Penn Township, Greensburg natives will receive awards from Pitt-Greensburg

Scott Szypulski and Myron Jones II will receive awards from the Pitt-Greensburg Alumni Association on Saturday.

Their reaction?

“It’s full-circle.”

Szypulski, of Oakland, grew up in Penn Township and graduated from Pitt-Greensburg in 2014.

Jones, of Washington, Pa., spent his high school years in Greensburg and attended Westminster College for two years before receiving his degree from Pitt-Greensburg in 1998.

Szypulski studied accounting, actuarial science and theater. Jones studied business management and information systems.

Both alumni will be honored during the university’s Blue & Gold Homecoming Celebration for their professional achievement, leadership and service. Szypulski will receive the alumni association’s Young Alumni Leadership Award, and Jones will receive the Alumnus of Distinction Award.

“It’s kind of like a full-circle moment,” Szypulski said about receiving the award. “To me, (Pitt-Greensburg) is where I feel like I got my start as a leader.”

The Young Alumni Leadership Award was created in 2015 to recognize an alumnus 35 years old or younger who is “thriving” in their career and community as a leader, said alumni engagement officer Julia Sefcheck.

Established in 2001, the Alumnus of Distinction Award acknowledges exceptional professional achievement and community service among alumni who graduated 10 or more years ago. It is the highest alumnus distinction the university gives out, Sefcheck said.

These acknowledgements are given annually along with the Volunteer Excellence Award, which will be presented to Dijon Henderson, a 2014 Pitt-Greensburg graduate who attended North Hills High School.

Szypulski ditched his “shy” high school tendencies when he arrived at Pitt-Greensburg. He became involved with the student activities board, student government, residence life and the freshman orientation program.

Upon graduation, staying connected to the university was a priority. Szypulski is a member of the alumni association and Pitt staff council. He works at Pitt’s Oakland campus as a grant administrator for the School of Public Health’s human genetics department.

“Since he’s been a student, Scott has been a leader,” Sefcheck said. “He was very involved in his undergraduate days …He has been the same with his involvement in the Greensburg Alumni Association.”

On the side, Szypulski works part-time for Live Nation at the Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown as a guest ambassador “doing a little bit of everything” — helping with security and ticketing at the gates as needed, offering technology support to staff and assisting concert-goers.

Jones also holds two jobs — web app developer and software engineer for Technology Services Group and pastor of Apolistic Christian Temple — but he considers them as one.

“My life isn’t split out between ‘I go to work and then I do my service through pastoring,’” Jones said.

He brings his tech knowledge to the faith community, helping churches revamp their online streaming, video production and websites.

“I really think it was probably his diligence and his commitment to his community (that earned him the award),” Sefcheck said. “He’s very passionate about education and his faith.”

A former captain for Pitt-Greensburg’s basketball team, Jones was a key player in bringing a varsity team back to the university when the program disbanded after the 1974 season.

Jones continues to impact the basketball team as a member of the men’s basketball alumni association, which formed in 2016.

“Every so often, there will be an opportunity to share some insight with the current players,” he said.

Jones said his wife, family and work managers help him balance each of these priorities.

“I’m receiving the award, but it’s everyone — everyone that has contributed and will continue to contribute along the way,” Jones said. “All of the things that I’m doing, all of the things that I’ve done, I’ve done with the help of others.”