The Clubs and Shared Interest Groups Awards recognize individuals, clubs, and Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) for exceptional contributions to their Harvard communities.
The recipients of this year’s Outstanding Alumni Leadership Awards are Lydia Rossman, A.L.M. ’24, and Marcus DeFlorimonte, PMD ’95.
Dedicated to Harvard’s military community, Rossman has rallied support and created meaningful experiences for Harvard’s veteran community—including mentoring Harvard Veterans Alumni Organization members at the Extension School, leading the redesign of the alumni veterans’ website, and organizing a successful annual barbecue for alumni veterans and military-affiliated students, faculty, and staff.
As president of the Harvard Club of Boston, DeFlorimonte led the creation of new partnerships, programming, and a modernized clubhouse. He has fostered partnerships with other clubs and SIGs, invited deans from each Harvard school to speak at the club, and hosted events with Harvard College sports teams, paving the way for a dynamic gathering point for alumni connections.
The Outstanding Alumni Community Award honored the Harvard Club of Long Island and the Harvard Club of Bengaluru.
The Harvard Club of Long Island recently revitalized its structure and leadership team while continuing to foster connections among undergraduates, alumni, and middle- and high-school educators. The club’s longstanding Distinguished Teacher Awards celebrate local teachers nominated by Harvard undergraduates for their exceptional impact on students’ intellectual and emotional development.
The Harvard Club of Bengaluru has cultivated a vibrant community in southern India, uniting alumni from across Harvard’s schools. The club organized 28 gatherings over the last two years—including fireside chats, panel discussions, workshops, and youth development initiatives—and has more than doubled its active membership, in addition to building a thriving online community via the WhatsApp messaging platform.