Class Acts

The sixth annual Alumni Association Awards will be given Friday, October 21, with a light dinner-reception at 6:00 p.m. in Payne Gallery and the ceremony itself at 7:30 p.m. in Peter Hall.

• Peter L. French ’60, Comenius Alumni Award for lifetime achievement. M.A. and Ph.D. in international relations, Yale University. Moravian College Board of Trustees (1986-94).

President emeritus of Newberry College; currently, associate vice president and dean of academic affairs at the University of South Florida’s Sarasota campus. With a lifelong interest in Africa, he has made 16 field trips to East Africa over the past 22 years.

As a consultant in higher education management, practices, development, and institutional evaluation, he has worked with the Peace Corps, the United Negro College Fund, and the U.S. Department of Education.

• Marjorie Flohr Weiss ’46, Haupert Humanitarian Award. M.S. in human services administration, University of Scranton. For 17 years, director of volunteer programs, Miller Blood Center, Bethlehem (1977-94). Founder, volunteer management services, Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley (1984-2003). Past president, Society of Volunteer Administrators of the Lehigh Valley. Since 1995, instructor and board member for the Program for Women and Families, a service agency for women offenders. “A strong advocate, a cheerful mentor, and a dedicated educator.”

• Richard Bedics ’63, Benigna Education Award. Pensacola Junior College (1975-2003), dean of instructional services, dean of health-related education, and provost at three of its campuses. Renovated curriculum, trained faculty, regenerated and developed programs, and cultivated relationships between college and community. Managed expansion of main campus to 25,000 students; helped develop PJC’s rural Milton campus, collaborating with low-income community youth programs, area high schools, and University of Florida. “Visionary, innovator, and community servant.”

• Sean Richardson ’97, Young Alumni Achievement Award. Chief of staff for Patrick J. Kennedy (D-Rhode Island), member of the House Appropriations Committee. Former policy advisor for Richard Gephardt (D-Missouri, House Majority and Minority Leader). Former staff member for Tom Daschle (D-North Dakota, Senate Majority Leader). Campaign worker for Al Gore and Gephardt, Democratic candidates for president.

• Jessica Edris ’00, Emerging Leader Award for Service to Moravian College. Since graduation, career mentor and panelist, table host for Senior Breakfast and Freshman Banquet. Member and officer of the Young Alumni Board since 2002. Though managing director of Molewski Financial Partners, Bethlehem, she is currently at home on maternity leave with her new daughter, Grace.

“In her professional work in the non-profit and finance sectors, Jessica has taken every opportunity to develop relationships with Moravian alumni and reconnect them to their alma mater.”