Four Honored with Clarkson University’s Most Prestigious Alumni Award
Carl Terry ‘70, Dan Stec ‘90, Juan Martinez ‘95, Richard Giromini '75 have been honored with the Golden Knight award by their alma mater, Clarkson University.
Presented each year during the Alumni Reunion, Clarkson’s most prestigious alumni award is given to alumni who have distinguished themselves either by service to Clarkson through Alumni Association activities or have demonstrated outstanding career achievement, bringing distinction to themselves and to Clarkson.
Terry graduated from Clarkson in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He returned to Clarkson in 1971 for graduate work in electrical engineering with a focus on power engineering and received a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering in May 1973.
Terry retired in 2024 after 20 years as a self-employed consultant involved in independent review of nuclear plant performance and operation for several large utilities.
Terry has been involved in the local Boy Scout, now Scouting America, council since 1990. He also provides financial support to many local charities including the Kindred Kingdoms Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Baldwinsville School District annual scholarship program, Baldwinsville Meals on Wheels, Greater Baldwinsville Ambulance, Corps., Syracuse Red Cross, Syracuse Salvation Army and Central New York Food Bank.
Terry is a Loyal, Leadership and Legacy donor in Clarkson’s Good Knight Guild. He has sponsored four Share Clarkson Direct Scholarships in memory of his brother, Ron Terry ‘72, provided continuing support for the M.S.A.A. Hammam Memorial Fund as its Lead Donor. He established the Carl D. Terry ’70 Excellence in Engineering Fund as part of the Solinsky Challenge matching grant program. He has been a member of the advisory board for Clarkson’s Center for Power Engineering Research since 2018.
Terry lives in the Baldwinsville, NY area with his life partner, Lisa Bradley. He has two sons, Jason and Joel. Jason is also a Clarkson graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1998. Terry has one sister and his two brothers, Ron ‘72 and Ray ‘77, are also both Clarkson alumni.
Born and raised in Queensbury, Stec was the first of his family to go to college and worked his way through Clarkson by bussing tables and working in a pulp mill. After finishing his education, Stec began his career of public service by entering the U.S. Navy nuclear power program and serving for three years as a nuclear engineer onboard the USS Truxtun.
During this time, he was stationed in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm and on Caribbean anti-drug operations. After eight years of service in the Navy, Stec returned home.
Stec served as a Town Councilman and Town Supervisor in his hometown of Queensbury and was twice unanimously elected Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors. In 2012, he decided to run for New York State Assembly in the 114th District. He won, and in 2013 began an eight-year stint as a State Assemblyman.
In 2020, Stec left the Assembly and ran for New York State Senate in the 45th District. In the election held on November 3, he won a commanding victory. In his first five years, he’s proven to be an active and effective Senator.
Stec resides in Queensbury with his son, Peter, a student at Florida International University.
Martinez earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Clarkson in 1995. He is an international problem-solver and executive with 25 years of management experience in organizations with budgets up to $28 billion. A former Press Secretary for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Martinez is a communications and political strategist.
Martinez serves on the Board of Directors of Hello Future, an international education organization serving refugees and other underinvested communities.
As a student, Martinez was editor-in-chief of the Clarkson Integrator for three years. Since graduating, he has served on the Reh School’s Business Leadership Council and is currently in his 12th year as a member of Clarkson’s national Alumni Association Leadership Board. Martinez is a Legion and Loyal donor in Clarkson’s Good Knight Guild.
Martinez and his wife, Charlie Grosso, currently reside in New York City.
Giromini received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1975, followed by a Master of Science in Industrial Management in 1977, both from Clarkson.
Following graduation from Clarkson, Giromini began what would be a 43-year career in manufacturing, beginning with General Motors in Massena, NY in 1976. Giromini currently serves on the Board of Directors for Superior Industries (NYSE:SUP); is Chairman of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee; and is a member of the Human Capital & Compensation Committee.
Giromini has been extensively engaged within the communities that he lived and worked, volunteering his time and leadership in positions for numerous organizations at the local, state, and national levels, including Knights of Columbus; The Wabash Center; United Way; Junior Achievement; Community Foundation; Indiana Manufacturers Association; Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association; Central Indiana Corporate Partnership; Greater Lafayette Commerce; Food Finders; Lafayette Transitional Housing Center; and as a founding member of the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network.
Giromini is a proud member of the Annie Clarkson Society, having established the Giromini Family Endowed Scholarship Fund in 2015, providing scholarships to four Clarkson students each year. He is also a Loyal, Leadership and Legacy donor in Clarkson’s Good Knight Guild.
Giromini and his wife, Hilda, reside in South Lyon, MI during the late spring and summer months and in North Redington Beach, FL during the fall and winter time frame. They are proud parents of Michael and Mark.
