C Club
The C Club—a group of alumni, families, and friends who have supported Colby Athletics for more than 100 years—organizes functions, recognizes and honors Colby athletes, and more. All former Colby athletes are part of the C Club affinity group. The annual C Club Awards Ceremony takes place during Homecoming Weekend in the fall.
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, 5–9 p.m.
123rd C Club Awards Ceremony and Reception
Performance Hall and Olentine Forum
Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts
Join us for our 123rd C Club Awards Ceremony and Reception as we celebrate this year’s exceptional winners.
2026 C Club Award Winners
Tim Bonang ’87
Tim has enjoyed a distinguished and highly respected career in investor relations and corporate communications, culminating in his role as Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at The RMR Group, where he served from 2004 until his retirement in May 2025. Throughout his career, he oversaw communications and stakeholder engagement across a complex network of public and private operating companies, including Service Properties Trust, Diversified Healthcare Trust, and TravelCenters of America, earning a reputation for professionalism, integrity, and sound corporate governance.
A passionate supporter of Colby Athletics, Tim serves as the inaugural chair of the Men’s Basketball Board and has been instrumental in strengthening alumni engagement. He has generously hosted the team and alumni at his home for several years, creating valuable networking opportunities for student-athletes and graduates alike. Tim is also a member of the leadership group that organizes the annual men’s basketball alumni gathering at the NCAA Final Four. Whether attending games on campus or following contests online, he is a dedicated fan of all Colby sports. His connection to the College is further strengthened through his daughter, Ainsley ’25, who was a member of the Colby crew team.
Lee Johnson ’79
Lee was born and raised in Peabody, Mass. A self-proclaimed “rink rat,” she played with the boys’ teams up through bantams and juniors, then joined the Massport Jets, the first all-girls hockey team in the U.S., in 1969. Lee graduated from Swampscott High in 1975 and went on to Colby College, where she received three varsity letters in three sports: field hockey, ice hockey, and softball. During her college hockey career she won many accolades, including being voted the best women’s college hockey player in North America in 1978, the same year she was the highest scorer in women’s college hockey. In 1979, she was the first woman at the school to have her jersey retired. Lee is also a member of the Swampscott High School Hall of Fame and the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame.
The 1990 Men’s Basketball Team
The 1990 men’s basketball team finished an impressive 26–1 and captured the ECAC Championship. The season featured notable victories over the Portuguese National Team and BYU. Matt Hancock ’90 led the team, becoming Colby’s all-time leading scorer and earning National Player of the Year honors. The team was guided by legendary head coach Dick Whitmore. The 26 wins remain a Colby record, as does the remarkable .962 winning percentage.
The C Club is an organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for alumni, families, and friends to show support for Colby College and its athletic program. We accomplish our mission by:
- Organizing functions and events that bring alumni, families, and friends together in support of Colby athletics such as the Jack Deering Tailgate and C Club Dinner.
- Recognizing student-athletes for their athletic and academic achievements, strong character, and leadership qualities.
- Honoring alumni and friends of the College who have made significant contributions in support of athletics at Colby (C Club Person of the Year Award), as well as members of the Colby family who have achieved noteworthy career success in athletics or in a career related to athletics (Carl Nelson Sports Achievement Award).
- Building a large and diverse community that is representative of the Colby community and its athletic program.
This award is presented annually to a member (or members) of the Colby family, not necessarily alumni, who have shown dedication and support to Colby athletics by his/her/their service to the College and particularly to athletics at the College.
