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California University
Volume 16, Number 9 juNe 16, 2014 Read the JouRnal online: www.calu.edu/news/the-journal
Amy Dunn (left) and Hillary Drumheller move their tassels from right to left to signify they are now graduates of California University.
Graduates Step Off the Stage, Into the Future
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ommencement marked an academic milestone for the Class of 2014, but nothing could match the excitement of those graduates who were poised to begin a career after walking across the stage at Cal U’s 178th Commencement. Zach Zigmond, who graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, has joined the management administration training program at Sherwin-Williams. “I use my accounting skills every day, especially with our profit and loss analysis reports,” said Zigmond, a high scorer for the Lacrosse Club who has been working at the paint company since his sophomore year. “Cal U also taught me to interact with people, which
is something I do every day at work.” Two days after picking up his degree in environmental studies, Joshua Hay started working as a pipeline inspector for Poly-Cor Enterprises. Hands-on education paid off, he said. “Cal U gave me a lot of opportunities to gain experience in my field. They try to put us out there.” Erin Flickinger was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army just one day before receiving her degree in justice studies. She’ll start Military Police Corps training in July, and by December she expects to be stationed in South Korea. “Cal U’s criminal justice program is very good,” she said. “The professors have a tremendous amount of
experience, and they are all very approachable.” In all, interim University President Geraldine M. Jones conferred degrees upon nearly 1,200 students, including those whose diplomas were awarded in absentia. During her welcoming remarks, she praised the graduates for their accomplishments but emphasized their work is just beginning. “You have important work ahead of you — the work of building a meaningful life and contributing as a member of this global society we live in. “I am very much aware of the role each of you will play in the future of our country, and our world. It is up — Continued on page 2
Vulcans Earn Dixon Trophy
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apping a year marked by three conference championships and three runner-up finishes, Cal U has earned the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s Dixon Trophy for the second time. The trophy is awarded annually to the PSAC member institution with the most successful all-around program. The University won the trophy for the first time in 2008-2009. From 1995-1996 to 2011-2012, an institution’s top six men’s and top six women’s finishes were tallied to calculate the Dixon Trophy standings. Since 20122013, the standings have been determined by calculating the average of every sport sponsored by each participating school. This year, Cal U averaged 12.28 overall points — the only one of the 18 conference schools to average more than 12. Female athletes made a strong showing: The Vulcans won PSAC conference championships in women’s soccer, softball and women’s tennis. The women’s golf, volleyball and men’s golf teams earned runner-up conference finishes. Collectively, Cal U’s women’s teams averaged a conference-high 14.40 points in the Dixon standings, collecting at least 11 points from nine of the University’s 10 women’s teams.
Bocetti Honored as Recovery Champion
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Proudly accepting the 2013-2014 Dixon Trophy are (from left) Pablo Montana, women’s tennis head coach; Dr. William Biddington, faculty athletic representative; Geraldine M. Jones, interim University President; Dr. Nancy Pinardi, interim vice president for Student Affairs; and Matt Kifer, sports information director.
Shippensburg University finished second in this year’s trophy race with an average of 11.95 points. Defending champion West Chester was third at 11.80. The trophy is named for the late F. Eugene Dixon Jr., former chairman of the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Only eight different PSAC schools have won the trophy since it first was awarded in 1995-1996. Cal U is one of just four schools to bring home the trophy more than once.
“On behalf of the entire athletic department, we are honored to receive the Dixon Trophy this year,” said Dr. Karen Hjerpe, Cal U’s athletic director. “The award symbolizes the hard work of our coaching staff, athletic staff and faculty who work day in and day out toward the success of our studentathletes. “The award also symbolizes the success of each student athlete at the University who committed part of his or her collegiate experience to representing the institution through the venue of athletics.”
he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that Dr. Carol Bocetti, an associate professor at California University of Pennsylvania, is a recipient of its most recent Recovery Champion award. The award honors Fish and Wildlife Service employees and “partners-in-mission” who have made outstanding efforts to help threatened or endangered fish, wildlife and plant Dr. Carol Bocetti species reach the point where they are secure in the wild and no longer need protection — the goal of the federal Endangered Species Act. Recovery actions may help to prevent extinctions, conserve or restore habitat, conduct scientific research, or promote public awareness, the Fish and Wildlife Service says. — Continued on page 3
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Above: Newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Erin Flickinger is acknowledged during the May 10 undergraduate ceremony. Right: Cal U’s Dr. Stephen Whitehead, associate provost, vests Giovanni Morales in his academic hood at the graduate Commencement ceremony May 9.
