Distinguished Alumni Award

James H. DeGraffenreidt, Jr. (Class of 1978)

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Retired)
WGL Holdings, Inc., and Washington Gas

James H. DeGraffenreidt, Jr., retired effective October 1, 2009 as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of WGL Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Washington Gas. He also served as Chairman and CEO of Washington Gas, the natural gas utility serving over 1,000,000 customers in the Washington metropolitan area and surrounding region.

As a lawyer, he represented both industry and consumers on telecommunications and public utility matters for several years before joining the company as its senior regulatory attorney. During more than twenty years with Washington Gas, Mr. DeGraffenreidt served in many different leadership roles. In addition to his role as a regulatory lawyer, he served in various executive roles before being elected President and Chief Operating Officer in 1994 and began his service as Chairman and CEO in 1998. He has helped to transform the company into a leading performer in an industry that has experienced dramatic changes related to deregulation.

Mr. DeGraffenreidt has been committed to industry leadership as well as community service throughout his career. He served for more than a decade on the boards of the Alliance to Save Energy and the American Gas Association. He served as industry co-chair of the Alliance board for two years and also served as the Chair of the American Gas Association. Mr. DeGraffenreidt continues to serve on the boards of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Harbor Bankshares Corporation, Bucknell University, The Maryland Science Center, and The Walters Art Museum. After nomination by the Governor and confirmation by the State Senate in 2008, Mr. DeGraffenreidt began a four-year term as a member of the Maryland State Board of Education and was elected by his colleagues on the Board to serve as President of the Board.

Mr. DeGraffenreidt received the degrees of Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from Columbia University in 1978 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College in 1974. He and his wife of 34 years, Dr. Mychelle Farmer, live in Baltimore with their four children.

Award for Leadership, Public Service and Philanthropy

Francisco Borges

Chairman and Managing Partner
Landmark Partners

Francisco Borges is chairman and managing partner of Landmark Partners, Inc., an alternative investment firm, headquartered in Simsbury, Connecticut, specializing in private equity and real estate secondary market acquisitions.  Since 1989, Landmark has formed 26 funds, totalling $7.6 billion and focusing on venture capital, buyout, mezzanine, and real estate partnership investments.

Prior to joining Landmark in 1999, Mr. Borges served as managing director of Financial Guaranty Insurance Corporation, formerly a GE Capital company.  During his two terms as Connecticut state treasurer, he was responsible for all investment and debt issuance by the State and its quasi-public financing authorities.  Mr. Borges has also served as deputy mayor of the city of Hartford and legal counsel for the Travelers Insurance Company.

Mr. Borges is a member of the board of directors and investment committees for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the boards of directors of Selected Funds and Assured Guaranty, and is a member of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting board of trustees.  He is a former treasurer of the National NAACP.

Mr. Borges is the recipient of numerous local and national awards for his public and community service.  He is also a member of the Connecticut and New Jersey bars.

Mr. Borges received a JD from the University of Connecticut Law School and a BA from Trinity College.