A capsule look at the five judges who will choose this year's Salem News Student-Athlete Award winner on Thursday:
John S. Hall is the 2011 Chairman of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce. He is Senior Vice President & Division Manager of the Commercial Banking Division at Salem Five Bank, overseeing all related components of the commercial division. Prior to joining Salem Five, John had a 28-year career at Shawmut Bank in Boston, holding several executive management positions in commercial banking, private banking and retail banking. He attended Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School and is a graduate of Norwich University. He is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Jo Kadlecek is the senior writer at Gordon College, where she is also a professor of journalism and founding editor of the Gordon College News Service, an internship for emerging journalists. She's the author of several books, a former high school and college soccer coach and credits Little League experiences with building her character and vision for education.
Patricia Maguire Meservey is the 13th president of Salem State University. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Meservey was the provost and academic vice president of Suffolk University in Boston. Prior to Suffolk, she was vice provost for faculty and budget at Northeastern University. Dr. Meservey also was the executive director of the Center for Community Health Education, Research and Service and the national director of the Community Partnerships in Graduate Medical and Nursing Education Initiative. Dr. Meservey holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Boston College, an M.S. in parent-child nursing and a B.S. in nursing from Boston University, and a diploma in nursing from Faulkner Hospital, Boston. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.
Nelson Benton was hired as a reporter at The Salem News in 1972. He has served as city editor and managing editor and became editorial page editor in 1995. Benton's work has been recognized the New England Press Association, the New England Associated Press News Executives Association and the New England News Association, among others.
Phil Stacey began his sportswriting career in 1990 as a stringer at The Salem News while still in college. He was hired as a full-time sports reporter by the newspaper in 1994 and became its sports editor in May 1997. Among the awards he has received are the David C. Weidner Media Award from the Harry Agganis Foundation and a Lifetime Commitment Award from the Moynihan Lumber Student-Athlete committee. In addition, he co-hosts the popular "North Shore Sports Desk" radio program on Saturday mornings.
