ANNVILLE, PA (01/26/2011)(readMedia)-- Lebanon Valley College's 32nd Annual Founders Day Convocation, scheduled for February 15, will recognize The Honorable Thomas W. Corbett Jr. '71, governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Also at Founders Day, a student group will be announced as the winner of The President's Award for community service. The convocation will begin at 11 a.m. in Miller Chapel and is open to the public.

The Founders Day award is one of the highest commendations issued by the College. The award recognizes an individual whose character and leadership, in the spirit of the founders of Lebanon Valley College, contributes to the enhancement of life in central Pennsylvania.

"To have a graduate of Lebanon Valley College elected as Governor of one of our nation's largest states is an impressive accomplishment and a very proud moment in the College's more than 140 year history," said Dr. Stephen MacDonald, LVC president. "Governor Corbett's career as a U.S. attorney and as Pennsylvania attorney general is the embodiment of the ideals of a liberal arts institution and LVC's mission of preparing our students for a life of service to others. His lifelong devotion to public service is a shining example of the vision of the College's founders."

Governor Corbett completed his undergraduate education at Lebanon Valley College where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science and met his wife, Susan Manbeck Corbett '72. He received his juris doctor degree from St. Mary's University Law School, and practiced law with the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office.

In 1980, Corbett became an assistant U.S. Attorney and was appointed to serve as a U.S. attorney by President George H.W. Bush from 1988 to 1992. Corbett completed an unfinished term as attorney general in the mid-1990s, and was elected attorney general in 2004, and re-elected in 2008. As attorney general, Corbett spearheaded the "Bonusgate" investigation, which indicted members of the Pennsylvania legislature and their aids who allegedly received $4 million in illegal bonuses and allegedly misused taxpayer money.

Past Founders Day Award recipients include Major General Jessica L. Wright, V. Carl and Mary Jane Gacono, Frank Dixon, Jeanne Arnold, and Governor Ed Rendell.

In addition to honoring the Founder Day Award winner, each year since 1993, LVC's president has recognized a student organization for exceptional community service as part of the Founders Day Convocation. The President's Award for community service has been designed to acknowledge a student organization that has contributed to life in Central Pennsylvania through community service. Nominees for this year's award include various campus clubs, service organizations, and athletic groups.

The convocation will feature LVC student organists Dillon Streifender '13, Lauren Anderson '11, and Tyler Canonico '14, a choir arrangement, and messages from MacDonald, LVC president; Dr. Michael Green, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty; and Governor Corbett.

For history, program, parking, and other pertinent details, visit www.lvc.edu/FoundersDay.

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Download a 300 dpi, 5x7 photo of Governor Corbett from the Office of the Governor at http://tinyurl.com/4bem5rt.

Posted Wednesday January 26, 2011 at 02:14 pm by Lebanon Valley College
Last Updated Monday February 14, 2011 at 09:27 am