University Park

Stairs chosen to receive 'Friend of Penn State' Legislative Award

University Park, Pa. -- State Rep. Jess M. Stairs, Republican chair of the House Education Committee, has been chosen by the Penn State Alumni Association to receive the annual "Friend of Penn State" legislative award in a ceremony scheduled for June 7.

Stairs is the third legislator to receive the "Friend of Penn State" award, which recognizes current state legislators for the significant role they have played in the continued improvement of Penn State. The legislative award was presented for the first time last year to state Sen. Jake Corman, R-34th District, and former state Rep. Lynn Herman, R-77th District.

"Jess Stairs has been a strong advocate, both publicly and behind the scenes, for increasing Penn State's annual appropriation," said Leslie N. Firth, chair of the Grassroots Network Committee of Alumni Council, which makes the annual selection. "As chair of the House education committee, he has worked tirelessly to uphold Penn State's academic and fiscal integrity."

A Penn State alumnus, Stairs (R-59th District) represents parts of Fayette and Westmoreland counties and has served in the House since 1977. He is a board member of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), which administers state grant and loan programs. He is a member of the House Consumer Affairs Committee.

In the 2003-04 House session, Stairs chaired the Commission on Rural Education (CORE) to investigate the unique challenges faced by rural schools. Through hearings held across the state, CORE compiled data on the demographics of rural Pennsylvania; reviewed the availability, affordability and quality of school readiness programs and services; evaluated the impact of transportation on access to rural schools; and compiled and analyzed data on rural students' performances.

During the 2001-02 House session, Stairs chaired the Keystone Commission on Education for Employment in the 21st Century, which recommended using the expertise of businesses to design job training and vocational education courses in high schools and higher education facilities. The Education Committee is working on legislation to enact some of the commission's recommendations.

A dairy farmer and former teacher, Stairs earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture in 1964 and a master's degree in education in 1966 from Penn State. Stairs and his wife, Joan, live in Acme.

Rep. Jess Stairs Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated November 18, 2010

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