Annual Awards
History & Selection Process
In 1997, the WPSA Board of Governors established Annual Awards to honor local Distinguished Graduates and Outstanding Citizens. At the time, Jim Eberle, ‘71, chaired the committee developing both the awards’ criteria as well as the selection process.
The annual Selection Committee is independent of the Board of Governors. The criteria were quite simple yet demanding—to recognize graduates in our geographic area who have not only showed throughout their lives the ideals of West Point but also distinguished themselves as a cut above the rest.
For the Georgia Outstanding Citizen, the criteria were equally clear—to recognize non-graduates in the state of Georgia, who demonstrated an adherence to the ideals of Duty, Honor, Country through a lifetime of selfless service to their nation, state, and community.
Over time, the selection procedure has evolved. We now solicit nominations from all members of the Society. The Nominations Committee organizes the documents and then submits them to the Selection Committee, which carefully reviews and ultimately selects a worthy recipient for each award.
The Award itself has also evolved over the years. The original concept of a "...block of gray granite, symbolic of West Point and its surrounding geography…" for the Distinguished Graduate; and a "... suitable item representative of West Point..." for the Outstanding Citizen has become an engraved polished black granite plaque, which appropriately represents the significance of the awards.
Previous Recipients
Distinguished Graduate Awardees
- 2024 James C. Eberle, '71
- 2023 Joseph M. Sroka, '88
- 2022 Stephen C. Cannon ’86
- 2019 Frederick R. Schremp ’67
- 2018 Garrett D. Cathcart ’04
- 2017 LTG Steven L. Arnold ’62
- 2016 BG Daniel J. Kaufman ’68
- 2015 COL Sam C. Holliday ’48
- 2015 Judge Greeley H. Ellis, Jr. ‘53
- 2014 MG Bill Ray ’57
- 2013 Stephen Elliot Draper ’64
- 2012 Richard E. Bowers ’68
- 2011 James R. Balkcom, Jr . ’67
- 2010 COL Donald R. Reinhard ’59
- 2009 Dr. Scott D. Gillogly ’76
- 2008 BG Zeb B. Bradford ’56
- 2007 COL Irving B. Schoenberg ‘48
- 2006 John Rife Petty, Sr. ’61
- 2005 LTC Philip H. Enslow Jr. ’55
- 2004 MG Gordon J. Duquemin ’47
- 2003 GEN Edwin H. Burba, Jr. ’59; COL Leslie G. Callahan ’44
- 2002 LTG M. Collier Ross ’49
- 2001 BG Graydon C. Essman ’33
- 2000 BG Robert L. Scott, Jr. ’32
- 1999 Michael Bowers ’63
- 1998 Capt Bernard W. Abrams ’47
- 1997 MG George T. Duncan ’32; LTG Louis W. Truman ‘32; Howard H. "Bo" Calloway ‘49
*2020 and 2021 Founder's Day Dinners cancelled due to COVID. 2020 awardees recognized at 2022 event.
Georgia Outstanding Citizen Awardees
- 2024 Dr. Randy F. Rizor
- 2023 SGT Roger W. Wise Jr.
- 2022 Dr. Melvin Pinder
- 2019 Josiah V. Benator
- 2018 Frantz K. Fortune
- 2017 Kenneth DeSimone
- 2016 Teresa Stoker
- 2014 Bette Rose Bowers
- 2013 Bill Saling
- 2012 Duke Doubleday
- 2011 John A. Bardis
- 2010 John W.D. Feight
- 2009 W. James Goldin
- 2008 MG Jerry White
- 2007 Nicholas D. Snider
- 2005 Samuel E. Allen
- 2004 LTC Florence M. Pecora (ANC-Ret’d)
- 2003 John and Miriam Conant
- 2002 Sister Marie Sullivan
- 2001 Thomas H. Norman
- 2000 B. Franklin Skinner
- 1999 LTC Nicholas J. "Stoney" Burke
- 1998 Mary Louise Austin
*2020 and 2021 Founder's Day Dinners cancelled due to COVID. 2020 awardees recognized at 2022 event. OCA not awarded in 1997 or 2015.
Active in Atlanta
Joe Sroka, '88
March 2023- Joe Sroka is the founder of NovaPoint Capital, a general partner at 550 Capital Partners, and the treasurer of the US Army Ranger Association (USARA). He is actively involved in supporting veterans in Atlanta and across the country.
Under his leadership, NovaPoint donates a full day of revenue every six months to several veteran service organizations, including Children of Fallen Patriots, Folded Flag Foundation, Special Operations Medical Association, Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund, and Wreaths Across America.
Additionally, Joe played a significant role in bringing Bunker Labs, a national non-profit organization supporting veteran entrepreneurs, to Atlanta. He helped build a team of volunteers and corporate/community supporters to provide veterans and spouses access to the training needed to start and grow their businesses, resulting in the launch of dozens of veteran-owned businesses.
Joe also stewarded the finances of USARA for the last 5 years, providing funding for regional events for Ranger veterans, support of active-duty Ranger units, a scholarship fund, and a financial assistance fund. Joe has been living in Atlanta since 2008 with his wife Norha and their two accomplished daughters, Abby and Audrey.
How to get in touch:
Tracey Lloyd, '03
November, 2018- Tracey Lloyd ’03 is an experienced retail executive and specializes in turnarounds and optimizing shareholder’s value. She was featured on the cover of Fortune Magazine in 2010 and is a Bronze Star recipient.
