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Honoring Achievements: Four Juniata Alumni Recognized With Awards

(Posted June 10, 2026)

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HUNTINGDON, Pa. — As Juniata College alumni returned to their alma mater to celebrate an event-filled 2026 Alumni Weekend, four distinguished alumni were recognized for their achievements and contributions with awards on June 6.   

Cindy (Hill) Valko ’76 of Collegeville, Pa., earned the College’s Alumni Achievement Award. Blake Colaianne ’11 from State College, Pa., was awarded Juniata’s Young Alumni Achievement Award. Greg Anderson ’99 of Huntingdon, Pa., received the William E. Swigart Alumni Humanitarian Award. Jim Kiely ’81 of Conestoga, Pa., was honored with the Harold B. Brumbaugh Alumni Service Award.   

Cindy (Hill) Valko earned the College’s Alumni Achievement Award, which honors those who have distinguished themselves over a period of years and have achieved a pinnacle position in their chosen profession.  

After graduating from Juniata with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, she began her career in the insurance industry. Over more than three decades, she has exemplified leadership and excellence, guiding complex insurance organizations through periods of growth, transformation, and global expansion. 

As vice president and chief of staff of Aetna Life and Casualty, Valko increased earnings by 800 percent in the first year to $504 million while reducing costs by $200 million. She also directed the $4 billion sale of the company to Travelers Property Casualty. Valko led the revitalization of Global Indemnity as chief executive officer, leading a 400-person team and overhauling product offerings and organizational management. 

Valko was president of the Woman’s Insurance Society of Philadelphia from 1982 to 1983 and chairman of the American Council of Life Insurance (ACLI) International Insurance Committee from 2001 to 2002. She served on the Board of Governors of the International Global Financial Leadership Forum in 2002; was chairman of the board of Seguros Monterrey New York Life Insurance from 2002 to 2006; and was vice chairman of New York Life Haier Insurance in Shanghai, China, from 2001 to 2006; both being the largest subsidiaries of New York Life International. Valko was also a member of the Vistage Small Business Advisory Group from 2022-2023.  

Throughout her career, Valko has mentored many men and women who have gone on to lead organizations of their own. She is a role model for women within her industry, as well as for her family and friends. 

Blake Colaianne was awarded the College’s Young Alumni Achievement Award, which honors those who have distinguished themselves in their chosen profession during the first 15 years since graduation from Juniata College.  

After graduating from Juniata with a bachelor’s degree in earth and space science and secondary education, Colaianne earned a master of education degree in mind, brain, and education at Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2017. He then completed a master of science degree in human development and family studies in 2019 and a Ph.D. in the same field in 2021 at Penn State University. 

From 2011 to 2016, Colaianne taught science at Dallastown Area School District and was recognized with the William B. McIlwaine Science Teaching Award by the Pennsylvania Science Teachers Association in 2012 and the Outstanding Science Teacher Award by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers in 2015. While completing his post-graduate studies, he was honored with a Compassion and Caring Graduate Student Fellow Award in 2017–2018 at Penn State, a Pre-Doctoral Fellow Award from the Institute of Education Sciences, and a Distinguished Dissertation Award by the Penn State Alumni Association. 

Colaianne’s research has appeared in more than 23 publications. He has been a member of the Society for Research on Adolescence since 2018, the Collaboration for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning since 2021, and the International Society for Contemplative Research since 2022, where he has served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee since 2023. Since 2025, he has served as a regional leader for the Pennsylvania Alliance for Social, Emotional, and Mental Wellbeing; associate editor for the Handbook of Mindfulness, Compassion, and Education: Research, Policy, and Practice; and an editorial board member for Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, Policy. 

As an assistant research professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State University’s College of Health and Human Development, Colaianne’s work intersects human development theory with mind/body practices to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and interconnection. He teaches undergraduate courses on human flourishing, mindfulness, and community building and facilitates trainings for schools, universities, and workplaces. 

Greg Anderson was presented with the William E. Swigart Alumni Humanitarian Award, which honors those who have improved the lives of others through personal sacrifice and have exercised significant leadership through vocation or avocation. Anderson was presented with the award for his devotion to fostering community connection and service through his work, creating spaces and programs that bring people together and cultivate meaningful global connections. 

