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ÊÓƵ. Most importantly, this individual reflects the values of service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation and collegiality. The following Alvernia 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ÊÓƵ 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

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ÊÓƵ in the business department.
  • Owner and operator of the YouTube channel Bikes Boats Bivouacs where he shares adventure content. 
  • Assistant Professor, Business Department – Alvernia 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

Sister Ann Marie Coll

Degrees:

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


Bio:

  • Director, Alvernia Montessori
  • Teacher of the Month, May 1998
  • 25+ years as Director of Alvernia 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, Alvernia College
  • Member, Alvernia 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 Alvernia.
  • Community Volunteer
  • Board Member, Alvernia 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 (Alvernia 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 Alvernia 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ÊÓƵ.
  • 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

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ÊÓƵ
  • Current member of Alvernia’s Green Initiatives Committee, Literary Festival Committee, Safety Committee
  • Completed Alvernia’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