Upper Arlington Schools

Serve • Lead • Succeed

Dr. Robert Arkin Service and Leadership Award

Upper Arlington Schools is privileged to have many volunteers and residents who make a significant difference for our school community. Established in 2017, the Dr. Robert Arkin Service and Leadership Award recognizes those individuals who go above and beyond to help our district reach its vision of uniquely accomplished students prepared to serve, lead and succeed.

This award recognizes those who reflect the heart of service and the passion for education of Robert M. Arkin, Ph.D. A career educator himself, Dr. Arkin spent 12 years serving the students, staff and residents of Upper Arlington as a member of the Board of Education. He worked tirelessly to ensure that Upper Arlington Schools would remain a national leader in education, providing students with the best possible preparation for college, career and a fulfilling life.

At the 2017 State of the Schools, Superintendent Paul Imhoff and Board of Education President Robin Comfort presented the inaugural Dr. Robert Arkin Service and Leadership Award to the Arkin family in memory of the former board member. The award is presented annually to community members who exemplify service and leadership for UA Schools.

2022 Honorees

Aimee Moulakis White

Aimee Moulakis White is a longtime volunteer for Upper Arlington Schools, most recently as the chair of the historic Upper Arlington Legacy Capital Campaign. Through her tireless work, she raised more than $8 million to augment the $230 million bond-levy endorsed by Upper Arlington voters in November of 2017 and go above and beyond bricks and mortar by supporting programming that impacts students' daily academic and co-curricular experiences.

Upper Arlington Schools Medical Advisory Team

Beginning in the fall of 2020, Upper Arlington Schools worked closely with local experts in public health, infectious diseases and the mental health of school-age children to monitor Upper Arlington health data and what was happening in the country and around the state. Honored with the Dr. Robert Arkin Service and Leadership Award in December of 2022 were: Naeem Ali, MD, chair; John Ackerman, Ph.D.; Sara Bode, MD; Shandra Day, MD; Ayaz Hyder, Ph.D.; Efthimios Parasidis, JD; and Laura Pomeroy, Ph.D.

Jennifer Overmyer and Todd Walter

Receiving the Dr. Robert Arkin Service and Leadership Award for their service as co-chairs of Citizens for UA Schools were Jennifer Overmyer and Todd Walter. They led the volunteer effort behind the successful campaign for Issue 5, the November 8, 2022 operating levy that funds daily operations of the district and maintains current academic programming so that the district can continue providing the current quality of education for Upper Arlington students.

2019 Honorees

Robin Comfort and Joanie Dugger

Joanie Dugger was a longtime school volunteer who served as the executive director of the Upper Arlington Education Foundation and Upper Arlington Alumni Association for 17 years. She was a key force in the expansion of the Education Foundation’s grant program, the creation of the Golden Bear Bash and the annual UAHS Alumni Open House.

Robin Comfort was also a longtime school volunteer. In 2007, she was elected to the Board of Education and served for 12 years, part of that time alongside Arkin. She was a driving force behind the district's belief that All Means All, ensuring all students and staff feel welcomed, valued and loved within the schools. She was also key in the facilities master planning process, providing the leadership along with her board colleagues that brought thousands of community voices into the process.

2018 Honorees

The 2018 Arkin Award honorees with Board of Education President Carol Mohr and Carol Arkin

Kellie Ali, Jennifer Heck and Tracy Peters

The 2018 Robert Arkin Service and Leadership Award was presented to Kellie Ali, Jennifer Heck and Tracy Peters for their work as the co-chairs of Citizens for UA Schools.

Carol Arkin and Board of Education President Carol Mohr presented the award to the three recipients.