HARLEM GLOBETROTTER, STATE LAWMAKER, AND LOCAL BUSINESS CEO ALL TO BE HONORED AT PITT ALUMNI DINNER

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 21 -- Three graduates of the University of Pittsburgh will be honored at Pitt's College of General Studies (CGS) Distinguished Alumni Award Dinner on Friday, March 9, at The Rivers Club, One Oxford Centre, 4th floor, 301 Grant Street, Downtown. The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

Honored will be: Harlem Globetrotter Orlando "Hurricane" Antigua ('95), Pennsylvania State Representative David J. Mayernik ('74), and Ed Linder ('71), founder and CEO of Linder and Associates, Inc. The annual award has been presented since 1989 to CGS graduates who have made a difference in the community, their profession, or the University.

One of the Harlem Globetrotters' most popular players and a native of the Dominican Republic, Antigua is the first-ever Globetrotter of Latin-American descent. A versatile forward at 6'7" and 230 pounds, he tallied more than 900 points in 113 career games at Pitt from 1991-95, and was a member of the Big East All-Freshman team in 1991-92. In 1994, he received the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's "Most Courageous Player of the Year Award," for his recovery from a drive-by shooting, in which he was an innocent by-stander, that occurred while he was a high school sophomore in the Bronx, N.Y. During his first two seasons at Pitt, he played with a bullet lodged in his head. An overachiever on and off the court, Antigua also has been honored with the "Overcoming Obstacles Award," given to people who are actively involved in making their communities brighter and safer for youth.

State Representative David J. Mayernik is currently serving his 10th term representing the 29th legislative district, which covers Kilbuck, Ohio, Neville, and Ross Townships, as well as seven boroughs. He serves on the appropriations, judiciary, consumer affairs, and professional licensure committees, and last year received the Leadership Award from the American Lebanese Congress. He also has been honored for Outstanding Service and Contributions to the North Hills School District, Achievement in Housing Excellence, Outstanding Service to Law Enforcement, and others. Mayernik earned a B.A. in 1974 through CGS, and a master's of public administration, also from Pitt, in 1981.

A name widely associated with quality furniture and interior design, Ed Linder studied at both Carnegie Mellon University and Pitt, before accepting a position as managing director of the wholesale furniture division of the Joseph Horne Company. He went on to a major furniture manufacturer in New York, where he developed a specialty for marketing high quality product lines. Twenty years ago, Linder founded his furniture store in McKees Rocks, which has grown to 75,000 square feet of display, attracting clients from around the world. In 1999, Linder and Associates, Inc. was recognized by Stickley, one of America's top furniture makers, as its largest single outlet for goods in the world. Linder has lectured widely on interior design, and serves on a number of arts and civic boards.

The dinner is open to the public. Keynote speaker Esther Bush, president and CEO of the Urban league of Pittsburgh, will deliver remarks on "CGS: A Reflection of Community Leadership." Tickets are $50 and reservations can be made by calling CGS at 412-624-6608.

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