YOU’RE INVITED WINTER
2013
Student ambassadors welcome families to campus
The California University of Pennsylvania Magazine CAL U REVIEW Vol. 41 - No. 1 The Cal U Review is published quarterly by the Office of Marketing and University Relations and is distributed free. Third class postage paid at California. CHANCELLOR Dr. John C. Cavanaugh
FROM THE ACTING PRESIDENT As I’ve often said, it’s people that make California University so special. I saw that clearly as the fall semester came to a close. Just before the winter holidays, our Student Government organized a collection that gathered more than $7,000 worth of toys for needy children. Members of two dozen student organizations helped to collect, sort, pack and deliver the donated playthings to Toys for Tots programs in Allegheny and Washington counties. Our students have big hearts, and this was just one example of their outreach to the community. I’ve seen their energy, kindness and caring at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, the Big Event downtown cleanup and many other service projects. When our students see people in need, they don’t hesitate to offer a helping hand. That same helpful spirit is becoming a hallmark of our University as we rededicate ourselves to “customer service.” In offices across campus, staff members are looking for ways to become more efficient while better serving our students and their families. We want to give every student the timely attention he or she deserves, and we want our Cal U families to know that we care about their concerns. Our faculty takes the same approach. Every day, our students work closely with professionals who are not only experts in their fields, but also enthusiastic and dedicated teachers. In particular, our faculty’s emphasis on undergraduate research creates meaningful learning opportunities for Cal U students. Many faculty members are mentors, as well as educators — and as our alumni can attest, their influence extends well beyond the classroom. We treat our students as individuals, offering the support (and challenges!) they need. We collaborate to solve problems, and we encourage and respect one another. As an alumnus, you are an important part of our campus community. I hope you will stop by and meet the people who make Cal U such a special place. We’ll welcome you with open arms. With warmest wishes,
Geraldine M. Jones Acting President California University of Pennsylvania Acting President Geraldine M. Jones communicates regularly with the campus community via e-mail and online. To see all of President Jones’ weekly messages, visit www.calu.edu; click on “About Us” and choose “Meet the President.” To stay up-to-date with the latest happenings at Cal U, alumni may send their e-mail address to alumni@calu.edu.
BOARD OF GOVERNORS Guido M. Pichini, chairman Marie Conley, vice chair Aaron A. Walton, vice chair Rep. Matthew E. Baker Sen. Richard Alloway Jennifer Branstetter (designee for Gov. Corbett) Gov. Tom Corbett Sara Dickson Laura E. Ellsworth Rep. Michael K. Hanna Ronald G. Henry
Kenneth M. Jarin Bonnie L. Keener Jonathan B. Mack Joseph F. McGinn C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni Sen. Jeffrey E. Piccola Harold C. Shields Robert S. Taylor Ronald J. Tomalis, secretary of education David Wolfe Sen. John T. Yudichak
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Geraldine M. Jones, acting president Dr. Bruce Barnhart, acting provost and vice president for Academic Affairs Dr. Charles B. Mance, vice president for University Technology Services Robert Thorn, vice president for Administration and Finance Craig Butzine, vice president for Marketing and University Relations Sharon Navoney, interim vice president for University Development and Cal U for Life Dr. Nancy Pinardi, interim vice president for Student Affairs COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES Robert J. Irey, chair Lawrence Maggi ’79, vice chair Peter J. Daley II ’72, ’75 James T. Davis ’73 Annette Ganassi Michele M. Mandell ’69 Robert Miner, Jr. ’78
Michael Napolitano ’68 Jerry Spangler ’74 Aaron Walton ’68 Michael G. Crosen, student member The Hon. John C. Cavanaugh, chancellor, ex-officio
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lorraine Vitchoff ’74, president Barbara (Williams) Fetsko ’75, ’83, vice president Lynne (Moltz) Stout ’94, secretary Brian Fernandes, treasurer ’99, ’00 Tim Gorske ’62, immediate past president Colleen (Murphy) Arnowitz ’75, ’97 Anthony Lazzaro ’55 Loralie (Koerbel) Bruce ’05 Donald Lee ’69 Rosemary (Rich) Bucchianeri ’69 Don Martin ’89 Trinette (Schmidt) Cunningham ’93 Michael Napolitano ’68 Mindi D’Auria-Fisher ’07 George Novak ’55 Kimberly (Mahaffey) Fahey ’97, ’99 Melanie (Stringhill) Patterson ’82, ’88 Christina (Kost) Fosbrink ’01, ’03 Fred Retsch ’62, ’66 Josh Fosbrink, ’01, ’03 Dolly Rozzi ’64 Paul Gentile ’62 Harry Serene ’65 Jesse Hereda ’04 Abigail Grant Sheg ’07 Alan James ’62 James Stofan ’71 Len Keller ’61 Tim Susick ’76, ’78 Marc Keller ’94 Judy (Durko) Zilkowski ’77, ’83 Autumn Koerbel ’02 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Geraldine M. (Johns) Jones ’72, ’80 David Amati ’70 Robert J. Irey Sharon Navoney Michael Slavin ’74 Cathy Connelly ’95, ’96 STUDENT MEMBERS Michael Crosen Jonothan Dashiell
Amy Dunn Elizabeth Lynerd
SAI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jenna Terchanik, president David Mutich, vice-president Brendan Demmy, treasurer Alexandra Brooks, secretary Stephen Zemba Shane Ierardi
Autumn Harris Dr. Donald Thompson Sam Jessee ‘90 Hope Cox, ‘00, ‘01 Marc Roncone ’03 Robert Irey
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Dr. Nancy Pinardi ’95, ’96, ’98
Leigh Ann Lincoln
FOUNDATION FOR CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dr. David L. Amati ’70, ’72, president Steven P. Stout ’85, vice president William J. Urbanik ’01, secretary Paul Kania ’87, treasurer Armand E. Balsano ’74 Robert Lippencott ’66 William R. Booker ’74 Lawrence Maggi ’79 Courtney E. Cochran ‘12 Michael A. Perry ’63 William R. Flinn ’68 Harry E. Serene ’65 Richard C. Grace ’63 Walter J. Sigut ’64 Annette M. Kaleita ’55 Dr. Saundra L. Stout ’72 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Geraldine M. Jones ’72, ’80 Sharon Navoney Dr. Lorraine G. Vitchoff ’74 EDITOR Christine Kindl
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WRITERS Wendy Mackall Jeff Bender PHOTOGRAPHERS S.C. Spangler
Bruce Wald ’85
Greg Sofranko
COVER STORY:
Student ambassador Marielle Silvio (right) leads a campus tour. Page 4
INSIDE DEPARTMENTS ALUMNI NEWS CAMPUS CLIPS
FEATURES 16–17
20–21
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
22–23
SPORTS PROFILE SPORTS ROUNDUP
25
Community of scholars
6
26-27
PAYING IT FORWARD
On track toward success
29
MILESTONES 31–34
The University Honors Program offers academic enrichment and a sense of community for highly motivated students.
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The Office of Student Retention and Success keeps students heading toward graduation.
Building careers
11 ‘Best for Vets’ in Pennsylvania Military Times EDGE magazine has ranked Cal U among the best in the nation for its commitment to helping military veterans pursue higher education. In its third annual “Best Colleges for Vets” survey, the magazine ranked California University of Pennsylvania No. 26, making Cal U the top-ranked Pennsylvania school in the 2013 list. Military Times EDGE annually ranks institutions based on their programs, policies and resources for veterans. Cal U has been rated among the “Best for Vets” schools each year since the survey began.
Job prospects are looking up, especially for graduates with real-world experience on their resumes.
Winter Commencement
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Two distinguished alumnae challenge graduates to lead the way and make a difference in others’ lives.
Home for the ‘Holidays’
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Cal U alumni return to campus for a Homecoming celebration with a festive theme.
YOUR REVIEW IS ONLINE The Cal U Review is available online in an easy-to-read format. Visit www.calu.edu/news and click on ‘Cal U Review’ to see the current issue or previous editions. ‘As Seen in the Review’ also provides links to special online-only features!
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WALKING Student ambassador Catalina Cencich crosses the Quad while leading a campus tour. Discovering Cal U are prospective student David Wolfe, of Churchill, Pa.; alumnus Stephen Wolfe, his older brother; and their father, Robert Wolfe.
WITH A PURPOSE Student ambassadors lead prospective students to Cal U
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hey have mastered the art of walking backward, talking with their hands and weaving in and out of pedestrian traffic. They hurdle obstacles, answer difficult questions and deal with uncooperative weather. They are the student ambassadors of the Cal U Welcome Center, and they are responsible for showcasing the heart and soul of California University to prospective students and their families. “The role of a student ambassador isn’t for everyone,” says Jenifer Sigado, director of the University Welcome Center and Student Orientation Programs.
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“We interview many students, and they are evaluated on public speaking skills, grades and campus involvement. The ambassadors are responsible for leading families on campus tours and creating an inviting atmosphere for those families while they are in the Welcome Center.” In all, about 20 work-study students and student volunteers form the student ambassadors corps. “This is the best job to have on campus,” says senior Tamlynn Bachetti, a communications major. “You get to meet a lot of great people while giving tours. It’s almost like we are part of an adopted family for a day.”
Explore the campus
While Cal U student ambassadors appear at a variety of events, they are most visible as they lead families on campus tours. These tours are often the first time a family has explored Cal U or interacted with students, faculty and staff. “What we do is important, because we are the first faces families will see on campus,” says senior Brian Higgins, a business administration major with a concentration in marketing. “No matter what has happened to you during the day, you have put on your happy face during a tour.” The ambassadors may be all smiles, but they know that leading a group across campus is no joke. Most of the students walk backward as they share tidbits of history and other interesting facts about each building they pass. Curbs, pedestrians, skateboarders — and unexpected questions — occasionally trip them up. “We are the initial ‘customer service’ for Cal U,” says Bachetti. “Everything needs to be turned into a positive. And we always try to answer questions to the best of our ability.” Rhonda Waynes, a parent from Brownsville, Pa., who recently took a tour with her daughter, says the student ambassadors at Cal U are right on top of things. “We have been on a couple of other (college) tours, and Cal U’s is very informative,” she says. “If you were to take the Top 12 questions parents have, the tour leaders answer them before you have a chance to ask.”
VISIT CAL U
Cal U’s student ambassadors attend open house and Discovery Days events to help answer questions and make families feel comfortable during their campus visit. So stop by and say hello! If you’re ready to apply, or already have been accepted to Cal U, be sure to attend one of the spring Academic Open House programs, where you’ll receive
These people travel from other states just to spend a day on campus. They can’t reschedule because of weather or some other circumstance. You just have to push through and give them the best experience possible. Tamlynn Bachetti STUDENT AMBASSADOR
Whatever it takes
Memorizing information about Cal U and keeping parents informed are not the ambassadors’ only on-thejob challenges. Western Pennsylvania’s notoriously fickle weather can complicate the visitor experience. “On one tour, I had every season of weather imaginable,” Bachetti recalls. “It was cold and snowing, then raining, then the sun came out and everyone was taking off their jackets. “We all just had fun with the situation and moved on.” Students may be able to prepare their tour groups for the weather, but they can’t head off every embarrassing moment. “Never wear backless shoes or sandals when you are trying to walk around campus backward,” cautions Janice Camut, an early childhood and special education major. “I walked out of my shoes about 50 times during one tour.”
No matter what happens, the tour must go on. “These people travel from other states just to spend a day on campus,” Bachetti says. “They can’t reschedule because of weather or some other circumstance. You just have to push through and give them the best experience possible.”
One diverse family
The Welcome Center is not only an information hub for campus visitors, but also a gathering place for the student ambassadors. Some eat lunch in one of the Welcome Center conference rooms, while others try to study before their shift begins. Ultimately, ambassadors end up spending a lot of time with one another. “We have a wide variety of personalities and a very diverse group of people in the Welcome Center,” says Higgins. Student ambassadors come from many different backgrounds and locations. Some live as near as Brownsville, just up the road from campus, but others arrive from halfway around the world. “This is my home away from home,” says junior Clarissa Enslin, a geology major who came to Cal U from South Africa. The ambassadors’ diverse backgrounds show in their campus tours. Each one adds something unique to his or her presentation about the University — and the talks get results. “It is amazing when students end up enrolling at Cal U and (later) recognize you from their tour,” Camut says. “I know that I was greatly impacted by my own campus tour, and I just want to do the same for others.” By Jeff Bender, PR/Web writer at Cal U
information about programs of study, activities and athletics. If you’re just starting your college search, join us for Discovery Days this fall. You can learn about some of Cal U’s 120 programs of study or find out how to get involved with student activities, clubs and sports.
Contact the Welcome Center at 888-412-0479 or clark@calu.edu to schedule a campus visit or learn more about these Welcome Center events.
Open House, Spring 2013 Monday, February 18 Saturday, March 9 Saturday, April 13
Discovery Days, Fall 2013 Saturday, October 5 Monday, October 14 Saturday, November 2 Saturday, November 9 (Honors Open House)
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community of scholars Honors Program challenges, embraces ambitious students
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very year at Cal U, a select group of highly motivated, self-disciplined students arrives on campus, eager for an academic challenge. Enrolled by invitation only, they are members of the University Honors Program. Only about 275 students — roughly 5 percent of Cal U’s undergraduate population — are accepted to this prestigious program. They have different majors, but all of them have demonstrated academic success in high school and on their SATs, and each has written an outstanding essay. They are poised to thrive in the challenging Honors Program environment.
‘A set of opportunities’
“I think of the Honors Program as a set of opportunities for ambitious, outstanding students at Cal U,” says Dr. M.G. Aune, an associate professor of English and director of the University Honors Program. Program requirements include taking honors courses, transforming regular courses into honors credits through additional work in collaboration with professors, maintaining at least a 3.25 grade-point average, and completing an honors thesis project under the guidance of a faculty member. “We provide opportunities to work with faculty members,” Aune explains. “We provide opportunities to enrich education through local, national and international conferences. There are opportunities for student travel, tied in with the courses that we offer and funded by the Honors Program, with an emphasis on experiential, hands-on learning. “For their thesis projects, we ask the students to decide what to do and approach the faculty member with whom they’d like to work, because the students’ ownership of the project and of their education is a crucial part of their success.” Former honors student Emilee Leppo ’12 now holds a graduate assistantship in the Communication Disorders Department and plans to become a speech/language pathologist.
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Former honors student Emilee Leppo ‘12 may expand her honors thesis project as she works toward a master’s degree in communication disorders.
For her thesis, she presented a poem she wrote and illustrated in different versions — sign language, Braille, audio — to test its adaptability for children with different needs. “I’m exploring the possibility of expanding that project for my graduate thesis,” she says, adding that she may add a digital “app” to the media mix. Dr. Craig Fox, associate director of the University Honors Program, highlighted the scholarship and mentorship opportunities for the honors students and the faculty with whom they work. “This sort of thing is exciting for faculty,” says Fox, an associate professor of philosophy. “This opportunity for traditional scholarship and research is why they wanted this job in the first place. They don’t benefit financially from it. They are very willing to give of their time.” Aune notes the benefit of having completed an honors thesis, which is published and presented to the student, as well as kept on file at Cal U. “A student going into a job interview can say, ‘This is the work I have done. I don’t have to convince you about the work I will do.’” “When you go for a job interview, you want something that sets you apart,” says senior Ali Dodson, an honors student majoring in early childhood and special education. “Having done a thesis in your content area is definitely an advantage.”
