Northeast Pennsylvania Alumni Chapter Honors Senator Rick Santorum

Isolated thunderstorms did not dampen the spirits of guests at the 31st Northeast Pennsylvania Alumni Dinner in Wilkes-Barre, but it caused a travel problem for the guest of honor. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) ’80 PSU & ’86 DSL, honoree for the annual event on June 1, was unable to attend when his flight from Philadelphia was cancelled due to strong thunderstorms.

“He wanted to be here but ultimately it was the pilot’s decision, and he felt the weather was too dangerous,” said chapter president Sandor Yelen ’56.

In an unusual twist, Santorum accepted the award by phone. His remarks were broadcast over the banquet room’s public address system for the benefit of DSL alumni and friends in attendance. He expressed his deep regret at not being able to attend, thanked his peers for selecting him as the award recipient and expressed his gratitude for the education he received through The Dickinson School of Law.

Elected to the Senate in 1994, Santorum currently serves as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. In this position, Santorum directs the communications operations of the Senate republicans and is the third-ranking member of the Senate republican leadership. He also serves on the Senate Aging, Agriculture, Banking, Finance and Rules committees. Prior to his election to the Senate, Santorum served in the U.S. House of Representatives and was an attorney for Kirkpatrick and Lockhart in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In addition to his J.D. from the Law School, he has an undergraduate degree in political science from Penn State and an M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Now in its 31st year, the annual Northeast Pennsylvania Alumni Chapter Dinner has honored many of the Law School’s most accomplished alumni including Governor Tom Ridge ‘72, the first secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; The Honorable Sylvia Rambo ’62, the first woman to serve as chief judge of the U.S. District Court of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Mike Eakin ’75; and U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania John E. Jones III ’80.