Gannon Magazine December 2017 by Gannon University

December 2017

from the

president

This message is delivered at a time of much excitement and carries news to be proud of as a Gannon Family. We welcomed an energetic and enthusiastic first-year class to kick-off our Fall 2017 semester and bring it to a close as our December graduates and newest members of Gannon’s National Alumni Association take the next step in their careers and their life’s journey. As you will read in this edition of the Gannon Magazine, this past semester was filled with transformational new partnerships and educational grants, groundbreakings and dedications of new exceptional learning environments, Homecoming celebrations and momentous strides in community and neighborhood development for our Erie region. Gannon University was proudly voted Erie’s Choice University in the Erie Times News’ 2017 Erie’s Choice Readers Poll, a distinction that celebrates these efforts and the terrific work of our faculty and staff in support of and commitment to our students.

President Keith Taylor, Ph.D., joined students, Judith Alstadt, the Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico, J.C.L., and Gannon faculty and staff in October to dedicate the Donald M. and Judith C. Alstadt Environmental Center.

As the students and each one of us in the community walk through A.J.’s Way, we are greeted by a tremendous new mural unveiled and celebrated this semester, and featured on the magazine cover. It was the partnership, persistence and passion of our students and professors who dreamed the idea and made it possible to bring this creative beauty to one of Gannon’s most prominent areas on campus. The mural will quickly become a signature gem on campus with its symbolic expression of our University’s history and will serve as a reminder as we walk A.J.’s Way of what we can achieve together when we believe in the possibilities. I hope you enjoy this edition of Gannon Magazine with a story about this new Gannon gem, along with stories of other hidden gems that reveal the beloved jewel that is Gannon University. Enjoy the images of both our rich history and our evolution as we continue on the path of living out our Mission through unwavering dedication to transforming the lives of our students. God Bless,

Keith Taylor, Ph.D., President Keith Taylor, Ph.D. President Melanie Whaley ’95 Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Vol. XXXI, No. 1 • December 2017 Gannon University • 109 University Square Erie, Pennsylvania 16541 • (814) 871-7000 www.gannon.edu

Mallory Hedlund ’14 Marketing and Communications Specialist

Gannon Magazine is published by University Marketing and Communications:

copywriting

Haley Figurski Michael Gorski ’11M Laura Hinsdale Matthew King Andrew Lapiska ’09M Nicole Lossie ’11 Kristine Rilling

student, staff and alumni contributors

We value your input; please direct any comments, questions or feature ideas to magazine@gannon.edu.

John Chacona

photography printing Knepper Press

class notes and address changes Jana Hunt Coordinator of Gifts and Records hunt001@gannon.edu (814) 871-7469

contents

Gannon Magazine December 2017

Faith in Action

02 06

Hidden Gems

Game Changer

A new partnership and software grant is advancing the cutting-edge technology in Gannon’s engineering programs.

Forever Maroon & Gold

The Gannon Family celebrated a weekend of new traditions during Homecoming Reunion Weekend.

Scoring Real-World Experience

How It Feels When You Give Whether they’re volunteering in the community or gaining hands-on service-learning experiences, Gannon Knights know how it feels to give back.

Hidden in Plain Sight

History is all around us, but sometimes it hides in plain sight.

A Design for the Future

Setting Records, Breaking Records

The Best College Station in the Nation

Gannon to Host National Championship

Far-Seeing Vision

Class Notes

GUBotDev is forging the way in today’s engineering and robotics economy.

Forty-five years since first signing on the airwaves, 90.5 WERG has much to celebrate.

Read more on the official dedication and blessing of the Donald M. and Judith C. Alstadt Environmental Center.

Review the Gannon Golden Knights’ record-setting fall sports season.

See what team will host its national championship at Gannon’s Hammermill Center.

Keep up with the latest news from your classmates.

On the Cover A 462 square foot mural created by local artist Ehren Knapp was installed on A.J.’s Way in October 2017. The mural was conceptualized and made possible by Gannon students and faculty, especially English Instructor Carol Hayes and the students in her Honors College Composition class. The project was initiated in 2014 and involved a new group of students each year who worked together to bring the idea to life.

View the Gannon Magazine Online Edition Look for this symbol for articles with exclusive video, photo galleries and expanded content found in the Gannon Magazine Online Edition. View on your phone, tablet or computer at magazine.gannon.edu/Dec17. To receive the Gannon Magazine Online Edition directly to your inbox, or to manage your subscription preferences visit gannon.edu/magazine.

facebook.com/gannonu twitter.com/gannonu instagram.com/gannonu gannon.edu/linkedin #GUPOSSIBILITIES

When Gannon University announced an inkind product lifecycle management software grant from Siemens, September 13, Walter Iwanenko, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs, said, “It is no exaggeration to say that the grant that we will announce today may well herald a new renaissance in manufacturing, not only in Erie, but across the globe. It is that significant.”

(L-R) Davide Piovesan, Ph.D., associate professor, biomedical engineering; Ikechukwu Ohu, Ph.D., assistant professor, industrial engineering; and Ryan Theeck, academic account executive at Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc., announce the organizations’ partnership and grant.

Game Changer 2

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Baxter, the revolutionary, collaborative research robot

If nothing else, the size of the grant, lifecycle management software; which has an estimated commercial and Kineo Kite Lab, used for robot value of $373 million, is significant, simulations. but so are its implications. Gannon “Rather than depending on different engineering students will have software packages to do design, the opportunity to use the same modeling and simulation, students technology that companies worldwide can use NX for the entire process,” depend on to design some of said Ikechukwu Ohu, Ph.D., assistant today’s most professor of “This generous grant will sophisticated industrial products. engineering.

give our students an

future implants could be produced directly in the hospital.” “Gannon University has always been a regional leader in educating the engineers who will build our future,” said Iwanenko. “This generous grant will give our students an opportunity to develop the kind of software skills that will make them leaders in transforming our economy. We are grateful for this partnership with Siemens, which will open a world of possibilities for our students.”

Product “With FiberSim opportunity to develop the lifecycle software, students management can define the kind of software skills that (PLM) software characteristics of To view an expanded photo gallery will make them leaders in goes beyond the materials that and video from the Siemens grant mere design will be used from transforming our economy.” announcement, visit and simulation. a workstation in magazine.gannon.edu/Dec17 It is the backbone of an information the industrial engineering lab, before management system that integrates the actual product is made.” data, processes, business systems and The implications for biomedical people throughout an enterprise and engineering are especially exciting. throughout the entire lifecycle of a “We can now use software to take product. the geometry of a patient from a CT “Siemens is committed to developing scan and design an implant to fit the the workforce of the future and helping prosthetic device to the patient so to close the skills gap, and I am very that it will fit perfectly,” said Davide proud that we have partnered with Piovesan, Ph.D., associate professor of Gannon to expand opportunities for biomedical engineering. new high-tech, digital and advancedtype of manufacturing jobs,” said Anne “Siemens software can also Cooney ’91, president, Siemens Digital be interfaced with current 3D printing Factory Division, U.S. technologies so The software available to students Maggie Rutkowski, that in the in the industrial and biomedical junior industrial near engineering programs includes engineering major, FactoryCAD, which enables the spent her summer at an creation of intelligent factory internship with The Nassal models; NX, for computer-aided Company, the world’s leading design, manufacturing and amusement park design engineering; FiberSIM, used firm that fabricates attractions such as for composite designs; the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Teamcenter portfolio, the world’s most Universal Orlando. widely used “In my internship I was able to use software that I digital

learned in the classroom on several projects and applying what I learned enabled me to work on more projects and ultimately to establish myself as a professional,” she said.

The Siemens announcement can only enhance her skills, she said. “I’m excited to use this software package, which can be applied to many different industries, and also to my own curriculum to do some project-based learning. It’s an edge up.” #GUPOSSIBILITIES

For years, Gannon University has sent students, faculty and staff to volunteer on building projects across the world. But, what if Gannon had its own destination that could be home to volunteers on service projects in Erie? 4

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On September 22 that question was answered as ground was broken for the St. Joseph House of Faith in Action. With a mission to humbly serve neighbors in the spirit and example of St. Joseph the Worker through purposeful programs and actions, St. Joseph House will be an outreach ministry of Gannon Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center for Social Concerns built upon a foundation of service, simplicity, community and reflection. St. Joseph House of Faith in Action is intentionally located at the heart of the Our West Bayfront (OWB) community to provide a simple yet functional home base for individuals and groups to gather and join in as integrated partners in the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revitalization. St. Joseph House will serve the OWB community by creating a retreat and community-based learning center for small group activities and gatherings.

“We want to create an awareness of the Funding for the creation of the St. great things that are happening and the Joseph House was provided by Gannon transformation that is coming to OWB, alumni, friends and supporters of the making it a model for community Mission of the center. Building Systems development. That’s a lot of hope for Inc. (BSI) graciously committed to a small project, but we see St. Joseph manage the volunteer build of the House as a seed center so that “…we see St. Joseph House that will grow Gannon students, to become a employees as a seed that will grow to strong symbol and members become a strong symbol of of the broader of hope for the community and hope for the community and community who others to see,” are of like mind, others to see.” said Gannon heart and interest University President Keith Taylor, Ph.D. in achieving the purpose of this project may join in the construction effort. The building was designed to be in harmony with the existing residences of its historic neighborhood. Among its notable features are a community room for groups to gather for reflection, social programming and casual relaxation, and ample open space to accommodate 12-15 individuals for overnight stays. Two small private bedrooms will house the Gannon employees who will serve as permanent tenants, increasing their ability for financial savings so that they might someday own their own homes in the neighborhood.

