Lehigh University: Alumni

 

     

2008 Alumni Club of the Year Nominees

Connecticut Valley
Northern Ohio
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh

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Connecticut Valley
Nomination taken from LEHIGHLIGHTS, April 2006

The Lehigh Club of the Connecticut Valley has become one of the most successful clubs over the past couple years due to the enthusiasm and hard work of Kevin Chick '95, who became active in the club when he moved to the Connecticut area in 1999, and the dedication of long-time board members and alumni. By hosting a variety of social and educational events, such as the Annual Spring Reception, incoming student sendoffs, and Lehigh/Lafayette telecasts, the club has made an outstanding name for itself.

One of the Club's most recent educational events was a presentation by Hannah Stewart-Gambino, political science professor, on U.S.-Latin American relations, held Dec. 5, 2005, at the Connecticut State Capitol. State Sen. Jonathan Harris, with whom new club board member Matt Salner '04 is currently working, spoke to the group and personally took alumni and guests on a tour of the building. The club is also planning a family night at a local semi-professional baseball game in the upcoming summer months.

Long-term goals for the Club:

• Develop a larger membership, especially targeting young alumni.
• Cultivate a relationship with students from the time of their incoming student sendoff to commencement.
• Increase networking and educational events while creating new and alternative activities.

Chick attributes the uniqueness of the club to the fact that several of the current board members are original founders of the club. Congratulations!

2007-2008 activities:

• Incoming student sendoff
• Lehigh/Lafayette telecast
• Planning a spring 2008 club dinner

Northern Ohio
Nomination taken from LEHIGHLIGHTS, December 2006

The Lehigh Club of Northern Ohio boasts one of the most active and involved Lehigh alumni bases in the country! They have worked hard to establish a strong community through baseball outings, family days and various dinner and cocktail receptions featuring representatives from the university. Considering that the club is far from South Mountain, the alumni who participate do an outstanding job of creating that same Lehigh feel in the Midwest.

The club's success has been due in large part to club President Bill Hull '71, who first became involved in the club through a desire to meet new people with similar interests, because he had just relocated to the area from Dallas, Texas. The club had not been active for some time, so with Steve Villas '75, Steve Bigach '75 and Nancy Lattin Davis '75, he set out to revitalize it. Also, the club gave Bill the opportunity to be involved with the university through organizations that he had missed out on during his undergraduate years.

Bill attributes the club's success to its board and the new enthusiasm and drive added by its newest members. "I have always believed that some of the best participation and times we have enjoyed over the last 21 years have come from mixing a smattering of newer graduates with the skills and experience of the existing board members." Key board members who have been influential in the success of the club's events are Sonia Mintun '83, Kathy Schlegel '75, Steve Bigach '75, Nancy Lattin Davis '75, and Chuck Frankel '62. The Club's most successful events include a reception with the Lehigh Wrestling Club at the 2005 wrestling dual meets at Cleveland State University, a reception with the Lehigh Club of Ohio Valley and Ron Yoshida, provost emeritus, at the historic Gwynn Mansion on the cliffs of Lake Erie, a Cleveland Indians baseball outing, and this summer's Class of 2010 incoming student sendoff.

Some of the long-term goals of the club are to provide more comprehensive programs that include speakers from the university and to increase involvement from the greater Ohio-area alumni. Their main goal is to become more active in the "Summer on the Cuyahoga" program, which attempts to attract the best and brightest of new graduates to the area. It offers summer internships for undergraduates to introduce them to the Cleveland area, and the club is actively working to get all involved.

The club's uniqueness is credited to the close ties among all of its members, especially among its board of directors. "We have a tight-knit, committed board who together offers a variety of programs to the membership over each calendar year, despite the fact that we are one of the smaller clubs," Bill says.

We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication the Lehigh Club of Northern Ohio has given to its alumni population and the university and are excited to see what the club does next!

2007-2008 activities:

• Incoming student sendoff
• Lehigh/Lafayette telecast
• Annual baseball outing

Philadelphia
Nomination taken LEHIGHLIGHTS, July 2006

The Lehigh Club of Philadelphia has grown by leaps and bounds due to the hard work, dedication and positive energy brought by its volunteers, led by club President Melissa Glozman '94. Melissa became active in 2002 because of a longing to re-acquaint herself with Lehigh. "I was motivated to join the club because I thought it would be a great way not only to meet other young alumni in the area, but also to reconnect with the university, she says." Since then, she has become an integral part in its success, serving as secretary, treasurer, chairperson of the Career Advancement Committee and currently president.

