Jeanne Centracchio DaDamio of Vienna and James E. Smith of Williamsburg will receive Virginia Tech’s 2016 Alumni Distinguished Service Awards.

Alumni Distinguished Service Awards are presented annually at University Commencement to recognize alumni for their contributions to Virginia Tech.

Jeanne Centracchio DaDamio

DaDamio earned a bachelor’s in French in 1975 and a master’s in counseling in 1976, both from Virginia Tech.

She was a 1985 recipient of the university’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors from 1977-1989 and again from 2005-2011.

DaDamio currently serves as a member of the advisory boards for the Division of Student Affairs, the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and the Dean’s Roundtable for that college.  She also has served on the Northern Virginia Regional Campaign Committee, is a member of the Gateway Society, and is involved in the Hokies for Higher Education legislative advocacy group

DaDamio has been involved with the university’s Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Council. Her commitment to mentoring young women dates back to her time as a student, when she was a charter member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and the Panhellenic Council. She and her family established the Centracchio-DaDamio Family Global Leadership Endowed Scholarship.

Outside of Virginia Tech, DaDamio serves on the development committee of the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington.

DaDamio retired from IBM in 2009 as a senior program manager in Global Business Services, after a 33-year career with the corporation, during which time she was a founding member of IBM’s SAP/ERP Consulting Practice. Her husband, Greg, is a 1974 graduate of Virginia Tech. Their daughters, Camille and Nicole, graduated from Virginia Tech in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

James E. Smith

Smith graduated from Virginia Tech in 1966 with a bachelor’s in chemistry.

A member of the Hokie Club for more than 30 years, his service to the university includes membership on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, where he served as president; the Virginia Tech Foundation Board; the Department of Chemistry Advisory Council; and the German Club Alumni Foundation Board.

In 2001, Smith and his wife, Carolyn, were inducted into the Ut Prosim Society. He is a former president and current board member of the Williamsburg Alumni Chapter, with prior long-term service to the First State (Delaware) Alumni Chapter. He is also a member of the Hokies for Higher Education legislative advocacy group, and served on the Hampton Roads Regional Campaign Committee.

Following graduation, Smith began a lengthy career with DuPont in 1966. He served two years on active duty with the United States Army, from 1967 to 1969, and  returned to DuPont in 1969.  While with DuPont, he held positions in manufacturing, research, sales and marketing, business management, and technology licensing. He retired from DuPont in 2001. He formed SAI Consulting in 2001, and continued to work for DuPont in technology licensing until 2004

While living in Delaware, Smith  was active in Delaware Youth Soccer programs for many years, and spent several years as president of the Northern Delaware Soccer League. He was also active in the Brackenville Woods Civic Association, serving a term as president.

More recently, in Williamsburg, Smith has participated in the community leadership program sponsored by the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance, and has been a member of the board of directors nominating committee for the Ford’s Colony community.

Written by Rich Polikoff

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