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California University
VOLUME 14, NUMBER 33 DEC. 10, 2012 READ THE JOURNAL ONLINE: www.calu.edu/news/the-journal
Alumnae Will Address Graduates wo distinguished alumnae will address graduating students when Cal U holds Commencement ceremonies this weekend in the Convocation Center. Graduate students will receive their master’s degrees and be vested in their academic hoods at 7 p.m. Friday. Undergraduates will be awarded their diplomas at 10 a.m. Saturday. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. Friday and at 8 a.m. Saturday. Cal U’s 175th Commencement recognizes students who completed their studies in August and December. More than 683 undergraduates and 730 graduate students will receive their degrees, although not all will attend the ceremonies.
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The speakers Adele Lynn ’74 will address the master’s degree candidates Since 1982 she has served as the founder and owner of The Adele Lynn Leadership Group, an international consulting and training firm whose clients include many Fortune 500 names. Her work on emotional intelligence is offered through strategic partners throughout Latin America, India and Europe. Lynn lectures at colleges and universities throughout the United States. A member of the National Speakers Association, she is a frequent guest on radio and television shows in the United States and Canada.
Cal U holds Commencement ceremonies this weekend in the Convocation Center.
She is the author of six books published in 11 languages, including the critically acclaimed In Search of Honor, Lessons From Workers on How to Build Trust. Her latest book, The EQ Interview, Finding Employees with High Emotional Intelligence, was released in 2008 and endorsed by the Society of Human Resource Management. It also was featured as a cover story for Harvard Management Update. Lynn earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental science at Cal U and her master’s degree from Indiana University
Veteran Leads Effort to Help Fellow Marine hristopher Thompson’s personal mission to help a fellow veteran and Cal U student rapidly became a team effort. A senior political science major and a Marine Corps veteran, Thompson learned about a series of hardships experienced by a pair of first-year Cal U students when he met Brandy Kushto in his Fundamentals of Mathematics class at the start of the fall semester. Her husband, James Kushto, also had served in the Marines. A native of Irwin, Pa., he suffered a combat-related injury while in Afghanistan. It left him with hearing loss and other symptoms, and the military now rates him 90 percent disabled. In addition, Brandy Kushto was involved in a serious automobile accident, and the couple endured a house fire before they returned to southwestern Pennsylvania last spring. When the Kushtos met Thompson, they were living in a rental property with their daughter, Ashley. They had — Continued on page 3
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of Pennsylvania. In 2011 the Cal U Alumni Association recognized her professional achievements by presenting her with the Meritorious Award. Teri Dunn ’80 will address the undergraduates. A consultant for manufacturers, finance companies and independent dealerships in the office products industry, she has been delivering speeches and selling managed print services training on behalf of the Learning Outsource Group since 2006. She currently serves on the board of directors for Rampart Global Inc., an
engineering management resource company. Previously, Dunn enjoyed a distinguished 26-year career with Global Imaging Systems companies in Pennsylvania, Washington and Oregon. She ultimately was named global corporate vice president of marketing. As a member of the Leadership Pittsburgh program, she was named one of the city’s Top 50 business leaders in 1998. Dunn served on the board of directors for the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank and was board president from 1996-1998. In 1997 Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge recognized her personal contribution to the statewide fight against hunger, and she was honored as one of Pittsburgh’s Community Champions in 1998. In 2002 Dunn received the Alumni Professional Excellence Award from Cal U, and the following year Kentucky Gov. Paul E. Patton appointed her a Kentucky Colonel. Dunn’s work has been published in several periodicals. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal U and has co-taught at Robert Morris and Duquesne universities. Both commencement ceremonies can be viewed live online at www.calu.edu . More information about Commencement, including links to directions and parking information, is available at www.calu.edu/events/commencement . For more information, contact Jodie Rooney, academic events coordinator, at 724-938-1584 or rooney@calu.edu .
