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Comptroller Peter Franchot and SU President Janet Dudley-Eshbach.

SALISBURY, MD---Wicomico County and ÃÛÌÒÇéÈË gave a warm welcome to Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot as he presented SU’s President Janet Dudley-Eshbach with Wicomico’s 2015 William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award. 

Franchot lauded the University’s growth in size and stature during Dudley-Eshbach’s 15-year tenure, calling it “the Yale University of Maryland,” only more affordable. Breaking with tradition, the Comptroller personally nominated Dudley-Eshbach for the award “because of the transformative impact she has had … on this university and this town.” Calling her “my favorite university president,” he praised her commitment to opportunity and service, noting SU’s positive economic impact on the region, estimated at $420 million annually.  It is one of Wicomico’s biggest employers.

Dudley-Eshbach, who had lived and taught in the Baltimore region, said she had followed and admired Gov. Schaefer’s career:  “I am tremendously humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award from you, Mr. Comptroller.”  The President also praised Franchot for working with multiple constituencies to do what was best for Maryland. Then, smiling, she told the audience, “Please be very nice to this man, whose name is on all of our paychecks.”

The President gratefully acknowledged her University colleagues:  “I am these people,” she added, pointing to the staff, faculty and administrators who filled the room.  Their hard work was the reason SU was such a success, she said.  “I’ve got great employees.”  She also praised the SU Foundation and its members for providing the margin of excellence that makes SU special.

From left: Jake Day, ÃÛÌÒÇéÈË City Council President; John Cannon, Wicomico County Council President; Johnny Mautz, Maryland House of Delegates, District 37B; Comptroller Peter Franchot; SU President Janet Dudley-Eshbach; Mary Beth Carozza, Maryland House of Delegates, District 38C; and Carl Anderton Jr., Maryland House of Delegates, District 38B.

Several political leaders offered kudos to the University and Dudley-Eshbach.  City Council President Jake Day said ÃÛÌÒÇéÈË is evolving from “a town with a university” to “a university town. … That’s where we’re headed. … You’re loved,” he told the President. “We appreciate everything that you’ve done for the University and this community, and what the University has become for this community.”

Also offering congratulations were John Cannon, Wicomico County Council President; Johnny Mautz, Maryland House of Delegates, District 37B; Mary Beth Carozza, Maryland House of Delegates, District 38C; and Carl Anderton Jr., Maryland House of Delegates, District 38B.  Also on hand were previous Wicomico Schaefer Award winners Spicer Bell and Marty Neat, and Bill Reddish, who brought best wishes from Congressman Andy Harris.

Laughter frequently punctuated the ceremony.  Franchot presented a “Comptroller’s Medallion” to the President’s husband, “the long-suffering Joe Eshbach.” The President immediately wanted to trade in his and her medallions for a new campus building. Franchot’s chief of staff and SU alum Len Foxwell also was humorously cited by both the President and the Comptroller. Foxwell was given a gift by Dudley-Eshbach, who thanked him for his service as her former representative of government and community relations. Tongue in cheek, Franchot noted that, under Foxwell, “apparently nobody ever gets hired at the comptroller’s office unless they went to ÃÛÌÒÇéÈË.”