|
|
|
|
 |
|
THRASHER, SMITH NAMED 2007 CAMPUS-COMMUNITY WINNERS |
|
|
|
|
October 26, 2007
GROVE CITY, Pa. – The Grove City College Florence E. MacKenzie Campus-Community Awards selection committee has chosen two community leaders as the 2007 recipients: Dr. James T. Thrasher ’80, Grove City College director of career services, and Leann B. Smith, former Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce director.
Beginning in 1971 until her death in 1981, Florence E. MacKenzie faithfully served Grove City College and the community of Grove City. As wife of former president Dr. Charles S. MacKenzie, she sought to establish strong town-gown relationships. An active member of numerous local organizations, she served as president of the former Grove City Hospital’s board.
Campus honoree Dr. James T. Thrasher, a member of the Grove City College Class of 1980, serves as his alma mater’s director of career services and assistant professor of humanities and religion. He has been employed at the College and has lived in the Borough for 25 years. During those years, he has served both the College and the town in a variety of ways. As the director of a department ranked 17th nationally for career services, he has been a consultant/speaker for the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Guidance Department at Grove City High School. He also also served as a career counselor to local citizens outplaced from their jobs, a speaker for the Grove City Kiwanis and a speaker for the Grove City Homeschooling Association.
“He is completely dedicated to his family, his work, his community and our Lord,” wrote one nominator.
Thrasher also has served as president, personnel committee chairman, chairman of the capital campaign and board member at Grove City Christian Academy. A member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, he has taught Sunday school and youth and has participated in community work projects and in outreach to inmates at the Mercer County Correctional Facility. He has served as a deacon at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church and has volunteered at the New Castle City Rescue Mission.
Thrasher has coached Grove City Little League Baseball and Football, YMCA T-Ball, and Mercer Area Youth Soccer. He currently serves as the chairman of the President’s Council at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary and has preached at area churches in Eau Claire, Cherry Valley, Sharon, Clarion and Stoneboro.
Beyond his career services and teaching responsibilities, Thrasher has been actively involved in campus life by mentoring students, advising the men’s club lacrosse team and speaking at on-campus Bible studies, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Salt Company, Chapel, the Greek Chapel Service, varsity football recruiting luncheons and to varsity sports teams. He is a member of The Center for Vision & Values Vocational Calling working group and the Fencing Club. A regular player in lunchtime faculty basketball, Thrasher has hit the hardwood in student-faculty basketball games and has run in the Lauren Castanza Challenge 5K Race and the annual Phi Sig Sunset Sprint 5K Race.
Thrasher holds an Ed.D from Nova Southeastern University and a master’s degree from Slippery Rock University. He and his wife, the former Kristy White, a Grove City College graduate from the Class of 1986, have four children: Caleb, Matthew, Elizabeth and Isaac.
Leann B. Smith served as the executive director of the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce and is now the owner of Wolf Creek Marketing, a marketing and public relations business. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Allegheny College and a master’s degree in English from Slippery Rock University.
Smith led the Chamber of Commerce from 2004-07. During her tenure, the Chamber introduced the Grove City Community Guide, the shopgrovecity.com web site, the Business Leaders Roundtable, the monthly Chamber newsletter and more. Smith also organized the Olde Town Initiative and wrote the grant for downtown Grove City’s acceptance into the Pennsylvania Main Street Program. Additionally, Smith worked to develop concept and funding for the downtown Joseph D. Monteleone Youth Festival Park, set to be constructed in 2008.
Wrote one nominator, “Leann has worked very hard to help the community grow and develop … but always recognized the benefit to both the business community and the College of excellent ‘town-gown’ relations.”
Smith also served as administrator for the 79-80 Interstate Development Corporation and continues as vice president of its board. In this role, Smith assisted with business retention, as well as cultivating and assisting new industrial, commercial and tourism business in the area, often leading people to the downtown area and to Grove City College.
From 2002-04 Smith served as executive director for the Grove City Area United Way. She also served the United Way from 1991-94 as the organization’s first executive director. The Day of Caring program was introduced to the community under her leadership there.
Smith was also an adjunct instructor at Grove City College from 1994-99, where she taught various public relations and advertising courses. She has continued to share real-life lessons with students by utilizing them as interns, committee members, focus groups and volunteers for Chamber and United Way projects and initiatives. She also has worked as marketing director for convention hotels in Charleston, South Carolina and Philadelphia.
Smith is active on several boards including Grove City Revitalization, Inc., the Olde Town Initiative, 79-80 Interstate Development Corporation, Mercer County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and Penn Northwest Development Corporation.
Smith also has served on the charter YMCA board of directors as well as YMCA capital campaigns. She served as President of United Community Hospital volunteers and as secretary of the Grove City Borough Recreation Council.
Smith resides in Pine Township with her husband, Dr. Edward Smith, a physician for Grove City College students and athletes who serves as the Medical Director of Zerbe Health and Wellness Center. The Smiths have three children: Chelsea and Ian, both Pittsburgh, and Abby, who resides with her husband, Britton Wolfe, in Ann Arbor, Mich.
| |
|
|
|
|
Print Page