ÁÔÆæÖØ¿ÚÊÓƵ University's Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes a person(s) who demonstrates the valuable contributions to his/her professions, community and their nation. The following ÁÔÆæÖØ¿ÚÊÓƵ alumni received the award from 1995 through 1999. All biographical information current at the time of the award.
1995
- Bruce A. Smith
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Degrees:
- AS Business Administration, Penn State 1975
- Bachelor of Arts in Accounting '83
Bio:Bruce A. Smith served as Vice President – Administration (MIS, Human Resources, Environmental, Legal, Business Development) at battery manufacturer Yuasa-Exide, Inc. before teaching finance and business analytics/capstone at Jack Welch Management Institute, a for-profit online educational institution that features one of the nation’s top 20 online MBA programs. He has served on the board of directors at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church and is a former advisor for Junior Achievement, the global nonprofit youth organization.
- Ronald M. Mikula
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Degrees:
- AS, Reading Area Community College 1976
- Bachelor of Arts in American History '78
- Graduate Student, 20th Century American History, Kutztown University June 1978-May 1980
Bio:Ronald M. Mikula worked as Quality Control Manager and Food Safety Specialist – International Division at Giorgio Foods, Inc. He received a Better Process Control School Certification in 1991 and participated in a workshop on thermal process development in 1994. The Holy Name Society Member of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church served as chairman of the Alumni Annual Fund from 1984 through 1986, and as president of the ÁÔÆæÖØ¿ÚÊÓƵ Alumni Association from 1987 to 1991.
1996
- Col. John K. Schafer
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Degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice System Administration '76
- Graduate of F.B.I. National Academy 1981
Bio:Col. John K. Schafer rose through the ranks of Pennsylvania State Police, ascending from trooper to commissioner. He won the Governor’s Award for Excellence – for loyalty, dedication and outstanding performance – in 1969.
- Jeffrey A. Smith
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Degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration '86
Bio:Jeffrey A. Smith, a Financial Services Professional at MassMutual Financial Group and a former financial planner at Bleakley, Dwyer, Schwartz, Cooney and Finney, LLC, served on ÁÔÆæÖØ¿ÚÊÓƵ's Alumni Executive Board for five years. The board member of Oakside-Bloomfield Cultural Center and the Essex Council of Boy Scouts of America was elected to the Town Council of the Township of Bloomfield, N.J. Smith is also a trustee of the Bloomfield Knights of Columbus Council #1178.
- Sue D. Reese
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Degrees:
- AA Keystone Jr. College 1957
- Bachelor of Arts in Communications '83
Bio:Sue D. Reese, Vice President of Tom Reese & Associates Advertising, is a former publicity chairman for the ÁÔÆæÖØ¿ÚÊÓƵ Scholarship Ball. She is a board member at the Berks County Chamber of Commerce, where she chairs the Athena Awards. She is also a board member at Threshold Rehabilitation Services and the American Lung Association-Berks/Lancaster Chapter, and a past board member of the Reading Public Library Community Council and Red Cross-Berks County Chapter Mentors for Berks Youth.
1998
- Claire D. Flemming
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Degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts in Banking & Finance '77
- Certified Paralegal – Berks Campus Penn State 1991
Bio:Claire D. Flemming, retired Senior Vice President & Corporate Secretary at Dauphin Deposit Corp., is a former member of the ÁÔÆæÖØ¿ÚÊÓƵ Alumni Association Executive Board. The former Certified Internal Auditor was very active with local organizations, chairing the Women’s Business Committee of the Berks County Chamber, serving as past president of the Berks County Chapter of A.I.B. and Financial Women International (Berks), serving as director of the Friends of the Reading Museum Board and the Reading Symphony Orchestra (where she also was a member of the Diversity Committee) and participating in the Berks County Senior Citizen’s Orchestra.
- Kathleen W. Kleppinger
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Degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts in Banking & Finance '83
- Graduate School of Banking at Bucknell University
Bio:Kathleen W. Kleppinger, retired Vice President/Financial Consultant at Morgan Stanley/Smith Barney, is a former member of ÁÔÆæÖØ¿ÚÊÓƵ's Board of Trustees. In 2011, Kleppinger received a Take the Lead award from the Girls Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, which recognizes some of the region's most notable women of courage, confidence, character and exemplary leadership. She also was 2nd Vice Chairman of the Berks County Chapter of American Red Cross, Chairman of the Nominating Committee at the American Red Cross, President of the Professional Referral Network, Assistant Treasurer at Atonement Lutheran Church, a member of the Board of Directors at the Berks Dinner Club and a member of the Finance Committee at NAVHDA. She is a past board member of United Way, Junior Achievement, American Heart Association (Berks/Schuylkill Counties), Campfire Boys and Girls, and Reading Symphony Orchestra.
1999
- Nancy Adam
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Degrees:
- A.S. Physical Therapy 1987
Bio:Nancy Adam worked on the South/Southeast Asia Desk of the U.S. Agency for International Development, a partner of the U.S. Peace Corps. She also was a Catholic Medical Mission Board Volunteer in South Africa from 1988 to 1990, a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica from 1991 to 1993, and a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand from 1994 to 1996. In addition, she was an HIV Test Results Counselor at Whitman-Walker Clinic and an Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor.
