As part of Commencement and Reunion Weekend celebrations, Gettysburg College is proud to honor this year’s alumni award recipients—remarkable individuals whose passionate service, leadership, and professional accomplishments exemplify the values of a Gettysburg education.
During Commencement Weekend, four Distinguished Alumni award recipients will be recognized for their exceptional contributions to their fields and communities, inspiring the next generation of graduates. These individuals will be featured as part of Spring Honors Day in Christ Chapel on Friday, May 16, at 1:30 p.m.
Reunion Weekend offers another special opportunity to celebrate alumni whose lifelong commitment to service, career, and the institution continues to uplift those around them. The Meritorious Service Awards, Young Alumni Awards for Service, and Young Alumni Awards for Career Development will be recognized in the College Union Building Ballroom on Saturday, May 31, at 10:30 a.m. during the President’s Address and Alumni Awards ceremony.
Together, these honorees reflect the enduring spirit of Gettysburg and the profound difference our graduates make in the world. Read more about this year’s alumni award recipients below.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Gary W. Boguski ’74, P’15
Boguski, a magna cum laude graduate of Gettysburg College with a degree in sociology and recipient of the Muhlenberg Goodwill Prize, has dedicated his legal career to serving his community. After earning his J.D. from Georgetown Law, he returned to South Jersey, where he is now a partner at Taylor & Boguski, LLC. Gary specializes in workers’ compensation, disability, personal injury, employment discrimination, and criminal matters. He has received numerous accolades, including the Camden County Bar Association’s Peter J. Devine, Jr. Award and multiple “Best Attorney” recognitions in South Jersey Magazine.
Named the 2019 Camden County Professional Lawyer of the Year, Boguski has also led South Jersey Legal Services as board president for 35 years. He has held leadership roles in several local bar associations and serves on the advisory board of the Volunteer Up Legal Clinic, gaining recognition in 2021 by the New Jersey Courts for his outstanding pro bono services and legal professionalism. At Gettysburg, he was a campus leader and remains an active alumnus through various volunteer and leadership roles, including as a member of the Board of Fellows and Executive Committee of the Alumni Association.
Robert P. Edwards ’79
Edwards has built a distinguished career at UPMC through leadership, research, and clinical excellence. A tenured professor and the Milton Lawrence McCall Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at Magee-Womens Hospital, he also serves as chief medical officer for community and ambulatory services and senior vice president of clinical affairs for UPMC Health Plan.
After graduating valedictorian and summa cum laude from Gettysburg College with a double major in biology and chemistry, he earned his M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Board-certified in obstetrics, gynecology, and gynecologic oncology, he has authored more than 480 publications focused on gynecologic cancers and healthcare reform. He leads UPMC’s Women’s Health Service Line, overseeing more than 290 providers across multiple hospitals and centers. Recognized with awards including the Source of Life and Celebration of Caring, Edwards also contributes to national and international clinical trial advisory committees. At Gettysburg, Edwards was named Phi Beta Kappa, received the Stine Chemistry Prize, and participated in track and field.
Robert J. Ferrara ’75
Ferrara has dedicated more than 50 years to the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities (NJID), where his leadership has shaped the agency’s growth and impact. His journey began at Gettysburg College, where volunteering with adults with disabilities sparked his lifelong commitment to advocacy. After graduating in 1975 with a B.A. in economics, Ferrara joined NJID as an administrative assistant. Rising through the ranks, he became executive director in 1995 and was appointed president in 2022.
Under his leadership, NJID has evolved from a small school into a leading disability services agency, now operating 41 locations across New Jersey and serving more than 1,500 individuals. He has spearheaded major expansions, including the construction of state-of-the-art facilities, group homes, adult training centers, and a hydrotherapy center. Most recently, NJID began building a new adult day program in southern New Jersey. Ferrara’s passion for service remains rooted in his Gettysburg connections and values.
Celia Overby ’02
Overby is a systems thinker known for guiding teams through complexity, building consensus, and enhancing efficiency. A recipient of the Linnaean Award, Silent Leader Award, and Mildred H. Hartzell Prize at Gettysburg College, she leads with adaptability and collaboration.
