WEST POINT SOCIETY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 Citation

West Point Society of the District of Columbia
2006 Distinguished Member Award
is presented to

Hope Blanche Donnelly
Class  of 1986

A 2006 Distinguished Member Award is presented to Hope Blanche Donnelly for her exemplary service to West Point, the West Point Society of D.C., and the Class of 1986.  Ms Donnelly has  exemplified the motto “Duty, Honor, Country” through distinguished and selfless service while a member of the Special Activities Committee, then organizing and serving as Chairperson, the Young Grads Committee of the West Point Society of D.C., and as a Class Trustee on the Association of Graduates Board of Trustees since 1994. She presently begins a three year term as an Advisor-at-Large.

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A 2006 West Point Society of the District of Columbia Distinguished Member Award is presented to Hope Blanche Donnelly, USMA Class of 1986, for her exemplary service to West Point, the West Point Society of D.C., the Association of Graduates, and the Class of 1986. Ms. Donnelly has exemplified the motto “Duty, Honor, Country” through distinguished and dedicated service as a member of the Board of Governors of the West Point Society of D.C. and as Class Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Association of Graduates.

In support of the Society Board of Governors she served for many years on the Special Activities Committee and then as Chair of the Young Grads Committee, in both capacities accomplishing important objectives for Society members as well as for all graduates of the Military Academy in the National Capital Region.  Under her direction, the Young Grads Committee instituted an ambitious program to bring together alumni of many classes to share in social gatherings.  Among these was attendance at major league baseball games featuring the Baltimore Orioles, group seating at a Washington Wizards basketball game at MCI Center, and an annual Army-Navy party before the big game in Philadelphia.  These group outings were enjoyed by numerous graduates, with representation from a wide range of classes.   In addition, Ms. Donnelly’s committee set up a number of monthly events in D.C. and Northern Virginia, with increasing interest and attendance by older as well as younger grads. All in all, these Young Grad activities, which continue to grow in popularity among West Point alumni in the D.C. area,  have engendered an intense spirit of camaraderie and have enabled graduates to socialize, network, and reconnect.  What began as an innovative idea has been fully adopted by the West Point Society of D.C. as an ongoing program, for which Ms. Donnelly merits special appreciation and acclamation.

She also served with distinction on the AOG Board of Trustees, having been named as a Class Trustee in 1994.  In this role, she has been able to ably represent not only her class but our Society as well.  Her present term ends on 31 December 2006. She now serves as an Advisor-at-Large, starting a three year term 1 January 2006.

In all of these activities, Hope Donnelly has displayed outstanding qualities of character, leadership, distinguished and innovative service, and stature to reflect those qualities exemplified in the West Point motto.  She has made major contributions to our Society, her class, and the Association of Graduates.  It is fitting, therefore, that the West Point Society of D.C. award  to Hope Blanche Donnelly a Distinguished Member Award for 2006.