MCC Alumni Association Celebrates 2018 Alumni of the Year at Annual Alumni Dinner
MANCHESTER, Conn. (November 20, 2018) – Marilyn Parkinson Thrall ‘73, a resident of Canton, and John B. Toomey, Jr. ’74, of Bolton, have been named 2018 Alumni of the Year by the Manchester Community College Alumni Association.
They were honored at the college’s annual Alumni Dinner and Awards on Tuesday, November 14, in the MCC Student Services Center.
Alumni of the Year awards are bestowed on MCC alumni who have achieved outstanding levels of success in their careers and have brought credit to themselves and MCC through their accomplishments.
Thrall graduated from Manchester Community College with an associate degree in liberal arts and continued her education at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. While a student, she had an opportunity to teach a drawing class that created a path in arts instruction that she would bring to schools across Connecticut. Thrall has conducted artist workshops at elementary, middle and high schools across the state in towns that include East Hartford, Canton, Haddam, Killingworth, Plainville and West Hartford. She has received numerous awards for her art from institutions including the New Britain Museum of American Art, West Hartford Art League and Greater Hartford Arts Council. She has been highlighted by Fox 61, and her Sandy Hook Memorial sculpture, housed at the Connecticut Education Association in Hartford, is regarded as a gift to the state.
MCC will always have a special place in Thrall’s heart, she told the crowd of 100 alumni and their guests at the Alumni Dinner. “I remember that MCC was one of the first paying customers for my artwork,” she said. “The piece was displayed near the entrance of the college for many years so — to me — MCC is not only where I started my education, but also my career.”
Toomey has an exemplary record of civic engagement. He is the current president of both Bolton’s Historical Society and the Alumni Association for Bolton High School, vice president of the school’s Scholarship Fund and member of the town’s Land Trust. He is a former member of Bolton’s Board of Finance and currently serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Toomey has been involved with Democratic politics for 46 years, serving in many capacities and was chair of the Bolton Democrats on and off for 40 years. He served as a trustee of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation from 2007 to 2018.
He recently served as president of the Connecticut Labor Department Federal Credit Union. After graduating from MCC, he earned his bachelor of arts degree from Central Connecticut State University, where he majored in political science and minored in American history.
About MCC Alumni Association – The MCC Alumni Association works with MCC alumni of all ages to build relationships, share success stories and college happenings, and partner alumni with current MCC students, fellow alumni and the college community. Alumni interested in providing input and ideas to the association or volunteering for events and programs can contact Diana Reid, MCC Alumni Association coordinator, at dreid@manchestercc.edu; or call 860-512-2909.
