CLARION U N I V E R S I T Y
M A G A Z I N E
SPRING 2022
ADVENTURE
CADET'S DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT WITH ROTC Some students just know what they want out of their college experience, and for Clarion student Courtney Kosanovic, enrolling in the ROTC firmly aligned with her values, athleticism and career goals upon graduation.
Kosanovic is a junior nutrition and fitness major, who, in addition to serving in the ROTC, is a three-sport athlete in cross country, swimming and track where she runs in the 3000-meter steeplechase event.
TO READ MORE ABOUT COURTNEY KOSANOVIC, GO TO:
WWW.CLARION.EDU/KOSANOVIC
CLARION
S PR I N G 2 0 2 2 VOLUME 8 NUMBER 1
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
12 Rails to Trails
4 News Digest
As coal mining waned, railroads throughout the United States sat idle. Two former Clarion professors were instrumental in re-purposing local rail lines as recreational trails that are a boon to the local economy.
18 The Great Outdoors
As executive director of Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau, John Straitiff ’89 is focused on growing tourism-related businesses in his five-county region.
22 Hook, Line and Sinker
Hooked on fly tying and fishing at age 10, Tim Cammisa ’01 is reeling in success and sharing his expertise in his book, “Fly Tying for Everyone.”
26 The Last Frontier
After retiring, David and Kathy Wartinbee made their dream of living in Alaska into reality, embracing the beauty and climate of America’s 49th state.
Clarion gets Gold distinction in Military Friendly recognition; vice chancellor Pearson delivers Martin Luther King Jr. keynote; campuses join to celebrate Black history, women’s history; Interhall Council marks Pi Day by pie-ing profs; students from Clarion, California and Edinboro universities joined for the “MERGE” exhibition, featuring visual art and poetry.
10 Winter 2021 commencement 30 Sports Roundup Fifty years’ worth of fans honor Coach Bob Bubb in naming of wrestling facility; Hrovat inducted into Pennsylvania Sports hall of Fame; Clarion Sports Hall of Fame names 2022 inductees.
36 Alumni updates 40 #WingsUp Recreational Outdoors Club president Zachary Marcic says the group has one goal for students: Go outside and enjoy the natural beauty.
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President: Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson Executive editor: Tina Horner Co-editors: Sean Fagan (sports); Amy Thompson Wozniak ’02, ’06G Design: Bryan Postlewait ’04 Contributors: Michelle Port Shawna Bish Photographers: Brianna Kirkland ’16 Bryan Postlewait ’04 Address comments and questions to: Clarion University Magazine Center for Advancement Clarion University of Pennsylvania 840 Wood St., Clarion, PA 16214 Email: alumni@clarion.edu Visit Clarion University on the web at www.clarion.edu. Clarion University Magazine is published by the Division for University Advancement for alumni, families of current students and friends of Clarion University. Alumni information is also located at www.clarion.edu/alumni. Clarion University of Pennsylvania is committed to equal employment and equal educational opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, affection or sexual orientation, age, disability or other classifications that are protected under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other pertinent state and federal laws and regulations. Direct equal opportunity inquiries to: Director of Social Equity Clarion University of Pennsylvania 423 Becht Hall Clarion, PA 16214-1232 814-393-2109
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Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education Board of Governors Chair: Cynthia D. Shapira Vice Chair: David M. Maser Vice Chair: Samuel H. Smith Rep. Tim Briggs Audrey F. Bronson Joar Dahn Donald E. Houser Jr. Rodney Kaplan Jr. Barbara McIlvaine Smith Marian D. Moskowitz Thomas S. Muller Noe Ortega, designee for Sec. Rivera Pedro A. Rivera, secretary of education Rep. Brad Roae Sen. Judith L. Schwank Meg Snead, designee for Gov. Wolf Neil R. Weaver ‘00 Gov. Tom Wolf Janet L. Yeomans Council of Trustees Chair: J.D. Dunbar ’77, ’79G Vice Chair: Milissa Steiner Bauer ’84 Secretary: James L. Kifer ’83G Susanne A. Burns The Honorable R. Lee James ’74, ‘83G The Honorable Donna Oberlander ’91 Larry Pickett ’77 Kathryn Robinson, Student Trustee Brendan Shepherd ’16 Howard H. Shreckengost ’83 Neil Weaver ’00 Alumni Association Board of Directors President: Theresa Zacherl Edder ’91, ’05G President-Elect: David Reed ’09 Treasurer: Michael Phillips ’03, ’04G Secretary: Samantha Noblit Thauvett ‘09 Michael Chapaloney ‘99 Brian Cook ‘03 Henry Crawford ’02 Jeffrey Douthett ’79 Chelsea Signorino Ewing ’15 Sandra Hollenbaugh Jarecki ’69 Bridget Linnan Kennedy ’90, ‘07G Thomas Launer ’10 John Marshall ’87 Barry McCauliff ’72 Sean McDonald ’97, ‘01G Chris Myers ’12 Ryan Peffer ’03 Joseph Sciullo ’02 Shannon Fitzpatrick Thomas ’92 Virginia Cole Vasko ’88 Sydney Spang Eagle Ambassadors President Ann Thompson ex-officio Director of Alumni Engagement Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson ex-officio President, Clarion University
MIDDLE STATES, NCAA GRANT APPROVAL; PENNWEST LAUNCHES JULY 1, 2022 The PennWest integration project has received initial approval from our accrediting agency, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This is an important milestone on the path to integration. In approving the “complex substantive change request” submitted by Clarion, California and Edinboro, Middle States provides a clear path forward for our three campuses to officially unite as Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) July 1, 2022. Accreditation matters. The Department of Education requires a university to be accredited in order to receive federal funds, including student financial aid. Accreditation also assures students, families and communities that the university has completed a rigorous review process and provides a high-quality education. For more than two years, we have worked together to lay the foundation for PennWest, a student-focused university that incorporates the best of our three campuses. This action by the Middle States commission is a crucial step in creating a single accredited university with campuses at Clarion, California and Edinboro. It is important to note that PennWest students will graduate from an accredited university no matter which campus they call home. In its action, Middle States also reviewed a “teach-out plan,” ensuring that current students can complete the programs of study in which they are enrolled. In addition, NCAA has affirmed that California, Clarion, and Edinboro universities will continue as independent and separate athletic programs. This affirmation reflects the confidence in our campuses to successfully operate these programs and the important role that a strong intercollegiate program plays on a college campus. It also recognizes the impact that our student-athletes have on our campuses and in our communities.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Golden Eagles, Spring begins with a renewed sense of purpose as we get ready to integrate California, Clarion and Edinboro, and launch Pennsylvania Western University. Hundreds of people on all three campuses have spent more than 24 months preparing to launch PennWest. It’s a complex project, and the integrated university’s July debut will be a starting point, not the finish line. What will not change is our commitment to retaining the culture and identity of each PennWest campus. At Clarion, the Golden Eagles mascot, Homecoming celebration and other memorable traditions will remain, along with a full complement of athletics teams. This magazine focuses on the great outdoors. Pennsylvania has a continually expanding network of rails to trails, countless acres of forested land, rivers and lakes, and some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the United States. We are proud that our alumni are helping others to have safe, accessible, rewarding recreation. The future is bright! With about 14,500 students and 180,000 alumni, PennWest will be among the largest universities in western Pennsylvania. We will always be Golden Eagles, but we will also be part of a powerhouse university that is breaking new ground in higher education. With your loyalty and support, our Clarion campus will continue to transform the lives of students across Pennsylvania and beyond. Onward!
