Boyer College Alumni and Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to to celebrate recent honors bestowed upon two people special to the Boyer College. Joy Abbott, EDU '52, will receive Temple University's Alumni Distinguished Service Award at the annual Conwell Society Celebration on October 14th, and J. Rudy Perrault, MUS '85, '93, is Boyer College's Gallery of Success honoree for 2011-2012.

Mrs. Abbott's dedication to the art of musical theater and the legacy of her late husband, "Mr. Broadway" George Abbott, has led to the development of the George and Joy Abbott Center for Musical Theater at Temple University. We are extremely grateful for her generosity and commitment to excellence in the arts at Temple.

Alumnus, J. Rudy Perrault is currently Director of Orchestras and Professor of Violin and Viola at University of Minnesota, Duluth and a highly acclaimed performer, conductor and composer. He studied with Professor Emerita Helen Kwalwasser, whom he first met when she traveled to Haiti. He is also artistic director and founding member of the Kako Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing art education to the children and youth of the United States and Haiti.

The Boyer College proudly welcomes Joy and Rudy back to campus this week for Temple University's 2011 Homecoming festivities. We hope that you may also visit campus for one or more of the scheduled Homecoming events, including a chance to honor Professor Kwalwasser upon her retirement and for her many years of teaching at the Boyer College.

With Warm regards,

Robert T. Stroker
Dean, Boyer College of Music and Dance
Vice Provost for the Arts, Temple University