Holiday Toy Drive Fills a Flyer t’s the holiday season, and Cal U students are in the mood for giving. Headed by Student Government, more than two-dozen student organizations participated in a Toys for Tots toy drive through the 96.1 KISS-FM Stuff-a-Bus program. After collecting toys and monetary donations, Cal U students stuffed a Vulcan Flyer with an estimated $7,000 worth of toys. Santa drove the bus to the front of the Natali Student Center on Nov. 29, and the first person to tuck in a gift was Acting University President Geraldine M. Jones. “If this doesn’t put you in the holiday spirit, nothing will,” she said. “Our students are amazing. They understand the importance of helping others.” This was the first time that senior Nicholas Dern, a forensics science major, had helped to gather toys. He’d even taken part in a “Santa and hot chocolate” event that raised more than $200 and collected many toys from the California community. “It’s a great opportunity to give back something and help children in
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Alexandra Brooks, president of Student Government at Cal U, joins Acting President Geraldine M. Jones in filling a Vulcan Flyer bus with toys for the StuffABus toy drive.
need,” he said. “They need to see that people care.” This was the fifth consecutive year that Student Government has coordinated a Toys for Tots drive and the second year to fill a Vulcan Flyer. The toys were delivered to the KISSFM Bus in Pittsburgh.
“Our students have donated toys, money and their time. This is a big deal to them,” said Melissa Dunn, director of student activities and leadership. The toy drive continued through Dec. 7, when more items were — Continued on page 4
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It’s the Cal U Holiday Season Mia Lunardi (left), a graduate student majoring in business administration, and senior Katie Bakewell, a biology major, trim a Christmas tree at the entrance to Herron Recreation and Fitness Center. Many offices on campus have ‘decked the halls’ for the coming holidays, providing a welcome bit of sparkle for students as they prepare for final exams.
Intramurals Open to Faculty, Staff he holidays are fast approaching, but faculty and staff can remain festive and get fit by trying their hand at 5 vs. 5 intramural basketball when the spring semester
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begins. Intramural sports have been popular with students at Cal U for decades, but Tom Hasbrouck, assistant director of Recreational Services, reminds would-be athletes that faculty and staff also are welcome. All sports are free, but faculty and staff members must purchase a gym membership to play sports in Herron Hall. “Basketball, along with softball and flag football, are our most popular sports,” he said. “We do have some faculty and staff participating, but we are always looking for more. They can form a team, or we can get them on a team.” Several staff members— Keith Skirpan, Tom Donovan, Robert Prah and Pete Ware — joined Hasbrouck on an intramural football team this fall. They were among 340 student football players, which include 65 women. All intramural sports are geared for the moderate to advanced athlete; no experience is necessary. In 2011-2012, more than 2,000 participants, mostly students, competed in one of the 14 intramural sports on campus. While softball, flag football and basketball comprise nearly 70 percent of the total participation, sports such as coed volleyball are gaining in popularity. More than 150 volleyball players filled out 18 coed teams this fall. In addition to basketball and softball, intramural athletes can enjoy water polo, roller dekhockey, water volleyball and indoor and outdoor soccer this spring. The fall intramural lineup includes flag football, volleyball, tennis, racquetball, pickleball, Ultimate Frisbee, and 3 vs. 3 basketball. Most intramural games are played at Herron Recreation
Cal U students Lindsey Gray and Steven Hurley enjoy a game of pickleball in the Herron Recreation and Fitness Center. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to participate in any of the 14 intramural sports offered at Cal U.
and Fitness Center. Football and softballs teams play at Roadman Park, and dekhockey players use the courts adjacent to Hamer Hall. “For students, staff or faculty, intramural sports are a great way to keep active and meet people from all over campus,” Hasbrouck said. Those interested in participating in intramural sports must register online at www.imleagues.com/CUP or e-mail hasbrouck_t@calu.edu .
Campus BRIEFS
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Cadets in Line for Commissions
Convocation Center Closed Dec. 16-23
Spring Semester Starts Jan. 28
Dr. Michael Hummel will be the guest speaker when the Department of Military Science holds a commissioning ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday in Steele Hall. ROTC cadets Dustin Fuller, Brittany Hall and David Short will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. An associate professor of Leadership and Security Studies in the Department of Justice, Law and Society, Hummel directs the Linda and Harry Serene Leadership Institute at Cal U. He also is a retired, decorated military law enforcement officer with more than 23 years of service. He commanded a law enforcement unit at Fort Campbell, Ky., and served as a Special Reaction Team commander, responsible for high-risk situations and counter-terrorism operations.
The Convocation Center will be closed and a portion of the Loop Road will be inaccessible to traffic Dec. 16-23 while scenes for a major motion picture are being filmed on campus. This is a “closed set,” and no one will be admitted to the center without the appropriate credentials. The Loop Road will be closed from the Hamer Crossing to Lot 11, and the lower portion of Lot 4 will be closed to accommodate the film crew. Access to portions of Gallagher Hall also will be restricted on Dec. 1921, and movie extras will be parking in the River Lot on Dec. 20-21. Parking areas will be marked. Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance.
