MANSFIELD - The Tioga County Development Corp. celebrated 21 years of accomplishments with its 19th annual meeting at the university on Monday.
The event attracted about 150 guests to Mansfield University's dining hall in North Manser, and interim President Dr. Alan Golden was master of ceremonies.
Featured was the university's new Marcellus Institute, which was established in February to develop new academic programs focused on expanding the shale gas industry.
Article Photos
CHERYL R. CLARKE/Sun-Gazette
The Rod C. Kelchner Award for community service was presented Monday to Ron Butler, president and CEO of Laurel Health Systems, left, by Bill Williams, human resources director with Ward-HMAC Manufacturing LLC. Williams received the David W. Rundell Award for exceptional leadership to the Tioga County Development Corp.
Since then, the university has developed two degree programs in just a few months - the safety management bachelor of science program offered through the Department of Health Sciences and the natural gas production and services associate of applied science program offered through the Department of Geography and Geology.
Dr. Dennis Wydra, a retired professor, and Lindsey Sikorski, interim director of the institute, spoke about the new programs, which where granted approval from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education board of governors June 28.
"I am in awe of how, with Dr. Golden's unique leadership skills, he was able to get the faculty to move so quickly," Wydra said.
The courses will be ready when students return to campus Aug. 27, and not only for those physically attending school here, but online courses as well, Wydra said.
"There will be three classes available online for the associates program, and 27.5 percent of the courses in the bachelor's program are online," he said.
In addition, Sikorski said, a family career night is coming in September as well as a speaker series which will be open to both students and the community.
TCDC also honored two of its own with the Rod C. Kelchner Award for community service and the David W. Rundell Award for distinguished service as a TCDC director.
This year's recipient of the Kelchner award went to Ron Butler, president and CEO of Laurel Health Systems. The Rundell award went to Anueurin "Bill" Williams, of Ward-HMAC Manufacturing LLC.
The Kelchner Award is presented to a person who has provided exceptional leadership to their community and the Rundell Award is presented to a director who has displayed excellence and exceptional service as a director of the corporation.