Dr. Dale
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STUDENT NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
M E R G E STUDENTS JOIN FOR MULTI-CAMPUS MERGE EXHIBITION Students from Clarion, California and Edinboro universities joined for the “MERGE” exhibition, featuring visual art and poetry they created in response to one of three prompts: • What is your most powerful campus memory? • What excites (or terrifies) you about your education? • What does MERGE mean to you? More than 60 student pieces, including photographs, prints, haiku poetry and photos of 3-dimensional artwork, were submitted for the tri-campus showcase, displayed simultaneously in Clarion’s Empty Set Gallery, California’s Vulcan Hall and Edinboro’s Bruce Gallery. Zoom programming enabled students from the three campuses to collaborate on the planning and curation processes.
Clarion student Adanna Maltony stands with her work, which is displayed as part of the MERGE exhibit.
“The goal of MERGE was to spark connections among students and art faculty at each of our three geographically distant campuses and to provide a platform for students to express their responses to integration,” said Lisa Austin, director of Edinboro’s Bruce Gallery. “It invites students to explore ideas of identity for our campuses, and/or what this merger might mean for them,” said Laura DeFazio, who has taught sculpture and drawing at California since 1997.
CLASS PROJECT PROFILES FEMALE ATHLETES Students in Dr. Carol Brennan-Caplan’s Gender in Sports class researched female athletes who are pioneers in the sporting world, then developed poster presentations. After the students presented their research in class, the posters were moved to the second floor of Ralston Hall for display throughout March.
Gender in Sports students DJ Rawley, Jeremy Ford and international student Robert Lachmann from Hamburg, Germany, researched Constance Applebee for their presentation.
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VENANGO NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
VENANGO HOSTS STUFF-A-PLUSH: MAKE, TAKE & DONATE Venango Campus Activities Board invited students this spring to make a stuffed animal to take home, then make another to donate to foster care services. The stuffed animals are given to children when they are placed in foster homes.
COMEDIAN/HYPNOTIST ENTERTAINS VENANGO CROWD Hypnotist Mike Lee performed at Venango campus this spring. Lee took volunteers from the crowd, put them into a state of hypnosis, and convinced
them they were professional rappers, elite athletes, in a dance competition, NASA scientists interviewing Martians, and other situations.
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ALUMNI NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
HUNSBERGER CONFIRMED TO BOARD OF NURSING Dr. Colby Hunsberger ’12, nursing instructor for Clarion University, was confirmed as a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. He fills a vacant seat with term expiration in May 2023. “Dr. Hunsberger is uniquely positioned for this role because of his expertise in the professional demands, challenges and responsibilities facing nurses in our rapidly changing health care environment,” wrote Rep. Donna Oberlander ’91 in her letter of recommendation. “His diverse training and education – in areas such as dementia, long-term care, students with special needs, COVID-19, telehealth, ethics and racial disparities – will serve him well.” He holds associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing and is a doctor of nursing practice. Hunsberger has worked in various capacities as a nurse, including in medical surgical, oncology and long-term care. He is a nurse aide evaluator, administering certification exams, and he is a certified academic clinical nurse educator.
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ALUMNI NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
GIBSON RELEASES BOOK ABOUT INNER STRUGGLES Alvin Gibson released a book, “Playing Defense Against the Inner Man.” Gibson said the book is designed to help readers look within themselves and learn why certain things continue to control people’s lives. “I know that sometimes other people, things and places play a role in our struggles, but the bottom line is the part you play,” he said. The book is available at store.bookbaby.com.
BOMBOY SELECTED AS ATD NATIONAL FINAL FOUR John Bomboy ’75, was selected as a National Final Four in the voting for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs Outstanding Member Award for 2021. ATD is a nationwide organization with more than 15,000 members. Bomboy, who retired from Marion Center Area High School in 2014, made 74 visits to 10 different facilities in 2021 with his golden retriever Bam-Bam. He lives in Home.
WASHABAUGH RETIRES Brad G. Washabaugh ’76 retired from RTI International in October 2021 after having worked there 16 years. He had been a vice president. Washabaugh had also served 29 years in the United States Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of colonel. He and his wife Linda live in Cary, North Carolina. They have two children, Brooke and Brandon. CLARION UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
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CAMPUS NEWS I CLARION DIGEST CLARION GETS GOLD DISTINCTION IN MILITARY-FRIENDLY RECOGNITION
Clarion University has been named a Military Friendly School with Gold distinction for 2022-23. This is the 13th consecutive year Clarion has earned Military Friendly recognition. The Military Friendly Schools list sets the standard for higher education institutions to provide the best opportunities for veterans and their spouses. This prestigious list provides a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families, using data sources from federal agencies and proprietary survey information from participating organizations. The Gold distinction indicates Clarion scored within 10 percent of the 10th ranked school in its category and is setting an example with programs and initiatives.
VICE CHANCELLOR PEARSON DELIVERS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. KEYNOTE Dr. Denise Pearson, vice chancellor and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, delivered the keynote address at Clarion University’s 10th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast Jan. 17 in Eagle Commons. This year’s theme was The King Legacy: Becoming One. Ayanna Squair, a junior criminal justice administration major and sociology minor from Pittsburgh, presented the student address. The event is sponsored by Clarion University and Clarion community organizations, charities and churches.
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CAMPUS NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
CAMPUSES JOIN TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY, WOMEN’S HISTORY Clarion, with sister campuses California and Edinboro, provided an array of programming to celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History Month. Zoom enabled access to the programs from any campus. Throughout Black History Month, the universities hosted events honoring the unique legacies, accomplishments and struggles of African Americans everywhere. Program topics included Harriet Tubman, soul food, professors of color in the ivory tower, art and film-making. Women’s History Month included presentations on topics such as reproductive rights, women in law enforcement and indigenous women. Clarion concluded the month with a “Women Supporting Women: Overcoming Challenges” panel of five Clarion alumnae from various demographic backgrounds.
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Interhall Council celebrated Pi Day March 14 by inviting students, faculty and staff to pay $5 to pie a professor or administrator. Dr. Jamie Phillips, philosophy professor, prepares to be pied; Dr. Paul Woodburne, social sciences professor, gets a face full of whipped cream; and Jim Geiger, senior vice president for Advancement, poses post-pie with a student. Profits benefit the Education Partnership and the Trevor Project.
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“BE BOLD, BE COURAGEOUS, BE YOUR BEST.”
“THERE IS NO SCRIPT."
“WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE, BUT KNOW NOT WHAT WE MAY BE.” “IF OPPORTUNITY DOESN'T KNOCK, BUILD A DOOR.”
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“FOLLOW YOUR FEAR.”
WINTER 2021
“WHEREVER YOU GO, GO WITH ALL YOUR HEART.”
“GRADUATION IS NOT THE END; IT’S THE BEGINNING.”
