The Mount St. Mary’s University National Alumni Association awarded its highest honor to two individuals during Alumni Reunion Weekend, June 2-4. Alexander H. Belmonte, C’56 and Robert W. Farrand, C’5,  both received the 43rd Annual Brute' Medal.

The presentation of the Brute' Medal began in 1965, when the first award was presented to Joseph M. Fitzgerald, C’39. The medal is awarded to graduates for outstanding service to the church, state, nation and the Mount. The award is named after Fr. Simon Gabriel Brute', who taught at the Mount from 1812 to 1834, and later became the first bishop of Vincennes, Ind. Brute' remained at the Mount for nearly 25 years, and was so influential, especially as a spiritual director of the seminary, that he is remembered as the “Angel Guardian of the Mount.”

Belmonte received his baccalaureate degree from the Mount in 1956. Following graduation, the Chester, Pa., native began his distinguished career in teaching. Working tirelessly in the classroom as a Spanish teacher, he also served as an advisor, coach and mentor to high school students for thirty years.

Firmly believing that community service is an integral part of American life, Belmonte has served as a board member of the Delco Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, manager and treasurer of the Chesterteener Baseball League; is a member of the VFW, AMVETS, American Legion, and is a founding parishioner of St. John Fisher Catholic Church where he serves on the Parish Council. He is proud of his daughter, Nancy Belmonte Dunham, C’86, and his four grandchildren.

For decades, Belmonte has had a lasting impact on his alma mater by generously sharing his time, talent and treasure. He has served as member of the National Alumni Council, Chairman of the National Alumni Golf Tournament, and Chapter Relations Committee and Founding President of the Delchester Alumni Chapter. He has also served as a member of the Hall of Fame Committee and Alumni Admissions Network. In addition, he has served on the Class of 1956 Gift Committee and as Co-Chair of the Class of 1956 Reunion Committee.

Since leaving his Alma Mater, Farrand has achieved success through a distinguished career marked by 34 dedicated years of foreign service.

Farrand is a former United States to Ambassador, Papua, New Guinea, and retired diplomat for the United Nations in Bosnia. During his distinguished career, Bill served for 38 months as deputy high supervisor of the small city of Brcko, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, following the Bosnian War from 1992-95. Through his leadership, a war-torn area once considered the “mother of all difficulties” became a city of hope. The area achieved peace after years of turmoil in a Solomonic solution bestowing control over the city to two separate fractions.

He graduated from the National War College, and received numerous military awards and recognitions during his career. As a Lieutenant, Senior Grade in the United States Navy, he served at sea from 1958-61, and later was an instructor at the US Naval Academy. Today, Farrand is a consultant for civil and military affairs, and has recently completed a manuscript focusing on the Dayton Peace Accord on Bosnia.