Harvard Admissions Office honors outstanding alumni volunteer interviewers

The College’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid honors eight outstanding alumni interviewers.

Top row from left: Marshall Allen, T. Carter Hagman, John Irving, and Margarita Montoto-Escalera. Bottom row from left: Elaine Hoffman Morris, Miguel M. Palos, Claudia Friederichs Palos, and Milton Yasunaga

Seven alumni are to receive the Hiram S. Hunn Memorial Schools and Scholarships Awards, presented by the Harvard College Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, at a ceremony in Cambridge on October 25. Hunn, a member of the class of 1921, recruited and interviewed prospective students for many decades; this year’s winners, collectively, have performed more than 200 years of service.

Marshall Allen, M.D. ’53, of Evans, Georgia, has been inspired by applicants for 48 years, sometimes even reading the books they recommend. Two of his candidates were accepted to the class of 2017.

T. Carter Hagaman ’60, of Maplewood, New Jersey, has served as chair of the Harvard Club of New Jersey’s schools and scholarships committee, which covers Greater Essex County (the northeastern part of the state), since 2000. In addition, he is a former club president and chair of its nominating committee.

John Irving ’83, M.B.A. ’89, of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, has interviewed students since 1983 and is a former chair of his local schools and scholarships committee. He is also involved in other activities at the College, Harvard Business School, and the Graduate School of Design.

Margarita Montoto-Escalera ’78, M.B.A. ’85, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, began interviewing candidates as soon as she moved to the capital city in 1991, and later served as president of the local Harvard Business School club.

Elaine Hoffman Morris ’58, of New York City, has interviewed students for nearly 50 years, through her tenure as president of the Radcliffe Club of New York and then as co-chairperson of the Harvard Club of New York City.

Miguel M. Palos ’76 and Claudia Friederichs Palos, of Bradbury, California, have done schools and scholarships work in the Los Angeles area for 25 years, first as interviewers, then as area leaders in the San Gabriel Valley. In 2006, they also received the Harvard Club of Southern California’s John Harvard Award.

Milton Yasunaga ’77, J.D. ’81, of Honolulu, has chaired his local club’s schools and scholarships committee since 2001, but has been interviewing students for more than three decades. He says he aims to make the process “enjoyable, encouraging, and helpful for all applicants.”

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