Distinguished Alumni Award

HISTORY

This special award was first given out in 2016 and recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in at least one of the following areas: business, education, government or military service, arts and music, athletics, public service, healthcare, or community service.

Previous Honorees:

2016

Gary Ginsberg ‘80

Tom Hambridge ‘79

Anne Harding Joyce ‘70

Dr. John Schriver ‘55

2019

Maria, Jennifer, Ursula, Gabrielle & Charity Burton

2025

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD HONOREES

[Rev. Stephen Biegner '89 – Distinguished Alumni Awardee]

REV. STEPHEN BIEGNER ‘89 – Steve is the pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (the church next to Brunner’s) and the Executive Director of the WNY Impact Foundation. Steve has developed and grown several churches across NY State to help them reconnect with the local communities in impactful ways. He led St. Paul’s to clarify their passion in battling food insecurity through the launch of the Tiger’s Den Food Pantry and Daily Bread Food Truck. He also serves as Chaplin of Erie County Emergency Services, covering 93 volunteer fire houses, Buffalo Niagara Airport and Mercy Flight.

[Archie Dean '55 – Distinguished Alumni Awardee]

ARCHIBALD “ARCHIE” DEAN ‘55 – Archie went through the Amherst School system K-12 with his twin sister Sylvia. He was a class officer and played basketball, baseball and soccer. After graduating from Bowling Green State University, he was a Naval officer in the Pacific, first aboard the USS Hornet & Third Marine Division. He worked in Hong Kong for many years, sold European cars to the military and operated a custom clothing business. While living in central Mexico he authored 19 editions of a best -selling guidebook. Archie has arranged and organized a dozen class reunions and published a Class of 1955 reunion book. He lives in Northern CA near his son and family.

[James Gallery '69 accepting Distinguished Alumni Award on behalf of Jeremy'58 and Margaret Jacobs '58]

JEREMY JACOBS & MARGARET (PEGGY) DAVIS JACOBS ‘58 – Jeremy is the Chairman of global hospitality and food service company, Delaware North Companies, its headquarters located in Buffalo, NY. In 1975, Jeremy acquired the Boston Bruins. He has held numerous leadership roles in the NHL including serving on the league’s Audit, Finance and Executive Committees and Chairman of the NHL Board of Governors, a role that he holds today. He and Peggy are two of the community’s most dedicated philanthropists, investing in our WNY community. Jeremy and Peggy made a historic donation of $30 million to UB School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and have been invaluable to the UB Council for 30 years. They also support other non-profit organizations in WNY and throughout the United States. Peggy is an accomplished photographer, and active outdoorswoman. She has published multiple books documenting her candid photographic work.

[Julie Pace '00 – Distinguished Alumni Awardee]

JULIE PACE ’00 – Julie is Sr. VP and Executive Editor of the Associated Press, leading global news coverage from more than 100 countries. Since she assumed the role in 2021, AP has significantly expanded its digital news offerings, been awarded three Pulitzer Prizes, and produced an award-winning documentary on the Ukraine war that won an Academy Award and a BAFTA. Before that, Julie was AP’s White House Correspondent and won the White House Correspondents’ Association Merriman Smith award in 2013 for her work explaining the Obama campaign’s complex approach to voter turnout. Julie is a graduate of Northwestern University and lives in New York.

[David Dean '48 – Distinguished Alumni Awardee (Posthumously) Keith Dean (David’s Son) accepting award from Amherst Central Alumni Foundation Board Member Marilyn Rohl.]

DR. DAVID DEAN (POSTHUMOUSLY) ’48 – David was the Chief Cardiologist at the Buffalo Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center from 1962-1991. He pioneered medical innovations, received awards, held offices, educated his peers and published numerous research papers. Upon his retirement, he became a consultant for multiple hospitals in the Buffalo area. He also helped the Snyder Fire Department establish the first CPR program and trained responders in Buffalo and the Town of Amherst.

DOUGLAS VOLGENAU (POSTHUMOUSLY) ’55 – Douglas was a Rear Admiral in the U S Navy. He was an Honor Company Commander at the time he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1959. Douglas was selected for the nuclear submarine program and served 32 years on active duty.  After retiring from the Navy, Douglas worked another 20 years as a consultant for DOD and DOE. He’s also been a long-time supporter of the Alumni Foundation.

Video of the award ceremony: