Class of 1926 Trophy winners: 2000 class agents Tiffany Madigan and Stephanie Ramos, with special gifts chair Alexis Moses. Photo by Kevin Birch
On Friday, Feb. 20, more than 125 alumni Annual Giving volunteers gathered in the Chancellor Green Rotunda for a dinner to celebrate the success of the 2024-25 Annual Giving campaign. During the evening, Annual Giving Chair Deb Yu ’98 presented several distinguished achievement awards to the leaders of last year’s campaign — which raised among the top 10 highest totals in University history — and thanked Princeton alumni and parent volunteers for their hard work, dedication and spirit.
“It is wonderful to gather together this evening to celebrate service in Annual Giving and the important difference it makes at Princeton every year,” Yu said. “I am delighted to recognize some of the most special accomplishments of the past year.”
2024-25 Annual Giving Volunteer Achievement Awards
The Harold H. Helm ’20 Distinguished Service Award, recognizing “exemplary and sustained service to Annual Giving,” was presented to Timothy M. Kingston ’87.
The Class of 1960 Award for the highest percentage of participation among the youngest 10 classes was presented to the Class of 2017 for reaching 35.7% participation. The class was led by class agents Kishan Bhatt, Nora Buck, Katie Diller and Doris Ofori.
The Class of 1931 Ricardo A. Mestres Memorial Award recognizes participation in two additional groups of classes. For the highest participation among classes 11 to 50 years out, the award was presented to the Class of 2000 with 62.9% participation. The class was led by class agents Rachael Levine, Tiffany Madigan, Stephanie Ramos and Kevin White, and Participation Chair Mike Nixon. For the 17th consecutive year, the Class of 1963 earned the Mestres Award for achieving the highest participation in Annual Giving among classes 51 or more years post-graduation with 72.3%. The class was led by class agent Bob Eisenstadt.
The Class of 1939 Award recognizes the non-major reunion class that raises the highest dollar amount. The award for 2024-25 went to the Class of 1994, which raised $1,000,000. The class was led by class agents Dominique Crosby, Hope Grenzer and Chris Workman.
The Class of 1926 Trophy is awarded to the class that raises the largest sum of money each year. The award this year went to the Class of 2000, which raised $6,502,600, its highest total ever, in celebration of its milestone 25th Reunion. The class was led by class agents Rachael Levine, Tiffany Madigan, Stephanie Ramos and Kevin White; critical few chairs Bryan Schreier and Jim Simmons; special gifts chairs Julia Boorstin, Dave Bordeau, Campbell MacColl and Alexis Moses; and participation chairs Tizgel High and Mike Nixon.
The Jim Lebenthal ’49 Young Alumni Service Award, which honors Annual Giving service characterized by “true Tiger spirit, enthusiasm and creativity,” was presented to Austin Gengos ’15 and Jake Kirkham ’20, members of the Annual Giving National Committee. Gengos led the special gifts effort for 2015’s 10th Reunion and currently serves as his class’s leadership gifts chair. Kirkham is Annual Giving class agent for 2020 and chaired the participation effort for its 5th Reunion campaign.
Jim Lebenthal ’49 Young Alumni Service Award winners: Class agent Jake Kirkham ’20 and Annual Giving Committee member Austin Gengos ’15
