MANSFIELD, Pa. – Five Mansfield University alumni and an
employee were recognized for their outstanding achievements and contributions
during the Society of Honors Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 30 at North Manser
Hall.
Cynthia Pritchard ’87, president and CEO of the PASSHE
Foundation in Harrisburg, Pa. was recognized as the Alumni Citation inductee.
Established in 1969, the Alumni Citation Award recognizes a member of the
alumni community who has made exceptional contributions to society through
professional, civic, philanthropic work, and leadership activities.
Pritchard is a legacy graduate of Mansfield, earning her
bachelor of arts in psychology. She has over 35 years of executive planning,
administration, communications, and programmatic experience in the nonprofit
and private sectors.
Under Pritchard’s leadership, the Pennsylvania State System
of Higher Education (PASSHE) Foundation serves as a strategic thought partner
and administrator for the #Prepared4PA program. This program profoundly and
positively impacts State System universities, including Mansfield. “The
time is now for higher education, a key driver of local economies in the Commonwealth,
to be innovative in creating short-term, diverse, equitable, and inclusive
credentialing opportunities for individuals in Pennsylvania,” said
Pritchard.
Bobbi Kilmer ’84, President of the Mansfield University
Council of Trustees, was recognized as the Elsie Burk Service Award inductee.
Established in 1983, the Elsie Burk Award recognizes a member of the alumni
community who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, loyalty, and service to
the university over a long period of time.
A native of Towanda, Pa., Kilmer graduated from Mansfield
with a bachelor of science in business administration. She is also a graduate
of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Robert I. Kabat Management
Internship Program at the University of Nebraska.
Kilmer has been a member of the MU Council of Trustees since
2013 and is currently the Council Chairperson. During the induction ceremony,
it was noted that Kilmer has maintained a steady hand, on-boarding and working
collaboratively with several leadership teams at Mansfield during her tenure.
Katherine Villone ’93, a 4th-grade teacher at Franklin
Elementary School in Bergenfield, N.J., was recognized as the Distinguished
Educator inductee. First presented in 1986, the Distinguished Educator Award
recognizes a member of the alumni community or university staff who is an
exceptional leader and demonstrates service and commitment to education.
Villone is a longtime native of New Jersey who came to
Mansfield University and earned a bachelor of science in Education. She was the
only teacher from New Jersey nominated as the Life Changer of the Year out of
600 educators across the country.
Dr. Kristine Shaw ’00, business owner and veterinarian at
Grand Canyon Veterinary Hospital in Wellsboro, Pa., was recognized as the
Outstanding Young Alumni inductee. Established in 1986, the Outstanding Young
Alumni Award recognizes a member of the alumni community who has graduated from
Mansfield University within the last 25 years. The award recognizes a young
alum’s outstanding leadership, achievement, and professional performance.
Shaw earned a bachelor of science in biology at Mansfield
before graduating from Penn State and Murdoch Universities. Shaw is expanding
her veterinary footprint in the Wellsboro area and will collaborate with
Mansfield, Bloomsburg, and Lock Haven Universities through the Professional U
programs. Modeled after Bloomsburg’s highly successful program, Professional U
is being developed at Mansfield and Lock Haven to provide students campus-wide
with experiential learning opportunities, including internships, job shadowing,
research projects, international study, and alumni networking. Professional U
is primarily supported through professional experience grants.
Eric Evans ’19, curriculum developer for law enforcement
agencies throughout the United States, was recognized as the Innovation &
Inclusion inductee. Established in 2022, the Innovation & Inclusion Award
recognizes a member of the alumni community or friend of Mansfield University
who has made advancing efforts to society by establishing a collaborative
environment that empowers individuals with knowledge that fosters innovation.
Evans, a resident of Philadelphia, graduated with a degree
in liberal arts with minors in communications and geology. Evans is a
high-functioning professional with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Eric has dedicated his life to making a global
difference by advancing education and knowledge of ASD within law enforcement
agencies. Through Evans’ efforts, he is reducing the communication barrier
between law enforcement personnel and the general public, making the world a
safer and equitable exchange space. Evans attributes much of his success to
Scott Henry ’84 (retired Pennsylvania State Police Trooper and MU Chief of
Police) for “taking a chance on me.”
Jim Welch, environmental health & safety director at
Mansfield University, was recognized as the Health, Safety & Wellness inductee.
Established in 2022, the Health, Safety & Wellness Award recognizes a
member of the alumni community or friend of Mansfield University who has made
outstanding efforts to advance the health, safety, and wellness of the MU
community.
Since the start of the disease, Welch has led the
university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to his role
overseeing the health, safety and wellness on campus, Welch has served as the
Fire Chief of the Mansfield Hose Company for 18 years and has been an EMS/Paramedic
for Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital for 21 years. Welch is identified
as a true community hero who is selfless and lives with a service to others mantra.
The Mansfield University Society of Honors program can be
traced back to 1969. It is believed the Society of Honors program was
established largely through the efforts of the Alumni Association Board of
Directors. This tradition and support continue today.
The original purpose of the Society was to recognize the
outstanding achievements of Mansfield Alumni. This year, the Alumni Association
was pleased to share that the Society has been extended to friends and
supporters of Mansfield University through the newly added Innovation &
Inclusion and Health, Safety & Wellness awards.
To nominate an individual for the Society of Honors program, visit mansfield.edu/alumni/alumni-awards.