Jennifer Appleyard-Martin ’88, Renee Kaspar P'26, and Pragati Shah P'26 received awards for their service to Hotchkiss at a ceremony at the Harvard Club in New York City earlier this month. The School is deeply grateful for their continued support. View more photos from the event.

Jennifer Appleyard-Martin ’88

2024 Armitage Award Recipient

The Armitage Award is named in honor of the late Thomas W. Armitage, Class of 1925, in recognition of his tireless work for The Hotchkiss Fund. It is presented each year to an outstanding class volunteer for their distinguished service to The Hotchkiss Fund.

Jennifer Appleyard-Martin ’88 is a Class Agent for the Class of 1988, and her extraordinary leadership has been nothing short of inspiring. She has consistently sought to strengthen and maintain the relationship between the alumni base and the School, from sharing the perspective she gained as a volunteer and former member of the Board of Governors to partnering with the Alumni & Development Office on countless events. She ensured that every classmate from 1988 received a handwritten note inviting them to attend the 35th Reunion in the spring of 2023. Her personalized approach and tireless dedication to her classmates and to the School have led The Hotchkiss Fund to tremendous success.

It is not surprising that she has followed in the footsteps of her legendary father, Bill Appleyard P'88, mirroring his impressive devotion to the School. He served as the director of alumni relations at Hotchkiss from 1968 to 1994. The Hotchkiss community is grateful for Appleyard-Martin's support, and it is an honor to recognize her with the Armitage Award.

Renee Kaspar P'26 and Pragati Shah P'26

2024 McKee Award Recipients

The McKee Award is named in honor of Hugh and Judy McKee P'78,'80,'84,'89 in recognition of their tireless work for The Hotchkiss Parents Fund. It is presented each year to Hotchkiss parents for their outstanding volunteerism and distinguished service to the Fund.

In the landscape of parent involvement at Hotchkiss, few figures shine as brightly as Renee Kaspar P'26 and Pragati Shah P'26. Their unwavering dedication and commitment go beyond traditional volunteer roles, uplifting and uniting their entire parent community. They make sure that every parent feels included and truly valued, regardless of the scale of the occasion. Through their personal outreach, whether it's a warm phone call, a thoughtful text message, a friendly hello at an event, or a caring email, they have created an atmosphere of genuine belonging, keeping all parents informed and deeply engaged with one another. Their remarkable efforts continue to foster a sense of unity and connection that reverberates throughout the Hotchkiss community.

The impact of their efforts is evident in the robust participation rates of the Class of 2026. Since their arrival at Hotchkiss, this class has achieved an impressive 90 percent involvement from parents in various activities and initiatives. This remarkable figure speaks volumes about the dedication of Kaspar and Shah as volunteers, and it is fitting that they are recognized with the McKee Award.