Alumni Awards To Honor Leaders In Their Fields

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 5, 2004 -- Springfield College will honor four alumni who have distinguished themselves for leadership in their fields, as well as service to others and Springfield College, at the annual Alumni Awards Induction Program during Homecoming Weekend, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, at 6 p.m. in Cheney Hall.

Mark A. Kenton of Monson, Mass. will receive the Young Alumnus Award, which honors a member of the tenth reunion class for professional excellence and outstanding service to the college and the community. Barry Weinberg of St. Louis, Mo. will receive the Tarbell medallion for outstanding service to alma mater by one who graduated more than 20 years ago. Stanley F. Battle of Owings Mills, Md. and Michael Boyle of El Segundo, Calif. will each receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award in recognition of professional excellence, outstanding achievement in their fields, and service to others.

Weinberg will receive the Tarbell medallion and an accompanying lapel pin, which are commemorative expressions of R. Tait McKenzie's "The Joy of Effort." Weinberg graduated from Springfield College in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and earned his master’s degree in athletic training from Indiana University. He began his career as a minor league trainer to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and went on to become assistant athletic trainer to the New York Yankees, and then head athletic trainer to the Oakland Athletics. He has been head athletic trainer for the St. Louis Cardinals since 1998. Along the way he was trainer twice to the American League All-Star Team and was inducted into the Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Weinberg’s generosity to Springfield College has taken many forms. He has been a guest lecturer and panel discussion member on the campus, and a career mentor for students. He alerts Springfield College students and young alumni when looking for interns and entry-level professionals. He has been Homecoming Awards Dinner Emcee on several occasions, and an active member of Springfield College baseball reunion committees. For the college’s local alumni associations’ and its baseball silent auctions, Weinberg has provided baseballs signed by some of the greatest players of all time, and he has co-hosted major donor events.

Kenton is the attending emergency department physician at Mercy Medical Center, and also is a per diem attending emergency department physician at Baystate and Holyoke medical centers and Noble Hospital. In addition, he is Springfield College’s medical director for the physician assistant program, team physician/medical director of the athletic training program, and adjunct professor of emergency medical services. He also volunteers as physician for the week of Freshman Camp.

After graduating from Springfield College with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training and master’s degree in exercise physiology, Kenton earned his medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. There, he earned clinical excellence honors in emergency medicine, critical care, obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine, and pediatrics. Kenton, who also is a music composer, guitar player, and singer, found time during medical school to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity through concerts with his band, “House Calls,” and for the Make a Wish Foundation through a charity concert. In 2001, he raised funds for The Cause Foundation, which is United Airlines’ 9-11 charity, by recording a CD of the song, “Listen to the Land,” which he wrote.

Battle earned a national reputation for scholarship and service in African-American issues while rising in his academic career from adjunct professor through a series of advances over more than 20 years to university president.

Battle became president of Coppin State University in 2003 after having been vice chancellor of student and multicultural affairs and Sullivan-Spaights professor at the University of Wisconsin. Previously, he was associate vice president for academic affairs at Eastern Connecticut State University and associate dean for research and development at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. Earlier in has career, he held various faculty positions at the University of Connecticut and Boston University.

Recent Headlines

• Springfield College Dance Concert, William Simpson Fine Arts Series
  
  
• Springfield College, MCDI to Serve Community Thanksgiving Dinner
  
  
• Springfield College Featured in New Museum of Springfield History
  
  
• Springfield College Receives Super 60 Award as Major Contributor to Regional Economy
  
  
• Springfield College Event to Address Baha’i Persecution in Iran