The Rutgers University Alumni Association’s Meritorious Service Award (also known as the Scarlet Oak Award) recognizes an alumnus/a who has exceeded expectations in his or her role as a volunteer and who has served as a model for all volunteers in the Rutgers community. This award was previously given by the Rutgers University Alumni Federation. 

The following Livingston College alumni have been recognized with the Meritorious Service Award:

1986 Awardee Amos Danube, LC’72, GSNB’75 (died in 2001)	1990 Awardee Christopher Berzinski, LC’80, GSNB’82	2002 Awardee Jeffrey M. Isaacs, LC’84	2007 Awardee Michael T. Beachem, LC’73, GSED ’78, ’84

2007 Awardee Jason Goldstein, LC’02, RBS’05	2011 Awardee Saskia Agustin, LC’04, SPAA’10	2011 Awardee Marty Siederer, LC’77	2013 Awardee Katty Rivera, LC’04, GSE’09

Rutgers alumna Katty Rivera, a member of Rutgers’ Livingston College Class of 2004, has served in many alumni leadership roles as a volunteer in support of both the Latino and Rutgers University communities.

The Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA) honored her with its Scarlet Oak Meritorious Service Award, part of the Rutgers Excellence in Alumni Leadership Awards presented October 25, 2013, as part of the Alumni Leaders Conference and Homecoming weekend. Established in 1974, this award recognizes alumni of Rutgers for their outstanding service to the university that extends beyond a specific area or volunteer role and serves as a model for all volunteers in the RUAA.

Since the establishment of the Latino Alumni Association of Rutgers University (LAARU) in 2009, Katty has volunteered in support of both the Latino and Rutgers communities. She has served in several capacities in LAARU, including sergeant at arms, fundraising chair, and LAARU leader. From 2010-2013, Katty served on the RUAA Board of Directors, participating in multiple committees, including chairing the Awards and Recognition Committee that selected the 25th Anniversary Class of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni. She was also a member of the Alumni Leaders Council Committee and was the Class of 2004 Reunion Campaign Chair.

In addition to her work with the RUAA, Katty has participated in the Committee of Public Relations for the Peruvian American Political Action Committee, serves as director of organizational development for the Peruvian American Coalition – New Jersey Chapter, and is a steering committee member for the Elección Latina at the Rutgers University Center for American Women in Politics. Katty also is a 2009 graduate of Rutgers’ Graduate School of Education.

As of 2021 Katty serves as a project coordinator at the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network, Northeast and Caribbean. She is also a member of the advisory board for Rutgers’ Center for Latino Arts and Culture.

The RUAA presents the Rutgers Excellence in Alumni Leadership Awards annually to recognize those alumni and other members of the university community who devote their time and talents to further the mission of the alumni association and the university.

The other 2013 recipients of the Scarlet Oak Meritorious Service Award are: Harold Kaplan (RC’57), Bruce E. Marich (RC’63, GSNB’65) and Patricia Nachtigal (NLAW’76).

Fellow Livingston College graduate Eric C. Schwarz (LC’92, SCILS ’92,’07) received the Block R Award at the same ceremony. Read more about all the honorees.

Pictured (top): Katty Rivera (LC’04, GSE’09), second from left, accepts a 2013 Scarlet Oak Meritorious Service Award at the Rutgers Excellence in Alumni Leadership (REAL) Awards event, held October 25, 2013. Presenting the award are Donna K. Thornton, Rutgers University Vice President for Alumni Relations; University President Robert L. Barchi; and Maurice Griffin (NLAW’94), chair of the Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA). (Bottom): The 2013 REAL honorees gather for a group photo. Photos courtesy of RUAA.

The Rutgers Alumni Association (RAA) in 2014 honored 10 alumni as Loyal Sons and Loyal Daughters, including Jason E. Goldstein, LC’02, RBS’05 (pictured).

Goldstein was the president of the Livingston Alumni Association (LAA) from 2012 to 2015, and has been a member of the LAA board since 2002 (including serving as second vice president from 2003 to 2006 and first vice president from 2006 to 2012).

As one of the first board members of the Rutgers University Alumni Association, Goldstein advocated for programming and marketing that embraced all of Rutgers’ alumni constituents.

Goldstein’s service to Rutgers includes:

• Founder and chairman of the Livingston Theater Company Alumni Association; as an undergraduate founded the Livingston Theatre Company. 
• Many service and community events such as theater night and speed networking.
• Driving force behind LAA’s public relations and marketing activities.

Goldstein has been a key partner with the RAA, particularly in producing a video for the 2013 Loyal Sons and Daughters dinner, and portraying Colonel Henry Rutgers at the Loyal Sons and Daughters’ 50th anniversary event.

Each year since 1958, RAA has honored an illustrious cadre of Loyal Sons and Daughters.

Bios for all of the 2014 honorees are online. In addition to Goldstein, they are: Ruth Ann Burns, DC’67, GSNB‘75; Joseph A. Carlani III, RC’84; Evelyn Sermon Field, DC’49, GSE’65, SCI’75; Robert I. Kanarick, RC’63; Brian L. Kelly, Pharm’94; Rene Robbins Lawless, DC’81; Margaret O’Donnell, CC’93; Christine Tiritilli, DC’92; and James C. Van Vliet, Eng’53.

The honorees were formally recognized during a “scarlet tie” dinner on Saturday, April 12, 2014, at 6 p.m. at Neilson Dining Hall on the Douglass Campus. Julie Hermann, then Rutgers Athletic Director, was a guest speaker.

As part the Rutgers-New Brunswick ReUnion on Saturday, May 18, 2013, RAA President Tom Carpenter (Rutgers College, 1957) presented the Class of 1931 Award to Goldstein.

The RAA cited Goldstein’s extensive volunteer involvement with programs on behalf of Rutgers alumni, and the partnerships on programs such as theater nights in conjunction with musicals presented by the Livingston Theatre Company, Alumni-Student Speed Networking events, a November 2012 coat drive, and other activities.

The annual Class of 1931 Award honors a graduate, ten years or more from graduation, for volunteer service to the RAA, to one’s class or community, or to other Rutgers constituencies. The award also recognizes potential for leadership in the future.

In 2007 Rutgers University Alumni Federation honored Goldstein with the Meritorious Service Award.