Seven Local Professors Set for Honors at Carnegie Science Awards

Plus, Carlow University receives the largest gift in its history and WVU students give back through a unique program.

BY ROB McCOY

Seven Local Professors Set for Honors at Carnegie Science Awards
Pittsburgh is a city known for many things, and its education is chief among them. So it comes as no surprise that a local educator could be honored for his or her contributions. However, when nearly a dozen are recognized at once, some heads start to turn.  That's exactly what will happen at this year's Carnegie Science Awards, where seven faculty members from local universities (and others) will be honored.  

Among the awardees are such educators as Pitt's Dr. Lillian Chong, honored for her work in molecular simulation; and Carnegie Mellon's Dr. Illah Nourbakhsh, honored for his work in robotics.  In addition, three faculty members from area institutions will receive honorable mentions. The honorees will be officially recognized at an awards ceremony on May 11 at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. 

Carlow University Gets Record-Setting Gift

Carlow University recently received the largest gift in its 83-year history. The $5 million donation was made by Rita M. McGinley, a Braddock native and Carlow alumna.

The funds will be used to establish and endow the Rita M. McGinley Center for Student Success, part of the university's Learning Commons located in the Grace Library.

McGinley, a member of the class of 1940, majored in biology and has subsequently received an honorary degree from the university. She spent her career teaching science at General Braddock and then at the Woodland Hills school district.

WVU Students Give Back Through Unique Philantrophy Program
Most college students are strapped for cash. While that may be the case, a group of 19 students at WVU's College of Business and Economics is preparing to dole out $20,000 to local nonprofit organizations.

The students will be accepting grant applications through early March as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility program, an initiative designed to give students a taste of corporate philanthropy.

Each proposal the group receives will be judged on various criteria, such as the applying program's track record, the grant's potential impact and how it meets with the projects mission statement to "have long lasting impact while providing quality service to the community." Past grant winners have included CASA for Kids, Stepping Stones and Milan Puskar Health Right Clinic.

Including this year's $20,000 payout, the program has donated more than $250,000 to local nonprofits in its 11-year run.