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In the 1980s, when federal legislation was enacted to limit acid rain, coal mining in western Pennsylvania became less viable. With the diminished state of the coal industry, the logic of railroads – which had been used to move coal – also disappeared. CLARION UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
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ALLEGHENY RIVER TRAIL www.avta-trails.org Across the country and in Pennsylvania, dormant tracks were taken up, including those along the Allegheny River from Franklin to Emlenton. An Ohio attorney purchased a portion of the property to subdivide and sell as riverfront lots. Around the same time, Pacific Gas and Electric created the Scrubgrass Power Plant in Rockland Township. To connect the plant to the power grid, Pacific bought the northern 15 miles – from the Kennerdell tunnel to Franklin – for the power lines. Not interested in owning property, Pacific wanted to donate the land to a nonprofit organization or to local government. At Clarion University, science professors Dr. Jim Howes and Dr. Jim Holden were becoming acquainted. “We were both avid bicyclists,” Howes said. “I lived in Oil City, and I would ride the Oil Creek State Park trail.” One of Howes’ early memories with Holden, who lived in Franklin, is participating in the annual bike race at Oil Creek State Park. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had constructed the 9.7-mile trail adjacent to Oil Creek, and Cranberry Township had developed the Justus Trail along the Allegheny between Oil City and Franklin.
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“Jim and I appreciated the work Cranberry Township and Oil Creek State Park had done, and (further developing the area’s trail system) seemed like such an obvious thing to do,” Howes said. They began to look into transforming the 15 miles owned by Pacific Gas and Electric, as well as the tract owned by the Ohio attorney into recreational trail. “At first, Jim and I thought local government would be the logical entity to own the land, but neither Clarion nor Venango County wanted to take ownership,” Howes said. “That’s why we founded Allegheny Valley Trails Association.” Howes was the first president, and Holden was vice president. It was a learning experience for the men, who became experts on title searches and land records. Through their work and a “very strong core of dedicated people,” their vision became a reality. Once the nonprofit AVTA was founded, Pacific Gas and Electric was able to donate the 15 miles between the Kennerdell tunnel and Franklin. Howes wrote a grant to buy out the Ohio attorney’s interest, and 10 years later, the organization purchased the remaining salvage interest, beyond Foxburg to the Parker bridge.
“Jim and I were very pleased that our initial work seemed to stimulate other groups,” Howes said.
FOXBURG TRAIL artincc.org Bryan Koehler’s involvement with the Foxburg Trail, part of Allegheny River Trail in Clarion County, came about through a Facebook post by a business acquaintance. The post said that the Foxburg Trail had secured a longsought 3.3 miles of rail bed between Foxburg and Emlenton for a rail trail to be built. Koehler '88 is experienced with trail work from having worked on the North Country Trail 25 years ago, and he offered his help to Jennings, who heads the Allegheny River Trail in Clarion County group. “The reason I got involved with North Country was that I used to do a lot of backpacking,” Koehler said. “I felt that I was using the trail, so it was a return-the-favor-kind of thing.”
The construction crew recently took down trees, cleared brush and removed a dilapidated shed from the rail bed. “The group is working to secure grants from the (Department of Conservation and Natural Resources). One of the outfits that’s helped us is Central Electric Cooperative. They just gave us $4,800 and may volunteer some tree cutters and climbers,” he said. The plan is to build a trail, then adjacent to the trail is a right of way that will be created to allow traffic. “If people want to develop along the river, they’ll need access,” Koehler said. As trail and river recreation increase, Koehler wants to remind people to leave no trace. “Take only pictures; leave only footprints.”
REDBANK VALLEY TRAILS redbankvalleytrails.org
He now bikes on the area rail trails, and he wants to return the favor this time to the Foxburg Trail. Koehler is a member of the construction committee for Allegheny River Trail in Clarion County.
Phil Hynes’ love of rail trails began on the Justus segment of the Allegheny River Trail and grew while traveling with friends to bike on rails to trails around the country. He came on board the Redbank Valley Trail Association shortly after it formed in 2011.
The work began with correcting the grades, which ARTinCC hopes will be done by the end of summer, when they will turn the work over to a paving company.
Bicyclists commonly seek a distance of 50 miles, so the 51-mile Redbank Valley Trail is ideal for them. CLARION UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
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“Redbank joins with Armstrong, the Erie to Pittsburgh, and the Great Allegheny Passage trails. You can go from Brookville to Washington, D.C., without leaving the trail,” Hynes '83 said. Eventually, the trail will connect from Rockwood on the GAP trail to the future 9-11 Memorial Trail. It’s also part of an initiative to connect Pittsburgh via the Redbank Valley Trails to Ridgway in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The trail is unique in several ways, from ownership to construction.
Bed and breakfasts have been springing up. Hynes said the town needs and can support more restaurants. Borough council has placed bike racks on the sidewalks to enable trail users to explore the downtown. The New Bethlehem area and Redbank Valley community benefit from Redbank Valley Trails in countless ways, according to Gordon Barrows, mayor of New Bethlehem and member of Redbank Valley Trails Association. Barrows said benefits include:
“It’s privately owned,” Hynes said. “Many rail trails are administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, but Redbank is actually owned by the trail association. We own and maintain all 51 miles.”
• Making better places to live by preserving and providing access to open spaces.
Hynes said trails that length usually take decades to develop.
• Creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation and non-motorized transportation.
“We pretty much finished Redbank Trail in four years,” he said. “DCNR couldn’t believe it – they named Redbank Trail the first Trail of the Year in 2014.”
• Strengthening the local economy by providing business and recreational opportunities and improved property values.
Hynes, a member of Brookville Borough Council, said his biggest project with the trail has been developing the one-mile Depot Street spur, which brings the trail into downtown Brookville.
• Protecting nature and the natural environment.
“Our group is trying to get a trail town designation for Brookville,” he said. “There have been all kinds of studies on
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the economic impact of tourism and bike trails.” Hynes said.
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• Encouraging physical fitness and healthy lifestyles.
• Preserving culture and historically valuable areas and resources. “The eco-tourism and recreational opportunities of the Redbank Valley Trails have revitalized and transformed the
local economy, while improving our community’s quality of life,” Burrows said. “Existing businesses have flourished, while new businesses have started, grown and prospered. That includes places to stay, places to eat and things to do, including B&Bs, restaurants, bike shops, outfitters, campgrounds, an art gallery and more.”
RAIL 66 COUNTRY TRAIL rail-66.com The Rail 66 Country Trail follows the path of the narrow-gauge Pittsburgh and Western Railroad, built in the late 1800s. In the early 2000s, the line was purchased by the Kovalchick Corporation. Al Lander ’74 of Lucinda leased four miles of the rail bed property from Kovalchick and paved it through the Lucinda-Snydersburg area for easy hiking, jogging and bicycling. The people of the neighborhood liked the trail and formed Rail 66 Country Trail Inc., to support and further develop it. Last year, the Headwaters Charitable Trust purchased all 74 miles of the rail line in Clarion County, Forest, Elk and McKean counties to Kinzua Bridge State Park. Headwaters put Rail 66 in charge of the 24 miles in Clarion County. The property includes the original Lucinda Railway Station, which had been preserved by Gene Lander of Lucinda with help from history teacher Terry Moore ’67 and students from North Clarion High School. Rail 66 is poised to become part of the growing network of hiking and bicycling trails in Pennsylvania. It twice intersects the North Country Trail – a national scenic hiking trail stretching from northern New York State to North Dakota. Plans are being laid to connect Rail 66 to Cook Forest State Park’s system of bicycling and hiking trails. In Marianne, it crosses Route 322, which serves as the Route V bicycle trail spanning Pennsylvania.
