Alumni Award Recipients
Many GS alumni have received GS and/or University awards or honors in recognition of their extraordinary accomplishments and contributions.
Alumni are encouraged to suggest fellow alumni for consideration by the GS Awards Committee, which works to identify and nominate GS alumni for awards and honors.

GS Owl Award
Originally created by Barbara Levy '48 and Marshall Page '35, the Owl Award is given out in recognition of outstanding service to the School of General Studies. It is awarded annually by the School to a GS graduate, faculty member, or benefactor for exemplary service to GS, reflected by a sustained commitment to creating and building community, supporting and enriching School programs, and enhancing student life.
Candidates are considered by the General Studies Alumni Association (GSAA) Awards committee and the Dean of the School of General Studies. The award is presented at the annual GS Reunion Dinner held during Reunion Weekend.
- Year
- 2022
- Recipient
- Kirsty Jardine '15GS, '16PH
- Year
- 2019
- Recipient
- Paul Yates '05GS, '08BUS
- Year
- 2018
- Recipient
- Christopher Riano '07GS
- Year
- 2017
- Recipient
- Peter J. Awn, Eighth Dean of the School of General Studies
- Year
- 2004 - 2016
- Recipient
- No Award Given
- Year
- 2003
- Recipient
- Barbara Levy '48GS
- Year
- 2002
- Recipient
- George Rupp, 18th President of Columbia University
- Year
- 2001
- Recipient
- Daniel J. Daly '58GS
- Year
- Recipient
- Florence Van Veen Peavy '47GS
- Year
- 2000
- Recipient
- Helen Evarts '70GS
- Year
- 1999
- Recipient
- Philip Ehrlich '88GS
- Year
- 1998
- Recipient
- Susan Feagin '74GS
- Year
- 1997
- Recipient
- Jacques Pépin '70GS, '72GSAS
- Year
- 1995
- Recipient
- Michael I. Sovern '53CC, '55LAW, 17th President of Columbia University
- Year
- 1994
- Recipient
- Dr. Eugene Krauss '78GS, '82PS
- Year
- 1993
- Recipient
- Joan T. Perkins '79GS
- Year
- 1992
- Recipient
- David F. Genero '58GS
- Year
- 1991
- Recipient
- Ruth R. Hettleman '68GS, '81GSAS
- Year
- 1990
- Recipient
- Dr. Baruj Benacerraf '42GS
- Year
- 1989
- Recipient
- Dall W. Forsythe '67GS, '74GS
- Year
- 1988
- Recipient
- Judith D. Lipsey '61GS, '63GSAS
- Year
- 1987
- Recipient
- R.W. Apple, Jr. '61GS
- Year
- 1986
- Recipient
- Malcolm A. Borg '65GS
- Year
- 1985
- Recipient
- William T. Golden
- Year
- 1984
- Recipient
- Dr. Betsy B. Kaufman '62GS
- Year
- 1983
- Recipient
- Dr. Juan J. deLara '55GS, '56GSAS, '80GSAS
- Year
- 1982
- Recipient
- Barbara Gimbel '72GS
- Year
- 1981
- Recipient
- Alfred Seaman, Jr. '35GS
- Year
- 1980
- Recipient
- Dr. William J. McGill
- Year
- Recipient
- Dr. Arthur Kantrowitz '34GS, '36GSAS, '47GSAS
- Year
- 1979
- Recipient
- Madeline Bohman '67GS
- Year
- 1978
- Recipient
- Hugh Auchincloss '61GS
- Year
- 1977
- Recipient
- Ran Hettena '64GS
- Year
- 1976
- Recipient
- Aaron W. Warner, Fourth Dean of the School of General Studies
- Year
- 1975
- Recipient
- Dr. James F. Bender '28GS, '39GSAS
- Year
- 1974
- Recipient
- Ralph J. Holmes '33GS, '46GSAS
- Year
- Recipient
- Murray Niedergang, Esq. '48GS
- Year
- 1973
- Recipient
- Bernard Schoenberg '49GS, '54PS
- Year
- 1970-1972
- Recipient
- No Award Given
- Year
- 1969
- Recipient
- Clarence C. Walton, Third Dean of the School of General Studies
- Year
- 1968
- Recipient
- Hon. James J. Comerford, '40GS, '41GSAS
- Year
- Recipient
- Dr. Wesley J. Hennessy '51GS
- Year
- 1967
- Recipient
- Marshall L. Page '35GS
- Year
- 1965
- Recipient
- Dr. Irma B. Jaffee '58GS, '60GSAS, '66GSAS
- Year
- Recipient
- Walter W. Frese '27GS
- Year
- Recipient
- Dr. Louise W. Ilse '46GS, '51GSAS
- Year
- 1964
- Recipient
- Eric McKitrick '49GS, '60GSAS
- Year
- Recipient
- Albert M. Baer '45GS
- Year
- 1963
- Recipient
- Milton Halsey Thomas
- Year
- Recipient
- Dr. Isaac Asimov '39GS, '39GSAS
- Year
- 1962
- Recipient
- Dr. Norwood R. Hansen '48GS
- Year
- Recipient
- Karla B. Baer
- Year
- 1961
- Recipient
- Dr. Emil Smith '31GS, '37GSAS
- Year
- Recipient
- Alex Novikiff '31GS, '38GSAS
- Year
- Recipient
- Simon Kuznets '23GS
- Year
- 1960
- Recipient
- Dr. Louis Simpson '49GS, '50GSAS, '59GSAS
- Year
- Recipient
- George Norman Allen '53GS, '54JRN
- Year
- Recipient
- Dr. Hugh H. Darby '25GS, '29GSAS
- Year
- 1959
- Recipient
- John R. Menke '43GS, '45SEAS
Columbia Alumni Medal
The Alumni Medal is the highest honor bestowed by the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) for distinguished service to the University. Candidates must be alumni of the University. The caliber of the candidate's service should be such that its effects are substantial and enduring. Such service may be to the University, its Schools, its various alumni organizations or the regional Columbia Clubs, and has usually been sustained for a period of at least ten years. The Medal is not awarded merely for longevity of service, however, nor for financial support or for work done as an employee of the University.