Overby began her career directing Girl Scout camps in the DC Metro area before overseeing a $4 million workforce development contract with the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services. For eight years, she designed and led programs supporting justice-involved youth and received the DYS Commissioner’s Award for her outstanding contributions. In 2022, she joined Transhealth, the only U.S. nonprofit solely focused on trans and gender-diverse healthcare, where she drives strategy across community initiatives, communications, research, and more.
At Gettysburg, she served as president of Alpha Phi Omega and Allies and participated in the Women’s Center, Center for Public Service, choir, Camerata, and WZBT FM. She holds a B.A. in anthropology/sociology and a minor in music.
Young Alumni Achievement Award for Career Development
Bryan Barth ’13
Barth has worked as an attorney since graduating from law school, working within the Special Victims Unit (SVU). As the assistant director attorney in Delaware County, he works with many different victim groups to shape court processes to increase support throughout them to eliminate feelings of re-victimization. He distinguished himself by being an effective attorney, winning most of his cases, but also gaining a reputation for being a compassionate advocate for his clients. Barth received his B.A. in political science at Gettysburg before going on to earn a J.D. at the Widener University Delaware School of Law.
Matthew Giallongo ’12
Giallongo, who majored in music performance at Gettysburg, is the assistant director of music and director of vocal studies at Purdue University Fort Wayne. He has previously served on the faculties of Eastern New Mexico University, Louisiana Tech University, Grambling State University, and Colorado State University-Pueblo. On the recital stage, Matthew has a great passion for contemporary American and 20th century French music. He has been fortunate to work with many living composers, such as Libby Larsen, William Bolcom, Lori Laitman, Kile Smith, and Tom Cipullo. Giallongo’s research focuses on the melodies and pedagogy of France during the Second Empire in Paris. He is particularly interested in the developmental path of the French school of singing and recently completed the first translation of Jules Lefort’s “Méthode de chant” from French into English, which he is working to publish.
Young Alumni Achievement Award for Service
Jaclynn Cross ’10
Cross has been an active member of the Gettysburg Alumni of Color Council and currently leads the council as president. Before her term as president, she was the vice president and a member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee on the Alumni Board of Directors, and helped coordinate the Alumni of Color Reunion. Cross has been a presenter for the inaugural and second annual Alumni J-Term series. She has been a dedicated connector and fundraiser through Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, serving as a social media volunteer in the past and on her Senior Class Gift Committee, fifth and 10th Reunion Committees, and now as co-chair for the 15th Reunion. Currently the project manager at the U.S. Green Building Council, Cross was a double major in English and Africana studies at Gettysburg.
Victor Smith ’10 (Posthumous)
In 2022, Smith was named to the Gettysburg College Alumni Board of Directors. He served diligently on both the Development and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice committees. Additionally, Smith co-chaired the Class of 2010 reunion committee for both his 10th and upcoming 15th reunion celebrations. In addition to his service, Smith was one of the youngest alumni to create a Gettysburg Fund Named Scholarship. A political science major, Smith was a member of the football team at Gettysburg and went on to earn his J.D. at Florida Coastal School of Law. Smith passed away unexpectedly at his home in October 2024.
Meritorious Service Awards
David Brennan ’75, P’00
Brennan recently completed 12 years of service on the Board of Trustees, including five years as the Chair. He’s also been an active career volunteer with his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and hosted an alumni event with the College president when he lived in London. In addition to his service, Brennan has been a loyal and generous donor, recently through his inspiring matching contribution in support of the business, organizations, and management major. The former chief executive officer at AstraZeneca, Brennan majored in business administration at Gettysburg. His daughter, Kelly Brennan Keane ’00, was an All-American swimmer and was inducted into Gettysburg’s Hall of Athletic Honor in 2013.
James (Jim) Heston ’70
Heston completed 12 years of service on the Board of Trustees, and before that, he served on the Alumni Board for two years. As a trustee, Heston served on nearly every committee, including the campaign executive committee, and has chaired many of them. He also served on his 30th through 55th reunion committees. Active in community service as a student at Gettysburg, Heston has supported similar opportunities to current students through the Heston Summer Fellowship program. A former executive vice president of human resources at MetLife, Heston earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Celebrate the accomplishments of our alumni award winners by joining us at Reunion Weekend!
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By Corey Jewart
Photos provided by subjects
Posted: 05/07/25