2019 Award Recipients

Blue Citation Recipients

Richard Stenberg ’69

Richard “Rick” Stenberg has a noteworthy history of serving Allegheny, sitting on the Alumni Council, participating regularly in his landmark reunion committees, acting as a Gator Greetings and Career Mentor volunteer, and representing the College at presidential inaugurations.

“I have worked with him most closely as co-chair of our 50th Reunion Committee this year,” says Barbara Pelander Hanniford ’69. “He is heading up the class gift effort as well as contributing more generally to all of the committee work. Rick’s professional background was in college fundraising, and it is wonderful to see him put his skills to work for Allegheny. Rick also served on our 40th and 45th reunion committees.”

Rick served on the Alumni Council from 2005 to 2012, including as its president in 2010–11. Alumni Council achieved a 100 percent participation rate in Annual Fund giving during his years as an officer, a remarkable achievement.

The work of the Alumni Council during his tenure included:

• Creating a self-assessment in an effort to evaluate and improve the experience of serving on council, making sure each member’s time and talents was used effectively.
• Creating a volunteer opportunities checklist to highlight a variety of ways Alumni Council members could contribute their skills and talents to the College on an ongoing basis.
• Engaging the council in the Summer Planning Group process that the College undertook in 2009 that led to the creation of the College’s strategic plan.
• Establishing a “mentor” program for new members, through which a new member was paired with a current member to help her or him feel welcome and answer questions.
• Planning fall meetings to coincide with the Admissions “Campus Visit Day” so council members could help greet families and prospective students.
• Developing an “Alumni Message” that was used to help guide alumni messaging about the College and the commitment of our alumni. This project involved surveying alumni about what Allegheny means to them, and what makes an Allegheny education special and distinctive. It resulted in an inspiring “statement of commitment” that appeared in the Allegheny magazine, on the website, and on the back of all gift receipts for many years.
• Taking an active role in thanking and recognizing first-time and young donors by sending personal thank you notes.
• Increasing regular communication to council members between meetings by instituting a “Monthly Council Update” email that included current council activities and “Council Spotlights” that highlighted members’ achievements outside of council.

In addition to his Alumni Council and Reunion Committee work, Rick has served Allegheny by being a Gator Greetings volunteer from 2007 to 2009, an inauguration representative in 2017, a Gator Locator Career Mentor, and as an Our Allegheny: Our Third Century Quest campaign volunteer in 2012.

Allegheny is proud to recognize Rick’s extensive involvement and willingness to serve the College by presenting him with the Blue Citation.

Robert Woodworth ’69

Robert “Bob” Woodworth has been busy for the past five decades, forging a successful career in the news media. He has also found the time to support Allegheny College unfailingly for many years and in many volunteer roles. He served 12 years on the Allegheny College Board of Trustees. When his elected term as a trustee drew to a close in 2012, Allegheny President James H. Mullen, Jr. said to Bob: “Having you and Joyce as a part of this remarkable group has meant a great deal to us over the years, and Allegheny is a better place as a result of our partnership with you.” He remains a trustee emeritus.

As a trustee, Bob served on the Tradition & Transformation Campaign Steering Committee and as chair of the Alumni Affairs and Development Committee. He also served on the Case Statement and Communications Pre-Campaign Planning Committee and as chair of the current Our Allegheny: Our Third Century Quest comprehensive campaign’s Feasibility Study Committee. In addition to his dedicated service as a trustee, Bob has served as a donor relations volunteer and as a member of the panel that screens candidates for the College’s annual Prize for Civility in Public Life. He has written letters to members of the Timothy Alden Council thanking them for their generosity. He also participated in the Volunteers in Service to Allegheny program, sending letters to accepted students encouraging them to enroll at the College.

Financially, his generous contributions have elevated him to membership in the President’s Society, which honors individuals whose lifetime giving to Allegheny totals $100,000 or more. Throughout the years, Bob has been — and continues to be — a loyal supporter of the Annual Fund. In addition to his Annual Fund gifts, Bob and his wife, Joyce, made a significant commitment to the Admissions Welcome Center project. This generous investment helped transform the Phi Gamma Delta house into what is now the 454 House, a beautiful space that provides a warm welcome for prospective students and families. “In addition to his financial support for the project, Bob was instrumental in working with his fraternity brothers to make the project possible,” says Marjie Klein, senior vice president for Development & Alumni Affairs.

