Fall 1999

The College held its annual presentation of the Alumni Awards of Excellence, the John F. Puglisi Scholarship and the Leon and Margaret Slocomb Outstanding Student Recognition Award on Homecoming morning, Oct. 3, 1998.

Established in 1991, the Alumni Award of Excellence is bestowed on alumni who have exhibited excellence in their careers and personal achievements. The Hon. Wayne A. Smith, chairperson of the Alumni Award of Excellence Committee, presented the 1998 awards to the following four alumni, who exemplify professional and personal excellence.

Richard Derr is president and owner of Kidspoint Inc., a collection of companies focused on the specialty toy business. The company was founded in May 1996 and has grown to three divisions throughout the Chicago area, as well as in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Derr attended the University from 1973-77. He lettered in varsity baseball and was part of the business department's initial intern program with the John Wanamaker Co.

Derr is married and has two children, Jeffrey and Meredith. His passions include Little League baseball and serving his local community preschool.

In accepting the award, he thanked retired marketing Prof. Jim Krum, whose help in securing an internship had a lasting, positive impact on Derr's career.

George MacKenzie Jr. is senior vice president and chief financial officer, an advisory member of the board of directors and a member of the Hercules Management Committee of Hercules Inc.

He received a B.S. degree in business administration from the University of Delaware in 1971 and an MBA degree from the University of Chicago in 1973. MacKenzie is a member of the Financial Executives Institute, where he recently served as president of the Delaware chapter.

He is married to Carol P. MacKenzie, a 1972 UD graduate with a B.A. in English. They have two children, Bruce and George.

In his acceptance remarks, MacKenzie noted that retired Prof. Bill Markell had sparked his interest in accounting--an interest that led to his success today.

Thomas Mulrine retired from the Army in 1996 after 30 years of active duty and received his juris doctorate, magna cum laude, from American University the following year. He practices law with Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti in Washington, D.C.

Mulrine graduated from the University of Delaware in 1966 with a major in business administration, economics and marketing. While serving in the Army, he earned an MBA degree with distinction from Adelphi University.

Mulrine has two children--Anna, an associate editor for U.S. News and World Report, and Matthew, who was a pre-med student when he passed away in 1996 at age 20.

Mulrine noted that he thinks of success more in terms of how a person treats others than in terms of material possessions. He says he found UD to be a nurturing environment and a great university.

Harold D. (Smitty) Smith II is vice president and general auditor for DuPont Finance, a position he has held since 1992. During his career with DuPont, he has served in various capacities in the international, finance and chemicals and pigments departments.

Smith graduated in 1964 with a B.S. in accounting. While a student, he lettered in baseball and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

He and his wife, Bobbin, have three married children and two grandchildren and live in Middletown, Del.

The John F. Puglisi Scholarship was established in 1992 by Donald J. Puglisi, professor of finance and MBNA America Business Professor. He chose to use the endowed funds associated with the award to establish a scholarship in the name of his father, John F. Puglisi. Developed in tribute to his father's commitment to and practice of the values of education, athletics and community service, the scholarship is awarded to the member of the incoming senior class in accounting, finance or business administration who best exhibits these characteristics. A scholarship committee within the administration of the College of Business and Economics selects the annual winner.

The 1998 recipient of the John F. Puglisi Scholarship was Leslie L. Peraino, of Toms River, N.J., a senior finance major with a minor in MIS/DSS. Peraino was a student assistant in the Career Services Center, a member of Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, assistant treasurer of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, a research assistant in the Department of Finance and secretary of Mu Iota Sigma, the MIS honor society. Her non-academic activities included the Delaware Dance Team and the Delaware Repertory Dance Company, in which she has served as president. She graduated in May 1999.

The Leon and Margaret Slocomb Outstanding Student Recognition Award was established in 1996. Leon Slocomb, president of Slocomb Industries, has recognized the importance of helping young people, particularly those who demonstrate industrious and innovative characteristics, to obtain a college degree. The recipient of the award must have at least junior status and a qualifying grade point average. The student must also be employed, to help defray college expenses, while still enrolled full time at the University.

The 1998 recipient of the Leon and Margaret Slocomb Outstanding Student Recognition Award was Gina M. Marisca of Long Valley, N.J., a senior finance major with a minor in MIS/DSS. Marisca worked as an academic adviser for the College of Business and Economics and assisted the University's Information Technology Department in implementing the PeopleSoft computer software system campus-wide. She also was president of Mu Iota Sigma, treasurer of the Mortar Board senior national honor society, a member of the B&E Student Advisory Board and a member of the Blue Hen Investment Club. She graduated in May 1999.