YMCA Salutes Community Commitment

The Bradford Family YMCA recognized nine area individuals and one organization for their commitment to the community at its 2013 Bradford Community Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, May 7 at 7:30 a.m. at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

The “George G. Blaisdell YMCA Community Service Awards” were presented to Dr. Richard McDowell, by Judge John Cleland and to BCPAC, by Patty Colosimo. The annual award recognizes one or more individuals, businesses, or organizations in Bradford and the surrounding area for continual commitment to the improvement of the community by his/her actions, words, and deeds that exemplify the YMCA mission of building “spirit, mind, and body for all.”

McDowell has been a lifelong resident of Bradford who holds a BS in biology from High Point University and a Ph. D. in biology from St. Louis University. He completed his pre-doctoral fellowship at Argonne National Laboratories in Chicago, and then returned to Bradford in 1970 as the assistant professor of biology and director of admissions/financial aid at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He became the president of Pitt-Bradford in 1973, and at the age of 29, he was the youngest college president in the nation. During his 29 years as president, the University underwent several major transformations and expansions in the college’s mission, enrollment growth and physical plant expansion. He led the University through the process to gain baccalaureate degree-granting status in 1979, which he considers one of his most rewarding experiences. Under his leadership, approximately $100 million in capital expansion and improvements were made to the campus, and the student body increased to 1,200. In 2001 he was awarded the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association Teaching Excellence Award, and in 2002, he was recognized for his support of athletics by induction into Pitt-Bradford’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Outside of the college, he has served on the boards of the Bradford Area United Way, YMCA, PA Humanities Council, Headwaters Charitable Trust and Bradford Regional Medical Center. He has also been a trustee for The Hospital and Health System Association of PA and an American Cancer Society volunteer. He currently sits on the boards of the Blaisdell Foundation, Bradford Area Alliance and the Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny. He is a trustee of the Upper Allegheny Health System and Bradford Regional Medical Center Foundation and is also a member of RIT’s President’s Roundtable. He has been on the board of Northwest Savings Bank since 1974, is a principal at Chandler Valley Associates and is an associate professor at Pitt-Bradford for biology, non-profit management and fundraising. Dr. McDowell has made the Bradford area stronger by growing Pitt-Bradford into an exceptional center of education and by lending expertise to our community organizations.

BCPAC (Bradford Creative & Performing Arts Center) was honored as a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of children of all abilities. In the summer of 1984, Dr. Patricia Bianco from the theater department at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford saw the need for a community organization focused on bringing professional entertainment to Bradford. BCPAC was eventually born out of this idea, and its first show was “The Nutcracker” ballet, which played to a sold out crowd of 1,400. Since its founding, BCPAC has presented a wide variety of professional artists and ensembles from not only outside the area, but also those from or living in Bradford. It believes that the arts are fun, transformational and vital to enhancing the lives of our community. BCPAC is especially proud of its initiatives aimed at developing an appreciation of the arts in young audiences. The Arts in Education Committee's goal is to encourage students to meet and interact with BCPAC-sponsored performers. In addition, the Arts in Education Committee coordinates an annual summer theatre workshop with 60 local students. BCPAC strives to involve volunteers in the production and administration of its programs. It also tries to offer events that appeal to smaller, more sophisticated audiences as well as popular offerings that appeal to broader audiences. BCPAC's success can be measured by both growing patron support and audience attendance, which annually surpasses more than 6,000. Donor, corporate and grant support help keep the ticket prices reasonable. In 1990, BPAC established the annual Marilyn Horne Award for the Creative & Performing Arts, or "The Jackie" award, to recognize an individual or organization who supports the arts in the community. For 29 seasons, BCPAC has brought outstanding performances to Bradford. They have more than lived up to their slogan of “Bringing the World to Bradford!”

Five area youth were presented with the “Ray C. Uhler YMCA Outstanding Youth Award.” The annual award recognizes one graduating senior from each private and public high school in McKean County. The students selected are individuals who have demonstrated throughout their high school careers a continual commitment to helping others through volunteer efforts to local community groups and organizations, church and school.

The 2013 honorees were: Kayla Taylor from Bradford Area High School; Zachary Hadfield from Kane Area High School; Katie Jo Smith from Otto-Eldred High School; Nicholas Conway from Port Allegany High School; and Margaret Costa from Smethport Area Jr.-Sr. High School.

The YMCA also presented its 2012 Volunteer of the Year awards to the following: Harry Solarek, Policy Volunteer of the Year; Steve Witczak, Program Volunteer of the Year; and Samantha Johnson, Youth Volunteer of the Year.

Pictured, Samantha Johnson, YMCA Youth Volunteer of Year; Harry Solarek, YMCA Policy Volunteer of Year; Steve Witczak, YMCA Program Volunteer of the Year; Jim Guelfi, Exec. Dir. Of BCPAC; and Dr. Richard McDowell, George G. Blaisdell YMCA Community Service Award Honorees; Ray C. Uhler YMCA Outstanding Youth Award honorees: Nicholas Conway, Port Allegany HS; Kayla Taylor, Bradford HS; Kate Jo Smith, Otto-Eldred HS; Maggie Costa, Smethport HS; and Zach Hadfield, Kane HS