Following his graduation from Juniata, Anderson earned a master’s degree in higher education with an emphasis in organizational leadership at Geneva College in 2003. While completing his graduate degree, he worked as a campus minister with the Coalition for Christian Outreach at Penn State University and as an IT administrator for Advent Associates, Inc.  

In 2003, Anderson joined the staff at Messiah University, in partnership with the Coalition for Christian Outreach, as national and international service and mission director. He was also named interim director for the Agape Center for Service and Learning at Messiah in 2005.  

A pull toward entrepreneurship led Greg and his wife, Jessie, to create and research a business plan that embodied their passion for people and community. After exploring 12 college towns in Central Pennsylvania, the couple purchased a building near Juniata College and began extensive renovations in 2007. Standing Stone Coffee Company opened in 2008 with a mission of “creating a unique space for anyone to come, have quality and creative food and drink, share some thoughts, listen and learn, and be in community with their neighbor.” As president and director of operations, Anderson oversees day to day operations of the café and a flourishing wholesale business. His commitment to relational investment is evident in the company’s community development program, partner awareness months, rotating artist displays, “Know Your Neighbor” project, and local grants program. Since its founding, Standing Stone Coffee has donated roughly $125,000 and many hours of service to the local community.  

Anderson is a member and dedicated volunteer at Petersburg Bethel Presbyterian Church and a member of the Occupational Advisory Committee for the Culinary Arts Program at the Huntingdon County Career and Technology Center. He serves on the boards of the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau and the Huntingdon County Arts Council. Anderson is active in his children’s activities, including as a Cub Scout leader and as a parent volunteer for Huntingdon Community Center’s Track and Field program. He frequently partners with Juniata College to provide educational and mentorship opportunities for students. 

The Andersons were recognized with a Community Improvement Award from the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce and the Huntingdon County Planning Commission in 2008 and the Entrepreneurial Success Award in 2009. Standing Stone Coffee Company won the Pennsylvania Waste Watchers Award for environmental stewardship in 2009 and the Greenovation Award from Huntingdon County Business and Industry in 2012. The Chamber of Commerce and Planning Commission honored the business with a second Community Improvement Award in 2014. Huntingdon Borough presented the Andersons with the Outstanding Citizen Award in 2024, and Greg was named Citizen of the Year in 2025 by the Salvation Army in Huntingdon, Pa. 

Jim Kiely has spent his entire career at Johnson & Johnson, helping to bring high quality surgical equipment to operating rooms around the country. Along the way, he has maintained close ties to the College, frequently visiting campus and connecting with generations of alumni near and far.  

Kiely has been a recurring member of the Class of 1981 Reunion committee, bringing his hearty enthusiasm for the College to Alumni Weekend and any event at which he is present. For more than 25 years, he has served as a Class Fund Agent or Class Engagement Officer, encouraging his classmates to join him in giving back to the College.  

As the College’s annual Day of Giving has gained momentum in recent years, Kiely has been the driving force behind fundraising for the River Rats rugby team. Not only has he done critical outreach, he has also led by example as a challenge donor. In addition to his leadership in philanthropy, he has personally invested in the future of Juniata as a member of the 1876 Society and Heritage Circle.  

With a rugby player’s renegade spirit, Kiely has shared his passion for the game both on and off the field. As a senior in the fall of 1980, he helped to establish the women’s rugby team. Since then, he has actively worked to build a network of men’s and women’s rugby alumni, encouraging connections with each other and the College. He has long supported rugby traditions such as Pig Roast and the annual Homecoming Alumni Rugby Match. Kiely was instrumental in planning the Men’s Rugby 40th Anniversary celebration in 2014, and the 50th Anniversary celebration in 2024. During the difficult years following the COVID-19 pandemic, Kiely helped to rebuild the team on campus. His significant efforts ranged from mentorship of young leaders to player development to fundraising. He has consistently shown support, whether utilizing his broad network to coordinate matches, organizing the team, or gathering fans to cheer from the sidelines. With his help and the support of the College, the team was able to hire a coach in 2025 — its first in 45 years. 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.