UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Eight Penn State alumni selected by the University's Board of Trustees will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, the institution's highest honor presented to its alumni.
The following individuals have been officially notified of their selection by the board and were invited to accept the award from the University later this year:
- Abdul F. Alias, former group president and chief executive officer of May Bank. He earned a bachelor of science from the Smeal College of Business in 1990.
- Toni R. Ardabell, chief of clinical enterprise operations for Inova Health System. She earned a bachelor of science from the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing in 1976.
- Barbara G. Cohen, retired founder and president of Kannon Consulting. She earned a bachelor of arts from the College of the Liberal Arts in 1974.
- Gregory T. Lucier, chief executive officer of Corza Health, and managing director, RiverRoad Capital Partners. He earned a bachelor of science from the College of Engineering in 1986 and graduated with honors from the University Scholars Program, predecessor to the Schreyer Honors College.
- Fredrick L. Metzger, Jr., founder and medical director of Metzger Animal Hospital. He earned a bachelor of science from the College of Agricultural Sciences in 1981.
- George H. Miller, managing partner and chief operating officer, Meier Partners. He earned a bachelor of science from the College of Arts and Architecture in 1973.
- Ala Stanford, American pediatric surgeon and founder of R.E.A.L. Concierge Medicine. She earned a bachelor of science in 1991 from the Eberly College of Science and a doctor of medicine in 1997 from the College of Medicine.
- Thomas M. Verducci, American sportswriter, commentator and analyst. He earned a bachelor of arts from the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications in 1982.
Established by the Board of Trustees in 1951, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor that the University bestows upon an outstanding alumna or alumnus.
The award salutes the achievements of outstanding alumni whose “personal lives, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of their alma mater.”
The award is commemorated by the presentation of both an inscribed certificate and an engraved bronze medallion displayed in a box handcrafted from the wood of the historic Penn State American elm trees that once flourished on the University Park campus.