Alumni Award For Outstanding Professional Achievement

This award is presented to an alumnus who has distinguished himself through exceptional professional achievement. We are pleased to present the 2006 award to Bernard S. Grimm, Esq. ’79.

Bernard S. Grimm, Esq. '79

Bernie Grimm grew up one of eight children in a working class New Jersey town. He worked as a caddy through high school and at an Automotive Warehouse, until his boss encouraged him to apply to college. Bernie credits Steve Seitchik for giving him the opportunity to begin college on a provisional basis. He worked hard in class and at two jobs throughout college, graduating second in his class with a 3.98 GPA. While at King’s he also found time to volunteer at the Luzerne County Prison where he started a remedial reading class for the inmates.  

After graduating from Antioch School of Law, Washington, D.C., Bernie clerked at the firm of Stein Mitchell and Mezinas. Later, he devoted 5 years as a trial attorney for the Public Defender’s Office in Washington , D.C.   In 1991 he founded the Law Office of Bernard S. Grimm.  Bernie has tried over 200 jury trials, including the 26 defendant Rico Drug Conspiracy trial which lasted 6 months. He was selected by Washington Magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Metropolitan Area 2004-2005. He was awarded the Kenneth R. Mundy Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Superior Court Trial Lawyers Association in 2004 

In 1998 Bernie was hired as Technical Advisor by NBC for the pilot “The Adversaries”. Currently he can be seen many nights on FOX News as their legal commentator. He is also a legal commentator for CNN and Court TV. Bernie is affiliated with the National Association of Criminal Defense lawyers; he is a past president of the Public Defender Services Alumni Association and a member of the D.C. Superior Court Trial Lawyer’s Association.

Despite an extremely busy schedule, he still finds time to coach on the Great Falls Junior Basketball League, the Great Falls Little League, and Girls Junior Fast Pitch Softball since 2001, the Fairfax County Babe Ruth Baseball in 2004 and the Coach McLean Mustangs Pop Warner Football from 2001 to 2004. Bernie is married to Stephanie, who is a public defender and they have three children, Madeline, Dillon and Jack.  

In recognition of your exemplary professional success, your contributions to the legal profession, and in gratitude of your continued service to higher education in general and King’s College in particular, we present to you with esteem and appreciation, the Alumni Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement on this third day of June in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and from the founding of the College, the sixtieth..

Alumni Award For Outstanding Professional Achievement

This award is presented to an alumnus who has distinguished himself through exceptional professional achievement. We are pleased to present the 2006 award to Brian Carey '83

Brian Carey '83

Brian Carey ’83 is a nationally known, award-winning radio news anchor who traces his roots in broadcast journalism back to his days spent at King’s College as an English and Mass Communications major. Brian credits Rev. Tom Carten, C.S.C. with getting his start in radio. As a sophomore, he joined the college’s WRKC which quickly lead to a job at WNAK in Nanticoke . During his senior year, Brian was editor of the Regis, and an internship at WBRE-TV helped him land a spot as weekend on-air reporter while still a student at King’s.

With his newly earned diploma in hand, Brian began his career as a news anchor, and then as news director, at WILK. He also worked at WARM and as Frankie Warren’s (a fellow King’s alum) newsman on Magic 93 before a United Press International award for a documentary about the Agnes Flood brought job offers from Philadelphia to his door step.

Brian spent five years in Philadelphia working first at WPEN and later at WWDB as morning news anchor and executive producer. In 1996, he moved to New York City to become the radio news bureau chief at Metro Networks. During this time, Brian served as nightly news anchor on WOR and as an entertainment reporter for Metro affiliates which gave him the opportunity to interview hundreds of celebrities and cover many awards shows. 

In 2000, Brian accepted a position at 1010 WINS Radio, New York City ’s premiere all news station and the highest rated radio news station in the country. Each day, he wakes up millions of New Yorkers with the latest news. Brian also currently works for ABC Radio News where his voice is heard on over 2,000 ABC Radio Affiliates across the country.

The King's College Alumni Award for Service to Society

This award is conferred upon an alumnus/alumna who has distinguished himself/herself through selfless and caring personal commitment to benefit others. This year’s honoree is Frankie Warren ‘81

Every year, Frankie visits approximately 12 elementary schools in northeastern Pennsylvania to read to the students and emphasize the importance of reading. He has also hosted walks for various organizations such as the Arthritis Foundation, the American Heart Association, the Diabetes Association and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

It’s evident when listening to Frankie’s show that he loves being an uncle to Megan, Michelle, Samantha, and Tony, and godfather to Lexi. Recently, Frankie and his wife, Erin, became the very proud parents of a little girl. He generously shared their journey to Guatemala to meet their daughter and their adoption story with his listeners.

