King’s College Celebrates 2024 Alumni Award Recipients

King’s College president Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D., awarded five distinguished alumni for their professional success, contributions to the College, and service to those in need.

This year’s Alumni Award recipients are Donald Houseknecht ’10 - The Leo Award; Raymond Gerard Zavada ’78 - Robert J. Ell Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to Alma Mater; Thomas A. Haffey, D.O. ’73- Outstanding Professional Achievement in Arts & Sciences; Rev. Dr. Paul V. McCullough III ’98 - Service to Society; and John M. Williams ’67 - Service to Society.

The Alumni Awards are presented every year during Homecoming weekend. A committee of faculty, staff, and alumni assist the president in the selecting from the list of nominees submitted by the King’s College community.

The Leo Award - Donald Houseknecht ’10

The award is named for the King’s College mascot and is presented to alumni within 15 years of their graduation who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their profession or community.

This year’s winner is Donald Houseknecht, a 2010 summa cum laude graduate in accounting and business administration and the 2010 recipient of the Stapleton Memorial Award for Accounting. Houseknecht is a financial services consultant specializing in risk and regulatory affairs, anti-financial crime, and business operations. He has spent the last 14 years working for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). His clients include Fortune 500 companies, global banking and financial institutions, the U.S. federal government, and technology startups. Houseknecht has led large-scale teams and projects for PwC in the United States and abroad, including Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and India.

In addition to his career in consulting, Houseknecht has worked with students to prepare for life beyond the classroom, including resume reviews, mock interviews, internship and full-time interviews and overall career mentorship. He has been involved with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies organizations since 2010 and has an avid interest in journalism, politics, government, and regulatory affairs.

The Robert J. Ell Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to Alma Mater – Raymond Gerard Zavada ’78

Named for Robert J. Ell ’50, the first director of alumni relations at King’s College, this award is given to alumni for extraordinary service, dedication, and commitment to the College.

Zavada spent the past 45 years in public accounting, establishing a successful career that began at J.H. Williams & Company LLC located in Kingston, Pa. in 1978 and lasted through 1980. From 1980 through 1984, Zavada worked in San Diego, Calif. He returned to Wilkes-Barre in 1985 and worked at Laventhol & Horwath. In 1987, he joined and later became President of Zavada & Associates CPA in Forty Fort, Pa. In 2023, Zavada & Associates merged with J.H. Williams & Company.

His dedication to King’s College is mirrored in his professional life, where he has continuously created opportunities for the next generation. Zavada & Associates CPA has hired King’s College accounting interns, offering them valuable experience and often full-time positions upon graduation. As an active alumni volunteer, he has served as chair of the King’s Phonathon and regularly returns as a guest lecturer to inspire future accountants. His dedication to Catholic education and community service is also evident through his involvement with local schools and his church.

Zavada was born and raised in Wyoming, Pa. and moved to San Diego in 1980 before moving back to the area and living in Forty Fort, Pa. since 1985. Zavada and his wife Corinne, to whom he has been married for 43 years, have raised their three daughters, Erika, Amanda, and Audrey, and enjoy the company of their grandchildren, Matthew, and Madeline.

The Alumni Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement in Arts & Sciences – Thomas A. Haffey, D.O. ’73

This award honors alumni who have distinguished themselves through exceptional professional achievement in the field of arts and sciences.

Thomas A. Haffey, D.O., a 1973 graduate of King’s College with a degree in biology, has built an extraordinary career in cardiology, earning multiple fellowships, including those with the American College of Cardiology (FACC), the American Osteopathic College of Internists (FACOI), and the American Heart Association (FAHA). Throughout his career he has held key leadership roles, including chief of staff at North Suburban Medical Center, and serves as a clinical professor of Internal Medicine at two esteemed universities. Dr. Haffey’s dedication to research and medical education has had a lasting impact on the field.

Currently residing in Westminster, Colorado, with his wife, Marilyn, and their two children, Marie and Thomas Jr., Dr. Haffey credits his family and faith as the guiding forces behind his personal and professional life, embodying the values that King’s College celebrates.

The Alumni Award for Service to Society – Rev. Dr. Paul V. McCullough III ’98 and John M. Williams ’67

This award is presented to alumni who have distinguished themselves through selfless and caring personal commitment to benefit others. Two alumni were recognized this year.

Rev. Dr. Paul V. McCullough III is a 1998 graduate of King’s College with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in management information systems. A retired lieutenant colonel, Rev. McCullough has served both his country and community with distinction. His roles included commander of the defense logistics agency support team in Kuwait and deputy director of supplier operations.

Transitioning to civilian life, he continued his dedication through initiatives like Operation 500 with the American Bible Society, supporting veterans and military families. As president of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army, executive pastor at Calvary Church, and an adjunct professor at Drexel University, Rev. McCullough’s leadership extends across various fields.

He has also been instrumental in aiding homeless female veterans through his work with HAVEN. His radio program, “Serving Our Nation,” has further inspired many to embrace servant leadership. Rev. McCullough’s life is a testament to compassion, faith, and community service. Alongside his wife Heather and their two children, he remains a pillar of support and inspiration.

The award was also presented posthumously to John M. Williams, a 1967 King’s College graduate and tireless advocate for people with disabilities. As director of communications for the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, his work was instrumental in shaping national policies and advancing the rights of those with disabilities. He coined the term “assistive technology” in 1982 and consulted with over 20 manufacturers to bring innovative solutions to the global disabled community.

A prolific journalist, Williams authored over 1,600 articles, using his platform to raise awareness and champion the cause of those often unheard. Despite personal struggles with stuttering and Parkinson’s Disease, his advocacy never wavered. His life and career earned him numerous awards and left a lasting impact on society.

Although Williams passed away, his legacy is one of compassion, innovation, and unwavering commitment to justice and equality. His life’s work continues to inspire and make the world a better place. Williams could not have lived his life so fully or accomplished so much without the unending love, support and encouragement of his wife Lisa, and his children, Sean, Faith, and Brandon.

For more information on the 2022 King’s College Alumni Awards and winners or to learn more about nominating an alumnus or alumna, please visit https://alumni.kings.edu/page/alumni-awards.