The Distinguished Alumna Award, which was presented for the first time in 1986, recognizes alumnae who have shown a continuing love of Oak Knoll, and, who, through their personal and/or professional lives, have made outstanding contributions which exemplify the Holy Child spirit of excellence and devotion to others.
The Oak Knoll Alumnae/i Association is seeking nominations for the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnae/i Award. Please submit your nomination to Cynthia Prewitt at Cynthia.Prewitt@oakknoll.org
2011 Distinguished Alumna: Margot Leary Badenhausen '56
M
argot Leary Badenhausen ’56 was awarded the 2011
Distinguished Alumna Award at Reunion. The following are excerpts from the
remarks given by Cynthia Prewitt, director of alumnae/i and parent relations,
at the presentation:
“It gives
me great pleasure to recognize Margot Leary Badenhausen, class of 1956, for her
continued commitment to Oak Knoll. She has returned in no small measure all
that Oak Knoll gave her in her years as a student. She has an outstanding
record of service to her community, her church, and to a number of civic
organizations that have all benefited from her wisdom, enthusiasm, and
commitment.
We are
also delighted to recognize Margot for her devotion to her alma mater and to
her class for which she has served as a class rep for over 25 years! In fact,
Margot’s outstanding leadership skills and commitment to Oak Knoll were
recognized when she was elected student council president in her senior year.
During
her years of service for an array of organizations, Margot has served as
president of the Ramapo-Indian Hills Regional Board of Education, was active on
a committee for the New Jersey Symphony, and was a member of the Franklin Lakes
Library Board. Her other community activities are extensive and include volunteering
at the Forum School for Children with Autism and as a hospice volunteer. In
addition, she served as a member of a fundraising committee at the University
of Vermont. Committed to her parish, she has enjoyed being a member of the parish
council of the Church of Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes where she
also was a CCD teacher.
A
graduate of Manhattanville College, she completed post-graduate study at the
Harvard-Radcliffe Program in business administration. Later, Margot served with
distinction on Manhattanville College’s alumnae board where she was her class reunion
chair. On the personal side, Margot is supported by her wonderful family,
including husband Richard, who attended Oak Knoll until the fourth grade, and
their five married children and 10 grandchildren!
Margot is
someone who truly exemplifies what Cornelia Connelly taught: ‘Actions, not
words.’ She is the model of the sort of volunteer woman who is sadly passing
from the scene. Margot reminds us that women are lucky to have the choices they
have today, whatever path they follow. She is a role model for our alumnae and
our future alumnae. The class of 1956 is fortunate to claim her as one of their
own, but the entire Oak Knoll community is indeed blessed to name Margot our
2011 Distinguished Alumna!”