The Fitzwater Medallion for Leadership in
Public Communication

In addition to supporting the hallmark goal of Franklin Pierce University—to prepare its students to function well as citizens and leaders of a democratic society—the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication is dedicated to educating leaders of conscience in public communication, from the town hall to the nation’s capital.

The robust debate that is at the core of our nation’s democracy does not just happen. It requires commitment. The Fitzwater Medallion for Leadership in Public Communication is presented annually to those who have demonstrated a commitment to an electorate fluent in the issues of their time.

The national medallion. Established in 2004, the national medallion is presented to those who have dedicated their lives to serving our democracy at its very core. This Medallion is gold plated with a black ribbon.

Previous Recipients of the Fitzwater Medallion for Leadership in Public Communication

2022 - Alexander Heffner

2020/2021 - Willem Lange

2019 - Richard T. Griffiths

2018 - Alexander Heffner

2017 - Diane Rehm

2016 - Joseph Sciacca

2014 - Juan Williams

2012 - Tom Rosentiel

2011 - Jeff Bartlett

Previous Recipients of the Fitzwater Medallion for Contributions to the Public Discourse by a New Hampshire Journalism Educator

2019
Alexander Heffner
Host of The Open Mind, PBS

2018
Richard Griffiths
President, Georgia First Amendment Foundation
Retired CNN Vice President and Senior Editorial Director

2017
Diane Rehm
Former Host of The Diane Rehm Show
National Public Radio

2015/16
Joseph Sciacca
Editor-in-Chief The Boston Herald

2014
Juan Williams
Journalist and Political Analyst Fox News

2012
Tom Rosenstiel
Director and Founder Project for Excellence in Journalism, PEW Research Centers

2011
Jeff Bartlett
President and General Manager WMUR

2010
Candy Crowley
Senior Political Correspondent CNN

2009
Luke Russert
News Correspondent-at-Large NBC

2008
Dana Perino
Press Secretary to the President
The White House

2007
Steve Scully
Political Editor, C-SPAN
President, White House Correspondents Association
The White House

2006
Kenneth Walsh
Senior White House Correspondent
U.S. News & World Report

2005
The Honorable Chuck Hagel
United States Senator for Nebraska
U.S. News & World Report

2004
Victoria Clarke
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
United States Department of DefenseU.S. News & World Report

The alumni medallion

In 2005, a second Medallion for Leadership in Public Communication was established to specifically honor those among the 18,000 alumni of Franklin Pierce University who have demonstrated through their professional and/or personal lives a strong commitment to an electorate, whether at a local or a national level, fluent in the issues of their time. This medallion is silver plated with a black ribbon.

2023
Stephen C. Lacey ’06
Co-Founder and Executive Editor
Post Script Media

2022
Lori Shibinette M.B.A. ’13
Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

2020/2021
Erika McGowan '09
Second Unit Director/Assistant Director
Directors Guild of America

2019
Robert M. Patterson ‘69
Founder, Chairman, President and CEO
The SPACECONNECTION, Inc.

2018
Angie Wirtanen Ward ‘06
Associate Vice President
Digital Client Solutions at Carnegie Communications

2017
Trent Spiner ‘08
Executive Editor
New Hampshire Union Leader

2016
Richard L. Goode ‘96
Associate Manager of Production Operations, ESPN

2015
Genevieve McGillicuddy ‘94
Vice President, Turner Classic Movies

2014
John Perry ‘92
Segment Producer, “The Dr. Phil Show”

2013
Randell Kennedy ‘85
Owner, Academy Communications

2012
Kathryn E. McNally Marro, D.A., ‘11
Advocate for the Elderly

2010
Andrew Scher ‘88
Executive Producer, “The Doctors,” CBS

2008
Marc Tieger ‘69
Moderator, Town of Jaffrey, New Hampshire
Co-founder and President, Tieger Realty Co., Inc.

2007
David Schutzman ‘86
Chief Marking Officer, Archstone Consulting

2006
Thomas C. Crawford ’04 MBA
Chief Information Officer, Springfield Hospital

2005
Kevin Bargo ‘01
Staff, Senator Judd Gregg

2004
Therese Ledwith Fay ‘82
President, Media By Design

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The Fitzwater Medallion for Contributions to Public Discourse

Additional annual awards, for contributions to the public discourse, are presented to up to two graduating students. These medallions are bronze with a black ribbon. The first were awarded in 2005.

