Achievement Award Winners to Be Honored

The 2005 Alumni Achievement Award winners will be honored at the 2005 Alumni Achievement Awards Luncheon. Winners were selected earlier this year by the Alumni Association Achievement Awards Committee. For more information about attending the luncheon, contact the Alumni Relations Office, or go to www.myMuhlenberg.com to register.

Sandra Smith Bodnyk ‘73 — Alumni Service to the College
Bodnyk has served on the Board of Associates for more than a decade, and has been president since 2000. She is a Life member of the Alumni Trust Fund, a Career Network Volunteer and a member of the President’s Strategic Plan Correspondence Group. She is the Executive Vice President of Keystone Nazareth Bank & Trust. In addition to her service to Muhlenberg, Bodnyk gives tirelessly as a volunteer to the community. She is a Board Member and Treasurer of the United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley, a Board Member to the Good Shepherd Home, and serves on the President’s Council at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

Thomas Kelsall, Ph.D. ‘55 — Alumni Lifetime Achievement
Kelsall is a retired astrophysicist who worked for NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center from 1958-1998. He is recognized as one of few cosmologists in the world. Kelsall was part of the group of scientists that eventually proved the Big Bang theory. He worked on John Glenn’s first ride to space, was a project director on the Hubble telescope, and has received numerous awards from NASA for his achievements. In addition to his vast professional accomplishments, Kelsall has served the College by participating in Alumni in the Classroom Week, where he has shared his professional experiences with current Muhlenberg students. (A more detailed profile on Kelsall is provided on page 16).

Connie Kunda — Service to the College by a Friend
Kunda is the retired Associate Athletic Director and Wellness Director at Muhlenberg. She was a professor in the physical education department from 1966 until she retired in 2001. Kunda founded the Wellness Institute at Muhlenberg in 1982 and developed a comprehensive Student Wellness Program. Kunda’s commitment to teaching healthy lifestyles led to the development of a curriculum and programs that serve in conjunction with the overall mission of the College. Kunda’s commitment to Muhlenberg continues as she still serves the College as a guest lecturer in Wellness Core Courses.

John Rosenberg ‘63 — Alumni Leadership
Rosenberg served the Alumni Association as President from 1999-2003. Under his leadership and direction the Association renewed its mission “to cultivate among its members a sense of pride and lifetime commitment to the Muhlenberg community.” Rosenberg is a Life member of the Alumni Trust Fund, and was instrumental in securing funding from the Alumni Trust Fund to support Alumni Association initiatives. Currently Rosenberg serves as a member of the Board of Trustees, and was a member of the Presidential Search Committee that named Randy Helm as Muhlenberg’s 11th President.

Mike Doyle ‘94 — Outstanding Young Alumni Recognition Award
Doyle is the Vice President of Corporate Communications for NBC Universal. His work responsibilities include managing communications for the NBCU division focused on digital media, business development and international channels. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Doyle is an active alumni volunteer. He has served as the Reunion Chair for his class, is an active member of the Muhlenberg Career Network, and has participated in regional alumni activities.

Debra Scurnick Block ‘86 — Tricorn Award
The Tricorn Award is a recognition award given for a particular project over a limited period of time. Block is being honored for her work as the Chairperson of the 20 Year Celebration of Sororities that was held in April 2004. For 12 months, Block worked tirelessly to identify volunteers, design programming and recruit attendees for the weekend. Block did not let her location (Florida) stand in the way of creating a memorable weekend. Through countless hours of planning and dedication, she and the committee of volunteers with whom she worked, organized a three-day celebration that resulted in 175 alumnae, representing all 20 years since sororities were founded, returning to ‘Berg for an unforgettable weekend.