Pictured from left: Wayne H. Port, chairman of The Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette Inc.; Aaron L. Swimmer, recipient of the 23rd Outstanding Alumnus of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus Award; and Dr. Emmanuel I. Osagie, chancellor of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Aaron L. Swimmer was honored as the recipient of the 23rd Outstanding Alumnus of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus Award Thursday at the Pleasant Valley Country Club in Connellsville. The award was presented by Penn State Fayette Chancellor Dr. Emmanuel I. Osagie at a special meeting and ceremony of The Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette Inc. (See University of Pennsylvannia Article)
Swimmer attended Penn State Fayette from 1987-1989, where he was elected as the campus’ first president of the Lion Ambassadors, a student organization. In 1990, he graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, and in the years following, he contributed in many ways to the local area – most significantly in the areas of economic development and volunteer service.
Swimmer was CEO and shareholder of Cavert Wire Co. Inc. of Uniontown; at the time, America’s largest manufacturer and distributor of baling wire for the waste and recycling industries. At the same time, he co-designed, developed and constructed The Lodge at Chalk Hill in Chalk Hill.
Swimmer is a former member of the Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette, a former member of The Pennsylvania State University Capital Campaign Committee and has served as a volunteer board member for many Fayette County organizations.
He also graduated from Penn State Fayette’s paramedic program and has worked as both a volunteer and paid paramedic in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Eventually, Swimmer sold his Pennsylvania businesses and relocated to Florida, where he graduated with a Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami in 2006. Today he resides in Miami Beach and is the managing law partner at Swimmer Law Associates, concentrating in legal representation for condominium associations, real estate dispute resolution, as well as serving as counsel to corporations, philanthropies and entrepreneurs.
In addition, he is the owner and president of Swimmer Associates Inc., an investment firm specializing in corporate debt, equities, real estate, and venture capital for small entrepreneurs.
The “Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus” award was established in 1985 and honors former students of the campus whose subsequent professional achievement warrants special recognition by their alma mater. The recipients of the award possess the qualities that truly epitomize the phrase, “Penn State proud.”
Osagie points out that Swimmer has demonstrated professional leadership for many years. “We are very proud to welcome such an individual – one of our own alums – to this distinguished club of alumni. He was a leader of students while at Penn State, and after graduation was a business and community leader making significant contributions to Fayette County. Today he resides in Florida, where he also has become a leader in business and his community. We are proud to have him as a Penn State ambassador near or far.”