Syracuse Sun

Four distinguished individuals are set to be honored with centennial awards at the upcoming Maxwell School centennial celebration. Wally Bobkiewicz ’89, Cathy Daicoff ’79, Anuradha Gupta ’07, and Ken Pontarelli ’92 will be recognized for their outstanding achievements and dedication to their respective fields.

Wally Bobkiewicz will receive the Centennial Champion Award for his unwavering commitment to public service and uplifting communities. Dean David M. Van Slyke commended Bobkiewicz, stating, “There is no greater champion of the Maxwell School’s local government initiatives than Wally Bobkiewicz.”

Cathy Daicoff will be presented with the Centennial Steward Award in recognition of her significant engagement, volunteer service, and philanthropic support that have contributed to the continued excellence of the school. Daicoff’s generous contributions have helped attract and retain world-class faculty at the Maxwell School.

Anuradha Gupta is set to receive the Centennial Luminary Award for Global Health Equity for her impactful work in spearheading global initiatives that improve public health and increase equitable access to vaccines. Gupta’s efforts have positively impacted millions of lives around the world.

Ken Pontarelli will be honored with the Centennial Luminary Award for Sustainability for his leadership and dedication to developing solutions that balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. Pontarelli’s expertise in financial markets and sustainability investing has led to interdisciplinary collaboration and groundbreaking environmental policy research.

The Maxwell School’s centennial celebration, scheduled for May 31 in Washington, D.C., will also include Awards of Excellence for alumni B. Ben Baldanza ’84, Carlisha Williams Bradley ’09, Mary Margaret Graham ’78, Lia Miller ’03, and Jessica Sun ’09. The event will serve as a gathering for alumni and friends to connect and celebrate the school's 100th anniversary.