Graduates Step Off the Stage, Into the Future — Continued from page 1 to you as knowledgeable, purposeful and caring human beings to change lives, reshape communities and make the word a better place.” Attorney Reginald A. Long Sr. ’81 addressed both the master’s degree candidates, who graduated on May 9, and the bachelor’s and associate degree candidates, who attended ceremonies on May 10. A specialist in the legal practice areas of commercial real estate, corporate finance, zoning and land use, Long is a partner in the law firm of Love and Long LLP, which has offices in Newark, N.J., and Philadelphia, Pa. He reminisced about his student days in old Johnson Hall, which has since been demolished, and he said the preparation he received at Cal U was second to none. He encouraged the Class of 2014 to employ three basic skills: critical thinking, communication and problem solving. “Once you have that skill set together with common sense, it leads to a second set of skills — competence, confidence and correctness,” he said. “You can walk into any room and be confident you have the skills to be successful. “Challenges are nothing more than opportunities. You are prepared to meet them.” Long charged the graduates to make a difference. “You will, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., transform the dangling discourse of our nation into a
Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones and guest speaker Reginald A. Long Sr. ’81 applaud Cal U’s graduates during the 178th Commencement
symphony of brotherhood. You can, you must and you will, because we are dependent upon you. We need you. Class of 2014, this is your start. This is your beginning. This is your Commencement.” Before undergraduates received their diplomas, Amy Dunn, chair of the Senior Gift Drive Committee, presented President Jones with a check for more than $15,000 contributed by graduating seniors and their families. More than $75,000 has been raised for an endowed scholarship since the first senior class donation was delivered at the spring 2010 Commencement. “Those of us who worked on and contributed to the
2014 Senior Class Gift Drive certainly embrace the idea of a lifelong relationship with Cal U,” Dunn said. After the ceremonies, graduates wandered through the Convocation Center and reflected on their time at Cal U. “It’s bittersweet,” said student-athlete Chris Avvampato, an Academic All-American who owns records in the hammer and weight throws, and who held several positions with the Technology Education Association of California. “I’m going to miss a lot of people, and traveling to conferences with TEAC were very good experiences.” Shelby Barone, a cum laude graduate in elementary and special education, will return to her alma mater this fall for autism certification. “The practical experience was invaluable,” she said. “By my second semester, I was already out in the field.” President Jones acknowledged Heather A. Kerestine and Tracy Benjamin Long for earning bachelor’s degrees while attaining a perfect 4.0 grade-point average with at least 90 credit hours at Cal U. Nine other students earned two separate degrees simultaneously. She urged the graduates to live life to the fullest. “Find your passion, whatever it may be,” President Jones said. “Become it, and let it become you, and you will find great things happen for you, to you, and because of you. “Keep your dreams alive.”
Four ROTC Cadets Commissioned as Officers
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our ROTC cadets were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army at a ceremony last month in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre. Cal U cadets Erin Flickinger, Nicholas Granfield and Alex Peplinski received the gold bars signifying their new rank at the Department of Military Science’s Reserve Officer Training Corps commissioning ceremony. Also commissioned was Janna Yoder, who attends Washington and Jefferson College. Before taking the oath of office, the cadets heard welcoming remarks by interim University President Geraldine M. Jones. “I feel confident that the strong leadership skills and exemplary conduct that have epitomized your time as cadets will continue to flourish as you become officers,” President Jones told the cadets. “Please know that we are impressed with all you have accomplished, thrilled to see you earn your commission, and prayerful that when your service is complete, you will find your way safely home. “ Guest speaker was Lt. Col. Paul Darling, of the Army National Guard, who has served both domestically and overseas. In Alaska, he was the deputy commander of a domestic chemical,
Nicholas Granfield watches his uncle Robert Clinton (left), sister Genevieve and wife Vivian pin his second lieutenant’s gold bars on his uniform during the ROTC commissioning ceremony on May 9 in Steele Hall.
biological, radiological and nuclear response team, and he commanded the first strategic missile defense crew in Fort Greely. He also served with the initial Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia and with the UN Protection Force in Macedonia. He commanded the Provincial Afghan Police Mentor Team in Zabul Province, in southern Afghanistan, where he led combat operations and oversaw training for 1,200 Afghan police.
