Congratulations to the 2020 Recipients of the Ponaganset Distinguished Alumni Award:
Scott Knox, Allen W. Tinkham, and Stacey Valentine
Scott Knox (1995)
Mr. Knox has made and continues to make outstanding contributions to the Town of Foster and its residents. He quickly volunteers for projects, often donating equipment, as well as personal resources, to see the job to completion. He serves as the Treasurer of the Mount Vernon Larger Parish and is Vice Moderator of the Mount Vernon Church. Mr. Knox was named Citizen of the year by the Foster Preservation Society, and subsequently received the Citizen of the Year Award from the Foster Churches Association in 2019. After the Mount Vernon Church (circa 1795) was knocked off its foundation, he became integrally involved in overseeing the restoration of the historic landmark to its original design as a Quaker Meetinghouse enlisting local business owners to donate their time and equipment. Mr. Knox did the same when the World War II Memorial disappeared from foster Center. He enlisted help to identify the names of the names of all the veterans who served, solicited contributions, obtained the necessary permits, chose the stone, hired a company for the engraving, and oversaw the installation of the monument. When the pastor of Holy Mother of God Church on Shippee Schoolhouse Road passed away and the property was to be sold, Mr. Knox stepped in to save and relocate the church and congregation. He is described as a true humanitarian.
Allen W. Tinkham (1991)
Mr. Tinkham is the Music Director of the Chicago Composter Orchestra. He attended the Eastman School of Music, the University of Michigan School of Music, and the American Academy of Conducting of the Aspen Music Festival and is a laureate of the League of American Orchestras Bruno Walter Conductor Preview. He and won nine American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers National Awards for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music. His awards from the Illinois Council of Orchestras include: Conductor of the Year Award, Youth Orchestra of the Year (2004, 2010, 2016) and Programming of the Year (2003, 2004, 2012). The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra that he conducts has been described as an, "energized risk-taking orchestra that advocates for contemporary music" and has performed in seven international tours in Europe, Asia, and South America and at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Tinkham is in high demand as a guest conductor and educator and has conducted 20 National Association for Music Educators All-State Orchestras. The Chicago Tribune described Tinkham as "energized, risk-taking orchestra that advocates for contemporary music."
Stacey Valentine (1993)
Dr. Valentine is an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She received her BA from the college of Holy Cross, her MD form the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and a Masters of Public Health and Pediatric Health Services Research Fellow from Harvard University. Her expertise in the field of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine is specifically in the area of pediatric acute lung diseases and has conducted research regarding transfusion and blood loss in critically ill children. She is considered an expert in fluid management and transfusion management for the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference. Her many awards include: Clinical Research Award, Massachusetts Medical Society Research Symposium, Outstanding Clinical Educator Award, Pediatric Med/Ped Resident Class of 2014, Fellow American Academy of Chest Physicians, and Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Vermont College of Medicine. Stacey is the lead author and collaborator of Consensus Recommendations for RBC (Red Blood Cells) Transfusion Practice in Critically Ill Children from the Pediatric Critical Care Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative.
Applications for 2021 must be submitted by May 1, 2021.
Application forms may be found on the Foster-Glocester Regional School District web page, or by calling the Superintendent’s office at 401-710-7568. Updated information on previously nominated candidates is encouraged and welcomed.