Elizabethtown College Alumni Recognized for Service

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Albert “Al” Koch ’64, Randolph “Randy” Trostle ’69, and Charles Ebersole ’86 -- Elizabethtown College's Educate for Service Awardees

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (11/11/2010)(readMedia)-- On October 23, 2010, the Elizabethtown College Alumni Association presented three individuals with Educate for Service awards, the highest honor given to the College's alumni. The awards recognize those who have made exceptional contributions to their profession, to the College, or to the community.

Albert "Al" Koch '64 was presented the Educate for Service Award for Service through Professional Achievement for his proven success in charting positive courses for corporations in peril. Koch -- who is vice chairman and managing director with AlixPartners LLP -- is considered one of the foremost turnaround and restructuring experts. He has served some of this country's largest corporations during their efforts to realign themselves with an eye toward fiscal viability and sustainable operations. Most recently, Koch served as chief restructuring officer for the General Motors (GM) bankruptcy proceeding, the largest industrial restructuring in U.S. history. As a direct result of his guidance and effort, GM emerged from bankruptcy after just 39 days with its good assets intact and resumed production in its profitable plants -- resulting in the restoration of tens of thousands of jobs. The assets that were not transferred to the new GM are now part of Motors Liquidation Company, for which Koch is serving as chief executive officer (CEO). He also guided Kmart through the largest bankruptcy filing in history for a retailer and, as a result, was named Retail Executive of the Year in 2003. In addition, Koch served as president and CEO of Handleman Company; chairman, interim president and CEO of Champion Enterprises Incorporated; and interim CEO of Oxford Health Plans Incorporated.

Associate Professor of Business Emeritus Randolph "Randy" Trostle '69 was honored with the Educate for Service Award for Service to the College for his service to his alma mater. Spanning more than 33 years, Trostle has dedicated countless hours both in and outside the classroom in support of the College. His teaching career in the Department of Business began following the completion of his formal education. Very quickly, he became a dynamic presence and leader within the Department and rose through the professorial ranks. All with a mind of service to the students and greater Elizabethtown College community, he also accepted roles such as interim treasurer, acting dean of the faculty, and vice president for finance. Even though Trostle retired from the College in 2007, he still is active in the classroom and oversees the Trostle Investment Portfolio (TIP) -- a program designed to provide Elizabethtown students with real-world experience in the management of an investment company and nearly $225,000 in donated funds. Trostle also devotes time and energy to serving as an at-large member of the Presidential Search Committee and is a supporter of Blue Jay Athletics.

Charles Ebersole '86 was awarded the Educate for Service Award for Service to Humanity for his tireless service to the community of Souderton, Pa. Like many "main street" communities in the United States, Souderton has experienced fluctuations in its population and economic base in recent decades. These variations have taken their toll on the community's ability to attract and sustain residents and businesses. Focused on creating a holistic plan to revitalize the community, Ebersole has supported the re-envisioning and reenergizing of programs that create a dynamic and thriving environment in which to live and raise a family. These efforts have included his leadership of an effort by the Souderton-Telford Rotary Club to create the North Penn Valley and Indian Valley Boys & Girls Club and his service on the Board of the Souderton Area Education Foundation. In addition, Ebersole -- through his leadership and investment of time and resources -- has helped Souderton make tremendous strides toward envisioning and strategically planning a living environment with the economic foundation and infrastructure to weather the stresses of today and provide infrastructure that allows it to flourish in the future -- all with a civic-minded focus.

Elizabethtown College, in southeastern Pennsylvania, is a private coeducational institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Through personal attention, creative inspiration and academic challenge, Elizabethtown College students are encouraged to expand their intellectual curiosity and are given the opportunity to become a bigger part of the world through experiential learning-research, internships and study abroad. Elizabethtown College's overall commitment to Educate for Service is fulfilled as students are taught intellectually, socially, aesthetically and ethically for lives of service and leadership. Visit www.etown.edu for more information about Elizabethtown College.

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