“The St. Joseph House of Faith in Action provides a welcoming home for all who seek to serve in solidarity with the local, urban community and to be transformed through their own efforts to transform the neighborhoods of Our West Bayfront, one act of kindness at a time,” Taylor said.

To view an expanded photo gallery and video of the groundbreaking and blessing ceremony, visit magazine.gannon.edu/Dec17

The Gannon and Erie communities, including community partners, local students and members of Gannon’s Board of Trustees, came together to celebrate the groundbreaking and blessing ceremony.

#GUPOSSIBILITIES

Gannon’s 2017 Homecoming Reunion Weekend was one filled with firsts and the start of new traditions for the University. As more than 1,000 Gannon University and Villa Maria College alumni returned to campus they were welcomed with a weekend full of activities, including the introduction of a new, traditional tailgating experience. The tailgating brought together Gannon alumni, faculty and staff alike for lawn games and laughter before student performances kicked off in front of McConnell Family Stadium as part of Gannon’s Got Talent. The Gannon Family also enjoyed live performances from Gannon’s Pep Band and local band The Romantic Era before cheering the Golden Knights football team on to victory against Edinboro University.

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Many alumni affinity groups held special reunions, too, with celebrations for the 50th Reunion of the Class of ’67, the 40th Anniversary of Gannon’s Physician Assistant program and more. Recognized at a dinner and reception were Gannon’s 2017 Distinguished Alumni honorees, including Lisa Spiller, Ph.D. ’82, ’84M; Scott Krall ’84; Daniel Daube ’84; Autumn Marshall ’09, ’10M; and Sister Mary Drexler, S.S.J. ’71VMA.

ASSOCI

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ALU

UNIVE

SAVE THE DATES! HOMECOMING REUNION WEEKEND October 5-7, 2018

The new Alumni Lounge was unveiled Homecoming Weekend with an Open House event that showcased the hospitable accommodations now available for alumni visiting campus. The space offers a plush meeting and lounge area that is equipped for all onthe-go needs and is adorned with memorabilia contributed by the Gannon Family. Contact Alumni Services to share your memorabilia for the Alumni Lounge or to reserve it for your next visit to campus.

To view more photos and video, visit magazine.gannon.edu/Dec17

#GUPOSSIBILITIES

“An organization like this should spell danger for big corporations. We are disruptors.” Students in GUBotDev pose with the 10-foot-tall 3D printer they designed and built.

In Room 341 of Zurn Science Center, among the voltage meters, 3D printers, aerial drones and spools of wire, there are two olive drab cots, and they tell you almost all you need to know about GUBotDev. “We do all-nighters here,” said Nick Devine, a graduate student from Harrisburg who is the group’s chief operations officer. “Your 3D print could take six to seven hours to finish, so why go home? Set up, sleep, start again.” Like the 3D printers that have become a trademark of the group, GUBotDev never stops. A steady flow of gadgets emerge from GUBotDev’s combination laboratory and factory in Zurn. But the most valuable product their nearly three dozen members create is innovation. 8

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3D printers designed and built by GUBotDev

Getting GUBotDev Started The group began in 2015 with a halfdozen computer science majors who assembled to work on a self-propelled robot called Clementine. “I saw a pile of fried electronics and circuit boards,” Devine remembered. “The group members were all software guys and they didn’t know how to hook things up. Jeremy Korte, who was also an electrical engineering major, and I got involved. We left the programming to the computer science majors and together, we built things.” The composition of GUBotDev soon changed to incorporate more members from various and unexpected disciplines. “I saw these guys flying drones and I thought that was cool. I met all my friends in GUBotDev,” said member and criminal justice major Bill Green.

Creators of Innovation GUBotDev came into its own with a signature project, a 10-foot-tall 3D printer that they believe to be “among the three biggest filament printers in the world.” The project arose from drawings on the back of a napkin in Amman, Jordan where Steven Rowland, Devine

and Korte were teaching a robotics workshop. Forty-five days later and the three had designed and made parts for the delta-style filament printer.

Park. GUBotDev designed technology to measure the birds’ heat index in Presque Isle Park’s reedy lagoons to help estimate their population.

“Someone suggested that we build something big enough to print ourselves, and after all the joking, we decided that we had to build it,” Korte said.

“Supporting the research of students and faculty has been one of our goals, and it’s great to have a service aspect, too– it’s growing all the time,” said Mark Blair, instructor of computer science and adviser to GUBotDev.

The finished printer is no joke. To build it, the GUBotDev team machined all the blocks, plates and wheels in Gannon’s mechanical engineering lab and assembled the electronics entirely from scratch.

Using Robotics for Service The group has taken 3D printing to heart, and into the community. In July, GUBotDev conducted a sixweek camp for 50 Erie County high school students from the Upward Bound program, where they built inexpensive 3D printers using a curriculum and parts designed by Gannon students.

GUBotDev students present at Erie’s Manufacturing Day.

Drones built by GUBotDev

GUBotDev is also conducting research with Erie’s Purple Martin Conservation Association in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at Presque Isle State

Designing Our Economic Future “An organization like this should spell danger for big corporations,” said Blair. “We are disruptors. When you have a group like ours that uses open-source technology, that changes things. We’ll not only show you how much our stuff costs to make, we’ll show you how to make it. In that way, we create more than just a product. We create an entirely new economic commodity: trust.” A lot of economists and futurists point to this model as a path for American manufacturing to restore its global preeminence; and GUBotDev might be prototyping the future of the industry.

To read more about GUBotDev, visit magazine.gannon.edu/Dec17 #GUPOSSIBILITIES

t s e b the

college station in The nation When WERG signed-on for the first time on Dec. 1, 1972, few people could hear the station beyond a severalblock radius of its studio in the basement of the Zurn Science Center. The station, started by Father Thomas McSweeney, a professor in the Department of Theatre, was a place where students who wanted to enter the field of broadcasting could gain practical experience.

Forty-five years later, that purpose is undiminished, but 90.5 WERG is now heard throughout the tri-state region and southern Ontario. More importantly, the station is heard from as a national leader in college radio after winning the Abraham & Borst Award for the Best College Station in the Nation at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Conference in 2014. 10

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A long way from its humble beginnings, WERG has launched some prominent careers–on both sides of the microphone.

on-air in Erie and other markets. He made connections with local stations that expanded our reach and provided opportunities for students.”

Among the high-profile veterans of Students operated WERG (“The Fine Eighty-Nine”) during the week while WERG are Daniel Daube ’84, a twoweekends ran community service time Emmy winner for editing and programs produced and staffed by producing who is now a technical consultant for the Turner Broadcasting volunteers. One of these programs, “Super Soul Saturday,” has become System in Atlanta. Monique Beatty an institution in and Kevin “We were just about the only Erie radio, and Sullivan, both was described 1987 graduates source of information in by Bohen as: who work in “must-hear radio Hollywood. those pre-internet days.” that brought the Sullivan as a African-American community of Erie writer with Nickelodeon and Beatty to the station and to the University. as a director of TV production at That resonates today in what the DreamWorks Animation Television. program did and continues to do.” Some, like Jen Markham Wynn, A transmitter from WTAE-FM radio who interned on the Geraldo Rivera in Pittsburgh and a new antenna television franchise, still feels the atop Nash Library extended WERG’s romance of radio as the host of the reach throughout the city at a new highly-rated morning show at WXLO position on the FM dial: 89.9 mHz. By radio in Worcester, Massachusetts. the summer of 1989, the station was Some of the most memorable careers broadcasting in stereo and sparked the made at WERG belonged to the faculty growing interest in alternative rock as who nurtured the student stars. One Energy-FM 90. of the most influential of these was Chet LaPrice ’92, ‘11M, now WERG’s AJ Miceli, who came to the station operations manager, arrived at this three years after its founding and critical juncture for the station. While transformed “the little station that still a student, LaPrice was at the could.” center of the moment that, for Steve Bohen ’79, who had a long career him, defines what WERG is in radio, television and as a faculty all about. member at Gannon, was in Miceli’s first class in 1975. “AJ brought a strong “It was the great ice storm in 1990 when sense of the fun of radio, but also power was out all the need for professionalism,” Bohen over Erie and remembered. “He’d worked in every we were one area of radio: sales, operations and

of very few stations on the air,” he said. “We were just about the only source of information in those pre-internet days. We were on 24/7 doing live updates—a lesson on how radio can be a lifeline in times of emergency.” LaPrice brought technical sophistication to WERG that modeled industry-standard equipment and made a move on the dial to 90.5 mHz, while Miceli also made WERG worldwide introducing an online livestream of the station. Now located in gleaming new studios in the Center for Communication and the Arts, 90.5 WERG may look different than where it started, yet it is still a place where students are shaping their future careers as part of a top station in the nation. To read more and hear audio clips from your favorite on-air talent, visit magazine.gannon.edu/Dec17

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FAR-SEEING VISION

The sun shone bright through the pines, poplars and Pennsylvania hardwoods that stood guard as the Donald M. and Judith C. Alstadt Environmental Center in Warren County, Pennsylvania, was formally dedicated October 4. It was a fitting symbol for the bright future the facility offers for Gannon University students and faculty to live, learn and conduct research in a setting with unparalleled direct access to diverse ecosystems.