P E N N S Y LV A N I A
RAIL-TRAIL STATS
194 total rail-trails
2,136 miles of rail-trails
83 current projects
726 miles of potential rail-trails
Many of Jason Hollingsworth and Brooke Porter’s customers at Clarion Bicycle & Outdoor are rail trail riders. “We sell them their bikes and accessories, maintain their bikes, and are always available to answer questions about where to ride,” Hollingsworth ‘05 said. He also answers questions about what to ride. “We’ve had a big shift into ebikes,” he said. “We have been selling as many ebikes as traditional bikes for the past year. We currently have over 50 ebikes in stock, in different varieties for every type of riding.” Last year, Hollingsworth moved Clarion Bicycle & Outdoor from its downtown Clarion location to a new building on Reidsburg Road. He said it offers easier parking and a perfect place to test ride bikes. He has supported Rail 66 through providing at cost several maintenance stations along the trail and bikes for raffles to raise money for the trail. He has donated free bike tune-ups as part of his support of Rail 66. CLARION UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
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When the COVID-19 pandemic closed stores, restaurants and entertainment venues, Pennsylvania families exorcised their cabin fever by taking to the outdoors. That was good news for John Straitiff ’89, executive director of Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau. Endless adventures await in the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors, a 2,900-square-mile region encompassing Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest and Jefferson counties. Straitiff’s goal for the organization is to grow tourismrelated businesses in the PA Great Outdoors region. The PA Great Outdoors region saw record numbers of stays at lodging facilities as well as steady growth with rentals like Vrbo and Airbnb in 2021. Visitors also are frequenting wineries, distilleries and craft breweries. “When people think of planning vacations focused on outdoor adventures and time spent in nature, I want them to think about Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors region,” Straitiff said. Hiking and kayaking are some of the most popular outdoor activities, so people are naturally drawn to the Wild and Scenic Clarion River (an official designation from the federal government) and the ancient stands of old growth timber in Cook Forest State Park. Some tourism is based around wild animals, including the elk herd in Elk and Cameron counties, and some not-so-wild animals like Punxsutawney Phil. “Punxsutawney Phil is by far our most well-known attraction,” Straitiff said. “Phil brings travelers from around the globe.” Straitiff added that the Allegheny National Forest is popular with outdoor adventure seekers, while Clarion’s Autumn Leaf Festival is a family-friendly attraction. However, there are some relatively unknown attractions that Straitiff believes deserve to be programmed into your GPS. In Clarion County, he recommends that people visit the Redbank Coaling Tower along the Armstrong Trail in East Brady; Helen Furnace along White Oak Drive off of Miola
Road; Henry Run Sawmill Dam in Cook Forest; and the Blue Ridge Forest near Cook Forest. If you find yourself in Cameron County, head to Bucktail Overlook, otherwise known as the ‘Top of the World’, and plan to do some eagle watching along the Sinnemahoning watershed, Straitiff said. Forest County offers Lighthouse Island and Peace Park as well as the vast Allegheny National Forest. Elk County’s hidden gems include Bendigo State Park and The Cross on the Hill in Benezette. Jefferson County boasts Scripture Rocks Heritage Park and Beartown Rocks in Clear Creek State Park. Straitiff’s journey to the position as PA Great Outdoors executive director combines his love of the outdoors with his communication degree from Clarion and his subsequent communication experiences. Upon graduation, Straitiff worked at Sports Channel Chicago as a segment producer and also was a freelancer for TV crews covering sports in Chicago. “It was fun seeing the pro sports stars and coaches up close,” Straitiff said. “I am glad that I tried television in the big city, but I am country boy at heart.” He then took a sales job at a Clearfield radio station, and later became an account executive with WTAJ TV. Nature continued to call his name, so he became a manager and head guide at a large outdoor adventure ranch. “While working a trade show for the ranch, I discovered that the executive director position at PAGO was available. I knew in my heart this was the perfect job for me. I started at PAGO in April 2014 and absolutely love my job. I am able to use my love of the outdoors and the knowledge gained working with various clients over two decades in broadcasting sales to develop and implement marketing programs that attract visitors to Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest and Jefferson counties, that collectively are known as Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors region.” For more information on the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors go to visitpago.com.
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"Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains." -Thoreau CLARION UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
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Some fly fishers learn to tie flies after becoming experienced in the sport. For Tim Cammisa ’01, fly tying came first. “My parents signed me up for an afterschool fly tying class when I was 10 years old (4th grade). It was so fascinating, designing and creating imitations of natural insects. Then when I realized that we could catch fish with these flies – I was hooked!” Cammisa explained that in traditional fishing, you use the weight of a lure to cast a fine monofilament line. In fly fishing, things are reversed. “A thick fly line is used to generate energy to cast a small fly. The fly can be an imitation of a natural insect, baitfish, worm, or simply something that looks good enough for the fish to eat,” Cammisa said. For Cammisa, tricking fish is part of the fun. “Catching a fish on a fly that I tied myself is the best feeling in the world. To know that I tricked that fish brings a smile to my face, and also brings me back to my youth,” Cammisa said. “I practice catch-and-release, which means that I put the majority of fish caught back into the water, giving others the chance to experience that feeling, too.”
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Another gripping aspect of fly fishing is creating and flying the ties that trick the fish. Cammisa has shared his expertise on the subject on his YouTube Channel and in his latest book, “Fly Tying for Everyone.” “With social media, there are many flies and techniques being shared at an incredible rate. The downside is that few of those patterns are vetted.” This is especially helpful for a novice fly tier. In “Fly Tying for Everyone,” he features a baker’s dozen of tried-and-true flies that are sure to catch fish. “Each pattern encompasses fly-tying techniques from the beginning to intermediate level, so this is a ‘one stop shop’ that provides modern flies and materials to a range of tiers. Also, within each section, I included methods on how to fish the patterns, as the goal is to use each to catch fish.” You also don’t necessarily have to be dexterous to learn to fly ties. “Having dexterity and fine motor skills definitely helps, though fly tying becomes easier over time with practice. There are many tools available to help the process go smoother, such as a fly-tying vise, bobbin, scissors, hackle
pliers, whip finishing tool, and more.” He said thread and hooks round out the basic supplies. “With modern technology, this is a great time to learn fly tying.”
It’s important to note that the appeal of fly fishing isn’t because it’s more effective at catching fish than regular fishing. Fishing is situational, Cammisa explained.
Cammisa started fly tying and then fly fishing at a young age. His great uncle John is an enthusiastic fly fisher who took him under his wing in those early days of fly fishing. He took Cammisa and his cousin to the water, but casting didn’t go as planned in that first outing.
For him, the “appeal of fly fishing is the connection to the natural world, using imitations of what the fish are currently feeding on.”
“We proceeded to beat the water to a froth, only managing to catch one fish between us,” Cammisa said. The uncle and another older friend gave Cammisa and his cousin a casting lesson, with the advice to practice before returning to fish again. The seasoned fly fisherman joked that the two boys had scared every fish in the county. “So, I practiced, was invited back, and have been fly fishing and tying flies for 33 years.” Fly fishing requires specialized equipment including a fly rod, fly reel, fly line, leader and flies. Because many fly-fishing locations are in moving water, Cammisa also recommends buying waders and wading shoes. “Experiencing fly fishing, especially with flies tied yourself, is unlike anything else. It’s taken me all over the world, and I now host trips to Iceland and other destinations.”
