Counseling celebrates 50 years, honors alumni at April 4 event

The Counseling program at Youngstown State University celebrates its 50th anniversary with a banquet Thursday, April 4, in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center, including an award for the program’s first-ever graduate.

The evening begins with a wine and beer social at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and an awards program at 6:45 p.m. Among the honorees is Peg Kinnick, who in 1969 was YSU’s first Counseling program graduate. She is now retired after 37 years as a school counselor and director of Guidance at West Branch Schools.

The cost for the event is $50 per person, $20 for students and $350 for a table of eight. Reservations due March 25. Proceeds benefit the 50th Anniversary Counseling Endowment at the YSU Foundation.

Alumni award recipients include:

  • Tyler Kimbel, 2010, vice president of Research and Advocacy at the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
  • Gary DiLisio, 2010, principle academic advisor at the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University.
  • Jamael Brown, 2006, Mayor, City of Youngstown.
  • Meghan Fawcett, 2006, director of Clinical Treatment at New Day Recovery and OnDemand Counseling.
  • Tysa Egleton, 2004, director of Penguin Service Center and associate registrar at YSU.
  • Elliot Ingersoll, 1988, chair and professor in the Department of Counseling, Administration, Supervision and Adult Learning at Cleveland State University.
  • David Helsel, 1987, School Counseling and Clinical Counseling faculty/coordinator at University of Akron and John Carroll University, retired.
  • Jerry Semivan, 1983, director of Performance Improvement and Corporate Compliance at The Counseling Center of Columbiana County.
  • Larry Lapidus, 1977, starting his 42nd year of providing mental health counseling services, currently a clinical counselor at Preferred Care Counseling.
  • Peg Kinnick, 1969, YSU’s first Counseling program graduate, retired after 37 years as a school counselor and director of Guidance at West Branch Schools.