Additionally, Bob is a member of the William Bentley Legacy Society, which recognizes people who have provided for Allegheny College in their estate plans.

Bob graduated from Allegheny with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He also holds an MBA from the University of Virginia. While at Allegheny, he was involved in Phi Gamma Delta, The Kaldron, The Campus, intramural sports, and campus radio station WARC.

Allegheny proudly recognizes Bob’s efforts on behalf of the College with the Blue Citation.

Gold Citation Recipients

Kyle Shenandoah ’09

Allegheny College prides itself on graduating students who will change the world in positive ways. Just 10 years since earning his diploma here, Kyle Shenandoah is having a major impact on his South Philadelphia community and those who live there.

Kyle has emerged as a new, young, and dynamic civic leader and community organizer. His efforts in addressing community needs have been an invaluable force of change in South Philadelphia, according to Michael C. Bradley, fellow Philadelphia activist and president of the Grays Ferry Civic Association.

After establishing a successful career as a social worker, financial advisor, and teacher, Kyle has turned his focus to addressing urban blight in his neighborhood. “Drawing on his background in finance and community organizing, his goal in community activism is geared toward finding solutions to three central issues of poverty: workforce development, gentrification, and transportation,” says Bradley.

Since 2017, Kyle has been using his personal social media accounts to connect employers and potential employees. He has so far posted over 3,000 job openings and has connected over 4,000 people to jobs. “Although he established a great following online, Kyle saw that the digital divide in his community meant many residents were unable to successfully apply for positions online, and he began the next step of single-handedly organizing job fairs,” Bradley says.

Although Kyle’s first job fair in 2017 was a success, his next career fair in 2018 was a tremendous accomplishment. On June 9, 2018, he partnered with the University of Pennsylvania, the National Workforce Opportunity Network, the Urban League of Philadelphia, and neighborhood nonprofits to organize the largest career fair in South Philadelphia. More than 60 employers were in attendance, and the event had an RSVP list of more than 600 job seekers.

Kyle’s most impactful and recent accomplishment is the successful advocacy of the South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) bus route 49. On February 24, 2019, the bus began its new service route. This accomplishment earned him the 2019 Community Leader Award from the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations and first place for Public Policy and Systems Change at the Philadelphia Innovations Awards by the Social Innovations Journal.

Kyle sits on the boards of numerous community organizations, including one he co-founded, the Tasker-Morris Neighbors Association, which addresses gentrification through regular community meetings and town halls with prospective developers. His active role in addressing gentrification led Kyle to be selected as a speaker for the 2019 TEDx Philadelphia, where he continues to share community conversations and concerns with people outside his community.

Allegheny is proud to present its Gold Citation to Kyle Shenandoah.

Stuart Armstrong ’81

Even as Stuart Armstrong has expertly supported clients as a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, he has also made a meaningful difference by putting his talents to work for the betterment of many communities.

“It’s clear throughout Stuart’s life that volunteering and service to a variety of communities have been at the heart and soul of who Stuart is and what he aspires to, whether it be extending financial planning opportunities to underserved communities or helping secure a voice at the table for advocacy efforts for birds and wildlife,” writes Sarah Thorne-Locke ’81, who nominated Stuart for the Gold Citation.

About five years after his graduation from Allegheny, Stuart began his career in financial planning. In the midst of the AIDS crisis in the mid-1980s, he collaborated with staff from New England’s largest AIDS-support organization to create a financial awareness workshop for AIDS patients and volunteers assisting them. He went on to serve as president of the board of directors for another support organization, Positive Directions, helping to guide it to its largest budget, staff size, and population served.

Stuart later served as a board member and the treasurer of PridePlanners, a national nonprofit that extends education and networking opportunities to financial planners who work with LGBTQ clients. He has been a leader in presenting on LGBTQ financial planning topics, speaking at conferences, publishing articles, and being interviewed by the national press. In 2010, Stuart became a liaison between PridePlanners and the Diversity Committee of the Financial Planning Association, the largest membership association of CFPs in the United States, chairing the committee in 2012. In 2013, he was selected to serve on the association’s national board of directors, serving a three-year term advocating for the organization on both the state and federal levels and continuing to address concerns about diversity within the profession.

Currently, Stuart is a member of the CFP Board’s Center for Financial Planning Advisory Council. The council’s work addresses the sustainability of the financial planning profession, including diversity and inclusion, succession planning, and awareness of the profession on college and university campuses. Indeed, Stuart visited Allegheny in September 2018 with Blaine Aikin ’76 to talk with students about potential career paths in their industry.