“Like everything else in life, there is a learning curve, but you get to work through that in the outdoors, on the water. Nature’s classroom is the perfect environment, and for many, the fish are just a bonus.” Fly fishing can be done in freshwater and saltwater. “I can say that I have fly fished all over the country, from Montana to Florida, and caught both freshwater and saltwater species on a fly rod. I also host fly fishing trips to Iceland, and using a fly rod is an excellent and effective way to catch fish there.” For more on fly fishing, follow Tim Cammisa on his website at www.troutandfeather.com and at www.youtube.com/c/TimCammisa. His channel is dedicated to lessening the learning curve for fly tying and fly fishing and has educational and entertaining content from locations around the world. His content has more than 4 million views.
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T H E
L A S T
FRONTIER
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Dr. David ’69 and Kathy ’68 Wartinbee enjoy long walks on the beach, working in their flower and vegetable gardens and their orchards, and going for a spin in their classic ’67 Corvette. They also love playing in the snow, whether they’re hiking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and, for David, helping out at the Iditarod. They live in Soldotna, Alaska, a locale that’s ideal – with preparation – for year-round outdoor activity. When the Wartinbees walk on the beach, for example, they navigate around obstacles in the form of giant chunks of ice. Around their gardens and orchard, they construct fences that are 7 feet high – enough to protect the vegetation from the moose that wander near their home. The couple worked hard throughout their careers, he as a professor of biology, she as a librarian. When they retired, Alaska’s beauty – of the people even more so than of the breathtaking scenery – lured them from their home state of Pennsylvania. “I felt like I was home,” Kathy said of their first visit. David’s research of streams and aquatic insects first took them to America’s 49th state in the summer of 1977. The Wartinbees were so enamored with Alaska that they returned for all but a few summers until they moved there permanently in 1997. Before they committed to moving, they wanted to experience winter there. “We came during Christmas break when I was in law school,” David said. “We said ‘Let’s see what it’s like in the winter.’ It was even more beautiful. Winter is spectacular.” They moved there permanently after retiring from their teaching jobs in Pennsylvania. Now that it is their home, the Wartinbees embrace the climate and terrain, as well as the planning ahead that is essential for survival, even during routine trips. In Soldotna, David said temperatures fall to 40 degrees below zero in the winter. Soldotna is about 50 air miles or 150 road miles south of Anchorage. “You have to have the appropriate gear to take care of yourself for the kind of conditions you’ll be in,” David said. The Wartinbees live near wilderness, where there are no houses, no roads and no cell coverage. They spend as much time as possible in the wild and beautiful places that surround them. Preparation is key.
“We have different clothing. I have five changes of long underwear. You just prepare for the weather. This is my 15-degree jacket. This is my minus-10-degree jacket,” Kathy said. “As I prepared to work at a Galena checkpoint for the Iditarod sled dog race, I packed my minus-45-degree jacket,” David said. Alaska is a state with very few roads, David said. He and Kathy get around using their Polaris side-by-side ATV, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and walking. David is a licensed pilot and has his own Cessna 180 plane that is fitted with wheels, skis or floats, depending on the season – that he uses to visit wilderness areas for sightseeing, hiking, fishing or visiting friends. Some parts of Alaska are dark for several months, but the least amount of sunlight in Soldotna is five hours per day. During those periods, “you have to go outside,” David said. “If it’s a nice bright day, you can figure I’m going to go out flying, or ice fishing or running the snow machine,” he said. Snow machine is another term for snowmobile. Kathy said her knees are shot from downhill skiing, but she stays active with snowshoeing, hiking, gardening, quilting and traveling with her husband. In the warm summer months, Soldotna can have almost 20 hours of daylight – “Lots of time to play,” David said. Planning ahead has also been a financial priority for the Wartinbees. Long before they became Alaska residents, David and Kathy began to make decisions to enable the life they have now. Part of their carefully crafted plan is philanthropy. “I’d been sending Clarion $100 each year for many years. One of the things that I learned to do is invest money and make money with the investments,” David said. “We have everything we could want in terms of toys, a wonderful place to live, and good health; we don’t want for anything. We are comfortable. Now, we are able to step up our support of education.” “We owe Clarion. We earned our living because of the education we got at Clarion,” Kathy said. “It’s payback time.” “We recognize that there are students who can use a helping hand going through college, and we want to provide an opportunity for some of those students,” David said. “Neither of us came from wealthy families, and we know how difficult it can be to afford college. That’s one of the reasons we wanted to start these scholarships – to help someone who needs it.” CLARION UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
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SPORTS ROUNDUP
COACHBOBBUBB Fans packed into Tippin Gymnasium. Alumni from eras spanning more than 50 years gathered from around the country, and welI-wishes poured in from the world over. In short, this was no ordinary event on January 30. It was a celebration befitting an individual whose impact on so many lives cannot be adequately expressed in words. Prior to the scheduled wrestling match against Kent State, the athletic department formally unveiled the newly dedicated Robert G. Bubb Wrestling Facility, named for longtime Golden Eagles head wrestling coach Bob Bubb. Hundreds attended the ceremony in the gym while many more followed along with the ceremony from home. “For more than 50 years, we have been fortunate to have Coach Bubb be a part of not just our Golden Eagles wrestling program, but also our Clarion community,” said
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university president Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson in recorded remarks at the ceremony. A video presentation shown to the fans in attendance and those watching online enumerated Bubb’s many accomplishments as the Golden Eagles head coach. In 26 years at the helm of the program, Bubb turned a small college in Pennsylvania into one of the hubs of the college wrestling world. Clarion boasted seven Division I national champions and 27 Division I All-Americans in that time. As a team, the Golden Eagles finished the NCAA Division I Championships in the top-10 four times and in the top-15 eight times in his tenure, including a fourth-place finish in 1973. The 1986 Division I Coach of the Year, Bubb was one of only four coaches in Division I history to record more than 300 career dual wins when he retired in 1992.
SPORTS ROUNDUP That said, the presentation very quickly shifted gears as alumni and friends began recounting the things that Bubb meant to them on a personal as opposed to coaching level. “During my time here at Clarion, I’ve built so many relationships with our alumni and fans, and I’ve heard all sorts of stories from their college years, and all they seem to lead back in some way to Coach Bubb,” said head wrestling coach Keith Ferraro. “But what’s really surprising about those Coach Bubb stories is how often they have nothing to do with wrestling.” “Coach Bubb built a wrestling dynasty at a small school in Pennsylvania, and we’re all grateful for that,” Ferraro said. “But what Coach Bubb was really doing was building great men, and using the sport of wrestling to do it.” After the video presentation, the man of the hour stood at the podium. And in his typical humble fashion, Bubb showed his gratitude for the honor while also crediting seemingly everyone except himself for the successes achieved in his time at Clarion.
“Those of you here today know that Clarion’s wrestling success from ‘66 to ‘92 lies not with one man,” Bubb said. “We were a program, and a whole. But in making that whole, there were so many pieces that ultimately made that whole.” Bubb concluded his comments by quoting from Theodore Roosevelt’s “Citizenship in a Republic” speech, specifically what has come to be known as the “Man in the Arena” section. The words of that speech hung in the wrestling room in Tippin Gym during Bubb’s tenure as coach and through the years after. The speech declares in part that “It is not the critic who counts ... the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood: who strives valiantly ... and spends himself in a worthy cause.” “We called it our serenity prayer,” Bubb said. Now, Bubb will be the man in the arena - or wrestling room, as it turns out - for generations to come.