Like-minded people
The Honors Program helps the University articulate some of the “whys” of enrollment and student retention, says Fox. “Why would students choose to come here? Why would they stay here? Why would they choose to tell people about Cal U while they’re here? Why would they want to stay connected after they graduate?” he asks. “I think the answer to that is simple: The time here is meaningful, and students perceive that meaning.” Leppo says the Honors Program was what drew her to Cal U. “I was invited to the Honors Program Open House based on my SAT scores,” she says. “Cal U wasn’t on my radar, but my mom said I should check it out. “They did a sample lecture, and I liked the program and the campus — it’s a nice size for me. Cal U was a good fit for my major because of the undergraduate and graduate options.” Also appealing: priority registration and access to living in Building A, which houses many Honors Program students. The hall includes a computer lab, a library and a classroom exclusively for the use of Honors Program students. It soon will be renamed the G. Ralph Smith II Honors Hall, to recognize one of the largest bequests in Cal U’s history.
Successful careers
Dr. Craig Fox, assistant director of the Honors Program, talks with senior Emma Geiger.
Leppo, who lived in Building A and now lives at Vulcan Village, says the program and the residential community have led to friendships with students in other majors that might not have been possible otherwise. Adds Aune, “We’re the only residential program here at Cal U, and one of the few in the State System. Creating an environment of people who are largely like-minded and similarly ambitious builds on itself.” Dodson is active on campus as a peer mentor, community assistant and member of the Student Honors Advisory Board, which provides programming and gives students a voice in the program’s governance. “The Honors Program is a journey,” she says. “Not many experiences last from the time you walk onto campus as a freshman to the moment you graduate, and that makes the bonds in the program that much stronger.” By Wendy Mackall, assistant communications director at Cal U
Jesse Hereda ’04, of Lancaster, Pa., believes so strongly in the importance of the Honors Program that he established a scholarship for students entering the program at Cal U. “I have been blessed in life, in large part because of my involvement in the Honors Program and my enrollment at Cal U,” he says. “I believe anyone who wants to have a college education should be able to obtain one.” A former political science major who now works in finance and administration management, Hereda recently joined the Cal U Alumni Association’s board of directors. “The Honors Program teaches students to think for themselves,” he says. “It teaches you not to rely 100 percent on lectures, or books, or videos, or one person’s view of the world. Honors Program students enter the workforce already having the knowledge to be successful.” He credits his thesis adviser, Dr. Melanie Blumberg, professor of history and political science, for her support. “Not only was she invested in the project, she was invested in my success. She pushed me to do more, to be more, and to be better. I owe a lot of my success in life to her guidance — and to her friendship.”
Honors Program director Dr. M.G. Aune discusses a project with freshman Michael Panza.
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ON TRACK TOWARD
SUCCESS
In Noss Hall, students find the support they need to thrive
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ven the best Cal U students may need help from time to time — with a math course they can’t seem to solve, a research paper that proves difficult to write, an unresolved scheduling issue. For these challenges and, at times, more serious ones, Cal U provides assistance through the Office of Student Retention and Success. “The benefit to coming to Cal U is that we are going to help students succeed,” says Dr. Daniel Engstrom, associate provost/associate vice president for the office. Help comes in many forms: • First-year Seminar: A course that helps freshmen make a smooth transition into the University environment. Topics include time management, campus life issues, academic and career planning.
• Academic Scheduling Center: An office that helps new and returning students and all undecided majors with schedule development. • Mid-term Grades: Information posted online for all Cal U students, who can access their accounts securely through VIP, the Vulcan Information Portal. • Math Lab, Writing Center and Reading Clinic: Centers where tutoring is provided face-to-face or, in some cases, online. • Academic Healthy U: A program for students who fall below a 2.0 grade-point average for the first time; they meet one-on-one with staff or graduate assistants to improve study skills. Probationary Assistance (PASS) is offered for students who need help for a second semester. Engstrom is in his first year with the student success office, after serving
Dr. Daniel Engstrom leads the Office of Student Retention and Success. Also helping students succeed are (front row, from left) Claire Pizer, Cathy Gmiter and Crystale Fleming; (back row) Cynthia Young, Amanda Rbaibi,Holly Vadella, Marie Seftas and Majella Lanham. 8 CAL U REVIEW WINTER 2013 n
as associate dean and director of student teaching in the College of Education and Human Services. But already, he says, he feels at home in Noss Hall. And a change to the scheduling process is already under way — one that benefits all students, Engstrom says. Information on class size and availability is being matched with students’ scheduling needs to decide, for example, if another session should be offered. “I’m a problem-solver at heart. My background is in technology education, so I always think about how we can solve the problem. I am always thinking, ‘How can we make this better?’”
Four-year graduation plan Many of the services offered in the Office of Student Retention and Success come together in Cal U 4 You, a program that keeps students on track toward earning a degree in four years. “Our four-year graduation plan keeps the cost of a college degree more affordable for our students and their families,” says plan coordinator Cynthia Young, who also manages the Parent & Family section of the University’s website. “The national average for graduating with a baccalaureate degree is five years, not four,” she explains. “Whenever students add a semester or a year, they not only have to pay more for tuition, living expenses and books, but they also lose income.” Added together, the cost of a fifth year is about $62,000. Cal U’s four-year graduation plan is for students who enter as firsttime freshmen, do not change their majors and take a full course load, maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average, and meet regularly with their academic adviser.
The Office of Student Retention and Success is located in Noss Hall. For more information, contact the office at 724-938-1523 or visit www.calu.edu, keyword “Student Retention and Success.”
Students work with University staff to develop an academic plan. They meet with advising and scheduling services each semester to ensure that courses fulfill program requirements, complete the average number of credits each academic year to meet the minimum credit requirements for graduation, and maintain the necessary GPA required for their majors.
Student Catherine Bashioum (left) stops at Noss Hall to speak with student success facilitator Amanda Rbaibi.
Academic success
Engstrom explains the role of his office this way: “The Admissions Office opens the door to get students into a room we call Cal U, and we close the door at the other end. “We know, statistically, that when students leave college and try to come back later in life, they are less likely to succeed,” he says. “We know that students who don’t have good academic support programs are less likely to succeed.” Academic support comes from tutoring services available in the Math Lab, Writing Center and Reading Clinic, all in Noss Hall.
Other programs, such as Academic Healthy U and PASS, are more comprehensive. They apply to all students who have fallen below a 2.0 GPA for the first time or who find themselves on academic probation. New in fall 2013 will be Cal U Support for Success, which identifies new students who show the potential to achieve at Cal U but who have a slightly lower SAT/ACT score or high school GPA. These students will be enrolled automatically in the Support for Success program, which includes workshops on study skills, time management and more. Their academic progress also will be monitored. “Our program has gone from having a negative connotation to a positive one, and it has gotten more substantial,” says Marie Seftas, the student success program coordinator. “We aren’t punishing you because you’re doing poorly; we’re helping you to do well.” Graduate students who are counseling majors provide some of the support in Academic Healthy U and PASS. The grad students lead group discussions and one-on-one sessions in person or online, sharing tips from a “been there, done that” perspective. The commitment to helping students do well is also evident in the Peer-Led Undergraduate Study (PLUS) program. Led by undergraduate students, it provides supplemental worksheets, handouts and more to help students learn. “There are two keys to student retention,” Engstrom says. “One is that when students have a personal relationship with another person on campus, they’re more likely to stay. The other is that if they’re connected to a group — like an Academic Healthy U group — they’re more likely to stay.”
Cynthia Young, manager of the Parent/ Family Portal and the Four-Year Graduation Plan, meets with sophomore Ian Thomas.
Scheduling center
That focus on making connections means students feel welcome in the Office of Student Retention and Success. Warm smiles abound, particularly in the Scheduling Center. So do full candy dishes, always a student favorite. Four student success facilitators help students get the classes they need to graduate. They also monitor academic success, administer placement tests in math and English, and so much more. “If I had to tell a student why they should use Noss in general, I would tell them how nice and caring the ‘scheduling ladies’ are,” says Michael Wise, a graduate assistant and criminology major. “They helped me choose the classes I needed to graduate, told me who was teaching what course, and helped me understand what future classes I needed.” “When students don’t know where else to go, they come here,” says Gmiter. “They may feel frustrated and overwhelmed when then come in the door, but they leave relieved.” y Wendy Mackall, assistant communications B director at Cal U
Student Vanessa Wolfe (left) checks her records with student success facilitator Crystale Fleming. WINTER 2013 CAL U REVIEW 9 n
A NOTEWORTHY ENDEAVOR WRITING CENTER HELPS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS PEN THANK-YOU MESSAGES
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ome wrote, scratched out and started again. Others poured out their hearts on page after page. With help from the campus Writing Center, 87 scholarship recipients marked Cal U for Life Appreciation Week by writing personalized thank-you letters to the donors who funded their scholarships. The students drafted their notes on scrap paper, then shared their ideas with Writing Center tutors Jess DuBois, Britny Trainer, Lindsey Stalnaker and Ryan Fisher. Finally, each student produced a handwritten copy on Cal U for Life letterhead, so it could be sent to the scholarship donor. In addition to helping students show their gratitude, the letter-writing sessions in the Kara Alumni House underlined the role of the Writing Center. Located in Noss Hall, it provides free, face-to-face and online writing assistance to all Cal U students, no matter their major. “We are always looking for opportunities to work with student writers on campus, whether it is in the Cal U Writing Center, online or at events like this,” says Dr. Kurt Kearcher,
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the center’s director and an associate professor of English. “We want students to know that the Cal U Writing Center staff is available to assist them by providing feedback and resources related to their writing projects. We hope students at this event found our suggestions helpful and will think of us when they have writing questions in the future.” Each letter-writing session opened with remarks by Lynn Baron ’78, director of donor relations and stewardship in the Office of University Development and Cal U for Life. “Dr. Kearcher and his staff did an excellent job teaching our students real-life writing skills,” she says. “This opened the door for us to connect our
Dr. Kurt Kearcher, director of the Cal U Writing Center, reviews thank-you letters with scholarship recipients Deidra DeMoss and Danielle Santoriello.
scholarship recipients with the Writing Center, which is certainly another great Cal U campus resource.” Cal U for Life graduate assistant Autumn Harris helped to coordinate this year’s Awareness Week activities. They included Make A Difference Day, sponsored by the Cal U Center for Civic Engagement, when students performed service projects in the California community. “We hope the week of awareness results in appreciation of our traditions and everything we should be grateful for,” she says. y Bruce Wald ’85, information B writer at Cal U
Show your appreciation Cal U encourages campus community members to say ‘thank you’ by sending a postcard, a thank-you card or a certificate to a teacher, staff member, mentor or friend. To fill out a postcard or thank-you card, visit the drawing room in the Michael and Julia Kara Alumni House. A Cal U for Life staff member can assist you and mail your card free of charge. Or download an electronic Certificate of Appreciation that you can customize and print. Look for the certificate at http://www.calu.edu/cal-u-for-life/thank-someone.
BUILDING CAREERS JOB PROSPECTS BRIGHTER FOR NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES
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fter several years of disappointing jobs prospects, things have begun looking up for recent college graduates — especially those who can point to real-life experience on their resumes. In its 2012 Job Outlook survey, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported that U.S. employers expected to hire 10 percent more new college graduates last year than they did in 2011. The employment outlook for the Class of 2013 looks even brighter, according to NACE’s most recent report. Employers say they plan to hire 13 percent more new college graduates this year than in 2012. And the percentage of employers who anticipate a decrease in hiring has reached its lowest level in five years. “We are definitely seeing an improved job market for our graduates,” says Rhonda Gifford, director of Career Services at Cal U. “We have seen a 30 percent increase in the number of jobs posted on our online jobs board, and a 15 percent increase in on-campus recruitment this year.” To help students connect with employers, Career Services helps to organize 15 to 20 job fairs and networking events each year. Companies within the fast-growing oil and gas industry have been well represented recently, along with U.S. Steel, CONSOL Energy and other major employers. Career Services also guides Cal U students to the annual Creative Careers Seminar and the WestPACS Job & Internship Fair, the region’s largest job fair for college students and alumni. “Many of Cal U’s computer information systems, computer engineering technology and computer science graduates secured jobs before graduation last spring,” Gifford says. “Demand also was high for our technology education majors, and for human services and social services majors, including graduates in social work, counseling, psychology and justice studies.” Career Services monitors the job market and responds to current
Rhonda Gifford, director of Career Services (standing), joins graduate student Jaci Begly (left) and Internship Center director Tracie Beck to discuss the jobs outlook for graduates.
conditions. Last fall, for example, panelists at a networking event discussed “Unique Careers for Education Majors,” pointing out skills valued by nonprofits and businesses. “Graduates who have developed transferrable skills — communication, problem-solving, leadership and teamwork, for instance — can ‘break the mold’ and have a competitive advantage in finding a job no matter what they’ve studied,” Gifford says. “If they can articulate how they can solve an employer’s problem using those transferrable skills, they have a greater chance of getting hired.” Internships, paid co-ops and other real-world experiences also improve the likelihood that a new graduate will land a job. Cal U students are actively engaged in what Tracie Beck, director of the Cal U Internship Center, collectively calls “experiential education.” More than 650 students added this valuable experience to their resumes this summer, she reports, and more than 900 students were involved in experiential education during the Fall 2012 semester. “Students who complete an internship, co-op or other type of hands-on experience have a major
advantage in landing a full-time job after graduation,” Gifford says. “Nationally, two-thirds of all interns are offered a full-time job at the end of their internship. In addition, graduates who are willing to relocate, even within the region, and who have done their research on typical entry-level job types and salaries, are experiencing improved job-search success.” y Christine Kindl, communications director B at Cal U
HELP WANTED Cal U Career Services works with current students, alumni, mentors and employers, providing services and resources that facilitate lifelong career development. To learn how the Cal U Career Advantage can benefit you, visit www.calu.edu, keyword “Careers.”
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Ready to lead the way Winter graduates receive their diplomas Acting President Geraldine M. Jones
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new leader stood at the podium, but a familiar thrill permeated the Convocation Center as students filed in for California University’s 175th Commencement. The University’s graduate students were vested in their academic hoods and awarded their master’s degrees on Dec. 14. Undergraduate ceremonies were held the following day. For the first time in her role as acting president, Geraldine M. Jones greeted the graduates as, one by one, they crossed the Convocation Center stage to accept their diplomas. “Whether you are receiving a degree in education or history or applied technology, you can contribute significantly to the world around you,” President Jones told them. “Remember to help others, to give a kind or encouraging word to those you meet, and always to count your blessings. “Each of us has a responsibility to care for our fellow man, so I ask you to lead the way. Ponder how you can lend a hand or make a difference. No matter what career path you choose, those special moments you spend helping others will shape you into a great human being.” At the undergraduate ceremony Walter Harris, chair of the Senior Gift Drive Committee, presented President Jones with a check for more than $11,700 contributed by graduating seniors and their families. In all, nearly $40,000 has been raised for an endowed scholarship since the first senior class donation at the spring 2010 Commencement. Two distinguished alumnae had the audience chuckling as they shared anecdotes and words of wisdom. Excerpts from the speakers’ comments are included here. To read the complete text of their remarks, or to see video of the Commencement ceremonies, visit www.calu.edu and search for “Commencement videos.”