Whether it’s an on-air conversation with his nieces in Maryland , sharing a new daddy moment, encouraging listeners to join a cause or promoting an important fundraiser, Frankie’s dedication and energy; enthusiasm and professionalism flow through the airwaves each morning. For this it is with esteem and affection we present to you the King’s College Alumni Award for Service to Society on this, the third day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand and six and from the founding of the college, the sixtieth

Nicholas Ruggiero, MD '57

Nicholas Ruggiero graduated from King's in 1957 with a B.S. in Biology. He joined the U.S. Army and served in the Chemical Corps, where he taught college chemistry to military personnel, receiving two Army Achievement Awards at the U. S. Army Chemical Corps Lab, Fort McClellan , Alabama . After six years of active military service, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant, Nick completed the medical degree program, served a residency in Internal Medicine, and then served two years as Chief Cardiology Fellow, all at Jefferson University .

 Returning to the Wyoming Valley , Nick established a cardiology practice and became the area pioneer for cardiology services, founding the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and performing the first cardiac catheterization there in 1976. This provided the impetus for the establishment of the Open Heart Surgical Program at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital , which has treated over 10,000 patients. Nick also served as Chief of Cardiology, Director of the Coronary Care Unit, President of the Medical Staff , member of the Executive Committee and member of the Board of Directors. In 1981, he established R&R Pacer Clinic, a pacemaker evaluation clinic, which he still operates.

Despite his busy professional schedule, Nick found time to serve others; as a faithful and generous friend of King's College, a member of the President's Club and as a member of the Health Professions Advisory Committee, a group that provides a wide variety of services to assist students who wish to pursue health-related careers. As Director of the King's College Shadowing Program, Nick has been responsible for providing King's College pre-medical students with internship and shadowing experiences, so essential for successful application to medical school.Nick has also taught in the King's College Physician Assistant program, as well as at Jefferson Medical College and Hahnemann Medical School.

Nick is also very giving toward the community, especially the Wyoming Area School District and his hometown of West Pittston .  Nick served as President of the Wyoming Valley Heart Association and founded the "Zipper Club" a support group for pre and post-operative cardiac patients and their families. He was a Sunday school teacher, youth group advisor and an Elder at the Second Presbyterian Church in Pittston.

Nick and lovely wife, Ontalee, have been married for 34 years and they have a son, Nick II ‘97 who is following in his father's footsteps, at Jefferson Medical College , serving as Chief Resident and currently as Cardiology Fellow at Jefferson .

King’s College is very proud to have you as an alumnus. For your financial generosity, the years of service and advocacy to generations of undergraduates so they may become successful practitioners of medicine, we present to you the Robert J. Ell Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to Alma Mater on this third day of June in the year of our Lord two thousand six and from the founding of the College, the sixtieth.

The Leo Award

The Leo Award is named for the King’s College mascot. It is awarded to a graduate of the last 15 years and suggests the energy, pride and sense of purpose, which the recipient personifies. 

 Judith Andrejko '96

Judy gradated from King’s College with a B.S in Biology in 1996. She was a Moreau Scholar, a Robert C. Byrd Scholar, a member of the Aquinas Society, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Delta Epsilon Sigma and an Albert E. Grady Graduate Scholar. While at King’s she was a member of the Orientation Committee and Intercollegiate Leadership Wilkes-Barre. Judy was chairperson of the Student Judicial Board, perhaps a precursor of things to come, the commuter coordinator for Student Government, a representative to the Academy of Biological Sciences and a contributing writer to The Crown and The Regis.

 After graduation Judy attended the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University where she graduated in 1999 after attaining honors for all three years as Who’s Who in American Law Students. And the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Ocean and Coastal Law. She is a member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, the American Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association and. The New Jersey Bar Association. She was also a member of the Flemington Elks Club.

Judy is currently a Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey . While working for the division of Law, she enjoyed having a direct part in cleaning up the environment and in making sure property owners receive just compensations for their property losses. In 2005 Judy was recipient of the New Jersey Public Service Recognition Award for Exceptional Service. She assisted the Attorney General’s implementation of the provisions of the Help America Vote Act, which involved long hours and travel throughout the counties of New Jersey to work with the local Boards and Superintendents of Election so that every eligible New Jersey voter had the opportunity to vote on Election Day.