Please be aware of these important dates on the academic calendar: • Residence halls will close at 9 p.m. Friday and reopen for new students on Jan. 25. Returning students can report starting at noon on Jan. 27. • The first day of classes for the 2012 spring semester is Jan. 28. • The spring Faculty–Staff Convocation will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 29 in the Convocation Center. • Spring break for faculty and students will be March 18-22. • Exam Week will run from May 13-17. • Commencement is 7 p.m. May 17 for graduate students and 10 a.m. May 18 for undergraduates. • All University offices will be closed on Jan. 21 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Cal U One of ‘Best Colleges for Vets’ ilitary Times EDGE magazine has Cal U ranked No. 26 in the nation for its commitment to helping military veterans pursue higher education in its third “Best Colleges for Vets” survey, a supplement to its November issue. Cal U is the highest-ranking Pennsylvania school included in the 2013 “Best for Vets” list. Shippensburg and Indiana universities of Pennsylvania ranked No. 44 and No. 54, respectively. Cal U has been rated among the “Best for Vets” schools since the survey began three years ago. Military Times EDGE annually ranks institutions based on their programs, policies and resources for veterans. Input from student veterans helps to establish the criteria, which include financial assistance for veterans, academic accreditation, graduation rates and the presence of a central veterans office with a knowledgeable staff. The rankings are published online at http://www.armytimes.com/jobs/bestfor-vets/military-best-for-vets-colleges2013-main-110812/ . “Everyone at Cal U is honored to be able to serve our men and women who have undoubtedly served our nation so well,” says Capt. Robert Prah, director of the Office of Veterans Affairs. “Being ranked nationally is an exceptional honor. It shows that Cal U is committed to helping students meet their educational goals and assisting veterans as they return to our campus. Military Times EDGE’s survey is by far the most comprehensive and detailed survey for military-friendly colleges out there.” About 230 military veterans attend classes on Cal U’s campus in southwestern Pennsylvania. An additional 260 service members around the world are enrolled in Global Online, Cal U’s Internet-based learning community. The University’s Office of Veterans Affairs provides military veterans and their families with assistance in many areas, including financial aid, academic advising, counseling, career guidance and a First-Year Seminar course specifically for veterans and military families. An active Veterans Club offers information and opportunities for networking and community service. Cal U has been honored previously for its service to veterans and military members. For four consecutive years, G.I. Jobs magazine has named Cal U one of the nation’s top Military Friendly Schools. And since January 2009, Cal U has been among an elite group of colleges and universities designated as “eArmyU schools” — preferred providers of online education for soldiers through the GoArmyEd portal. A gateway to higher education for soldiers stationed anywhere in the world, GoArmyEd.com gives service members easy access to programs offered through Global Online.
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Tech Ed Competitors Win Conference Awards al U captured six awards, including three first-place finishes, when 38 members of the Technology Education Association of California (TEAC) competed last month at the Technology Education Collegiate Association Eastern Regional Conference. TEAC is a professional organization for “tech ed” majors. The Cal U students took part in 11 contests, facing off against nearly a dozen East Coast schools during the Nov. 11-13 conference in Virginia Beach, Va. TEAC students earned first-place honors in the K-5 STEM and Manufacturing contests, and in the Technology Challenge. During the past 15 years, Cal U has taken first place in the manufacturing contest 12 times. TEAC members scored second-place finishes in the Automated Systems, Elementary Design, and Instructional Module contests. Dr. Laura Hummell, Dr. Mark Nowak, Dr. Peter Wright and adjunct faculty member Dr. John McCrory
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Student members of the Technology Education Association of California will compete this spring at the International Technology Education and Engineering Association Conference after earning six awards at last month’s Eastern Regional Conference.
accompanied students to the conference. As a result of their wins, TEAC members will compete in the largest technology conference in the world, the
75th annual International Technology Education and Engineering Association Conference, set for March 7-9 in Columbus, Ohio.
Andrew Marra, a senior technology education major at Cal U, serves as the vice president for ITEEA and president of TEAC. There will be only seven competitive events at the national conference, he explained, and all will have a community-oriented focus. “At last year’s conference the communications contest was based on helping nonprofit organizations. We had to design a branding package for the YMCA,” he said. Last spring, Cal U earned six medals at the national conference, more than any of the other 48 competing teams. TEAC also was honored with the Outstanding Chapter Award, presented to an institution that displays exemplary activity in chapter service, professional activities and activities that promote technology education. For this year’s competition, Cal U students have designed special red-andblack “digital camouflage” T-shirts with the TEAC logo. “We’re looking forward to it,” Marra said. “Typically, we handle ourselves pretty well and are successful.”
