Alumni Award Winners
2025 Winners
Alumni Association President’s Distinguished Award
Razin Karu, ‘17
Executive Director, Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Affairs
Razin Karu, ’17, was born and raised in India and has been living in the U.S. since 2013. He earned an associate degree in history from Bucks County Community College in 2017, where he established the first-ever Muslim Students Association and served as president of the Student Government Association from 2016-17.
Mr. Karu has taken those impressive leadership skills all the way to the State Capitol. After graduating from Bucks, he completed a bachelor’s degree in 2019 at Temple University with a double-major in history and political science, a minor in global studies, and a certificate in political economy.
He went on to work as a constituent services advisor for State Representative Perry Warren (D-31) and as the executive director of the Muslim Society of the Delaware Valley, where he directed all programs and activities for the Muslim Youth Center of Philadelphia and the Islamic Cultural Center of Willow Grove.
Prior to that, Mr. Karu served as the outreach coordinator at ICNA Relief PA, where he worked on programs focusing on a diverse set of community needs, including refugee services, hunger prevention, disaster relief, educational empowerment, and more. Mr. Karu serves as a member of the Bucks County New Americans Advisory Commission and is a very active member of the Indian community in Bensalem.
In 2023, he was appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro to serve as executive director for the Commission on AAPI Affairs. In that role, Mr. Karu helps the commission gather information regarding AAPI Pennsylvanians’ experiences and needs, review programs affecting them, and provide the governor with recommendations on how best to meet their needs Mr. Karu is passionate about civic engagement, social justice, interfaith relations, and volunteering.
Community Service Award
Damita Harvey Harris, ’04
Associate director with No Longer Bound and community organizer with the Bristol Cares Coalition
Damita Harvey Harris, ’04, has worked for nearly 20 years with No Longer Bound, a nonprofit prevention services organization whose mission is to empower the community by providing educational programming and training to address drug and alcohol abuse, increase positive social development, and improve overall well-being.
Ms. Harvey Harris also established the Bristol Cares Coalition to support positive youth development in Bristol Township. She continues to nurture this coalition, which includes members of the community, school district, and agencies with a shared vision for a safe, healthy, nurturing environment for all children and young adults.
She is also a facilitator of NAMI Bucks County ‘s "Black Minds Matter" support group program, which is a shared strength group dedicated to the mental and overall wellness of the Black community in Bucks County. She has other volunteer roles as a board member for Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center and treasurer for Struble Elementary School PTO, all while working full-time as a talent development specialist for NJM Insurance Group.
In 2025, she was honored by Bucks County Community College with the Martin Luther King, Jr., Leadership Award for Humanitarian Service.
Ms. Harvey Harris, a 2004 Bucks County Community College graduate who later earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Peirce College and a master's degree in education from Holy Family University, is a mother of two amazing children. She has worked full-time for NJM Insurance Group for 21 years. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and creating lasting family memories.
Centurion Award
John Sheridan, ‘85
Longtime professor of music and multimedia, student mentor and faculty union president at Bucks County Community College
John Sheridan, ’85, is a dedicated educator whose impact extends far beyond the classroom. Over the past thirty years, Professor Sheridan has been a multi-disciplinary instructor, teaching music, multimedia, web design, and computer science. His academic credentials include a Master of Arts from New York University, a Bachelor of Music from Temple University, and an Associate of Arts from Bucks County Community College.
Beyond his academic achievements, Professor Sheridan has built a remarkable career as a professional musician. His musical journey has taken him from intimate club settings to large-scale festivals, where he has played alongside jazz luminaries such as Richie Cole, Larry McKenna, Jim Ridl, and Marko Marcinko. His session work includes contributions to Nile Blue Records, eMCee Records, and GMG Studios, in addition to his performances with ensembles like the Jazz Celebration Big Band and the Monday Blues Jazz Orchestra.
Professor Sheridan’s dedication to excellence in education has been recognized through numerous accolades, including his inclusion in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (2000), Who’s Who in America (2002), and Who’s Who in the World (2004). In 2013, he was honored with the prestigious Lindback Award for Teaching Excellence.
Beyond the classroom, Professor Sheridan is deeply invested in fostering opportunities for students. He actively adjudicates high school competitions and conducts Jazz Improvisation workshops, inspiring the next generation of musicians. His leadership extends to advocacy, as he has spent the past decade lobbying the Pennsylvania State Government for increased community college funding—an effort in which he actively involves his students, providing them with invaluable real-world experience in civic engagement. Additionally, his role as advisor to the student-run radio station has allowed students to gain hands-on experience in broadcasting, further demonstrating his dedication to mentoring and professional development.
Sheridan currently serves as president of the Bucks County Community College American Federation of Teachers.
Professional Achievement Award
Kenneth Kuzma, ’81
Law enforcement professional with decades of experience at the federal, state, and local levels
Kenneth Kuzma, ’81, is a distinguished law enforcement professional with over 36 years of experience at the federal, state, and local levels. A graduate of Bucks County Community College and Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice, Mr. Kuzma has dedicated his career to investigating and combating international drug trafficking, organized crime, weapons violations, public corruption, and financial crimes such as money laundering and asset forfeiture.
Mr. Kuzma began his career in 1986 with the City of Philadelphia Juvenile Probation Department, where he supervised high-risk youth and developed court-mandated probation plans. He also served as the tactical self-defense instructor for court personnel.
In 1996, he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration as a special agent. Over a 20-year career with the DEA, Mr. Kuzma led major domestic and international investigations and aided in the historic 9-11 response and recovery in New York City. Mr. Kuzma received many honors, including seven DEA exceptional service awards, seven DEA special act of service awards, leadership awards, and in 2002, DEA New York Division’s agent of the year.
From 2018 to March 2025, Mr. Kuzma was a narcotics agent with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, applying his expertise to high-level criminal investigations.
An accomplished investigator, instructor, and mentor, Mr. Kuzma has trained countless federal, state, and local agents, provided drug identification seminars to universities and high schools, and delivered expert testimony in federal and local courts. He holds multiple specialized certifications, including clandestine laboratory operations and advanced interview and interrogation techniques. Today, he remains a respected figure in the law enforcement community, known for his leadership and unwavering commitment to justice.