Darling advised the cadets to heed the message on the statue of philanthropist Robert Eberly that stands in front of Manderino Library: “Never stop learning.” “There’s a reason why NCOs are required to have college degrees,” he said. “You are starting a lifetime of learning, and it’s incumbent on you to never stop learning. “Seek out knowledge before it’s required. Understand the science of
warfare but also the art of humanity. Find something that fascinates you, and become an expert in it.” Darling concluded his remarks with direct advice about leading soldiers. “They are your peers but not your friends,” he told the lieutenants. “They want to be led by you and respect your knowledge and courage.” The four new officers have different military assignments. Flickinger received an active duty commission into the Military Corps. She will attend an Officer Basic course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Granfield received an active Army commission into the Transportation Corps and will attend an Officer Basic course in Fort Lee, Va. Peplinski received a reserve commission into the Military Intelligence Corps. His Officer Basic course will be held at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Yoder received a reserve commission into the Chemical Corps and also will attend the Officer Basic course at Fort Leonard Wood. During the ceremony, family members pinned a gold bar to each cadet’s uniform to signify his or her new rank. Following Army tradition, each new second lieutenant gave a silver dollar to an officer in exchange for his or her first salute.
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GRANTS AWARDED The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research reports that: • Dr. David Argent, of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, has been awarded a grant of $31,200 from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This award will support his research on a project titled “Ongoing Paddlefish Population Status, Abundance, and Restorative Planning – Phase IV.” • Dr. Derek Gray, of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, has been awarded a PASSHE FPDC Annual Grant of $9,896. This award will support his research on a project titled “Will plankton on the Great Plains be able to keep up with climate change?”
Jim Bové, an associate professor in Cal U’s Department of Art and Design, will serve as an artist-in-residence this summer at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine.
Artist-in-Residence to Make Jewelry in Maine
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im Bové, an associate professor in Cal U’s Department of Art and Design, will serve as an artist-inresidence this summer at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine. Considered one of the top craft schools in the nation, Haystack offers intensive studio-based workshops in a variety of craft media, including clay, glass, metals, paper, blacksmithing, weaving, woodworking and more. Bové’s two-week residency is part of a new program that provides artists with uninterrupted time to work in any of six studios — ceramics, fiber, graphics, iron, jewelry or wood — so
they can develop ideas and experiment in various media. Haystack also invites a small group of renowned scientists, designers and writers to cultivate discussions with the artists. Bové, an international awardwinner for his work in metals and jewelry, has been creating a series of contemporary jewelry items and lecturing overseas while teaching jewelry-making and three-dimensional design classes at Cal U. “This is a great honor and an exciting opportunity,” he said. “I am hoping to go more in depth with the current line of artwork I am making, while perfecting the techniques I have
developed. This is also a great opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with fellow artists.” Bové hopes to bring what he learns from his residency back to his Cal U students. “This will be a great chance for me to test (Haystack’s) 3-D digital fabrication printer, which I hope to incorporate into the art program,” he said. Bové is scheduled to give a lecture and demonstration during the residency. His research will be part of his solo exhibition in January at the Appalachian Center for Crafts at Tennessee Tech University in Smithville, Tenn.
Bocetti a Recovery Champion Again — Continued from page 1 Bocetti, a member of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Cal U, received the 2013 award for her work with the Delmarva Fox Squirrel Recovery Team. She has been working with the team since 1995. The Delmarva fox squirrel, a silvery grey rodent that can weigh 3 pounds and grow to 28 inches long, first was listed as an endangered species in 1967. Today, more than 20,000 fox squirrels now inhabit the Delmarva Peninsula of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The Fish and Wildlife Service expects to “de-list” or remove the
Delmarva fox squirrel from the list of endangered species, saying it is “confident of its sustained viability” in the wild. This is the second Recovery Champion award for Bocetti, who was received the 2011 award for her conservation work as leader of the Kirtland’s Warbler Recovery Team. That once-endangered songbird, breeding only in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario, also has been brought back from the brink of extinction. “I am not aware of a Recovery Champion chosen with so few years between the awards,” says Ann Haas, an endangered species program specialist with the Fish and Wildlife Service. “Although Dr. Bocetti is not
unique in this recognition, she is surely a rarity. She deserves applause for sharing her expertise for the benefit of another species in another region.” Bocetti joined the California University of Pennsylvania faculty in 2004 after spending 18 years as a researcher in the field of conservation biology and wildlife ecology. She involves Cal U students in her research, including her work with Delmarva fox squirrels. “The mentoring potential in both the classroom and in the field is currently the highlight of my professional life,” she says. “I was so excited to learn I’d again received this award!”
