1999-2000 Recipients

Six people will receive the W.H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion from Appalachian State University this fall.

Recipients will be recognized during convocation September 7, 2000. Receiving the honor are Jimmy Smith, Dino DiBernardi, Richard Rick Geis, Eric Reichard, Joe Piacentino and Kiley Costner.

Jimmy Smith, a professor of mathematics at Appalachian since 1968, has been a leader in both the university and the local community serving as a town councilman, chairman of Appalachians Department of Mathematical Sciences and president of Appalachians faculty senate. Jimmy has earned the respect of his students and his colleagues through his tireless efforts and amazing energy, said Dr. Bill Bauldry, chairman of the Department of Mathematical Sciences. He is the yardstick that we try to measure up to.

Smith has served his fellow faculty members on the state level as representative to the UNC System Faculty Assembly. Among the numerous awards Smith has received is the Annenburg Foundation Award for an Introduction to Mathematics course he helped design.

Smith has been active with Appalachians assessment program, which tests undergraduates with attitude and experience surveys, skills tests and surveys of student experiences.

Smith also was instrumental in starting Appalachians Freshman Seminar Program. Freshman Seminar is a three-semester hour, graded orientation course designed for first-semester freshmen. It helps students make a successful transition to college, discover the resources offered by Appalachian, strengthen learning skills, broaden individual horizons and move toward intellectual and individual independence.

He is a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and N. C. Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Dino DiBernardi is the Director of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership at Appalachian. He was recruited in 1975 as a graduate assistant to provide leadership and advice to the newly implemented Greek system on campus. After graduation, DiBernardi became full-time Director of Greek programs in 1978. DiBernardi has developed and implemented exciting and innovative leadership programs within student organizations. I have seen what an incredible leader he is and how much he really cares about students He has always helped me see all sides of a situation and see things through before I make any decisions, a student wrote about DiBernardi.

Rick Geis is Director of Housing and Residence Life. Having worked at Appalachian for more than 20 years, Geis was part of the founding team that helped define the residence hall program. Jason Chokel, residence education coordinator, said, It is Ricks commitment to our residence life and housing mission and to the students on our campus that makes him very deserving of the Plemmons Leadership Medallion. Geis is described as a role model who reminds others that students are the reason the university exists.

Eric Reichard is an Associate Professor in the Department of Technology. He teaches industrial crafts and technical drawing, and is an advocate for students. Reichard recently established the Enrichment Courses Program, which allows students, faculty and staff to learn about pottery techniques, woodworking skills, jewelry, basket making and photography. Reichard also has helped the womens basketball program raise money for scholarships by creating special pottery pieces that are offered to those donors making significant contributions to the scholarship fund.

Joe Piacentino, a senior, is an accounting major. He has been active in residence life as a resident assistant and a student ambassador. He has held membership positions in numerous clubs and organizations and is a member of the Walker College of Business Honors Program. Piacentino has been active in two forums as a William R. Holland Fellow at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, and as a delegate to the International Business of Tomorrow Conference in New York City sponsored by Princeton University. He also chaired and coordinated the national meeting of the Future Business Leaders of America Conference in Greensboro last year.

Kiley Costner, a senior, has been a part of the W.H. Plemmons Leadership Fellows program for four years. She has contributed to student life in a number of areas including leadership and involvement roles in organizations like student ambassadors, freshman orientation, Circle K and student government, where she is currently Vice President.