University Alumni Association honors Harter

In honor of his tireless volunteer efforts on behalf of the University, Life Sciences Greenhouse Senior Vice President Kevin M. Harter, '90 IS, '05 MBA, has been named the recipient of one of the Alumni Association's most coveted honors.

Harter, chair of the Penn State Harrisburg Board of Advisers, received the University's Philip Philip Mitchell Service Award during formal ceremonies October 13 at University Park.

The Mitchell Award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed in the area of public service by sharing or volunteering his or her talent, time, and resources on behalf of the University. The award is a cash gift designated to the program area of the recipient's choice, a certificate, and inscription of the recipient's name on a permanent plaque.

Harter is the second Penn State Harrisburg graduate to earn the Mitchell Award. William C. Forrey, who earned a Master's degree in 1971 from the college, was honored in 1999.

A Mechanicsburg resident, Harter's extensive record of volunteer service to Penn State Harrisburg and the University began after he earned his bachelor's degree in Information Systems from the college in 1990. He served as chair of the Penn State Harrisburg Grand Destiny Campaign from 1996 to 2003 along with his work on the Board of Advisers.

Harter who also earned an MBA from Penn State Harrisburg in 2005, has established the Kevin and Kathleen Harter Scholarship for IST at the college and is active with the Capital Area Institute for Mathematics and Science in the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education. He is also a member of the University's President's Club and the Golden Lion Society.

In his role with the Life Sciences Greenhouse, headquartered in Harrisburg, Harter works to partner research universities such as Penn State with business in the region to enhance technology transfer and the development of new companies, and to expand existing firms.