A Decade of Distinction

Alumni Association celebrates the best and the brightest

On Wednesday, April 20, the George Mason University Alumni Association recognized and honored outstanding alumni, students, and faculty members for their achievements and contributions to the university. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this gathering, the Celebration of Distinction.

The 2005 Alumnus of the Year Award went to Edward J. Newberry, BA Communication ’84 and BS Business Administration ’84. Newberry is a member of the Patton Boggs law firm in Washington, D.C., where he counsels large domestic and multinational corporations, trade associations, universities, and government entities on matters involving Congress and the executive branch. Prior to joining Patton Boggs, Newberry was press secretary to U.S. Representative Frank Wolf (R–Virginia) and an associate staff member on the House Appropriations Committee. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of Mason in the public arena. Newberry also has been of great help to the university in a variety of areas, serving as cochair of the Annual Fund Committee and chair of the President’s Circle, the premier recognition society established to honor the university’s most generous annual donors. He also chaired the Alumni Leadership Campaign Steering Committee, helping to engage a significant number of alumni in the university’s first comprehensive fund-raising campaign. Newberry has served on the Advisory Board of the National Center for Technology and Law through Mason’s School of Law. Newberry achieved double honors this year as recipient of the Department of Communication’s Outstanding Alumni Award.

Alan H. Harbitter, PhD Computer Science ’02, is the recipient of this year’s Alumni Service Award. Harbitter, who is chief technology officer, corporate secretary, and director at PEC Solutions, a company he cofounded in 1985, serves on the Advisory Council for the School of Information Technology and Engineering (IT&E) at Mason. In addition, Harbitter is the founding chair of the Washington Area Chief Technology Officers’ Roundtable; chair of the University of Maryland College of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences Board of Visitors; and treasurer/trustee of the Arc Foundation of Northern Virginia (advocacy for the handicapped). Harbitter and his family have endowed an undergraduate IT&E scholarship and a separate undergraduate scholarship established by PEC Solutions. Mason is also the beneficiary of a charitable lead trust that he and his wife, Lisa, have established.

This year’s Faculty Member of the Year is Cynthia Lont, PhD, Communication Department professor and past department chair. An integral part of the Mason faculty and community since 1984, Lont has contributed countless hours to the university through her dedication to teaching, mentoring, advising, and leadership. Director of the Student Video Center and past director of the Student Technology Assessment and Resource Center, Lont has been a faculty advisor to the GMView, the university’s video yearbook, for 14 years. Lont has published three books and written numerous chapters for other publications. The mother of two teenagers, she also finds time for community service through work at the Vienna Women’s Center and presentations or advisory roles to local girls groups such as Girl Power.

The Senior of the Year is Rysheda M. McClendon, a bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary studies major. McClendon has been an asset to the college community and the Residence Life Program, where she has served as head resident advisor since fall 2004. As a graduate of the Early Identification Program (EIP), a four-year program for high school students, she was guaranteed admission into Mason upon successful completion of the program. With a passion for academics and leadership, McClendon is a Spirit of King Award nominee, a former Resident Advisor of the Month, and winner of numerous Residence Life Academic Achievement awards. She also received the Vision Leadership Award and several scholarships. In addition to serving as Honor Committee cochair, Judicial Board president, and Citadel Worship Assembly secretary, McClendon has volunteered in food and clothing drives on campus and gives back to EIP, working as a tutor and instructional assistant to high school students.

L. Terrance Polite, a student in the College of Nursing and Health Science, was awarded the John C. Wood Scholarship. Outside of his studies, Polite is an experienced dancer and a member of the hip-hop dance troupe Culture Shock, which teaches dance to underprivileged young people at numerous recreation centers in the Washington, D.C., area. He also has performed throughout the United States and Europe. His numerous academic awards include the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, Who’s Who of American High School Students, and first place in the Alexandria City science fair. He also was selected to attend the Governor’s School Spanish Academy’s three-week total Spanish emersion program, chosen first chair bass for the District X Orchestra, and nominated for best male dancer at the regional Cappies Awards for his work in the high school musicals Footloose and Anything Goes. Raised solely by his mother, who also cares for his grandmother, Polite has never let the financial burden of college hold him back and plans to continue to complete his medical degree and become an emergency room doctor.

