Waynesburg University was awarded the 2017 McCracken Legacy Award from the Greene County Chamber of Commerce at an Oct. 21 dinner held in the Benedum Dining Hall on the Waynesburg University campus. The McCracken Legacy Award is awarded annually to a business or organization in Greene County.
Jeff McCracken presented the award on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce.
“This award is so special because it comes from the hearts of the people of this community,” said Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee. “It is also special because many at the University know the legacy of the McCracken family. They have touched many lives over the years with kindness and generosity and demonstrate what true American entrepreneurism is.”
According to the Chamber of Commerce, the award recipient must have demonstrated ambition, profitability, growth, sound business planning, customer satisfaction and management of people as well as a commitment to social responsibility and exemplary community involvement. The business or organization selected for the award must also have demonstrated a positive social and/or economic impact on the community and exemplary civic community leadership.
Special guests included Pennsylvania State Senator Camera Bartolotta and Pennsylvania State Representative Pam Snyder, and both commended the University for its service to the county and its commitment to educating students.
Bartolotta lauded how Waynesburg makes good people, while Snyder remarked that sometimes we forget to appreciate what’s in our backyard but Waynesburg University is a crown jewel of Greene County.
Greene County Commissioners Dave Coder and Archie Trader also spoke.
Waynesburg University has been a leader in the local and regional economy for many years and is one of the premier partners for economic development in southwestern Pennsylvania.
The Waynesburg University community contributes approximately 50,000 service learning and community/civic engagement hours each year. Those hours provide a total annual economic impact of approximately $1.2 million.
The University is proud to be one of only 21 Bonner Scholar schools in the country. With support from the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation, this unique scholarship program offers selected students financial assistance in return for a commitment to service while enrolled at Waynesburg. Bonners contribute approximately 17,290 hours of service locally each year.
The Waynesburg University Bonner Program has developed meaningful, longstanding relationships with partner organizations in and around Greene County. Through this long-term approach, these local organizations benefit from ongoing weekly service contributed by students while students experience personal and professional growth.
With the numerous educational centers at the University, business partners and community members alike benefit from the University’s distinctive offerings. Examples include training exercises for law enforcement in the criminal justice facilities and monthly labs for homeschooled students.
Waynesburg University also has a long-standing history of supporting the local community. The University has donated more than $500,000 in recent years to the Waynesburg-Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company and the Waynesburg Borough for the purchase of new police cars, improvements to borough infrastructure, downtown beautification projects, construction and fire safety equipment, as well as contributions to the Borough Master Plan, recreational fields and parks maintenance.
Chuck Bailey was also recognized with the Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Distinguished Service Award for lasting contributions to community welfare, participation in civic organizations, evidence of leadership ability and success in vocation.
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Ashley Wise, Director of University Relations
724-852-7675 or awise@waynesburg.edu
