AWARDS

Honors, designations and recognitions

ASSOCIATIONS

The Rotary Club of Lancaster Sun- rise named Hannah Dinsmore and Alejandro Rosario of Manheim Town- ship Middle School its Students of the Month for February. Rebecca Forbes of Veritas Academy was named the winner of its Four Way Test Speech Midlevel Contest utilizing Rotary ques- tions "Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?"

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Washington, D.C.-based Biotech- nology Industry Organization named Gov. Tom Corbett its 2013 BIO Gov- ernor of the Year in recognition of his leadership and commitment to strengthening the biotechnology and public health sectors within Pennsyl- vania.

INSURANCE

Pittsburgh-based Highmark Inc. gave JeffersonAwardsfor Public Service to George Fernandez, Scott Leipert, Georgianna Neufer and Heather Snyder. During the past three years, Fernandez has given more than 1,140 hours of services focused on strength- ening the Hispanic community. He is a member of the Governor's Advisory Commission of Latino Affairs, a board member with Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania and assists with public relations and event planning for the Latino Hispanic American Com- munity Center. He also is a member of Dauphin County Young Republicans, Harrisburg Latino Hispanic American Community Center, Harrisburg Young Professionals, World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Hu- man Relations Commission and High- mark's Hispanic business resource group Salud. He is a member outreach analyst with the group retail marketing division. Leipert has worked with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Children's Cancer Recovery Founda- tion for more than a decade. Last year, when the Harrisburg Area Give Thanks 5K Walk to benefit St. Jude was in jeop- ardy of cancellation, Leipert recruited area businesses to donate supplies and incentive prizes to help lower the cost of running the event. He also is involved with the Special Olympics and his local high school, where he helps build props for concerts and plays and assists with fundraising events. He is an application developer with the sales and central- ized services department. Neufer vol- unteers more than 1,000 hours a year to more than 10 causes, including run- ning a multilevel Girl Scout in the Heart of Pennsylvania troop and overseeing troop leaders. She also is involved with Boy Scout Troop 223, the Middle Pax- ton Lions Club, Caitlin's Smiles, a local historical society, Feed My Sheep Food Bank, Polk Assisted Living and Furry Friends. She makes quilts for the mili- tary and is a foster parent through Kids Peace. She is an application support analyst with the application support department. Snyder has focused more than 700 hours this past year on raising awareness and educating the public about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare lung disease that turns lungs into scar tissue for no known reason. After her father died from the disease in 1981 at the age of 41 and she nearly died from the condition in 2011, she made it a personal commitment to educate and advocate for others with a similar diagnosis. Six months after her lifesaving double lung transplant, she helped establish a local walk for pulmonary fibrosis. She also traveled the state for petition signatures to show state support for the IPF Bill. Pennsyl- vania received the most signatures in the United States thanks to her efforts.

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Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Pre- vention Authority ofUpper Allen Town- ship and the Pennsylvania Chapters of the International Association of Special Investigation Units gave Special Agent Jennifer Harrison and Senior Deputy Attorney General Mark Bellavia of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's insurance fraud section 2013 Fraud Fighter Awards in recognition of their work in investigating and prosecut- ing a Monroe County insurance fraud scheme that preyed upon ill and el- derly clients, while defrauding insurers of more than $1.1 million. Harrison's investigation yielded evidence that se- cured grand jury indictments, while Bellavia's courtroom skills resulted in ringleaders receiving significant prison terms and being ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution. James Kopera, a special agent with the Penn- sylvania Office of Attorney General; Philip A. Saggione III, a major case consultant with Nationwide Insurance; James J. Fitzpatrick and Dawn Holtz, assistant district attorneys with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office; and Detective Alfredo Quintile of the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office also were named Fraud Fighters. David A. Bano, senior vice president and chief claims officer with P&C Insurance Cos. and Nationwide Insurance, received special recognition for his past stew- ardship of IFPA and his championing of the use of public fraud awareness education.

LOGISTICS

Lebanon-based New Penn Motor Express Inc. recognized employees at its Altoona, Blair County; Mil- ton, Northumberland County; Cin- naminson, N.J., and Burlington, Vt., terminals for achieving perfect safety records for more than a year through the attentive safety focus of terminal employees, as well as continuous internal safety initiatives and training programs.

NONPROFITS

The United Way of York County gave Kristen Woolley its Essence of Humanity Award in recognition of overcoming hurdles in her own life and achieving success in the commu- nity by helping others. She is a board member of the York County Chil- dren's Advocacy Center and founder of Turning Point, which provides a safe haven where women can begin the journey from victims to survivors of abuse.

SENDING AWARDS

Please send announcements concerning awards received to [email protected]. We do not publish photos for award recipients. Please do not send dupli- cates of your release. Releases should include the municipality in which the company is located.