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NU2NU Award Honorees

Recognizing significant volunteer service within the Norwich community

The NU2NU Awards honor alumni for generous, enthusiastic, and ongoing efforts that support and build alumni-to-alumni connections and/or alumni-to-student relations. Designed to celebrate those who pay it forward, this award fosters a culture of giving back to the university through alumni contributions of time and talent. 

   2024 NU2NU Honorees

Gretchen Archambault ’96
David Ortiz ’98 

Women Kicking Glass Steering Committee:
Kimberly Baumann ’87 & P’19, Karen Broadmeadow ’83, Tina Christiano ’83, Nancy Martin ’83, Mary McCarthy ’87, Sandy Merolla ’83, Fran Perez-Wilhite ’88, Annette Redmond ’83, Linnea Westberg ’78

Richard Branca ’78
Richard Branca ’78

  • Richard Branca ’78



    In his 40+ years in Los Angeles, Richard Branca ’78 has been a champion for Norwich’s West Coast family.  He started his film industry career in 1980 in the sound department at MGM, which later became Sony Pictures Studios. In 1990 he became Director of Sound, Video and Projection for Sony. Advancing to the position of Executive Vice President of Sony’s Post-Production Services, Richard helped several Norwich alumni get started in the motion picture business including Mike Earls ’79, Bob Tolman ’80, Mike Rizzuto ’97, Jake Head ’97, Patrick Brown ’98, Jack Ryan ’99, Dominic Bonellie ’00, Marshall Lee ‘03, Steve Weber ’09, and Jesse Mattson ’10. Richard was also known for hiring retired veterans and giving many females and minority talent their start in the television and motion picture industry.

    Along with his wife, Centa and children Josh, Joe and Nick, Richard was the “go to” for many alumni events in the LA area. He hosted ice cream socials and student send offs, often followed by a movie screening, and a Board of Trustees dinner at Sony. He supported Norwich staff, especially President Richard Schneider, on his numerous trips to Southern California.  A former Cadets hockey player, Richard is a long-time supporter of Norwich’s Blueline Hockey Club. In his award acceptance remarks Richard recalled fondly the life and leadership lessons of his mentor and Norwich professor, Dr. Wallace "Wally" Baines.

    Richard left Sony after 33 years, having built the Sony Sound department into an industry leader.  During that time, he supervised the sound production of 17 films that garnered Oscar nominations and five Academy Awards.

    Richard is currently the President of Audio Operations for Final Frame Studios operating in Los Angeles and New York City.  A Boston native, other Branca family graduates include Richard’s brother Robert “Bobby” Branca ‘96, niece Caroline Manning ’16, M’18, nephew Ryan Manning ’22 and cousin, James Duggan ’67.

   2023 NU2NU Honorees
 

Joshua Paille '11 Richard Prevost ’76
Joshua Paille ’11 Richard Prevost ’76

More about these Honorees

  • Joshua Paille ’11



    A native of Madisonville, LA, Josh fostered a love for woodworking from a young age, influenced by his great-great-grandfather's talent in hand-carved fish and residential building construction.

    Post-graduation from Norwich in 2011, he underwent Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, refining his woodworking skills in the base woodshop. His path less traveled landed him in Connecticut, he met Ashley, a middle school art teacher, and together they founded Theta Pi Woodshop in 2018, intertwining their shared passion for creativity and craftsmanship. They specialize in crafting custom plaques and gifts to honor service members and first responders, fostering a sense of unity and remembrance within the Norwich community.

    Since 2021, they have had an integral role in several Norwich University projects including the Medal of Valor exhibit in the Sullivan Museum, construction of the American Legion wall in the Wise Campus Center, and the crafting of various items for Norwich clubs and organizations. This year they took on the massive project of creating a ring exhibit to celebrated Norwich’s ring centennial.
     

  • Richard Prevost ’76



    Richard is a thirty-year veteran of the US Army and Army Reserve, retiring as a Colonel. He was a Government Acquisition Attorney for the Department of Defense. He then served as a professor at the Eisenhower School, National Defense University in Washington, DC and was the Faculty Lead for the Energy Industry Seminar. After retiring Richard returned to government service as the Supervisory Procurement Policy Analyst for the Marine Corps Community Services.

