2026 Leadership Awards Honorees
We are proud to recognize five exceptional leaders whose service, innovation, and commitment have made a lasting impact on our community and on SUNY Orange students.
Thomas Rickard '92
Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Head Coach, SUNY Orange Men's Basketball
Thomas Rickard is a dedicated educator, accomplished coach, and proud SUNY Orange alumnus whose career reflects a lifelong commitment to student success both in the classroom and on the court. A 45-year resident of Orange County, Rickard currently serves as Assistant Principal at Minisink Valley Middle School, where he previously taught mathematics for 16 years. He also continues to support higher education as an Associate Professor of Mathematics at SUNY Orange.
Rickard’s connection to the college runs deep. Together with his mother and siblings, all SUNY Orange graduates, he helped establish the Paul Rickard Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of his father, a beloved mathematics professor and longtime coach at the college. The scholarship has provided meaningful financial support to SUNY Orange students pursuing studies in mathematics, nursing, and athletics, continuing a family legacy rooted in education and opportunity.
As head men’s basketball coach at SUNY Orange, Rickard has built one of the region’s most successful programs, leading the Colts to multiple Mid-Hudson Conference titles and a national semifinal appearance. A multi-time Coach of the Year recipient, he is widely respected for cultivating excellence, mentorship, and teamwork among his student-athletes.
Rickard’s relationship with SUNY Orange began as a student-athlete, where he scored more than 1,000 career points before continuing his collegiate basketball career as an All-American at Dominican University. He later earned a master’s degree from Iona University and an advanced certificate in Educational Leadership from Stony Brook University.
Through decades of service as an educator, mentor, and community leader, Rickard has made a lasting impact on generations of students. The SUNY Orange Foundation is proud to recognize Thomas Rickard with the Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award.
Everett Collie
Leadership in Business Award
Creative Professional, Entrepreneur
Founder of EC Media Group LLC
Everett Collie is a Hudson Valley–based entrepreneur, creative professional, and community leader whose work reflects a deep commitment to advancing opportunity through innovation, mentorship, and service. As co-founder of EC Media Group, LLC, he has helped organizations throughout Orange County communicate their missions through powerful visual storytelling while fostering workforce development and community engagement.
Originally from South Florida and a Middletown resident since 1997, Collie built EC Media Group alongside his wife, Cquera, growing the company into a respected media firm and a New York State–certified Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise. Under his leadership, the organization has become known not only for high-quality production, but also for its investment in emerging talent.
In 2024, the Collies established the EC Media Group LLC Foundation through the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan Counties to expand educational access and create pathways for aspiring creatives and entrepreneurs. Through initiatives such as The Feedback Corner, Collie has cultivated a collaborative environment where filmmakers, content creators, and media professionals can learn, connect, and grow. The foundation’s impact was recognized with an inaugural Orange and Sullivan Equity Fund Grant supporting media production internships.
Collie maintains strong partnerships with SUNY Orange, SUNY New Paltz, and Orange-Ulster BOCES, providing students with hands-on experience that bridges education and career readiness. A graduate of Leadership Orange, he currently serves on the boards of Leadership Orange and Hudson Valley Honor Flight.
His dedication to service has earned recognition from numerous community organizations, including the Orange County Arts Council and the YMCA, where he received the Community Spirit Award. Since 2014, he has also volunteered with Hudson Valley Honor Flight, documenting veterans’ journeys to Washington, D.C., and preserving their stories for future generations.
Through his entrepreneurial leadership and unwavering commitment to community advancement, Everett Collie continues to make a meaningful impact across the region. The SUNY Orange Foundation is proud to honor him with the Leadership in Business Award.
Dr. Erika Hackman
Leadership in Education Award
Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs & Student Services, SUNY Orange
Dr. Erika Hackman is a distinguished higher education leader whose strategic vision and commitment to student success have helped shape the academic experience at SUNY Orange and beyond. Serving as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs since 2023, she provides executive leadership for the College’s academic and student support divisions, advancing initiatives that promote access, achievement, and institutional excellence.
Since joining SUNY Orange in 2016, Dr. Hackman has led transformative efforts that strengthen both academic quality and student outcomes. Most notably, she spearheaded the College’s successful designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, securing a $2.9 million federal grant to enhance retention, completion, and overall student success — particularly for Hispanic and low-income students. She also served as executive lead for the College’s reaffirmation of accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, guiding a comprehensive institutional self-study.