Veteran Leads Effort to Help Fellow Marine — Continued from page 1
Christopher Thompson’s personal mission to help disabled veteran James Kushto and his family has rapidly became a team effort with the Cal U community.
purchased a roomier house, in Donora, but it was badly in need of repairs. The couple couldn’t move in until the house was brought up to code — but neither was able to undertake the repairs. Thompson responded immediately. He recruited volunteers by sending letters to various organizations and departments on campus. He spoke about the Kushtos’ challenges in classes, distributed sign-up sheets for work details and used social media to spread the word. “The Marine Corps was a huge part of my life, and they always taught us that you never leave one of your own behind,” said Thompson, who served two tours of duty in Iraq. “That motivated me. I felt this was the right thing to do in this situation, so I kind of made it a personal mission.” Since the project started in mid-October, Thompson estimates that more than 70 people, including many from Cal U, have helped to repair the Kushtos’ house. On Nov. 28 Thompson and others braved the cold to collect donations for the disabled veteran and his family. Among the volunteers soliciting funds at the intersection of Wood and Third streets was interim associate provost Dr. Stephen Whitehead, whose father was a Marine. “Chris’ passion for this soldier and his family is incredible,” he said. “For someone who has no
connection except that of the military fraternity, his effort is amazing. Chris is a shining example of the student body at Cal U.” Technology education students led by Matthew Plummer and Andrew Marra have played a big role in the project. “They’ve done a fantastic job,” Thompson said. “Their level of skill sped this process up tremendously. And the response from the University community has been unbelievable.” Marra, president of the Technology Education Association of California, spent Thanksgiving weekend hanging drywall and laying flooring with his father. They even were able to round up a toilet and vanity for the Kushtos’ bathroom. “We saw there was a need, and we had the ability to help,” Marra said. “Our organization (TEAC) looks for things to help with in the community, and we knew we could provide manpower.” There’s some electrical work yet to be done, Thompson said, but the Kushtos should be able to move into their new home later this month. “Our family can’t say enough about Chris and the help we’ve received,” Brandy Kushto said. “We are so fortunate — and extremely grateful.” To offer help or a donation, contact Thompson at 808-4697794 or e-mail tho8616@calu.edu .
Day of Service Set for Feb. 5 al U will honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with its annual Day of Service — but because of an extended winter break, that observance will be held a little later this year. From 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Feb. 5, members of campus clubs and organizations will meet in the Natali Student Center to perform service-oriented activities coordinated by the Center for Civic Engagement. A blood drive conducted by Central Blood Bank also will be held. Inspiration for the Day of Service was a 2003 visit to Cal U by the late Coretta Scott King, wife of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During her campus visit she asked that the day commemorating her husband be observed as “a day on, rather than a day off.” “Even though the spring semester does not start until a week later than the (Dr. Martin Luther King) holiday, it is important for the students and other members of the University community to do their part,” said Diane Williams, director of Cal U’s Center for Civic Engagement. “Our students take this very seriously.” For more information about the Day of Service or other volunteer opportunities, contact Diane Williams at Williams_d@calu.edu or at 724938-4794.
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Training Day Cal U alumni, students and staff are among the Pennsylvania Army National Guard soldiers who trained recently at Westmoreland County Community College’s Public Safety Training Center. Capt. Robert Prah (center), director of the Veterans Affairs Office at Cal U, commands Company D of the 112th Infantry Regiment, based in Hamburg, Berks County. His was the first National Guard unit to train at WCCC’s facility in South Huntingdon, Pa. The unit trained for four days in areas such as traffic control, night vision, urban assault and reaction to sniper fire. The soldiers used the facility’s shooting range and conducted a twohour nighttime operation that required them to locate and capture a target in a building under cover of darkness. A public demonstration of the unit’s military skills was also part of the experience. Shown during a break in the action are (from left) 1st Lt. Mateo Herrera ’08; Spc. Andre Sullivan, a Cal U junior majoring in justice studies; Prah; Dr. Tim Susick, associate vice president for Student Affairs, who came to observe the training; and 2nd Lt. Joseph Hummel ’11.
