College Among Partners in Award-Winning Anti-Drug Initiative

Published 11.13.2015

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Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour, chair of Project Bald Eagle, and Beth McMahon (at podium), executive director of Project Bald Eagle, welcome the large crowd to the award ceremony in the college’s Thompson Professional Development Center.State Sen. Gene Yaw – who chairs the board of directors for the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, which held hearings statewide on heroin and opioid addiction – addresses the group. He was one of the first to meet Fred Wells Brason II, executive director of Project Lazarus (the North Carolina task force that inspired the local initiative), who traveled to campus for the presentation. The senator also is chair of the college's board of directors.The award says: “In recognition of exemplary contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania, the 2015 Rural Health Program of the Year Award is presented to Project Bald Eagle.” Penn College's leadership role and financial support of Project Bald Eagle – partnering with Lycoming County, Susquehanna Health and Lycoming College – is represented by the president.Lisa Davis (at podium), director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, awards Project Bald Eagle the Rural Health Program of the Year award (still “veiled” on small table at right) following a number of individual honors recognizing committee chairs (far right in line). Those awards were presented by the three people at the far left in line – (from left) Beth McMahon; Shea Madden, director of the West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission; and Lycoming County President Judge Nancy L. Butts, vice chair of Project Bald Eagle.Project Bald Eagle – A product of the Heroin Task Force, an organization comprising diverse community groups collaborating to address rising opioid use in Lycoming County, was honored as a Rural Health Program of the Year at Penn College on Friday afternoon. The award, which recognizes “an exemplary health program that addresses an identified need in a rural community,” was presented by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health during a ceremony in the Thompson Professional Development Center. Also joining the distinguished guests for the awards presentation were students and staff from all Lycoming County school districts. More information is available in Project Bald Eagle's official announcement of the award: Project Bald Eagle Award