STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—On December 11, 2021, Franciscan University of Steubenville held its annual Founders’ Dinner and presented 2021 Founders’ Awards to the Dr. John ’58 and Judy Irvin family, Paul Giannamore ’84, Ross Gallabrese, and Sister M. Regina Pacis Coury, FSGM, for their support of the University.

Mike Florak, executive director of Community Relations at Franciscan University, emceed the event held in the Tony and Nina Gentile Gallery of the J.C. Williams Center.

He honored Sister M. Regina Pacis Coury, FSGM, for founding Franciscan’s Great Books Honors Program and Classics (Latin and Greek major) Program and her impact on the academic and spiritual growth of Franciscan University and her students.

Currently director of Education at the Domus Sanctae Mariae Guadalupe sponsored by the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious in Rome, Sister Coury could not attend the event but sent video-recorded remarks. She described teaching at Franciscan, a university “that vibrates with the charism of St. Francis,” as a “gift from God.” She also said her time there “made me the beneficiary of much more than I could ever give to the University. Now and always, I will be grateful for that experience.”

In introducing the next honoree, Florak said “communities need pillars” and that he “couldn’t think of anyone currently who was more of a pillar of our community than Ross Gallabrese.”

Gallabrese, chosen to receive the award for “his tremendous contributions to the local community and Franciscan University of Steubenville,” has worked at the Herald-Star since 1981 and is currently the executive editor of both the Herald-Star and the Weirton Daily Times newspapers. Very active in civic service, he has also been a long-time member of Franciscan’s local Board of Advisors.

Gallabrese credited Marian Houser, longtime city and community editor for the Herald-Star, with teaching him “about the importance of being involved in the community and taking an active role in groups and organizations that are working to make the area better.” He also said it has been “a real privilege” to be part of the Herald-Star’s legacy of “telling the stories of the region” and that it was “truly an honor to be receiving this award.”

Paul Giannamore ’84, who worked for more than 30 years as a reporter, editorial writer, and editor at the Herald-Star and now serves as executive producer for WTOV-9/FOX9 in Steubenville, was described by Florak as a “trustworthy source of news” and honored as “a trusted friend of Franciscan University and a terrific ambassador of Franciscan in the local community.”

Giannamore thanked his former professor Dr. Jim Coyle, who built the University’s Communications Program in the 1980s “from nothing,” for helping him and many other students develop successful careers in the field. He also said he learned the value of service from his father’s example of hard work in a steel mill—“show up every day and do what you do”—and what he was taught at Franciscan.

The Irvin family has a long history with the University, with many members graduating from Franciscan, Judy volunteering on campus, and John serving on the Board of Trustees (1977-1989)—and as dentist to all but the first president, Father Dan Egan, TOR. Their son Chris Irvin ’90, owner of Irvin Insurance Services in Wintersville, has followed in his father’s footsteps as a trustee since 2018, and daughter Beth (Irvin) Matanzo works as a secretary in the Graduate Nursing Department at Franciscan.

In presenting the award, Florak said, “You’d be hard-pressed to name another family of such great ambassadors for Franciscan University in the community. You are so kind and so well respected that Franciscan University is blessed to count you as friends.”

In accepting the award, Dr. John Irvin thanked the University and his family, then spoke about the close ties between his family and Franciscan.

“I don’t believe I’m a founder—I’m not old enough to be an actual founder,” he said jokingly, then went on to say he had known every president from Father Dan Egan, TOR, to Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, and that Franciscan “stands on the shoulders of giants in the University and community” who’ve made it what it is today.

Father Joseph Lehman, TOR, minister provincial of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Province of the Franciscan Third Order Regular, presented the Founders’ Awards on behalf of President Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, who could not attend.

Dr. Daniel Kempton, vice president for Academic Affairs, presented the Founders’ Scholarships to Franciscan students Jean Bahen, nursing major; Jacob Estep, bio-chemistry major; Ekaterina Scaffidi, performance theatre major; and the Rose M. DeFede Women’s Guild Scholarships to Sonya Arellano, clinical psychology major; Nyashadzash DiLeonardo, nursing major; Melanie Fecske, social work major; and Luz Piedra, criminal justice major. The Dr. Patricia Fletcher Scholarship was announced by Dr. Fletcher ’67 herself for Rachel Rosenbusch, English (British American literature) major.

The evening also included a presentation by Bob Hickey, vice president of Advancement, on the Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign, which announced its public phase on December 10, the same date the College of Steubenville opened its doors 75 years ago. He said the campaign had already raised over $65 million of its $75 million goal, which will fund a new academic and conference center, financial aid for students, and new academic programs and evangelistic outreaches.