Syracuse University presents inaugural Orange Circle Award Oct. 2 honoring alumni, students, friends who work to better the world

Recognizing the multiple facets of philanthropy and the values that drive people to dedicate their time and talents to better the world, the Syracuse University Alumni Association has created the Orange Circle Award to honor SU alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students who have achieved extraordinary accomplishments in support of others.

“The Orange Circle Award recognizes members of the SU family who are making a real impact on their community by pursuing their passion,” says SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “In celebrating them, we celebrate SU’s proud history and ongoing commitment to serving the public good.”

Eight awards will be presented at the first annual Orange Circle Award ceremony, hosted by MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer ’96, on Oct. 2 from 4–5 p.m. at the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. The fast-paced, celebratory reception and awards presentation is open to the public. Parking will be available at the Booth Garage, at the corner of Waverly and Comstock avenues.

This year’s recipients have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to create positive and lasting change, both on and off the SU campus. They’ve gone above and beyond, focusing on such efforts as providing an enriched summer experience for underprivileged children, creating community senior centers and mentoring high school students, to name just a few.

“Acts of philanthropy come in many different forms. The Orange Circle Award allows us to reward efforts ranging from the simple to the complex and those involving not just monetary investments, but also investments of time and talent,” says Thomas Walsh, senior vice president of institutional advancement. “But one thing all our recipients have in common is a true desire to think beyond one’s self and make a difference, bettering the lives and well-being of others. And for that, we’re so proud to call them friends of SU.”

The 2009 Orange Circle Award recipients are:

• John A. ’63 and Elaine C. Couri, generous supporters of Syracuse University and, through the Couri Foundation, Inc., a driving force behind many community-based initiatives. Established in 1988, the foundation has been instrumental in the creation of a summer camp for underprivileged children near Moose River, Me., and senior centers in Moose River and Bangor, Me., and Ridgefield, Conn.

• Emma S. Dovi ’09 and Samina S. Noorani ’09, who revived an honored SU tradition by leading the effort to reintroduce senior class giving to the University. Their initiative not only started a movement to support scholarships for future SU students, but instilled in their classmates an appreciation for the power of philanthropy.

• Wesley C. Dias ’74, a mentor for more than 20 years, helping high school students choose, apply to and transition to college. In addition to networking with current students at Coming Back Together—SU’s reunion for African American and Latino alumni—he guides them through career choices and landing their first job.

• Jules R. Setnor, M.D. ’32, G’35 and his late wife, Rose ’33, who shared a love of music—demonstrated by their support of Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music. They were equally passionate about education and the city where they met. In 2005, they helped to establish the Rose and Jules R. Setnor, M.D., and Stanford S. Setnor, M.D. Academic Building at SUNY Upstate Medical University, which houses the largest clinical skills center of its kind in the United States.

• The Syracuse University Sport Management Club, a student-run organization in the College of Human Ecology, that has raised more than $75,000 for local charities since its founding in 2005. Beneficiaries of the club’s annual sports memorabilia auction include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse, The American Diabetes Association of Central New York and the Golisano Children’s Hospital at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

• Marilyn Costello Tickner ’03, a committed volunteer consistently contributing to make such student events as Syracuse Welcome, Family Weekend, Homecoming and Senior Celebration a success. She also recently demonstrated her dedication to the University and its students as a volunteer during all four nights of the Syracuse Responds fundraising phonathon.

Orange Circle award recipients will receive a custom-designed award created by SU alumnus Peter Yenawine ’69. The crystal award symbolizes philanthropy’s ever-widening circle of impact and ripple effect of change.

The recipients of the 2009 Orange Circle Award were selected by a cross-campus group of alumni, students, faculty and staff in consultation with the Syracuse University National Alumni Board. Further information regarding nomination criteria and deadlines for next year’s award will be made available on the SU web site.

The Orange Circle Award is one of the highlights of the University’s new Orange Central celebration that includes traditional Homecoming and Reunion activities as well as once-in-a-lifetime events. For more information on Orange Central and an up-to-the-minute schedule of events and activities, visit http://orangecentral.syr.edu. For questions, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 1 (800) SUALUMS (782-5867) or e-mail sualumni@syr.edu.