The audience applauds Sgt. Craig Bosse, who completed his degree through Global Online and traveled from South Korea to accept his diploma.
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‘A new version of you’ Adele Lynn ’74 is the founder and owner of The Adele Lynn Leadership Group, an international consulting and training firm. Her business helps organizations improve productivity and quality through improvements in emotional intelligence and workplace trust. She is the author of six books published in 11 languages. Lynn addressed master’s degree candidates on Dec. 14, 2012.
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believe that it is my obligation in life, as well as yours, to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. … Just as our software developers keep releasing new and improved versions of software … with your achievement here tonight as graduates, you have created a new version of you. I don’t know what release you are on, but I hope it isn’t the last, because with each new version, there could be great innovations and improvements. … Along the way, you may encounter people who may discourage your dreams. … Ignore these voices. They serve no purpose. … Do whatever it takes to tune out the drumbeat of negativity that could kill your spirit. … Pay attention to your feelings. They give you information and data. But feelings also must be managed, so that you don’t become hostage to your emotions. … How you react and how you manage yourself, especially during those most difficult times, will define you. Your choices will shape your lives, your character, your relationships and ultimately your success. I think the Boy Scouts have it right. Be prepared for failure, for the mundane, for the unexpected and … be prepared also for your success. Embrace it. Don’t let your ‘self-doubt queen’ ruin it for you. Don’t let arrogance ruin it either. The one thing I’ve learned is that my success is not something for which I can take full credit. My success is about the legions of others who may be invisible, but who stand behind me, beside me and in front of me to pave the way. Be sure to honor them. Go forth and do great things and continuously create new and improved versions of you. I can’t wait to see where you will take us.
‘Touch the lives of others’ Teri Dunn ’80 has been a consultant in the office products industry since 2006, when she also began selling training on behalf of the Learning Outsource Group. Previously, she enjoyed a distinguished 26-year career with Global Imaging Systems. In 1997 Gov. Tom Ridge recognized her contribution to the fight against hunger, and she was honored as a Pittsburgh Community Champion in 1998. Dunn spoke to students who received bachelor’s or associate degrees on Dec. 15, 2012.
The career that you have just spent years preparing for will certainly come with a paycheck — some bigger than others. But I can tell you from experience that no paycheck is as fulfilling as the deposits you make of your time, treasure and talent. You have a chance to make a difference, a chance to pay back. … Every one of you will be given a chance to succeed, but you won’t be entitled to success. It is all about the choices you make. … (So) remember, make time your great equalizer. Make the most of challenging opportunities. Change the perception others might have of you by changing their experience. Be valuable — too valuable to lose. Keep growing and learning. … And finally, give back, pay it forward, measure your success by what it feels like to touch the lives of others. Relish what that feels like. Class of 2012, your journey has just begun.
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our years after stepping foot on this property I, like you, graduated (from Cal U). Two weeks later I landed myself a job with a company with annual revenue of less than $1.6 million. I had taken a job selling copy machines. No one was particularly impressed. … (But) to make a long story short, what started as an opportunity with a small local company grew into what was acquired by Xerox in 2007 for $1.5 billion. I am so proud to be one of the many entrepreneurs who made that possible. … In business, revenue and profits are simply a way that success is measured. Success can also be measured by the art you create, the buildings you build, the discoveries you make, the cases you win or the children you teach. It’s thumbs up for new graduate Ronald Taylor.
Dionna Polite is all smiles after receiving her diploma. WINTER 2013 CAL U REVIEW 13 n
Dr. Harrison Pinckney (left) and sophomore Bruce Grover are researching rites of passage programs for teens.
My assignment was to talk to the students, to help them stay on task and on time, and to be sure they understood the questions and answered them. Learning about these programs and what they teach really opened my eyes. Bruce Glover SOPHOMORE
Rites of passage Researchers identify exemplary programs that guide teens toward adulthood
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r. Harrison Pinckney understands the challenges that young people face as they move from youth to adulthood. An associate professor in the Parks and Recreation Management program at Cal U, he’s seen how community centers and nonprofit groups can assist with that transition, especially for young people of color, by sponsoring “rites of passage” programs. Such programs have taken hold in African-American communities across the nation. Pinckney compares them to the bar mitzvah ceremony that marks a Jewish boy’s entry into manhood, or the quinceanera that celebrates a Latina girl’s coming of age. “Rites of passage programs typically include learning activities, as well as field trips and other initiatives, usually for young people between 12 and 18 years old,” Pinckney explains. “Many of these programs have their roots in Africa, and they are built on a foundation of racial identity, cultural heritage and a sense of pride.” With the support of $100,000 in grants from The Heinz Endowments, Pinckney is exploring the effectiveness of these programs and turning a spotlight on some
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of the best. His goal is to create a manual for The Heinz Endowments to use in evaluating such programs, and a website that profiles a dozen outstanding examples. “Rites of passage programs have been taking place in the community, some of them for decades. But there’s been no empirical inquiry into best practices or how well they work,” he says. “It’s new territory for research.” Pinckney is leading the project, which includes his former Ph.D. adviser, Dr. Corliss Outley of Texas A&M University, and Dr. James Stewart, a retired professor from Penn State University. Also involved is Bruce Glover, a Cal U sophomore who is gaining firsthand experience with research, site visits and data collection. This fall he traveled around the country to record interviews for the project. “My assignment was to talk to the students, to help them stay on task and on time, and to be sure they understood the questions and answered them,” he explains. “Learning about these programs and what they teach really opened my eyes.” Grover’s first site visit took him to Atlanta, where the Black to Our Roots program run by Habesha Inc. focuses on African history as a source of pride for African-American youths.
Led by volunteer instructors, young people explore the history of West Africa while learning leadership, entrepreneurial and fundraising skills. Eventually the group travels to Ghana for an eye-opening trip the youths have paid for themselves. “The students have to write an essay and apply to get into the program,” says Grover, a political science major with a pre-law concentration. “Raising the money for the trip makes them appreciate it a lot more. And they learn to be proud of their history and their heritage.” Effective rites of passage programs teach life skills and instill positive values, Pinckney says. A community setting appears to be one component of their success. “Free-time structured activities build skills and teach life lessons. They help young people connect to the local community and connect with positive social peers. So how can we design programs to build self-esteem and a commitment to education? That’s what we’re trying to discover.” By Christine Kindl, communications director at Cal U
Role models
Read more about some of the nation’s most effective rites of passage programs for teens at www.calu.edu/rop.
Wildlife winners
Student chapter, adviser win national Wildlife Society awards
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al U’s student chapter of The Wildlife Society has been named 2012 Chapter of the Year, and the group’s adviser, Dr. Carol Bocetti, is the 2012 Student Chapter Advisor of the Year. Bocetti, an associate professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, and eight students accepted the awards at The Wildlife Society’s 19th annual meeting in Portland, Ore. The Wildlife Society — a professional community of scientists, managers, educators, technicians, planners and others who work to study, manage and conserve wildlife and habitats worldwide — celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2012. Chapters are recognized for their activities and initiatives, accomplishments, impacts on members and the profession, and resource management. Advisers are chosen for their roles in facilitating student involvement in Wildlife Society activities.
Dr. Carol Bocetti pitches in with student Chelsea Gilliland and other members of The Wildlife Society at the group’s annual game dinner at the Richeyville Volunteer Fire Department.
“The fact that the students in this chapter chose to nominate me was very touching,” says Bocetti, who in turn nominated the chapter for national recognition. “I find myself inspired every year by these students. I know what other chapters do. We do that, and so much more.”
Dr. Carol Bocetti (right) explains a fieldwork assignment to student Cynthia Anchor.
Senior Frank Christopher, president of the student chapter; senior Samantha Zelenka, vice president; and junior Kate Kelly, treasurer, were among the students who traveled to Portland. As president of the student chapter of the year, Christopher was invited to speak at a leaders’ lunch at the conference. “The Wildlife Society gave me focus for what to do with my free time,” he says. “I have learned so many skills, and it has definitely helped my professional development.” “It has helped my resume, and the internships were really helpful, too,” adds Kelly, who has worked with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the U.S. Forest Service. “It really helps you figure out what you enjoy.” Reflecting on the numerous activities the students help to plan and the hard work that is involved, Zelenka concluded, “The Wildlife Society is my life.” Cal U’s chapter participates in events such as the annual Family Field Day and the popular Outdoor Bash and Game Dinner.
Both invite community participation and complement academic programs. In 2012, Cal U students organized and hosted a three-day Northeast Students Wildlife Conclave. About 135 students from 13 colleges and universities attended the regional conference, where experts from federal and state agencies led more than a dozen workshops on topics such as stream assessment and animal capture techniques. “We had to work together and organize everything about this event,” Christopher recalls. “I now have a new appreciation for any conference I have ever attended.” This is the second recent national honor for Bocetti. Last March she accepted the 2011 Recovery Champion award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for her work on the recovery team for the Kirtland’s warbler, an endangered songbird. By Wendy Mackall, assistant communications director at Cal U
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ALUMNI N E W S GREETINGS FROM THE OFFICE OF CAL U FOR LIFE! WE NEED YOUR HELP!
California University of Pennsylvania is built on strong traditions of academic excellence and our core values of integrity, civility and responsibility. We are looking to you, our alumni, to help spread the word about our University to bright, well-rounded students. As alumni, we can give back to our alma mater and share our Vulcan pride by encouraging talented students to apply to and attend our University. With your help, we hope to increase the number of highly competitive and qualified students considering Cal U at the undergraduate level, and to increase the percentage of admitted students who enroll. As proud alumni, we can help our alma mater by helping to recruit the next generation of Vulcans! Here are some Cal U facts to help you spread the word: • Cal U’s current enrollment is 8,608 undergraduate and graduate students. • Our students come from all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; and 36 different countries. • Undergraduate students can choose from more than 120 programs of study. • Cal U ranks among the top graduate schools in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. • We have more than 100 student clubs and organizations, including 16 NCAA Division II teams. • More than 80 percent of full-time faculty members hold a Ph.D. or other terminal degree. • We pride ourselves on small classes and high-quality teaching. • Every year more than 3,000 Cal U students obtain internships or other hands-on learning experiences, including student teaching. For more information about admissions, please visit our website, www.calu.edu. I hope you will take the time to help us spread the good news about our alma mater and help a prospective student receive the same great education we all received. On behalf of your alma mater, thank you for all you do! Sincerely yours,
Cathy Holloway Connelly ’95, ’96 Senior director, Cal U for Life
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from the alumni office BUY A BRICK Now it’s easier than ever to become a part of Cal U history by purchasing a customengraved brick to be placed in one of several campus locations. Right now bricks are available for placement near the fountain in front of South Hall, at the Emeriti Fountain near the Quad, and at the fountain in front of the Michael and Julia Kara Alumni House. An area in front of Old Main, near Senior Drive, also holds commemorative bricks. Generations of students and their families have walked the paths around historic Old Main and the Emeriti Fountain, and the same will be said of the paths and gardens at the Kara Alumni House. Buying a brick provides an opportunity for you to become part of our University’s history by having your name or the name of a loved one inscribed on a commemorative brick. These bricks make wonderful gifts for all occasions, from graduations to anniversaries. Use them to mark a birth, celebrate a wedding or add a meaningful touch to a birthday celebration. They also serve as lasting memorials to alumni or University friends.
For more information about the commemorative brick program, contact Randi Minerva at minerva@calu.edu or call 724-938-4248.
Parting gift
Acting President Geraldine M. Jones accepts a check from Walter Harris, chair of the Senior Gift Drive Committee, during Cal U’s 175th Commencement. The gift supports an endowed scholarship for Cal U students.
Monroeville meeting
Alumni from the Monroeville area gathered on Dec. 6 at DeNunzio’s restaurant to catch up with old friends and meet new ones while celebrating their common tie — Cal U! Acting President Geraldine M. Jones ‘72, ‘80 shared updates about University programs and campus happenings. Shown at the meeting are (from left) Frank Kologie ‘60; President Jones; Michael Napolitano ‘68, a member of Cal U’s Council of Trustees; and James Kuczek ‘64.
In Philadelphia
Philadelphia area alumni met on Nov. 8 at Con Murphy’s pub. Among those in attendance were (from left) Shawn ‘91 and Erica ‘92 McDill Sharkey, John ‘58 and Marguerite Celani, and Kevin Sellers ‘93. For more information on Philadelphia Chapter efforts, contact Paulette Midgette ‘85 at midgette72@msn.com.
SAVE THE DATE!
ALUMNI WEEKEND MAY 31-JUNE 1
Prospective students?
Students at Achievement First East New York Elementary School in Brooklyn, N.Y., learned about what it means to go to college under the guidance of teacher Danielle OrbachKiefer ’06, who reached out to her alma mater for pennants, bookmarks and other Cal U promotional materials. The students created bulletin boards using the materials, then practiced writing thank-you notes to what we hope will be their future alma mater!
Huddle up
Former Vulcan football teammates (from left) Tim Tracy ’73, Ted Gialames ’73, Dr. Paul Kovacs ’74, Ed Oakley ’74 and Jerry Klamerus ’74 reminisce during the Alumni Huddle before the Homecoming football game. For more Homecoming photos, see page 19.
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Would you like to stand for election to the Cal U Alumni Association Board of Directors? Or would you like to place the name of a fellow alumnus on the ballot?
Join us May 31 for the Class of 1963 Pioneer 50th Reunion Dinner. Then stay for the Alumni Board meeting on June 1, followed by the annual Alumni Awards Luncheon, President’s Gala and more!
ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE THIS SPRING, WITH EIGHT SEATS TO BE FILLED. Candidates will be screened by the Nominating Committee for Board Members (NCB). All candidates must submit a nomination form, a brief essay and a color photo. Nomination forms must be received by the NCB no later than March 8, 2013. For candidates’ qualifications, details about the nominating process and an official nomination form, visit www.calu.edu/alumni
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LOYALTY, SERVICE AND GENEROSITY
The Foundation for California University honors three alumni with its annual awards
Michele M. Mandell ’69
Richard J. Majernik ’55
Dr. Gary W. Kennedy ’58
Michele M. Mandell ’69 recently rejoined Talbots, a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of women’s classic clothing, as chief operating officer. She initially had retired from Talbots in 2009 after 25 years with the company. In the interim, she worked as a retail industry consultant for the internationally recognized Gerson Lehrman Group. In her prior role as executive vice president, Mandell was responsible for Talbots’ retail stores operation. Under her leadership Talbots’ U.S. retail operation more than quadrupled in size. Mandell has been a guest speaker at the National Retail Federation, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the Harvard Business School, where she also completed a program for senior executives. At California University she has received the Professional Excellence Award presented by the Cal U Alumni Association, the 2006 Distinguished Alumna Award and the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award. She addressed Cal U’s graduating seniors at Commencement in 2009. A current member of the University’s Council of Trustees, Mandell is a past vice president and former chair of the Investment Committee of the Foundation for California University.
