The annual Spirit of GW Awards ceremony, a tradition at the George Washington University honoring individuals for their outstanding contributions to society, was held Saturday evening in the University Student Center Grand Ballroom as part of Alumni and Families Weekend.
Patty Carocci, associate vice president of Alumni Relations, Annual Giving and Events, said the award recipients embody the enduring spirit of GW through their leadership, service and generosity.
“Our alumni, including many of you in this room tonight, exemplify the aspirations our students are cultivating right now,” Carocci said. “Tonight is our chance to celebrate how those early sparks of curiosity and ambition have evolved into lives of purpose and impact.”
President Ellen M. Granberg thanked attendees and praised the honorees for their impact and achievements.
“This weekend is a powerful reminder of what makes our community so special: a shared GW spirit that honors our proud history while constantly driving us forward,” Granberg said. “This evening, we have the distinct pleasure of celebrating that spirit, reflecting on the journey of some highly accomplished alumni and acknowledging the important role GW has played along the way.”
The recipients were selected for honors in four categories. Here are the 2026 honorees:
Alumni Outstanding Service Award
Carl A. Richardson, M.A. ’99, and Carrie Potter, B.B.A. ’99, M.B.A. ’01
Madeleine Jacobs, B.S.’68, HON '03, chair of the GW Alumni Council, presented the Alumni Outstanding Service Award, which recognizes graduates who have provided outstanding, long-standing service to GW.
Based in London, Carl A. Richardson jointly leads the Richardson business, a multigenerational international investment firm founded in the first half of the last century. The firm has more than 120 investments across 20 countries in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America and parts of Asia, and it aims to expand its existing investment activities in the United States.
Richardson said he was fortunate to have had a wonderful experience at GW as a student and that, ever since, he has been inspired to give back to the university and its current students.
“That isn't done seeking recognition, but rather it simply feels like it's the right thing to do,” Richardson said. “Standing here now surrounded by distinguished fellow supporters of the university who are being recognized this evening feels like a huge honor.”
Carrie Potter is principal of Potter Advisor, where she serves as a trusted business strategist and fiduciary, managing the complex financial and operational needs of athletes, entertainers and entrepreneurs.
Potter said that when she arrived on GW’s campus as a Pell Grant student from Omaha, Nebraska, she had big dreams. At GW, she found a university that invests in the student experience, along with people who helped open doors for her and create a path toward greater self-confidence.
“To my fellow volunteers and mentors across the GW community, it is our responsibility to open those doors for others and pave the way for those who can come after us,” Potter said. “Thank you all for your shared dedication to this same mission.”
Recent Alumni Achievement Award
Olajumoke “Jummy” Banjo, J.D. ’16
Carocci presented the Recent Alumni Achievement Award to Olajumoke “Jummy” Banjo. The award recognizes graduates of the past 10 years who have achieved notable accomplishments in their professional fields or community endeavors.
Banjo is the senior director of the Alliance for Social Trust at the Aspen Institute. In her role, she leads a national initiative to strengthen social trust by convening leaders across sectors, fostering communities of practice, sharing resources and elevating local efforts that demonstrate effective approaches to building trust.
Banjo said she was grateful for the lessons she learned at GW, which helped shape her career.
“GW taught me that law isn’t simply about statutes and arguments, it’s about people,” Banjo said. “It’s about communities. It’s about impact. It’s about building bridges where walls exist and ensuring that justice is not simply a concept, but a lived reality.”
GW Philanthropy Award
Michael Milken, HON ’23, and Lori Milken
Kelly A. Gebo, dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health, presented the GW Philanthropy Award to Lori and Michael Milken. The award recognizes extraordinary, long-term support that has had a significant and inspiring impact on GW.
Lori and Michael Milken have participated in a wide range of philanthropic initiatives over several decades. Gebo said their impact on GW could only be described as transformative.
Since 2014, the Milkens, in partnership with the Milken Institute, the Milken Family Foundation and the Redstone Family Foundation, have made a record-breaking $80 million commitment to GW’s Milken Institute School of Public Health.
In a video message played at the ceremony, Michael Milken apologized for being unable to attend and expressed gratitude for the award, reflecting on the importance of philanthropy in his lives. He also highlighted their longstanding relationship with GW and their shared belief that public health and medical research are essential to improving lives and driving economic growth.
“Our story with GW started many, many years ago when we were trying to figure out where to have one of the most important meetings to rekindle the interest in public health and medical research,” Michael Milken said. “The three-day event changed the world. Changed funding for medical research and the celebration of science once again reminded us of the importance of public health and medical research.”
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
Bruce Sewell, J.D. ’86, and Christopher J. Wiernicki, M.S. ’83
Granberg presented the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award to Bruce Sewell and Christopher J. Wiernicki. The award recognizes alumni who have achieved a high level of success and distinction in their professional lives.
Over more than three decades in the legal profession, Sewell has been a pivotal figure in shaping the technology sector’s business landscape. In private practice, he litigated landmark cases defining the scope of copyright protection for computer-generated works, including video games, computer-generated images in motion pictures and graphical user interfaces.
Sewell said GW has been part of his and his family’s lives for more than 50 years, making the recognition especially meaningful. His family’s connection to the university began around 1977, when his father left a career at Boeing to complete his Ph.D. at GW and later joined the faculty in the Department of Engineering. GW was also where Sewell met his future wife as an undergraduate.
“Affiliation with GW has always been a point of great pride in my family,” Sewell said. “And that continues to this day. It’s exciting to watch the institution continue to flourish. And it’s also a privilege to be able to give something back in the form of funding, support for the university’s needs and encouraging new students to take advantage of what GW has to offer.”
Wiernicki is an internationally recognized executive, board leader and technology strategist with expertise across the maritime, energy, industrial and government sectors.
Wiernicki said GW gave him an opportunity to grow personally and professionally when he enrolled in the School of Engineering in 1981.
“For me, the son of immigrant parents, the GW experience and education, as well as Washington, D.C., represented an opportunity,” Wiernicki said. “It also gave me a foundation to build on to develop a set of guiding principles that I continue to carry with me. The most important being that dignity and respect are the cornerstone of leadership.”
