent commitment over a long period of time has had substantial impact on the lives of Deaf and hard of hearing people in Massachusetts.
1995
Dr. Richard Thompson
1997
Nancy V. Becker
1999
John Philip, Marie Philip & Elaine Glennon
2001
Ruth Moore
2003
No award recipient
2005
Ruth Collari
2007
Barbara Jean “BJ” Wood
2009
Sue Philip
2011
Louis Rivas & John Pirone
2013
No award recipient
2015
Karran Larson
2017
Suzann L. Bedrosian
2019
Mark Hughey
2021
Eveleen Cunningham
2023
Marlene Hostovsky
The George Veditz Award artwork
Most recent · 2023
Stephanie Clark

The George Veditz Award

For an individual, organization or agency with a long history of preserving ASL by educating and increasing awareness.
2015
Patrick McCarthy
2017
John Pirone
2019
Ashley O’Niell
2021
No award recipient
2023
Stephanie Clark
The Youth Leadership Award artwork
Most recent · 2019
Newton North High School EDCO Students

The Youth Leadership Award

For a Deaf student who has demonstrated leadership among schoolmates to promote positive change.
2007
Maria Gomes & Jacqueline Pransky
2009
Edward Gomez
2011
Colin Lauldi
2013
No award recipient
2015
Maximo Moya
2017
Dylan Christoffels
2019
Newton North High School EDCO Students
2021
No award recipient
2023
No award recipient
The Carolyn Ball Award (President’s Award) artwork
Most recent · 2023
Ivelisse Vélez

The Carolyn Ball Award (President’s Award)

For a Deaf or hearing person, paid or volunteer, who has contributed countless hours to the benefit of MSAD.
1985
Dr. Richard Thompson
1987
Cynthia Bedient & Marie Tavormina
1989
Steve Nover & Esty Schachter
1991
Pauline Raiche & Kathleen Vesey
1993
Thomas Boudrow
1995
Thomas Boudrow & Lisa Wyly
1997
Carol Zurek & LeWana Clark
1999
Thomas Boudrow & Danielle D’Amour
2001
Kendra Timko & Mary Henehan
2003
No award recipient
2005
Louis Rivas
2007
John Wilcox
2009
Michelle Donatello
2011
Suzann Bedrosian & Mark Hughey
2013
No award recipient
2015
Lorna Laferriere
2017
Cheryl McGilvery Quintal
2019
Patrick Petronelli
2021
Ivelisse Velez
2023
Ivelisse Vélez
The Laurent Clerc Service Award artwork
Most recent · 2023
Joseph Karnolisz

The Laurent Clerc Service Award

For a Deaf or hearing volunteer who has provided services to the community at the state, local or national level.
1985
Steve Nover & Marie Philip
1987
Kimball Nash & Sue Philip
1989
Theresa Buttiglieri & Lillian Weldon
1991
No award recipient
1993
Ruth Moore & Dr. Richard Thompson
1995
Barbara Jean “BJ” Wood, MCDHH Commissioner
1997
Lillian Garcia & Ivelisse Velez
1999
Brenda Schertz & Carol Zurek
2001
Heidi Reed
2003
No award recipient
2005
Cathy Mylotte
2007
Joan Philip
2009
Paul Batch
2011
Lee and Diane Nettles, Mary Christopher & Lori Novak
2013
No award recipient
2015
Eveleen Cunningham & Andrew Veith
2017
Stephanie Hakulin
2019
Ashley Thompson & Cathy Cogen
2021
Elbert Joseph
2023
Joseph Karnolisz
The Thomas H. Gallaudet Service Award artwork
Most recent · 2023
Harry Weissman

The Thomas H. Gallaudet Service Award

For a hearing individual who contributes to the benefit of Deaf and hard of hearing people at the local, state or national level.
1985
Harlan Lane & Nan Robbins
1987
Alice Gold & Robert Hoffmeister
1989
Cynthia Bedient & Eric Shettle
1991
No award recipient
1993
Elmer Bartels
1995
Jody Steiner
1997
Hannah Yaffe
1999
LeWana Clark & Susan Stange
2001
Val Ching
2003
No award recipient
2005
Bill Huston
2007
Cat Dvar & Gail Sallop
2009
Lu Traina
2011
Judy Freedman-Fask & Marianne Molinari
2013
No award recipient
2015
Jackie Emmart
2017
Cat Dvar
2019
Jeanne Reis
2021
Lena Dumont
2023
Harry Weissman
The Golden Hand Award (NAD’s Award) artwork
Most recent · 2023
Maritza Ciliberto & Emilys Pena

The Golden Hand Award (NAD’s Award)

Created by the National Association of the Deaf to recognize outstanding and innovative local and statewide service toward the betterment of Deaf people in their communities.
1979
Joan Philip
1980
Ann MacIntyre
1981
Nancy V. Becker
1982
Harold Whitehouse
1983
Barbara Jean “BJ” Wood
1984
Ruth Moore
1985
Eddy Laird
1986
John Horrigan
1987
Eva Rosenstein
1988
No award recipient
1989
Patti Wilson & Warren Schwab
1990
No award recipient
1991
No award recipient
1992
No award recipient
1993
Joseph Riccuiti
1995
Yvonne Dunkle
1997
Thomas Boudrow
1999
D.E.A.F., Inc.
2001
Deaf-Blind Interpreter Alliance
2003
No award recipient
2005
Carol Zurek
2007
Stephanie Clark
2009
Disability Policy Consortium, Inc.
2011
John “Jax” Levesque
2013
No award recipient
2015
Sue Philip
2017
Ashley Thompson
2019
Stephanie Hakulin
2021
Lori Siedman
2023
Maritza Ciliberto & Emilys Pena
The William B. Swett Award artwork
Most recent · 2023
Disability Policy Consortium

The William B. Swett Award

For a statewide or local organization actively involved in service toward the betterment of Deaf and hard of hearing people in their communities.
1985
Speech & Hearing Foundation, Inc. & Western Massachusetts Association of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Inc.
1987
The Caption Center
1989
The Learning Center for Deaf Children
1991
No award recipient
1993
Dunkin’ Donuts
1995
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1997
Bay State Deaf Seniors
1999
Bell Atlantic, Fleet Bank, Liberty Mutual & Dunkin’ Donuts
2001
Vista IT (Mass Relay)
2003
No award recipient
2005
Massachusetts Deaf Awareness Committee
2007
College of the Holy Cross – Deaf Studies Program & DBCAN
2009
Appalachian Mountain Club
2011
Disability Policy Consortium, Inc.
2013
No award recipient
2015
Jena Kohashi (Advocates)
2017
Road to Deaf Interpreters (RDI)
2019
DeafYES!
2021
Mass General Hospital/Interpreting Services
2023
Disability Policy Consortium
Miss Deaf Massachusetts artwork
Most recent · 2000
Julia Silvestri

Miss Deaf Massachusetts

Recognizes exemplary scholarship, leadership and civic citizenship in young Deaf people. The winner competes in the national pageant at the NAD biennial conference.
1978
Patricia Kenney
1979
Joan Philip & John Meehan
1983
Susan Burns
1985
Kristin Johnson
1987
Kelly Sicard
1989
Deanna Lambert
1993
Lauren Good
1996
Marian Fanshteyn
1998
Rosa Guzman (relinquished crown)
1998
Tamara Copeland
2000
Julia Silvestri

Know someone who shows up for the community?

Nominations for the next round of awards are made ahead of the biennial conference. Tell the board who deserves it.
Nominate someone