UMass Boston

Theodore D. Parker Award

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Theodore D. Parker Award For Outstanding Service to the Veteran Community

Presented each year at the annual Veterans Day Dinner since 2010, the award is named for Theodore D. Parker (1958-1984), a student enrolled in the university's Veterans Upward Bound Program which served as a re-entry vehicle providing counseling and prep courses for veterans leaving military service and entering the radically different milieu of a university.  Just beginning his university career Theodore was tragically and brutally murdered in his neighborhood in Dorchester in a random act of street violence. This award is given in his memory to a person, veteran or not, who has given outstanding service and aid to the greater community of veterans.

All Theodore D. Parker Award Recipients

  • 2010 Ernest E. Washington, Jr.
  • 2011 Marybeth A. O'Sullivan
  • 2012 Carol DeSouza
  • 2013 Jaime Rodriguez & Paul R. Camacho (2 awards)
  • 2014 Paul L. Atwood 
  • 2015 Kevin Bowen
  • 2016 Barry Brodsky
  • 2017 Giselle Sterling
  • 2018 Ron E. Armstead
  • 2019 Wayne F. Smith
  • 2020 Augusto St. Silva
  • 2021 Thomas Kane
  • 2022 Tom Murphy
  • 2023 Robert Santiago

Theodore D. Parker Award

Previous Theodore D. Parker Award honorees

Presented each year at the annual Veterans Day Dinner since 2010, the award is named for Theodore D. Parker (1958-1984), a student enrolled in the university's Veterans Upward Bound Program which served as a re-entry vehicle providing counseling and prep courses for veterans leaving military service and entering the radically different milieu of a university.  Just beginning his university career Theodore was tragically and brutally murdered in his neighborhood in Dorchester in a random act of street violence. This award is given in his memory to a person, veteran or not, who has given outstanding service and aid to the greater community of veterans.

Contact Us

The William Joiner Institute
100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125-3393
Phone: (617) 287-5863

joinerinstitute@umb.edu