The recipient of this year’s John C. and Louise P. Wood Graduate Scholarship is James P. Halabuk, BA History ’02 and MA American History ’03. Halabuk is enrolled in Mason’s PhD in History Program, where he works as a graduate research assistant in the Center for History and New Media and the Technology Across the Curriculum Program. Over the years, Halabuk has managed to rise above many challenges and obstacles on his path to academic success. After rupturing three vertebrae on the job, Halabuk was forced to give up electrical contracting and decided to return to school. With a wife and three children to care for, he worked tirelessly through his undergraduate studies and managed to complete his master’s degree in only one year. More recently, he and his wife adopted his late sister’s two young children after she died of a brain tumor. He has done exceedingly well in his academic career, winning many awards and honors, including a graduate fellowship from Mason’s Department of History and Art History, Cambridge International History Summer School First Class Honours, and Mason’s Lifetime Learning Award, among others.

Government and international politics major Dale Van Wagner was awarded the Peter C. Forame Student Leader Scholarship. In his first week at Mason, Van Wagner was selected to be a Mason Ambassador and one week after that was elected president of the Presidents Park Area Council. He has held numerous other leadership positions during his time on campus, including founding member and tour guide for the Student Alumni Chapter, vice chair of the Concerts and Weekends Committee for the Program Board, a peer advisor for the Freshman Center, an intramural sports team captain, and member of the President/Provost Student Advisory Council, all while maintaining a 3.20 GPA. In addition to his work on campus, Van Wagner volunteers at the Inova Care Center and the Northern Virginia Training Center. An avid sports fan, he is a team leader and member of the Patriot Platoon and can be seen at every men’s basketball game cheering on the team.

This year’s Stephen Karbelk Alumnus of the Year Award went to John A. Wilburn, MA American History ’76. Wilburn is managing editor of the Houston Chronicle, the latest hallmark of his accomplished career in news media. Before coming to the Chronicle, he spent five years working in web media, first as founder and executive producer of Microsoft’s MSN Sidewalk and then news and operations manager of KHOU.com, the web site of Houston’s CBS television affiliate. Previously, Wilburn piloted newspapers and magazines in all three of Texas’ big cities: Houston City Magazine,Viva (the San Antonio Light’s Sunday magazine), Dallas Life (the Dallas Morning News’ Sunday magazine), and Houston Press. Wilburn also spent four years as a reporter and producer for PBS’ Talking with David Frost.

William D. Spencer, MPA ’95, received the Wayne F. Anderson Award for Distinguished Public Service. Spencer began his public service career during high school working for the U.S. Senate Radio and Television Recording Studio. During and after college, he worked for the U.S. Department of Justice, where he developed a long-term plan to consolidate the department’s facilities and was nominated for the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Administrative Support. Now deputy managing director at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Spencer has been instrumental in furthering the FCC’s strategic goals for homeland security and modernization.

The Distinguished Nursing Alumni Award recognized the efforts of Bethany Hall-Long, PhD Nursing ’93. Associate professor for the College of Health and Nursing Sciences at the University of Delaware, Hall-Long has more than 17 years of clinical, education, administrative, and policy research experience, during which time she has received numerous awards for her initiatives. Her current federal and privately funded research efforts explore vulnerable populations, public health nursing education, and diabetes self-management. She has created or led more than 450 community health programs and public policy boards throughout the mid-Atlantic region. She currently serves as an elected state representative for the Eighth District in Delaware’s General Assembly.

