Harvard Medalists

The Harvard Alumni Association surprised President Lawrence H. Summers during its annual meeting on June 8 by awarding him a Harvard Medal for outstanding service. Three other medalists were also publicly thanked and cited, by Summers, at the meeting.

Sidney Knafel
Photograph by Stu Rosner
Chester Stone III
Photograph by Stu Rosner
Chase Peterson
Photograph by Stu Rosner

Sidney R. Knafel ’52, M.B.A. ’54, of New York City—As a loyal alumni leader and philanthropist, your enduring commitment to education and to Harvard has built a lasting legacy for our scholars and students, enabling them to make a difference in the world and a world of difference.

Chase Peterson ’52, M.D. ’56, of Park City, Utah—From your medical practice in Salt Lake City, you were called back to your alma mater as dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard College, and later the first vice president for alumni affairs and development. We thank you for making Harvard a better place by advocating change, affirming diversity, and standing up for excellence.

Chester “Chet” Stone III, of Scituate, Massachusetts—As Lord Mayor of Dillon Field House, you were the man behind the mortar for countless Harvard athletes, equipping our students for play and for life through your encouragement, hard work, and bedrock devotion.

Lawrence H. Summers
Photograph by Stu Rosner

Lawrence H. Summers, Ph.D. ’82, of Cambridge—As University President and professor, your passionate pursuit of excellence has left an indelible mark on Harvard, demanding and supplying a bold vision of the future while challenging Harvard to maximize the use of all its resources for the greater good.

 

You might also like

Harvard Professor James Hanken on the Amphibian Extinction Crisis

Curator of Herpetology on where all the frogs are going

Proactive AI Policy

Businesses should start self-regulating before government intervention, argue Harvard professors.

Harvard’s Year That Was

Amid academic honors, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences focuses on the campus protest and task forces on antisemitism, anti-Muslim bias, civil discourse, and institutional voice.

Most popular

Michelle Yeoh’s Three Tips for Success

Oscar-winning actress offers advice in Harvard Law School Class Day address.

Poise, in Spite of Everything

Nina Skov Jensen ’25, portraitist for collectors and the princess of Denmark. 

The World’s Costliest Health Care

Administrative costs, greed, overutilization—can these drivers of U.S. medical costs be curbed?

More to explore

Harvard Cardinal Robert W. McElroy on the Changing Catholic Church

Cardinal Robert W. McElroy on how the Catholic Church has moved towards inclusivity.

AI as Cancer Oracle?

How is artificial intelligence (AI) being used for cancer detection and prevention?

The Harvard Graduate and Early Vegetarian Benjamin Smith Lyman

Brief life of the vegetarian trailblazer, 1835-1920