Russell C. Swank III donated $10,000 recently to Penn State New Kensington to establish a Faculty Speaking Series at the campus.
Swank, president of Swank Associated Companies Inc., a highway construction firm that is based in New Kensington, contributed an additional $5,000 to the campus' 50th anniversary Commemorative Gift Campaign. The speakers program will provide the campus and local communities with a diversity of opinions, insights and discussions by nationally recognized speakers.
The anniversary projects include enhancements such as landscaping, lighting and signage to the main entrance of the Administration building and entrances to Enrollment Services, Conference Center and Field House.
The gift renews the relationship between the campus and the Swank family that has spanned more than 20 years. In 1987, at the behest of former Campus Executive Officer Robert Arbuckle, Swank donated $5,000 for the construction of the Science and Technology Center that current houses the engineering labs and classrooms.
The Swank connection to the campus also includes his mother Rosemary, a former Lion Leader Volunteers. The Lion Leaders are a group of retirees, professionals and non-professionals, who serve as resources for campus activities.
The Swank family has been in the construction industry for three generations. Founded in the 1931 by Russell Swank Sr., the construction company initially built concrete streets. Twenty years later, Russell Swank Jr. expanded the highway business to include bridge construction. Many of the bridges that make up the current western Pennsylvania highway system were built by Swank. In the 1970s, Russell Swank III, anticipating a changing market, paved the way for the third phase of the company's evolution. He refocused the business on highway maintenance and repair and positioned the company as a leader in the industry.
Swank grew up on the family farm, located on Seventh Street Road in Upper Burrell, less than a mile from New Kensington campus. He completed his high school education at The Kiski School, a private boys boarding school in Saltsburg. He remains connected with Kiski as a member of the Board of Trustees and chair of its current capital campaign.
Swank’s leisure activities include golf and running. The athletic philanthropist has competed in the grueling Hawaii Ironman Triathalon that comprises a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike race and a 26.2-mile marathon.
Swank and his wife Ellen have been married for 58 years and have four children -- Derek, Amanda, Andrew and Katie.