The city of Pittsburgh lit up with the formal energy of Clarion University’s Extravaganza & Alumni Association Distinguished Awards of 2010 last weekend at the Duquesne Club.
On Saturday April 24, six of Clarion’s alumni were awarded with various distinguished awards. Guests of the evening were treated to a performance by The Clarion University’s Show Choir, under the direction of student Benjamin Rowan and adviser Julie Findlan-Powell. Elementary and secondary students from the community were also involved in the performance.
Many of the winners of the awards are well-recognized and remembered for their time at Clarion.
David Gibbons won the Distinguished Alumni for Venango Campus. Gibbons received both an associate degree in 1986 and a bachelor’s degree in 1992. He is the president of UPMC Northwest in Seneca and a member of the Venango Campus Advisory Council.
The late Frank Roco, a 1962 graduate and up until 2008 a member of the Clarion University Alumni Association Board of Directors, received the Distinguished Service Award for his efforts in the Alumni Association. He was active in the Clarion community as well as on campus.
Robert Girvan, a professor of Sociology in Clarion, received the Distinguished Faculty Award. He has been a professor at Clarion for almost 36 years and is active in the community. He plans on retiring this year.
The Distinguished Alumni for Clarion University was given to F. Suzanne (Stewart) Jenniches, a 1970 graduate. She is the vice president and general manager of the Government System Division of Northrop Grumman. She assisted in developing electronically scanned radar for the B-1B bomber, according to Clarion’s website.
The Distinguished Volunteer Award went to Alpha Gamma Phi fraternity. The fraternity is recognized for its alumni efforts and raising $120,000 in scholarship money, as reported on the Clarion’s website. Founded in 1930, the Gammas are the oldest fraternity on campus.
And last but not least, the Distinguished Achievement Award went to former student of Clarion, Reggie Wells Jr. His father and mother are also alumni of Clarion and have received various awards for their hard work and dedication. Wells is well known for his draft to the Arizona Cardinals in 2003 and playing as the team captain in the 2008 Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“The Alumni Association Distinguished Awards are awarded by the Clarion University Alumni Association Board of Directors. The Board comprises approximately 25 alumni. It accepts nominations from fellow alumni, faculty and staff and friends of the university, then decide as a board who to recognize each year for each award,” said Brooke Murray, assistant director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund.
She said this was the first time the awards were held in Pittsburgh. The Duquesne Club was able to hold more guests and attracted the alumni who live in the Pittsburgh area.
“We wanted to elevate the prestige of the awards, and therefore combined with our annual fundraising gala event, Extravaganza, which last occurred at Eagle Commons in February 2009 to highlight its opening,” said Murray.
Murray also said that the atmosphere really made the evening a thing to remember and was a nice way to honor the recipients of the awards.