Richard J. Majernik ’55 has been a supporter of Cal U in numerous ways for nearly 60 years. As a student, Majernik was a star basketball player for the Vulcans from 1951-1955. He finished with 1,317 career points, the most in school history at the time. He was inducted into the Cal U Hall of Fame in 1996 and received the inaugural Basketball Alumnus of the Year award in 2000. Majernik enjoyed a 31-year career as a biology teacher at Brownsville Area High School, where he served as the assistant basketball coach for 15 seasons. He began his exemplary volunteer work with Cal U in 1993, when he sponsored a reunion dinner for studentathletes from the 1950s. Shortly after that reunion Majernik joined Cal U’s first Capital Campaign Committee. A member of the Hall of Fame selection committee, Majernik also sponsors a basketball scholarship and is a past member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. As a member of the Sixth Man Club, he helps with the basketball team’s annual golf outing, which supports student scholarships. In 2002 Majernik received the Alumni Association’s John R. Gregg Award for loyalty and service.
Dr. Gary W. Kennedy ’58 retired in 1999 after a distinguished 41-year teaching career, but he remained an active and generous member of the Cal U family until his death in May 2012. Kennedy began his teaching career in the Thomas Jefferson and California school districts. After serving six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, he earned his master’s degree from West Virginia University and his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Kennedy taught at Cal U for 37 years and served when needed as chair of the Department of Elementary Education. He was an assistant football coach for seven years and a member of the 1968 PSAC cochampionship squad. He was a published writer, as well as a speaker at numerous conferences and a consultant for several schools. A dedicated alumnus, Kennedy served with the Foundation for California University, the University’s capital campaign, the Emeriti Faculty Executive Board and the Sixth Man Club. Kennedy received the Emeriti Faculty Award at the 2008 President’s Gala, and in 2009 he was named the Basketball Alumnus of the Year.
Named for a University founder, the Job Johnson Award recognizes alumni who have received recognition outside the University.
The Society of 1852 Award celebrates the year of the University’s founding and recognizes an individual whose efforts have enhanced the mission of the University.
The Job Johnson Award
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The Society of 1852 Award
The Dixonians Award
The Dixonians Award is named for University founder John N. Dixon, who served on the Board of Trustees for 46 years. It honors those who unselfishly serve the University.
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SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH
CHANGE AND OPPORTUNITY Graduate programs address professionals’ changing needs
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overview
of the SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH Dean:
Dr. Stanley A. Komacek
Graduate Program and Cal U Global Online Coordinators: Ms. Odeese M. Ghassa-Khalil
Dr. Cheryl Hettman
Arabic Language and Culture
Nursing, Nursing Administration and Leadership
Dr. Thomas West
Dr. Kalie Kossar
Athletic Training
Dr. Arshad Chawdhry
Business Administration
Dr. John Patrick
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Counselor Education
Dr. Ralph Belsterling Communication Disorders
Dr. Clover Wright Early Childhood Education, English as a Second Language
Dr. Richard Wyman
Mentally and Physically Handicapped Education, Autism Spectrum Disorders
Dr. Silvia Braidic
Administrative Principals Program, Superintendent Letter of Eligibility
Dr. Connie Armitage Reading Specialist
Dr. Grafton Eliason School Counseling
Dr. Angela Bloomquist
School Psychology
Dr. J. William Hug
Elementary/Pre-K-4 Education
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education
Dr. Barry McGlumphy
Dr. Elizabeth Larsen
Exercise Science and Health Promotion: Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation Science, Sport Psychology, Wellness and Fitness
Dr. Jeffrey Magers
Legal Studies: Homeland Security, Law and Public Policy, Criminal Justice
Dr. Joseph Zisk
Secondary Education, Master of Arts Teaching Advanced Studies and Certification
Applied Criminology
Dr. Norma Thomas Social Work
Mr. Arcides Gonzalez Spanish
Dr. Robert Taylor Sport Management
Dr. Taunya Tinsley Sports Counseling
Dr. Glenn Hider
Technology Education
Mr. Jeff Hatton
Wellness and Fitness
To learn more about the programs featured in Focus On, visit the Cal U website, www.calu.edu. On the cover: Dr. Kate Mitchem (left) and Dr. Kalie Kossar, of the Department of Early, Middle and Special Education 2
On behalf of the students, faculty, staff and administration, I welcome you to the winter 2013 edition of Focus On, featuring the School of Graduate Studies and Research. I was honored to be appointed dean of the graduate school this summer when the former dean, Dr. John Cencich, decided to return to the faculty. By way of introduction, this is my 26th year at Cal U. Before moving into administration I was a faculty member in the Department of Applied Engineering and Technology, where I served as department chair for 13 years. For the past three years I was an associate provost in the Office of Academic Affairs. My bachelor’s degree from Cal U is in industrial arts. I also earned a master’s degree in industrial education from Miami (Ohio) University, and a doctorate in technology education from West Virginia University. The dean of the graduate school has leadership responsibilities in several areas, including degree and certificate programs offered through the graduate school and Global Online, our Internet-based learning community. My responsibilities also include graduate admissions; the offices of Web-Based Programs, Sponsored Programs and Research, Institutional Research, and Community Education; and research and government services. Most important among these are the degree and certificate programs that allow individuals to pursue advanced education and professional preparation. In this issue of Focus On we spotlight a few of them, including the administrative program for principals; certificate programs for behavior specialist consultants and special education professionals whose students are on the autism spectrum; the clinical mental health counseling program; and a new online RN-BSN program for registered nurses. In my new role as dean, I have been asking myself why people decide to pursue graduate studies. Two reasons are change and opportunity. Our programs help people to adapt to changes in their professional lives, or to pursue changes so they are prepared to seek new professional opportunities. I am proud to be part of a graduate school whose high-quality programs help individuals to improve their lives. If you or someone you know is facing change or seeking changes that will lead to new opportunities, I hope you will consider the programs offered by the School of Graduate Studies and Research here at California University of Pennsylvania. Sincerely,
Dr. Stanley A. Komacek Dean, School of Graduate Studies and Research
LEARNING FROM LEADERS Alumni return to mentor aspiring principals and superintendents
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al U’s administrative leadership programs are enhancing the traditional structure of online courses with the help of returning alumni. In the Administrative Program for Principals, educators can obtain their K-12 Principal Certification in Pennsylvania, or pursue certification along with a Master of Education degree. The Superintendent Letter of Eligibility program provides aspiring superintendents with the university endorsement required for certification by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Both programs are available 100 percent online through Cal U, with field and internship experiences taking place at the school where the student is employed. “Online courses offer the flexibility that working professionals desire,” says Dr. Silvia Braidic, coordinator for administrative leadership programs at Cal U. “Our programs are designed to include field and internship experiences, where students work with school and district-level administrators, along with our professors, to engage in school improvement projects.” The blend of online studies and real-world field and internship experiences is made possible through a network of full-time and adjunct professors who advise students throughout their time in the program. These professors are all practicing or former school and district-level leaders, and many are Cal U graduates. “I was a career-change guy when I participated in the principals program at Cal U,” says Dr. Gregory Taranto, a principal at Canonsburg Middle School who now teaches in the Administrative Program for Principals.
You have instructors in the program who are active principals and have natural leadership skills. It is not all about textbooks. You have to learn about leadership also, and that is something I really picked up from the program. Dr. Gregory Taranto Principal, Canonsburg Middle School
Dr. Gregory A. Taranto, the 2012 PAESSP Middle School Principal of the Year, is among the working professionals who contribute to the Administrative Program for Principals. Dr. Silvia Braidic directs the program, as well as the Superintendent Letter of Eligibility certification.
“You have instructors in the program who are active principals and have natural leadership skills. It is not all about textbooks. You have to learn about leadership also, and that is something I really picked up from the program.” Taranto has developed innovative models for classroom learning and teacher induction. For his work, the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals named him the 2012 PAESSP Middle Level Principal of the Year. “It has been a great honor to come back to Cal U and help influence and instill some of those leadership principles that I learned,” Taranto says. Utilizing a strong network of practicing educational administrators, both administrative leadership programs are able to provide students with alternative forms of instruction, course structure and assessment. Much of this is achieved with a minimum of 360 hours of field and internship experiences. “I had such a great experience at Cal U, and I had the chance to work with so many faculty members who were practitioners,” says program graduate Dr. Todd Keruskin, assistant superintendant at Elizabeth Forward School District. “Being back as an adjunct professor allows me to interact with people all over the state to help make a bigger impact in children’s lives.” While structured courses are still a vital part of the program, students gain a competitive advantage by working with practicing educational leaders. “Cal U is very fortunate to have graduates who are working in the field come back to teach in the program,” Braidic says. “Quality matters in programs like this. Cal U’s faculty members are some of the leading principals and district-level leaders in Pennsylvania.” By Jeff Bender, PR/Web writer at Cal U
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SOLUTIONS ADDRESS CHANGING NEEDS Special education programs recognize expertise in autism spectrum disorders, fill license requirements
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al U’s Department of Early, Middle and Special Education is helping professionals adjust to recent changes in licensing made by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the State Board of Medicine. Additional certification standards have been established for those who work alongside children with special needs. In response, Cal U is offering a new online endorsement and developing a continuing education series to prepare those professionals to teach and practice at the highest possible level. The new graduate-level offerings also will equip traditional Cal U students with knowledge about current trends and the appropriate licensures, so they will be more marketable job candidates. “Our field is constantly changing,” says Dr. Kalie Kossar, coordinator of graduate programs in special education, including the new endorsement in autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
“Special educators historically have been employed in self-contained classrooms where they would teach children with exceptionalities, but now those students are included in general education classrooms. It is a completely different landscape, so we try to look at the field and determine where the next specialist program will be needed.”
ASD ENDORSEMENT
Among those working in this new landscape are K-12 teachers who are seeing a rise in the number of children on the autism spectrum. The state Department of Education recently recognized an endorsement in autism spectrum disorders — a certification added to a Level I or Level II teaching certificate that recognizes competence in working with this special population. Cal U has been approved to award the ASD endorsement to certified special
Dr. Kate Mitchem (right), a professor in the Department of Early, Middle and Special Education, reviews online material with graduate student Kelly E. Rogers.
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education teachers who complete a 12-credit program online. “Pennsylvania licenses special education teachers non-categorically,” explains Kossar. “The Department of Education recognized the need for additional training for special education teachers to work with this unique population of children.” Cal U has offered the 12-hour ASD program in a traditional format since 2007. Now it has expanded the program to two online tracks: an add-on endorsement for certified special education teachers, and a Letter of Completion for students who simply are interested in learning more about autism. With the increasing prevalence of ASD nationwide, many school districts recognize the importance of having a special education teacher focused specifically on children with autism spectrum disorders. The specialized endorsement track is designed to extend
the training of certified educators who have at least three years of teaching experience. Students seeking the Letter of Completion often are parents or professionals who care for people with ASD. “We are serving (many) children on the autism spectrum, but there are few educational opportunities out there to meet those training needs,” says Amanda Freger, director of autism services at Highlands Hospital in Connellsville, Pa. She currently is enrolled in the Letter of Completion track at Cal U. “These courses are very intensely packed, and they cover a broad overview of … special education and clinical practices,” Freger says. “It is a very valuable program for people in the field.”
BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST CONSULTANTS
Behavior specialist consultants, or BSCs, also are facing new guidelines. These consultants provide specialized behavioral assessments and treatment interventions in schools and other settings. In Pennsylvania, the State Board of Medicine soon will require all BSCs to be licensed if they intend to bill clients for their services. To be eligible for licensure, BSCs are required to have training in Applied Behavior Analysis and evidence-based practices for working with children on the autism spectrum, as well as youngsters with emotional or behavioral disorders. The nonprofit Behavior Analysis Certification Board must approve the continuing education provider that offers the training. “If people have not met the requirements for 90 hours of specific training by May, there will be lots of children on the autism spectrum who will no longer be able to receive services,” explains Dr. Kate Mitchem, a doctorallevel Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a professor in the Department of Early, Middle and Special Education. “That is the big issue in the field, and parents and providers are very concerned about the situation.” In the past, the State Board of Medicine has not provided curriculum guidelines, and subject matter taught in pertinent master’s degree programs has varied among institutions. Now BSCs must prove they meet educational requirements in specific areas:
Students review online lessons under the guidance of Dr. Kalie Kossar, an associate professor in the Department of Early, Middle and Special Education.
ethics, assessment, crisis management, family collaboration, autism-specific intervention strategies, instructional strategies and best practices, co-morbidity and medications, and assessing skill deficits. To help license these professionals, Cal U is working to develop a flexible, online program that will allow BSCs to fill gaps in their training. Mitchem envisions it as an “online continuing-education marketplace” for BSCs looking to complete the required categories. “Based on the degree they have, professionals may need only a few continuing education units to be licensed,” she says. “Through our online program, they could take only the courses they need. They wouldn’t have to travel or attend a conference to gain those credits.” Although they may need to extend their studies, BSCs understand the aim of the new requirements. “The children deserve to have qualified individuals working with them,” says Julie DeVirgilio ’12, a behavior specialist consultant for WJS Psychological in McKeesport, Pa. “Luckily, I was pretty well prepared by my studies at Cal U. I only had
to take eight (additional) hours of training online, in medicine and co-morbidity. Many of my co-workers are not so lucky and will likely lose their jobs.” Both Cal U’s ASD program and the continuing education series are designed to offer students a competitive advantage in the job market, says Kossar. “Our ultimate goal when people leave here is for them to get a job, which is very hard to do in Pennsylvania. We work really hard to determine what will make our students stand out from the rest, and we give them the skills they need to be successful.” By Jeff Bender, PR/Web writer at Cal U
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ACHIEVING NEW STANDARDS Clinical mental health counseling students benefit from new accreditation standards
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tudents in the clinical mental health counseling program at Cal U have a history of finding success after graduation, and a change in the curriculum should help to continue that tradition. The master’s degree program has increased its credit-hour requirement from 54 to 60 credits to meet new curriculum standards set forth by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. CACREP, a leading accreditation agency for higher education counseling programs, mandated that programs increase their credit-hour requirement by July 1, 2013, in an effort to “attract, enroll and retain a diverse group of students and to create an inclusive learning community.” Students enrolled in the program will receive more instruction on current counseling trends, including community agency counseling, substance abuse and crisis counseling, and family therapy. The changes will better prepare students to take on clinical work as soon as they graduate, says program coordinator Dr. John Patrick. “The new curriculum structure combines traditional psychology counseling expertise with more practical problemsolving,” he explains. “We are not only changing our curriculum, we’re also modernizing our program to help launch students’ careers as counselors.” Program graduates traditionally have found jobs within a broad spectrum of counseling fields, including inpatient and outpatient care, and substance abuse and addiction. Some graduates are employed at corrections facilities or career counseling centers. “Even in this tough economy, our students are still finding work in the field,” says Patrick.
Dr. John Patrick, a professor in the Department of Counselor Education, talks with Amber Rechichar, a graduate student in the clinical mental health counseling program.
Other graduates choose to pursue doctoral degrees at some of the top universities in the region. Patrick credits Cal U’s on-the-job training with helping graduates to thrive. As a requirement of the program, students must complete 750 clinical field hours or 740 direct client hours before they receive their degree. Professionals in each student’s area of expertise directly supervise these practicum and field experience hours, delegating clinical responsibilities appropriate to the student’s counseling skills.
