MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – The SUNY Orange Foundation welcomed nearly 300 guests to Orange Hall on SUNY Orange’s Middletown campus last Thursday (April 30) to celebrate the Foundation’s 2026 Leadership Award recipients and to remember the legacy of its former executive director Dawn Ansbro.

On a night where it honored leadership, service and community impact, the Foundation presented awards to Everett Collie (Leadership in Business), Dr. Erika Hackman (Leadership in Education), Tom Rickard ’92 (Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award), Helen Ullrich (Lifetime Achievement Award) and Derrik Wynkoop (Leadership in Community Service, awarded in memory of Dawn Ansbro).

Collie is co-founder, along with his wife Cquera, of EC Media Group LLC. Hackman serves as provost, as well as vice president for academic affairs and student services, at SUNY Orange. Rickard just completed his 13^th season as SUNY Orange’s men’s basketball head coach, having advanced the Colts to national postseason play three times in the past four years. Ullrich is a former chair of the SUNY Orange Board of Trustees and served on the Foundation Board of Directors for a decade. An active and engaged community servant, Wynkoop is a long-standing Foundation Board member, including having served as board chair and treasurer.

“Tonight’s honorees are a reminder that leadership and education can transform lives. We are grateful for their continued support of SUNY Orange and the inspiration they provide for students and alumni,” said Kristin Jensen, SUNY Orange Foundation executive director. “I’m humbled to follow in the footsteps of my friend Dawn Ansbro, who we remember tonight. Dawn embraced the Foundation’s mission, and shared a caring heart and a listening ear to those in need. She is greatly missed.”

Ansbro served as Foundation executive director from 2018 until her retirement in 2025. She passed away in August 2025 and in her memory the Foundation has renamed its Leadership in Community Award as the Dawn Ansbro Memorial Award for Leadership in Community Service. Ansbro dedicated her life to her community, education and the arts. She held a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives and had a unique ability to bring people together in support of a shared purpose. The Foundation Board has also established a scholarship in Ansbro’s memory.

Thursday’s tremendous turnout helped the Foundation raise more than $100,000 in support of scholarships, the Student Emergency Fund and other initiatives at the College. In addition to the awards presentations, the evening also included a wonderful a capella rendition of “A Million Dreams” by SUNY Orange student Wani Benedith, as well as remarks from SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young and Jensen.

“The success of this year’s event was made possible through the generosity of our dedicated planning committee, sponsors, donors and volunteers. Thank you for believing that access to education changes lives,” Jensen added.

You can read more about the honorees here: https://www.sunyorangefoundation.org/2026leadershipawardshonoreespotlights

For more information about the Foundation, or to learn how to help expand access and opportunities for SUNY Orange students, visit https://www.sunyorangefoundation.org/, email kristinjensen@sunyorange.edu or call (845) 341-4725.

Photo caption:

The SUNY Orange Foundation recently presented its 2026 Leadership Awards during an evening ceremony in Orange Hall on SUNY Orange’s Middletown campus, honoring five recipients for their leadership, service and community impact. Awardees included (front row from left) Helen Ullrich (Lifetime Achievement Award) and Derrik Wynkoop (Leadership in Community Service), along with (back row from left) Tom Rickard ’92 (Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award), Dr. Erika Hackman (Leadership in Education) and Everett Collie (Leadership in Business).