The highest honor bestowed upon Cornell Human Ecology (CHE) alumni, this award is presented to a CHE alumna/us who has demonstrated qualities exemplified by the late Helen Bull Vandervort '26 — who have attained outstanding success and distinction in their chosen profession or life's work, and whose accomplishments reflect admirably on, or bring honor to, the College of Human Ecology.
The award is presented to a CHE alumna/us who has demonstrated qualities exemplified by the late Helen Bull Vandervort '26. These include:
Nominations are reviewed annually in February but can be submitted year-round. Submit a nomination.
Chief Executive Officer, Groundswell Fund
While at Human Ecology, Yamani created her own major, combining her interests in human service studies, policy analysis, design and environmental analysis to study socially responsible design with marginalized populations. She credits CHE’s community-engaged learning for launching her 25+ year career in social justice and nonprofits at the local, state and national level.
Yamani leads and advocates for reproductive and gender justice through the Groundswell Fund, one of the largest funders of women of color-led organizing in the United States. Prior to Groundswell, she was the first Black executive director of the National Network of Abortion Funds, building cultural and political power to ensure access to reproductive justice.
Helen Bull Vandervort was born on a dairy farm near Middletown, N.Y. After graduating from the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University, she served as a home demonstration agent in Lewis and Sullivan Counties. She was married to John Vandervort, a 1923 graduate of Cornell's Veterinary School.
While raising her two children, she began her volunteer involvement in the local Parent Teacher Association, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Youth Activities. From there her interests grew and expanded to other local organizations and then beyond her local community to county and state-wide service.
Vandervort had a strong desire to be of service, and her volunteer and leadership commitment to civic, cultural and business organizations led her to lifelong achievements and recognition by the communities and groups she supported. She received many honors for her dedication to public service, business initiatives and community involvement.
In 1962 she was named "Woman of the Year" by the Business and Professional Women's Club of Ithaca, N.Y., and in 1966 was named "Woman of Achievement" in the career category by the Syracuse Post Standard. A wing of the Harriet May Mills Building at the New York State Exposition was named in her honor.
2024 Michelle Stuzin Katz ‘90
2023 Dr. Jacqueline Ann Davis-Manigaulte ‘72
2022 Dorothy Schefer Faux '69
2020 Dr. Paul M. Sethi '93
2019 Cynthia B. Green '79
2018 Nava R. Silton '02
2017 Neysa Etienne '94
2016 Rosanna Frank '61
2015 Joan Klein Jacobs '54
2014 Lauri Miller Brotman '86
2013 Margo G. Wootan '86
2012 Eleanor Dillon Petigrow '87
2011 Rebecca Q. Morgan '60
2010 Arden S. Handler '76
2009 Lynn Edelstein Heymont '73
2008 Carol B. Aslanian '63
2007 Lucy H. Jarvis '38
2006 Ronni Chernoff '67
2005 Deborah Gerard Adelman '71, MS '74
2004 Lea Paxton Nixon '53
2003 Carol Winter Mund '52
2002 Nancy Schlegel Meinig '62
2001 Margaret Bailey Redmond '52
2000 Francille M. Firebaugh PhD '62
1999 Martha Rausch Ohaus '47
1998 Grace Richardson MS '62
1997 Carmen Luz de Ramos MS '63
1996 Bernice M. Hopkins '32
1995 Judith Kellner Rushmore '65
1994 Patricia Gunderson Stocker '53
1993 Joan Hartford Ferreira '51
1992 Robert D. Schultz '77, MBA '78
1991 Charlotte Williams Conable '51
1990 Jane Stevens Gore MS '68, PhD '77
1989 Ruby Douglas Walters '72, MS '74
1988 Leah Bissonette Bell ’73