2023
Caitlin Agnew

2022
Kaitlyn Acciardo & Paul Lambert

2021
Casey Eldred

2020
Tyler Comeau

2019
Luke Tracy

2018
Margaret Bell

2017
Alyssa Borelli

2016
Stephen Keimig

2015
Sarah Rodriguez

2014
Brett Bosley
Robert Driscoll

2013
Samantha L. Debay

2012
Erica Tomaszewski

2011
Alyssa Dandrea

2010
Bailey Gaffney
Robert Michaelson

2009
Steven E. Dodrill
Derek Gorman

2008
Arrika Knights

2007
Matthew Leite
Trent E. Spiner

2006
Stephen C. Lacey

2005
Frank S. Blais
Kristen M. Costa

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The Fitzwater Medallion for High School Teachers

Marlin Fitzwater, recognizing the influence of his own high school teachers in his life, established an additional award for contributions to the public discourse for a high school teacher. This medallion is copper with a black ribbon. The first was awarded in 2006.

2020
David Tirell-Wysocki,
The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications

2019
Shawn Kelly
Oyster River High School

2017
Adam Theriault
Souhegan High School

2012
Tim Clark
ConVal High School

2011
Mary Lukas DeWinkeleer
Londonderry High School

2008
Michael O’Leary
ConVal High School

2010
Gordon Lang
Kingswood Regional High School

2009
Linda Lawson
Concord High School

2008
Michael O’Leary
ConVal High School

2007
Nancie Stone
Pinkerton Academy, Derry

2006
Sharon Wilson
Manchester Central High School

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Fitzwater Scholars

Fitzwater Scholars who are invited into this competitive four-year mentoring and scholarship program as an entering freshman, and who are graduating with a grade point average of 3.0 or greater, are presented a copper medallion with a black ribbon. This academic award can be worn at graduation.

2020
Shawn Fitzpatrick
Ashely Hescock
Bryce Johnson
CeLynn Siemons
Jessica Strack
Haley Weeks

2019
Sarah Daley

2018
Taylor Bacigalupo
Luke Bernhardt
John Blake
Kristopher Gallant
Abbie Paquette
Logan Sherwood

2017
Jon Holmes

2016
Austin Christopher
Stephen Keimig
Lindsay Sweet

2015
Timothy Armstrong
Ian Hayden
Melissa McKinnon
Sarah Rodriguez

2014
Brett Bosley
Robert Driscoll
Rachel Felson
Rachel Moon

2013
Valerie E. Armstrong
Ahmos Diaz Maldonado
Morgan A. Miller

2012
Heather Brown
Brittany Cibotti
Laurie Graham
Stephanie Lewis
Amanda Panaro
Alexander Terrill
Erica Tomaszewski

2011
Nicholas Caramico
Alyssa Dandrea
Sylvia Korza
Casey Williams

2010
Kevin Flanders
Robert Michaelson
Abbie Tumbleson

2009
Thomas Atwood
Anthony Catinella
Steve Dodrill
Francesca Marie Santoro

2008
Daniel Desrochers
Arikka Knights
Alicia Wunsch

2007
Sarah Blake
Joseph Fagella
Tyler Reynolds-Rothstein

2006
Dana Frazao
Angie Wirtanen

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Additional Medallion Presentations

The medallion is also presented in the following circumstances:

The Fry Lecture. A gold-plated medallion is presented to the lecturer, who also receives an honorarium.

2015
Juan Williams
Fox News

2014
Rita Cosby, Broadcast Journalist, Author
Ronald Kessler, Journalist, Author

2010
Dr. Jeremy Cohen
Professor of media studies and associate vice president and senior associate dean for undergraduate education at Pennsylvania State University

2008
Wilma Mankiller
Former leader, Cherokee Nation

2006
Dr. Robert Moses
Civil rights activist; founder, Algebra Project

Special Presentation

A gold-plated medallion has been presented to the following Board of Trustees members for their role in advancing the Fitzwater Center: Leslye Arsht, Marlin Fitzwater, and Peter Wensberg.

The Visiting Fitzwater Scholar:Two White House correspondents have been presented a gold-plated medallion: Ann Compton and Terence Hunt. Both presentations were made at the conclusion of their Tuesday Briefing, which was but one item in their busy three-day visit to campus.

The Presidency and The Press:A copper medallion is presented to one or more outstanding high school students who participate in the summer program.

The Fitzwater Medallion

On its face, the medallion features a relief portrait of Marlin Fitzwater, with the White House as a background. On the reverse, the University’s seal sits above a scroll engraved with the recipient’s name and year.

Other Awards Presented at the Fitzwater Honors

Pierce Media Group Leadership Cords: Graduating Seniors in good academic standing who have been members of Pierce Media Group for at least 6 semesters, including at least 2 semesters in a leadership role, are presented a burgundy/gold/silver cord. This award can be worn at graduation.