PBAA to honor Leven, Ziaukas

The Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association will honor alumnus Terri Smith Leven '69-'71 and Tim Ziaukas, professor of public relations, during its Alumni and Family Weekend Sept. 29-Oct. 1

Leven will accept the PBAA's Denny Lowery Distinguished Volunteer Award, while Ziaukas will receive the alumni association's Teaching Excellence Award.

Both will be recognized at the PBAA Alumni Awards Dinner and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction at 6 p.m. Sept. 30 in the Mukaiyama University Room of the Frame-Westerberg Commons. The cost is $25 for adults, $12 for children 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and under. For registration, visit www.upbalumni.org/afw or call 814-362-5091.

Leven has been involved with the PBAA since its inception. She has served on its board and taken part in committees and annual events such as the Backpack to Briefcase career preparation program and the Graduation Central event for seniors.

She has also made substantial contributions as a volunteer with the Pitt-Bradford Arts Council, volunteering at Kaleidoscope programs for children as well as other arts events on campus.

In 2011, she was chairperson of the Arts Endowment Gala. “This was a very large and creative event that took almost a year in planning and preparation,” said Patty Colosimo, director of arts programming, who supported the nomination by Jeanie Satterwhite '64-'66, Patty Sanfilippo, Flora Cohen and Isabelle Champlin '65.

Recent recipients of the Lowery Distinguished Volunteer Award include Fred Proper '89, Chris Luke '94, and John Foerstner '79.

Ziaukas has taught public relations at Pitt-Bradford since 1994. Two recent graduates from his program, Delaney Held '16 and Lauren Ball '17, will present his award.

“Tim is exactly what a student looks for in a program director and advisor,” Held said. “He has real-world experience, a great sense of humor and a deep commitment to helping his students succeed. He made the program feel like a family.

“Every former student of Tim's could tell you a dozen stories in which he determinedly pushed them to be their best and refused to let them slack off. But they could also tell you a dozen stories about Tim's antics that would make you laugh until you cry.

“Tim is part of the reason Pitt-Bradford felt like a second home to me.”

Recent recipients of the teaching award are Ernie Kallenbach, assistant professor of accounting; Dr. Jean Truman, associate professor of nursing; and Dr. Lauren Yaich, associate professor of biology.