Reflecting his well-rounded life and a passion since his boyhood, Stuart has taken multiple birding trips in the U.S., as well as Cuba and Colombia. In addition, he was selected for the Advisory Council of the nation’s first Audubon Chapter, founded more than a century ago in Massachusetts.

Stuart is married to Mike Levesque, and they live in Milton, Massachusetts, and Wellfleet, Massachusetts.

Stuart Armstrong exemplifies Allegheny’s mission to promote intellectual, moral, and social development and encourage personal and civic responsibility. The College is delighted to recognize his outstanding service with the Gold Citation in appreciation of the great honor he has reflected upon his alma mater.

Dr. Cynthia Natali Potter ’79

Throughout her distinguished career, Cindy Potter has applied her expertise in service of others — not only in her home region of Western Pennsylvania but around the world.

A physical therapist with 40 years of experience, Cindy has particular empathy for the needs of children and adults with special needs. She founded the Physical Therapy Program at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf early in her career and became a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist when that specialty was new.

Cindy has worked diligently to improve the profession of physical therapy. She was appointed as a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy by two different governors and is currently the chair of the state board. She has been awarded recognition as a member of the Academy of Advanced Item Writers for the National Physical Therapy Exam, which physical therapists take to prove competence. Cindy served as a tenured associate professor and chair in the Graduate School of Physical Therapy at Slippery Rock University, and she has taught at Duquesne and Robert Morris universities.

Despite a busy professional schedule, Cindy has made community and civic service a priority. She guided the Honduras Hope Mission, Inc. to nonprofit status, serves as president of the organization, and has served annually with a medical team in a rural town in Honduras for 14 years. During the February 2019 medical trip, the mission cared for 2,626 individuals. The mission has a full-time presence in the community, distributing water filters and food, and delivering educational support to meet the needs of the most needy Hondurans. Cindy also led an event that raised $47,000 toward building a community center in La Villa de San Francisco, Honduras. The center seeks to increase the educational level of the children and adults in the community, enabling them to become self-sufficient in the modern world. Cindy has made a total of 22 mission trips to Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Peru, and Ukraine, in addition to Honduras.

In 2018, Cindy found time to serve as president or chair of five different professional or service organizations concurrently, and she has served as a member of the McCandless Town Council for 12 years. Cindy has also remained involved with her alma mater, including four years on the College’s Alumni Council. In recognition of her humanitarian and professional efforts, she has received the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association Humanitarian Award, the Federation of State Boards Outstanding Service Award twice, the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association Service Award, and the Junior League of Pittsburgh’s Anne D. Johnston Award.

As an accomplished professional, an engaged citizen, and a selfless volunteer, Cindy has proven herself most worthy of her alma mater’s Gold Citation. Allegheny is proud to honor Cindy for her extraordinary service and dedication.

Alumni Medal Recipients

Dr. Barbara Pelander Hanniford ’69

Barb’s commitment to Allegheny epitomizes what the Alumni Medal seeks to recognize — a lifetime of dedicated, remarkable and selfless service.

Ever since Barbara Pelander Hanniford graduated from Allegheny, her heart has never ventured far from campus, as she has consistently served the College in generous, impactful, and inspiring ways.

Barb is the co-chair for her 50th Reunion this weekend, helping to plan gatherings and activities, and encouraging classmates to attend this special celebration and contribute to the class gift. This wasn’t a new undertaking for Barb — she has been involved in helping to plan many of her class reunions.

“I can’t think of a single instance when Barb has declined a request from her alma mater to assist students, connect and engage alumni, or provide leadership that helps to advance the mission of the College,” said Phil Foxman ’90, associate vice president for Development and Alumni Affairs. “In fact, we rarely even get the opportunity to ask, because typically she already has volunteered! Barb’s commitment to Allegheny epitomizes what the Alumni Medal seeks to recognize — a lifetime of dedicated, remarkable and selfless service.”

Barb is involved at every level of the College community. She has served as a class agent for many years, reaching out to classmates to encourage them to engage with the College as volunteers and financial supporters. She has also served as a Career Mentor, providing advice and guidance to help students and alumni in their career development. Barb has written Gator Greetings for numerous years, sending handwritten notes to prospective students extolling the advantages of an Allegheny education.

