[Hafsat Abiola ’92](http://www.phillipian.net/articles/2013/11/07/hafsat-abiola-92), [George Church ’72](http://www.phillipian.net/articles/2013/11/07/george-church-72) and [Frank Stella ’54](http://www.phillipian.net/articles/2013/11/07/frank-stella-54) received the Alumni Award of Distinction at a ceremony last Friday.
The award “recognizes and honors alumni/ae of Phillips Academy or Abbot Academy who have served with distinction in their fields of endeavor,” read the award’s statement of purpose.
The award serves as an invitation to the alumni recipients to return to campus not only for the ceremony, but also to interact with students. Abiola spoke at All-School Meeting last Wednesday and also visited numerous classes during her stay. Stella taught a master class for art students on Friday.
Selection for the award begins with a nomination open to all alumni. Several dozen nominees will pass through to the second round of voting, after which the Alumni Award of Distinction Committee, an ad-hoc committee consisting of Alumni Council members, convenes to produce the final list of recipients. Thus the award is “by alumni, for alumni,” as school administrators play no role on the alumni-only selection committee, said Jennifer Savino, Director of External Relations.
Several years ago, Michael Schmertzler ’70 and Al Blum ’62 came up with the idea for the award after seeing an “opportunity to look at the greater Andover family and to celebrate some of the alumni and what they are doing in their professional lives,” said Savino.
Savino believes that one of the most important aspects of the award is the invitation for the alumni to return to campus not only to receive the award but also to interact with the students.
“It was a very important part when they constructed and designed the award, and it is definitely the most special part for the recipients of the award.” said Savino.
_Note: To read individual profiles on each recipient, click on their names at the top of this article.__ **Bennett Michaels contributed reporting.** _