The common elements that bind these practices together is that they all give back to the community and advocate for their patients. That is what being a counselor is all about. Dr. John Patrick PROGR AM COORDINATOR
“I began the counseling program at Cal U with absolutely no work experience in the field,” says Virginia Spindler ’07. She went back to school at age 45, after years as a stay-at-home mom, and now owns her own counseling practice in Belle Vernon, Pa. “The time at my practicum and internship was instrumental in developing my skills and style. The experience I received working with drug-and-alcohol clients has been invaluable, since you can’t avoid that topic in mental health counseling.” Graduates of the program are experienced clinical mental health counselors knowledgeable in the principles and practices of diagnostics, treatments, referral and prevention across a spectrum of mental and emotional health disorders. “The new structure of the program really allows students to pursue a variety of counseling careers,” says Patrick. “The common elements that bind these practices together is that they all give back to the community and advocate for their patients. That is what being a counselor is all about.” By Jeff Bender, PR/Web writer at Cal U 6
FROM THE GRADUATE SCHOOL Programs, faculty and students continue to make news PROGRAM NOTES Cal U’s Master of Science in Athletic Training has been re-accredited through 2016 by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. CAATE is responsible for the accreditation of more than 350 professional (entry-level) athletic training Dr. Thomas West educational programs, and it recently added post-professional athletic training program accreditation. The Cal U program has been accredited since 1994 through the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA), a professional membership association for certified athletic trainers. Prior to 2012, all post-professional athletic training programs were accredited by NATA, but in June the organization approved moving education programs to CAATE. Cal U became the first CAATE-accredited post-professional program. It now is recognized as one of only 16 accredited postprofessional athletic training programs in the United States. Dr. Thomas West is the program’s chair. Others who assisted with the accreditation process are Drs. Adam Annaccone, Shelly DiCesaro, Linda P. Meyer, Michael Meyer and Jamie Weary. The legal studies program offered through Cal U Global Online has undergone a change. Beginning this spring, program participants will earn a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence: Legal Studies Concentration. The legal studies concentration provides students with a strong foundation in the history of jurisprudence, law, legal research and writing, litigation, estates and trusts, bankruptcy, ethics, and constitutional law. The program’s Web-based format allows students to pursue their interests in a variety of legal topics, preparing them for a host of career options. Program coordinator is Dr. Jeffrey Magers. Dr. Jeffrey Magers
FACULTY PRESENTATIONS Among the faculty members who recently have given academic presentations are:
Dr. Norma D. Thomas
Dr. Norma D. Thomas (Social Work): “Psychosocial Issues, Assessment and Treatment Interventions with Hoarding Behavior,” Crisis Intervention Association annual conference, Seven Springs, Pa.
Dr. Laura Hummell (Applied Engineering and Technology), techniques for utilizing the “flipped” classroom, Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Dr. Elizabeth Gruber (Counselor Education and Services) and Dr. Dawn Dr. Laura Hummel Moeller (Student Services), “Treating a Student with Dissociative Identity Disorder on a Rural Campus,” American College Counseling Association annual conference, Orlando, Fla. Dr. Jacqueline Walsh, Dr. John Patrick and Dr. Grafton Eliason, “Relaxation: What’s That?,” Pennsylvania Counseling Association conference, State College, Pa.
STUDENT SUCCESS Graduate student Georgia Minor, a student in the clinical mental health counseling program, presented her work last fall at a conference of the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders in Berlin, Germany. Her research focused on the way juveniles are regarded, as compared Georgia Minor to adult offenders. Minor is president of the Graduate Student Association at Cal U. She also presented a 90-minute workshop last spring at a conference of the New Jersey Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. Reshma Siddik, a graduate student in the exercise science and health promotion program, was recognized as one of four Trainers of the Year at the Asia Fitness Convention 2012, held in Pattaya, Thailand. The convention gathered fitness, sports and physical education professionals from the Asia Pacific region to celebrate health fitness and sport, and to connect with the latest innovations in training approaches, nutrition and equipment. Graduate student Jayne Appel, who is earning a degree in Sport Management Studies through Cal U Global Online, is completing her coursework in China as she plays professional basketball in a Chinese league. Appel, a center for the WNBA Silver Stars of San Antonio, Texas, is a graduate of Stanford University who played in multiple NCAA Final Four contests and on the gold-medal team at the World Championships.
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REGISTERED NURSES CAN EARN BSN ONLINE Convenient, Web-based bachelor’s degree program prepares professionals for ‘the future of nursing’
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he Cal U Department of Nursing will offer a convenient new option for registered nurses who are ready to take the next step — earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Beginning in fall 2013, registered nurses who already hold a diploma or associate degree can enroll in Cal U’s RNBSN program and complete their nursing courses 100 percent online. The accelerated online track provides the same academic foundation as Cal U’s traditional RN-BSN program, which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. It will be offered through Cal U Global Online, whose online degree programs have been recognized nationally since 2010. A recent report by the Institute of Medicine, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” notes that patient needs and the 21stcentury health care environment have become increasingly complex. To continue providing high-quality care, nurses must achieve higher levels of education and training.
By 2020, the report recommends, 80 percent of all U.S. nurses should hold a bachelor’s degree. “Research shows that a higher level of knowledge makes a measurable difference in patient outcomes,” says Dr. Cheryl Hettman, chair of the Nursing Department and director of Cal U’s new program. “And a BSN makes a registered nurse more competitive in the job market. In light of the ‘Future of Nursing’ report, some hospitals no longer are hiring nurses who don’t have a bachelor’s degree or aren’t enrolled in a BSN completion program.” Cal U will continue to offer the RNBSN as a face-to-face program on its main campus in California and at Community College of Allegheny County’s South Campus in West Mifflin. “But we know that nurses often have unpredictable schedules, as well as family obligations. With the online program, we can meet the needs of these busy working professionals,” Hettman says. Registered nurses who enter the accelerated RN-BSN track with their general education requirements in
California University of Pennsylvania School of Graduate Studies and Research 250 University Avenue, California, PA 15419-1394 Phone: 724-938-4187 Fax: 724-938-5712 E-mail: gradschool@calu.edu On the Web: www.calu.edu A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Integrity, Civility, Responsibility
RN-BSN student Okezie Aboka (left) and Dr. Cheryl Hettman, chair of the Nursing Department, check student Damien Michaels’ blood pressure during an in-class simulation.
place can complete the coursework in three consecutive semesters. The RN-BSN program also provides an educational foundation for graduate studies, such as Cal U’s online MSN in Nursing Administration and Leadership. “The future of nursing demands higher education,” Hettman says. “Our new online offering makes it more convenient for nurses to stay competitive and advance their careers.” By Christine Kindl, communications director at Cal U
Discover nursing
California University can help you to become a registered nurse, add a bachelor’s degree in nursing, or earn a master’s degree in nursing administration and leadership. To learn more, call the Cal U Department of Nursing at 724-938-5739; contact Mary Adams at adams@calu.edu; or visit www.calu.edu, keyword “nursing.”
Home for the ‘Holidays’ Alumni return for 2012 Homecoming festivities
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new grand marshal led the parade, royalty reigned and alumni came home for the “Holidays” when Cal U celebrated its 2012 Homecoming. Acting President Geraldine M. Jones led the holiday-themed parade at the annual celebration welcoming Cal U alumni back to campus. Santa made a notable appearance in the march, but Cal U’s spirited dance team, the Billiards Club and TEAC, the Technology Education Association of California, combined to take first-place honors with their Memorial Day float. During football halftime ceremonies at Roadman Park, students Alec Barrelet and Jasmine Telly were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. Their Homecoming Court consisted of Breanna Blose, Vince Comini, Rodney Edwards Jr., Seamus Hutchens, Andrea Marcolini, Kelliane Russell, Mirriam Manson and Marc Wahl — all chosen, for the very first time, through an online voting process that had students’ iPads and smartphones humming. A variety of events filled the week leading up to Homecoming Day. Street magician Nate Staniforth performed inside the Convocation Center; so did the Chicago Comedy All-Stars. All three Vulcans hockey teams posted victories at the first Cal U Homecoming Hockey event, and athletic standouts were honored at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet.
Twirler Brittany Marcolini leads the Cal U Marching Band.
Crowned at Adamson Stadium: Homecoming King Alec Barrelet and Queen Jasmine Telly.
Alex Schmier hands out candy along the parade route.
Magic man
Magician Nate Staniforth works his magic during a Homecoming Week performance in the Convocation Center. A specialist in close-up ‘street magic,’ Staniforth arrived on campus before the show, performed for small groups of students, then incorporated video of their reaction into his stage show. Homecoming festivities also included a performance by the Chicago Comedy All-Stars, four stand-up comics from the Windy City.
Parade marshal Geraldine M. Jones, acting University president, waves to the Homecoming crowd. Joining her is granddaughter Jurnee and husband Jeff Jones.
For a slideshow from Homecoming 2012, visit http://sai.calu.edu/ homecoming/2012/ WINTER 2013 CAL U REVIEW 19 n
CAMPUS C L I P S
Bill Flanagan, executive vice president for the Allegheny Conference
’Bots builders hear positive jobs report
Students, educators and industry representatives heard good news when they gathered in the Convocation Center for the annual ’BotsIQ kickoff event. “We are seeing manufacturing companies invest here in Pennsylvania,” reported Bill Flanagan, executive vice president for the Allegheny Conference and host of WPXI-TV’s Our Region’s Business talk show. Flanagan expects good jobs to be available for students skilled in science, technology, engineering and math — precisely the areas that the annual ‘BotsIQ competition is designed to strengthen. Teams from 50 southwestern Pennsylvania high schools and career centers used the kickoff event at Cal U to learn organizing tactics, safety measures and best practices for building competitive robots. More than 60 teams and their custom-built robots are slated to return to the Convocation Center April 19-20 for the final rounds of the Southwestern Pennsylvania BotsIQ Competition.
At breakout sessions, participants brainstormed ideas for recruiting new students, supporting them academically and raising money for scholarships. “Transition presents an opportunity for us to regroup,” President Jones says. “It’s a chance to decide what is important to us as a University community, particularly those factors that affect our students.”
Pro Tools training available this summer
Musicians and recording engineers can learn to use the digital “tools of the trade” when Cal U offers a Pro Tools workshop and certification program this summer. Pro Tools software is the industry standard for recording, editing and mixing music and sound. Under an agreement signed last spring, Cal U has become Pennsylvania’s only AVID Learning Partner, an educational provider for AVID-brand products, including Pro Tools. Training in the software is just one aspect of Cal U’s four-year commercial music technology program, which
ProTools is the industry standard software for sound and music recording engineers.
prepares students for Pro Tools certification as part of the basic curriculum. For the first time this summer, Cal U will offer Pro Tools training and certification to musicians and recording engineers who are not enrolled in the bachelor’s degree program. Pro Tools 101 will be offered June 10-14, with Pro Tools 110 available June 17-21. Both courses are required for Pro Tools User Certification. For more information about the Pro Tools workshops, visit www.calu.edu, call Rose Markovich in the Music Department at 724-938-4878, or e-mail protoolsinstitute@calu.edu.
Mission Day offers chance to regroup “Maintaining Our Mission During a Time of Transition” was the theme for Cal U’s 14th annual Mission Day. In keeping with tradition, classes were canceled so that students, faculty and staff could share ideas and voice recommendations about a topic of importance to the University. The plenary session in Steele Hall included a call to action by Acting President Geraldine M. Jones and a series of short talks about enrollment initiatives, undergraduate research and student retention. 20 CAL U REVIEW WINTER 2013 n
Market day
Students check out the locally produced honey available at a farmers market organized by students during Homecoming Week. Fresh produce, live plants and cut flowers were among the other offerings available on the lawn near Duda Hall. With the help of the Campus Sustainability Initiative and the new Interdisciplinary Center for Environmental Studies (ICES), students expect to arrange more market days during the spring semester.
Players score ‘Monday Night’ gig
Jon Delano, of KDKA-TV, talks with student Courtney Cochran ‘12 during the 2012 Election Forum.
Two faculty members and several Cal U music students joined the Washington Symphony Orchestra when it taped the Monday Night Football theme song for a game televised nationally by ESPN. Orchestra director Dr. Yugo Ikach, chair of the Cal U Music Department, says a TV producer contacted him while the ESPN crew was in town for a Pittsburgh Steelers game. “It was more luck than anything,” Ikach says. “And we wanted to do it, because we thought it would be fun.” The musicians recorded an orchestral version of the theme song while football legends Dick Butkus, of the Chicago Bears, and Ronnie Lott, of the San Francisco 49ers, recited their lines. “It was four hours of taping for two minutes on Monday Night Football, but it was pretty cool,” Ikach said. “It’s important to mix things up, so your interest doesn’t wane. This added variety and spiced things up for us.”
Cal U voters go to the polls
Voters of all political persuasions found plenty of pre- and post-election activity on campus this fall. Before Election Day, political memorabilia from the collection of Stephen V. Russell ’70 was exhibited in Manderino Library. Russell, who retired in June as superintendent of Belle Vernon Area School District, also exhibited campaign materials as an undergraduate. During the 1968 election season, his collection was showcased in the former J. Albert Reid Library. Cal U’s chapter of the American Democracy Project (ADP) sponsored a series of Debate Watch events as the campaign season progressed. And on Election Day, more than 60 students, faculty and staff gathered in the Performance Center to view the televised election returns. The ADP also sponsored the 2012 Election Analysis Forum, with Jon Delano as moderator. Delano, the money and politics editor at KDKA-TV, posed questions to three political scientists who had visited campus and made predictions about the presidential and congressional races last spring.
Grant writers recognized
The 2012 Grant Writers’ Recognition Ceremony honored 72 faculty and staff members who participated in writing proposals and administering grantfunded projects this year. “The results speak for themselves,” says Acting Provost Dr. Bruce Barnhart. “Our faculty were awarded $3.5 million (in grants and contracts) this year. … It speaks to their initiative and work ethic.”
Listen here
To see and hear Dr. Yugo Ikach and the Washington Symphony Orchestra perform the theme from ‘Monday Night Football,’ visit www.calu.edu/news; choose ‘Cal U Review’ and click on ‘As Seen in the Review.’
The 2012 edition of Laude, the grants yearbook, contains information about this year’s grant-writing activity. Laude is available online at www.calu.edu, keyword “Office of Grants and Contracts.”
Researcher returns for tech talks
Dr. Sugata Mitra, renowned internationally for his research in educational technology, returned to campus to meet with Cal U faculty, students and staff, as well as educators from nearby school districts. A professor of educational technology at Newcastle (U.K.) University and a visiting professor at the MIT Media Lab, Mitra is best known for his “hole in the wall” experiment with children and computers. His 2011 visit to California centered on the Cal U Fusion initiative and the new Teaching and Learning Center, which helps faculty make the most of “smart” classrooms and other high-tech teaching and learning tools.
This time, Mitra spent his day in dialogue with educators and students, including a videoconference with teachers from the Elizabeth Forward School District. His visit closed with a public presentation on “The Future of Learning” and a panel discussion in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre.