Athletic Training Professor Honored
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r. Thomas West, professor and former chair of the Department of Health Science, is a 2014 recipient of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society Distinguished Merit Award. The award recognizes BOC-certified athletic trainers who have been in practice in Pennsylvania for a minimum of 15 years and who demonstrate distinguished professional achievement in the practice of athletic training in their respective employment settings. West is one of three recipients this year. Other
honorees are Rob Blanc, head athletic trainer for football at the University of Pittsburgh, and Sandy Bush, director of the athletic training education program at Messiah College. The awards were presented during the PATS Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposium, held June 11-14 at the Wyndham Hotel in Gettysburg, Pa. Past recipients of the award include Cal U faculty members Dr. Linda Platt Meyer, who was Dr. Thomas West honored in 2012, and Dr. William Biddington, a 1997 award winner.
• Dr. Laura Tuennerman, of the Department of History and Political Science; Dr. Pamela Twiss, of the Department of Social Work; and Julia McGinnis and William Meloy, of the Department of Library Services, have been awarded a PASSHE FPDC Innovation Grant of $9,450. This award will support the team’s project, “Transforming our Classrooms Through the Exploration of Community History.” • Dr. Susan Ryan, of the Department of Earth Sciences, has been awarded additional funding of $8,500 to continue her work with the Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau. This funding will be used to continue data collection and reporting for the Gettysburg visitor intercept survey and the Adams Countywide visitor self-complete survey. • Dr. Nancy Shaffer, of the Department of Philosophy, has been awarded a PASSHE FPDC Annual Grant of $4,800. This will support her participation in the NEH Summer Institute, “Dante’s Divine Comedy: Poetry, Philosophy, and the City of Florence.” In addition, Dr. Shaffer has been awarded $3,500 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to assist with her travel to the University of Florence, Italy. • Dr. Anthony Pyzdrowski, of the Department of Math, Computer Science and Information Systems, has been awarded a subcontract of $8,249 from West Virginia University. This award will support his work with the WVU team in the migration of course management shells and the integration of new ADAcompliant video into the WvEB project. • Dr. Summer Arrigo-Nelson, of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, has been awarded a PASSHE FPDC Annual Grant of $7,968. This award will support her research on a project titled “Documenting Toxoplasma gondii infection in native and invasive rodents in the rainforest of Madagascar.” • Dr. Carol Bocetti, Dr. Sarah Meiss and Kelley Flaherty, all of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, have been awarded a 2014 Environmental Education grant of $2,965 from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Education. This award will support the team’s project, “University ServiceLearning in Environmental Education.” The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research serves faculty and staff by providing comprehensive resources related to external funding for sponsored projects. The OSPR provides support in developing proposals for funding from federal, state and local grants, contracts, foundations and related associations. For more information, call 724-938-1662 or e-mail vogrig@calu.edu.
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TEAC Excels at National Event
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al U was the only school to place in four events at this past spring’s Technology and Engineering Education Collegiate Association (TEECA) International Conference in Orlando,
Natalie Wideman has been named an Academic All-American for the second time in her softball career.
Catcher Wins Second Academic All-American Title
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atcher Natalie Wideman, who graduated in May, has become just the third softball player in Cal U history to receive Academic All-America laurels twice in her career. Wideman recently was named a Capital One First-Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration by CoSIDA, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or higher. Wideman is the ninth Vulcan student-athlete to receive the honor twice. She graduated this spring with a 3.92 cumulative grade-point average, earning her bachelor’s degree in sport management with a concentration in wellness and fitness. “We are very proud of Natalie for being a first-team national Academic All-American,” said Dr. Karen Hjerpe, Cal U’s athletic director. “Obviously she’s a great player, but her commitment to academics is even more impressive. She’s truly a fantastic example of
what a student-athlete is.” For her efforts behind and at the plate, Wideman also became the first Cal U softball player in nearly a decade to receive National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) FirstTeam All-American status. She was a Capital One Third-Team Academic All-American at second base in 2012. A four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete, she earned Division 2 Academic Achievement (D2ADA) status in the 2013-2014 academic year. In 2014 Wideman led the PSAC with a .454 batting average (59-for-130), 49 runs scored and a .535 on-base percentage. She ranked fourth in the league with 22 stolen bases and a .692 slugging percentage, along with 17 extra-base hits, including a career-high six homers. Wideman, who was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year and PSAC Tournament MVP, finished with a .377 career batting average. A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Wideman helped the Vulcans compile a 37-7 overall record with a perfect 20-0 divisional mark and win the PSAC championship.