Barb is a former president of the Alumni Council and provided great vision, direction, and focus during her tenure. She has participated on, and in many cases led, a variety of the Council’s committees and panels, including the Torchbearers Task Force, the Marketing Task Force, the Nomination and Awards Committee, and a group that developed the orientation program for new Council members. She also worked to help evaluate and improve Reunion Weekend for all alumni and make it easier for alumni to volunteer for the College.

During the College’s Tradition & Transformation capital campaign, Barb took on the role of ambassador, helping host campaign events across the country and speaking at those celebrations. She also served on the client committee that planned and oversaw the renovation of the Patricia Bush Tippie Alumni Center, and she co-chaired an effort to solicit current and former Alumni Council and Alumni Congress members for the purchase of the flagpole that stands on the alumni center’s west side.

Barb and her husband, Glenn ’68, have been very generous in their financial support of the College, including Allegheny in their estate plans and most recently making a multi-year commitment to the Annual Fund in honor of their 50th Reunions. “The Hannifords’ bequest is designated for the College’s general endowment, where it will touch every corner of the campus in perpetuity,” says Melissa Mencotti, Allegheny’s director of Gift Planning.

Barb has accomplished all this for Allegheny while also pursuing a lengthy and successful career. She received her doctorate in higher education administration from The Ohio State University and began her career at The Pennsylvania State University in 1979. She subsequently held positions at Ohio State, Kent State University, and then Cleveland State University. She retired from full-time work in 2011 after serving as dean of continuing education at Cleveland State for nine years and remains an adjunct faculty member there.

“Her half-century of leadership, counsel, and personal engagement with fellow graduates, faculty, staff, and undergraduates are a tribute to her alma mater, and she deserves special recognition and thanks,” says former Alumni Council President and classmate Richard W. Stenberg ’69.

Barb’s dedication to the College is an inspiration to all who know her. It is with deep gratitude for her many years of dedicated service and leadership that we recognize Barbara Pelander Hanniford with the Alumni Medal.

Thoburn Award for Excellence in Teaching Recipients

Dr. James Niblock ’97

Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities James Niblock somehow always finds time to do more. He does so with humor, patience, and determination, all in pursuit of providing remarkable opportunities for students.

Niblock teaches courses and mentors students in several areas of music as well as through an interdisciplinary course in voice science and a first-year seminar titled Music & Comedy. He directs Allegheny’s curricular and community choral ensembles, as well as the triennial Reunion Choir, among many other responsibilities. A genuine zeal for his discipline, dedication to students, and love for his alma mater drive Niblock’s tireless work.

“His passion for the College is rooted in his gratitude for it showing him the joys of music, conducting, and education,” says Megan Kelly ’18. Niblock works with students from a variety of academic majors who participate in the choral program, and he deeply values the liberal arts experience. That appreciation manifests itself through, for example, having choirs perform music in different languages every semester and teaching the anatomy and acoustics of the human voice. “James teaches his singers not only the mechanics of producing a good ensemble sound, but also the more intangible ideas of musicality and expressiveness,” notes Tamara Lakins, professor of mathematics and longtime member of the College and Community Chorus.

Another chorus member, Assistant Professor of Psychology Ryan Pickering, says that “James is an incredibly committed faculty member at Allegheny who speaks up for those who need help being heard and who has been a wonderful faculty mentor for me.”

To provide a transformative experience for students, Niblock prepares meticulously for rehearsals and courses. He is a role model whose “creative teaching techniques and use of metaphor give you those ‘lightbulb’ moments that completely change your perspective,” notes Samantha Bretz ’18.

Niblock melds his respect for Allegheny’s choral tradition with a spirit of unflagging innovation. For example, he has incorporated the use of a spectrograph — a visual representation of sound — to help singers “see” their voices on a screen and, in turn, improve their technique. In addition, Niblock invested countless hours over two years in planning and leading the Chamber Choir’s tour to New Zealand in May 2017 — the first international trip for an Allegheny choir in nearly four decades.

“Dr. Niblock believes in you when you don’t have the courage to believe in yourself,” Bretz says. “Never did I think that I would be brave enough to sing a solo in New Zealand in front of the composer of the piece. Dr. Niblock’s deep care for me as an individual coupled with the ‘tough love’ that I needed to succeed allowed me to conquer that fear.”

Julian Ross Award for Excellence in Teaching Recipients

Dr. Shannan Mattiace

Professor of Political Science and International Studies Shannan Mattiace engages, inspires, and challenges students by bringing an impressive array of viewpoints and resources to her teaching.

