On Dec. 17, West Chester University (WCU) recognized three individuals who have made a significant impact on the university and its students.

At the 9 a.m. commencement ceremony for students in all colleges within the Graduate School, the university awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service to West Chester Gary Smith, president and CEO of the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC).

At the 3 p.m. commencement ceremony for students in the College of Education and Social Work, the College of Arts and Humanities, and the Wells School of Music, WCU president Chris Fiorentino presented individual President's Medallions to Richard and Jeanette Merion. He noted that it is awarded for outstanding leadership and exceptional service to the university.

Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1974 and his Master of Science in urban and regional planning in 1986, both from WCU. In his 46 years serving the county and the commonwealth, Smith has structured more than $13 billion in project financing while nurturing thousands of businesses through their growth cycles and shaping communities through his passion and advocacy for smart economic growth.

At the CCEDC, Smith has pioneered award-winning programs. During his tenure, the CCEDC has created 165,000 new jobs, engaged more than 100,000 individuals in workforce development programs, and helped thousands of businesses establish roots and grow in Chester County. Today, the CCEDC employs 35 economic development professionals.

In addition to his work with the CCEDC, Smith was executive director of the Business and Industry Chamber for Chester County and established the first county-wide Chamber of Commerce for Business and Industry. He also founded and directed the Southeastern Economic Development Company of Pennsylvania. He has served on local, regional, and national boards.

The Gary W. Smith Entrepreneurial Leadership Endowment has been established to support the operation, mission, and efforts of the Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center in honor of Smith and his past and continued enduring efforts to foster an entrepreneurial spirit in his role with the CCEDC. In addition to operational support, funds will also be used to award at least one minimum $1,000 scholarship annually to a promising student who exemplifies Smith's entrepreneurial spirit.

Richard and Jeanette's support is visible throughout the WCU campus, chiefly in the Merion Science Center. The Merions also named The Bridge, a collaborative space in the new Sciences and Engineering Center and The Commons. It has now been named The Leadership Bridge in honor of future leaders in the sciences and engineering.

The Merions created the Richard and Jeanette Merion Endowed Scholarship, which benefits students majoring in physics, chemistry, biology, and nursing, with preference to those enrolled in WCU's ROTC program. Richard retired from the U.S. Army as a brigadier general following 32 years in the active military and reserves. Jeanette is a former U.S. Army staff sergeant and is active with the American Legion. She also volunteers with the West Chester Senior Center and the Chester County Pops Orchestra. Together, they are active with the Marine Corps League, local VFWs, American Legions, and community businesses, and they garner support for the WCU ROTC cadets and student veterans, as well as the USO.

Jeanette and Richard have been previously honored by WCU for their giving. Jeanette is a former member of the advisory board of WCU's Visiting Artist Series, and she and Richard are former Presidential Gala committee members.

Richard, who earned his bachelor's degree in science education from West Chester in 1959, is president emeritus of the WCU Alumni Association (WCUAA) and was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995 and the WCUAA Service Award in 2015. While in the military, he earned a master's degree in public health from the University of Michigan, and he returned to WCU to complete a master's degree in biology in 1969. In 2009, West Chester University awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service to Richard and the status of Honorary Alumna to Jeanette.