IN BRIEF

October 01, 2011 Last Updated: October 01, 2011 02:48 PM Business

Drennen III

PITTSBURGH — Two Butler County residents, have been honored by Duquesne University.

• James Drennen III of Mars, an associate dean of research and graduate programs in the Mylan School of Pharmacy/Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, has received the university's Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarship.

Drennen has focused his research on the manufacture and analysis of pharmaceuticals.

Drennen is the lead faculty representative for Duquesne in the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education, a nonprofit consortium of leading universities in pharmaceutical science and engineering.

The founder and chief editor of the peer-reviewed Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation, Drennen is researching methods for monitoring and controlling pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.

• Darryl J. Ozimek, an instructor of physics in the university's Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Ozimek of Buffalo Township, who was selected by his colleagues for the 2011 Bayer School award for excellence in teaching, does course development for electronics and the life science-based physics laboratories, but his primary responsibility is teaching physics courses for nonscience majors.

PARKER — The Central Electric Cooperative board on Sept. 19, elected the following people as board officers:• Margery Terwilliger to serve as president. She has been a board member since 2002 and represents Armstrong County.• Jody Weaver to serve as vice president. He has been a board member since 2008 and represents Clarion County.• Althea Smith to serve as secretary/treasurer. She has been a board member since 1995 and represents Venango County.Also, the board elected these members to represent the cooperative:• Rick Weaver to serve as the Allegheny Electric Cooperative Director. He has been a board member since 1988 and represents Clarion County.• Bette Walters to serve as the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association Director. She has been a board member since 1988 and represents Forest County.Central Electric serves about 25,000 members in portions of Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Forest, Mercer and Venango counties.Farmers National Bank earns 5-star rankingEMLENTON — The Farmers National Bank of Emlenton has announced it recently received a five-star superior rating from BauerFinancial, an independent bank and credit union research firm.This rating is based on the bank's solid capital position, profitability, sound asset quality and balance sheet strength.BauerFinancial evaluates quarterly financial reports filed with federal regulatory agencies and assigns its independent ratings based on thorough analysis.A star rating is assigned on a scale of zero to five stars with five being the strongest rating and designated as superior.Honda North to aid Big Brothers/SistersCONNOQUENESSING TWP — On Oct. 10, Honda North will host a fundraising event to support the Butler County chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.From 6 to 8 p.m., Steelers safety Ryan Clark will sign autographs.All proceeds raised will go directly to the Butler County chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.While his autographs are “free,” Honda North is asking a $5 donation per person and encouraging any larger freewill donations to help support Big Brothers Big Sisters.“Goodie bags” of free items and coupons from Honda North and other Butler County merchants will be given to all who make a donation.There also will be raffle tickets sold with a chance to win larger prizes, including Steelers tickets, and singer Bob Seger concert tickets.Westinghouse Electric gets steam contractCRANBERRY TWP — Westinghouse Electric has been awarded a contract in France for the supply of 12 replacement steam generators for EDF's French nuclear fleet.Westinghouse will provide engineering design, analysis and fabrication for its technologically advanced steam generator and will deliver the steam generators to EDF.It will do that work in conjunction with several other European companies.Nationwide Mutual to buy HarleysvilleNEW YORK — Nationwide Mutual Insurance says it will acquire Harleysville Group for $760 million in cash to expand its footprint in the eastern U.S.The purchase price works out to $60 per share, nearly double Harleysville stock's closing price of $31.52 on Wednesday. Shares soared 85 percent in early morning trading to hit $58.37. The stock's high in the past year had been $37.81.Nationwide said Thursday that the deal will boost its presence in business insurance.By staff and wire reportsPERSONNEL FILEKeith Loiselle of Gibsonia has been nominated to the state Board of Medicine by Gov. Tom Corbett. This nomination must be confirmed by the state Senate.———Butler County Judge Tim McCune has been appointed by Gov. Tom Corbett to the state's Court of Judicial Discipline.