President Hendricks Awards Coins for Excellence to Select Individuals

MANSFIELD, PA— In one of his first actions after becoming president of Mansfield University in 2013, Fran Hendricks developed the Presidential Coin for Excellence. It is awarded selectively to persons who have distinguished themselves and the University through their accomplishments, using the Mansfield Creed; Character, Scholarship, Culture and Service as a guideline.

As he prepared to retire, Hendricks commissioned a select committee to identify individuals who, although not honored to this point, are deserving of recognition for their contributions to Mansfield.

“Everyone identified by the committee is deserving of this honor for the contributions they made to our university, our community and our nation,” Hendricks said. “Each, in their own way, has brought honor to Mansfield.”

The following individuals, identified by era, will be honored with the Mansfield University Presidential Coin for Excellence:

1857-1900 Era
Joseph S. Hoard, Founder of Mansfield Classical Seminary
Hughie Jennings, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame
Asa Mann, Founder of Mansfield

1900-1940 Era
Chester P. Bailey ’35
Herbert Williams ’38
Orson Wilcox ’15

1940-1980 Era
Bertram Francis, Professor Emeritus of Music
William Robertson ’73
Dennis Miller ’71
Tom Brookens ’75

1980-2000 Era
Rebecca Knight Suzik ’93
Ali Soufan ’95
James Glimm, Professor Emeritus of English
Steven Crawford ’81
Richard Talbot, Professor Emeritus of Music

2000-Present Era
Michael Vayansky, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Physics
Gale Largey, Professor Emeritus of Sociology
Daniel Teodoro ’14
Gene and Irene Walsh
Robert Maris, Professor of Biology
Scott Davis, Professor of Chemistry
Richard Soderberg, Professor Emeritus of Biology/Fisheries
Keen Buss, Former Professor of Biology/Fisheries

“Some of these people are being honored posthumously and we are making every attempt to contact family members to receive the coin for their relatives,” Hendricks said.

“I hope that this tradition continues after my retirement,” he added. “Perhaps using this committee method, a group of deserving individuals could be honored annually.”

The coin was developed by Hendricks and designed by MU Senior Graphics Designer Andy Worthington. It bears several symbols representing historical highlights and other aspects of the university that make it distinctive.

For more information on the Mansfield University Presidential Coin for Excellence and to see the gallery of honorees, go to president.mansfield.edu/coin-for-excellence