Recognized nationally for her leadership, Dr. Hackman currently serves as Chair of the New York Association of Chief Academic Officers and has held prominent roles with the American Association of Community Colleges and other statewide and national organizations focused on advancing community college education. Her work reflects a deep commitment to innovation, equity, and academic opportunity.
Prior to SUNY Orange, Dr. Hackman served as the inaugural Dean of Learning Support at Parkland College in Illinois, where she oversaw academic support services and directed a $2.1 million Title III grant focused on strengthening student learning. Her contributions to the field were recognized with the Community College Leadership Award from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Dr. Hackman holds a doctorate in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She began her higher education journey at Southwestern Illinois College, an experience that continues to inform her dedication to expanding pathways for community college students.
Through her visionary leadership and unwavering focus on student achievement, Dr. Hackman continues to advance SUNY Orange’s mission and impact. The SUNY Orange Foundation is proud to honor her with the Excellence in Education Leadership Award.
Derrik Wynkoop
Leadership in Community Service Award
(In Memory of Dawn Ansbro)
President & CEO, Walden Savings Bank
SUNY Orange Foundation Board Member
Derrik R. Wynkoop is a respected banking executive and community leader whose decades of service have helped shape the economic and philanthropic landscape of the Hudson Valley. Since 2011, he has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Walden Savings Bank — one of the nation’s oldest mutual savings banks — guiding the institution with a commitment to financial strength, community partnership, and long-term regional growth.
With a career in banking spanning more than three decades, Wynkoop has held senior leadership roles across the financial sector, including executive positions at Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union and Walden Federal Savings & Loan. His strategic vision and industry expertise have earned him appointments to influential organizations such as the New York Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association’s Government Relations Council, where he has contributed to shaping financial policy and priorities at both the state and national levels.
Wynkoop’s impact extends far beyond the financial industry. A deeply engaged civic leader, he has served in numerous governance roles supporting education, healthcare, and community advancement. He is a past Chairman of both the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan and the SUNY Orange Foundation, where his leadership helped strengthen philanthropic initiatives and expand opportunities for students. He has also played key roles with Mount Saint Mary College, St. Luke’s–Montefiore Hospital, and the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.
A longtime champion of higher education, Wynkoop previously taught as an adjunct professor and helped establish the Medici Scholars Program at Mount Saint Mary College. His enduring connection to SUNY Orange includes many years of board service and continued family ties to the College.
In recognition of his exceptional leadership and service, Wynkoop has received numerous honors, including the Ottaway Medal for outstanding contributions to Orange County.
Rooted in Walden, New York — where five generations of his family have lived — Wynkoop remains deeply committed to strengthening the community he calls home. The SUNY Orange Foundation is proud to honor Derrik Wynkoop for his visionary leadership and lasting impact.
Helen G. Ullrich, Esq.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Retired Partner, Retired Partner, Bergstein & Ullrich, LLP, Former SUNY Orange Trustee & Foundation Board Member
Helen G. Ullrich is a respected attorney and longtime civic leader whose decades of service have strengthened the Orange County community and SUNY Orange alike. After earning her law degree from New York Law School and passing the New York Bar Exam, she began her legal career with the Law Office of Michael Sussman, where she developed a strong foundation in public-interest law.
In addition to her legal work, Ullrich has demonstrated a deep commitment to public service. She made history as the first woman elected Councilwoman in the Town of Hamptonburgh and later served as Vice Chair of the Orange County Democratic Committee. Helen also spent more than twenty years of leadership with Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley, including two terms as Board Chair.
Appointed by Governor David Paterson to the SUNY Orange Board of Trustees, Ullrich served for approximately a decade and held the role of Board Chair, helping guide the institution through a presidential transition and a period of continued growth. She later continued her service as a member of the SUNY Orange Foundation Board, where she chaired the Diversity Committee.
Ullrich remains actively engaged in community initiatives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she supported the Newburgh Urban Farm and Food Initiative in strengthening its governance and now serves as Treasurer of the organization, advancing efforts to address food insecurity throughout the region.
In recognition of her distinguished career, steadfast leadership, and lasting impact, the SUNY Orange Foundation is proud to honor Helen G. Ullrich with the Lifetime Achievement Award.