WARSAW, IND. (April 18, 2007) Al Meerzo, a former high school band director and college registrar, will be the guest speaker at Ivy Tech Community College-Warsaw’s honors event at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 20 at 2517 (a facility near the Ramada Inn), in Warsaw.

Meerzo’s topic is “All Students Have D.W.A.A.P.P. (dedication, willpower, ambition, attitude, personal sacrifice, perseverance)”.  The Warsaw resident received a bachelor of music degree from Michigan State University and a master of science in Education from Purdue University.  Meerzo spent eight years as a high school band director before returning to graduate school where he served as a graduate assistant for the Purdue University band.  He worked as a college registrar for over 30 years at both Purdue University and the University of Texas at Austin.

Meerzo was awarded the Nowotny Medal for outstanding service to students in 1991 and was named Registrar Emeritus by the Registrars of the Association of American Universities.  He’s also been granted honorary membership by both the Texas Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers and the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers.  He’s a member of the Warsaw Breakfast Optimists and plays in the Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church orchestra and the Lake Area Community Band.

Among the groups to be honored by Ivy Tech-Warsaw on Friday are graduates who attended classes on the Warsaw campus, members of the All Indiana Academic team and other student organizations.  The event is sponsored by Ivy Tech-Warsaw’s Student Government Association. 

Members of the media who wish to attend this event should call Sharon Meerzo at (574) 267-5428, ext. 6111.