Fla. The conference is held annually in conjunction with the International Technology and Engineering Education Association (ITEEA) conference, the largest technology conference in the world. Cal U’s 20-student delegation represented the Technology Education Association of California (TEAC), a professional organization for students majoring in technology education. The group was one of 62 teams from 15 universities competing in seven events. Despite competing against mostly larger schools, TEAC came home with a first-place award in Manufacturing, third-place finishes in the Problem Solving and Teaching Lesson contests, and a fourthplace award for Robotics. The manufacturing team consisted of students Trent Errett, Frank Guyer, Brett Kymer, Taylor Meladona, team leader Zach Szczerba and Dan Zwick. This marked the 10th time in the in the past 15 years that Cal U has won the manufacturing contest at ITEEA. Competing in the problem-solving contest were John Bartram, Kyle McCabe, Matt Rimbey and team leader Jason Sharek. Team leader Brandon Prentice and Guyer delivered the teaching lesson, and the robotics team consisted of Marissa Averell, Bartram, team leader Jesse Heubel, John Leasure, Todd Pesavento and Scott Somerville. Guyer was elected national president of TEECA. He also served as coordinator of the transportation and communication contests, and he presented a workshop in teaching technology and engineering. Juliana Lapek was selected as TEECA’s president-elect. She will serve as national vice president next year and president the following year. Jason Sharek received the ITEEA Donald Maley Undergraduate Student Award Citation for outstanding undergraduate students majoring in technology education. Dr. Laura Hummell and Dr. Mark Nowak helped the students to prepare and accompanied them to the conference. Hummell served as the facilitator and coordinator for the teaching lesson contest. She also gave two presentations: “Move Your Body: Teaching STEM through Health, Fitness and Sports Technology” and “Making Connections: High-Impact Practices in STEM.” Nowak, the facilitator and coordinator for the manufacturing contest. gave a presentation titled “Bio-Related Technology: Activities to Meet the Standards.” Many Cal U alumni presented, spoke and were recognized at the conference. Among them was David Walley ’05, a technology education teacher at Reservoir High School in Fulton, Md. His school received the ITEEA 2014 Program Excellence Award for Maryland.
Professor Helps ‘Raise Roof’
Staff Honored Leslie Loase (center), associate dean for Residence Life, receives her 30-year plaque from Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones and Dr. Nancy Pinardi, interim vice president for Student Affairs. Service milestones from five to 40 years were recognized at the Staff Recognition Luncheon held May 14 in the Cal U Convocation Center’s north wing. ‘We are here to celebrate the important work done by everyone in this room,’ the President told staff members. ‘I truly appreciate and thank you for your dedication and service to us and, more importantly, our students. You deserve this special recognition.’
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r. Michele Pagen, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, was one of two assistant directors for Raise the Roof, the 50th anniversary performance of the classic musical drama Fiddler on the Roof. The show was performed June 9 at the Town Hall Theatre in New York City. Grammy Award winner Joshua Bell joined a cast of original Broadway, revival and film stars for the performance, which honored award-winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick and The National Yiddish Theatre. Pagen was invited to participate by Gary John LaRosa, who performed in a revival of Fiddler and served as co-director for Raise the Roof. As an artist-in-residence at Cal U, LaRosa was guest director for the theatre department’s 2011 production of Twilight of the Golds.
The California Journal is published by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Geraldine M. Jones Interim University President
Robert Thorn Vice President for Administration and Finance
Dr. Nancy Pinardi Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Bruce Barnhart Acting Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Craig Butzine Vice President for Marketing and University Relations/ Interim Vice President for University Development and Alumni Relations
Christine Kindl Editor
Dr. Charles Mance Vice President for University Technology Services
Office of Communications and Public Relations
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Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall, Jeff Bender Writers
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