Dr. Sugata Mitra conducts a videoconference with students from Elizabeth Forward Middle School. WINTER 2013 CAL U REVIEW 21 n
ALUMNI S P O T L I G H T Special moment
To watch preschool teacher Kathy Aheimer Duritza ’89 learn that she’d won a $10,000 Know ledge Universe Early Childhood Educator Award, visit www.calu.edu/news; choose ‘Cal U Review’ and click on ‘As Seen in the Review.’
“We are very hands-on,” Duritza says of her class of mostly 3-year-olds. “We do things parents may not attempt because it’s too messy,” she adds, mentioning activities that involve lots of glue, starch and food coloring. “Cardboard is very important. My husband, Don ’86, will bring boxes home from work, or I’ll go searching for pieces people have thrown away. I envision things on it! “My true reward is helping the children learn about something they didn’t know when they came in that day.” Kathy Duritza ‘89
By Wendy Mackall, assistant communication director at Cal U
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
Storybook surprise
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or Kathy Aheimer Duritza ’89, of Millvale, Pa., a routine September workday truly did have a storybook ending. The preschool teacher at North Hills KinderCare Learning Center found out that she’d won a $10,000 Knowledge Universe Early Childhood Educator Award when the center’s director, Rebecca Stein, flipped to the last page of a book she was reading to the class. “The story was about a ‘good news bird’ who always did above and beyond what she was supposed to do,” explains Duritza, whose degree is in elementary education. “The bird was going to win $10,000 and take a trip to a conference in Atlanta. And then, on the last page, it said our center has its very own good news bird! “It came as a total surprise. There were people there from our corporate offices that day, but they said they were doing filming for training videos. So that’s what I assumed the cameras were doing there during story time — filming interactions with the kids.” The Educator of the Year awards recognize teachers who demonstrate exceptional skills in teaching young children. More than 35,000 teachers, including those at KinderCare, are part of the Knowledge Universe umbrella of companies. Duritza, who has worked at North Hills KinderCare for nine years, also was recognized this fall at the annual National Association for the Education of Young Children conference in Atlanta, Ga. A typical week finds “Ms. Kathy’s room” decorated with colorful cardboard tepees, igloos or barnyards, all designed to engage a very active age group.
Tech network
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enee Randall ’82 rode the technology wave until the dot.com bubble burst, founded her own business, then made a shift to the burgeoning biotechnology industry. A specialist in marketing communications, Randall moved to the Washington, D.C., area shortly after she left Cal U with a degree in communication studies. She spent the next 20 years helping technology companies articulate their technological vision and corporate mission. “In the 1980s, ’90s and early 2000s, it was important for tech firms to communicate with industry analysts,” she explains.
Renee Randall ‘82
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Potential customers, Wall Street investors and the media all looked to those third-party analysts for information and endorsements of tech-sector firms. So Randall made those connections on behalf of companies including GE Information Services, Platinum Technology and Legent Corp. In 2001 she moved to Stratagem Marketing, which specialized in building relationships between technology leaders and venture capitalists. When the company folded in the wake of 9/11 and the tech-sector downturn, she opened her own business, RCR Consulting. “From 2001 through 2008 I did marketing communications consulting, leveraging the relationships I’d built in the technology field,” Randall explains. One of her customers was active in Women in Technology International, a global trade association for professional, tech-savvy women. Randall helped to start a D.C-area chapter of WITI, and she served on the organization’s board.
Storm warnings
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That relationship helped her pivot toward biotechnology, a sector energized by the human-genome sequencing accomplished by the National Institutes of Health. Since 2008 Randall has worked for the biotech leader QIAGEN Inc., where she is the senior marketing support manager for the Americas. Founded in Germany, QIAGEN creates sample and assay technologies, serving customers in two areas: life sciences where it provides veterinary, food and forensics testing, automation solutions, and academic research; and molecular diagnostics, which includes both personalized health care and women’s health prevention testing. “I manage our brand and help our sales and marketing managers reach our customers,” says Randall, who often uses audio and videoconferencing technology to connect with colleagues overseas. She maintains ties with Cal U, as well, and has volunteered to mentor a student through the Cal U Career Coach program. “I was a transfer student when I came to California, but I made good, long-lasting friendships there,” she says. “It was a nice, close-knit community, and it gave me a good foundation for my career.”
fter two years at Cal U, Kevin Wagner ’09 changed his major from meteorology to emergency management. In the end, both areas helped to build his career. Wagner is in his second year as regional integration center coordinator for the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, part of a six-person “watch desk” that oversees emergencies and other events that affect the city. “We act as a point of contact between OEM personnel in the field and our other contacts and liaisons. On a daily basis, we support the planning staff with research and writing, and we monitor Kevin Wagner ‘09 social media on weather or breaking news,” he says. Wagner previously served as a municipal planning specialist for Montgomery County, where he provided weather briefings for major storms including Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. He also conducted damage surveys and renewed the county’s StormReady certification with the National Weather Service. As a meteorology major at Cal U, Wagner broadcast weather reports for CUTV and WCAL. He took part in two storm chases and intercepted a tornado in Kansas. But he also enjoyed fighting fires with the California Volunteer Fire Department. Ultimately, he earned his bachelor’s degree in geography, with a specialization in Geographic Information Systems and emergency management. “The marriage of meteorology and emergency management has really worked out well for me,” Wagner says. “I’ve become something of a natural hazard specialist.” “Kevin Wagner is a study in perseverance,” says Dr. Chad Kauffman, a former adviser to the Meteorology Club. “I am proud that he has found a career path that suits his interests and gives him the recognition he deserves.” “He is all about service learning,” adds Dr. Tom Mueller, professor of GIS. “When I hear his name, the first thing that comes to my mind is his passion for service-learning projects and making sure those particular projects were as helpful to the community as possible.” Today, Wagner also writes for phillyweather.net, an online weather site. He keeps in touch with his former professors, and with others who helped along the way. “Those two (professors) are still very interested in what I do, and I’m grateful,” he says. “If I’m a success story, then it’s due to the Cal U faculty and the Office of Student Success.”
By Christine Kindl, communications director at Cal U
By Bruce Wald ’85, information writer at Cal U
I was a transfer student when I came to California, but I made good, long-lasting friendships there. It was a nice, close-knit community, and it gave me a good foundation for my career. Renee Randall SENIOR MARKETING SUPPORT MANAGER, QUIAGEN
WINTER 2013 CAL U REVIEW 23 n
French connection Global company needs language lessons, turns to Cal U
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t first glance, there is nothing atypical about lunchtime at Alstom Grid, an electrical grid solutions company in Charleroi, Pa. But after the phone calls to take-out eateries and the rustling of brown paper bags, nearly 25 Alstom Grid employees slip into a large conference room three days a week to take French lessons from Dr. Mary Randall, a professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures at Cal U. “Etes-vous prêt pour l’examen?” she asks the class members as they arrive. The employees laugh nervously at the idea of being ready to take a graded exam. They seem relieved to learn the “test” will be a collaborative effort. Alstom Grid is one branch of the Alstom Group, a company headquartered in France that specializes in electrical grids, power generation and transportation infrastructure. Many of the Alstom Grid employees find it difficult to communicate with co-workers in other offices, especially those in Frenchspeaking regions of Canada. The lessons are designed to help. “Alstom is a French-owned company, and it will be great to be able to communicate with some of the other offices,” says Nanci Twardowski, a project manager with the company. “Learning the French language and culture components will be very beneficial. “ After obtaining a grant to fund a lunchtime French course, Alstom Grid turned to Cal U. “This program runs parallel with my introductory French class on campus,” Randall says. It even uses the same textbook, Liaisons. “The main challenge with this course is that these people are learning French voluntarily during their lunch hour, so we designed the program to be free of pressure.”
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Engineers Ramaprasad Lakshminarayana (left) and Jonathan Wright study French with Dr. Mary Randall during their lunch hours at Alstom Grid in Charleroi, Pa.
Instead of graded exams, Alstom Grid employees take assessments for their own personal use. There is no evaluation by company management or the professor. “They are here to learn as much as they possibly can and have fun while doing it,” Randall says. Employees say that learning introductory French will improve their productivity. “In my position, learning French is going to help tremendously, because I work with disconnect switches, and our factory in Montreal, Canada, produces them,” says Bradley Thomas, a mechanical designer at Alstom Grid. “I constantly work back-and-forth with them, and only a few can speak English. We have one person in our office who is French-Canadian, and if he is not available, it is very difficult to communicate what we need.” It turns out that Alstom Grid employees aren’t the only ones benefiting from the lessons. Speaking with a few employees who are native to France allows Randall to practice the language and stay au courant with French culture. “I get to share this passion I have for French,” she says. “I am always looking for ways to experience the French language and engage in conversation, or I lose the flow of the language. “This has been my life’s passion, and these people are great to work with. Any opportunity I have to share tidbits of information with them is magnifique.” By Jeff Bender, PR/Web writer at Cal U
SPORTS P R O F I L E
ATHLETIC TRAINER LANDS JOB WITH THE NBA Master’s degree program informs his work with the San Antonio Spurs
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thletic trainer Daisuke “Dice” Yamaguchi’s journey from Japan to the National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs included a stop at California University — and he says he’s still using what he learned at Cal U. Yamaguchi had completed a bachelor’s degree at Indiana State University and was an intern with the Indiana Pacers when he attended the National Athletic Trainers Association’s annual meeting and clinical symposium in Indianapolis. There he learned that Cal U offered an accredited Master of Science in Athletic Training. “It was a very intriguing program, especially because you could finish it in one year,” says Yamaguchi, who learned English at age 19 and came to the United States from Fukuoka, the largest city on the Japanese island of Kyushu. “Also, courses were offered working with cadavers, which interested me.” Yamaguchi worked on his master’s degree at Cal U from May 2006 through the summer of 2007. A graduate athletic trainer for the Vulcan football and softball teams, he completed a thesis examining the relationship between posture and functional balance. Along the way, he made a lasting impression on several Cal U faculty members. Dr. Rebecca Hess, a professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies, advised Yamaguchi on his master’s thesis. “He was one of my most energetic students, very focused and diligent about what he was doing,” she recalls. “Not only does he have good intellectual skills, but he also has good intuitive knowledge. “With his research he always came back with questions and went beyond what I was assigning.” Yamaguchi worked for the Philadelphia Eagles during the summer of 2007. Dr. Barry McGlumphy, coordinator for the Exercise Science and Health Promotion program, steered him toward the job.
Honestly, the time I spent at Cal U and the people I met there helped me a great deal. They opened doors for me, and the knowledge I learned there I still use.
Athletic trainer Dice Yamaguchi (right) works with player Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs. Photo Courtesy of San Antonio Spurs Basketball Communications Department
In fall 2007 Cal U’s Dr. Ron Wagner pointed Yamaguchi toward an opening with the Austin Toros of the NBA Developmental League. Yamaguchi landed the job with the Toros, making the adjustment from a college team’s schedule to a full 50-game season. In addition to working as an athletic trainer, he was the team’s equipment manager, strength coach and travel coordinator. Four years later he advanced to his current role as assistant athletic trainer with the Spurs. Now Yamaguchi is busy helping pro basketball players remain healthy during their quest for an NBA title — and he credits California University for kick-starting his career. “Honestly, the time I spent at Cal U and the people I met there helped me a great deal,” he says. “They opened doors for me, and the knowledge I learned there I still use.” Vulcan softball coach Rick Bertagnolli remembers Yamaguchi as a valued part of the team. At practices, he’d even shag fly balls when outfielders were needed. “His attention to detail was just tremendous. Dice would always check up on our players,” Bertagnolli says. “He was a trainer extraordinaire. I am not surprised at all at the level he’s at now and the type of athletes he’s working with.” A lifelong NBA fan, Yamaguchi has clearly found a home in the Alamo City. “It’s a great atmosphere here, very family-oriented,” he says. “I enjoy working with our players. Everyone is nice, works hard and treats you like an equal.” By Bruce Wald ’85, information writer at Cal U
Dice Yamaguchi ALUMNUS, NBA TRAINER WINTER 2013 CAL U REVIEW 25 n
SPORTS R O U N D U P
SCHOLAR-ATHLETES SCORE AWARDS TEAMS CHALK UP FINAL NUMBERS FOR THE FALL SPORTS SEASON Earlier last fall the Vulcans won the 11-team Indianapolis Invitational and placed second at the 16-team Carson Newman (Tenn.) and 14-team Grand Valley State (Mich.) invitationals.
Men’s golf
Abbey Freund
Stephanie Thompson
T
wo Cal U student-athletes — Abbey Freund, a setter on the volleyball team, and Stephanie Thompson, a midfielder on the soccer team — capped off the fall athletics season by winning the PSAC Champion Scholar Award in their respective sports. The award, now in its second year, is presented at each of the PSAC’s 23 team championship finals. It honors the male and female student-athlete at each contest with the top cumulative grade-point average. Freund, a junior, became the first female student-athlete to receive the award in consecutive years. A communication disorders major, she owned a cumulative GPA of 3.92 at the time of the awards. She also was named to the Capital One Academic All-District First-Team for the second consecutive season. Thompson, a junior who is studying sports management, had a 3.94 cumulative GPA. She also is a Capital One Academic All-District First-Team selection. Also earning academic honors was senior Chet Welc, a lineman on the Vulcan football squad. He was named a Capital One Academic All-American by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America. Just the fifth student-athlete in school history to repeat as an Academic All-American, Welc earned a 3.66 cumulative GPA while completing his bachelor’s degree in secondary
26 CAL U REVIEW WINTER 2013 n
Chet Welc
education last spring. He now is pursuing a master’s degree in school administration.
Women’s golf The women’s golf team wrapped up the fall season by winning its fourth PSAC championship in five years. Cal U ended the two-day league championship tournament 23 strokes ahead of second-place Gannon University, which last year nabbed the PSAC title that had been owned by the Vulcans from 2008-2010. Senior Maria Lopez earned PSAC medalist honors, leading all golfers with a six-over 148 (73-75). She joins Simone DeSouza (2008) and Jenna Rothermel (2009-2010) as the only conference medalists in program history. Lopez won the individual PSAC title by four strikes over Cal U senior Lorena Aranda, who carded a twoday total of 10-over 152 (75-77). Senior Kim Thomas finished fifth after posting a 16-over 158 (81-77).
PSAC medalist Maria Lopez
Cal U closed its season with a second-place showing at the PSAC championships, the second time it has reached that mark in the past four years. Sophomores Charlie Durman and Jordan Eck led the way. Durman finished second, just one stroke behind the medalist, with Eck right behind in a third-place tie. Freshman Brad Thornton tied for 13th. The Vulcans also finished a strong second at the eight-team Mercyhurst Invitational tournament.
Men’s soccer Repeating a feat last accomplished in 2005, the Vulcans qualified for the PSAC tournament for the second year in a row. But the team tied, 1-1, in the quarterfinals and watched the season end in a heartbreaking 8-7 shootout. Sophomore midfielder Jeffrey Kyei earned first-team all-conference honors, and defenders Lubos Kubik and Billy Wilson were named to the second team. Men’s soccer finished the seasons with an 11-6-2 overall record.
Women’s soccer The women’s soccer team finished the season with a 16-5-1 overall record and earned its fourth consecutive berth at the NCAA Tournament. Six players received all-conference honors, including senior Kayla Fransko and sophomore Chelsea Crockett, both first-team selections. Forward Haley Henderson, a sophomore, led the team in scoring with 11 goals and 24 total points. She was a third-team all-conference pick, along with forward Erin Hogan and midfielders Carly Work and Kelsey Russo. Freshman goalkeeper Ashley Magruda finished the season with eight shutouts and 0.84 goals-against-average, fourth best in the program’s history.