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COACHDAVEHROVAT For many years Clarion graduates have dotted the names of inductees into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Athletes such as Dr. Jamie Wolf Jackel ’07, Alex Sandusky ’54 and others, as well as legendary coaches like Al Jacks, Bob Bubb and Gie Parsons, have all been honored as some of the best to grace the region. This spring, another Golden Eagle's name will be added to that August group, when retired Clarion diving coach Dave Hrovat is inducted into the Hall. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 30, at the Sheraton Hotel in Station Square in Pittsburgh. It is just another in a long parade of laurels for Hrovat, who earlier this year was named by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as one of the 100 greatest coaches in the sport – across all collegiate levels – over the last century.
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Perhaps the most decorated collegiate diving coach in history, Hrovat was a 15-time Division II Women’s Diving Coach of the Year and an 11-time Division II Men’s Diving Coach of the Year. He coached a total of 48 national champions and 294 NCAA Division II All-Americans from 1990-2020, including Kristin Day ’15 - just the fourth-ever NCAA Woman of the Year to come from a Division II institution and the first to come from a Pennsylvania-based school and Jamie Wolf, who earlier this year was named to the CSCAA Top 100 Women’s Swimmers and Divers list. Wolf is the only Division II women’s diver in history to win seven national championships, and another Hrovat charge, Kayla Kelosky ’11, is the only other Division II women’s diver to win as many as six titles. On the men’s side, Logan Pearsall ’10, Shawn Colton ’03 and Collin Vest ’18 were all four-time national champions under Hrovat.
SPORTS ROUNDUP Calhoun, Gonczi, Schering and Vogt
DIVERS EARN ACCOLADES AT 2022 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS Three members of the Golden Eagles swimming & diving team – Alexa Gonczi, Zach Schering and Anna Vogt – represented Clarion at the 2022 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships in Greensboro, N.C. in March. The trio represented the first group at the championships under first-year diving coach Heath Calhoun ’14, himself a former national champion and All-American as a Golden Eagle. The highlight of the week came on March 11, when Schering earned a spot in the Men’s 3M Dive final and finished on the championship podium. The freshman from Massillon, Ohio, placed seventh in the morning prelim with a score of 458.90 to cement top-eight status. He followed that up with a seventh-place finish in the file to secure All-American status for the first time in his career. “I’m so proud of Zach’s effort,” Calhoun said. “He kept it simple, he was consistent and he landed on his head. If you can do all those things, you’ve got a chance to do well. For him to come into his first national meet and perform the way he did is a testament to his preparation and composure.” On the women’s side, both Gonczi and Vogt earned Honorable Mention All-America honors, cracking the top-16 nationally in the Women’s 1M Dive and the 3M Dive, respectively. Gonczi placed 13th in the 3M Dive with a score of 388.40, while Vogt took 10th in the 1M Dive with a score of 395.95.
FELDKAMP HEADS TO DIVISION I WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS, PICKS UP WIN Will Feldkamp recorded a first period pin to open his day at the 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, highlighting his stay at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. The redshirt junior won his opening round match in the 197-pound bracket before falling in a pair of matches later on March 17. Feldkamp started the 197-pound bracket with Chattanooga’s Matthew Waddell, a three-time NCAA qualifier that made the tournament at 184 pounds in each of the previous two seasons. Waddell came out aggressively, trying to work Feldkamp to the mat with a front headlock, but after a reset it was Feldkamp turning the tables. Pulling Waddell chest-to-chest, he tossed him directly to his back on the mat, picking up the takedown and four near fall points in quick succession. It wasn’t much longer until Feldkamp completely broke Waddell down, pinning him just 76 seconds into the first period for his first career NCAA Championships victory. The win by fall was the first pin for a Golden Eagle at the national tournament since Austin Matthews pinned Chattanooga’s Alex Hudson at the 2014 championship tournament. Feldkamp lost in his second match of the day to Penn State’s Max Dean, the eventual national champion at 197 pounds. He also dropped a tight decision in the consolation bracket, losing to Arizona State’s Kendall Norfleet late in the evening.
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Clarion University Sports
HALL FAME of
The Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame committee announced on March 15 that seven new members will be inducted into the Class of 2022 on April 29. The inductees are Ellen (Borowy) Casey (1981-84 Volleyball); Dr. Kristin (Day) Shute (2012-15 Diving); Hannah Heeter (2010-13 Volleyball & 2012-15 Basketball), Tammy Holman (1985-88 Basketball); Malen Luke (1994-2005 Football Coach); Patrick Mooney (1994-2004 Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Coach; 1995-2004 Men’s & Women’s Track & Field Coach) and Aleta (Rice) Hansen (Diving 1975-78).
Ellen (Borowy) Casey was an extremely talented six-rotation volleyball player at Clarion from 1981 to 1984. She was the school’s first Academic All-American in 1983 and became the school’s first back-to-back Academic All-American in 1984. She also was the first volleyball player to earn Academic All-American in the PSAC, as well as the first volleyball player to repeat the award in 1984.
Ellen Borowy Casey
Dr. Kristin Day Shute
Dr. Kristin (Day) Shute is one of the most accomplished overall women’s student athletes in Clarion sports history. The eight time All-American and three-time NCAA champion diver capped her senior year in 2015 by winning the biggest awards in the nation. Her top honor came on October 18, 2015, when she was named the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year. She was the first winner of the NCAA Woman of the Year Award from any Pennsylvania-based university. She also won the Capital One NCAA Division II Academic All-America of the Year, PSAC Pete Nevins Scholar Athlete of the Year and the NCAA Division II Elite 89 award, as well as the Capital One NCAA Division II At-Large Academic All-America of the Year in 2014 and 2015. Hannah Heeter is one of the top two-sport student-athletes ever to don a uniform at Clarion. During her illustrious career she played at the highest levels in volleyball and basketball, while earning Academic All-America honors. As a volleyball player from 2010-14, she helped the Golden Eagles to a four-year record of 107-35, four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, PSAC and Atlantic Region championships and a trip to the NCAA Elite 8 round. Heeter was a two-time all-conference and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region selection, and was also honored as the 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year for volleyball. Heeter also authored an outstanding basketball career. In 2012 she was named the PSAC Freshman of the year, and later went on to become a two-time First Team All-PSAC West and Second Team All-Region selection. Heeter was once again named a CoSIDA Academic All-American, this time earning the honor in basketball in 2014.
Hannah Heeter
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Tammy Holman was an outstanding point guard who set Clarion career records in assists and steals from 1985 to 1988, and was responsible for helping to turn the women’s basketball program into a championship-caliber team. Holman helped the Golden Eagles win back-to-back PSAC West titles in 1987-88, the first two division crowns in
SPORTS ROUNDUP program history. A two-time all-conference selection, Holman was named an Honorable Mention All-American in 1988 after leading the Golden Eagles in scoring and setting the program’s single-season records in points (394), assists (116) and steals (114).
