For Immediate Release
The Northeast CT Education Foundation Honors 2025 Emeritus Members
PUTNAM, CT – The Northeast CT Education Foundation is proud to honor former QVCC Foundation board members with emeritus status. The three amazing women are Kathy Borner, Mary Jane Burke, and Karen Osbrey. This distinction is awarded in recognition of extraordinary contribution to the Foundation’s mission. Candidates must have demonstrated significant commitment and made a positive impact due to their service, leadership, and tenure.
With a combined total of 61 years of service, the three emeritus members are recognized for their individual contributions to the QVCC Foundation. During her tenure on the board of directors from 2009 – 2023, Kathy Borner was a dedicated volunteer in the Foundation office, coming in once per week to input checks as well as other office responsibilities. Her commitment to participating in and aiding in the execution of every major event was critical to the Foundation’s success in both friend and fundraising. She actively served on the Golf, Donor Solicitation, and Tackle the Trail committees. In addition, she served on the Search Committee for the Associate Director of Development in 2014. She and her family are generous donors and continue to provide storage space for Tackle the Trail supplies.
From 2008 – 2023, Mary Jane Burke’s voice as a leader in every role she undertook contributed to growing the strength of the Foundation’s assets and its role in the community. She served as golf Chair in 2011 and 2012, exceeding all goals and raising over $125,000. She was also an active participant on multiple committees, including the Board Development and Nominating, Finance, Golf, and Tackle the Trail committees. Mary Jane co-chaired the Robert E. Miller Educational Advancement Campaign from 2017 – 2019. She is also a generous donor who supported the creation of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center and endowed a scholarship in memory of her first husband, Michael Davis. Multiple students have benefited from her generosity. She served on the Executive and Strategic Planning committee from 2020 – 2021, as well as serving as the Foundation representative on the CEO Search Committee in 2022.
With over 32 years of service, Karen Osbrey was the longest serving member in the Foundation’s 54-year history. Karen’s leadership, building of donor relationships, and dedication to the promotion of the Foundation’s mission was exceptional. Starting in 1991, Karen managed public relations and marketing for capital campaigns and publicity for annual campaigns while serving on a variety of committees. From 2000 – 2006 she designed brochures for the annual appeal, the gala, and the Foundation’s 30th Anniversary. In addition, her distinguished service on multiple committees saw her focusing her efforts on new and ongoing donor relationships and helped to create events like the Foundation’s Spelling Bee. Karen was board president from 2011 – 2013, during which time she served on the college’s Presidential Search committee. In addition to serving on the Finance committee for many years, she also chaired the committee from 2014-2016 as Treasurer. She served on the Tackle the Trail committee from 2020 to 2023 and played a major role in successfully bridging the race with the Great Pumpkin Festival in Putnam which is held on the same date as Tackle the Trail in October.
The three emeritus members join a distinguished group of past honorees, including: Rheo Brouillard, Sean B. Doyle ’98, ’02, Pam Dunn, Aili Galasyn, Laurence Hale, Tom Harney, Susan Harrod, Donald St. Onge, Steven Townsend `23, and Dianne E. Williams. *Three deceased emeritus members are Joy Chartier. Dr. Robert E. Miller, and Frank Postemski.
The mission of the Northeast CT Education Foundation is to provide scholarships and other financial support to residents of Northeast Connecticut who want to pursue higher education.
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Sarah Wolfburg – Coordinator, Northeast Connecticut Education Foundation (860) 932-4133