Soccer player Janelle McCann (right) celebrates after scoring a goal.
finishers were senior Carly Youngeberg (52nd) and sophomore Allison Hall (65th). Kling also finished in 28th place at the PSAC championships, where Cal U ended at No. 9 in the team standings.
Football
Cross country runner Erin Kling
Cross country The men’s cross country team took its first title since 2010 at the Waynesburg Invitational. Sophomores Nick Pezza and Nick Gibson, joined by senior Chris Poss, finished at Nos. 3, 4 and 5 at the annual meet. Pezza also led the way for Cal U at the PSAC championships, where he placed 26th as the Vulcans finished eighth overall. Poss stepped up and led Cal to a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championships, finishing the race at No. 54. On the women’s squad, junior Erin Kling finished 39th overall to lead her teammates to a 13th-place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. Cal U’s next-highest
Call it a game of Crazy Eights: The Vulcan football team finished with an 8-3 overall record, marking its eighth straight season of winning at least eight games. Among the season’s most memorable wins was a come-frombehind victory, 26-24, over Coal Bowl rival and eventual conference champion IUP. Ten Vulcan players received allconference recognition, including nine first-team honorees. Heading the list was four-time all-conference defensive back Rontez Miles, a senior who was named the PSAC-West Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Women’s tennis At the PSAC individual championships, Cal U junior Lucie Sipkova won the singles tennis crown and teamed with sophomore Lucie Rey to win the doubles title. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s fall rankings place the Vulcans eighth in NCAA Division II and first in the Atlantic Region heading into the 2013 season.
Volleyball The volleyball team made its eighth straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearance this season, advancing to the finals of the Atlantic Regional contest for the seventh year in a row. The Vulcans finished the season with a 30-8 overall record. Seniors Meghan Franz, Kelly Fromknecht and Brandy Harris all were named first-team all-conference and selected for Daktronics All-Atlantic Region teams. Franz, a three-time all-region hitter, was named to the first team, while Fromknecht and Harris were second-team picks.
Dixon Trophy Cal U finished the fall sports season at No. 3 in the Dixon Trophy standings. The trophy is awarded annually to the PSAC member institution with the most successful all-around program. The winner is determined by a point system based on the results of conference playoffs and/or regularseason records. This season, the league adopted a new scoring format to calculate the Dixon Trophy standings. They now are based on an average score for every PSAC Championship sport that an institution sponsors. By Bruce Wald ’85, information writer at Cal U
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A C ALL F OR NOM INATIONS
ALUMNI SEATS AVAILABLE ON FORUM COMMITTEES Alumni are encouraged to nominate themselves or alumni colleagues for appointment to Committees of the California University Forum. Appointments are for three (3) years. I. Athletic Advisory Committee Two (2) alumni seats are available on this committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint these members. II. Budget Committee Two (2) alumni seats are available on this committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint these members. III. Communication Committee Two (2) alumni seats are available on this committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint these members. IV. Core Values Committee Two (2) alumni seats are available on this committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint these members.
V. Planning & Priorities Committee Two (2) alumni seats are available on this committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint these members. VI. Safety & Social Equity Committee Two (2) alumni seats are available on this committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint these members. VII. Technology Committee Two (2) alumni seats are available on this committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint these members. Deadline for nominations is March 29, 2013. For further information regarding the Forum, visit the Forum website at http://www.calu.edu/ faculty-staff/administration/forum/index.htm
H NOMINATION FORM FOR APPOINTMENT TO FORUM COMMITTEES H ALUMNI SEATS The California University Forum Constitution provides that: “The Executive Committee shall appoint the membership of standing committees of the Forum in those cases where elections to committees are not explicitly called for. Appointments to standing committees shall be made only approximately in accordance with the preferences submitted by the members of the University community. In addition, in making its appointments, the Executive Committee will be sensitive to the University’s commitment to equity and diversity.” (Article VIII, Section I)
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Please complete form at right to nominate an individual (must be an alumna/alumnus of California University) for appointment to Cal U Forum committees. 2. Self-nominations are permitted. 3. Multiple nominations are permitted. This form may be duplicated.
Mrs. Dana Turcic, Recording Secretary Campus Box 99 California University of Pennsylvania 250 University Avenue California, PA 15419
NAME OF INDIVIDUAL BEING NOMINATED (PLEASE PRINT) Individual nominated for the following committees. If applicable, please indicate committees by order of preference (1, 2, 3) ____ Athletic Advisory Committee
____ Planning & Priorities Committee
____ Budget Committee
____ Safety & Social Equity Committee
____ Communication Committee
____ Technology Committee
____ Core Values Committee
4. Please indicate committees by order of preference. 5. Please forward this form to: Mrs. Dana Turcic, Recording Secretary, Campus Box 99, California University of Pennsylvania, 250 University Avenue, California, PA 15419, by MARCH 29, 2013.
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NOMINATION SUBMITTED BY (PLEASE PRINT)
PAYING IT F O R W A R D
ADVOCATE FOR ADOPTION
Scholarship continues alumna’s work of opening doors for children
W
hen Ron Oklewicz describes his wife, here’s what he calls her: Cal U’s Angel in Adoption. And over the course of a 35-year career in social Renette Oklewicz ‘69 services, first with Allegheny County Children and Youth Services and then with the Freddie Mac Foundation, it remains true. Renette Dunn Oklewicz’s heart belongs to the children. “I always knew I wanted to focus my career on helping children,” says Oklewicz, who is director of foundation programs for the Freddie Mac Foundation. “The most rewarding job of all has been to work to find permanent families for abused and neglected children who, through no fault of their own, end up in foster care.” As a result their mutual desire to give back, Ron and Renette Oklewicz, both 1969 graduates, have established a scholarship at Cal U that will give priority to a student who is currently or was recently in foster care, or who has a physical disability. “Ron and I look back fondly on our days at Cal U,” Oklewicz says. “Through the scholarship, we hope to give deserving young people who might otherwise struggle to get through college
Former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (left) joins Renette Oklewicz ‘69 at a Children’s Charities Foundation event.
Adoption advocate Renette Oklewicz ‘69 meets with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Actor Bruce Willis (center) joins Ron ‘69 and Renette ‘69 Oklewicz at a National Adoption Day celebration.
the same experience and opportunity we feel so fortunate to have had. “We know that our Cal U education opened doors for us that never would have opened otherwise.” Oklewicz’s career began with Allegheny County Children and Youth Services, where she led a groundbreaking effort first to identify older children, often considered unadoptable because of their ages, and then to recruit adoptive homes for them. In 1991, after relocating to a home near Washington, D.C., Oklewicz embarked on “the career of a lifetime” when she was given the opportunity to establish and serve as the first program officer of the Freddie Mac Foundation, the philanthropic arm of secondary mortgage-market giant Freddie Mac. In 22 years with the foundation, her accomplishments include creating a city-wide parenting education program in the District of Columbia; founding and leading National Adoption Day, a celebration of adoption that has grown from nine communities to more than 400 events nationwide; developing a PBS documentary, The Beat Down Club, about children in foster care; and managing the foundation’s national Wednesday’s Child televised adoption recruitment program in five major cities, resulting in the adoption of more than 2,000 hard-to-place children.
We know that our Cal U education opened doors for us that never would have opened otherwise. Renette Oklewicz ‘69 ‘ANGEL IN ADOPTION’
Her work was recognized by Congress in 2010, when she received its Angels in Adoption Award. In 2007 Freddie Mac honored her as an outstanding employee of the year. She is a founding member of Children’s Charities Foundation and has served on its board since 1994. CCF has raised more than $8 million for local charities serving needy children and their families. Oklewicz continues to volunteer with many organizations in the Washington, D.C., area, working with governors, athletes, business leaders and other difference-makers, all with one goal in mind — helping others. “We can all find ways to help young people who may have a deep desire and motivation to succeed in life but need a helping hand to achieve their goals,” she says. “Rarely does anyone get through life without the help and support of others.” By Wendy Mackall, assistant communications director at Cal U
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CONSIDER A CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY
Y
ou don’t have to be Marie Antoinette to “have your cake and eat it, too!” Neither do you have to “lose your head” in risky business, even in this age of persistent low interest rates. An alternative that makes sense is a gift to support California University — one that also can provide: • Generous, predictable income that will never go down. • Lifelong payments that can include both spouses. • A secure cash flow backed by the Foundation for California University of Pennsylvania. • Favorable tax treatment on that income flow. • An immediate charitable income tax deduction for a significant portion of the gift. These all can be gained by a gift to the Foundation for California University in the form of a Charitable Gift Annuity. This win-win giving begins with an individual alumnus, alumna, friend or parent who wants to provide a generous gift to benefit students or programs at Cal U. Income, security and tax advantages are all immediate and secondary objectives. Because no one knows the length of any life, income is paid from the gift until after those lives. Then University students and programs benefit from the remaining funds. Tables approved by the IRS set forth the income that can be received and the income tax that results from a Charitable Gift Annuity. Age, interest rates, life expectancies and gift amount are among the factors considered. Choosing to give cash or appreciated securities can further enhance the effect of a Charitable Gift Annuity.
The chart on this page shows a sampling of ages, the annual incomes and the proportion of each that would be tax-free as the result of a $10,000 gift. Note the differences between individuals and couples. Consider also that a significant charitable deduction can be applied to current income tax reporting. Additional information is available in booklet form or on the Cal U website; just visit www.calu.edu/giving and click on “Legacy & Planned Giving.” To receive the booklet or a customized personal proposal reflecting your age(s) and priorities, contact Gordon Core, director of planned giving, at 724-938-5985 or send e-mail to core@calu.edu.
RESULTS OF A $10,000 GIFT AT SAMPLE AGES* I N D IV I D U A L Age
Annual Payment*
Tax-Free Portion*
60
$440
$338
65
$470
$369
70
$510
$410
75
$580
$475
80
$680
$567
85
$780
$674
COUPLE Age
Annual Payment*
Tax-Free Portion*
68/64
$430
$340
72/68
$460
$369
75/71
$480
$389
77/73
$500
$409
80/76
$540
$447
*GIFTED 2/28/2013; RESULTS VARY BY AGES AND GIFT DATES
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CAL U M I L E S T O N E S 40s Jeanne Hornbake Pavia ’40 lives in Macedonia, Ohio. At Cal U, Jeanne lent her talents to the theater, the newspaper and the Monocal. She tells us that her father, Earl R. Hornbake, a campus electrician, built an electric motor for the tower clock in Old Main.
60s Gerry Cunningham ’63 is retired. He and his wife, Elizabeth ’64, live in Seminole, Fla. Gerry received his elementary education degree from Cal U. Dennis Wisnosky ’65 retired from government service on June 30, 2012, as the chief technical officer and chief architect for business operations in the U.S. Department of Defense, a position he held since 2006. His total time in service was 15 years — 1970 to 1980 and 2006 to 2012. He is returning to the private sector to continue to develop advanced technology concepts and products. Ron Danielson ’65, ’69, a retired FBI agent, returned to Cal U for Homecoming and brought the National Child Identification program to campus. Ron distributed 300 child identification packets to those attending the Homecoming festivities. The packets allow parents to take and store their children’s fingerprints in their own home. The program is a partnership of the American Football Coaches Association, the FBI and the Society of Former FBI Agents. Aaron Walton ’68, a member of the Cal U Council of Trustees, has been named the New Pittsburgh Courier’s 2012 Legacy honoree. The award is part of the Courier’s annual 50 Men of Excellence awards, which recognize exemplary African-American men in the Pittsburgh region. Walton is a member of the Council of Trustees at Cal U and is a retired Highmark senior vice president.
70s Georgina Truskey Hamer ’74, a sixthgrade language arts teacher, has been named a 2012 Teacher of the Year in the Middletown (Pa.) Area School District. Georgina, who has taught for 25 years in the district near Harrisburg, Pa., was recognized along with other Pennsylvania teachers of the year Nov. 14 at Shippensburg University.
Timothy Stash ’75 recently retired as a technology education teacher after 26 years in the Upper St. Clair (Pa.) School District. He lives in McKeesport, Pa., with his wife, Jane. Two of their four children are also Cal U grads. Harry J. Teti ’75, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, lives in Raeford, N.C., with his wife, Maria, and dachshund, Cozmo. Harry enlisted in the Air Force in 1975, was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1980 and retired as a colonel in 2005. His last duty assignment was Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he served as chief of the Readiness Division (Logistics Directorate) Headquarters, United States Air Forces, Europe. Previously, he served as the deputy chief of logistics/maintenance at Osan Air Base, Korea. He commanded two Air Force supply squadrons at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
80s Dr. J.K. Folmar Jr. ’76, ’81 is principal of Rostraver Middle School in Belle Vernon, Pa. His school has earned Adequate Yearly Progress for 11 straight years. Dennis Thomas James Wynder ’85 accepted a position as a male tactical officer at The Howe School in Howe, Ind., a military boarding school for students in grades 7-12. Dennis also works at two boys’ basketball camps during the summer. At Cal U, he was the men’s basketball team manager, statistician for men’s basketball and football, and public address announcer for Hamer Hall gymnasium events. Robert Nemchik ’85, general manager of Porsche Logistics Services, was named the 20112012 Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America Businessperson of the Year. During the year Rob conducted four leadership workshops at four Pennsylvania high schools and leadership workshops at the Pennsylvania and national FBLA leadership conferences. He also acts as a consultant to the state FLBA board of directors, developing strategies to engage other business leaders in mentoring high school students. At Porche Logistics, he is responsible for three distribution centers, transportation and inventory management, and 90 employees. Will Rodgers ’87 is manager of communications for Tampa Electric. He lives in Palm Harbor, Fla. At Cal U, he was in the marching, jazz and junk bands, and the Young and Gifted Gospel Choir. He also was a member of the newspaper staff, Old Main magazine and Delta Sigma Phi.
90s Kathleen Hyde Clark ’91 is retired. She majored in journalism and creative writing at Cal U and wrote for the Review and Flipside. She was a member of Sigma Tau Delta and shared her written stories at many campus gatherings. Kathleen DeSantis ’92 lives in Monongahela, Pa. At Cal U, she was a member of Beta Beta Beta, the national biology honor society. Michelle Adams ’92 is a case manager at Park Place Behavioral Healthcare. She lives in Kissimmee, Fla. At Cal U, Michelle was in choir and the special ensemble choir. Barry Niccolai ’93 is assistant executive director at Centerville Clinics, a nonprofit community health center. He worked at Cal U for 31 years in various positions, including associate vice president for student development and services, and dean for residence and off-campus student life. He is enjoying his second career helping to provide primary health care to the residents of Washington, Fayette and Greene counties. Benjy Strope ’96, of White Oak, N.C., a technical assistance biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, has been honored with the Wildlife Management Excellence Award from the Southeastern Section of The Wildlife Society. He was recognized for his success since 2006 in establishing and managing a wildlife habitat in southeastern North Carolina that is part of the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative. Brian Schill ’97 is the new executive director of the Peters Township (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce. Brian spent 20 years in the Air Force and was a pilot with the 171st Air Refueling Wing until his retirement as a lieutenant colonel in 2006. He lives in Upper St. Clair with his wife, Linda. They have three adult children. Sharon Romanowich ’98 lives in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. She graduated from Cal U with a master’s degree in speech language pathology. Louise Urban ’98 has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She joined Jefferson Regional as a nurse in the intensive care unit in 1991 and was promoted numerous times. She was named senior vice president of hospital operations in 2010. Kimberly Martos ’98 is a human resources manager at ClosetMaid. She lives in Bentleyville, Pa.
