SUNY Potsdam Alumni Present 2026 Minerva Award to Reachout Founder Karen Butler Easter '75
Karen Butler Easter '75 of Potsdam, N.Y., Recognized with 2026 Minerva Award, Highest Honor Bestowed by the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association
Potsdam, NY (07/13/2026) — The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently presented the Minerva Award, its highest honor, to Karen Butler Easter '75 of Potsdam, N.Y., during Reunion 2026.
The Minerva Award is presented annually to a graduate who has demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in his or her field. It is the highest honor that a SUNY Potsdam graduate can receive from the association. Easter was recognized for her visionary leadership, generous spirit, commitment to serving others, and the impact she has had on so many SUNY Potsdam students and the Potsdam community.
About the recipient:
Karen Butler Easter '75 has had a profound and lasting impact on countless lives through her visionary leadership, unwavering compassion and extraordinary commitment to serving others. In 1977, recognizing a critical need for accessible support services in the local community, Easter founded Reachout, a volunteer-staffed, 24-hour, countywide information and referral service and crisis intervention hotline. What began as a bold and innovative idea soon became a vital lifeline for individuals and families facing some of life's most difficult challenges.
For nearly half a century, Reachout stood as a beacon of empathy and connection in St. Lawrence County. Under Easter's guidance, more than 4,000 SUNY Potsdam students and community volunteers were trained to provide compassionate support to individuals experiencing crisis, isolation, grief and mental health challenges. Easter instilled in each volunteer not only the practical skills required for effective crisis response, but also the deeper values of empathy, active listening, dignity and respect. Through her mentorship, students learned the transformative power of simply being present for another human being and the profound difference one person can make in another's life.
Karen's influence reached well beyond Reachout itself. Reachout also served as an Employee Assistance Program, providing training and support to businesses and community organizations throughout the region. Easter and her staff equipped employees with the skills to identify and assist individuals at risk of harm or suicide, strengthening the well-being of workplaces and communities throughout the North Country.
In addition to being the Reachout founder and director, Easter has also been a mentor, friend and hero to generations of SUNY Potsdam students and colleagues. Her steady leadership fostered a culture of compassion and accountability, which shaped young people into thoughtful professionals, advocates and community leaders.
Even in its closing in 2024, Reachout embodied Easter's enduring spirit of service. In its final act, the organization donated its long-time home to Grace House of Potsdam, a faith-based non-profit recovery organization, ensuring that its legacy of caring for those in need will continue for years to come. Easter's decades of service reflect extraordinary dedication, visionary leadership and an abiding belief in the power of community care.
To find out more about how SUNY Potsdam connects with its devoted alumni, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.
###
Media Attachments
Karen Butler Easter ’75 of Potsdam, N.Y., is the recipient of the 2026 Minerva Award from the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association. She is seen here accepting the honor from SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Suzanne R. Smith (right) at Reunion 2026.