2026 Robert S. Harrison ’76 Recent Alumni Volunteer Award recipients:

• Maciej Filip Bukowski JD ’17
• Dustin Liu ’19
• Abigail Macaluso ’20
• Arpit Sheth ’17, MEng ’18
• Andrew Massaro DVM ’15

About the award

The Robert S. Harrison ’76 Recent Alumni Volunteer Award honors undergraduate, graduate, and professional alumni who are within 10 years of their Cornell graduation and have made outstanding volunteer contributions to one or more Cornell volunteer organizations or university initiatives.

Early in 2022, the Student and Young Alumni committee of the Cornell Association of Class Officers began the process of creating an award to honor recent alumni volunteers. The Robert S. Harrison ’76 Recent Alumni Volunteer Award was born—celebrating the service of a new generation of alumni volunteers and honoring Harrison’s long-standing commitment to Cornell. Harrison served as a student trustee from 1975 to 1976, launching what would become nearly five decades of service to the university. This award recognizes the many ways recent alumni support Cornell—often behind the scenes—through leadership, outreach, engagement, advocacy, and service.

Goals of the award

• Formally recognize the volunteer work and service of recent graduates to Cornell
• Inspire deeper engagement in Cornell volunteering among recent alumni
• Honor volunteer contributions across a wide range of roles, experiences, and impact areas

Nominations

Do you know a Cornellian who has done the greatest good for Cornell? If you know an extraordinary recent alumni volunteer for Cornell who has given selflessly of their time and talent since graduation, please consider nominating that person for the 2027 Robert S. Harrison ’76 Recent Alumni Volunteer Award.

Honorees are chosen each year from candidates nominated by Cornellians. A special committee reviews nominations and announces honorees each spring. The recipients are then invited to return to campus in the fall.

Any member of the Cornell community may submit a nomination for the Robert S. Harrison ’76 Recent Alumni Volunteer Award. Up to five awards can be given annually. Please be sure to consider the below criteria before making your nomination. 

Nominees must:

• Have graduated from Cornell within the past 10 years
  • Undergraduate, graduate, and professional alumni are eligible
  • For the 2026 award, alumni up to the Class of 2015 will be considered
• Have remained engaged with Cornell through volunteer service since graduation
• Nominees are evaluated based on the scope, impact, and significance of their volunteer contributions, including:
  • Sustained or impactful service to Cornell
  • Initiative, leadership, or unique contributions, formal or informal
  • Length and breadth of volunteer involvement
  • Depth of impact, including innovative or unsung contributions that strengthen the Cornell community
• Volunteer involvement may include, but is not limited to:
  • Outreach and engagement activities
  • Event participation or support
  • Committee work, mentoring, or advisory roles
  • Affiliation with Cornell volunteer organizations (formal or informal)
  • Formal titles or leadership positions are not required. Meaningful service in any form is valued.

Please note: Current Cornell faculty and staff are not eligible to receive the award until they are no longer employed by the university.