Grove City honors 2 leaders with awards

The award is designed to foster relations between the campus and town.

GROVE CITY, Pa. — Two community leaders have been selected as recipients of the Grove City College Florence E. MacKenzie Campus-Community Awards for 2007.

Dr. James T. Thrasher, class of 1980, Grove City College director of career services, and Leann B. Smith, former Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce director, received the honors.

The awards, designed to foster relations between the campus and the community, are named for Florence E. MacKenzie, wife of former Grove City President Dr. Charles S. MacKenzie. Beginning in 1971, and until her death in 1981, she served Grove City College and the Grove City as she sought to establish strong town-college relationships.

Thrasher is also an assistant professor of humanities and religion. He has been employed at the college and has lived in the borough for 25 years.

He has been a consultant/speaker for the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the guidance department at Grove City High School. He also served as a career counselor to local citizens displaced from their jobs, a speaker for the Grove City Kiwanis and a speaker for the Grove City Homeschooling Association.

Thrasher also has served as president and other capacities at Grove City Christian Academy. A member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, he has taught Sunday school and youths and has participated in community work projects and in outreach to inmates at the Mercer County Correctional Facility. He has served as a deacon at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church and has volunteered at the New Castle City Rescue Mission.

Thrasher has coached local youth baseball, football, t-ball and soccer. He is chairman of the President’s Council at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary and has preached at area churches in Eau Claire, Cherry Valley, Sharon, Clarion and Stoneboro.

He mentors college students, advising the men’s club lacrosse team and speaking at on-campus Bible studies, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Salt Company, Chapel and other functions and is a member of The Center for Vision & Values Vocational Calling working group and the Fencing Club.

Thrasher has a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and a master’s degree from Slippery Rock University. He and his wife, the former Kristy White, class of 1986, have four children.

Smith served as the executive director of the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce and owns Wolf Creek Marketing, a marketing and public relations business. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Allegheny College and a master’s degree in English from Slippery Rock University.

She led the Chamber of Commerce from 2004-07, during which time it introduced the Grove City Community Guide, the shopgrovecity.com web site, the Business Leaders Roundtable and more. Smith organized the Olde Town Initiative and wrote the grant for downtown Grove City’s acceptance into the Pennsylvania Main Street Program.

She also worked to develop concept and funding for the downtown Joseph D. Monteleone Youth Festival Park, set to be constructed in 2008.

Smith also served as administrator for the 79-80 Interstate Development Corp. and continues as vice president of its board.

Smith has served as executive director of the United Way, and the Day of Caring program was introduced to the community under her leadership.

She was an adjunct instructor at Grove City College from 1994-99, teaching public relations and advertising, and uses students as interns, committee members, focus groups and volunteers for Chamber and United Way projects and initiatives.

Smith is active on several boards including Grove City Revitalization, Inc., the Olde Town Initiative, 79-80 Interstate Development Corp., Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Penn Northwest Development Corp.

Smith also has served on the charter YMCA board of directors as well as YMCA capital campaigns. She served as President of United Community Hospital volunteers and as secretary of the Grove City Recreation Council.

Smith lives in Pine Township with her husband, Dr. Edward Smith, medical director of the college’s Zerbe Health and Wellness Center. The Smiths have three children.