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YSU Foundation chief to get honorary degree
By HAROLD GWIN
YOUNGSTOWN
The president of the Youngstown State University Foundation will be presented with an honorary doctor of laws degree at YSU’s summer commencement Aug. 14.
The YSU Board of Trustees approved the awarding of the degree to C. Reid Schmutz in a special meeting Wednesday. The board also designated Schmutz as the commencement speaker on that date.
Schmutz, a lifelong resident of the Mahoning Valley, is a ’60 graduate of The Rayen School and earned a degree in economics from Brown University.
He worked for Standard Slag Co. for 25 years, rising to the post of vice president of operations, before being named president of the YSU Foundation in 1989. The foundation is devoted to the support, expansion and development of educational programs at YSU deemed useful to the student and beneficial to the community.
It had assets valued at $50 million at the time, but its assets now stand at $150 million.
Cynthia E. Anderson, YSU president, said Schmutz has been a longtime friend to the students of YSU. He always has been able to find scholarship aid for students when other avenues of financial assistance have been exhausted, she said.
Schmutz serves as a trustee and past president of a variety of organizations, including the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, Youngstown Rotary Club and the YSU Penguin Club. He also is a trustee of the Mahoning/Shenango Planned Giving Council, The Rayen School Foundation and the Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center. He is a member of the 1985 inaugural class of Leadership Mahoning Valley.
In other business, the trustees are considering the creation of a new faculty award to be presented for long-term outstanding academic or research achievement.
Ikram Khawaja, YSU provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the Trustees Research Scholar/Excellence in Scholarship Award won’t be an annual honor but will be presented only when a member of the faculty performs at a level that earns that recognition.
The honor would include a “significant” three-year monetary award, he said, adding that details have yet to be finalized.