Purdue University North Central Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin has been presented with the Rotary Club Foundation of Michigan City Paul J. Alinsky Excellence Award.
The award is presented in honor of the late Paul Alinsky, a past Rotary Club president, former Michigan City Chamber of Commerce chairman of the Board and founder of Sentinel Alarm Company. Alinsky passed away in 1997 and the award was created to keep his memory alive. The award is given annually to a person from the Michigan City community who exhibits dedication to community service and excellence, passion and innovation in their vocation or career.
Dr. Bruce Smith, chair of the Michigan City Rotary Club Alinsky Award Selection Committee, stated, "Chancellor Dworkin has and will continue to influence each and every student and colleague to be the best they can be. He embodies the spirit of giving back to his community and University."
Dworkin was presented with a replica of the Paul J. Alinsky Memorial statue, and a contribution has been made to the Purdue North Central General Scholarship Fund.
Smith noted that Dworkin is deeply committed to serving his community, citing that Dworkin is a board member emeritus of the United Way of LaPorte County, where he served as United Way campaign chair and board chair and is active with the United Way of Porter County, serving on the Governance Committee.
He has earned a number of awards and honors in recognition of his tireless dedication to promoting and enhancing education, economic development and community service, including the Indiana Association of United Ways Castaldi Award in honor of his commitment to the United Way; the LaPorte County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award for Community Service, the Indian Medical Association of Northwest Indiana Lifetime Achievement Award and the NIPSCO Luminary Award.
"Dr. Dworkin's passionate leadership in furthering education opportunities for our local students is exemplified by the growth of enrollment at Purdue University North Central to more than 6,000 students this past fall," noted Smith. "His career commitment to education and to the opportunities for advanced learning within our communities exemplifies the Rotary Club motto, 'Service Above Self.'
He noted that under Dworkin's leadership, PNC earned a 10 year re-accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission in 2011; the number of undergraduate degrees PNC offers has grown from six to 22; an MBA degree has been added; the PNC's College Bound program has been made available to students in the Michigan City Area Schools, the LaPorte Community Schools and the Portage Township Schools and a 1 + 3 Concurrent Enrollment Program was developed with local high schools to allow students to earn up to one year of PNC college credits while still in high school, enabling them to then complete a baccalaureate degree in three years at PNC.