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Tennis Team Earns High Rankings nder the direction of 11th-year head coach Pablo Montana, the women’s tennis team will begin its 2013 season with a national ranking. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s fall rankings place the Vulcans eighth in NCAA Division II and first in the Atlantic Region. In addition to the team ranking, the ITA ranked three Cal U players in singles competition and recognized two doubles teams. Freshman Alexandra Borgenhoff is ranked 20th after her seventh-place finish at the ITA National Championships in October. Junior Lucie Sipkova, the 2012 PSAC singles champion, is ranked 31st,
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and sophomore Lucie Rey is 41st. The doubles tandem of Sipkova and Rey are ranked eighth nationally after winning the league and regional doubles championships. The team of senior Jade Pondicas and sophomore Ramona Czakon, the 2012 regional runner-up, is ranked 21st. The Vulcans will open the 2013 spring season with seven of eight dual matches against NCAA Division I opponents. Play begins Feb. 3 at Miami University of Ohio. The women’s tennis team has won the past six consecutive PSAC team championships and has advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament four times in the last five years.
The Cal U tennis team will begin the 2013 spring season ranked eighth in NCAA Division II, and freshman Alexandra Borgenhoff is ranked 20th nationally in singles competition.
Volleyball Player Nets Second Scholar Award olleyball player Abbey Freund has become the first female studentathlete to receive consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Champion Scholar Awards. A junior, Freund accepted the award Nov. 16 during the PSAC Final Four Championship Tournament at Gannon University. She is a setter for the team. The Champion Scholar Award began during the 2010-2011 academic year and is presented at each of the PSAC’s 23 team championship finals. It honors the student at each contest with the highest cumulative grade-point average. The selection criteria for the awards is identical to that of the NCAA Elite 88 awards, which honor the student-athlete with the top GPA at each of the championship finals sites of the 88 NCAA championships across divisions I, II and III. A native of Cottage Grove, Wis., Freund is a communication disorders major who boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.92. She recently was named to the Capital One Academic All-District FirstTeam for the second consecutive season. On the volleyball court, Freund has recorded a career-high 721 assists this season. She ranks among the conference leaders with 6.16 assists per set. Freund helped the Vulcans compile a 28-7 overall record as of Nov. 28 and advance to the NCAA Division II postseason tournament for an eighth consecutive year. Overall, Freund’s second selection marks the sixth time that a Vulcan has received this academic distinction. Earlier this fall, Cal U women’s soccer junior midfielder Stephanie Thompson earned the Champion Scholar Award. Last year, Vulcan players Kristen Orrett (soccer), Erin Kling (indoor track and
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Hall of Fame Honorees Acting President Geraldine M. Jones joins the Vulcan sports standouts who were honored at the 2012 Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame banquet, held earlier this fall in the Performance Center. The 2012 Hall of Fame inductees are (seated, from left) Lori Burkholder; Betty Roadman ’67, who represented her husband, the late President Emeritus Dr. George H. Roadman ’41; and Katie BarkerCollins ’06; and (standing, from left) Derrick Scott ’97 and Thomas ‘Shot’ Jackson ’77, ’80.
Students Stuff Bus with Toys — Continued from page 1 delivered to the Donora Stuff-a-Fire-Truck project, which supports Toys for Tots in Washington County. “It’s been awesome to see what the Cal U student community can do when we come together,” said Alexandra Brooks, president of Student Government. “Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.” It’s always a good time to help others, added President Jones, but it’s especially rewarding during the holidays. “This is a fun way to do something that the families and children are so appreciative for,” she said. “Our students have big hearts, and this makes me even more proud of them.”
Junior setter Abbey Freund is the first female studentathlete to receive consecutive PSAC Champion Scholar Awards.
field) and Tim Lahmers ’12 (cross country) joined Freund in winning the award. “These prestigious individual honors not only reflect the exceptional work of the student-athletes who receive them, but also the guidance and leadership provided by our coaches and faculty,” said Dr. Karen Hjerpe, Cal U’s interim athletic director. “Abbey is an outstanding representative of our program who consistently excels in the classroom and on the volleyball court.”
The California Journal is published weekly by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Geraldine M. Jones Acting University President
Robert Thorn Vice President for Administration and Finance
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Craig Butzine Vice President for Marketing and University Relations
Christine Kindl Editor
Dr. Charles Mance Vice President for University Technology Services
Sharon Navoney Interim Vice President for University Development and Cal U for Life
Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall, Jeff Bender Writers
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