Bowmansville’s Doll honoed as MU alumnus

BOWMANSVILLE, Pa. –Trish DeGrandis Doll, of Bowmansville was recently honored at Millersville University’s 54th Annual Honors and Awards Convocation as the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Service Award recipient—the highest accolade an alumnus can receive from the Alumni Association. The award is given to an alumni member who is a graduate of Millersville University and who has been distinguished in such a way to bring honor to the individual, to the University and the Millersville Alumni Association.

Her convocation address spoke volumes about “giving back.” Trish profoundly stated, “College is like a candle, it totally consumes itself to light the way for others. As such, I want to be thoroughly consumed when I die, for the harder I work, the more I want to continue to give and to live-- on purpose. I believe that everyone’s life ends the same way—but it’s only the details of how we each live that distinguishes one from another.”

With a degree in Speech Communications from Millersville University (1982), Trish has distinguished herself as a successful entrepreneur, businesswoman, volunteer, and humanitarian. As an Alumni Mentor for Millersville University students and its Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Trish has counseled more than 50 students to date. A member of the American Federation of Musicians, she is also an accomplished violinist since age 5 and is certified in Hospice Music Therapy. Her advocacy and extensive community service causes include the following: music/arts education and preservation; missing children prevention; anti-bullying; Make-A-Wish Foundation; Multiple Sclerosis Society and Chamber of Commerce support. She also received two American Heart awards from the American Heart Association and the MS Society for fundraising.

She founded Publicity Works, an award-winning advertising and marketing agency in 1990. The agency is a state-certified WBE woman-owned business enterprise that represents a local, national, and international roster of clients, and is on the Gale Group’s select list of high-profile companies. She has been noted for her unique service of serenading her clientele with her violin and is ranked as one of the most influential service-minded marketers today.

As her many accolades prove, she lives by her philosophy: “Success is not built on what we accomplish for ourselves – its foundation lies in what we do for others.” Among Doll’s many service honors are the “Volunteer Spotlight Recognition” from the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce for 21 years of dedicated service; a PA Governor’s Proclamation for her “SOS – Save Our Strings” outreach initiative; the national David Rockefeller distinguished BCA 10 Award: Top 10 Supporting Arts in America, honored in Forbes magazine and USA Today; and a nomination for the national Mr. Holland’s Opus Board. Doll’s other honors include the International ATHENA; Central PA Women of Power & Influence; Governor’s PA Best 50 Women in Business; Top Forty Under 40; two American Heart Awards; and the SBA Women’s Business Advocate, among others.

Doll credits Millersville University for her passion and life’s work. During her freshman year, a gentleman named “Live Mike” entered her dorm and asked, “Who wants to be on the radio?” That was the beginning of her weekly college radio show on WIXQ-91.7FM and career.

Doll lives in Lancaster County with her husband John (also a 1982 Millersville alumnus) and their two children, Richard, a Garden Spot High School Honors Graduate, who will attend Penn State University, Main Campus in the Fall for Music Education and Victoria, a 9th grade Honor student at Garden Spot High School.