Skip To Main Content

Header Holder

Header Right

Header Utility

Toggle Menu

Sticky header

Toggle Menu

Horizontal Nav

Breadcrumb

Alumnae Awards

The Holton-Arms Alumnae Association celebrates recipients of The Distinguished Alumna and "The Rosie" Awards once a year during Reunion Weekend.

 

 

 

The Distinguished Alumna Award

The Distinguished Alumna Award was established by the Board of Directors of the Alumnae Association in 1973 to recognize the career, professional, or volunteer service accomplishments of an outstanding alumna of the Holton-Arms School.

2024 - Melissa Bernstein ’94

Melissa Bernstein attended Holton for ten years, from third grade through twelfth, and graduated in 1994. Following her time at Holton, Melissa went on to the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated cum laude from the prestigious Annenberg School for Communication. Upon graduation, Melissa knew she wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment business but wasn’t sure of the best path. She quickly found her way

Melissa’s initial foray into the entertainment world led her to documentary television, assisting on National Geographic’s Explorer series and The Learning Channel’s A Wedding Story. As her career evolved, Melissa transitioned into public relations, specializing in technology and working with the renowned global agency FleishmanHillard. Her expertise extended to high-profile accounts, including Digital Entertainment Network, The Body Shop Digital, and Sony PlayStation.

Craving a more creative pursuit, Melissa redirected her talents toward collaborating on short films. Melissa’s love of the art of storytelling eventually led her to Gran Via Productions, where she ultimately spearheaded television production and development. In an interview with AMC Network, Melissa shared, “I want to tell stories that, in some way, illuminate the human condition, that make us think and make us wonder and surprise us and inspire us. It’s a privilege to be a storyteller and to have a role in sharing stories with the world. I think they have the potential to enlighten and motivate and make people think about who they are and who they want to be, and that’s a really beautiful thing.”

Melissa has left an indelible mark on the industry with her work on Breaking Bad, a Peabody®, Golden Globe®, and Emmy® Award-winning phenomenon that captivated audiences. Melissa also served as an executive producer on Sundance TV’s first original scripted drama series, Peabody® winner, Rectify, the AMC original series Halt and Catch Fire, and the Breaking Bad prequel and Peabody® winner and American Film Institute Television Program of the Year, Better Call Saul. Melissa lives in Los Angeles with her husband Jordan and their two children.

Alumnae Awards Nomination Form

Nominations for the 2025 Alumnae Awards are due November 1, 2024.

Questions? Contact:
Kate Healy Johnson '05 
301-365-6005

The "Rosie" Award

Created by the Board of Directors of the Alumnae Association on September 17, 1990, The Rosemary Wire Anderson ("The Rosie") Award recognizes an alumna's extraordinary service to Holton-Arms. It was presented for the first time at Reunion Weekend in 1991 to Rosemary Wire Anderson '58. The award recognizes extraordinary service to Holton faculty, volunteers, employees, and members of the Board of Trustees and the Alumnae Board. The "Rosie" Award is a surprise to the recipient.

2024 - Marjorie Harrison Webb ’64 and Mary Harrison Keevil ’69

Marjorie Harrison Webb '64

There are only a few times in life that one has the opportunity to reinvent themselves. For my sister Mary Harrison Keevil and me, Holton-Arms offered that elusive gift. We each had survived a less-than-successful experience at the private day school that had also educated our mother. When arriving at the S Street School in the fall of 1961 I was so excited that it was in the middle of a city, with all of the culture and excitement and shops that Washington embraced.

All of the boarding girls were new so the playing field was level. My teachers were kind, approachable, and interesting.

Mary Harrison Keevil '69

The student body was richly varied and inclusive. Even the food was sort of good. All of the stars aligned and for the first time, I felt success was possible. My sister arrived in 1965; fortunately, her transition was equal to mine. She made good grades, and lifelong friends, and spent her senior year in Granger House. Miss Brown was a very tolerant house mother. What we received from our time at Holton was a love of the history of art, respect for diversity, good friends, and most importantly self-confidence. That can take one a long way, and happily for us, it has. With our 30 years of annual support, we feel we have repaid Holton for the kindness and the fine education we received. Our hope is that the school continues to thrive and that her graduates will be as proud as we are to be among them.

Athletic Hall of Fame

Established in 2000-2001, during the Centennial Year, the Holton-Arms Athletic Hall of Fame honors and perpetuates the memory of individuals who made outstanding contributions to Holton-Arms athletics, and helped bring recognition, honor, and excellence to the School and its athletic program throughout history. 

Members of the Athletic Hall of Fame serve as a standard of excellence and inspire current students and teams to achieve their own level of excellence.

Hall of Fame Inductees