“Professor Mattiace sets a certain tone for learning. Through her teachings, she encourages others to dive into something unfamiliar,” says Robyn Nicoll ’01. “Her passion for Latin American studies is contagious. She opened my eyes to a whole new culture — a culture that I still enjoy exploring.”

Mattiace integrates an extraordinary range of teaching perspectives from different fields — political science, sociology, history, economics, and psychology, among others — for the benefit of her students. Her classes also incorporate documentaries, literature, current events, testimonials, and other materials that help students not only gain knowledge but begin to experience the culture and history of Latin America. That impressive breadth helps students sharpen their analytical skills, learn to build connections between different countries and disciplines, and develop their abilities to communicate and debate.

“Professor Mattiace runs her classes like Socratic seminars,” says Cristin Reeder ’05. “She is always encouraging students to be active participants.” For example, when teaching about peace and reconciliation, Mattiace asks students to brainstorm options for countries recovering from a civil war or genocide. Writing assignments in her courses are “creative, thought-provoking, and challenging,” notes Amber Wichowsky ’00.

The recipient of a 2018–19 Fulbright Award to Chile, Mattiace has contributed immensely to the growth of Allegheny’s International Studies Program. She also has helped students broaden their horizons by leading them on Experiential Learning Travel Seminars. In addition, she has worked to establish study-away programs for Allegheny students at institutions in Argentina and Egypt.

Mattiace couples her scholarly insight with a genuine commitment to her students. “I always felt that if I needed someone to talk to, she would be someone I could turn to,” Nicoll says. Professor of Political Science Howard Tamashiro notes that Mattiace consistently has a large number of advisees and significant senior project responsibilities, reflecting the respect and popularity she has among students. Mattiace is known for investing countless hours as an advisor, whether it be helping first-year students find their paths or seniors exploring their post-graduation options.

“She has never forgotten her students once they leave Allegheny,” Wichowsky says. “I firmly believe that Allegheny will one day receive the national recognition it deserves, and it will be professors like Dr. Mattiace who will be the reason why.”

Robert T. Sherman Distinguished Service Award Recipients

Tricha Young

Many of her co-workers think Tricha Young may be the best-kept secret at Allegheny College. With 34 years of experience at the College, Tricha is a fount of institutional knowledge, and she has a pleasant, can-do attitude to go with it. She is currently the office manager for Student Leadership and Involvement in the Henderson Campus Center.

“It’s not unusual to find her office overflowing with Campus Center Game Room activities and crafts, reading material for her role on the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, Allegheny memorabilia that she is incorporating into the Campus Center decor, or financial documents helping to keep the Student Leadership and Involvement budget on track,” says Associate Dean of Students for Wellness Education Gretchen Beck.

“Over the years, Tricha has worked with hundreds of students. It’s a testament to her influence when we see how many stop by our offices during Blue & Gold Weekend and Reunion Weekend to say hello and give Tricha an update on life,” Beck says.

As a brief overview, Tricha has served on the Staff Advisory Committee (numerous times), the Bicentennial Committee, the Wellness Committee (numerous times), the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, and numerous search committees, including the Presidential Search Committee. In addition to her committee work, she frequently volunteers for any number of projects or events at the College. Most notably, she has assisted with the Golden Gator Golf Outing, Physical Plant Golf Outing, Reunion Weekend, Blue & Gold Weekend, Orientation, and the Employee Picnic and Holiday Celebrations. She also volunteered to serve as a College notary, organized First Friday events in the Campus Center, photographed events, served as a judge for student events, and frequently stops by the College on her own time to attend to matters in the Campus Center.

This past year, Tricha tackled the enormous task of coordinating the moving and merging of the Dean of Students, Residence Life, Spiritual and Religious Life, and Student Leadership and Involvement offices to the third floor of the Campus Center.

“Tricha worked to ensure that each office and reception space was ready to function. She organized all the technological needs with ITS, coordinated furniture placement with Physical Plant, and met with everyone in the new suite to make sure their space was functional. The development of our new suite was not a part of her regular duties but she willingly assumed the extra responsibility, executed it beautifully, and the Student Life Suite came together,” Beck says.

“I cannot tell you how many times I have called 1-800-TRICHA when I have needed help or the answer to a question,” says Pam Higham, assistant to the president, “and she has always come to my rescue.”