UMW Honors 2026 Alumni Award Recipients at Reunion Weekend

June 22, 2026

Jill Laiacona

After studying home economics at Mary Washington, Edith Gilbert Smith ’62 taught the subject to children and adults for nearly three decades. Becoming a caregiver for her disabled husband, a retired U.S. Marine who was denied military benefits, led her to a life of serving as a citizen advocate for veterans and their families.

Guided by the motto “Democracy is not a spectator sport,” Smith has spent 30 years helping families fight and win battles for their rightful survivor benefits. Her tireless commitment earned her the Distinguished Alumnus Award at the 2026 Reunion Weekend, recognizing graduates who’ve made significant contributions to their professions and communities while being leaders in their fields.

UMW President Troy Paino, Alumni Association leaders and four alumni holding awards.

A 1962 alumna thanks her alma mater for a UMW alumni award and is joined by a 2015 alumnus whom she worked with. She holds a photo of herself former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and other public officials at the time the legislation passed.

A 1990 alumna accepts a UMW alumni award in Seacobeck Hall's Weatherly Wing.

A 2012 alumna accepts a UMW alumni award in Seacobeck Hall's Weatherly Wing.

UMW's reference and humanities librarian emeritus accepts an alumni award naming him an honorary alumnus of Mary Washington.

From left: UMW President Troy Paino, Alumni Association Board of Directors (AABOD) President James Llewellyn ’87, Edith Gilbert Smith ’62, Shirin Afsous ’12, Mary Helen Dellinger ’90, Reference and Humanities Librarian Emeritus and honorary alumnus Jack Bales ’73 and AABOD member and Alumni Association Awards Vice President Lisa Maloney Keyser ’05. K Pearlman Photography.

Edith Gilbert Smith ’62 accepted the Distinguished Alumnus Award for her lifelong commitment to military veterans and their families. She thanked Ben Hermerding ’15, chief of staff to Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran, who helped move legislation forward benefiting surviving spouses. K Pearlman Photography.

Mary Helen Dellinger ’90 accepted the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’63 Service Award for her longstanding commitment to Mary Washington. K Pearlman Photography.

Shirin Afsous ’12, a commercial litigator who takes on pro bono cases on behalf of vulnerable communities, accepted the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. K Pearlman Photography.

Reference and Humanities Librarian Emeritus Jack Bales thanked Mary Washington for his 40-plus year career after being named an honorary alumnus of the Class of 1973. K Pearlman Photography.

“I’m deeply honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Smith, one of four individuals honored by the Alumni Association Board of Directors (AABOD) at a May 30 ceremony in Seacobeck Hall’s Weatherly Wing. Alumni, faculty, staff, administrators, families and friends joined UMW President Troy Paino in recognizing Smith, Shirin Afsous ’12 and Mary Helen Dellinger ’90, as well as Reference and Humanities Librarian Emeritus Jack Bales, who was named an honorary alumnus.

Paino updated alumni on the ways that the University is striving to meet the needs of students and the regional workforce, highlighting UMW’s partnership with Mary Washington Healthcare to develop a proposed medical school. He also discussed the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts, a new hub for research, teaching and public engagement focused on artificial intelligence and its impact on society and higher education. And he celebrated the UMW men’s basketball team winning its first national title and shared updates on the new theatre, which broke ground this spring, and the fine arts and music renovation plans.

Alumni learned that UMW has consistently ranked among the top colleges and universities in the nation, with Paino emphasizing that their alma mater is remaining true to its mission as a public liberal arts and sciences university.

“We believe that our education is not for that first job but for life,” said Paino, noting the importance of educating each individual student and providing them with meaningful high-impact learning experiences that prepare them for life after Mary Washington. “It’s not just transactional – it should be transformative.”

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