C Club Person of the Year Recipients
- 2026 Tim Bonang ’87
- 2025 Jack Parker ’76 and Hank Newman ’77
- 2024 Dr. H. Alan and Dorothy Hume
- 2023 Matt Hancock ’90
- 2022 Tim O’Donnell ’87
- 2021 Douglas Terp ’84
- 2020 Anne O’Hanian Szostak ’72 and Michael Szostak ’72
- 2019 Alexander Buck Jr. ’78
- 2018 John J. “Jack” O’Neil III ’77
- 2017 Joe Boulos ’68
- 2016 Don Rice ’56
- 2015 Carlton “Bud” Reed ’53 and Betty Cummings Reed and family
- 2014 William L. Alfond ’72
- 2013 Karl Dornish Jr. ’54
- 2012 James H. Crook ’78
- 2011 Richard L. Whitmore H’90, P’91
- 2010 Jill Gordon, Charles A. Dana Professor of Philosophy
- 2009 Edward M. Woodin ’69
- 2008 Louis V. Zambello Jr. ’55
- 2007 Edward J. Burke Jr. ’60
- 2006 Deborah Aitken
- 2005 Alex Wilson ’73
- 2004 Jim Wescott
- 2003 Alfond-Levine Family (Family of the Century)
- 2002 Patricia Valavanis Smith ’80
- 2001 Tom Austin
- 2000 Edward Fraktman ’53
- 1999 William R. Cotter, Lawrence R. Pugh ’56
- 1998 L. Sandy Maisel, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Government
- 1997 Art Brennan ’68
- 1996 Sid Farr ’55
- 1995 William Marvin ’65
- 1994 James Hayes ’76
- 1993 Ormonde Brown ’51
- 1992 Richard McGee
- 1991 Linda Mitchell Potter ’66, Wayne Fillback ’64, Peter Jaffe ’62
- 1990 Donald J. Short ’64
- 1989 Dennis Dionne ’61
- 1988 Thomas Lizotte ’74
- 1987 Clifford Came ’42
- 1986 Evelyn Kellett 1926
- 1985 John, Pete, Mary, Barbara Joseph
- 1984 Marjorie Bither
- 1983 Norman “Cy” Perkins 1932
- 1982 Robert Clifford, Jack Kelley, Lee Williams, John Winkin
- 1981 Carl Nelson
- 1980 Arthur “Red” O’Halloran ’50
- 1979 Thomas O’Donnell 1927
- 1978 Robert Sage ’49
- 1977 Bink Smith ’62
- 1976 Ted Hodgkins 1925
- 1975 Harold Alfond L.H.D. ’80
- 1974 David O’Brien ’58
- 1973 Robert Burke ’61
- 1972 William Bryan ’48
- 1971 Roy Shorey, Jr. ’54
- 1970 Robert Lee ’51
- 1969 John Kennedy 1913
- 1968 Carl Wright ’47
- 1967 Frank Carpenter 1914
- 1966 Clarence Dore ’39
- 1965 Kershaw Powell ’51
- 1964 George Beach ’41
- 1963 Pacy Levine 1927
- 1962 Jack Deering ’55
- 1961 John Davan 1933
- 1960 L. Russell Blanchard ’38
- 1959 Clair Wood 1928
- 1958 Ray Greene ’47
- 1957 Ludy Levine 1921
- 1956 Leonard Grant 1915, Carl MacPherson 1926
- 1955 Joseph Wallace ’43, Gordon Jones ’40
- 1954 Clayton Johnson 1925
- 1953 C. Wallace Lawrence 1917
- 1952 Howard Ferguson 1931
- 1951 Cecil Clark 1905
Honoring a Colby person for achievement in the athletic world, this award was first presented in 1988 to Carl Nelson.
Carl E. Nelson Sports Achievement Award Recipients
- 2026 Lee Johnson ’79
- 2025 Jay Hartshorn ’94
- 2024 Candice Parent
- 2023 Jennifer Lally Kent ’90
- 2022 Tim “Westy” Weston
- 2021 Melinda Williams ’03
- 2020 Brian O’Halloran ’93
- 2019 Mark Jackson ’95
- 2018 Erika Ayers Nardini ’98
- 2017 Eric DeCosta ’93
- 2016 Hilary Gehman ’93
- 2015 Mark Kelley ’80
- 2014 Mark Serdjenian ’73
- 2013 Norman P. Gigon ’59
- 2012 Steven M. Curley ’60
- 2011 Richard L. Whitmore H’90, P’91
- 2010 Reagan L. Carey ’01
- 2009 John “Swisher” Mitchell
- 2008 Robert W. Auriemma ’59
- 2007 Richard J. McGee P’82
- 2006 Michel Picher ’67
- 2005 David Arseneault ’76
- 2004 Boyd Sands ’59
- 2003 No award given
- 2002 Laura Halldorson
- 2001 Elmer C. Bartels ’62
- 2000 Stephen Freyer ’68
- 1999 Maureen Pine ’84, Carol Simon ’85, Carol Anne Beach ’88, Jen Holsten ’90, Katharine Cowperthwait ’91, Sura DuBow ’92
- 1998 Charles Holt
- 1997 Lee Williams
- 1996 Jack Kelley
- 1995 John Simpson
- 1994 Eugene Hunter ’48
- 1993 Ronald Ryan ’62
- 1992 John Winkin
- 1991 Curt Gowdy, Jr. ’75
- 1990 Jan Volk ’68
- 1989 Tom Whidden ’70
- 1988 Carl Nelson
Honoring a standout team performance from the history of Colby Athletics.
Mules Team of the Year Award Recipients
- 2026 The 1990 Men’s Basketball Team
- 2025 The 2000 NESCAC Champion Football Team
- 2024 The 2003 Women’s Crew Team