The uniqueness of the club comes from its ability to reach the large, diverse alumni population that is active in Philadelphia. Geographically, the club has a huge advantage because of its close proximity to South Mountain, which enables the board to coordinate events that involve university faculty, staff and friends. Melissa credits the club's past year of success to the support of the club's board of directors and volunteers. "Our board is constantly trying to think of new and unique events that will interest our area alumni, while encouraging members to get involved themselves." The club also would not be where it is today without Joann Giangiulio ‘92, Andrew Hartmann ‘99, Hillar Puskar ‘85, John Marren ‘86, Justin Bayer ‘01, Tom Ramsey ‘67 (president emeritus) and Bob Ferrara ‘73. Their outstanding contributions of time, energy and enthusiasm as club volunteers have truly made the club a success.

While the club has held many different and exciting events throughout the years, one of its most successful was a Meet the Board Wine and Cheese Reception on March 5, 2006, held at Tria, Center City Philadelphia. There were 28 alumni in attendance from as far away as New York. The club's incoming student sendoff is always a fun and successful event, at which students and alumni enjoy a "Taste of Philadelphia"

When asked to name a couple long-term goals for the club, Melissa responded with confidence, "The club will continue to promote Lehigh within the Philadelphia community and to encourage area alumni to get involved with the alumni club." A huge congratulations to the outstanding work that the club has accomplished in the past couple years. We will be eagerly awaiting the great things to come!

2007-2008 activities:

• Incoming student sendoff
• Two Lehigh/Lafayette telecast locations
• Annual volunteer event with Special Olympics of Delaware County
• Young alumni wine tasting
• Halloween hayride and pumpkin picking
• Trip to the Crayola Factory, co-sponsored with the Lehigh Home Club
• Trip to the King Tut exhibit at the Franklin Institute

Pittsburgh
Nomination taken from LEHIGHLIGHTS, October 2007

Cindi Crookston ’04 has recently risen to the position as president of the up-and-coming Lehigh Club of Pittsburgh, replacing longtime president Greg Casten ’87.  The 2006 incoming student sendoff, hosted by Laura Kronk ‘82, was the event that first got Cindi involved with the club.  She recalls how the alumni welcomed her in as a young member of their club, and their dedication to the area inspired her to participate.  She joined the board of directors in 2006 and is currently in the first year of her presidency. Cindi leads a group of alumni that is diverse in age and interest.  This past summer’s events have showcased the club’s different tastes and all that the city of Pittsburgh has to offer.

One of the club’s most recent events was a Lehigh and Friends Golf Scramble at Butler’s Golf Course in Elizabeth, Pa. The event was hosted by Laura Plunkett ’05 and Kurt Lesker IV ’05, whose high energy made the event a well-attended, rousing success.  The club also hosted a book review for Lehigh alumnus Robert Rudzki '75’s book Beat the Odds.  You can visit the book’s website, by clicking here to learn more about Rudzki’s work.  The club also gathered Nov. 17 for that long-celebrated rivalry between Lehigh and Lafayette. The 143rd meeting of the two teams was telecast to Hi-Tops restaurant, next to the PNC Bank ballpark.

The Club of Pittsburgh features a cast of devoted alumni, who come together to make the club truly unique. The club’s volunteers are central to the great success of the events, and the club thanks all Lehigh alumni, family and friends who came out in support of Lehigh this past year. Cindi makes special mention of the dedication of John Broscious ’55, who serves as the club’s spirited secretary.  She also notes the contributions of President Emeritus Greg Casten ’87, whose five-year tenure was marked by several successful events, including many Lehigh/ Lafayette telecasts and networking pub nights at local restaurants.  Greg’s contributions were extraordinary, and we are confident that Cindi will do a tremendous job taking over the reins. 

With its eyes towards the future, the Lehigh Club of Pittsburgh is looking to increase alumni participation and also include more sports-based events, like softball games and crew races on Pittsburgh’s great rivers.  There will also be quarterly club board meetings at area restaurants and more positions on the board of directors to encourage and reward involvement with the club.  We applaud the efforts of the Lehigh Alumni Club of Pittsburgh, both for its present success and for its excitement for what is to come. 

2007-2008 activities:
This nomination is from the most recent LEHIGHLIGHTS, which includes all of the club’s most recent activities.