ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Awards
The Alumni Awards ceremony, which returned to its traditional spring session, honored those with a passion and commitment to FSU.
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
One of the most prestigious honors bestowed on FSU alumni. Consideration for this award is restricted to those alumni who demonstrate outstanding professional career growth, community involvement, demonstrated interest in FSU, philanthropic commitment to FSU, special achievements, awards, honors and distinctions; and/or educational background, including honors and involvement in special activities.
Greg Garcia ’92
Garcia has a long list of accolades: He was a member of the Warner Brothers Writing Program, has worked on comedy series On Our Own and Family Matters and created Yes Dear, My Name Is Earl, Raising Hope, The Millers, The Guest Book and a new show, Sprung (see related story). My Name Is Earl, which includes an episode set at a fictional “Frostburg State,” received a People’s Choice Award, a GLAAD Award, a Humanitas Award, a Television Critics Association Award, a Golden Globe nomination and four WGA nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Writing, and Garcia won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. He also co-wrote the book for the musical Escape to Margaritaville, which features music from Jimmy Buffet. As a student at FSU, Garcia was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, had a show on the campus radio station and wrote a column for The Bottom Line. He created the Amigos de Garcia Scholarship and takes any opportunity to meet the recipients or mentor other students.
Service to Alma Mater Award
Presented to individuals who demonstrate interest in assisting, advancing and promoting Frostburg State University, successfully encouraged other FSU alumni to take an active role in their alma mater, show philanthropic commitment to FSU and have special achievements, awards, honors and distinctions.
Eric Manns, Jr. ’10
Manns is academy director for instruction and operations with the Richard Wright Public Charter School for Journalism and Media Arts. He was formerly an admissions counselor for FSU and worked to recruit future Bobcats. Manns has been a member of the FSU Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2016 and has served as the Alumni Outreach co-chair. He is passionate about alumni engagement and looks for new ways to reconnect alumni – whether through events or volunteer opportunities on campus. Manns recently made a commitment to endow the Alice B. and Charles H. Manns, Jr., Scholarship for Student Success in honor of his grandparents.
Rachel Sooy ’04
Sooy works in accounting with Apple Movers. She has been instrumental in coordinating the interaction of the alumni Facebook group – 50 Shades of Frostburg – which has more than 9,000 members. In 2017 she created the 50 Shades 5K, a race that happens on the FSU campus each spring. Since its creation, she has worked to grow the number of participants, volunteers and sponsors. Each year the proceeds benefit an area of FSU and support students’ needs. She returns each year for Homecoming and encourages her fellow alumni to stay connected to each other and their alma mater.
Young Alumni Achievement Award
Given to emerging leaders who are graduates, are under 40 years of age and have used their FSU experiences to make significant impacts in their respective professions, local communities, service organizations, professional associations, etc. They must have made an impact in business, research, artistic, leadership, community, educational and/or philanthropic endeavors.
AJ Rosenthal ’14
Rosenthal was a member of the Bobcat Baseball Team. He is an adaptive physical education teacher at Lime Kiln Middle School. When Rosenthal was in high school, he dreamed of offering a day camp to all students with or without special needs – a place where any young person could “be themselves and create bonds among other campers and counselors in a safe, structured environment.” In 2009, he and his wife, Dallas, founded Camp Inclusion, a summer day camp for any student with or without a cognitive, social or physical disability. It is designed to build supportive and inclusive friendships throughout the summer months that carry on throughout the school year. Their mission is to promote independence and confidence through engaging adapted activities that help each individual reach their full potential.
Honorary Alumni Award
Given to a non-alumnus who has made consistent and noteworthy contributions to the advancement of Frostburg State University through their time, their talents and their treasures.
Jason Sweitzer
Sweitzer has been an active member of the Board of Directors of the FSU Foundation for many years. In that capacity, he has actively and enthusiastically supported initiatives that promote Frostburg State as a regional university. Additionally, he has worked to ensure that the funds provided to the FSU Foundation by donors are accounted for and disbursed in accordance with sound fiduciary principles and accounting practices. Sweitzer’s service on the FSUF Board of Directors shows a dedication and love of FSU that make him an ideal friend of the University and a Bobcat at heart. He has supported the University’s academic programs and initiatives as well as its students through his time, talents and treasures.
