This year’s recipient of the Joseph P. Collins Alumni Award of Merit is presented to Michael Siddall of the Class of 1984. The Joseph P. Collins Award is the most prestigious award presented by the Alumni Council to an alumnus who has demonstrated professional excellence or who has significantly contributed to the betterment of society. For Mike Siddall, it was not an either/or, but a both/and. Since graduating from Saint Anselm College in 1984, Mike went on to earn his Juris Doctor Degree from Western New England University School of Law. Before forming Siddall & Siddall, P.C., Attorney Michael R. Siddall was a partner with Annino, Draper & Moore, P.C., as well as an associate with Murphy, McCoubrey & Auth.

The hallmarks of Mike’s career as an attorney have been a passion for justice and a concern for the less fortunate members of society. Mike continues to make a lasting contribution to the communities and people of western Massachusetts through his service on the Executive Committee of Sunshine Village, as a former director of Elder Care Initiatives, and a current member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys. 

Closer to the Hilltop, Mike has served on the Alumni Council, and currently serves on the Alumni Golf Scholarship Committee. Mike aspires to win the coveted “Chancellor’s Cup” at our annual scholarship outing, but he may need to find a new foursome. Kidding aside, friendship and loyalty, along with devoted care and commitment to each other, is the foundation of Mike’s relationship with his Red Key Brothers, the Greater Springfield community, and Saint Anselm College. 

As one of his nominators wrote, “Beyond all the committees and service, Mike is a great man who truly lives to serve others. He is the first guy you call if you need help with a move or figuring out a legal issue. If he doesn’t have the answer to your problem, he will find someone who does and always follows up. His mantra in life is, 'Everything is always working out', and this mantra has made a difference in the lives of the people around him, especially mine.”