Homecoming weekend at Elizabethtown College is not only a time for showcasing the athletic abilities of current students, but a weekend for displaying the success of alumni as well. On Saturday, Oct. 20, there will be three award ceremonies honoring the hard work and success of Etown’s past students and their efforts in continuing the College’s tradition of excellence.
The Distinguished Alumni Award from the education department will be given to 1967 graduate Dr. Donald Myers. Mark Dreibelbis, from the class of 1976, will be the recipient of the Doris Gordon Alumni Award from the occupational therapy department. In addition, Susan (Martin) Touchinsky will be given the Distinguished Young Graduate Award from this department.
The departments of chemistry and biochemistry will be giving the O.F. Stambaugh Award to Debbie (Aumen) Wright from the class of 1977. This award honors Dr. Oscar F. Stambaugh for his four decades of service as a professor and the chair of the department. The first award given in his name was awarded in 1974.
“Under his leadership, programs in chemistry achieved national recognition by the American Chemical Society, and graduates found increasing opportunities for careers of productive service in chemistry and medicine,” Dr. Kristi Kneas, associate professor of chemistry and the department chair of chemistry and biochemistry, said. “The award is presented annually to recognize distinguished professional achievement in chemistry or medicine by a graduate.”
This year’s ceremony will mark the 36th anniversary of this annual recognition. Recipients of this award are chosen based on their professional accomplishments, as well as their service to society. “Curriculum vitae are solicited from candidates and reviewed by departmental faculty members, who select the award winner,” Kneas said.
This award gives the department an opportunity to showcase the success of its alumni and the positive influence that they have had on society since graduating from Etown. “It is a tremendous honor to be among the short list of alumni who have been recognized with an award that was created to honor one of the department’s most exceptional faculty emeriti,” Kneas stated.
Wright was chosen to be this year’s recipient because she is a “prime example of lifelong learning and the pursuit of purposeful work.” After earning her degree in biology and chemistry/medical technology from Etown, she began working as a hospital medical technologist. In 1998, she earned her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania and has been practicing clinical veterinary medicine at VCA Sinking Spring Animal Hospital for the past 14 years. She also served as the director of the practice in her most recent year.
She recently accepted a position of practice development veterinarian for Hill’s Pet Nutrition in Minneapolis, MN. In this new position, she teaches veterinarians and technologists about the usage of prescription diets and how to treat, control and prevent diseases in domestic pets.