Eight Alumni Receive Awards at Lebanon Valley College's Annual Ceremony

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Eight alumni received awards during the College's annual Alumni Awards.

ANNVILLE, PA (10/13/2015)(readMedia)-- Eight Lebanon Valley College alumni received awards for outstanding achievement and service during the annual Alumni Awards Ceremony and Luncheon. The event was part of the College's Homecoming weekend celebration, Oct. 9–10.

Dr. Elizabeth "Liz" Bains '64 was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, presented annually to an alumnus/na for their significant service to their profession, community, and the College. Bains retired as the deputy branch chief of simulation systems at NASA's Johnson Space Center in 2013. She helped create software for computer simulators used to train astronauts, was in charge of analyzing the assembly of the International Space Station, and developed procedures to repair damaged shuttle tiles while in space. Bains earned NASA's Exceptional Achievement Medal for her work.

Bains, who became the College's second female to earn a physics degree, went on to earn her master's degree in college teaching and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Tennessee. She has returned to The Valley to present two lectures and has received an Alumni Citation and Professional Achievement Award from her alma mater. She is also a Lifetime Vickroy Associate of the prestigious Thomas Rhys Vickroy Society, which recognizes donors who have demonstrated outstanding financial leadership in support of the College.

Dr. Shawn Bender '01, Jeff Boland '86, CPA, and Dr. Richard "Dick" H. Harper '60 received this year's Alumni Citations, presented for significant service to their profession, community, or the College.

Bender is an assistant professor in the department of biomedical sciences at the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Missouri. A research assistant professor, his work focuses on mechanisms of coronary microvascular dysfunction, primarily in the context of obesity and diabetes. He has completed several grant-funded studies and is currently working on a project funded through a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs. After receiving his biology degree at LVC, Bender earned his Ph.D. in physiology from Ohio University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Missouri.

Boland, a partner at Reinsel Kuntz Lesher LLP, is the head of the firm's Senior Living Services Consultant Group. An accounting alumnus and certified public accountant, Boland has extensive experiences in operational analysis of long-term care providers, financial feasibility studies, third-party reimbursement, and regulatory compliance. He is active in the community with several organizations, including United Way of the Capital Region, Harrisburg Christian School, Harrisburg Neighborhood Center, and Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries.

Harper, a consultant with the Department of Dentistry at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, retired from the U.S. Navy Dental Corps in 1997 with 31 years of service. Harper, who finished his military service as the dean of the Navy Dental Corps Post-Graduate School at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md., received a M.S. in operative dentistry from Indiana University and D.M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. His career included numerous assignments in Maryland, Virginia, Italy, and a tour in Guam. He has received a Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and National Defense Medal.

Karl D. Liedtka '91 received the D. Clark Carmean Award in Admission for notable service to LVC's Admission Office, especially with new student referral and recruitment. Liedtka, coordinator of counseling programs in the Lebanon School District, received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology while playing on the Flying Dutchmen football team, where he received the John Zola Award. He received his master's degree in psychology from Shippensburg University and certificates in school counseling from Kutztown and Millersville universities. Liedtka leads a counseling department that was recognized as a model program by the American School Counselor Association. Liedtka was named State Counselor of the Year in 2011. A leader in the College's Lebanon Valley Education Partnership with the Lebanon School District, he received LVC's Young Alumni Award in 2005.

Paul A. Smith '88, an alumnus of the College's Music Department, received the Creative Achievement Award, presented annually for distinguished creative accomplishments in the arts and journalism. Smith owns his own company, 2metermusic, and holds the title of Crestron designer and installer. He also works as an event producer at Susquehanna University, coordinating live sound, lighting, and video, and as a bassist, programmer, and mixer with Gentleman East-a rock band comprised of former members of The Badlees and Breaking Benjamin.

Justin Albert '05 received the Young Alumni Award, which recognizes an alumnus from the last 15 years for achievements in one's profession, significant service to the community, or the College. Albert, who received a bachelor of science degree in actuarial science, is assistant vice president and actuary at The Hartford in Avon, Conn. A member of the College's Leadership Council, Albert directs a team of eight employees through quarterly reserve analysis and claim analytics. He is a member of Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs, Leadership Greater Hartford, and YoPros-the company's resource group for young professionals.

Nathan G. Mains '94, executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, received the June Herr Outstanding Educator of the Year Award. In his role, he administers the academic, business, community, and reporting requirements of Pennsylvania schools. Mains, who was named to Central Penn Business Journal's 40 under 40 list, earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science and attended Shippensburg University's graduate school for communications. He participated in the Harvard Business School's Executive Education Program.

About Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College is a private, coeducational college founded in 1866 and dedicated to the liberal arts. The College offers 36 undergraduate majors plus self-designed majors and a range of minors, concentrations, and pre-professional options, as well as graduate degree programs in athletic training, business administration, music education, physical therapy, and science education.

The College has 1,573 full-time undergraduate students and 106 full-time faculty. Students can choose from more than 90 clubs and organizations, and 12 study abroad programs. LVC awards generous academic scholarships to those whose high school records demonstrate a commitment to challenge and achievement.