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Opening the dedication and blessing ceremony, Walter Iwanenko, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs, acknowledged the generous donors who made the opportunity possible. “This is a magical place, and it’s easy to see why Judy and the late Don Alstadt chose it as a place of retreat,

reflection and immersion in nature,” said Iwanenko. “Today, we honor the Alstadts’ commitment to the natural world, to scientific inquiry and to education with the blessing and dedication of this one-of-a-kind Center.” In his remarks, the Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico, J.C.L., Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, went on to say, “How appropriate it is that we gather here today on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi to acknowledge the beauty of this place and dedicate

it to God. St. Francis, the patron of tower that overlooks Brokenstraw ecology, saw the beauty and wonder Creek and 98 acres of hardwood of God in all of creation. This location, forest administered by the Western on the banks of Pennsylvania the Brokenstraw “... we honor the Alstadts’ Conservancy. Creek, may assist his remarks, commitment to the natural In us—and many President Keith others—to do world, to scientific inquiry Taylor, Ph.D., the same.” called the tower a and to education...” fitting metaphor for Speaking for “the far-seeing vision of the Alstadts the students of Gannon University, that brings us here today. It is our Student Government Association honor as representatives of Gannon President Kendra Walker remarked University to become stewards of this that she was “overwhelmed with the extraordinary place, and to use it stories that the Center will help create. with wisdom and care to increase our This center is a chance for students knowledge of and reverence for God’s to step out of the comfort zone that creation.” is the classroom and fully immerse themselves and engage in the world around them. Whether this building is used for cutting-edge environmental research or for students to develop their leadership skills through a retreat, it will become an integral part of their story. It will challenge them to think differently, to grow, and ultimately transform Judith Alstadt (right) reminisces with Gannon students and shares her their lives for years to vision for the Center. come.” For video of the dedication and The Center’s most prominent feature blessing ceremony, visit might be a 50-foot observation magazine.gannon.edu/Dec17 #GUPOSSIBILITIES 13

Students, faculty, staff and alumni came out to help to strengthen their communities by participating in the 20th annual GIVE (Gannon’s Invitation to Volunteer Everywhere) Day. This year, GIVE day was part of the International Coastal Cleanup. More than 700 volunteers at 18 sites from Erie Bluff State Park in western Erie County, to 20 Mile Creek near the New York state line, to Edinboro in the south, took the Cleanup to heart, collecting more than 3,000 pounds of trash from areas surrounding our waterways.

A special emphasis this year was on service in the Our West Bayfront (OWB) neighborhoods. Gannon alumni volunteered for OWB’s Neighbor 2 Neighbor Project, lending a little muscle and a lot of smiles to residents’ household projects. Students, faculty and staff volunteered at Strong Vincent Middle School, which is one of five public schools in the Erie School District to participate in a community school strategy in partnership with United Way of Erie County, Gannon University and

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Community schools bring opportunities, resources and social services directly into school buildings for student success. It’s also a place with a proud tradition of achievement that includes multiple state championships in various sports. GIVE Day volunteers from Gannon’s Honors program cleaned and organized the school’s trophy case, a symbol of Strong Vincent’s 87-year history focal point of community pride.

how it feels when you

“The Gannon students were amazing,” said Katrina Byrd, Strong Vincent’s community school director. “They handled everything as though they were in their great grandma’s attic, discovering treasures for the first time.” First-year physician assistant major, Shae Wilson from North East, Pennsylvania, knows the feeling firsthand. Her grandmother, Janet Wolfe Rizzo, was a baton twirler and library monitor at Strong Vincent in the 1950s. She was part of a crew of Honors students who painted the school’s library. She mentioned her family connection to Strong Vincent principal Jeff Hutchinson, who found a yearbook with her grandmother’s photos.

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“She looked a lot like me when she was younger,” Wilson said. “I’d pick up a book and the thought that my grandma might have touched that same book all those years ago gave me a little lump in my throat.” Ann Bomberger, Ph.D., director of the Honors program and the leader of the painting crew, called GIVE

Day, “an important opportunity for faculty and students to work together in a different kind of setting. Honors students are smart, passionate people who are dedicated to improving their communities.” For video and photos from GIVE Day 2017, visit magazine.gannon.edu/Dec17

1,000+

VOLUNTEERS

40+

SITES IN USA

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hidden Once known as “Gem City” for its sparkling lake, Erie, Pennsylvania has a rich history – one that Gannon University has long been a part of as Erie’s urban university. So, it’s no surprise that Gannon has a few hidden gems of its own. But, what exactly is considered a hidden gem at Gannon University? Gannon gems are nostalgic and precious. They are the little-known places on campus you frequent often, or the nooks you pass by that are adorned with detail and symbols of the University’s history. They can also be not-so-hidden spaces that we associate our fondest memories with, or where our Mission is put into action in learning environments that are driving

BRINGING GANNON’S SPIRIT TO LIFE

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the future of our globally connected and innovative campus community and greater society. And when you are traveling the scenic paths to these destinations, you meet the people who make Gannon University the treasured home it is. These connections may lead you to uncover unexpected things about the people you see every day, or shine light on their qualities exemplifying the spirit of the University. All, though, deepen their care for you as part of the Gannon Family. Uncover more of Gannon’s hidden gems at magazine.gannon.edu/Dec17

“It started with an art review into what is now the vibrant mural assignment in Professor Hayes’ found along A.J.’s Way. Honors College Composition class In October, the Gannon community during my freshman year,” reminisced celebrated the culmination of a threeEvan year class project that involved nearly DeFalco, a hundred students in Gannon’s senior Honors Program who made possible biology/pretheir idea for a mural on campus that medicine symbolizes the history and character major. It of Gannon University. was an assignment “For me it’s a lot about inspiration,” that sparked said Ryan Micsky, Honors Program an idea for vice-chair. “When you start out on a DeFalco that project that’s as big as this, you might transpired not expect it to come to fruition;

but through a lot of hard work and perseverance anybody can accomplish their dreams.” The students conducted extensive research and proposals to acquire the resources and support they needed to make their idea a reality. Enlisting the creative talent of local muralist Ehren Knapp, the students worked alongside the artist and members of the Gannon community to develop artwork reflective of key attributes of Gannon University.

said Carol Hayes, English instructor and faculty member who led and supported the students in their endeavors.

“There’s something so magical about being part of something that is bigger than where you are at the time, and everybody in all the classes The mural includes a myriad of academic, knew that,” said athletic and student engagement Hayes. “They representation, and includes imagery knew that they of the University’s founder, as well as both its were working on something that if it ever really campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania and Ruskin, Florida. happened, they’ve left their mark.” “I’m full of astonishment, admiration and gratitude Honors Program Chair Morgan Grzegorzewski each day I’ve agreed with Hayes. “We are excited that this mural “There’s something so magical for had chances to will be a lasting piece of our experience at Gannon about being part of something connect lessons on University with the Honors Program.” writing, research that is bigger than where you and the potential View a video of the mural celebration at impact of art to are at the time…” magazine.gannon.edu/Dec17 Gannon’s campus,”

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Explore one of our newest treasures, a mural along A.J.’s Way that portrays just some of Gannon’s many hidden gems and the many aspects of the Gannon Family, which were selected by the students who brought this project to life. Put your GU knowledge to the test! Can you find all the hidden gems?

1. A 48-foot research vessel that creates a hands-on learning environment on Lake Erie. 2. The longest-running organization of its type in the country, and the secondoldest in the world. 3. A cross-disciplinary project bringing literacy to the City of Erie and beyond. 4. Students in Gannon’s biomedical engineering program have helped create this cutting-edge medical device. 5. The original solitary building on campus that currently houses the Office of the President, Alumni Services and administrative offices.

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6. In Fall 2017, Gannon’s student body was comprised of students from 43 countries. 7. Keeping true to the vision of its founder, this organization has provided concerts to all music lovers free of charge since 1987. 8. The General Superior and Honorary President of Villa Maria College during its founding. 9. Gannon students participating in this program study and experience a global destination of their choice. 10. This museum moved to the Center for Communication and the Arts in 2014, and offers rotating exhibits free of charge to students.

11. An iconic “gateway” to campus found along W. Seventh St. 12. These bodies of water are found in close proximity to each of Gannon’s campuses. 13. Gannon’s home to business-related programs, the Erie Technology Incubator and the Gannon Small Business Development Center since 2014. 14. This group has traveled to Jordan to digup and uncover the past. 15. Gannon’s southern campus, formally dedicated in August 2015. 16. A tradition since 1987, this yearly event encourages service in our community while sporting an iconic t-shirt.

17. A “black box” variety that offers numerous mainstage shows on campus each season.

22. Celebrating its 45th anniversary, this structure makes the airwaves come alive with music to the tristate area.

18. In 2007, Gannon joined this athletic conference.

23. Opened in 2012, this facility actively promotes physical wellness as part of the holistic Gannon experience.

19. Gannon is home to the largest of these learning environments in the region, allowing hands-on study in health professions and related fields. 20. Gannon’s namesake and founder in 1925. 21. Archbishop John Mark Gannon’s original vision for the conception of Gannon was to make a college education accessible to anyone with “a cost which they can well defray by a paper route.”

24. Gannon’s student-produced weekly newspaper. 25. A naturally-occurring granular material found in close proximity to both of Gannon’s campuses. 26. The primary north-south footpath frequently traveled by students on the Erie campus. Answers can be found on page 37

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“To have this type of opportunity in our first clinical is incredible. We’ve learned so much right away.” Students in the Ruskin MAT program gain clinical experience in a variety of settings.

