The Leo Award
Awarded to an alumnus or alumna within 15 years of graduation who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in his or her profession or in community activities and named for the King's College mascot, The Leo Award suggests the energy, pride and sense of purpose which the recipient personifies.
Frederick A. Pettit ‘96
Fred Pettit is a 1996 graduate of King’s College, where he received his B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy. He then continued his education at Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law, where he was a member of Temple’s National Trial Team. Mr. Pettit began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Currently, Mr. Pettit is a Principal in the Philadelphia office of Offit Kurman, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of insurance recovery, employment litigation, and commercial litigation. He has been recognized by Law & Politics and Philadelphia Magazine as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer “Rising Star.”
Mr. Pettit is also active in the community and serves in a variety of positions. He serves as a member of the King’s College President’s Council and a member of the King’s College Philadelphia alumni club steering committee, a board member for the Playwicki Farm Foundation, an Advisory Council Member, Philadelphia SmartCEO Magazine, and a Volunteer Attorney, Bucks County Voter Protection.
With esteem and affection and with best wishes for future success, we present to you The Leo Award.
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THE ROBERT J. ELL ALUMNI AWARD
FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO ALMA MATER
Named for Robert J. Ell '50, the first Director of Alumni Relations at King's College, who served in that position until his retirement in 1991, this award is conferred upon an alumnus/alumna for extraordinary service, dedication and commitment to King's College.
James M. Bone, Jr.’83
Jim began his lifelong relationship with King’s College as a student in 1978 and graduated with a double major in Accounting and Information Systems in 1983. Upon graduation, Jim joined the local accounting firm of JH Williams & Co, where he was employed from 1982 to 1986. He attained his CPA certificate in 1986. In 1986, he joined First National Community Bank where he has been employed for the last 24 years.
Jim became active in College fundraising in the late 1980s as a volunteer on the Community phase of the Annual Community Campaign. He went on to become a team captain and later the chair of the King's College Community Campaign. Jim has been a member of the Farber Golf Tournament Committee for years and currently chairs the Committee. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the King’s Century Club. He currently resides in Exeter with his wife Mary and his four daughters, Kathleen, Meaghan, Kelly and Jennifer.
For your years of service and dedication to King’s College and its student body, we present to you the Robert J. Ell Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to Alma Mater.
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KING’S COLLEGE ALUMNI AWARD
FOR SERVICE TO SOCIETY
This award is conferred upon an alumnus or alumna who has distinguished himself or herself through selfless and caring personal commitment to benefit others.
Mary Lou Perez-Zerfoss ’81
With a double major of Psychology and Criminal Justice, Mary Lou Perez-Zerfoss always had the dream of helping others. Mary Lou has worked in the Social Services field for over 30 years and has served as Director of the Foster Grandparent Program of Luzerne/Wyoming Counties for 21 years.
Armed with an innate gift of serving others, Mary Lou remains very active in the community. She is a member of the Board of Directors for both Child Development Council and Domestic Violence Service Center. She is an active volunteer for United Way of Wyoming Valley, DVSC, and her church. She has spear-headed the United Way Campaign for her employer, co-chaired a bi-annual food drive for homeless children, co-chaired the annual “Sock-it-to-Us” program for the homeless, co-chaired the annual “Toys for Tots” Campaign, and coordinated a book drive for under-privileged children. Mary Lou has been a mentor through the Welfare to Work Program, the Senior Corps of PA Directors Association, and the National Association of FGP Directors. She and her husband Frank have been married for 24 years and they have a 20 year old daughter, Jocelyn.
In recognition of your exemplary acts of selflessness and your assistance to the poor and the needy, we present to you with esteem and affection, the King’s College Alumni Award for Service to Society.
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ALUMNI AWARD FOR
OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
This award is presented to an alumnus or alumna who has distinguished himself or herself through exceptional professional achievement.
Marshall A. Nelson ’57
In life, people can wait for opportunities to arrive, or they can generate new possibilities in their lives. Marshall Nelson has lived a life of creating opportunities for both himself and for others. He graduated from King’s in 1957 with a major in Economics.
Marshall praises the academic training that he received at King’s saying that it truly prepared him to earn his MBA from Syracuse University and readied him to enter the professional workforce. He headed up Niagara Mohawk’s college recruiting efforts for engineering graduates Mohawk Power Corporation Minority Vendor Program. Since its inception in 1976, Niagara Mohawk has received several awards for its continued commitment to minority and women owned businesses. In his honor, Niagara Mohawk has named a scholarship The Marshall A. Nelson Urban Scholarship.
In 1985, Marshall helped to form a committee as part of the Edison Electric Institute whose mission is to provide resources that build, expand, and sustain successful corporate-wide supplier diversity initiatives for its members. So far, Edison Electric Institute members have contracted more than fifty billion dollars worth of business through the Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise Program.
Currently, Marshall owns and operates his own Human Resources consulting company. The achievement that Marshall is perhaps the most proud of is his family. He and his wife, Mary were married in 1956 and today have four children, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
In recognition of your exemplary professional success, we present to you with esteem and affection, the King’s College Alumni Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement.