Pitt Alumni Association Honors Alumni Volunteers

PITTSBURGH—University of Pittsburgh alumni recently were recognized for their volunteerism and commitment to the University with this year's Volunteer Excellence Award and the Pitt Alumni Recruitment Team (PART) and Alumni Legislative Network (ALN) Volunteers of the Year awards, at the 2005 Pitt Alumni Association Award luncheon held in Alumni Hall's Connolly Ballroom, Oakland.

The Volunteer Excellence Award, formerly called Volunteer of the Year, recognizes volunteers who give their time over one year or provide multiple years of service to the University and Alumni Association. This year three alumni received the Volunteer Excellence Award.

The first Volunteer Excellence awardee is Mary Frances Archey (EDU '68), chair of the regional directors for Pitt's alumni board of directors, chair of the Alumnae Council Membership Committee, and scholarship chair of the Metro Pittsburgh Pitt Alumni Club. She also is past president of the Alumnae Council and received its Annual Service Award during her tenure.

Bill Green (GSPH '01) also received the Volunteer Excellence Award. Upon completion of his masters degree, Green became active in the Graduate School of Public Health's (GSPH) Alumni Society and was instrumental in helping to revitalize the group. Alumni elected him as the society's president for 2003-04, during which time he also was nominated GSPH's representative to the Alumni Association Board. Green will serve as the society's president for a second two-year term.

The third Volunteer Excellence recipient is Fran Rattay (CAS '68, FAS '70), a life member of the Pitt Alumni Association who helped to establish the North Hills Pitt Club. Soon after the club's inception, a scholarship award was created for an incoming area freshman. In addition, Rattay hosted an ALN event at his home.

This year's PART Volunteer of the Year Award winner is William G. Gaskins Jr. (CAS '51, EDU '70, '73), who represents the University at traditional college fairs throughout the year. Alumni are a valuable resource in the recruitment of incoming students through the PART program, a partnership between Pitt's Alumni Association and Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Two volunteers received the ALN Volunteer of the Year Award. Marilyn Burke (EDU '67) received the award for her advocacy of the University through e-mails to her state representative and visits to her state senator. ALN Volunteer of the Year Dan Jenkins (CAS '90) was recognized for effective networking with elected officials and his tireless efforts to make the annual Pitt Day in Harrisburg successful.

Finally, Pitt Alumni Association presented the 2004-2005 Club of the Year Award to the Chesapeake & Potomac Pitt Club. The emphasis of this year's award is on excellence in communication. The Chesapeake & Potomac Club received recognition for its extraordinary job in keeping local alumni apprised of meetings and events through numerous communication methods.

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