ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 8, 1996 TAG: 9611090001
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
NEW RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Jenny Leadbetter-Bolte has been hired by New River Community College to be the new adult education administrator at Hoechst-Celanese Corp. She will coordinate and manage the Hoechst-Celanese/NRCC adult and higher education classroom and independent- and distance-learning center.
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Jeananne Dixon has been named president of the Association of Higher Education and Disabilities in Virginia. Dixon is the coordinator of the Center for Learning disabilities at New River.
RADFORD UNIVERSITY
Clara Jane Hines Billig of Blacksburg recently received Radford University's 1996 Outstanding Service Award. Billig is a 1943 graduate of Radford, the last of three sisters who graduated from what is today Radford University. She taught in Virginia public schools for 17 years. She continues to serve as a substitute teacher, and helps with health screening for children and teaching language and motor skills to children.
Her commitment to the university includes serving as committee chair for the class of 1943 Golden Reunion and president of the area alumni chapter and Radford College Alumnae Association. She also is a former member of the University Foundation Board of Directors and currently is treasurer for Radford's National Alumni Association Executive Council.
Billig also has served as a board member of the Montgomery County Red Cross and as a volunteer for a hospital, food pantry, humane society and clothing bank.
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Darryl Gillespie recently received Radford University's 1996 Young Alumnus Merit Award. The award is given to a professional who has made important contributions to the university. Gillespie, who lives in Radford, graduated from the university in 1984 with a degree in accounting. He currently is a partner in Lester & Gillespie, CPA Inc. and owner of Lightning Lube in Christiansburg.
He has been involved in the community as a member of the Radford Hosts Lions Club, the United Way of Montgomery County, treasurer of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America and as a soccer and T-ball coach for the Radford Recreation Department. He also is past president of the Christiansburg-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and received their Outstanding Service Award in 1995.
VIRGINIA TECH
Professor Robert A. Heller recently received the Pletta Award from the Virginia Engineering Awards Committee. The award recognizes a Virginia engineering educator who exhibits outstanding teaching and public service in the commonwealth. The award is named after and honors Dan Pletta, who was a professor at Virginia Tech from 1932 through 1972.
Heller is the Francis J. Maher Professor of Engineering and Science Mechanics. He has been at the university since 1967.
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Professor Clifford W. Randall recently received the Mathias Medal, which is sponsored by the Maryland and Virginia Sea Grant Colleges and the Chesapeake Research Consortium. Randall is the third recipient of the award, which recognizes scientists who have contributed to the public good in the Chesapeake watershed. He is the Charles Edward Via Jr. Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech. Randall also is the chairman of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee of the Chesapeake Bay Program.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Heller, Gillespie, Billigby CNB