Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007
Westminster College will award Alumni Citations to David Black, the Rev. Dr. Daniel Merry and Mrs. Beth Brown Merry, and Dr. Bille Jean Pearce Rondinelli, and Jason Kalajainen will receive the Outstanding Young Alumni Award at the annual Citation Celebration Reception and Dinner Friday, Sept. 28, in the Witherspoon Rooms of the McKelvey Campus Center.
The Westminster College Alumni Citations were created to recognize alumni who achieved significant accomplishments in their profession, or made meaningful contributions to the community or Westminster. The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes alumni of 15 years or less who are making significant contributions as they build careers, serve their communities or Westminster.
Black, a 1975 graduate, serves as president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). The organization is a recognized leader in member services, legislative advocacy, and economic development with over $200 million in projects, creating and retaining over 9,000 jobs since 2001. Before joining the Chamber Black served in key roles for Gov. Tom Ridge, including chief operating officer of Team Pennsylvania and deputy secretary in the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). He played a leadership role merging two departments to form DCED. He served as Clarion County Commissioner, becoming involved in economic development activities throughout Western Pennsylvania. Black serves on a number of Boards in the Harrisburg region. He has served as a Little League coach, a band booster and a football booster, as well as an elder in the Presbyterian church.
Dan Merry, a 1977 alumnus with a degree in religion, earned a doctor of ministry degree from Union Theological Seminary and a diploma from American Summer Institute at St. Andrews University in Scotland. He served as pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Pittston and at John McMillan Presbyterian Church. After serving as associate pastor for medium and large churches for Pittsburgh Presbytery, he was called to be head of staff at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh in 2006.
Beth Merry, a 1976 graduate with a degree in religion and speech, earned a master's in cross cultural communications at Wheaton College and studied at St. Andrews Summer Institute. She is currently an adjunct instructor in the communication and English departments at Waynesburg College, having worked at the Wilkes-Barre campus of The Pennsylvania State University, Allegheny Community College, Robert Morris University, and Washington and Jefferson College. From August 2004-July 2005, the Merrys and their daughters, Heather and Brooke, were missionaries in Malawi, Africa, as part of a partnership between Pittsburgh Presbytery and the Synod of Blantyre, Church of Central Africa Presbyterian. Dan was acting general secretary of Blantyre Synod and Beth worked at the Handicapped Center, the camp and conference center, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and the Open Arms Orphanage.
Rondinelli, a 1979 alumna, received a degree in English and communications. She earned a master's in education and certification as an elementary and secondary principal from Westminster, and a doctor of education degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She is assistant superintendent/secondary for the Pine-Richland School District, focusing on the secondary curriculum and coordinating professional staff development. Her previous experience included positions in the Shenango Area School District, Kent State University, Mentor High School, Mt. Lebanon school system, and Moon Area School District. She is involved with many professional and academic associations and has received honors that include the Giant Eagle "Class Act" teacher recognition award and "Who's Who among High School Teachers."
Kalajainen graduated in 1997 with a degree in political science and studio art and continued his studies for a master's of education in non-profit administration from Vanderbilt University. He has worked with the United Way of Erie County, the Ann Arbor Art Center, and the Holland Area Arts Council. Since 2005, he has been executive director of Ox-Bow School of Art and Artist's Residency, a 97-year-old program with a strong affiliation with the School of Art Institute of Chicago. He manages the operating budget, oversees their assets, develops relationships with academic programs, and is spokesman for Ox-Bow's history and mission with the national arts community. Active on community committees and boards, he has served as juror in exhibitions, art shows and fairs, and as a grant reviewer.
Contact Mary Cooley James '84, director of alumni relations, at (724) 946-7363 or e-mail mjames@westminster.edu for additional information.
