Alumni Association to honor graduates, former faculty member

Author: Shannon Roddel

Three University of Notre Dame graduates and a former faculty member will receive special awards from the Notre Dame Alumni Association during Reunion ‘03 ceremonies June 6-7 (Friday-Saturday).p. ?Franklin E. Eck, a 1944 graduate, University benefactor, and chairman and chief executive officer of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., of Hilliard, Ohio, will be presented with the Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C., Award. Named in honor of Notre Dame’s founder, the Sorin Award is presented annually to a graduate who has embodied “the values of Our Lady’s University” in his or her service to community.p. Eck’s many contributions to the University are visible throughout campus ? the Eck Tennis Pavilion; Frank Eck Baseball Stadium; and the Eck Center, which houses the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, the Alumni Association, and the Eck Notre Dame Visitors’ Center. In addition, Eck established a collection of chemical engineering books at the Hesburgh Library and is a major benefactor for the Notre Dame Law School.p. A 10-year member of the advisory council for the College of Engineering and an honorary member of the Monogram Club, Eck earned his master of business administration degree from the Harvard Business School in 1949.p. ? Harry P. Durkin, a 1953 graduate, regional director of Notre Dame’s FIRST (Fighting Irish Resource Service Team), and former professional baseball player, has been selected to receive the Richard A. Rosenthal Award, presented each year to a former alumni board member for distinguished service.p. Durkin, who served on the board for three years, also was president of the Notre Dame Club of New Jersey for six years and the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., club for eight years. Under his leadership, the Ft. Lauderdale club won Club of the Year and the Lennon Award.p. A former player for the Detroit Tigers, Durkin attended Seton Hall Law School in the off-season and earned his law degree in 1960. He was a noted trial lawyer in New Jersey for 26 years.p. ? The Rev. John Cardinal O’Hara, C.S.C., Award, which recognizes distinguished service to the University by a former employee, will be presented posthumously to Thomas P. Bergin, a 1945 graduate and longtime faculty member.p. Bergin joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1947 and was appointed chair of the Department of Business Administration in 1952. He later was named dean of continuing education and served in that position for nearly three decades. In addition, Bergin helped establish the Cardinal O’Hara Lecture Series and served as its chair for several years.p. The recipient of four presidential appointments to positions in the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Endowment for the Arts, Bergin also was a consultant to numerous businesses, government agencies and educational institutions. He earned his master’s degree in economics from the University of Vermont and his doctorate from Syracuse University. He died May 8 at age 79.p. ? Adam Arnold will be honored with the William P. Sexton Award at the Black Alumni of Notre Dame reunion dinner. The award is presented annually to a non-graduate with a record of outstanding service to the University and whose life exemplifies the spirit of Notre Dame.p. The University’s first African-American faculty member and also the first to receive tenure, Arnold joined the Department of Finance in 1957. During his 30 years of service to Notre Dame, Arnold was a faculty advisor to the League of Black Business Students and assisted in their exposure to corporate America.p. Arnold earned his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia State College and his master of business administration and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin.p.

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