Alumnae Awards

Stephens College presents two alumnae awards annually during Reunion Weekend. Nominations are accepted throughout the year for both honors.

Alumnae Achievement Award :: Alumnae Service Award

Other Awards: Challenge Competition :: Club Awards :: Alumnae Scholarship Awards

The Alumnae Achievement Award is a way of recognizing alumnae who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field, their community and have a steadfast commitment to the Ten Ideals of Stephens. This award is the highest honor bestowed on our alumnae.

2008 Winner:

Doris Painter Littrell '58, Columbia, Mo. has spent her career enhancing adult higher education programs and participating in community development projects. She served as director of MU Direct, a continuing and distance education program associated with the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU). As director, Doris improved access to higher education through outreach efforts by increasing enrollment and enhancing the number and types of courses offered to many rural and non-traditional students.

She is also an acclaimed author of multiple publications including a book co-authored with her late husband, Don. The book, Practicing Community Development, is used by the Peace Corps to acclimate staff and volunteers. Proceeds from the book support the Doris P. Littrell Scholarship for non-traditional students who are pursuing bachelor’s or graduate degrees either online or through MU In the Evening. She currently serves as a community development consultant for the Borlaug Institute, an organization that champions international agricultural development.

Doris attended Stephens College in 1958. She went on to earn a Bachelor of General Studies and Master of Education at MU. In 1989, Doris received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from MU.

2007 Winner

Mary Josie Cain Blanchard ’67, Washington, D.C.
Mary Josie came to Stephens from Texas City, Texas in 1965 on a music scholarship and graduated with honors in 1967. She has served our country for nearly 30 years and currently holds the position of Deputy Director, Environmental Policy and Compliance, Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Her responsibilities are vital to the creation and enforcement of environmental policies and regulations that significantly affect our quality of life including our National Parks, fish and wildlife, public lands and water resources.

Her professional achievements have been recognized several times by our government, most notably the two highest awards bestowed by the Development of the Interior—the Distinguished Service Award and the Meritorious Service Award, as well as the Interior Women’s Distinguished Leadership Award.

She has been an important leader at Stephens, serving on the Board of Trustees, the Alumnae Development Board and the Alumnae Association Board (AAB). She completed her term as president in April 2007. Mary Josie’s service to the College was recognized in 2000, when she received the Alumnae Service Award. She also has played an active role in the Greater Washington Area Alumnae Club, previously serving as President and Vice President.

Nomination Form

Past Recipient List

The Alumnae Service Award is given to alumnae who have, among other things, promoted Stephens College locally and nationally, and served as a Leader of the College. In 2007, the Service Award was named the Jean Clinton Roeschlaub Alumnae Service Award in memory of Jean Clinton Roeschlaub ’44. The award serves to memorialize Jean’s spirit of alumnae service. She served as AAB president from 1950-51 and as a member of the Board of Curators (now known as our Board of Trustees) and as the first alumna-chair of the Board from 1981-92.

2007 Winners:

Wendy Parish Anderson ’92, Austin, Texas
Wendy has served on the AAB for five years (the last three as Executive Vice President). Under her leadership, she has streamlined the process for recruiting new members to the AAB and developed communications processes that aid in the Board’s efficiency. She is a graduate of the Mass Communication program and a former employee of Stephens’ Development and Alumnae Relations office.

Michael Quevli ’84, North Hollywood, Calif.
Michael has served as a member of the Alumnae Association Board for seven years. He is the first male graduate to hold a seat on the AAB, and for the last three years, he has been a member of the Executive Committee charged with executing special projects on behalf of the AAB. Every year he arrives a week early for Reunion and is involved in the preparations to make this important weekend a success. As a graduate of the School of Performing Arts, he is the first male to receive such as award.

Nomination Form

Past Recipient List

Reunion Year Challenge Competition

Each year, Reunion Year Challenge Awards are presented in the following categories:

• The reunion class that contributes the most dollars during the reunion year;
• The reunion class that has the highest percentage of class donors; and
• The reunion class that has the highest number of reunion attendees.

The 2007 Challenge Winners

• The Class of 1972 has contributed the most dollars during the reunion year with $51,000 received to date.
• The class with the highest percentage of reunion-year donors with 22 percent of the class participating is the Class of 1957.
• The class with the largest number of reunion attendees present is the Class of 1957 with 25 class members present.

2007 Club Awards

The Foundation for the Future Award goes to the Stephens College Alumnae Club of Northern California.

The Alumnae Club of Northern California offers invaluable support in the area of scholarship and student retention. Members visit with local students while on campus, host fundraising events to benefit academic programs, and offer scholarships to deserving students. This year, they raised funds for the Interior Design and Fashion program through a successful fundraising event.

The Setting the Standard Award goes to the Stephens College Columbia Alumnae Club.

The Columbia Alumnae Club recently hosted a creative event to raise money to fund an endowed scholarship. This endeavor included reaching out to local businesses, alumnae, and friends of the College. The event welcomed guests to local homes for private dinners, culminating in a champagne and dessert reception in the Kimball Ballroom for dancing and a live auction.  The event raised more than $34,000 towards their eventual $100,000 goal.

The Connecting College, Club and Community Award goes to the Stephens College Alumnae Club of Southern Nevada.

The Alumnae Club of Southern Nevada connects local alumnae through a variety of events that focus on fundraising and networking, with an additional emphasis on community outreach through their work with the Marian House. Members donated household items for gift baskets and provided refreshments, games, and fellowship to the women of the house. Funds from the Club were used to purchase starter sets fore each of the 21 women in residence.

The Club of the Year for 2006-07 is the Stephens College Alumnae Club of Greater Washington.

The Alumnae Club of Greater Washington demonstrates all-around excellence in the areas of fundraising, events, and alumnae and community outreach. Greater Washington alumnae kept their members informed about club activities through two annual newsletters, created care packages for area students, and held an impressive variety of fundraising and networking events throughout the year.

Alumnae Association Boards 2008-2009 Alumnae Scholarship Awards

• Rising Sophomore Award goes to  
• Rising Junior Award goes to
• Rising Senior Award goes to