Tammy Holman
Malen Luke
Malen Luke was Clarion’s head football coach for 12 seasons (1994-2005), producing not just great players but some of the great teams in Golden Eagles history. Luke led Clarion to the NCAA semifinals in 1996, blazing a trail never seen by Clarion football fans. The Eagles posted an 11-3 overall record, winning the PSAC West division and the NCAA Division II East Region championships in the process. Clarion won two games in the NCAA playoffs before falling in the final seconds in the national semifinal. Those successes earned Luke the 1996 NCAA Division II Region 1 and PSAC West Coach of the Year awards. He later went on to win the PSAC West Coach of the Year award a second time, in 2000. Patrick Mooney, a humble coach with high character and integrity, took over the men’s and women’s cross country and track & field programs in 1994 and had a Hall of Fame career. Mooney’s women’s cross country teams improved over the course of his time at Clarion, peaking in 2002 when they placed third at the PSAC Championships and second at the NCAA East Regionals. That year three Golden Eagles – Melissa Terwilliger, Anna Beck and Evelyn Abiola — placed in the top-11 at the regional meet, and Clarion qualified for the NCAA Division II nationals for the first time in school history. Terwilliger went on to earn All-American status a year later, placing 17th at the 2003 national meet. The women’s track & field team enjoyed similar success. Mooney coached three women’s track & field All-Americans, including 2016 Sports Hall of Fame inductee Melissa Yearous (High Jump – 2001), Terwilliger (10,000m – 2002) and Julie Evenoski (Javelin – 2002). Mooney’s men’s teams also showed great progress over the course of his time at Clarion. The men’s cross country team placed seventh in 1999 behind All-PSAC and All-Region performances by Ean King. In men’s track & field, Thom Swenson earned All-America honors in 1996 with an eighth-place finish in the 400m, and 2000 PSAC Rookie of the Year Dave Clark was an All-American in the High Jump with a fourth-place finish that year.
Patrick Mooney
Aleta Rice Hansen is welcomed to the Clarion Sports Hall of Fame posthumously, having passed away in January 2020. She put together an incredible career as a diver from 1975 to 1978, and was a pioneer in the sport. A four-time national champion, she helped lead the Golden Eagles to back-to-back AIAW team national championships in 1977-78. Rice placed three times in the regional meet from 1975-76 before winning her first career national titles, winning the 1M and 3M Dive at the 1977 AIAW National Championships and helping the Golden Eagles win the team championship. She pulled off the clean sweep again a year later, winning both boards in 1978 and helping the Golden Eagles win their second straight national title. In addition to her collegiate performances, she won three Canadian Invitational titles in her career, including both boards in 1978.
Aleta Rice Hansen CLARION UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
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Just Married
Lydia Middaugh ’15, ’18G and Kyle Cleary were married in October 2021. Pictured with the bride are (from left) Lauren Graham ’15, Tyler Ness Conway ’15 and Christina Tressler ’16.
Allison Bertolino ’17 and Tyler Falk ’17 were married Sept. 18, 2021. Pictured are the couple and their wedding party: (front row, from left) Dana Falk Eng ’10 , Lucia Fee, Sydney Rondeau, Mackenzie O’Brien ’17, Olivia Chuzie ’17, Cole McDonough, Austin Ridgley, Anthony Bertolino, Shaun Eng and Chad Phillis; (second row, from left) Kiersten Gromley ’16, Kari Falk, Jenya Moore ’17, Ashley Walls ’17, Christina Bertolino, Patrick Conti, Jason Pettner, Matthew Kamenicky ’19, Alex Szakelyhidi and Dylan Jones.
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IN MEMORIAM 1950s
1990s
Cleva L. Haight Hartman, Jan. 4, 2022
Martin Joseph Bostrom ’90, March 10, 2022 Patrick A. Panebianco ’91, Dec. 21, 2021
1960s Emily C. Calloway Mosely ’60, Dec. 23, 2021 Ronald L. Reckhart ’60, Feb. 24, 2022 Patrick F. Wright ’62, Jan. 15, 2022 Jay S. Pifer ’64, Jan. 16, 2022 Sara A. Shafer ’64, Feb. 14, 2022 Howard Vincent Campagna ’65, Jan. 2, 2022 Brian F. Brubaker ’66, Jan. 20, 2022 Andria F. Fetterman Clarey ’66, Dec. 31, 2021 Karen E. Novak ’66, Dec. 7, 2021 David A. Woods ’68, Jan. 10, 2022 Bernadette L. Antkoviak ’69, Dec. 11, 2021 Ross Z. Neidich ’69, Dec. 23, 2021 Nichola S. Wilson Young ’69, Dec. 27, 2021
1970s Carl H. Shellgren ’70, Dec. 9, 2021 Jeanne Ruth Cramer McElhatten ’71, Jan. 15, 2022 Michael D. Notte ’71, Feb. 24, 2022 Bonita Rice O’Neill ’74, Jan. 11, 2022 Minniealta O’Reilly Watt ’75, Nov. 28, 2021 Barbara Sue Snyder Anderson ’76, Feb. 14, 2022 James Charles Groner ’76, Dec. 7, 2021 David H. Burks ’77, Jan. 10, 2022 Karen Pilston Myers ’77, Dec. 23, 2021 Carol R. Smith Ginther ’78, Nov. 28, 2021
Barbara J. Transue ’91, Dec. 6, 2021 John Honan Moffett ’94, Dec. 26, 2021 Mary Kidder Say ’96, Dec. 18, 2021 Catherine L. McCall ’98, Jan. 14, 2022
2000s Jason J. Monarch ’00, Dec. 14, 2021 Larry Eugene Eisenman ’01, Dec. 8, 2021 Tracey L. Rembold ’06, Nov. 30, 2021 Heidi Jean Bauer ’07, Feb. 22, 2022 Caleb D. Kifer ’08, Dec. 3, 2021
2010s Michael Charles Dallmus ’11, Feb. 19, 2022 Alfred N. Kelso ’13, Jan. 8, 2022 Connie A. Eisenman ’14, Nov. 24, 2021 Catelynn C. Fleming ’15, Jan. 19, 2022
Friends Richard “Ed” Gathers, Dec. 1, 2020 (retired faculty) Alfred Clarke, Dec. 4, 2021 (retired administrator) Michael Reitz, Dec. 22, 2021 (retired staff) Donald Elder, Jan. 13, 2022 (retired staff) Pierre Fortis, Feb. 15, 2022 (retired faculty) Ann Denio, Feb. 27, 2022 (retired staff)
1980s Richard B. Galante ’80, Dec. 27, 2021 Nancy M. Scherer Taormina ’80, March 12, 2022 Randy W. Muir ’81, Jan. 30, 2022 Jonathan Lee Wilson ’81, Feb. 21, 2022 Michael C. Crovak ’82, Dec. 4, 2021 Edith S. Foster ’82, Dec. 27, 2021 Steven L. Herb ’82, Dec. 21, 2021 Martha J. Mewes ’82, March 9, 2022 Karen R. Phillips Bateman ’82, Nov. 26, 2021 David H. Kaufman ’83, Jan. 13, 2022 Valeria D. Hough ’85, Jan. 1, 2022 Erlinda Craft Thompson ’85, Dec. 17, 2021 Loretta A. Novak McNaughton ’86, Dec. 9, 2021 Laura J. Rusnock ’89, Feb. 2, 2022
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CLARION UNIVERSITY
BABY EAGLES OUR GIFT TO BABY EAGLES OF CLARION ALUMNI IS A DASHING NEW BIB! To receive a bib, visit www.clarion.edu/babybib and complete the online form. Once you receive your bib, take a picture of your Eaglet putting the bib to use, and email a high-resolution photo to us for inclusion in Clarion University Magazine. For more information, call the Office of Alumni Engagement at 814-393-2572.