    Richard received his JD from Syracuse University College of Law and holds postgraduate degrees from Boston University and the US Army War College. His awards include the NATO Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. Mr. Prevost is an Active Member of the Virginia Bar and past Chair of the Military Law Section of the Virginia Bar.

    While at Norwich Richard was the Regimental S-3 his senior year, a Distinguished Military Graduate and very active in organizations ranging from rugby, to WNUB, to the NU Chorus. He previously chaired the Board of Fellows committee for the College of Science and Mathematics and now serves on the NU Alumni Association Board of Directors.

2022 NU2NU Honorees
 

More about the 2022 Honorees

  • Gail Lull VC ’72 & P’01



    Gail Lull VC'72Gail has demonstrated a constant effort and dedication to organizing reunions and other events that improve communication and strengthen ties between the Norwich University and Vermont College classes of 1972.

  • Kevin Mercadente ’77 & P’12



    Kevin Mercadente '77Kevin has hosted Student Sendoffs for the NU Club of Central Massachusetts for 21 consecutive years. These events are bringing more than 1,500 alumni, students, and parents together to welcome incoming students and their families to the Norwich family.
     

  • Norwich University Fins & Feathers program: Michael Babyak ’92, Donald O’Neill ’87, Daniel Evans ’87, James Gikas ’86, Vincent McDermott ’90, Michael Valenti ’87, Charles Pappalardo ’87 and Hugh McLaughlin ’87



    Michael Babyak ’92, Donald O’Neill ’87, Daniel Evans ’87, James Gikas ’86, Vincent McDermott ’90, Michael Valenti ’87, Charles Pappalardo ’87 and Hugh McLaughlin ’87
    Established in 2014 by a small group of alumni, Fins & Feathers has grown to a series of multi-region sportsman’s gatherings that foster an appreciation for friendship, camaraderie, and our Norwich Values. Events include fishing tournaments (Fins) and hunting outings (Feathers).  To date Fins & Feathers events have raised more than $300,000 to support a variety of projects including the Mynter Scholarship, Men's Hockey Weight Room Upgrade, Skull & Swords Scholarship, Brian Bill '01 Scholarship, Doc Martin Scholarship, Debra Evans '87 Memorial Scholarship, Amy Dunn Vieulleux ’01 Drill Team Scholarship, and the Norwich Fund.

  • Brian Bill Memorial Tournament Committee: Robert Carroll ’97, Erik Liebegott ’92, William McIntosh ’95 and Brian Raymond ’90



    Robert Carroll ’97, Erik Liebegott ’92, William McIntosh ’95 and Brian Raymond ’90 (among others)
    The Brian R. Bill Memorial Golf Tournament honors U.S. Navy SEAL and 2001 Norwich graduate who was killed while serving in Afghanistan. Staged annually since 2012, the event funds the Brian R. Bill ’01 Memorial Scholarship which is awarded to undergraduate students in the Corps of Cadets, and to special operators enrolled in Norwich’s online degree completion program. To date $1.4 million has been raised for the scholarship, which annually awards $63,000 to Norwich students. Thus far, 10 traditional undergraduate students and 26 Special Forces Operators have received the scholarship.

2021 NU2NU Honorees 

Jack Bergquist ’67 (L) / Joshua Chafe ’07 & M’08
Jack Bergquist ’67 Joshua Chafe ’07 & M’08

 

William A. Kingman ’80 (L) / Joe Milano ’66 & H’03 (R)
William A. Kingman ’80 Joe Milano ’66 & H’03

 

Randall H. Miller ’93 & M’07
Randall H. Miller ’93 & M’07

2021 NU2NU Award Winners - Bios

  • Jack Bergquist ’67



    Jack is such an enthusiastic supporter of NU that whenever Jack is asked to help he responds with an overwhelming, "Yes!" In the past few years, he has served on the Board of Fellows and then was named a chair of the Art & Architecture Board of Fellows. Jack helped design a car show as a new attraction for future Homecoming celebrations. Jack also created a gift match challenge to start an Art & Architecture endowment and attended Coaching for Leadership for mentoring students. Beyond all that, Jack is also a frequent attendee at NU Club of Connecticut events.  

