In Pursuit of Excellence 

Dartmouth College Recognizes with Deep Appreciation the Extraordinary Achievements of 

Elizabeth Wall Rutherford ’87 P’16
2017 Class Newsletter Co-Editor of the Year – 26 Years Out and Older

You have served as newsletter editor for the Class of 1987 since graduation, for a total of 30 years of dedicated service. In this past year you, along with your co-editor, produced four issues of the Dartmouth 1987 newsletter to keep your classmates engaged with the College and the class leading up to your 30th reunion.

Each issue has a variety of content and a beautiful layout featuring a letter from the president, classmate notes, and reminders for people to stay in touch between newsletters through the class website and Facebook page. The Class of 1987 has an extensive mini-reunion program centered around the 87th day of the year, and the newsletter provides recaps of all the celebrations around the country, sharing photos, news, and updates about the classmates who attended. Beyond class news, the newsletter also features noteworthy updates from the College, ranging from the rededication of Memorial Field and a list of alumni competing in the Olympics to the closure of EBAs.

Much of the newsletter content this year centered around the class’s 30th Reunion, reminding classmates to save the date and sharing updates on activities, logistics, and how to contact the Reunion planning team. The newsletter built excitement for the return to Hanover with unique sections including photos and memorabilia from the class’s time on campus, conversations with the Reunion committee, and even a trivia section that invited classmates to guess the theme of old Winter Carnival posters. The final issue before Reunion thoughtfully included a Dartmouth banner that those who were unable to come back to campus could use to take photos with during the weekend, allowing all classmates an opportunity to feel included in the festivities.

At Dartmouth, you were a government major and participated in the French Language Study Abroad. Since graduation, you have volunteered for the College in a number of ways—as a member of your class’s Reunion committee, in various roles for the Dartmouth College Fund (DCF), and as treasurer for your class—and you currently serve as an alumni interviewer and DCF volunteer in addition to your newsletter duties. 

On top of all this, you are a wife to Ken and mother to Andy and Emily ’16. Your family lives in Baltimore, where you work for the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as associate director for the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. We’re not sure where you find the time for it all, but we’re very grateful that you do. You’re certainly setting a strong example for your children of what it means to give back.

Betsy, the Dartmouth 1987 newsletter demonstrates the tremendous passion, creativity, and commitment you have for your class and the College. It is with the greatest pride that the Class Newsletter Editors Association honors you with the 2017 Class Newsletter Editor of the Year Award.