- Year
- 2018
- Recipient(s)
- Joseph Ehrlich '92GS
- Year
- Recipient(s)
- Louis Parks '95GSAS, '03BUS, '12GS
- Year
- 2016
- Recipient(s)
- Richie Space '05GS
- Year
- 2011
- Recipient(s)
- Susan Feagin '74GS
- Year
- 2010
- Recipient(s)
- Larry Lawrence '69GS, '71BUS
- Year
- 2009
- Recipient(s)
- Helen Evarts '70GS
- Year
- 2006
- Recipient(s)
- Barbara Levy '48GS
- Year
- 2005
- Recipient(s)
- Melissa Bell '93GS
- Year
- 2003
- Recipient(s)
- Lucille Roussin '69GS, '71GSAS, '85GSAS
- Year
- 1999
- Recipient(s)
- Philip Ehrlich '88GS
- Year
- 1998
- Recipient(s)
- Caroline Wueschner '71GS
- Year
- 1995
- Recipient(s)
- Florence Peavy '47GS
- Year
- 1991
- Recipient(s)
- Malcolm A. Borg '65GS
- Year
- 1985
- Recipient(s)
- Barbara Gimbel '72GS
- Year
- 1982
- Recipient(s)
- Judith Lipsey '61GS, '63GS
- Year
- 1981
- Recipient(s)
- Leonard Amsterdam '35GS, '37LAW
- Year
- Recipient(s)
- Edmund Pease '57GS
- Year
- 1979
- Recipient(s)
- Ruth R. Hettleman '68GS, '71GSAS
- Year
- 1978
- Recipient(s)
- Ralph Cox '54GS
- Year
- 1976
- Recipient(s)
- Kathryn Linden '53GS
- Year
- 1974
- Recipient(s)
- Harry Fornari '41GS, '52GSAS
- Year
- 1973
- Recipient(s)
- William Blodgett, Jr. '58GS
- Year
- 1972
- Recipient(s)
- Robert Barber '51GS
- Year
- 1970
- Recipient(s)
- Catherine Sandy '53GS
- Year
- 1968
- Recipient(s)
- Joseph Pagano '53GS
- Year
- 1966
- Recipient(s)
- Murray Niedergang '48GS
- Year
- 1959
- Recipient(s)
- George Alexander '27GS
- Year
- Recipient(s)
- Frank Pokomy '27CC, '33GS, '50GSAS
- Year
- 1958
- Recipient(s)
- Louis Ilse '46GS, '51GSAS
- Year
- 1956
- Recipient(s)
- Marshall Page '35GS
- Year
- 1948
- Recipient(s)
- Justin Brierly '29GS
University Honorary Degrees
Each year at Commencement the University bestows honorary degrees on several esteemed individuals who exemplify the ideals of the University through their significant scholarly, artistic or societal achievements or contributions. This is the highest honor that the University can bestow on an individual and the Trustees endeavor to ensure recognition for achievements across all of the various areas of study and fields of academia.
Honorary degrees are awarded in the following categories:
- The Arts
- The Humanities and Social Sciences
- The Natural, Applied and Pure Sciences
- Public Life and Government
- Professor Emeritus/Emerita
Honorees do not need to be graduates of Columbia University.
- Year
- 2019
- Recipient
- Peter J. Awn, Eighth Dean of the School of General Studies
- Degree
- Posthumous Doctor of Letters
- Year
- 2017
- Recipient
- Jacques Pepin '70GS, '72GSAS
- Degree
- Doctor of Humane Letters
- Year
- 2009
- Recipient
- Caroline Bynum, Sixth Dean of the School of General Studies
- Degree
- Doctor of Letters
- Year
- 1985
- Recipient
- Baruj Benacerraf '42GS
- Degree
- Doctor of Science
- Year
- 1983
- Recipient
- Isaac Asimov '39GS
- Degree
- Doctor of Science
- Year
- 1972
- Recipient
- Louis M. Hacker, First Dean of the School of General Studies
- Degree
- Doctor of Humane Letters
- Year
- 1954
- Recipient
- Simon Kuznets '23GS
- Degree
- Doctor of Humane Letters
University Medal for Excellence
The University Medal for Excellence is awarded at Commencement, to an alumnus or alumna under 45 years of age whose record in scholarship, public service, and/or professional life is outstanding. Graduates from all divisions of the University, including Barnard College and Teachers College, are eligible for the Medal.
- Year
- 2019
- Recipient
- Molly Ola Pinney '09GS
- Year
- 2017
- Recipient
- Julia Bacha '03GS
- Year
- 2008
- Recipient
- Alicia Graf Mack '03GS