Present:
JCPenney – District Manager responsible for all Georgia stores.
Board member: National Black Arts Festival & Urban League of Greater Atlanta
Previous:
Bloomingdale’s – Operating Vice President
Walmart – Senior Director, District Manager
About Tracey:
She is a laser-focused, high-performing, and organized executive with two-decades of career making contributions as a leader in high tempo environments that fuel profit, team performance, and drive enduring change. She has lead organizations with more than 4,000 employees and who generated more than half a billion dollars in revenue. Inclusive, articulate, and effective communications skills in French and English. Proponent of life-long education— graduated from West Point in 2003.
How to get in touch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceycolemanlloyd
Garrett Cathcart ’04
Ulrich Brechbuhl, '86
October, 2018- Notable Accomplishments and Achievements:
– Highly sought after executive non-profit leader and board member serving America’s veterans.
– Regional Director of Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB).
Team RWB enriches the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their communities through physical and social activities. Authentic community is built through genuine and empathetic relationships–while deliberately infusing leadership development.
Veterans are indispensable leaders and when they continue to lead after transition they make their communities better–and as a result our Nation better. Garrett Cathcart ’04, as regional director is responsible for strategy, leadership development, growth, and management of programming in 41 U.S. cities.
– Board member at VetLanta and Bunker Labs – Atlanta
– Emory MBA, 2018
How to get in touch: garrett.cathcart@bunkerlabs.org
Ulrich Brechbuhl, '86
Michael Boulegeris, '83
Ulrich Brechbuhl, '86
September, 2018- Ulrich Brechbuhl currently serves as the State Department Counselor. In this capacity, he provides strategic guidance to the Secretary on foreign policy, undertakes efforts to enhance U.S. diplomacy and public outreach, and conducts special diplomatic assignments as directed by the Secretary.
Prior to joining the Department, Mr. Brechbuhl was president of Appenzeller Point, LLC, a family investing and consulting business. He also served as the executive chairman of Avadyne Health and on the board of five other healthcare and financial services businesses.
Mr. Brechbuhl graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986 and served as a cavalry officer with the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment patrolling the Iron Curtain before its fall. He also served with the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry in the U.S. Army’s First Calvary Division during the Persian Gulf War.
After leaving active duty, Mr. Brechbuhl graduated from Harvard Business School, receiving his Master of Business Administration in 1994. Since then he worked with Bain and Company, Inc., and has served as the CFO and CEO of multiple companies, both private equity owned and publicly traded.
Born in Switzerland, Mr. Brechbuhl grew up in Garden City, New York, and speaks French, German, and Swiss-German.
Ulrich is a past President of WPSA and is an ardent supporter of Atlanta area West Point grads.
Ulrich’s business experience is extensive. Please see this attachment on his accomplishments here.
How to Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulrichbrechbuhl
(Please keep in mind that Ulrich’s time is quite scarce these days with his new position).
John Green, '09
Michael Boulegeris, '83
Michael Boulegeris, '83
April, 2018- John is currently at the top of his class at Emory Law. His work has been published in a prestigious Law Journal: “Averting an Inside Job: A Proposal to Change How Insiders Are Defined in the Bankruptcy Code.”
He was also Editor and Chief of the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal last year. John is also the recipient of several scholarships.
He served with distinction with the 3rd Infantry Regiment, “Old Guard” and with Arlington National Cemetery successfully updating and implementing important policies related to our Nation’s military funeral procedures.
His full military background can be found here.
Topics he can help with: legal education / law school (especially at Emory), getting published in a journal, and bankruptcy law.
How to Contact: johnathandgreen@gmail.com
Michael Boulegeris, '83
Michael Boulegeris, '83
Michael Boulegeris, '83
March, 2018- Michael Boulegeris graduated from the United States Military Academy with a B.S. degree in Engineering and a minor in Eastern European and Soviet Studies. He served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army, achieved the rank of Captain and was entrusted with a high security clearance.
Mr. Boulegeris founded the firm, Boulegeris Investments, Inc., in 1992 and is the firm’s Chief Investment Officer. He also serves as a Trustee of the Annunciation Cathedral Endowment Foundation of the Greek Orthodox Church in Atlanta, GA. Mr. Boulegeris was recognized by the West Point Association of Graduates and inducted into the General Henry H. Arnold Society.
Mr. Boulegeris was a Co-Founder of MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that was acquired by Allergan, Inc. in March 2013.
Topics he can help with: Investment research, Portfolio management, Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy.
Lee Rivas, '96
Lee Rivas, '96
Lee Rivas, '96
February, 2018- Lee started his career as an officer in the U.S. Army where he held several operational leadership roles in tank and armored cavalry units in the U.S. and abroad, and left active duty as a Captain.
Lee graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point where he was a member of the academic honor society Phi Kappa Phi and holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
His professional career includes serving as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company, a leading global strategy consulting firm. He led client teams focused primarily on overall strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and sales strategy. Lee then joined RELX group, a global provider of data and analytic solutions across industries and held a serios of commercial and general management role.
Lee Rivas is currently the President of RELX global healthcare businesses. He is responsible for over $1b of revenues and 2,500 employees across the Elsevier Clinical Solutions, Nursing and Health Education, and LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ healthcare data businesses. His business is dedicated to educating and training healthcare professionals, improving patient outcomes, and enabling high quality decisions through the use of, evidence-based content, technology and analytics.
How to contact: L.Rivas@elsevier.com
Topics he can help with: corporate leadership, mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy and product management.