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Alvernia to award Bernardine Legacy Award to Women2Women founder

Reading, Pa. – For her distinguished career and service as a role model for women, recently retired senior vice president Karen Marsdale will receive the �鶹��Ƶ Women’s Council’s Bernardine Legacy Award.

“I am very humbled by this prestigious award,” said Marsdale. “There are so many women more worthy than I who have truly paved the way for women in this community, but this award means a great deal to me. The legacy of the Bernadine Franciscan Sisters is a remarkable story that truly exemplifies God’s love for others; we must never forget that we too have that obligation.”

The �鶹��Ƶ Women’s Council fosters the personal and professional development of Alvernia women at all life stages, strengthens their connection to the university and each other and educates and inspires them to pursue and grow in leadership roles both in their chosen profession and the greater community.

In her role with the Chamber, Marsdale was responsible for creating several highly successful initiatives, most notability the program and Berks Family Business Alliance.

"Karen has been a tremendous leader and role model for women in and beyond Berks County," said �鶹��Ƶ Women’s Council President Ashley Mikulsky. “Like our inaugural recipient Linda Ludgate, Karen embodies the spirit of this award, and we look forward to celebrating her with the community.”

Marsdale has dutifully served the Alvernia community as a member of the communications department advisory committee and the Berks Education and Leadership Council, an initiative of Alvernia’s O’Pake Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Public Service.

Marsdale will be presented with the award at the at the McGlinn Conference Center on the campus of �鶹��Ƶ on Sept. 18, 2019.

Proceeds from the luncheon support the efforts of the Women’s Council as well as the Newcombe Scholarship Fund. The Newcombe Foundation offers scholarships to women 25 and older who have completed 60 credits required toward their undergraduate degree. Alvernia is one of a limited number of colleges selected by the foundation to offer these scholarships.

For more information about the luncheon, please visit .

�鶹��Ƶ is a thriving comprehensive university that empowers students to become ethical leaders with moral courage, while providing an intellectually challenging environment with real-world learning experiences. Located on a scenic 121-acre suburban campus in historic Berks County, Pennsylvania, the distinctive Franciscan university of nearly 3,000 students is conveniently located near Philadelphia (60 miles) and within an easy drive of New York, Baltimore and Washington, DC.