The Alumni Circle of Excellence Award is the highest honor bestowed upon
CLAS alumni. It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated
sustained excellence and leadership in their field.
2007
Award Winners
Krista
McGowan, Political Science
Krista is a 1982 summa cum laude graduate of FSU with a B.S. in political
science. She earned her J.D. from Ohio State University in 1985. Krista
is now an attorney with Miles and Stockbridge, one of the largest real
estate and development firms in Frederick. She represents commercial
and residential real estate developers, appearing before various city
and county commissions on behalf of clients. Projects with which Krista
is currently involved include Frederick Airport Park, Brunswick Crossing
(a residential development and commercial office/research center) in
the City of Brunswick, and the Villages of Urbana and Lake Linganore
residential developments. planned giving program.
Barry
Phillips, Chemistry
Barry is a 1969 FSU graduate with a B.S. degree in chemistry. Following
his graduation from FSU, he earned a doctorate in organic chemistry
from WVU. In 1977, Barry joined Bayer Corporation as a senior chemist
in the Polyurethane Research Department. Today, he is Head of Site Management
Americas for Bayer Material Science, LLC in Pittsburgh, PA. He holds
several patents and has authored numerous technical papers.
John
Pipino, History
John is a 1981 graduate of FSU with a B.S. in History. He began his
career as communications director for a Silicon Valley startup. He now
serves as Director of Technology Strategy for Doblin, Inc. in Chicago.
Doblin is a management consulting firm with clients that have included
Alama Rent-A-Car, Citigroup, and MasterCard.
John was
featured in the cover story for the March 20, 2006 edition of Business
Week magazine, being quoted on how to create an innovative culture as
your company grows.
2008
Award Winners
Mary
Clapsaddle,
Geography and Sociology
Mary is a 1983 magna cum laude graduate of FSU with a B.A. in Geography
and Sociology. She earned her Master of Regional Planning from University
of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She began her career as Assistant to
the County Manager of Chatham, North Carolina. She later served as Research
Associate for the National Association of Counties in Washington, DC.
Mary then began her career in Maryland, first with the Department of
Legislative Services in the Maryland General Assembly, then as Director
of Policy Development with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic
Development. In 2002, she was appointed Assistant State Superintendent
for Business Services with the Maryland State Department of Education.
She currently serves as Legislative Manager for the Maryland Department
of Legislative Services in Annapolis.
Daniel
P. Hunt, M.D., Mathematics
Dan is 1977 summa cum laude graduate of Frostburg State College with
a B.S. in Mathematics. He received his M.D. from Vanderbilt University
School of Medicine and his postdoctoral training was in the area of
internal medicine.
Dan is
a clinician-educator, with expertise and considerable experience in
the care of patients, but with emphasis on education. He began his career
in Houston, Texas where he successfully practiced medicine at the Texas
Medical Center for 11 years while also serving as a part-time clinical
faculty member with the Baylor College of Medicine. He then joined the
full-time faculty at Baylor where he was eventually promoted to the
rank of Associate Professor. While at Baylor, he served in
consulting and attending physician positions at a number of hospitals
in the Houston area. In 2005, he joined the faculty of Harvard University
as Associate Professor of Medicine. He is also Director of Inpatient
Clinician Educator Services in the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts
General Hospital in Boston.
Shirley
Giarritta,
Art Education
Shirley earned her Bachelor of Arts in art education from Frostburg
State University in 1970. She received a Master of Arts in painting
and sculpture from James Madison University.
Shirley
began her career teaching art and supervising the arts program for Frederick
County Public Schools in Winchester, VA. She then taught art at Allegany
College of Maryland. From 1972 to 1977, she served as co-owner of The
Art Shop in Winchester, VA and Cumberland, MD. She is currently the
owner and manager of Connoisseur Interiors and Gallery in Cumberland.
Shirley
has been instrumental to the growth of the arts community in Cumberland.
She was a founding member of the Cumberland Theatre Board of Trustees
and was honored with the renaming of their auditorium as "The Nick
and Shirley Giarritta Playhouse." Shirley was appointed to serve
on the Maryland State Arts Council for three terms and previously served
as president. She was awarded the Maryland Medici Award for "Outstanding
Individual Support of the Arts" by former Maryland
Governor Schaefer, Maryland State Arts Council and the Maryland Citizens
for the Arts.
Her many
community service activities include membership in the Downtown Cumberland
Business Association, Allegany Art Alliance, and Allegany Arts Council.
She has served on the Cumberland Cultural Foundation Board of Trustees
and as Chair of the Artistic Committee.
Richard
Whelan, Political Science
Rick graduated from FSU in 1979 with a B.S. in Political Science. After
moving up the ranks of the company, he now serves as President of Marketing
General, Inc., a diversified direct marketing solutions agency located
in Alexandria, VA. As president, he oversees a company of 60 marketing
specialists who together have the day-to-day responsibility for the
strategic marketing and creative needs of 45 organizations in 11 states
and the District of Columbia. Prior to joining Marketing General 21
years ago, his experience included service with a general advertising
agency and as an account executive for a full-service graphics art studio
and
production house. He has also worked closely with dozens of associations
in the educational, public service, and health care fields. He is a
frequent speaker and author on association membership and
marketing topics.
