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 Â鶹´«Ã½. Most importantly, this individual reflects the values of service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation and collegiality. The following Â鶹´«Ã½ alumni received the award from 2000 through 2009. All biographical information current at the time of the award.

2000

Robert McCormack

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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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
  • Â鶹´«Ã½ 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

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

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 Â鶹´«Ã½ in the business department.
  • Owner and operator of the YouTube channel Bikes Boats Bivouacs where he shares adventure content. 
  • Assistant Professor, Business Department – Â鶹´«Ã½ College
  • 1995 – PASBO Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials) Award of Achievement for Innovative Business Practices (Health Care Consortium)
  • Â鶹´«Ã½ 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

Sister Ann Marie Coll

Degrees:

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


Bio:

  • Director, Â鶹´«Ã½ Montessori
  • Teacher of the Month, May 1998
  • 25+ years as Director of Â鶹´«Ã½ 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, Â鶹´«Ã½ College
  • Member, Â鶹´«Ã½ College Alumni Executive Board

2004

Linda S. Lysakowski, ACFRE

Linda S. Lysakowski


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

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 Â鶹´«Ã½.
  • Community Volunteer
  • Board Member, Â鶹´«Ã½ College Board of Trustees – 1998-present
    • &²Ô²ú²õ±è;³Õ¾±³¦±ð-°ä³ó²¹¾±°ù–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 (Â鶹´«Ã½ College)

2006

Valetta A. Eshbach

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 Bestâ€
  • Blood and platelet donor – Miller Keystone Blood Bank
  • Visit and correspond with elderly shut-ins
  • Previous member of the Â鶹´«Ã½ 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

Steven S. Keiser

Degree:

  • B.A .Social Studies '80


Bio:

  • Trustee Emeritus at Â鶹´«Ã½.
  • Entrepreneur /Real Estate Investment and Management
  • Â鶹´«Ã½ 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

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

Alice Jean Bleacher

Degrees:

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


Bio:

  • Director of Event Management – Â鶹´«Ã½
  • Current member of Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Green Initiatives Committee, Literary Festival Committee, Safety Committee
  • Completed Â鶹´«Ã½â€™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
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Ellen Frei Gruber Award