Executives, entrepreneurs honored for achievement

The Grove City College Alumni Association honors four alumni who have made significant contributions in their fields with the 55th annual Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Awards.

“The winners this year are among 185 alumni recognized for the award,” Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod, senior director of Alumni and College Relations said. “Their companies have shown outstanding measurable success, but they individually have had leadership success, bringing true honor to their alma mater.”

The four recipients are:

Karen (Semler ’92) Hanlon is the executive vice president and COO at Pittsburgh’s Highmark Health. In 2018, the Pittsburgh Business Times named her a CFO of the Year winner. A board member for several Highmark Health subsidiaries, she earlier served on the boards of Leadership Pittsburgh and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.

Jack Kopnisky ’78 is president and CEO of Sterling Bancorp and its principal banking subsidiary Sterling National Bank. He serves on Sterling’s boards, as well as with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the Westchester County Association. He has chaired many non-profit boards focused on inner-city development and youth services.

James Segerdahl ’84 serves as global managing partner of law firm K&L Gates LLP. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, he is an author of various publications and the co-author of the leading treatise in the area of insurance coverage law. He serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.

Richard Staley ’62 founded Flavor House, Inc. in 1977, a developer and manufacturer of unique flavors used by brands such as McCormick and Maruchan. It has remained a privately-owned 100 percent debt-free company. Earlier in his career, Staley served as plant manager for flavoring company Tate & Lyle in Chicago. He is also an advocate of supporting educational programs in both STEM and entrepreneurship.

The College will honor awardees with a dinner on Oct. 4 during Homecoming 2019 at Carnegie Alumni Center. The Kennedy award dinner brings together alumni and friends of the College, retired and active faculty and students. It is a highlight of the festive weekend.

The Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement award originated in 1964 with a class of honorees that included the College’s third president Weir C. Ketler, who graduated in 1908, legendary benefactor and Trustee Chair J. Howard Pew (1900), noted scientist George Southworth (1914), pastor and theologian Rev. F. Paul McConkey (1909) and coach and athletic director Robert E. Thorn (1916). The award was renamed in honor and memory of professor and administrator Jack Kennedy ’37, who served the college for 32 years until his retirement in 1980.

For more about Grove City College Alumni Association and Homecoming, visit www.alumni.gcc.edu.

Executives, entrepreneurs honored for achievement

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