Gannon’s New Master of Athletic Training Program in Ruskin, Florida Provides Students with Valuable Clinical Experience with Nationally Ranked Team When Stephanie Deschamps and Hannah Merrifield ’17 considered graduate schools, both looked for a Master of Athletic Training (MAT) program that offered small classes and year-round clinical application. Enrolled as the two inaugural students in Gannon’s new MAT program in Ruskin, they have found just that and more. Deschamps and Merrifield entered their first clinical placement at the start of the program in August, working with the athletes, licensed athletic trainers and coaches on the University of South Florida’s (USF) nationally ranked football team. “It makes me proud to be part of Gannon and also representing USF,” said Deschamps. “We’re there as students assisting the certified athletic trainers and doctors. If somebody has a cut, we wrap it and get them back on the field. If they have a cramp, we get them hydrated and stretch them out.”

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Students in Ruskin Care for Caregivers Serving and hands-on learning in the community is a central part of the student experience at Gannon University, so when the Ruskin, Florida, campus opened, these traditions put down roots there as well. Uniting the two traditions, a group of students in Gannon’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program participated in a yearlong research project involving an outreach ministry to provide support to caregivers at Prince of Peace Church in nearby Sun City. Students conducted a needs assessment and designed a weekly program to address the areas in which they identified that caregivers needed the most support.

The model of extending classroom work to the community is one that Dianna Lunsford, OTD, assistant professor of occupational therapy, hopes to continue. “You could probably call all 22 of our firstcohort OTD students and find that they’ve all done something amazing,” Lunsford said. “I’m so impressed with them.” Sue Ram showcases the Prince of Peace Church bulletin, where the student and caregiver group work was featured.

Sue Ram, one of those students, said, “What we learned was that occupational therapy is needed in all areas, even with caregivers in terms of preventive measures, health promotion and education.”

Merrifield, who earned her undergraduate degree in sport and exercise science at Gannon’s Erie campus, added, “We do a lot of preventive, acute care and rehabilitative treatment at USF, applying what we’ve learned in the classroom. To have this type of opportunity in our first clinical is incredible. We’ve learned so much right away.” Fostering the partnership with USF and providing that classroom knowledge is Program Director and Assistant Professor Susan Wehring EdD, ATC, LAT. “It’s a hands-on program with full-immersion experiences; they’ll have a clinical experience as a course every semester,” she said. “The partnership in clinical education with Gannon University’s Athletic Training program is off to a great start,” said Steve Walz, MA, ATC, LAT, Associate Athletic Director of Sports Medicine at USF. “Stephanie and Hannah have done a tremendous job applying the knowledge they’ve learned in the classroom. They have been an asset to USF’s sports medicine team and keeping our football student-athletes “To have this type of opportunity healthy. I look forward to watching them progress in their careers and to in our first clinical is incredible. continuing clinical education with future Gannon students.” We’ve learned so much...”

orld Experience #GUPOSSIBILITIES 21

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HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT At Gannon University, history is all around us, but sometimes it hides in plain sight. That was certainly the case with a humble wooden desk that turned out to be a time capsule for one of Gannon University’s legendary figures.

The desk that had been in the Nash Library director’s office didn’t look like much, and it had been there for years. When Ken Brundage moved into that office and changed the furniture, the old wooden desk was moved aside. “I think it was placed in a corner somewhere and stacked with cardboard boxes,” Brundage said, adding, “I’d heard that it was Msgr. Nash’s desk, but as far as I knew, the story was apocryphal.” Apocryphal, perhaps, but tantalizing. Monsignor Wilfrid J. Nash ’33, the library’s namesake, was the beloved and respected president of the University from 1956-77, a period of dramatic growth and change. Andy Nagle, Campus Services Crew Leader, heard the legend when the desk was moved into storage in advance of the library renovation project, and he passed it along to Tony Fulgenzio ’82, when he inquired about furniture for his office. Fulgenzio, retired executive director of philanthropy and communications, was interested in the desk and the legend, which he was determined to authenticate. “I was able to find a yearbook photo from the 1970s that did confirm that it was Msgr. Nash’s original desk while he was president of Gannon,” Fulgenzio said, but the search didn’t end there. A chance discovery was made when Fulgenzio moved the desk earlier this year, providing unmistakable proof. Inside the desk, he found documents and a letter dated January 1958 from Bishop Alfred Watson, at that time the vicar of St. Peter Cathedral, granting Msgr. Nash permission to use the church to perform the wedding ceremony of the late William Rowane, M.D. ’48 and Joyce Herbstritt. “Needless to say, Dr. Joe Rowane [’86], son of the couple, was overjoyed at finding such a piece of family history,” said Fulgenzio, who gave him the original letter. With that gift, a circle was closed and a mystery satisfyingly solved. And a discarded piece of old furniture was revealed to be a hidden gem, a buried treasure from Gannon’s history.

ASSOCI

A ON

ALU

(Left) Monsignor Wilfrid J. Nash ’33; (Right) Nash’s desk was uncovered and now resides in Old Main; the letter found in the desk confirmed Nash as the original owner.

UNIVE

SAVE THE DATE! NASH LIBRARY DEDICATION AND BLESSING CEREMONY January 19, 2018 #GUPOSSIBILITIES 23

GANNON ATHLETICS:

SETTING RECO BREAKING

History was made in December when Marc Jones became Gannon football’s first student-athlete named NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) Football Offensive Player of the Year. The honor came two days after he was named a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy awarded to the top NCAA Division II football student-athlete, another first in the school’s history. He was second in the program’s history to be named a conference player of the year and was named PSAC Western Division Offensive Player of the Year.

He broke PSAC single-game records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and led all NCAA divisions in rushing yards per game. He ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division II Super Region One in all-purpose yards per game, rushing yards per carry, rushing touchdowns, rushing yards, rushing yards per game, total points and total touchdowns.

The men’s cross country recorded its best NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional finish in program history in November. Sophomore Joseph Westrick earned all-region first-team honors with the best individual regional finish in program history while leading the team to a ninth-place finish out of 19 teams.

competitive all- the tradition of the No oneGannon’s is entirely surecheer when girl and co-ed teams received bids Jones was featured in Sports to the 2018 Cheerleaders senior class giftNational started at Gannon University, but Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” Association Collegiate Cheer in October for his record-settingit has been aroundin for more than two decades and Championships Daytona Beach, For the first time in its 45-year history, season. He set school records with Both Gannon teams the Golden has leftFlorida. anqualified undeniable mark on campus in Knight waysBooster Club 10 100-yard rushing performances have for the national topped 1,000 members and raised a and single-season records for rushing championships every year during their record-breaking $214,406 during the that are visible and not-so visible. yards, rushing yards per carry, rushing program’s existence. touchdowns, all-purpose yards, points and touchdowns.

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2016-17 academic year.

ORDS, G RECORDS

Gannon Athletics launched the Gannon Sports Network in conjunction with the PSAC Sports Network. The network provides fans the opportunity to watch more than 60 home events during the fall and winter sports seasons free of charge on their computers, smartphones and tablets.

This article is reported as of December 1, 2017. For more updates on Gannonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golden Knights, visit gannonsports.com

#GUPOSSIBILITIES 25

GANNON TO HOST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP For the second time in four years, Gannon University will be the host school for a national championship event. The Hammermill Center will be the location of the 2018 National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) national championships, April 26-28. Eight qualifying teams will receive atlarge bids to the event, which will be contested in a single-elimination format. The prestige of hosting a national championship was the result of a coordinated effort by the University, the Erie Sports Commission and the City of Erie to bring the event to the Hammermill Center, and the mounting excitement for the event is shared by the NCATA. “We are excited to partner with Gannon University and the Erie Sports Commission to host the 2018 NCATA National Championships,” said NCATA Executive Director Janelle Cook. “Lisa Goddard McGuirk and her staff are well positioned to host a special event for our student-athletes and fans. The great staff 26

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at the Erie Sports Commission and the community of Erie have been so supportive and enthusiastic. We really look forward to bringing our championship to their city.” Gannon Athletic Director Lisa Goddard McGuirk said, “This announcement shows the tremendous support of the community, which will show a warm Erie welcome to the competitors and families who will enjoy all that Erie has to offer.”

Gannon coach Jacquie Eshelman competed in the NCATA championships for the University of Oregon, a perennial power in the sport. “Our team has high goals, and I can’t wait to see how they accomplish them,” she said. (L-R) Gannon Athletic Director Lisa Goddard McGuirk, Ron Sertz, Executive Director, Erie Sports Commission and acrobatics and tumbling coach Jacquie Eshelman announce Gannon as the host of the 2018 NCATA National Championship.

classnotes 62

MARK R. FIERLE just finished his third book, “Unbridling the American Spirit,” which focuses on the four building blocks of a meaningful life. It is available on Amazon along with his other books, “Rekindling the American Spirit” and “Adapt or Perish.” Fierle also hosts a weekly radio show on KUCI 88.9 FM in Irvine, Calif. called “In the Garden.” He is also a certified square foot garden teacher, giving workshops along with a consultancy to graduate-level classes on career topics.

SISTER MARY H. FORNEY, S.S.J. VMC completed 10 years of service in the activities department at St. Mary’s East Gallagher Center in Erie.

RUDOLPH J. DUBOVEC has been elected to the Fidelity Bank of Florida board of directors. Dubovec is the President of RJD Financial, Inc., which assists customers with buying, selling and financing homes and businesses. He serves as a mentor to numerous real estate investors and is also working with Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School in Palm Coast.