University Career Services awarded its Career Connection Alumni Award to Beverly (Charlesworth) Walker, BS Accounting ’98. Walker joined Beers & Cutler six years ago and now serves as the firm’s manager for training and professional development and the recruiting team lead for Mason. Combining her expertise in training with her desire to help Mason students, Walker has served as a mentor to accounting students, given presentations to Beta Alpha Psi students on how to interview and dress for success, coached students on networking at the School of Management’s NetworkFest, briefed students on the campus interviewing process, and participated in the Student Alumni Chapter’s etiquette dinner this spring.

Dione H. Sharmin, BA English ’94 and MS Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics ’02, was recognized with the School of Public Policy Alumni Service Award for her commitment and dedication to the school’s alumni chapter. Sharmin served as the chapter’s president and interim vice president. Her leadership, attitude, and commitment to building a strong alumni community has helped the chapter achieve success in all its endeavors. Currently, Sharmin is an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton.

The recipient of the Barbara B. Knight Distinguished Alumni Award is Darnell R. Carpenter, BS Public Administration ’97. Carpenteris founder and chief executive officer of Capitol Development Corporation. Prior to founding Capitol Development, Carpenter was executive director of a community-based nonprofit housing provider in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Active in numerous civic associations in and around his community, Carpenter previously served on the Citizens Advisory Commission on Housing. He is a member of Arlington County’s Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission and serves on the Board of Directors of the Arlington NAACP, the Arlington Red Cross, the Shirlington Road Advisory Commission, and the Steering Committee of the Arlington County Democratic Committee.

Sunil S. Tellis, BS Computer Science ’01, was awarded the Computer Science Alumni Service Award for his outstanding contributions to Mason and the Computer Science Alumni Chapter. Since receiving his degree from Mason, Tellis has worked as a programmer analyst and technical project manager at Freddie Mac. He cofounded the Mason Computer Science Alumni Chapter in 2002 and currently serves as its president. He has been instrumental in creating strong ties between alumni and the Computer Science Department.

Thomas W. Iszard, BM ’86, is the first recipient of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Alumni Service Award. Iszard has had a winding career path that includes working at the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Dance Exchange, and serving as chief financial officer at the Levine School of Music. It was at Levine that Iszard met CVPA dean Bill Reeder, who drafted Iszard to help create an alumni chapter for CVPA. Iszard also serves on the boards of the Center for the Arts in Manassas, Virginia, and CVPA.

New Century College awarded its Outstanding Alumni Award to Zavin R. Smith, BA Integrative Studies ’00, Certificate Leadership Studies ’03, and MA Telecommunications ’03. Smith has worked for the university since 1998 in various capacities, including in the Center for Service and Leadership, the College of Arts and Sciences, and Student Academic Services. He recently was named assistant director of Mason’s Office of Annual Giving. He also runs the Student Giving Campaign and is vice president of the Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund. In addition to serving on Mason’s Staff Senate, Smith also tutors high school and college students in chemistry, algebra, and accounting.

In addition, the following scholarships and awards were presented to students: the Dean Engle Memorial Scholarship to Gregory Staiti, the Mason School of Law Alumni Chapter Scholarship to Filicia Davenport, the Beth Kauffman Award for Creativity to GeorgeMalenich, the Outstanding Entering School of Management Graduate Student Award to Daniel B. Sims, the Black Alumni Chapter Commitment to Diversity Book Award to Kellie Budd, the Broadsider of the Year Award to Christopher Anzalone, and the Broadside Rookie of the Year to Kalen Bauman.

Back row: John Wilburn, Zavin Smith, Dione Sharmin, Daniel Sims, Tom Iszard, Alan Harbitter, William Spencer, Rysheda McClendon, Darnell Carpenter; Middle row: Cynthia Lont, Kalen Bauman, Beverly Walker, Sunil Tellis, Bethany Hall-Long, Kellie Budd, George Malenich, Edward Newberry; Front row: James Halabuk, L. Terrance Polite, Dale Van Wagner, Gregory Staiti

Alumnus of the Year Edward J. Newberry

Former Board of Visitors rector Edwin Meese with Sally Merten

Alan H. Harbitter with Alumni Association president-elect Peter J. Farrell