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CAL U M I L E S T O N E S In print A book launch party was recently held for The Devil and Preston Black (Raw Dog Screaming Press), the second novel in the Murder Ballads and Whiskey series by Uniontown, Pa., native Jason Jack Miller ’96. His newest novel is set in Morgantown, W.Va. The third and fourth novels in the series are due out later this year. His first novel, Hellbender, received attention from PopMatters, an international magazine of cultural criticism and trend-spotting. For information about his books, visit www. rawdogscreaming.com. His books are also available at www.amazon.com.
John Lovett ’98, a fourth-grade teacher at McMurray Elementary School in the Peters Township (Pa.) School District and a professional musician, recently performed with his band, No Tune Left Behind, at a concert to support the anti-bullying movement. The other members of the band also teach at McMurray. The group writes and produces songs, music videos, live shows, 30-minute video musicals and curriculum to help combat bullying and aggression in their school.
00s Michael Worthington ’01 recently was hired as principal of the United Junior/ Senior High School in Armagh, Pa. Michael’s experience in education includes a decade as a social studies and technology teacher in the Ligonier Valley School District. He also served as head softball coach at Ligonier Valley. Anne Harrington Dugan ’01 has been honored by the American Heart Association’s West Virginia Regional Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee as an exceptional regional faculty mentor. Dugan, who works for the West Virginia University Extension Service, coordinates and instructs courses in first aid, CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators. She also provides “safe sitter” training and assists in the set-up and instruction of other life support courses at WVU Extension’s Shirley M. Kimble Training Center. Tiffany Horvat ’02 lives in North Huntingdon Township, Pa. She was an education major at Cal U.
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Kristopher D. White ’05 has co-authored a book, Simply Murder: The Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, with Chris Mackowski. Kristopher is a historian for the Penn-Trafford Recreation Board in Westmoreland County, Pa., and a continuing education instructor for the Community College of Allegheny County. He served for five years as a staff military historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and is a former licensed battlefield guide at Gettysburg. More information about the book is available at www.savasbeatie.com. The book also is available at www.amazon.com.
Loralie Koerbel Bruce ’05 is a Realtor at Keller Williams Realty. She and her husband, Jeremy, live in Pittsburgh, Pa. At Cal U, Loralie was a member of Theta Xi. P.J. Mainville ’05 is the new head athletic trainer for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. He has 15 years of athletic training experience in professional baseball, including six with the Arizona Diamondbacks and nine in the Baltimore Orioles’ minor league system. He is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society. Jason Steele ’05 is a freelance associate producer for Root Sports Pittsburgh. Recently, he won a 2012 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award in the “Sporting Event/Game — Live/Unedited Program/Special/Series” category. In his role with Root Sports he finds storylines for Pirates broadcasts in addition to providing statistics and graphics to support those stories. He also provides information for the one-air broadcasters. Jason lives in Washington, Pa., with his wife, Sophie, and son, Logan, 2. At Cal U he was a news anchor and produced sports broadcasts for CUTV. He also announced basketball games on WCAL (then WVCS).
Jessica Curran ’06 is a professor at Salt Lake Community College and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. She majored in graphic design at Cal U. Janelle Buchheit ‘02, ‘06 is the founder of New Heights Coaching (www.newheightscoaching.com). She received her education in coaching at the Duquesne University School of Leadership and is certified by the International Coach Federation. In her role as a life coach, she works with adults and students of all ages in the United States and internationally. Her background includes more than eight years of experience in counseling and coaching. At Cal U, she was president and secretary of the Student Counseling Association. She was also a student senator for the University Forum, a Cal U peer mentor and a member of the Graduate Student Association. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pa. Bethany Childs Kelly ’07 is vice president of operations for Platinum Brands Inc. She and her husband, Lliam ’07, live in New Freedom, Pa. Angela Ross Schwartz ’08 is a mental health therapist for Wesley Spectrum. She and her husband, John, live in South Park, Pa. Eric Kubicsek ’08 works for UPMC and lives in Munhall, Pa. At Cal U, he majored in sport management. Anna Permyashkin Shlyahovsky ’08 lives in Claysville, Pa., with her husband, Ilya. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree at Cal U. Melissa John ’08 has joined the law firm of Peacock Keller, in Washington, Pa. She focuses her practice on civil litigation, health/hospital matters and insurance defense. She has served as a faculty member for the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania and the Juvenile Defenders Association of Pennsylvania. She is currently an adjunct faculty member at Community College of Allegheny County, where she teaches classes in the business law/paralegal program. She is a member of the Washington County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Stephanie Hayes Ambrose ’09 lives in West Newton, Pa., with her husband, Samuel ’11. She was a business administration major at Cal U with a concentration in marketing.
Firefighters on ice The Pittsburgh Penguins recently hosted a charity hockey game between the Pittsburgh Bureau of Firefighters and the City of Pittsburgh Police Officers. Proceeds benefitted Matt Onyshko ’03, a seven-year veteran of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Firefighters who is fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). A matching donation, along with building supplies to renovate the Onyshko home, was made by 84 Lumber. For a video clip of the charity event, visit http://penguins.nhl.com and search “police vs. firefighters.”
10s
MARRIAGES
Alana Hixon ’10 is a teacher in the Bethel Park (Pa.) School District. She is attending Cal U to become a certified reading specialist.
Michael McLaughlin Jr. ’08 and Brittany Golubosky were married Nov. 23, 2012. Michael is a firefighter for the Peters Township and North Strabane fire departments in Washington County, Pa. Brittany is an independent distributor for Premier Designs.
Tim Baugh ’10 works at the U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as the outdoor recreation director for morale, welfare and recreation. Recently he took a class in emergency operation center training to prepare for disasters, and he credits his Geographic Information Systems courses at Cal U with allowing him to be selected to participate. Kirk Fontaine ’11 is a self-employed personal trainer. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Brad Bernas ’11 is the new academic assistant principal at Seton La Salle Catholic High School in Mount Lebanon, Pa. Most recently, he was a teacher in the Kiski (Pa.) Area School District. Mandy Woodford ’11 is a customer care representative for GE Oil and Gas. She lives in St. Marys, Pa. At Cal U, she was an alumni ambassador and a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority. Jesse Killosky ’11 lives in Finleyville, Pa. Jessica Kilpatrick ’12 is a fourth- and fifth-grade learning support teacher at River Gate Elementary School in the CharlotteMecklenburg School District. She lives in Huntersville, N.C. Jordaine Anderson ’12 is a certified athletic trainer for Westarm Therapy and Homecare of Lower Burrell, Pa. Jordaine is providing athletic training services in the Burrell School District this year. Previously, she worked at Cal U in the physical rehabilitation programs, at several high schools in the Monongahela, Pa., area, and at the Physical Therapy Institute, where she provided outpatient services. She is a member of the National, Eastern and Pennsylvania athletic trainers associations. Leonard Hardy ’12 is a physical therapist assistant. He lives in Piscataway, N.J. Sara Chamberlain ’12 has been hired as an athletic trainer at Central Maine Conditioning Clinic in Auburn, Maine. A certified functional movement screen exercise professional, Sara is certified by the National Athletic Training Board of Certification and a member of the Maine Athletic Trainer and National Athletic Trainer associations. Casey Giles ’08, ’12 is a part-time counselor at South Pennsylvania Human Services in Greene County, Pa. She recently was featured in a Tribune-Review article for her efforts to achieve an education while battling the effects of multiple sclerosis.
Michael Anglin ’11 and Ashley Cox were married June 30, 2012, in the Poland (Ohio) United Methodist Church. Michael is an elementary teacher in the Sharpsville (Pa.) Area School District. Ashley is a portfolio manager supervisor for Home Savings and Loan Co. in Youngstown, Ohio. Lindsay Luongo ’06 and Timothy Fritz were married June 22, 2012. Lindsay works for Palermo/Kissinger & Associates. Timothy works for Fritz Fiber Optic Service. They live in Houston, Pa. Tad Hoy ’98, originally from Spraggs, Pa., and Shera Hill, originally from Waynesburg, Pa., were married Sept. 29, 2012, in Spraggs Methodist Church. Tad is a land management supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Shera is a registered nurse at Southwest Regional Medical Center. Stephanie Domske ’04 and Dwayne Waller were married Aug. 4, 2012, at the Surf Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Stephanie is an English teacher at North Myrtle Beach High School. Dwayne is a co-owner of SOCAR Consultants and a retired chief of the training division of the Horry County (S.C.) Fire Department. They live in Little River, S.C.
William Cramer ’08 and Jocely Seabright were married Sept. 15, 2012, in Sacred Heart Church, Claysville, Pa. Jocely is a dental hygienist. William is a captain at the Washington County (Pa.) Correctional Facility. The couple visited Riviera Maya, Mexico, for their honeymoon. Laura Lapacik ’08, originally from Canonsburg, Pa., and Robert Hasson, originally from Washington, Pa., were married Oct. 27, 2012, in Holy Rosary Church, Muse, Pa. Laura is an account coordinator in business development at Blanc Printing Co., Bridgeville, Pa. Robert is a driver for Waste Management. They visited Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, for their honeymoon. Noraann Zimmerman ’00 and Justin Peel were married on Oct. 22, 2011. Noraann is an income maintenance caseworker for the Department of Public Welfare. While attending Cal U she was a member of the 1997 and 1998 NCAA Division II national championship softball teams. The couple lives in Schuylkill Haven, Pa.
Teachers honored Ryan Devlin ’08 a teacher in at Brockway (Pa.) Area High School, has been named Pennsylvania’s 2013 Teacher of the Year. Ryan, in his fifth year at the high school, Photo by Joelle Watt teaches 11th-grade British literature, 8th-grade computer science and two senior-high electives: creative writing and digital media. He also serves as chair of the high school’s English department. His teaching methods include extensive use of technology in the classroom, for which he received the Keystone Technology Integrator Award in 2009. “My master’s degree in educational leadership from Cal U has enabled me to get more involved with overseeing the curriculum,” Ryan says. “After finishing
my master’s, I became the chair of our English Department at my school, which has enabled me to make a lot of important decisions directly related to student achievement. “I am thankful for my professors, who supplied me with a wealth of knowledge and resources that have strengthened my leadership skills.” Also recognized at the Keystone Awards of Excellence banquet in Hersey, Pa., was Jennifer Hoffner-Turkowski, a first-grade teacher at University Park Elementary School in the Gateway School District, which serves Monroeville and Pitcairn. She won the Milken Educator Award, sponsored by the Milken Family Foundation. The foundation annually honors K-12 teachers, principals and specialists across the nation with a $25,000 individual award. Jennifer earned a teaching certificate from Cal U in 2004 and is pursuing her Master of Education and principal certification at the University.
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CAL U M I L E S T O N E S ENGAGEMENTS Kristen Sabatini ’00, ’02 and Daniel Wagner, both of Uniontown, Pa., are engaged. They are planning a wedding for September 2014. Craig Leister, of Burnham, Pa., and Stephanie Gehman, of Selinsgrove, Pa., are engaged. Craig is pursuing a master’s degree in education at Cal U and is a technology education teacher in the Radnor Township School District. Stephanie is a third-grade teacher in the Solanco School District, in Quarryville, Pa. They are planning a June 2013 wedding in York, Pa. Brittany Balaz ’11 and Ryan Jerico ’09 are engaged. Ryan proposed to Brittany on Cal U’s campus on May 12, 2012. Brittany is a project analyst for the Global Manufacturing department at Mylan Inc. in Canonsburg, Pa. Ryan is a business development manager at TFG Partners in Pittsburgh, Pa. They are excited to begin their life together along with Ryan’s son, Tyler, and plan to wed in August 2013. Jennifer Pavlik ’11 and Kevin York are engaged. Jennifer is a special education teacher at Intermediate Unit 1, which serves Fayette, Greene and Washington counties in Pennsylvania. Kevin is an associate pastor at New Hope Church of the Nazarene in Washington, Pa. They are planning a wedding for July 2013. Lindsey Allerton ’11, of China Grove, N.C., and Christopher Hart, of Howell, N.J., are engaged. Lindsey is pursuing her doctorate in
physical therapy at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey, and Rutgers University. Christopher works for PNC Bank as the market deposit manager of Central Jersey. They are planning an August 2013 wedding.
6 pounds, 3 ounces and 21 inches long. The Riddells were married June 3, 2011. Megon works as a specialist in the Environmental Office at Fort Indiantown Gap. The family lives in Jonestown, Pa.
Christopher Hartlep ’07 and Tara Eiben ’08 are engaged. They are planning a wedding in Pittsburgh, Pa., in June 2013.
IN MEMORIAM
BIRTHS Jamie Lynn Blosser Kamp ’01 and her husband, Jody, announce the birth of their second daughter, Abrielle Jaymes, on Oct. 5, 2012. Jamie is the head teacher at George J. Plava Elementary School in the Albert Gallatin Area School District. The family lives in Farmington, Pa. Amy Primm Wentzel ’04 and her husband, Ben, announce the birth of their daughter, Sophia Lynn, on Sept. 20, 2012. Amy is a speech/language therapist with the Westmoreland County Intermediate Unit in Greensburg, Pa. Ben is director of business development for Westmoreland County, Pa., and a real estate agent with ExP Realty. Grandparents include David ’90 and Karen ’86 Primm. Karen is retired from her position as director of the Internship Center at Cal U.
Betty Bernhagen ’81 Ruth Thompson Billheimer ’79 Martha Kay Bosley ’77 Wayne Russell Coombs ’92 Rebecca Florence “Becky” Davis ’64 Richard V. “Dick” “Coach” Fields ’62, a member of the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame Richard P. Filchock ’61, former computer science and technology instructor at Cal U Laddie L. Griglak ’40 Dolores Sterbenz Kaukonen ’53 Pauline Paling Keller ’43 Emily Hale Lambert ’04 Wilbur Renee Landman Jr. ’89 Stephen Levendos,* emeritus faculty and former department chair in psychology Rose Dalaidi Lofstead ’40, emerita professor, supervisor of student teaching and a recipient of the John R. Gregg Medallion for Loyalty and Service, and the Cal U Medallion of Distinction Thelma Vivian Bertrand McDowell ’40 Craig L. Miller ’69 Virginia M. Niccolai ’43 MaryAnn Levkulich Pollacci ’76 Rosalie Tumbry Taylor ’62 Doreen Ann Toth ’93, ’97
Megon L. Laudenslager Riddell ’02 and her husband, Marcus, welcomed William MarcKirby Riddell on May 10, 2012. William was
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A balloon bouquet and a warm embrace from fiance Francis Lawson greet new graduate Lisa Marie Phillips as Cal U’s 175th Commencement comes to a close. Phillips graduated with a degree in social work.
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