Congratulations to the 2013 recipients of three of Washington & Jefferson College’s highest honors.
Alumni Award for Achievement: Richard B. Crosbie ’65
Distinguished Service Award: Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab ’74 and James Gismondi ’72 (posthumously)
Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Hollis Zemany McLachlan ’06
The Alumni Executive Council (AEC) annually chooses recipients of the Distinguished Service Award, Alumni Achievement Award, and Outstanding Young Alumni Award from a slate of many outstanding nominees.
Recipients were recognized and received their awards at the annual Homecoming Dinner.
Distinguished Service Award: Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab ’74
Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab was one of the first women to enroll at Washington & Jefferson College in 1970. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and sociology in 1974, Hurwitz-Schwab went on to earn a master’s in social work (clinical) from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Community Planning in Baltimore, Md.
An active member of the College’s Board of Trustees, Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab ’74 has served a term as chair of the external relations committee. Since joining the Board in 2004, Hurwitz-Schwab’s committee service includes: student life, audit & risk management, academic affairs, external relations and governance.
She is serving as chair of the Commemorative Public Art Committee, a committee that is fundraising for a public art project that will honor the myriad of changes that occurred during the 1970 academic year.
Distinguished Service Award (Posthumously Awarded): James F. Gismondi ’72
James F. Gismondi earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from W&J in 1972, and went on to earn his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1974.
He held various management positions during his 25 year career at Ford Motor Strategy. In 1993, Jim served as a member of the W&J Development Council where he was appointed as Council Chairperson. He also served multiple terms on the Board of Trustees in support of the advancement of the College’s academic mission.
Jim’s accomplishments were multiple and varied. But perhaps his most notable was his impartial and unselfish heart, filled with compassion for anyone in need. Jim was an honored member of the Lifetime John McMillan Society.
Alumni Award for Achievement: Richard B. Crosbie ’65
Richard B. Crosbie is a 1965 graduate of Washington & Jefferson College, with a bachelor of arts in philosophy.
Upon graduating from W&J, Crosbie served as a First Lieutenant in the US Army Special Forces from 1965-68. Crosbie served in Vietnam from 1967-68 and was awarded the Purple Heart. Richard B. Crosbie is recognized for his contributions and leadership in the “green” shoe manufacturing industry.
Crosbie had a 21-year career at Nike, where he served as the global chemical engineering operations director. He is credited with reducing Nike’s volatile organic compound emissions by 90 percent, approximately 2 million gallons a month. Today, he is one of the most internationally respected experts in the chemistry of running shoes and a leader in “green” shoe manufacturing.
Crosbie is now the President for Crosbie Consulting Co., serving clients such as Nike, Converse, Timberland, New Balance, Sole Technology, Under Armour, among others.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Hollis Zemany McLachlan ’06
Hollis Zemany McLachlan received her bachelor of arts in 2006 in theater and is an award-winning actor, filmmaker and published author.
McLachlan’s award-winning directorial credits include: short documentary, “Homeless in Hollywood” (2009); feature comedy, “Pie Head: A Kinda’ True Story” (2012); and short drama, “Broken Things” (2013) among others. “Pie Head” was shot partially on the W&J campus. McLachlan received her master’s degree of education from National University in 2012.
In addition to filmmaking, McLachlan is a published author of the all-original content book “101 Monologues for Kids!”
