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The Ellen Frei Gruber Award is presented to an individual who has given outstanding service to his/her alma mater and exemplified continued commitment and support of the mission of ����ֱ��. Most importantly, this individual reflects the values of service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation and collegiality. The following ����ֱ�� alumni received the award from 2000 through 2009. All biographical information current at the time of the award.

2000

Robert McCormack

Degrees:

• B.A. Accounting '82
• Graduate of PBA Advanced School of Banking 1987
• Graduate of CBA’s Graduate School of Banking at the University of Virginia 1995

Bio:

• Managing partner, Murphy McCormack Capital Advisors.
• Adjunct professor at ����ֱ�� in the Business Department.
• Chairperson of M&A, Source and Union County Industrial Development Authority. 
• President & Chief Operating Officer, Sun Bancorp, Inc.
• St. Monica’s School Board – Member
• Union County Chamber and Union County Industrial Development Corp. – Past President
• Union County Industrial Development Authority – Vice Chairman
• 2000 Union County United Way Chairperson
• Union County United Way – President-elect
• Youth Soccer, Little League & Girl’s Basketball – Coach
• Alvernia College Alumni Association – Past Board Member
• Past involvement as President-elect of Mechanicsburg Rotary, Boyertown Ambus
• Boyertown Chamber, Capital Region Chamber, Williamsport Chamber & Industrial
• Property Corp., Tri-County Easter Seals Society – Past Board Member
• Passed CPA Exam- 1996, Union County’s Business Person of the Year- 1998, Central
• Pennsylvania’s Top 40 Under40- 1995

2001

Stella Leonti

Degrees:

• B.A. Elementary Education '71
• M.Ed. 1975 – Kutztown University
• Temple University – Elementary Principal Certification Program – 1988
• Temple University – Superintendent Letter Certification Program – 1991

Bio:

• Reading School District, Director of Curriculum, Program Instruction for PreK – 12
• Member: Phi Delta Kappa, AAUW, National/State/Local Elementary/Secondary Principal’s Association; Collaboration committee for the enhancement of teacher education with Kutztown University and Abright College; Cumru Elementary School and Governor Mifflin Intermediate School PTA
• Co-Chairman, Reading Recreation Committee
• Past Member of Berks/Reading YMCA Board of Directors
• Past Member of Reading Beautification Board of Directors
• Past Member, YMCA Youth Advisory Committee
• Active participant of the Health Community Initiative
• Served on Glenside Committee Organization
• CCD Class Teacher, St. John Baptiste de la Salle

2002

Dr. Scott D. Ballantyne

Degrees:

• B.A. Accounting '86
• AAS Reading Area Community College – 1983
• MPA Kutztown University – 1991
• ED.D. Widener University – 1997

Bio:

• Associate professor at ����ֱ�� in the business department.
• Owner and operator of the YouTube channel Bikes Boats Bivouacs where he shares adventure content. 
• Assistant Professor, Business Department – ����ֱ�� College
• 1995 – PASBO Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials) Award of Achievement for Innovative Business Practices (Health Care Consortium)
• Alvernia College Alumni Executive Board
• Pennsylvania Registered School Business Administrator
• Licensed Agent: Accident & Health, Life and Fixed Annuities
• Licensed Securities Agent: Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Annuities
• Association of School Business Officials International
• Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials
• Eastern Education Research Association
• Past President, Brandywine Youth Baseball Association
• Past Coach, Topton Youth Soccer

2003

Sister Ann Marie Coll, OSF ‘67

Degrees:

• B.A. Elementary Education '67
• MA Weidner University – 1990

Bio:

• Director, ����ֱ�� Montessori
• Teacher of the Month, May 1998
• 25+ years as Director of ����ֱ�� Montessori
• Lector and Eucharistic Minister, St. Anthony’s Church
• OCIA Team and Sponsor, St. Anthony’s Church
• President, Commission of Women Religious -Allentown Diocese
• IAU representative, Bernardine Sisters OSF
• St. Clare Society Committee Member, ����ֱ�� College
• Member, ����ֱ�� College Alumni Executive Board

2004

Linda S. Lysakowski, ACFRE

Degree:

• B.A. Banking/Finance and Theology/Philosophy '88

 

Bio:

