The Yale Alumni Association and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions are pleased to congratulate the following award recipients who were honored at the 2025 YAA Assembly and Yale Alumni Fund Convocation, which took place on November 21, 2025.
The YAA Board of Governors Excellence Awards recognize alumni organizations for excellence in their programs, events, and best practices for Yale and on behalf of Yale. These awards honor groups such as Yale College classes, regional clubs, interest groups, and graduate and professional school associations.
- Yale Club of Beijing: From AI, climate, and U.S–China policy, to music, arts, and wellbeing, the Yale Club of Beijing delivered 38 high-impact events over the course of the year, including forums, faculty talks, workshops, concerts, parties, and admitted-student receptions. They blended scholarship with practice, culture with dialogue, and local with global voices through in-person and virtual events. This series became a model of excellence in reach, interdisciplinarity, and inclusion—bringing Yale’s mission to life in Beijing. Collectively, the events created a vibrant hub that amplified Yale’s mission of “light and truth” across borders and generations.
- Yale Club of Hartford: Yale’s oldest regional clubs have incredible stories to tell -- as the Yale Club of Hartford found in discovering that Mark Twain was a frequent guest in its earliest days. For the club’s 140th celebration, club leaders unearthed photos and artifacts showcasing the people, events, and impact from the club’s past. Materials were exhibited at a milestone celebration held at The Mark Twain House. This event was both a celebration of the club's history and an opportunity for local Yale alumni to connect, preserve and share the school's history, and to foster ongoing engagement between Yale and the Hartford community.
- Yale Club of Los Angeles: Responding rapidly to devastating wildfires, the Yale Club of Los Angeles mounted an impressive wildfire relief effort in early 2025. YCLA volunteers delivered vital assistance to the Yale community and to others in the region. Collaborating with other state and local organizations, Yale Clubs from California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and New York, plus Yale professors from the Schools of Public Health and Environment and several other Yale groups, they raised funds, delivered supplies, counseled residents and organized panels on subjects from mental health to air quality. The effort demonstrated Yale's continuing commitment to community service where it is most needed.
- Yale College Class of 1985: Through their initiative “85 Always,” the Class of 1985 engaged with 50% of their class through thoughtful events in diverse locations. Classmates examined the legacy of Thomas Jefferson through a presentation in New York City. Classmates continued their study of Jefferson through a group trip to Monticello in Virginia. In addition, classmates fostered relationships through their annual Class Tailgate in New Haven and a special West Coast gathering. Most meaningfully, sixty classmates and partners traveled to Maryland to bring a reunion to a beloved classmate who is terminally ill. These efforts reflect deep connections nurtured with care by this class.
- Yale School of Music Guitar Alumni: The Yale School of Music guitar alumni put together a fantastic weekend of activities called the Yale Guitar Extravaganza 2025. The program involved concerts, workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions. The event highlighted the guitar's vast repertoire and showcased the versatility and professional impact of Yale alumni, reinforcing their lifelong bonds. The extravaganza celebrated Professor Benjamin Verdery's tenure at the School of Music and reunited four decades of Yale Guitar alumni. The first all-guitar reunion in 20 years, the event attracted around 30% of the alumni, fostering connections between alumni, students, and the broader Yale and New Haven community.
- Yale Black Alumni Association: After becoming dormant during the pandemic, the Yale Black Alumni Association revitalized itself in 2024. Alumni volunteers relaunched local chapters, coordinated extensive in-person and virtual programming, and recruited a new board. YBAA hosted send-offs for incoming Black Yalies in multiple cities, produced well-attended virtual discussions after the 2024 election and regarding the Yale & Slavery Research Project report, and played a key role in planning the 55th anniversary of the Afro-American Cultural Center. Through these efforts, YBAA broadened outreach, deepened bonds, and renewed pride in Yale’s Black alumni community, advancing the YAA’s mission to inspire connection, service, and leadership worldwide.
