10/2/02
Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199;  e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu 

PENNSYLVANIA’S STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
TO HONOR FOUR SRU BENEFACTORS WITH EBERLY HONORS

          SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Four Slippery Rock University supporters – Stanley and Marilyn Kraus, both formerly of Lawrence County, and  Dr. Constance Smith and Ramona Smith, both of Butler County, and– have been named by the Fund for the Advancement of the State System of Higher Education, Inc., to receive this year’s Eberly medals, the highest awards presented by Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

           The awards, named for the Eberly family, will be presented at ceremonies set for Wednesday [Oct. 9] in Harrisburg.

          The Slippery Rock University Foundation, Inc., nominated Mr. and Mrs. Kraus for the Eberly Award for Philanthropy for their longtime financial support of SRU. Their gifts include Kraus Hall, an on-campus residence hall, and real estate in Sharon that aided the $11 million “Campaign for Slippery Rock University” capital campaign, as well as real estate in Armstrong County, which provides income for five annual scholarships at SRU. Dr. Smith, a university volunteer and wife of SRU President G. Smith, and Ms. Smith, a university volunteer from Butler and wife of Provost Robert Smith, for the Eberly Award for Volunteerism in connection with their teamwork in creating the university’s successful Learning in Retirement Program.

           “Slippery Rock University is fortunate to have such strong proponents working on its behalf,” said President Smith in congratulating the recipients. “Each of this year’s award recipients brings to campus total enthusiasm for their projects and the result is seen in the success of their ideas. I am pleased that both my wife’s leadership and that of her friend Ramona Smith have resulted in a program meeting the needs of mature residents in our region. Our Learning in Retirement Program is clearly serving a need by providing lifelong educational opportunities. Stan and Marilyn Kraus have been financially generous to the university. Their generosity is enjoyed daily by those living in Kraus Hall and their leadership is unquestionably helping build Slippery Rock University’s reputation,” he added.

          Kraus, who holds an honorary doctorate from SRU, is a member of the Slippery Rock University Foundation, Inc., which manages charitable resources for the university, and the President’s Advisory Council. The Krauses make their home in Boca Raton, Fla.

          More than 30 individuals, corporation and foundations were named to the awards for their contributions to the state system. Each council of trustee board at the 14 state system universities nominate two recipients in each of the Eberly medal categories. The system also nominates two medal recipients for the awards, which are presented biennially.

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