• Owner of LindaLysakowski.com, which provides consulting for fundraising and governance.
• Author and acquisition editor for the GENIUS Press and an independent consultant for Young Living Essential Oils.
• Member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
• Capital Venture, President/CEO
• Founder and owner of the Fundraising Consulting Firm
• One of the first 55 people worldwide to hold Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive designation
• Member, Association of Fundraising Professionals
• Board Member, AFP Foundation for Philanthropy
• Past President, Pennsylvania Association of Non Profit Organizations
• Current Vice Chair, Nevada Association of Non Profit Organizations
• Graduate, Association of Fundraising Professionals Faculty Training Academy
• International Speaker
• Author of numerous articles and booklets
• Lector and member RCIA Team––St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Former lector and member RCIA Team––St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Reading, Pennsylvania
• Past President, LaSalle Academy School Board

2005

Kathleen D. Herbein

Degree:

• B.A. English and Psychology––Summa Cum Laude '95

Bio:

• Active engaged trustee who is passionate about helping to raise funds for ����ֱ��.
• Community Volunteer
• Board Member, ����ֱ�� College Board of Trustees – 1998-present
  • &�Բ�����;�վ�����-��󲹾���–2005-2007
  •  *served on the 2001 Director Search Committee, Development
  •  Committee and Collections Committee
  •  *presently serving on the Development Committee
• Vice President, Berks Equine Council – 2003-present
• Co-Founder and Trustee, The Rene’ G. Hill Memorial Fund – 1993-present
• Psi Chi––National Psychology Honor Society
• Jacob Albright Scholar (Albright College)
• Psychology Department Leadership Award (����ֱ�� College)

2006

Valetta A. Eshbach

Degrees:

• BS Mathematics '68
• M.Ed. Kutztown University – 1975

Bio:

• Mathematics Instructor at Penn State Berks
• Thirty-nine years teaching mathematics
• Lector, Rosary Leader, CCD instructor – St. Mary’s Parish, Kutztown
• Judge for Reading Eagle’s “Berks Best”
• Blood and platelet donor – Miller Keystone Blood Bank
• Visit and correspond with elderly shut-ins
• Previous member of the ����ֱ�� College Alumni Board
• SADD Advisor
• Youth-to-Youth Advisor
• Volunteer at Mary’s Shelter
• Supports Mary’s Shelter and Lifeline regularly

2007

Steven S. Keiser

Degree:

• B.A .Social Studies '80

Bio:

• Trustee Emeritus at ����ֱ��.
• Entrepreneur /Real Estate Investment and Management
• Alvernia College Trustee-member of Executive Committee, Facilities & Technology Committee, Academic Affairs/Student Committee, Mission Effectiveness Committee, Steering Committee for the Campaign and Chair of the Alumni Council
• Board member and Past President of the Literacy Council
• Board member of the Real Estate Investors Assn. And Chair of the Government Affairs Committee
• Mentor for investors in Real Estate
• Berks Community Television volunteer

2008

Dr. Colleen Hoffman Woodard

Degrees:

• B.A. History '68
• MS Adult and Continuous Learning, Virginia Tech University – 1992
• Ph.D. Public Administration, Virginia Tech University – 2000

Bio:

• Owner and CEO – Federal Technology Services, Inc. (2001-present)
• Visiting Assistant Professor in the Center for Public Administration and Policy - Virginia Tech University (2005-present)
• Active member of St. Mary of Sorrows Parish Social Ministry Council
• Participant in the George Washington Symposium
• Adjunct professor of public administration for George Mason University, American University and Virginia Tech University (1999-2004)
• Career civil servant serving in a variety of roles in the human resources field of the U.S. Government (1968-1995)
• Retired as the Director of Human Resources management for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

2009

Suzanne Miller ‘89

Degrees:

• B.A. Banking and Finance/Business Management and Administration '89
• A.S. Penn State University (Berks Campus) - 1986

Bio:

• Director of Event Management – ����ֱ��
• Current member of ����ֱ��’s Green Initiatives Committee, Literary Festival Committee, Safety Committee
• Completed ����ֱ��’s Leadership & Management Training Program
• Member of the Association of Collegiate Conference and Event Director; National Association of Campus Card Users
• Volunteer for American Redd Cross, Berks County Chapter (Legends of Tennis Committee and Volunteer Committee), BCTV Oktoberfest, Berks County Election Services, Co-County Wellness Good Thyme for Life, Fleetwood Area Baseball Association, Greater Reading Literary Festival and Literary Council of Reading Berks
• Member of Little Swatara Church of the Brethren