Saul Friedman
Two celebrated retired History professors – Leslie Domonkos and the late Saul Friedman – will receive the YSU Heritage Award at the 32nd annual Faculty and Staff Awards Dinner on Friday, May 3 in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center.
In addition, 24 current staff employees will receive Distinguished Service Awards at the event. Retirees and employees with 45, 35, 30, 20 and 10 years of university service will also be recognized.
The Heritage Award, started in 1981, is YSU’s most prestigious award recognizing former faculty and professional/administrative staff who have made major contributions to the university during their years of service.
Domonkos joined the YSU faculty in 1964 as an instructor in the Department of History, advancing to full professor in 1975 and retiring in 2002. He received six YSU Distinguished Professor Awards over the years for excellence in research, teaching, and scholarship. In 1971 he was selected as an Outstanding Educator
Leslie Domonkos
of America. His scholarship has been recognized nationally and internationally by two Fulbright Research Grants, one from the National Endowment for the Humanities and two from the International Research and Exchange Board. He was admitted to the Corporate Body of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2003 as a “distinguished representative of Hungarian scholarship among expatriates.” He authored numerous articles and papers, and co-edited three books. He also assisted in unionizing the full-time faculty at YSU in 1971.
Friedman, who died March 31, joined YSU in 1969 as an assistant professor in the Department of History, advancing to full professor in 1980 and retiring in 2006. Friedman was among the early pioneers of Holocaust Studies in the United States, implementing one of the first Holocaust courses in the nation at YSU.. His efforts led to the creation of the YSU Judaic and Holocaust Studies program, for which he served as director. Friedman also was instrumental in developing the itinerary for the first summer archaeological dig at the University of Western Galilee, a pilot program that began a series of exchanges with Israeli students and YSU students on a regular basis. He also established a Jewish student group on campus. Friedman authored numerous books, articles and reviews, and he received numerous awards, including six YSU Distinguished Professor Awards.
Recipients of Distinguished Service Awards are:
Classified Staff
Cindy Blevins ~ Human Resources
Evangeline Burzynski ~ Human Resources
Mary Hake ~ CLASS
M. Kay Helscel ~ Facilities
Genia Herns ~ Postal Services
Melanie Leonard ~ Student Life
Bruce Palmer ~ Marketing and Communications
Christine Perunko ~ Printing Services
Steve Sowers ~ Motor Pool
Patty Stanovcak ~ Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences
Sue Urmson ~ Dana School of Music
Charmaine Walker ~ Maag Library
Noreen Yazvac ~ Center for Student Progress
Ashleigh Young ~ Kilcawley Center Staff Office
Professional/Administrative Staff
Christine Adams ~ Maag Library
Robert Ault ~ Maag Library
Brenda Crouse ~ STEM
Jacquelyn Johnson ~ University Development
Barbara Krauss ~ WYSU-FM
Brandy Schumaker ~ Campus Recreation
Professional/Administrative Exempt Staff
Alyssa Annico ~ Maag Library
Susanne Fox ~ Bookstore
Danielle Meyer ~ Housing and Residence Life
James Stanger ~ Financial Aid and Scholarships