1 McKenna Claire Justice, daughter of Ryan ’09, ’13G and Kaitlyn Anderson ’12, ’14G Justice, born Dec. 2, 2020
2 Evelyn June Strunk, daughter of
Suzanne Pine ’04, Heather Loupee and Jeremy Strunk, born March 12, 2021
3 Adalyn Jane Domitrovich, daughter of Dr. Josh ’13, ’15G and Alyssa Katz ’14, ’15G Domitrovich, born April 1, 2021
4 Dylan Robert Parks, son of
Chris ’07 and Brittany Donatelli Parks, born April 26, 2021
5 Finley Louise Smith, daughter of
Ryan ’07, ’13G and Kelly Mapes ’13, ’15G, born June 15, 2021
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6 7 8 9
Lincoln George Palmiere, son of Brian ’15 and Madeline Glamp ’18 Palmiere, born Sept. 1, 2021 Freya Lyn Wehler, daughter of TJ ’14 and Katie Yetzer ’13 Wehler, born Aug. 19, 2021 Delaney Kae Blevins, daughter of Evin Blevins and Reanna Buzza ’17, ’18G born Jan. 6, 2021 Grant Michael Berezansky, son of Nathan and Britney Olsavsky ’09 Berezansky, born Jan. 12, 2022
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#WINGSUP ZACHARY MARCIC
One Recognized Student Organization is dedicated to getting students outside to be active – a notion that has become more important since the beginning of the pandemic.
outside and experiencing all the outdoors has to offer. We typically try to plan events that take advantage of whatever weather is forecasted, such as our yearly ski trip in the winter,” Marcic said.
“Getting outside, be it dedicating yourself to going on a hike or simply walking to class, is very important when dealing with the stress from the pandemic,” said Clarion University senior Zachary Marcic, president of the Recreational Outdoors Club. “The Recreational Outdoors Club and its members believe that encouraging people to take ‘outside breaks’ is just as vital for one’s health as drinking water. People need that break from being trapped inside to go breathe some fresh air, take in the nature all around them, and remind themselves that even though things are stressful, the world is still full of beauty and joy.”
Marcic believes the pandemic has had a positive effect on membership with students returning to campus and wanting to get involved.
The student Recreational Outdoors Club explores the greater Clarion region through planned trips that involve adventures like hiking or canoeing. “The club does travel when permitted by the university,” Marcic said. “We usually do not go farther than two hours away just to make sure our trips are accessible and affordable.
While the club’s roster has 55 names, there are about 12-15 people per event or meeting. “We’re pleased with that number given that a lot of clubs have struggled with participation in this era of virtual events,” Marcic said. Marcic became involved in the ROC after joining the organization for a canoe trip in 2019. He now serves as the president of ROC after serving for one year as social media chair. He’ll graduate in fall 2022 with a secondary education degree with a concentration in social studies and a minor in history. Even though Marcic got involved in the club early in his college career, many of the new members have been upperclassmen proving it’s not too late for students to get involved by going outside.
In addition to smaller trips, they have a yearly ski trip. One thing the club never does is stay indoors. “In the years I have been at Clarion, the club has not used the climbing wall or the Rec Center. We have taken several trips during times when the weather was less than ideal, but the club sees that as part of the experience of getting
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“When the pandemic started, we were active participants in the president’s outdoor challenge. We created the hashtag #CUOutside, and we encourage every student to use that hashtag to show off their Clarion adventures!” The organization also has an Instagram page: @roc.cu.
“It takes a noble person to plant a seed for a tree that will one day provide shade to those whom he may never meet.” ~D. Elton Trueblood
Dr. Charles “Jack” & Gladys S. Shontz Cultural Life Series Endowment Dr. Charles “Jack” Shontz began at Clarion State Teachers College in 1957 as assistant professor of biology and was named department chair in 1958. In the 1961-62 academic year, he accepted a fellowship from the National Science Foundation and earned his doctorate degree after completing studies and research in zoology at the University of Pittsburgh. During his tenure at Clarion, Shontz moved to the academic administrative staff at Clarion State and remained there in various capacities until his retirement in 1983 as associate vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of summer sessions. He married the former Gladys S. Snively in June 1952. They were married 55 years before she preceded him in death in June 2007. Dr. Shontz passed away peacefully at home in Apollo, Pennsylvania, Oct. 7, 2019, at age 93. This endowment was fully funded via a bequest from Jack’s estate. The Cultural Life Series is intended to provide a series of cultural events for the benefit of the students, faculty and staff of the university and for the benefit of the community of Clarion.
The William E. Lafranchi (’49) Scholarship William Lafranchi, a native of Brookville, graduated from Clarion State Teachers College in 1949 with a library science degree. William served as director of Libraries and Media Services at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for 33 years, until his retirement in 1986. Lafranchi was married to Sylvia P. Schmidle Martin (1920-2016), a resident of Wilkinsburg for 52 years who taught at St. Edmunds Academy in Squirrel Hill (Pittsburgh). Mrs. Lafranchi was elected the first female mayor of Wilkinsburg, serving from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Lafranchi passed away Dec. 2, 2020, shortly before his 94th birthday. This scholarship endowment will benefit Clarion University of Pennsylvania students for generations to come.
Clarion University Foundation, Inc.
Larry W. Jamison ’87 Director of Planned Giving 814-393-1926 | ljamison@clarion.edu
A copy of the latest financial report, registration filed by this organization, and a description of our programs and activities may be obtained by contacting us at: Clarion University Foundation, Inc., 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214, 814-393-1610. Clarion University Foundation, Inc. was formed in Pennsylvania. If you are a resident of one of the following states, you may obtain financial information directly from the state agency: Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-435-7352 (800-HELP-FLA), OR VISITING www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Florida Registration #CH43617. Georgia: A full and fair description of our programs and our financial statement summary is available upon request at our office and phone number indicated above. Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage, from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401. Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Clarion University Foundation, Inc. may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement. Nevada: Contributions may be tax deductible pursuant to the provisions of sec. 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §170(c). New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING 973-504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT: http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. New York: Upon request, from the Attorney General Charities Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the state. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Clarion University Foundation, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. Virginia: From the State Division of Consumer Affairs, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services, PO Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. Washington: From the Secretary of State at 1-800-332-4483 or http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement. Wisconsin: A financial statement of the charitable organization disclosing assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenue and expenses for the preceding fiscal year will be provided to any person upon request. REGISTRATION WITH A STATE AGENCY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THAT STATE.
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 2 CLARION, PA
840 WOOD STREET CLARION, PA 16214-1232 WWW.CLARION.EDU
ALUMNI WEEKEND June 10-12, 2022
We are excited to welcome our alumni back to campus! All alumni and their guests are invited to join us for an unforgettable weekend. Classes of 1970, 1971 and 1972 – join us for the celebration of your 50th anniversaries!
Calling all Greek Alumni!
Dust off those letters and join us on campus with your brothers and sisters!
Visit clarion.edu/alumniweekend
for more information, a full schedule of events, and registration information!
