Citizenship/Humanitarian Awards to Be Presented to Two Alumni
12.02.2002 Alumni
Anita L. Wagner of Muncy and William R. Miller of South Williamsport will be presented with Alumni Citizenship/Humanitarian Awards at Pennsylvania College of Technology's December Commencement ceremonies Dec. 21 at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport.
The award promotes the responsibility of graduates to participate in their communities through volunteerism and recognizes alumni who have provided distinguished community or volunteer service.
Wagner, who received an associate's degree in Nursing from Penn College in 1995, currently is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Nursing from the College. Wagner is a registered nurse who also holds the legal nurse consulting certification. Since 1999, Wagner has served as president and legal nurse consultant for Consulting RN Inc., Muncy. She also serves as a substitute school nurse for the East Lycoming School District.
Previously, Wagner worked as a registered nurse for Behavioral Health Group of Pennsylvania, Muncy, in 2001; a legal nurse consultant for the Williamsport law firm of Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Harris, Waters and Waffenschmidt from 1997-2000; and a registered nurse for Susquehanna Health System from 1995-97.
Since 1999, Wagner has been a volunteer for the American Red Cross' Armed Forces Emergency Services, Blood Services and the Lycoming County Fair Red Cross first-aid station. In 2001-02 she volunteered 120 hours at Ashkar Elementary School, reading with first-graders and developing a spelling-homework incentive. Since September, she has been a photocopy volunteer for teachers and a lunch-room volunteer.
In 2001, Wagner helped organize employees of a health-care employer who were not paid when the company declared bankruptcy, orchestrating a letter-writing campaign and other activities that resulted in the money being recovered. In 1999, she served as chair of the Keith Moyer Fire Fund Benefit, organizing bake sales and other benefits, as well as crocheting and selling butterfly refrigerator magnets to help the family cover its losses.
In 2000, Wagner served as a committee member for the Lucinda Martinez Leukemia Benefit, organizing a skate-a-thon and creating pledge sheets. This past year, she was a committee member on the Rochelle Edwards Benefit, making posters, securing donations, conducting a mass mailing and arranging television coverage for a woman severely injured in a car accident.
Wagner also has donated many crocheted afghans for events such as the Muncy Valley Hospital Lawn Party and the Clarkstown Fire Co. Carnival.
Miller graduated from the Penn College predecessor institution Williamsport Area Community College in 1970 with an associate's degree in Forest Technology. Since 1980, he has been employed as a line clearance inspector for PPL Electric Utilities.
Previously, Miller was the city forester for the City of Williamsport from 1972-79. From 1970-72, he was in the Army, serving with the military police in the Republic of Korea.
Miller was elected mayor of South Williamsport Borough in November 2001, taking office in January.
He has been a member of the borough's Shade Tree Commission since its inception in 1994, serving as chairman, spearheading the planting of memorial trees and commemorative stones at the borough's recreation complex and helping to secure grant funds for tree-planting along streets in the community. Miller served as secretary of South Williamsport's Civil Service Commission for 12 years.
Miller also shepherded an Eagle Scout project to landscape the flagpole and the "Welcome to South Williamsport" area along the Market Street Bridge approach to the borough. As a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, Miller has served on the stewardship and personnel committees and volunteered as driver for the church van.
At Penn College, Miller has been a longtime member of the Horticultural Advisory Board, and he has served as a judge for the Horticulture/Landscape Field Day event. He has also served on the steering committee for the South Williamsport Area School District's Strategic Plan.
The College also presents Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna and Alumnus/Alumna Achievement awards at its May Commencement exercises and Mentorship Awards at August commencement. For more information about alumni news and events, visit on the Web.