Prep Talk

Mr. Kenneth Pustizzi Receives Mendel Award

Posted June 22nd, 2012

 

On June 8, St. Augustine Prep conferred the 2012 Gregor Mendel Award on Mr. Kenneth Pustizzi, Sr. at a banquet attended by 200 people at Merighi’s Savoy Inn in East Vineland.

The Mendel Award has been bestowed annually by the Prep since 1974 to honor the outstanding contributions to the South Jersey community by one of its residents.  The award and medal are named for Gregor Johan Mendel (1822-1884), an Augustinian friar and renowned botanist.  Mendel was abbot of the Augustinian monastery in Brun (now in the Czech Republic), where he conducted extensive experiments on pea plants.  His discoveries led him to be recognized as the Father of Genetics.

Mr. Pustizzi is the President and CEO of Trico Lift, founded by his father and now one of the largest privately owned aerial work platform companies in America.  Ken’s extensive involvement in the community includes being a past board member of the Boy Scouts of America and a former member of the Buena Regional School Board.  He presently serves on the Board of Trustees of Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, and he is President of the Forest Grove Athletic Association.  Ken and his wife, Stefanie, have four children, two of whom (Kenny, Jr. ‘04 and Kevin ‘07) are graduates of the Prep.

Congratulations, Ken!