Distinguished Graduate Award
The NECI Distinguished Graduate Award honors an alumnus for outstanding achievement, as it relates to their career or humanitarian achievement, and whose work encompasses the ideals of NECI's vision.
Criteria for the Distinguished Alumni Award:
- be in good standing with NECI
- have completed courses no less than 5 years before nomination
- have contributed to the culinary profession or a humanitarian endeavor, above and beyond the level of his or her peers
The award is presented each year at NECI's graduation, at which time the Distinguished Graduate also speaks to the graduating class.
It is the goal of the Alumni Association to make sure that NECI alumni are given the opportunity to identify and nominate their peers for the award, along with the traditional nominations that are sought from NECI's faculty and staff. A committee made up of NECI alumni, faculty and staff convenes and selects the honoree from the nominations received. Nominations are sought in the Fall and recipient is chosen by December.
PAST RECIPIENTS
| 2011 | Joseph DiBernardo (AOS Culinary Arts 2005) |
| 2010 | Manuel Treviño (AOS Culinary Arts 1999) |
| 2009 | Michael Rhoads (AOS Culinary Arts 1999) |
| 2008 | Ruth Feldman (AOS Culinary Arts 1984) |
| 2007 | Gavin Kaysen (AOS Culinary Arts 2001, BA Food & Bev Mgmt 2003) |
| 2006 | Alton Brown (AOS Culinary Arts 1997) |
| 2005 | Melissa Close (AOS Culinary Arts 1999) |
| Paul Lynch (AOS Culinary Arts 1990) | |
| 2004 | Max Hansen (AOS Culinary Arts 1984) |
| 2003 | Matthew Birong (AOS Culinary Arts 1998) |
| Bradley Koehler (AOS Culinary Arts 1986) | |
| 2002 | David Hale (AOS Culinary Arts 1990) |
| Brent Sloan (BA F&B Management 1996) | |
| William Shahady (BA F&B Management 1996) | |
| 2001 | Kerry Romaniello (AOS Culinary Arts 1990) |
| 2000 | Annette Weaver (AOS Culinary Arts 1987) |
| 1999 | Ahmed Azizy (AOS Culinary Arts 1991) |
| 1998 | Theresa Murray (AOS Culinary Arts 1996) |
| 1997 | Michael Papandrea (AOS Culinary Arts 1982) |
| 1996 | Krista Anderson (AOS Culinary Arts 1987) |
| 1995 | Seth Raynor (AOS Culinary Arts 1990) |
| Angela Buechel Raynor (AOS Culinary Arts 1989) | |
| 1994 | Robert Bennett (AOS Culinary Arts 1984) |
| 1993 | Timothy Klauder (AOS Culinary Arts 1984) |
| 1992 | Dale Conoscenti (AOS Culinary Arts 1987) |