SRU Alumni Association hosts annual Recognition Banquet April 16

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Recognition and Awards Banquet

March 30, 2016

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University Alumni Association will present its annual Recognition & Awards Banquet at 6 p.m., April 16 at the Russell Wright Alumni House.

The event will recognize four recent SRU graduates as "Young Alumni" award recipients, 2016 "Outstanding Senior Man and Woman" awardees, two "Past President's Service Award" winners and 29 scholarship winners.

"This event is a great opportunity to showcase how proud we are of our young alumni as well as our future alumni - scholarship recipients and Outstanding Senior Man/Woman," said Tracy Allison, assistant director for alumni engagement. "All of these recipients are proof that our alumni truly will make a difference not only in the communities they live and work in, but also in the world."

The Young Alumni Awards were created in 2005 to recognize alumni that have graduated within the past 10 years and have realized significant professional and personal accomplishments. Alumni are nominated by fellow alumni, faculty and staff and selected by the Young Alumni Awards Committee.

The 2016 Young Alumni Award recipients are:

  • Alissa Bookwalter, '09 (College of Education), senior program manager, General Dynamics Information Technology. Bookwalter is a senior program manager for two defense and veterans brain injury centers, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She leads a diverse contract staff team that supports congressionally mandated traumatic brain injury research, clinical operations, education and outreach initiatives.

  • Sharnay Hearn, '10 (College of Health, Environment & Science), director, Hill House Association First Source Center. Hearn is an active community leader in Pittsburgh who facilitates projects that raise the aspirations of low-income African-American residents. Hearn works to bridge the gap between the youth, young professionals and elders in leadership roles by offering tutoring, academic advising, hands-on science activities and engineering projects to area youth.

  • Angele Stoebener, '06 (College of Business), senior associate, Sisterson & Co. LLP Consulting/Lender Services. Stoebener is responsible for analyzing and structuring commercial loans, managing a commercial loan portfolio of industrial and commercial real estate in excess of $70 million. She is an active participant in the "Backpacks to Briefcases" mentoring program through the Office of Alumni Engagement.

  • Steve Winslow, '08 (College of Liberal Arts), attorney, Jubelirer, Pass & Intrieri, P.C. Winslow earned a Juris Doctorate from the University Of Miami School Of Law, graduating magna cum laude. During law school, he served as an articles and comments editor for the U-M Inter-American Law Review, interned at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the Miami Law Innocence Clinic and Legal Services of Greater Miami. Winslow practices law in the Pennsylvania state courts, United States District Court for Western Pennsylvania and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

The Outstanding Senior Man and Woman Awards, established in 1969, have been given annually to a senior male and female who demonstrate excellence in leadership, academics and service to SRU. All candidates are nominated by faculty and administrators and voted on by the members of the Alumni Association's Scholarship and Awards committee.

The 2016 Outstanding Senior Man and Woman Award winners are:

  • Joseph Hirtz, a physical and health education major from Mentor, Ohio. Joanne Leight, professor of physical and health education, nominated Hirtz.
  • Taylor Good, middle level English/language arts education major from Butler. Claudia Fischer, executive staff assistant, transformational programs/student success, nominated Good.

 The Past President's Service Awards winners are:

  • Sally Jackson Lennox, who served as SRU's director of alumni affairs from 1983-1999; and
  • Dee Thompson,  who worked as a clerical assistant in the alumni office from 1979-2010.

