Sen. Yaw to Serve on Penn College Board of Directors

State Sen. Gene Yaw has been appointed to serve on the Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors.

Yaw, who was elected in November to represent the 23rd Senatorial District, succeeds former state Sen. Roger A. Madigan on the Penn College Board. Madigan retired as the 23rd District's senator in 2008; he had served on the college's board since 1991.

Yaw was appointed to the Penn College Board by The Corporation for Penn State. Penn College is a special mission affiliate of Penn State.

"Having served as the college's general counsel for many years, Gene possesses a wealth of knowledge about the institution and understands the unique challenges it faces," said Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour. "The region is fortunate to have Gene as its state senator, and the college welcomes his expertise on our board of directors."

In the Senate, Yaw serves as chair of the Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, which considers issues such as blight, subsidized housing and municipal pensions. He was one of two freshman Republican senators awarded committee posts by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati. Yaw's other Senate committee assignments are: Environmental Resources and Energy, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Law and Justice, and Rules and Executive Nominations.

Prior to running for office, Yaw served as Lycoming County solicitor for 17 years. He was named County Solicitor of the Year in 2004. He has also served as general counsel to Penn College for more than 20 years.

He is a member of the Lycoming Law Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, the board of directors of the Lycoming Law Association Foundation Inc., and a former member (with 17 years of service) of the board of directors of Susquehanna Legal Services.

A U.S. Army veteran, Yaw enlisted as a private E-1 and went on to graduate from the United States Artillery and Missile Officer Candidate School in Fort Sill, Okla. He served an overseas tour of duty as an artillery officer and was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant.

A Montoursville Area High School graduate, Yaw attended Bucknell University and earned a bachelor's degree from Lycoming College and a law degree from the American University School of Law.

He has coached Little League Baseball and coached and refereed for the American Youth Soccer Organization. He serves as a trustee of Wallis Run United Methodist Church. He is a member of the National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, the Nittany Lion Club and the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

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