North Country Citation
Name of Honor: North Country Citation
Established: 1941
Awarded by: The Board of Trustees
Criteria: North Country Citations are presented to those members of the counties of Northern New York (St. Lawrence, Lewis, Jefferson, Essex, Warren, Hamilton, Clinton and Franklin) as well as border communities of southern Quebec and western Ontario, who, through professional endeavor or personal example, contribute in special ways to improving the quality of life or fostering a sense of community in the region.
Eligibility: Any citizen of the North Country is eligible, with the exceptions noted below. Generally, individuals who worked in the area for a period of time and subsequently left the area are not considered for this honor. Individuals whose professional accomplishments have benefited the North Country but who do not nor have not resided in the North Country, are generally not eligible. Further, alumni and employees of the University are not eligible for this honor, as the University offers other ways to recognize their contributions.
Selection process: Nominations are solicited on an annual basis from the campus and regional community. The on-campus Honors Committee of faculty, staff and students meets to select one finalist. That finalist is presented to the Honors Committee of the Board of Trustees. Assuming approval here, the finalist is presented to the full Board of Trustees for its vote of approval.
Opportunity for presentation: North Country Citations are awarded at Commencement.
Staff liaison: To nominate a candidate, contact John Christopher, jchristopher@stlawu.edu.
Recent Recipients
2023
Dr. Andrew Williams
Chief Medical Officer, Community Health Center of the North Country
Associate Chief Medical Officer for St. Lawrence Health and Assistant Clinical
Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine
2022
Brockville Pipes & Drums
Commencement bagpipers
Brockville, Ontario, Canada
2019
Suzanne Langelier-Lebeda
Artist
Colton, NY
2018
North Country Public Radio
2017
Caroline Mastin Welsh P'07
Art Historian and Director Emerita of the Adirondack Museum
Blue Mountain Lake, NY
2015
Frederick Garry
Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
Watertown, NY
2014
Nancie Battaglia
Photographer
Lake Placid, NY
2013
Hospice and Palliative Care of the St. Lawrence Valley
2012
Martha Swan
Founder, John Brown Lives!
Newcomb, NY
2011
Phil Harnden
Founder, GardenShare
Canton, NY
2010
Normadine Kennedy
Community volunteer
Canton, NY
2009
No awards
2008
Kenneth Andrews
Founder and music director, The Orchestra of Northern New York
Potsdam, NY
2007
Bob Pette and Susan Neal
Founders of Pendragon Theatre
Saranac Lake, NY
2006
Frank P. Piskor, president emeritus of St. Lawrence
Posthumous honor
Canton, NY
2005
John B. Johnson, Jr.
Editor and Publisher of the Watertown Daily Times
Watertown, NY
2004
No award
2003
Joseph Liotta
Founder of the Norwood Village Green Concert Series and Arts Advocate
Norwood, NY
2002
Bill McKibben
Author
2001
Catherine Barnett Newell
Philanthropist and Volunteer
Hammond, NY
Michael Ringer
Artist
Alexandria Bay, NY
2000
Ida Winter
Community volunteer
Eagle Bay, NY
1999
Hon. John McHugh
United States Congressman
Pierrepont Manor, NY
1998
Ruth Garner
Mayor of Potsdam
Potsdam, NY
1997
John Wilson
Community Volunteer
Alexandria Bay, NY
1996
John Deans
Retired President of Jefferson Community College
Watertown, NY
1995
No North Country Citations were awarded this year.
1994
Judith Foster
Community Volunteer
Cape Vincent, NY
Alex Velto
Executive Director of the Northern New York Foundation
Watertown, NY
1993
Betty Bradley
Potsdam, NY
Aziel LaFave
Theresa, NY
Geraldine Sheehan
Watertown, NY
Cynthia Wilson
Brasher Falls, NY