Danel Graduate Fund in Communication Arts and Sciences
Cynthia Danel (B.A. '71 speech, M.A. '76 speech communication) wanted to create a fund that would support graduate students specifically. Her motivation for this came from her own experience as a graduate student in the department, in addition to the respect and fondness she had for her advisor, Professor Richard Gregg. Cynthia received the 2004 CAS Outstanding Alumni Award and is a member of the CAS Alumni Board of Visitors. She works as an attorney at the Edgar Snyder Law Firm in Pittsburgh, PA, where she specializes in personal injury litigation. She is President Elect of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and has served on the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association.
Dan and Karen Savadove Program Support Fund in the Communication Arts and Sciences
This fund was established by Dan ('80 speech communication) and Karen Pollack Savadove ('84 accounting) to enrich Communication Arts and Sciences Department programs such as student internships and lectures, professional travel, and research. Dan, who is a member of the CAS Alumni Board of Visitors, was the CEO of Root Communications, an advertising agency that was purchased by Qantum Communications in 2003. As CEO, he oversaw 26 radio stations, all located in the South. Prior to joining Root in 1999, he had increasingly senior management positions with several radio stations and communications companies. Dan and Karen and their son Joshua live in Bryn Mawr , PA.
Michael and Lois Hodes Scholarship in Communication Arts and Sciences
This scholarship was created by Michael and Lois Hodes to benefit students majoring in Communication Arts & Sciences who manifest the promise of outstanding academic success. Michael Hodes graduated from the department in 1971 and has gone on to become a successful attorney in his firm Hodes, Ulman, Pessin & Katz in Towson, MD. He currently serves on many boards in the Baltimore area and is acting Chairman of the CAS Alumni Board.
Karen Marateck Drake and Barry Drake Program Support Fund in Communication Arts and Sciences in the College of the Liberal Arts
Barry ('73 speech communication) and Karen ('73 linguistics) Drake saw a need to further enhance the speech communication skills of all students. To do so they established this innovative fund that supports a Communication Arts and Sciences faculty member who evaluate students in the Marketing Department's capstone course to hone their presentation skills over the semester. So far this segment of the course has received some of the highest accolades in student evaluations. This program is one that the Drakes hope to emulate throughout the University.
Josh and Meredith Pechter Family Scholarship
Established to provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate students in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, this fund helps those who have demonstrated need to meet their necessary college expenses. Josh ('97 American studies) and Meredith ('98 speech communication) Pechter wanted to create a fund that would have an immediate impact on the students in the department. This fund will allow some of our brightest students to focus on their studies instead of how to pay for them.
Jay and Judy Feldstein Gift to the Harold J. "Pat" O'Brien Memorial Award
This fund was established by the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, as well as with contributions from friends and family of Harold J. "Pat" O'Brien, the former Associate Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts and long time Coach of the debate team. The fund supports undergraduate students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement in their first year in Speech Communication, with a preference given to students who are members of the debate team. Jay ('59 Arts & Letters) and Judi Feldstein decided to designate a portion of their overall gifts to the University to this fund in memory of Pat, who was Jay's Debate Coach.
The Honorable Albert W. Pettit III and Joann Claycomb Pettit Speech and Debate Team Program Support Fund.
This fund will be established by the estate of Mrs. Joann Claycomb Pettit to support educational and academic activities for the speech and debate teams at Penn State. Mrs. Pettit is an Arts & Letters major who graduated in 1952. She and her husband also created a fund at the Penn State Dickinson Law School. When it came time for her to establish this gift she was asked if she wanted it to go to the Law School as well, but she said, "No. I want to do this on my own. I graduated from Liberal Arts and I would like this to be used there."