- Yale Jewish Alumni Association: The Yale Jewish Alumni Association (YJAA) revitalized its community through a dynamic range of virtual and in-person programs that united Jewish alumni and friends across generations and traditions. Signature offerings such as the Sephardic Cook and Sing event, book talks, and faculty-led lectures marked a renewed era of engagement following several dormant years. The relaunch of the YJAA Board and its leadership’s commitment to inclusive programming have fostered meaningful connection, learning, and celebration within Yale’s Jewish alumni community.
- Yale Veterans Association: The Yale Veterans Association completed a multi-year effort to develop an all-digital Yale Military History and Traditions tour, highlighting Yale’s connection to American military history from the Revolutionary War to present. Launched on Veterans Day 2024 on the Yale Visitor Center’s website, the tour offers a deep dive into historical and cultural aspects of Yale, providing a rare glimpse into the ways Yale has been shaped by U.S. military history, as well as the legacy that Yale carries in shaping military leadership. The tour provides a means to readily cultivate connections among Yale veterans and service members worldwide.
- YaleWomen Hong Kong: YaleWomen HK developed and hosted a Small Group Lunch series—deliberately intimate gatherings designed for meaningful dialogue, cross-sector learning, and lasting relationships. To generate broad-based appeal, speakers come from diverse fields including diplomacy, arts, academia, health, technology, sports, and social enterprise. The series warmly welcomes “& Friends” from varied networks and alumni circles, expanding the visibility and outreach of the Yale alumni community. Each event results in a photo album and short writeup that memorializes key themes, and also has a dedicated WhatsApp group, all of which maintain post-event momentum, encourage future participation, and promote continued collaboration among diverse groups.
- YaleWomen Writers Group: Embodying Yale’s finest intellectual traditions, YWWG has grown over the past five years to more than 300 members meeting online from all over the world to engage in the art and craft of writing. The diverse alumnae of YWWG reflect a wide range of Yale schools, programs, class years, academic disciplines, and professions. By offering a collegial platform featuring mentorship, friendship, and guidance, writers of all levels — including beginners to professional journalists, published novelists, poets, playwrights, and publishers — gather to share expertise and provide support throughout the writing journey. By building community through writing, YWWG fosters meaningful and creative relationships.
The Alumni Schools Committee Ambassador Award is for the ASC leaders who truly do incredible work leading their local committees, exemplify the mission of the program, and inspire volunteer participation, enthusiasm, and creativity.
Elenne Song ’93 JD comes from Chicago, Illinois. From engaging with families at admitted-student events to mentoring alumni years after they graduate, Elenne’s care, energy, and humanity consistently shine through all her volunteer endeavors. She has been a tremendous champion of our community and can be seen promoting Yale’s opportunities while making students feel at home. Beyond that, Elenne is a steadfast advocate for under-resourced students as a trusted presence at Chicago Scholars events. One student last year even shared that Elenne’s warmth and encouragement inspired them to apply Early Action. She truly embodies the ASC program's ambassadorial spirit, and it is only fitting that we honor Elenne with this award.
Harry Rosenthal ’76 from Salt Lake City, Utah, is a longtime ASC director. Harry has demonstrated unwavering dedication to our office's mission for over 20 years. He ensures that ALL interviews are completed on time and is always eager to take on special cases himself. Every year, he organizes an admitted student reception in Salt Lake City and uses his incredible smile and easy-going nature to welcome each new cohort of Utahns to Yale. Harry approaches his role with utmost professionalism and enthusiasm, and we have complete trust in his ability to get the job done. Put simply, Harry just “gets it,” and we couldn’t be prouder to honor him today.
The Alumni Schools Committee Excellence Award
Tulsa, Oklahoma ASC, led by Marycarol Page ’83
Marycarol and her team have been instrumental to our mission in a state where we need as many dedicated volunteers as possible. Not only do they have their interviewing and reporting down to a science, but they also go above and beyond to advance Yale’s presence in Oklahoma, often proactively looking for ways to support their region. Marycarol alone attended two large college fairs organized by local indigenous tribes in the state, connecting with hundreds of prospective students in communities we might not otherwise reach. Through their outstanding teamwork and Marycarol’s comprehensive leadership, the Tulsa ASC has made an actual impact and is well-deserving of this award.