    Most recently he accepted his heaviest lift yet… take on a leadership role in the Partridge Society in order to help the Society clarify its mission and develop actionable items toward fulfilling that mission. Jack is visionary, a brilliant strategist and a take-charge leader who rolls his sleeves up and gets things done. There is no limit to what he is willing to do for Norwich.

  • Joshua Chafe ’07 & M’08



    Originally from Boston, MA, Josh graduated from high school in Northfield, VT, and holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture degrees from Norwich University. Co-founder and former director of the Emerging Professionals Network of Vermont (EPN), a component of the Vermont chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Josh remains actively involved with the EPN, which serves local emerging professionals by representation on the AIA Vermont Board of Directors, while in turn educating members about important developments within the design and construction industry.  Joshua’s work with EPN also serves a larger purpose by organizing events and projects that bring together students, young designers and experienced architects, in order to promote Norwich University, architecture, and good design in our community.   

    As part of these efforts, Josh is the founding director of the Norwich Summer Design Academy.  Since July 2015, Josh has introduced nearly 100 high school students from Vermont, Louisiana, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine to Norwich University.  In a week long program, students grapple with design thinking and explore the communication of their ideas through various media and hands-on projects.  Because of Joshua’s enthusiasm and professionalism, the Summer Design Academy has recruited students to Norwich and engaged them in the larger design community.
     
    As project architect at TruexCullins in Burlington, VT, Josh and his firm participate in the School's job shadowing program and has helped shape students’ lives by serving on student design reviews, acting as a supportive and responsive mentor, reviewing resumes, advising students on their portfolios, conducting mock interviews, and hiring Norwich students as interns.

  • William A. Kingman ’80



    William “Bill” Kingman, NU Class of ’80 is nominated for the NU2NU Award for his selfless contributions and volunteerism to Norwich University. Bill serves as the NU New Orleans Chapter point of contact. Annually, and for approximately the last 20 years, the Norwich University Regimental Drill Team has successfully competed in the Tulane University NROTC Mardis Gras Drill Meet. During this period, Bill served as the host and coordinator for many associated activities. 

    He personally coordinated with the New Orleans Saints Training facility to allow the Drill Team to practice their routines prior to each drill meet. He arranged alum dinners, coordinated Mardi Gras parade participation, and on occasion, he coordinated with the local television morning show for our cadets to appear. Bill also presented a gift to the champion Individual Trick Driller during the annual drill meet award ceremony. In addition to his work as the New Orleans point of contact, Bill has greatly assisted the NU Band Director/Provisional Battalion Faculty Advisor with schedule coordination, lodging, transportation and execution for other events, such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier tour, the 45th President’s Inaugural activities, and was the producer for our recent Regimental Band’s performance at Carnegie Hall. 

    His assistance and contributions have significantly boosted NU’s brand and recognition. In addition to the above, Bill is a former USAF Officer, and a distinguished retired ATF agent and notably, a Medal of Valor recipient. He has taught classes to NU’s criminal justice majors as a guest instructor. Bill is a second generation member of the NU family as his late Dad, Philip, is an NU ’53 grad. Again, it is truly an honor to nominate Bill for his contributions to Norwich University. His character and actions exemplify our commitment to our legacy of citizen soldiery and giving back.

  • Joe Milano ’66 & H’03



    Joe’s service to Norwich includes president of the NU Club of Boston, vice president of the NU Alumni Association, member of the Board of Fellows, and longtime trustee. He founded a scholarship at his high school in order for prospective students to attend Norwich.  A true citizen-soldier, Joe is the owner of the oldest restaurant in Boston and one the oldest in the nation, the Union Oyster House hosts many NU-related events. His generous donations to Norwich led to the construction of Milano Ballroom. A longtime member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in Boston, Joe also serves as Boston’s Honorary Consul General to Thailand.

  • Randall H. Miller ’93 & M’07



    Randall Miller does a great deal working to gather stories for Norwich University to share with other alumni through his books, podcasts, and much more. He has been a steadfast supporter for alumni and students alike for years and does a great deal to help promote the university.

See more information about the NU2NU award, and how to nominate alumni for this honor.