Excellence in Service to Hood College Award

The 2020 recipients of the Excellence in Service Award were Maryann Whitehead Scherzo, 1960 and Karin Ninesling Infuso, 1970.

Three of Maryann’s 1960 classmates Grace Elliott, Sally Fletcher Murray and Gretchen Beckhelm, have nominated her for this award, citing her overwhelming enthusiasm and dedication to Hood. Maryann has spearheaded fundraising for her class since graduating, and established the Northern NJ Hood Club shortly after graduation. Through the years, Maryann has never missed a significant campus reunion and has organized and hosted mini-reunions not just in her area, but across the country. In the 1970s, Maryann served as president of the AEB, and continues to encourage her fellow alumnae to stay involved, and give back to the College.

 To quote her classmate Sally Fletcher Murray, “from the year we were graduated until today Maryann has been an enthusiastic, loyal and generous Hood alum.” Another classmate, Gretchen Beckhelm states “her devotion to Hood is unending and her efforts on Hood’s behalf have been extraordinary labors of love.”

Karin has been nominated for this award posthumously by her classmate Dr. A. Karen Blair ’70, who said Karin “kept her eye on Hood, and supported the college for the next 47 years until her unexpected death in 2017.”

Karin served as the 1970 class reporter for almost 20 years, staying in touch with her classmates, calling to remind them of news deadlines, upcoming events, giving campaigns, and urging them to attend all reunions. She also served as Class Agent, and attended as many New Jersey Hood events as she could.

Not only did Karin continue to focus her energy on Hood and her classmates, but she also passed along her love of reading and writing to her students, and was acknowledged in the dedication of a book written by a former student. When Karin and her family moved to North Carolina, she continued to promote education as a volunteer writing tutor at Sandhills Community College.

Karen also noted that Karin’s generous spirit extended far beyond the realm of education, stating that “she was a kind and enthusiastic supporter of people, whether it be a needed winter coat, a hospital visit, a sympathetic ear, or simply a kind word. She seemed to intuitively know what would help make someone’s day better.”