Impact

Penn State Smeal names Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of inaugural winner

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For decades, Robert W. Moore has been a valued Penn State alumnus, especially in service to and support of the Smeal College of Business.

He’s a longstanding member of the Smeal Board of Visitors, has served on leadership positions on various boards and committees, and has demonstrated his support through philanthropy, too.

When Charles H. Whiteman, the John and Becky Surma Dean of Smeal, decided to create a Lifetime Achievement Award for the college, it seemed only fitting that the first recipient be Moore. The qualifications unintentionally described Moore’s contributions to Smeal.

“The more the team and I read over the qualifications for the award, the more it made sense to not only award the first one to Bob, but to name it in his honor,” Whiteman said.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented, at the discretion of the dean, to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the Smeal College of Business over a prolonged period of time. Recipients will demonstrate their unwavering support of the college through their service and philanthropy, particularly through leadership positions on various Smeal College boards and committees. Each award winner will have exhibited outstanding leadership skills and will have positively impacted the college and its students.

The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award will have achieved a high level of success in his or her career, serving as a positive role model for students and an inspiration for Smeal College students who aspire to do great things in their own careers.

“Bob has worked diligently to support Penn State’s efforts to become a truly great university. During Penn State’s very first public fundraising campaign, he was an important member of a key group of six advisors — names I am sure many of you will recognize: Schreyer, Smeal, Paterno, Hintz, Eberly. And Moore,” Whiteman said at a special recognition dinner Thursday night (Sept. 8) at the Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh.

“There is no one more fitting to represent Penn State and the Smeal College of Business in this way than Bob. He has done more for our college and meant more to our college than I can ever say. I am proud to present him with the inaugural Robert W. Moore Lifetime Achievement Award, which will carry his name and his legacy forward for generations to come.”

Moore received a bachelor’s degree in commerce and finance from the College of Liberal Arts in 1948. He is the retired president and CEO of Financial Executives International, a professional organization for senior corporate financial executives.

He has been honored as a Distinguished Alumnus, Alumni Fellow, and was awarded the Smeal Alumni Achievement Award. He is also a recipient of the Accounting Department Distinguished Alumni Award. He has served the University as chairman of the President’s Club, he has been president of the Smeal Alumni Society, and vice president of the National Development Council.

Moore has also left a philanthropic legacy at Smeal. The Robert W. and Helen L. Moore Graduate Fellowship in Business was endowed in 1991. This year alone, there are six recipients who will share more than $18,000 in scholarships. More than $200,000 in scholarships have been awarded to more than 50 students over the last 25 years.

Robert W. Moore is the inaugural recipient of an award named in his honor, the Smeal College of Business Robert W. Moore Lifetime Achievement Award. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated October 11, 2016

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