Cornell College’s Alumni Association Board of Directors awarded Sheila Kruse Boyce ’85 with the 2025 Leadership and Service Award in recognition of her extraordinary commitment to Cornell College and her community. Boyce’s 32 years of service as class agent for the Class of 1985 exemplify the ideals of leadership, dedication, and lifelong engagement that the award celebrates.
Boyce arrived at Cornell from Davenport, Iowa, and quickly became an active and engaged member of the campus community. She was inducted into Mortar Board, was a member of the Cornellian staff and Student Senate, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, just to name a few. She graduated with a degree in English and Spanish, and later earned her MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
Professionally, she and her husband, Thomas, co-founded DeepStream Designs, a company rooted in sustainable design principles. Her work has earned contracts with Disney, international airports, and luxury properties around the country. Through her leadership, DeepStream Designs contributes meaningfully to the protection and preservation of land and ocean ecosystems. All the while, she and Tom have gone on countless sailing adventures across the world.
Through it all, Boyce has remained deeply committed to Cornell. As class agent, she has kept her classmates informed and connected to the Hilltop, writing thoughtful and engaging letters that reflect her love for the college community. She has gone far beyond the traditional role—planning reunions, including Homecoming 2025’s 40th celebration, serving multiple terms on the Alumni Board (including as president), attending countless Homecomings, and inspiring generosity as a challenge match donor for Color It Purple, Cornell’s day of giving. Boyce’s dedication has helped strengthen the bonds among alumni and between alumni and the college.
Watch Boyce’s speech on Oct. 11, 2025: