Fuccillo ’24 and Murphy ’26 Embody Kindness and Spirit of Emerson’s Annual Awards

The Tom Cooper Spirit of Emerson Award and the Robert Colby Kindness Award are presented annually to Emersonians who build morale within the Emerson community, embody generosity and represent Emerson’s mission of excellence.

This year, the Tom Cooper Spirit of Emerson Award was given to Albert (Tre) Fuccillo ’24, and Grace Murphy ’26 received the Robert Colby Kindness Award. The honors were presented to the students on April 18 at the annual Emerson Recognition and Achievement (ERA) Awards at the Paramount Center’s Robert J. Orchard Stage. 

Tom Cooper Spirit of Emerson Award: Tre Fuccillo ’24

Fuccillo graduated with a Political Communications degree in the fall. During his time at Emerson, Fuccillo was a two-year member of the Lions baseball team and helped found Beyond Emerson, a non-partisan politics organization. 

“It’s an incredible honor,” Fuccillo said. “It’s a really thrilling experience and a great way to cap off four monumental years at Emerson.” 

One of Fuccillo’s biggest takeaways from Emerson is the importance of applying knowledge beyond the classroom. 

“My professors really incentivized us to go out to experience what we were learning,” Fuccillo said.  “You can read things in textbooks, but you’re not going to understand it until you’re  out of the classroom.”

During his senior year at Emerson, Fuccillo won a seat on the Marlborough (Mass.) City Council, where he now continues to serve in Ward 6 of his hometown. Fuccillo said that the Political Communications program and Emerson community were in his corner throughout the campaign. Regarding his political future, Fuccillo hopes to continue supporting his community. 

“If I can represent Marlborough in a greater capacity, I would love that opportunity,” Fuccillo said. “It goes back to the root of where I started, and I never shy away from an opportunity.” 

Robert Colby Kindness Award: Grace Murphy ’26

Grace Murphy, a junior Marketing Communication major, is the first undergraduate to earn the Kindness Award since its inception in 2020. 

“I’m so grateful,” Murphy said. “It feels great to be honored with the legacy of someone so special to the Emerson community.”

Murphy tries to bring positive energy into everything she does, and recognizes that everyone has hidden struggles. Murphy has Type 1 diabetes, and has long advocated for healthcare reforms and insulin affordability in her home state of Florida.

After volunteering for more than 500 hours in high school, Murphy wanted to continue community service work while in college. She said she had the opportunity to do just that in Associate Professor Mneesha Gellman’s Human Rights (PL222) course. 

As a Marketing major, Murphy underscored authenticity as a vital pillar in the profession, especially among practices like “rainbow-” or “green-washing”. 

“I want to bring important causes to the business, while also aligning with the bigger pictures in the world,” Murphy said. 

Murphy is currently a media production intern at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she produces live interactive programming for kids and young adults. She will attend Emerson Los Angeles next semester, and hopes to continue pursuing advocacy in marketing.  

“It’s so hard to avoid unkindness right now,” Murphy said. “It’s important to support each other at Emerson, where we share similar values.”