Alumni Association scholarship winners to be honored include:

  • Marie Ellis, sophomore, a secondary education English major, from Transfer, recipient of the Ben Addison Scholarship;
  • Taylor Carson, sophomore, a digital media production major from Mercer, recipient of an Alumni Association Scholarship;
  • Brittany Kratz, sophomore, an elementary/special education major from Honey Brook, recipient of an Alumni Association Scholarship;
  • Mackenzie Ord, junior, an exercise science major from Landisville, recipient of an Alumni Association Scholarship;
  • Renee Schmitzer, sophomore, a psychology major from Gibsonia; recipient of an Alumni Association Scholarship;
  • Katie Steele, sophomore, a music education and French major from Cranberry, recipient of an Alumni Association Scholarship;
  • Noah Schuler, sophomore, exercise science major from Pittsburgh, recipient of the Eisaman Alumni Scholarship for sophomore students;
  • Jennifer D'Angelo, sophomore, health and physical education major from Warminster, recipient of the Jeanne Powell Furrie Scholarship;
  • Taylor Carson, sophomore, digital media production major from Mercer, recipient of the Carl and Norma Laughner Scholarship;
  • Mackenzie Ord, junior, exercise science major from Landisville, recipient of the Carl and Norma Laughner Scholarship;
  • Kali Georgalos, junior, business management major from Warren, Ohio, recipient of the Mare McKay-Esther Smiley Academic Scholarship;
  • Megan Jackson, junior, early childhood/special education major from Zelienople, recipient of the Mare McKay-Esther Smiley Academic Scholarship;
  • Amber Kennedy, junior, Spanish and interdisciplinary studies major from Mechanicsburg, recipient of the Mare McKay-Esther Smiley Academic Scholarship;
  • Katelynn Kletzli, junior, exercise science major from Butler, recipient of the Mare McKay-Esther Smiley Academic Scholarship;
  • Kristi Kubatka, junior, early childhood/special education major from Imperial, recipient of the Mare McKay-Esther Smiley Academic Scholarship
  • Logan Petrak, junior, middle-level mathematics major from Ellwood City, recipient of the Mare McKay-Esther Smiley Academic Scholarship;
  • McKenzie Popatak, junior, sport management major from Sharpsville, recipient of the Mare McKay-Esther Smiley Academic Scholarship;
  • Maggie Ringer, junior, early childhood/special education major from Fredonia, recipient of the Mare McKay-Esther Smiley Academic Scholarship;
  • David Tini, junior, music education major from Altoona, recipient of the Mare McKay-Esther Smiley Academic Scholarship;
  • Alyssa Trocci, junior, early childhood/special education major from Edinburg, recipient of the Mare McKay-Esther Smiley Academic Scholarship;
  • Julie Zalar, physical therapy major from Bristolville, Ohio, recipient of the Maggie Meise Fellowship for Graduate Students;
  • Erica Aiello, senior, physical activity and fitness management major from Columbus, Ohio, recipient of the N. Kerr Thompson Scholarship;
  • Shamar Greene, junior, business management major from Duquesne, recipient of the N. Kerr Thompson Scholarship;
  • Megan Hardiman, senior, communication major from Loudon, New Hampshire, recipient of the N. Kerr Thompson Scholarship;
  • Marcus Martin, junior, safety management major from West Mifflin, recipient of the N. Kerr Thompson Scholarship;
  • Matthew Housley, sophomore, public relations and political science major from Norton, Ohio, recipient of the Peter J. Oesterling Family Scholarship Award;
  • Taylor Carson, sophomore, digital media production major from Mercer, recipient of the Past Presidents' Scholarship Award;
  • Maggie Ringer, junior, early childhood/special education major from Fredonia, recipient of the Hallie Dugan Smith and Nancy Smith Angell Scholarship;
  • Courtney Lebetz, sophomore, early childhood/special education major from West Leechburg, recipient of the Madeline Farnen Stoops Scholarship for Sophomore and Junior Education Majors;
  • Maggie Ringer, junior, early childhood/special education major from Fredonia, recipient of the Madeline Farnen Stoops Scholarship for Sophomore and Junior Education Majors;
  • Wesley Woodward, sophomore, music education and instrumental performance major from Erie, recipient of the Madeline Farnen Stoops Scholarship for Sophomore and Junior Education Majors; and
  • David Tini, junior, music education major from Altoona, recipient of the Anna Brua Williams Scholarship for Elementary Education Majors.

MEDIA CONTACT: Robb King | 724.738.2199 | robert.king@sru.edu

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