State College Borough Council Honors Residents with Awards
By: Carolyn Donaldson
Updated: April 22, 2010
STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - Wednesday April 21, 2010 the Borough of State College held the 2010 ABC Appreciation Banquet at The Atherton Hotel.
Each year the State College Borough Council hosts an Appreciation Dinner for its more-than-100 volunteer members of its authorities, boards, commissions, and committees.
The Arnold Addison Award was presented by Council member Theresa Lafer to the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA).
This award is given to an individual or group who has promoted the quality of life in the community through improved Town/Gown relations.
Gavin Keirans, former UPUA President, accepted the award on behalf of UPUA.
UPUA was created in the Fall of 2006 and is credited for many accomplishments including the creation of the Tenant/Landlord Mediation Program, expansion of the White Loop bus service, a Free Legal Services Program which matches students with lawyers from Penn State’s Law School, and the reestablishment of Encampment, where Borough officials, alumni, administrators and trustees gather in a forum on student life.
The Legacy award is given to a group or an individual who has contributed significantly to improving the quality of community life for Borough residents.
Council member Silvi Lawrence accompanied by journalist Adam Smeltz presented the Legacy Award posthumously to Mayor Bill Welch.
Jennifer Theiss accepted the award on her father’s behalf. Mayor Welch was serving his fourth four-year term when he passed away unexpectedly in September 2009. He was an icon on both sides of College Avenue as a dedicated public servant, community leader and humanitarian.
The Ingrid P. Holtzman award was presented by Council member Jim Rosenberger to the Arboretum at Penn State. This award is presented annually to recognize a worthy individual, organization, company or corporation who has enhanced, promoted, or maintained the aesthetic appearance of the Borough of State College. Dr. Kim Steiner, Arboretum Director, accepted the award on behalf of the Pennsylvania State University and everyone involved in the vision and culmination of the project. The Arboretum is an outreach, teaching, and research facility dedicated to preserving the beauty and ecological functions of vegetated landscapes in an urbanized society.
The XYZ Award is presented to an individual who has provided outstanding community service through their membership on an authority, board or commission. Council member Tom Daubert presented Anita Genger & Eric Boeldt with the XYZ Award in recognition for their service on several authorities, boards, and commissions over the past 20 years. Anita and Eric have served on the Zoning Hearing Board, the Planning Commission, the Urban Village Revitalization Plan Steering Committee, and the former Commission for Pedestrian and Traffic Safety.