SHARE YOUR NEWS LET US KNOW WHAT YOU’VE BEEN UP TO! Submit a class note at www.gannonalumni.org

REV. LEO J. GALLINA was given the Legacy Award by the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce for extraordinary contributions to the community. He is the former pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Fr. Gallina, now in his 52nd year as a priest, retired in 2011 after 46 years of service to the church and lives in Erie. Still he “hopes to continue to be healthy, able to inspire and to be able to change people’s way of acting and trying to show kindness, helpfulness and ability to just give.” 1

LOUIS J. AGNESE, JR., PH.D. ’74M was honored with the titles of president emeritus and board of trustees emeritus at the Fall 2016 Commencement Ceremony for the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas. Agnese served as the eighth president of Incarnate Word beginning in 1985, when at the age of 33 he became one of the youngest

Generosity for Generations

RONALD J. VOLPE, PH.D. was recently named to the Hood College Athletic Hall of Fame in Frederick, Md. He retired as Hood’s president in 2015 after a long and successful tenure.

DENNIS C. CUNEO, ESQ. was a presenter at Kent State University’s Global Management Center Speaker Series. He discussed the changes taking place in the auto industry, which he called, “the biggest since Henry Ford developed the Model T.” He is president of DC Strategic Advisors, LLC and former senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

The James E. Mantyla Memorial Scholarship was established at an official check presentation with (L-R) President Keith Taylor, Ph.D.; John Mantyla, brother; John Stefanik, president Glenwood Beer Distributors, Inc.; and Michael Lubowicki CVA ’70, PC - Knowledge to Solutions.

JIM MANTYLA ’69, ’76M, the late president of Glenwood Beer, left his legacy in an act of generosity that will benefit students seeking a Gannon University education. Before his sudden passing in April at the age of 69, Mantyla established the JEM Charitable Foundation to benefit entities that were close to his heart, including Gannon University, Cathedral Preparatory School, St. Mary’s Home and St. Peter Cathedral. Mantyla was aware of the challenges that many middle-income families face with regard to paying for their children’s education. The JEM Foundation gift supported 22 students who were awarded a James E. Mantyla Memorial Scholarship at Gannon University for the 2017-18 Academic Year.

Because of this, the generosity of this humble, soft-spoken and loyal man will speak loudly for years to come.

Achievements by Gannon University faculty, staff and administration

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college presidents in the United States, until his retirement in 2016. His was the second longest presidential tenure in UIW's 135-year history.

RONALD F. SLOMSKI retired at the end of June 2017 as the general manager of Penn State Behrend’s WPSE radio station after a 21-year career with the business-focused radio station. Before joining WPSE, Slomski worked for 10 years for WJET radio in Erie, in addition to stints at Gannon University, WQLN and Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa.

MARIANNE (THOMAS) BOCK ’76M was recently promoted to Director of Continuing Education at the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering in Tampa, Florida. The global professional society provides professional resources and technical education for pharmaceutical manufacturing professionals in the US, Europe and Asia Pacific regions.

SUSAN (MORTON) LECHNER stepped down from her position as the marketing and special events director at the Erie Playhouse after the 100th season this summer. She will still be performing and hopes to do more directing as well.

MICHELE D. CAVALIER has been named corporate senior vice president, senior wealth executive and senior trust officer of Warren, Pa.-based Northwest Bank. Cavalier is responsible for the management, supervision and direction of all personal trust, employee benefits and wealth management activities. She began her employment with Northwest in 2002 as a vice president and trust officer. Since then, she has worked as senior vice president and chief fiduciary officer for the bank.

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Gannon University Alumni Association President Greg Czarnecki ’89 (fifth from right) pictured along with National Alumni Board members in the Alumni Lounge during 2017 Homecoming Reunion Weekend.

A Message from Gannon University Alumni Association President Who doesn’t like digging out old photo albums and reliving the past, laughing at how they used to look, or fondly remembering those who are no longer with us or who we rarely see? Photos tell our history in a way that words never can. A pictorial history of Gannon has never been compiled, until now. In the fall of 2019 Arcadia Publishing will release a pictorial history of Gannon as part of its Campus History Series. With the help of Gannon’s archivist, Bob Dobiesz, I’ve been combing through the University’s archives for images to include in the book. While the archives contain lots of great photos dating back to Gannon’s earliest days, it only tells part of the story. To tell Gannon’s history we need photos from the whole Gannon Family, and that’s you. I’m especially interested in images of campus events, faculty and staff, and important milestones in Gannon’s history. We’re also looking for photos of Villa Maria College, because you can’t tell Gannon’s story without Villa. You may know that the two schools merged in 1989, but did you know that Gannon started off as an all-male downtown branch campus of Villa in 1933? If you have some hidden gems you’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a line at czarneck016@gannon.edu. Greg Czarnecki ’89 President, Gannon University Alumni Association

JEFFREY M. SCALES after almost 40 years in the financial industry will now be dedicating his time to an area that he loves: catechesis. He has joined the staff of St. Leo the Great School in Lincroft, N.J. as coordinator, middle school catechesis.

He will be responsible for sacramental preparation and confirmation. He started as a catechist four years ago preparing his middle school students for their journey toward confirmation. He also introduced his students to a wonderful catechetical resource, “Jesus, the Catechism, and Me” by the late Rev. Robert J. Levis, a longtime fixture on the Gannon campus.

ROBERT D. ALLEN, PH.D. will receive the 2017 Graduate School Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Allen is a distinguished research staff member and senior manager of the materials discovery and innovation department at the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, Calif.

KATHLEEN M. BERKLITE-MANZELLA ’85M under the pen name of KB Manz, has written two mystery novels, “Can't Take Back Yesterday,” and “Tomorrow Comes,” and is planning her third book.

ANNE (TURNER) KRILL and WILLIAM E. KRILL, JR. opened a private counseling practice called Gentle Counseling in Altoona, Pa. August 2016. Bill is the published author of “Handbook of Youth Ministry Skills,” and more recently a book describing a gentling approach for clinicians working with children with stress disorders. He also had a workbook published, “The Gentling Workbook,” for teen and adult survivors of child abuse. Married in 1982, the Krills have two adult sons, Andy and Tyler.

ALBERT “RUSTY” F. VICINIE III was a presenter at the 2017 National Environmental Monitoring Conference (NEMC) Symposium in Washington, DC. He presented “Why are we doing what we do? Does it really add value?” which addressed the elimination of non-value-added practices and using technology to improve data quality and reduced costs. He has been in the analytical industry since 1983 with experience in clinical, industrial hygiene and environmental laboratory operations. He is currently vice president operations in Pittsburgh of TestAmerica, the leader in environmental testing.

HOWARD C. SCHULTZ, JR. and his wife, Kathleen, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on May 22, 2017. Howard is employed with Lockheed Martin at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, St. Marys, Ga.

DAVID A. DORE, PH.D., S.J. has been awarded the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community Excellence. He will be joining the 39-member 2017-18 class of the Aspen Presidential Fellows, a diverse group of leaders with the drive and capacity to transform community colleges to achieve greater student success. The Aspen Institute is an educational

The Italian Tour CYNTHIA L. LIOTTA ’76, ’94M; AMY M. DAUGHERTY ’80; ANTHONY V. FULGENZIO ’82 ,’10M; GLORIA (PITONYAK) FULGENZIO ’83; MARK A. PLATTETER ’85; SHARON A. KRAHE ’95, ’07M; and GINA M. FULGENZIO ’14, ’15M joined tour leader AJ MICELI ’86M and other alumni in a travel group on a weeklong vacation to Italy, including tours of Tuscany and the Italian Riviera. and policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C. The fellowship is a year-long program to prepare leaders aspiring, or recently appointed, to community college presidencies. Dore is president of the Downtown and Northwest campuses of Pima Community College, Tucson, Ariz.

ERIC KLANN, PH.D. was chosen as the winner of 38th annual Butler (Pa.) Senior High School Distinguished Graduate Award by the Class of 2017. Klann is a 1980 graduate of Butler High and earned his doctorate in biochemistry from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University in 1989. During his doctoral studies, Klann’s research resulted in five publications in scientific journals. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Baylor College of Medicine’s Neuroscience

Bringing the Country Together Through Creativity Creativity can bring people together. That’s the inspiration behind a new project from the imagination of ROBERT DIPLACIDO ’13. A mechanical engineering graduate working at Zurn Industries, DiPlacido had started a small woodworking business in his spare time. That pursuit gave him the idea for a project that would bring together woodworkers like him from all 50 states. It’s a map of the U.S. with each state created by a volunteer woodworker through connections he made and interest gained on Instagram creating a feed (DA. Woodworking) and hashtag (#usmakersproject). “The U.S. is what we’re proud to be a part of,” DiPlacido said. “I wanted to do something to bring everybody together to reflect the variety and differences and show that together we can make something beautiful.” The wooden states are being shipped to DiPlacido from across the country so he can assemble them into an eight-foot-tall U.S. map he hopes to finish and put on tour in 2018. Volunteers from across the nation are designing and sending representations of their home state for Robert DiPlacido’s ’13 #USmakersproject.

“I hope to display the piece across Erie to show people–especially college students–that anything is possible as long as you put your mind and heart into it.” #GUPOSSIBILITIES 29

Gannon Alumnae Recognized for Impact in the Erie Community Among the 12 Dynamic Dozen honorees celebrated during the Mercy Center for Women for Women’s History Month for their contributions to the community were Gannon Alumnae: DENISE L. KOLIVOSKI ’01, ’08M is executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Erie County. VICKI (KELLER) WASHEK who is currently serving her third term as the executive director/community leader of L’Arche Erie. ALMITRA (CLEMENTE) CLERKIN ’85 who served as the executive director of the Erie Playhouse for 10 years. CHERI (THEOBALD) MCGUIRE ’12M is children’s program coordinator at SafeNet Erie.

