Waynesburg University hosted its annual President’s Donor and Scholarship Recognition Dinner Saturday, April 13, in the Benedum Dining Hall on campus.
During the dinner, Mr. Scott (’73) and Mrs. Kathy Bechtle received the Golden Key Award, Mr. L. Greg West (’82) received the Distinguished Alumni Award and Mr. Kyle Kyper (’10) received the Young Alumni Leadership Award.
“For Institutional Advancement, this dinner is our biggest event of the year,” said Stacey Brodak, vice president of Institutional Advancement and University Relations. “We love being able to share our appreciation in person to those who mean so much to Waynesburg University. Having our donors on campus to meet students and see the impacts of their gifts first-hand is really meaningful for both the University and our donors.”
About the Awards
The Golden Key Award is presented by Waynesburg University to alumni or friends of the University dedicated to a lifetime of significant leadership and involvement with the University, who have distinguished themselves among their peers in a meaningful way.
The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to Waynesburg alumni for their exemplary professional service and/or volunteer accomplishments, or a history of involvement with the University.
The Young Alumni Leadership Award is presented to young alumni, age 35 or younger, for their accomplishments and service, by having distinguished themselves as leaders among their peers and in their profession, community and/or the University.
Mr. Scott (’73) and Mrs. Kathy Bechtle
Scott and Kathy Bechtle were awarded the 2024 Golden Key Award for their accomplished professional careers and significant support of the University.
Scott graduated from Waynesburg College in 1973 with a degree in accounting. As a student, he was also a member of the tennis team. His experience as part of the tennis team under the direction of the late coach Rudy Marisa was about more than just tennis. According to Scott, “it was about teamwork and becoming a productive, successful human being.”
After his time at Waynesburg, Scott obtained his MBA from Monmouth University in New Jersey and then started his career as controller for an automobile dealership. He later relocated to Florida to serve as the Assistant Chief Examiner for the Department of Insurance in Tallahassee. In this role, he was in charge of monitoring Safety and Soundness statewide for all Florida insurance companies. He later moved into the banking industry, holding positions such as Executive Vice President for Barnett Banks through its acquisitions to Bank of America and Executive Vice President of a Connecticut-based bank.
Kathy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and obtained her MBA in Florida where she began her career in corporate banking. After 34 years and several mergers and acquisitions, she retired from Bank of America.
In the fall of 2023, thanks to a generous contribution from Scott and Kathy, upgrades to Waynesburg University’s tennis facility, now known as the Bechtle Family Tennis Facility, were made, which included the installation of lights in addition to other aesthetic improvements. These upgrades fit the Bechtle’s goal to “fill a purpose and provide something that helps the University as a whole and aligns with the University’s mission.”
Mr. L. Greg West (’82)
L. Greg West was awarded the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for his outstanding professional success and dedication to the support and mentorship of Waynesburg University students in business and accounting.
After graduating from Waynesburg College in 1982, Greg began his accounting career at KPMG in Pittsburgh. He later joined Rockwell International Corporation’s tax department, working in various capacities in Pittsburgh and Orange County, California, for 13 years. He became a partner at Arthur Andersen until its closure, moving on as a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the next 18 years until his retirement in June 2020.
Greg created the L. Greg West Endowed Scholarship Fund at Waynesburg University to benefit its accounting students. He currently serves on the Business Advisory Board where he advises the Department of Business Administration on curriculum and other matters.
He “attributes much of his success to the education and values he obtained while at Waynesburg.”
Mr. Kyle Kyper (’10)
Kyle Kyper was awarded the 2024 Young Alumni Leadership Award for his leadership and service to others.
A Certified Financial Planner and 2010 graduate of Waynesburg University, Kyle is the co-owner of the independent financial planning firm DSF Wealth Management Group in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. He is also the founder and chairman of the non-profit organization 4:12 Foundation, which provides financial support and opportunity to those in need in western and central Pennsylvania.
As a student, Kyle participated in football and golf and founded a student investment club on campus. After receiving his Business Administration degree in 2010, he enrolled in the University’s MBA program and spent two years as a graduate assistant football coach until he graduated in 2012.
He began his professional career at Liberty Mutual Insurance in Pittsburgh before joining DSF Wealth Management Group in 2013. Over the past 10 years, the firm has grown from a team of six to 25.
In 2021, he founded the 4:12 Foundation with the help of Bridget Fouse and Ryan Franks. The non-profit was able to provide a total of $135,000 in financial grants in 2023 to 33 families. Their goal for 2024 is to help more than 50 families with more than $175,000 in grants.
Kyle and his wife Carly, who is also a Waynesburg alum, reside in Robinson Township with their two children, Kyla and Coen.
