Distinguished Alumna Award

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

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!”


Past Recipients

1986 Azella Crysler O’Dwyer ‘50
1987 The Class of 1961
1988 Mary Louise Cullen ‘48
1989 Lucille Haugh Cardone ‘38
1990 Ann-Joyce Peters, SHCJ, ’55 and Elizabeth Barber, SHCJ, ‘49
1991 Kathleen Mary Novak ‘66
1992 Carina Stafford-Smith Metzger ‘52
1993 Dolly Dempsey Donahue ‘52
1994 Anne Moore, M.D., ‘61
1995 Mary Katherine Hayes, M.D., ‘71
1996 Christine Kenny Frisbee ‘69
1997 Kathleen Mahon Doyle ‘62
1998 Margaret Smith Crocco ‘68
1999 Joan Benziger Gaines ‘49
2000 Donna Hagemann Donovan ‘70
2001 Claire Donohoe O’Mara ‘61
2002 Award not presented
2003 Motria Ukrainskyj, M.D., ‘78
2004 Joanne Lucey Ainsworth ‘64
2005 Carolyn Pernice Mulligan ‘70
2006 Alice Bender Gibbons, M.D., ‘76
2007 Award not presented
2008 Joan Smith Myers ‘73
2009 Cordelia Oskins Fuller '59
2011 Margot Leary Badenhausen '56