Alumni and guests gathered with Lehigh leaders on October 15, 2026, to recognize the newest inductees into Lehigh’s 1865 Society and the recipients of the university’s Distinguished Alumni Awards. The celebration, last held in 2024, honors those whose lifetime cumulative giving has reached at least $1 million, as well as alumni with outstanding achievements in areas such as entrepreneurship, industry, and social justice.
Chair of the Board of Trustees James Maida ’85 P’17 P’19 highlighted the value of a Lehigh education as he opened the evening.
“Lehigh has an amazing return on investment,” he said. “Lehigh people love to take action and make things happen. That's what makes us special. Alumni go on to have great success, but they also want to give back. That's just who we are.”
Maida, along with President Joseph J. Helble ’82, Carol Packard, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, and Nathan Urban, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, shared the role of recognizing the more than 20 individuals and families being welcomed to the 1865 Society.
“The fact that we have so many inductees is another sign of our incredible momentum and the tremendous community of philanthropy that we continue to build together,” said Packard.
Helble presented walking sticks to each inductee as a statement was read about how their philanthropy has strengthened Lehigh by supporting academic programs, student life, research, capital projects, and athletics, as well as creating new scholarships. The names of the inductees have also been etched into the benches at Lehigh’s Leadership Plaza.
Each Distinguished Alumni Award winner was honored with a video presentation and invited to give a brief acceptance speech.
In her remarks, Young Alumni Award winner Kate Kiewel ’15, who heads investor relations at Archer Aviation, connected the dots between Lehigh’s core values and her fellow honorees.
“[Asa Packer] understood one very important thing: Whoever moves things, moves the world,” she said. “His philosophy lives through each of us. Lew Hay moved power, Dr. Lee moved technology, Jennifer Long and Jessica Huertas moved people towards justice and belonging, and Lee Iacocca moved cars, and then he moved our nation to restore the Statue of Liberty.”
In his closing remarks, Helble expressed his pride. “As I stood in the wings and watched the videos and listened to each of the award recipients share a bit of their story, I was moved and inspired,” he said. “Thank you to our recipients for what you have done in honoring our university through your work and your presence. Thank you for helping make this university the outstanding institution that it is. You are leaders who continue to shape this great institution.”
1865 Society Inductees
Francesca A. Bartlett ’81 P’11 and Thomas A. Bartlett ’80 P’11
Jill Duerig ’74 and Tom Duerig ’74
Drew Freed ’83 P’17 PG’25 and Sigmunde R. Freed P’17 PG’25
Faith R. Glazier ’87 P’19 and Robert A. Weisstuch ’85 P’19
Lewis Hay III ’77 P’08 P’11 and Sherry A. Hay ’78 P’08 P’11
Ned D. Heindel* and Linda H. Heindel Ph.D.’76
Weston M. Hicks ’79 and Ann L. Hicks ’80
Christopher Hite ’89 P’20 P’24 and Stephanie Hite P’20 P’24
Linda Kagan Horowitz ’86 P’18 PG’19 P’21 PG’28 and Seth R. Horowitz P’18 PG’19 P’21 PG’28
Lia Iacocca Assad
Kathryn Iacocca Hentz P’17
David B. Jackson ’67 and Patricia Hunter Jackson
Suzanne F. Jackson
Ruth H. Marcon M.Ed.’68 and L. Charles Marcon
Leila E. Parke P’17 and Kevin R. Parke ’81 P’17
Sarat Sethi ’92
Martin B. Solomon ’65 P’92 GP’21 and Maxine Y. Solomon P’92 GP’21
David L. Squier ’67 P’92 and Sue S. Squier P’92
James N. Stanard ’70 and Janet Stanard
Joan R. Stephans and Peter N. Stephans
*Deceased
Distinguished Alumni Award Winners
Kate Kiewel ’15, Young Alumni Award
Jessica Huertas ’94, Dr. Costel Denson ’56 Award
Jennifer Gentile Long ’93 P’28, Public Service Award
Hyo S. Lee MS’76 Ph.D.’80, Outstanding Entrepreneur Award
Lewis Hay III ’77 P’08 P’11, Excellence in Industry Award
Lee A. Iacocca ’45 H’69 GP’17, Lifetime Commitment to Lehigh Award