JOSEPH G. CACCHIONE, M.D. has been named as the new president of Ascension Medical Group, the national provider organization for St. Louisbased Ascension. Cacchione joins Ascension from the Cleveland Clinic, where he has served as chairman of operations and strategy for the clinic’s Heart and Vascular Institute since 2011. Prior to the Cleveland Clinic, he was executive vice president and chief of quality and operations at Saint Vincent Health System in Erie.

TINA (CICCHETTI) DONIKOWSKI has been nominated as a new member of the Board of Directors of Atlas Copco AB, a provider of sustainable productivity solutions headquartered in Sweden. Tina recently retired as vice president global locomotive business for GE Transportation after a 38-year career. She recently received GE’s Corporate Achiever Award, the company’s most prestigious career performance award for executive women and minorities.

86 Department in Houston during which time he published 11 more articles and made important findings related to aspects of the cellular and molecular basis of learning and memory in the brain’s hippocampus region. In 1994, Klann was recruited to the University of Pittsburgh’s Neuroscience Department, where he made further fundamental discoveries related to the biology of memory. He returned to Baylor in 2001 first as an associate professor and then as a full professor in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. His work expanded into the areas of how memory is altered by aging, Alzheimer’s disease and autism. In 2006, Klann moved to New York University’s Center for Neural Science where he continues his work. 30

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holds–she found a home at VISION, located in Pottsville, Pa., where she had served since February 2016 as director of community programs. ROBERT J. SINGER, D.O. has been appointed to J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital’s medical staff as an orthopedic surgeon. Singer was an orthopedic surgeon at Blair Orthopedic Associates for more than 16 years before that entity merged with University Orthopedics Center in Huntingdon, Pa. in January 2016. Singer was an instructor of

Luther Manus ‘53 Wants 60 Years More LUTHER MANUS ’53, who celebrated turning 90 in October, is the elder statesman of Gannon’s African-American Alumni. He’s also the rare military man who rose from a private to a commissioned officer. “I was one proud lieutenant, especially with my dad and mentor there to pin on my bars,” he remembered. Manus’ long life has been marked by service, to his country, his community and especially to the young people of Erie he has taught and mentored as a counselor in the Erie School District.

DANIEL J. BORGIA, PH.D. ’86M has been appointed as academic dean of Bryant Zhuhai (Bryant University, China) where he will oversee the faculty and academic programs at Bryant Zhuhai. He most recently served as dean and professor of finance at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.

KENNETH J. CARTER has embarked on a new business venture as owner of Maryland Meadworks LLC, a producer of quality meads (honey wines).

JEANNE M. ELBERFELD, M.D., LSW is the new executive director of Schuylkill County’s VISION. Eberfeld said that her diverse background in medicine, counseling and education will help her serve in her new position, which she assumed July 1, 2017. After working as a doctor, social worker and educator–the latter a position she still

Luther Manus ’53 celebrated his 90th birthday with the Gannon Family.

Though he has retired three times by his estimation, Manus is still a very busy man. And he’s not done yet. “I’m looking for another 60 years to get me to 150,” he said. “I don’t know what I’ll be doing, but I’d like to try.” As he enters his tenth decade, a book fund established in Manus’ honor ensures that his legacy and service to the community will continue.

orthopedics at St. Francis University from 2003-13. He has also served as a clinical preceptor for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine since 2003.

Gannon Announces New Board of Trustees Members Erie’s downtown is at a historic juncture and Gannon University, in conjunction with community-minded partners led by forward-thinking alumni, is taking the lead in accelerating the pace of progress. The appointment of V. JAMES FIORENZO ’90M and TIMOTHY NECASTRO ’83 to the Board of Trustees brings together three of downtown Erie’s most influential entities in the service of progress.

DIANA M. DUBIK-DALTON and BRIAN F. DALTON, PH.D. ’93M is working in the University Relations office at Alfred University. Her husband, Brian Dalton ’88, ’93M, is the vice president for enrollment at Alfred University. He most recently served as vice president for enrollment services at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa, and previously as vice president for enrollment and college relations at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. JOHNA L. NORTON has been promoted to senior vice president of global quality at Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, effective April 1, 2017. She joined Lilly in 1990 as an analytical chemist and has held various positions in quality assurance and quality control at Lilly facilities and Lilly external manufacturing partners. ROBERT N. SNYDER ’88M has been named director of the Office of Accreditation and Program Improvement in Edinboro University's School of Education. He is a full-time instructor in the early childhood and reading department. In his new role at Edinboro, Snyder will collect and analyze data and submit reports to national accreditation boards on behalf of the School of Education. In addition to collecting data and coordinating the accreditation process, Snyder will also help to develop robust educational community programs such as EVESTOPIA, a series in the Girard School District, in Girard, Pa., focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

“I’m proud to serve my alma mater as a member of the Board of Trustees,” said NeCastro. “I see it as another opportunity for our anchor institutions in the downtown to continue to work together to serve our community that I’ve called home all my life.” Fiorenzo, recently retired as president of UPMC Hamot, and NeCastro, president and chief executive officer of Erie Insurance, are two visionary leaders who, at the head of two of downtown Erie’s largest entities, bring enormous knowledge, resources and vision to the task of revitalizing Erie’s downtown. “We’ve seen already not just Board of Trustees involvement but significant investments by other entities that want to see downtown thrive and grow,” Fiorenzo said. “As alumni, Tim and I want to see Gannon prosper. The [University’s] health sciences programs are feeders for employment at UPMC, so from a UPMC perspective, it’s important that Gannon University grow, in Erie and Ruskin. Gannon has an interest in seeing that UPMC Hamot is successful, too, to ensure that jobs continue to come back downtown.”

JULIE (MARCONI) ADDY was selected by her colleagues as Emerald Hill Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year. Addy is a fourth-grade teacher at the school in Culpeper, Va. ERIC A. BALLINGER, ESQ. was sworn in as judge of the Magistrate Court of Cherokee County, Georgia on September 26, 2016. BRIG. GEN. DAVID J. FRANCIS, USA became the 29th commander of the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center and director of Army Safety on June 28, 2017. Francis most recently served as deputy commanding general (support) of the 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea. 2

LAURA J. VACCARO is the San Antonio, Texas Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Hope Award honoree. The award is to celebrate women leaders who are making a difference in San Antonio. Vaccaro is the Vice President for Community Relations and Events at Valero Energy. MARGARET “MEG” (ROTHGERY) VANDERLAAN has joined the executive leadership of Encore Electric, Lakewood, Co. in the newly created role of chief marketing officer. She will set the marketing strategy and provide innovative leadership for all aspects of marketing and communication for the company. Most recently,

JEFFREY A. WISNIEWSKI has been appointed to the advisory committee for the hospitality and resort tourism program at Coastal Carolina University and the Advisory Committee for the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach at Horry Georgetown Technical College in South Carolina.

#GUPOSSIBILITIES 31

VanderLaan provided marketing and communications consulting services for Colorado companies following her chief communications officer role with MWH Global (now part of Stantec).

DANIEL M. CHRISTENSON has joined Airgas, an Air Liquide company, as a National Account Manager in Pittsburgh. Christenson is also a Strategic Account Manager with Air Liquide. JANUSZ KOWALEWSKI ’90M joined the Ipsen Team, Cherry Valley, Il., as

Made in America JON DEARMENT ’98, president of Channellock Inc. located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, was invited to be part of a Certified Made in America roundtable with President Donald Trump, Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta and several other American companies to discuss U.S.manufactured products for Made in America Week. He presented the president with an engraved version of Channellock’s best-known product.

director of business development for ARGOS. He is a recognized expert in the thermal processing industry who, over the past 25 years, has worked in the U.S., China, Europe and India. Most recently, Kowalewski was managing director and CEO at a large vacuum furnace manufacturer in Mumbai, India for two years where he was responsible for sales and operations. Kowalewski’s responsibilities include guiding all global activities for the ARGOS product line, Ipsen’s continuous vacuum process solution for low-pressure carburizing. MARK S. ZAGORSKI has joined Tremor Video, Inc., New York City, as CEO, effective July 10, 2017, and he will be appointed as a member of the company’s board of directors. He most recently served as CEO of eXelate Inc., and Executive Vice President of Nielsen Marketing Cloud, after Nielsen’s acquisition of eXelate in 2010.

LESLIE (CLARK) MADEIRA was recently hired by PattersonSchwartz Real Estate as a sales associate at its Middletown, Del. office.

Jon DeArment was also the recipient of the 2016 SBDC President’s Award for his leadership in business.

“We’ve been a made-in-America company for more than 130 years and we intend to stay that way,” DeArment said. “We’re proud that more than 90 percent of Channellock products are made in the U.S.” “We’re working diligently every day to increase American production of Channellock products so that every product is made here, and the discussion with the President is a step in that direction.”

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MICHAEL D. LAZZARA, ESQ. is a Partner with Leech Tishman and a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group in the Pittsburgh office, where he focuses his practice on all aspects of intellectual property law including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.

SCOTT E. MILLER, CPA, Esq., D.B.A. recently completed work on his Doctor of Business Administration degree from Anderson University in Anderson, In. DEBRA (COLEMAN) STEINER ’00M has joined the northwestern Pennsylvania office of Ben Franklin Technology Partners. In her new role, Steiner will provide business mentoring and support to the region’s technology companies as a member of the Ben Franklin Transformation Management Services Group. She previously spent 15 years with the SBDC, and most recently worked as manager for Deugoro USA.

