Alumni Awards

Dartmouth Alumni Awards honor alumni who have contributed to the College in leadership roles, to their professions and to their communities. Here's a look at four recent recipients. (For more information on the awards, go to www.dartmouth.edu/alumni/awards.) Murry Bowden '71, recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, has given even more to Dartmouth than a flawless 1970 athletic season. Having formerly served as Alumni Council president and committee member of the Will to Excel campaign, he now works on the Cos leges Joint Committee on Alumni Governance and Trustee Nominations—which involves evaluating the trustee election procedure and restructuring the constitution—and Real Estate Advisory Committee. Beyond Dartmouth, Bowden focuses his energies on The Hanover Cos. in Houston, Texas, a predominantly multi-family real estate development venture of which he is a founding partner and co-chairman. "I have a profound belief that I must contribute something significant to this world and hope that the world is a better place for my having been here," he says. Gordon Russell '55 says he is motivated by the mantra, "They need, you have, therefore you give." After three years of post-graduation service with the Air Force, Russell spent 35 years working in high technology and healthcare management in Silicon Valley before retiring from Sequoia Capital venture capital firm in 2000. He continues to make his home in California, although that doesn't hinder his Dartmouth involvement, which has included work on the President's Leadership Council, Medical School and Catholic Student Center boards of overseers, Alumni Fund and Native American Visiting Committee.

Mike Choukas Jr. '51, a son and father of Dartmouth alums, first came to work for Dartmouth in 1977, after 12 years as headmaster of Vermont Academy. During his subsequent 17 years at the College, he served as director of leadership gifts, co-director of capital giving and director of alumni relations. Choukas continues to serve Dartmouth through membership on the Native American Visiting Committee, the class of 1951 executive committee, the board of directors of the Dartmouth Club of the Upper Valley and the Dartmouth Skiway advisory committee. Having had contact with the awards committee through his work in alumni relations, Choukas' receipt of the Alumni Award struck a special note. "I know what they look for and am very proud," he says.

Christina Stearns Drescher '87 has served Dartmouth as class agent and chair of the class' loth year reunion, with the Dartmouth clubs of Chicago and Lake Champlain and with the admissions office as an alumni interviewer; "I volunteer to thank Dartmouth for having given me so much and to remain connected to an institution that keeps getting better," she says. After working as an account executive for Leo Burnett Co.in Chicago for five years, Drescher moved to Vermont, where she works as a writer and consultant. Drescher was asked what it is about Dartmouth that creates such loyalty. "Each of us has our own answer, but the spirit in our answers is the bond," she says.