Pictured, from left are: Jerome Dean, SU Alumni Association president, Joel Zullinger, Joseph Rozek II, Donald F. Smith and Sally Kemp.

University presents Distinguished Alumnus Award to 4 alumni

Four individuals are recipients of the 2007 Jesse S. Heiges Distinguished Alumnus Award. They are Sally Kemp '69, Joseph Rozek II '94M, Donald F. Smith, Jr. '75 and Joel Zullinger '70.

The Heiges Award, presented at the recent Alumni Days on campus, was established in 1959 through gifts from Ralph and Jesse G. Heiges to honor their father, Shippensburg's first dean of instruction from 1901 to 1934. The university's highest award, supplemented by a gift from the Class of 1911 on its 50th reunion, recognizes each recipient's distinguished and outstanding achievements in his or her field to the benefit of the community and society. With this year's presentations, the number of recipients comes to 129.

Kemp, armed with her elementary education degree, taught first and second grades for a few years before going on to earn her master's in elementary education from the University of North Texas-Denton. In 1983, she began working in the Plano (Texas) Independent School District in, first as a second grade and then as a third grade teacher. After 15 years, she moved to substitute teaching within the district.

In 1997, her book, Matinee, was published to favorable reviews and in 2004 added freelance writer, editor, and book doctor to her résumé. From 1994 to 2006, she taught adult writing classes at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. A resident of Dallas, she was a volunteer recorder for the North Texas Taping and Radio for the Blind, and is a new volunteer for Marine Moms.

Rozek of Burke, Va., has made U.S. security his work for more than 35 years. For 10 years prior to his move to civilian life, Rozek, a colonel in the U.S. Army, had a number of assignments within the Office of the Secretary of Defense working in the areas of security, terrorism, counterterrorism, homeland security, conflict and preparedness. He played an integral role in creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the country's post-9/11 defense strategy. In 2005, he retired from the military and began working for Microsoft where he is executive director of homeland security and counterterrorism. He is responsible for developing and implementing a strategic business plan in homeland security, counterterrorism, and information sharing.

He is a senior fellow of the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute and a member of the Homeland Security Information Network Advisory Council of the Department of Homeland Security. He is a noted expert in hostage barricade, anti-terrorism, consequence management and unconventional warfare.

Smith, of Reading, is the new executive director of the Berks County Bar Association having assumed his duties in January. As executive director, he coordinates all activities that include legal education, social events and community service. He is also executive director of the Berks County Bar Foundation. Previously, he was a partner in Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., in Reading, specializing in workers' compensation. He is co-author of Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Practice & Procedure and lectures frequently on the subject.

In 2003, he was appointed to the Workers' Compensation Rules Committee by the secretary of Labor and Industry. He is the recipient of the 2005 LeRoy Hyman Award for Outstanding Service to the Bar of Berks County and in 2007 was honored with the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Excellence Award for his work with MidPenn Legal Services. He is on the SU Foundation Board of Directors and is a past president of the SU Alumni Association.

Zullinger, currently an attorney with his own practice, concentrates on real estate, estate administration, estate planning, banking and business law. A Chambersburg resdient, he was the principal negotiator for Menno Haven Inc. in its acquisition of Penn Hall, and for the merger of Chambersburg and Waynesboro hospitals into Summit Health. He is also a court-appointed mental health review officer who conducts hearings and rules on evidence and petitions.

He is also a strong supporter of community organizations, often taking leadership roles. Most recent positions include serving on the board of directors for the SU Foundation and Summit Health and various committees with Orrstown Bank and Orrstown Financial Services. He has been a member of the Shippensburg Band since 1964 and a board member for the Festival Chamber Orchestra Association since 1984.