LARRY B. HIWILLER, JR. ’02M is national director for American National Worksite Benefits, where he is responsible for the creation, development, and deployment of the worksite division’s sales and marketing efforts through the broker and account executive channels. Based in Erie, he is also the author of a motivational book, “A Father’s Gift To His Daughter.”

KENNETH G. MOLINERO, JR., D.O. has joined Monongahela Valley Hospital, Monongahela, Pa., as an orthopedic surgeon.

JUDENE M. INDOVINA ’97M was named director of family ministry and faith formation in the Secretariat for Leadership Development and Evangelization for the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

ANTHONY J. TURINI resigned as the women’s soccer coach at Bethel College, North Newton, Ka., after five seasons leading the team. Turini also served as co-sports information director then served as assistant sports information director. In five seasons, Turini was 20-64-3, 6-41-1 in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

KELLY JACKSON has been promoted to senior vice president, medical and veterinary sales manager at United Community Bank. In his new role he will be working to continue growing the Small Business Administration loan volume at the bank. Jackson enjoys volunteering with the Denver Rescue Mission, an organization dedicated to serving the needs of the homeless and needy in the Denver metro area.

KRISTEN (KALLNER) JONES is a realtor with McEnearney Associates Realtors in Alexandria, Va. STACY M. JUCHNO is executive vice president and general auditor for PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh.

marriages

Kathryn Demetriadis ‘11 married Ethan Swope ‘12 on July 15, 2017. 2

Pearl M. Jeffries ‘81 married Robert G. Steel on May 21, 2017.

Lacey M. Fleming ‘07 married Mark A. Graziano ‘05 on Oct. 8, 2016.

Stephanie L. Komorek ‘11 married Andrew J. Gaba ‘11 on June 10, 2017. 1

David M. Gibbons, M.D. ‘08 married Shabnam Assar, M.D. on Oct. 22, 2016.

Jessica S. Shirey ’14 married Shane A. Cross ’13 on Oct. 29, 2016.

William J. Hain ‘61 married Janice C. Meyer on Nov. 9, 2016. She was a presenter at Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business at which she gave career advice to students. Juchno also visited Gannon’s Dahlkemper School of Business in September to present to faculty and students on the importance of mentors and getting involved.

Alumni Honored with Erie’s “40 Under 40” Distinction Several Gannon alumni were recognized as part of The Erie Reader’s annual “40 Under 40” list of young professionals who, through their respective professions and causes, are leading Erie into the future, including: GREGORY D. HALL ’04, director of business development at Shriner’s Hospital for Children KELLY (JACOBS) TAPPER ’05, ’16M, customer advocate for Erie Insurance and activist for persons with multiple sclerosis LEVI C. BLACK ’10M, director of the UPMC Hamot School of Anesthesia and Gannon’s registered nurse anesthetist program MATTHEW D. REICHERT ’11, manager of operations and general counsel, director of business and strategic initiatives at Logistics Plus Linguistic Solutions (LPLS)

NICOLE (MCMILLIN) VILLELLA is seeing patients in the QCare St. Marys, Pa. Villella is a board-certified registered nurse practitioner. QCares are a service of Penn Highlands Healthcare. Villella previously worked as a care coordinator at Chambersburg Hospital, a college nurse at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa. and a nurse at Pinnacle Health caring for patients in the medical/ surgical, orthopedics, neurology, telemetry and post-operative open heart units.

AMY M. REBOVICH, OTD coauthored the course curriculum for an introduction to low vision rehabilitation for occupational therapists for Western Schools. She is an occupational therapist who specializes in low vision and is a certified low vision therapist currently working in the VA Pittsburgh Intermediate low vision clinic.

JAMES G. BRECKENRIDGE, PH.D. ’00M became the 2nd Provost of the U.S. Army War College in summer 2017. Breckenridge was dean of the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies

and Applied Sciences at Mercyhurst University; and executive director of the college’s research arm, the Institute for Intelligence Studies, both in Erie. In his new position he will serve as the chief academic officer for the dual mission of strategic education and strategic ideas at the Army’s senior service college and the Army’s Center for Strategy Education. LAURA (STEINKE) MCCULLOUGH, PT ’02M graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas on May 13, 2017 with a Transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Unable to attend graduation ceremonies in Lubbock, she represented both Tech and Gannon at her son’s hockey tournament in Duluth, Minn.

AARON M. GARRITY ’07M has been named as the new girls basketball coach for Fairview (Pa.) High School. Garrity previously coached the boys basketball at Fairview for 10 years, then spent the last three as the girls coach at McDowell High School in Erie.

MICHAEL J. NUNES is working at NBC in the current programing department and manages creative aspects of different programs, including “Parenthood,” “Revolution,” “Community” and “This Is Us.”

#GUPOSSIBILITIES 33

CATHERINE “CAT” (CARLSON) AMICK ’05M helped create a book, along with illustrator George Lippert, a co-worker at Erie Insurance, that will directly benefit the Erie Zoo’s big cat exhibits. The book is titled “Sara Sassafras and the Tiguar,” which is the name of the fictional animal created by Amick’s two-year-old son when he mashed the words tiger and jaguar together.

DUSTIN M. LANDFRIED was sworn in as a new Erie Bureau of Police officer on Monday, July 10, 2017. He previously worked as an Erie County probation officer.

JOSHUA G. DZIOMBA has opened a new craft brewery, West Shore Brewing Company, in Clarence Hollow, N.Y. The brewery started with four beers: West Shore Wheat, Not So Bitter Bitters English Ale, Centennial Session IPA and a cream ale. A flagship Historic Rail Pale Ale will be available soon. He

MEGAN R. JOINT, D.O. is a dermatologist who practices at the Canonsburg, Pa. office of Mountain State Medical Specialties. She attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and did her residency at Lewis Gale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg, Va. KYLE J. KELLERAN has joined the faculty at Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Va., as an assistant professor in the department of health and human sciences.

COREY L. BOWERS has been named head golf professional at World Tour Golf Links, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Bowers was previously head golf pro at Founders Club in Pawleys Island, S.C., where he managed day-today operations, oversaw budgets and supervised more than 40 employees.

also looks to brew a pre-Prohibition lager and ale, a grapefruit kolsch, and Octoberfest-style marzen ales in the near future, too. The company name pays homage to the railroad company where Dziomba’s great-grandfather worked for 50 years. 3

GLENN E. SMITH, JR. ’07M is currently an adjunct instructor in earth and planetary sciences at Westmoreland County Community College; teaching graduate level courses in astronomy and meteorology geology at Waynesburg University; and is a full time teacher for the Brentwood Area School District, all in Pennsylvania.

gannon magazine

december 2017

The move to World Tour puts him at one of Founders Group International's most unique facilities and one of the top-tier golf courses on the Grand Strand. ADRIENNE M. OLSZAK ’11M is an occupational therapist at Clearview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Sligo, Pa. KRISTIN E. SCHALK has been named as the new head softball coach for Ferris State University in Michigan. Schalk brings five years of head coaching experience to the program, previously serving as head coach at Fort Scott (Kansas) Community College. JACOB R. WILLIAMSON is the new director of young adult ministry in the Secretariat for Leadership Development and Evangelization in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. He will focus on building relationships with young adults and connecting young adults to Jesus, the church and each other.

SHELLY L. BUCKHOLTZ '11C has been named as Ferguson Township (Pa.) Elementary School’s principal. She has previously worked as an early intervention preschool teacher with Riverview Intermediate Unit No. 6 in the North Clarion and Forest area school districts; kindergarten teacher at Pine Grove Elementary School; Title I reading specialist at Pine Gove, Rockland and Cranberry elementary schools; literacy coach at Pin Oak,

World-Class Experience For many athletes, the opportunity to be part of an Olympic team is an ultimate goal. AMANDA SCULLY ’07, ’10DPT, is part of the sports performance team for USA Rhythmic Gymnastics. “It’s an injury prevention team,” Scully explained. “We work with the athletes on flexibility, keeping them even on both sides, strength training and keeping them injury-free.” Scully is grateful for the opportunity to travel with the team, which has taken her to Bulgaria for the World Cup and to Wroclaw, Poland for the World Games. “Without the support and being able to do the clinical I did, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity,” she said. Her Gannon education gave her the technical skills to practice at the highest levels. “You can learn the discipline, but you can’t function at a high level if you can’t apply it effectively.”

