Robert L. Mocniak
The Outstanding Alumnus award honors former students of the campus whose subsequent professional achievement warrants special recognition by their alma mater.
Mocniak grew up in Greene County and began his studies at Penn State Fayette in 1966, when the campus was located in downtown Uniontown. He earned an associateâs degree in electrical and electronic technology from Penn State Fayette in 1968 and a bachelorâs degree in electrical engineering from Penn State University Park in 1971.
Mocniak worked at Robicon Corporation, in Pittsburgh, as a design engineer, designing and developing drives and coordinated systems for various industries. He later transitioned to sales and marketing, positioning Robicon as the premier supplier of DC drive systems for retrofit of blast furnace skip hoist controls in the steel industry, for which he won an award.
Smithfield resident among valedictorians at Waynesburg U
Bailey Holt, a history (secondary education) major from Smithfield, was among five valedictorians at Waynesburg Universityâs graduation.
She was a recipient of the A.B. Miller Scholarship and was named to the deanâs list for all eight semesters.
During her undergraduate education, Holt completed certification to become a Certified Google Educator and published an Inquiry Design Model in the Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region, which is a partner with the Library of Congress.
Her future plans are to be a high school teacher. She will start immediately as a day-to-day substitute.
Martin Gatti announced his bid for reelection to the office of Uniontown City Council.
Gatti enters his bid with the continued goal of fighting blight through Act 90 pressure and blight ordinances focused on âslum lords.â He will also continue promoting new construction and renovation through tax incentives and making code enforcement a major priority. He has implemented a customer-friendly parking ordinance, and encourages festivals sponsored by downtown business.
For the most part the city has taken major steps under former Mayor Ed Fike and current Mayor Bill Gerke, Gatti said, âBut there is always work to be done including the finalization of the Sheepskin trail, and continued focus on neighborhood relations.â
A Uniontown man allegedly tried to gain access to Laurel Highlands High School Thursday by pretending he had business there as a medical professional, state police said.
Trinette Schmidt-Cunningham has announced her candidacy for the Democratic jury commissioner seat in Fayette County.
A lifelong registered and active Democrat, Schmidt-Cunningham was born and raised in South Union Township. She is the daughter of Patty McManus and Bob Schmidt, stepdaughter of Betty Schmidt and Bob Grimm.
A graduate of Laurel Highlands High School in 1990, Schmidt-Cunningham attended California University of Pennsylvania. While in college, she was the legislative fellow for the former state Rep. Peter J. Daley.
After graduating with honors from college with a bachelorâs degree in political science in 1993, Schmidt-Cunningham was hired as a research assistant for the Pennsylvania Democratic Caucus. After working in the House of Representatives for two years, she then transitioned into association and worked for the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association in Harrisburg.