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Signature Sponsor
May 20, 2026 - The Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette has named Edward F. Zeglen Jr. and Lori A. Omatick, respectively, as the 2026 recipients of the Outstanding Alumnus and Outstanding Fellow awards. The awards will be presented at the Advisory Board’s Annual meeting on Wednesday, May 20. Edward F. Zeglen Jr.: Outstanding Alumnus
Zeglen is a mining engineering consultant with more than 45 years of experience in engineering, operations, safety, training and consulting. A Penn State Fayette alumnus who completed his mining engineering degree at Penn State University Park in 1983, Zeglen has held leadership, engineering and mine safety roles across the coal industry and currently provides consulting services for mining companies, landowners and attorneys.
Zeglen is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania, a certified mine foreman in Pennsylvania and Utah, and a longtime mine rescue leader and educator. He currently teaches Pennsylvania Mine Foreman and Mine Examiner classes for Core Natural Resources and serves as coach and mentor for the Penn State Student Mine Rescue Team.
Throughout his career, Zeglen has remained active in professional and educational service, including leadership roles with the Pennsylvania Coal Mining Institute of America and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. He also helped secure scholarships for students in Penn State Fayette’s Mining Technology program.
Lori A. Omatick: Outstanding Fellow
Omatick is a longtime Fayette County leader whose career has spanned economic development, business recruitment, philanthropy and higher education. A Connellsville native, she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California University of Pennsylvania, now PennWest California, and began her career with the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, where she helped secure millions in state funding for business development initiatives and workforce projects throughout the region.
Omatick later served as business development manager for Advanced Acoustic Concepts before joining Penn State Fayette in 2008 as director of development and alumni relations. During her tenure, she helped lead two successful capital campaigns and supported the growth of the campus endowment from $10 million to more than $27 million, much of which supports student assistance and scholarships. She also coordinated the campus’ 50th anniversary celebration, which launched annual traditions including Concert on the Lawn and Benefit Fayette.
A dedicated community volunteer, Omatick has served in leadership roles with numerous regional organizations, including Fayette Friends of Animals, the Fayette County Cultural Trust and the Uniontown Rotary Club, where she served three terms as president. In 2024, she and her husband, David, established a future estate gift to create the David and Lori A. Omatick Family Scholarship in Engineering for Fayette County students attending Penn State.
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