Awards
Featured Alumni - Awards - 2026 Volunteer Awards
2026 Volunteer Awards
The 2026 Volunteer Awards were presented at the Darden Volunteer Leadership Summit — a gathering of more than 100 alumni leaders.
- Highest Giving Participation (Non-Reunion, >200 alumni): Class of 1987 (42%)
- Highest Giving Participation (Non-Reunion, <200 alumni): Class of 1959 (82%)
- Highest Annual Fund Dollars (Non-Reunion, >200 alumni): Class of 1990 ($299,688)
- Highest Annual Fund Dollars (Non-Reunion, <200 alumni): Class of 1984 ($378,399)
- Largest Increases in Participation: Class of 1959 (+59%), Class of 2009 EMBA (+23%), Class of 2014 EMBA (+19%)
- Darden Society Leaders (>200 alumni): Class of 1986 (15%)
- Darden Society Leaders (<200 alumni): Class of 1984 (18%)
- Most Note-able Classes: Class of 1971 (50 updates), Class of 1994 (38 updates), Class of 2025 EMBA (37 updates)
- Day for Darden Awards:
- Class of 2024 MBA (Most Donors)
- Class of 1990 (Most Dollars Raised)
- Class of 2025 EMBA (EMBAs Supporting EMBAs)
- Reunion Giving Award: Class of 1986 ($4,294,735; 48% participation)
- Reunion Participation Award: Class of 2011 MBA (47% giving participation; 55% Reunion attendance)
- Outstanding Strategic Reunion Fundraising Award: Class of 1996 (+12% giving participation)
- Reunion Connectors Award: Class of 1981
- Outstanding Class Engagement: Annette Stock (EMBA ’23)
- Rookie of the Year: Palash Tayal & Chong Xu (MBA ’14); Rob Burton, Ann Henry & Diana Jeffery (EMBA ’14)
- Outstanding Leadership: Dana Quillen (MBA ’76)
- Grassroots Leadership: Chris Kraft (MBA ’22) & Toopan Bagchi (MBA ’05), Twin Cities Chapter
- Spirit of Engagement: Tom Tichenor (EMBA ’11), Richmond Chapter
- Chapter Energizers: Charlie Yardley (MBA ’08) & Haley O’Brien (EMBA ’25), Houston Chapter
- Harry N. Lewis Distinguished Service Award: Paul Nelson (MBA ’77)