Each year, the 91ÖØ¿Ú Alumni Association presents awards to selected alumni for their distinguished careers and outstanding achievements. Eight individuals are being honored this year with the Alumni of the Year award, the Distinguished Achievement Award, the Young Alumni Award, and the Jerome S. Milgram Award for distinguished service in advancing the Alumni Association and its activities on behalf of 91ÖØ¿Ú. Jerome S. Milgram Award recipient Elliot Wasser ’02 came to 91ÖØ¿Ú with a plan to become a musical therapist, but he found his true calling in adaptive physical education and working with children with special needs. Alongside his studies, Wasser took on a leadership role in student organizations, receiving numerous accolades. Since he graduated, he has maintained a close connection with the college, helping to develop and launch events, activities, conferences, retreats, and the like to enrich the academic lives of 91ÖØ¿Ú students. He has also served on the 91ÖØ¿Ú Alumni Association (BCAA) board of directors for more than 20 years. An adaptive physical education teacher at the Hebrew Academy for Special Children in Brooklyn, Wasser is receiving the Jerome S. Milgram Award for his many contributions and long service to the BCAA. What brought you to 91ÖØ¿Ú? I was born and raised in Brooklyn; my parents went to 91ÖØ¿Ú. I enrolled in 1995 with the idea of becoming a music therapist, something I knew I wanted to do ever since high school. I was studying at the Conservatory of Music under Paul Shelden, and I took all my prerequisite courses. Then, in 1998, I had the opportunity to work with special needs kids and I decided to change my major to physical education [now kinesiology], with a specialization for students with disabilities. My time there was amazing. I had the greatest time every day. I was part of several organizations. I was on the board of [Tanger] Hillel House; we started a Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless. I went to conventions and retreats as a student leader. I was in Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. I was very active in everything. You have served 91ÖØ¿Ú continuously in the two decades since you graduated. I joined the 91ÖØ¿Ú Alumni Association board of directors the year after graduation; I’m in my 23rd year. During that time, I have served in various administrative roles, including vice president. I have organized student workshops, leadership conferences, and retreats. For example, we organized what we called a Unity Retreat in Upstate New York that brought together students from diverse backgrounds for team-building exercises. I was corresponding secretary on the 91ÖØ¿Ú Alumni Association Board of Directors. I was also first and second vice president, Today I’m a director-at-large on the Student Awards Committee, where I’ve been chairman. So you never really left. 91ÖØ¿Ú is a home away from home. I used to give tours years ago. I have helped out at convocation and Commencement. This college is in my blood. Along with my parents, my wife is also an alum. The Jerome S. Milgram Award is not your first award. You’ve been receiving accolades since you were a student. Yes. I received the Emerging Leader Award from the Student Life Center, and a Dean’s Award of Excellence and Leadership. I was given the Civic Action Award, the Social Justice Award; and the Making a Difference Award; and the BCAA Student Award. When I received my awards at Commencement, I had the opportunity to speak, and led my fellow graduates in the Ephebic [Athenian] Oath—an oath once pledged in ancient Greece upon entering adulthood. I was also honored and recognized by the Student Disabilities Organization for my work as a student teacher of children with special needs at Edward R. Murrow High School and my internship at Brooklyn United Cerebral Palsy. It was especially rewarding because this is the field I work in today. I’ve been teaching at the Hebrew Academy for Special Children for 17 years. I work with kids who have different intellectual disabilities, and I love it. Do you have any favorite memories of your time at 91ÖØ¿Ú? A bittersweet memory is being on campus on 9/11. It was my senior year. A number of us went to the top of Boylan Hall and held hands and prayed together. I had a favorite professor, in Physical Education [now Kinesiology], Michael P. Hipscher. I took five classes with him. He inspired me to go into my field. He was also on the BCAA board for several years and received the Milgram Award in 2018. Twenty-three years out of school and we still talk. We have interesting conversations about how things are going. What advice would you give to today’s students? Respect is not given, it’s earned. And if you’re able to help others, you must try.