Jo Kitchen Akus ’58VMC

David A. Ermi ’89M

Donald M. McGill ’59

Mary Nowak Sadowski ’90

Edwin L. Alward ’59

William E. Flanagan, Jr. ’75

John J. McGraw ’59

Lawrence R. Schaff ’59

Dorothy R. Ascherman ’74M

Gretchen M. Froehlich ’88

Joyce S. McKnight ’77M

J. Donald Schwab ’51

Christine Baker-Anderson ’83

Mark A. Ganska ’80

Leonard J. McLaughlin, Sr. ’52

Anthony V. Sebald ’63

John R. Barnhart ’61

William P. Garvey, Ph.D. ’57

Steven C. Miller ’72, ’90M

Gregory J. Sherbine ’74

Robert E. Baxter ’52

Helen E. Gibbons, Ed.D. ’51

Richard J. Minnium ’60

David C. Shiel ’62

Victor H. Benoit ’60, ’72M

Robert D. Giunta ’06

Michael G. Mooney ’87

John A. Signorelli, C.L.U. ’63

Richard P. Berlin ’91

Susanne E. Gizoli ’61VMC

Florence A. Nicklow-Elliott ’00M

Marjorie Milks Smith ’49VMC

Ronald E. Bilski ’75

Eric C. Grimm ’07

Roger S. Niemic ’84

Sandy Picard Smith ’67VMC

Sister Marie C. Bindseil, S.S.J. ’64VMC

John H. Guelcher ’63

Rev. John L. O’Shea ’76

James H. Speice ’67

George F. Hagle ’51 Fr. Ronald A. Hazuda ’67

Agnes Alinolfi O’Sullivan, M.Ed. ’66VMC

John A. Steadman ’68

Peri D. Bridger ’81 Cynthia Ventola Browne ’69VMC

David J. Heck ’80

James R. Orcutt ’60, ’73M

Joseph T. Stricek ’53

August F. Bruno ’96

Ruth Bliss Henry ’88, ’89

Douglas Ostrowski, D.D.S. ’79

Larry R. Swigonski ’74

Patricia Sawicki Burik ’95

John F. Stehle ’74

in memoriam

Alumni

Harry E. Hobson ’59

William N. Ott ’70

Charles L. Thompson ’69

Michael F. Burke ’60

William A. Hoh ’57

Anthony R. Paar, USA (Ret.) ’58

James M. Torok, II ’78

Janet Mares Carlson ’67VMC

Anne Boudon Kahle ’48VMC

Joanne Hodas Palun ’74VMC

Charles Trudnowski, Jr. ’73

Betti Lauer Cicero ’76

Mary Holp Kalkhof ’69VMC

Dennis Parlavecchio, M.D. ’77

Vito C. Tullio, Jr. ’68

George A. Ciotti, Jr. ’60, ’78M

Roderic B. Karpen ’63, ’71M

Louis Pedano ’59

Beverly Kline Wagoner ’90

Ward H. Clegg, III ’77

John A. Keister ’82

Fred L. Peterson ’76

G. Rodger Crowe ’79M

David Kierzek ’70

Frank L. Petrungar ’74

Rev. Yvonne E. Wesley-Rohrbaugh ’80, ’83M

Thomas L. Curcio, Jr. ’67

Terrance A. Krott ’68, ’74M

Robert H. Phelps ’39

Robert F. Whipple ’55

David J. Cyterski ’77, ’88M

James E. Kubaney ’67, ’71M

Susanne Porowski ’70

Thomas M. Davis ’69

Sister M. Roberta Lavin ’55VMC

Anthony F. Portfilio ’60

Rev. Stanislaus F. Widomski, O.F.M. ’50

James C. Delehunt, Ph.D. ’71

Marion C. Lipski ’75

Mary Nelson Price ’56VMC

Dennis L. Delporto ’71

Janet Wilkinson Luke ’00

Mazie Smith Purdue ’69VMC

Richard C. Dicicco ’64

Ana Lutzen-Stutts ’39VMC

Brian E. Reffner ’81

Majorie E. Diehl ’75M

Bette J. Malone ’94

James F. Roberts, D.D.S. ’55

William L. Disantis ’00

Constantine P. Manos ’49

Donald M. Robie ’57

Dennis C. Ditrich ’70

James E. Mantyla ’69, ’76M

William J. Roehrig, III ’78

Clarence F. Dolan ’63

Patricia A. Rouen ’57VMC

Dolores Krainock Dzeskewicz ’89

Kathleen O'Rourke Masolotte ’77VMC

Virginia Jones Edwards ’81M

John J. McCarthy, Sr. ’45

Max J. Ryczko ’57

Jerry Russell ’83

Sister Carol A. Wilcox, S.S.J. ’68 Gary D. Williams ’88 Richard C. Wingerter ’62 Mark R. Wolfe ’69 James S. Young ’70 Thomas W. Zang, CPA ’67 Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Zeitler ’50 Joan Gallina Zieg ’71M Louis V. Zuck, Ph.D. ’57

Parents and Friends Linda Disorbo Augustyn

Betty Dinger

Richard L. Krajec

Jack W. Peltason

Patricia Daley Barnes

Herman Dinger

Richard Krozel

Robert Pickens

Rev. John F. Bauer

Matthew M. Dye

Scott M. Laser

Louis J. Presta

John W. Beatty, Esq.

Joseph M. Frisina

Diana Rivas Marchini

Patricia A. Rouen

Gerald J. Bohrer

John A. Fust

Carol L. Mazick

Dorothy Hudick Ryczko

Norman J. Borczon

William F. Heigley, Sr.

Barbara Dobrowolski Miller

Violet Popoff Sala

Mark S. Borowy

Peter D. Hero

Walter S. Minot, Ph.D.

Paul E. Serbak

Mary Cardamore

Bonnie J. Hobson

Thomas E. Mullen, Jr.

William G. Sesler, Esq.

Mary L. Carlson

James J. Hoffman, D.M.D.

Duane L. Nicka

Fred P. Shumaker

Jacob A. Chiera

Marcia A. Hughes

David J. Ondrus

Gilbert A. Steg, DDS

Mario R. Cocuzzi

Patricia Standish Jacobson

Dolores Costay Pastore

Miguel E. Such

Nicholas Combitchi

Jean Lasher Jones

Paul A. Pastore

Tyler A. Toale

Daniel P. Conley

Janet Klempay, Ph.D.

Virginia Schumann Peck #GUPOSSIBILITIES 35

Pine Grove, Rockland and Cranberry elementary schools; K-12 director of curriculum at Cranberry Elementary and Cranberry Junior/Senior High Schools; and Title I coordinator at Cranberry Elementary. She was also an adjunct professor at Gannon. RANDALL P. COLLING was selected fifth overall in the 2017 Canadian Football League draft by the Calgary Stampeders. Since finishing his collegiate career with Gannon in 2011, Colling spent four years with the Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators and also signed with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in 2014. LAUREN E. LEONE, PA-C ’12M has joined the staff at Magee-Women’s Specialty Center in Erie as a physician assistant in obstetrics and gynecology. MITCHEL S. MEIGHEN was recently recognized by Apple as a member of Apple’s global Distinguished Educator (ADE) Class of 2017, one of only 125 educators from across the U.S. to receive this distinction this year. The program began in 1994, when Apple recognized K-12 and higher education pioneers who are using a variety of Apple products to transform teaching and learning in powerful ways. 4 4

became the bank ’s EFT manager and oversees the bank ’s debit card program and ATM network. DREW D. DEIMEL competed in the 101st Pennsylvania Golf Association Championship on August 14-15, 2017 at Gulph Mills Golf Club in King of Prussia, Pa. FERKI FERATI, ED.D. ’12M has been appointed president of the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie. MATTHEW J. PATTERSON ’12C has been named assistant superintendent of elementary education with West Jefferson Hills (Pa.) School District effective July 1, 2017. He most recently served as the director of elementary education in the Corry Area School District for the past three years. He will oversee West Jefferson Hills’ kindergarten through sixth-grade operations, and serve as the district's federal programs coordinator. MICHAEL J. PONZURICK is currently employed by the U.S. Secret Service Emergency Response Team in Washington, D.C. LUKE P. UEBLER, II was ordained a priest to the Diocese of Buffalo in June 2016. He has served at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo since his diaconal ordination. JONATHAN J. ZIGLER ’13M is an orthopedic physician assistant at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless, Pa.

13 12

ASHLEY COCHRAN-WALTERS ’12M has been named assistant vice president, EFT manager of Northwest Bank, Warren, Pa. She began her career with Northwest in 2009 as an operations representative. Since then, she has worked at numerous positions throughout the bank, including administrative assistant, management trainee and operations supervisor. In 2014 she

gannon magazine

december 2017

BARBARA J. KURTZ ’13M has been named one of 12 finalists for the 2018 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Award. Barbara (Señora Kurtz to her students) is the Spanish teacher at Meadville (Pa.) Area High School where she has been a teacher for 20 years.

ZACHERY BORLAND is the new sports editor for The Titusville (Pa.) Herald. While at Gannon, Borland became the sports director at 90.5 WERG. There he was recognized as a top-five finalist for the Best

Sports Update award at the 2015 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Radio Conference. He was also with the station when it was the recipient of the 2014 Abraham and Borst Award for Best College Station in the Nation. Borland has been a radio guest on the Sports Blitz on Fox Sports Radio, on 1330 AM The Fan in Erie. He is also a regular guest on 90.5 WERG’s Prime Time Sports Guys program. JACQUELYN T. MCFADDEN ’14M is among the new inductees of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's Athletic Hall of Fame. She was a member of the Pitt-Bradford’s volleyball team and became the program’s first All-American in 2010. That year, she was named the AMCC Player of the Year and the Pitt-Bradford Athlete of the Year while leading the Panthers to the program’s first AMCC title. She currently works as a physical therapist for local school districts in Pinehurst, N.C. LIAM L. NADLER recently signed a professional contract with the Colorado Crush of the Indoor Football League (IFL) and was immediately named the league’s offensive player of the week by The Gridiron Crew. Nadler signed with Colorado on March 23 and played two days later at the Nebraska Danger, completing 65 percent (13-20) of his passes for 121 yards. Nadler then led the Crush to its first victory of the season at the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles on March 31. He connected on 67 percent (12-18) of his passes for 168 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. Nadler also added a rushing touchdown during the 52-49 road win. CALVIN “C.J.” E. OLDHAM, JR. has signed a professional basketball contract to play with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen in Germany’s Pro B League. Oldham signed after playing last season with the BK Kongsberg Miners in Norway’s first league. He helped the Miners advance to the postseason by averaging 9.9 points and 9.6 rebounds. JOSEPH A. PETRONE, JR. and JOHN A. HEPINGER ’16 were instituted on March 29, 2017 by Bishop Ronald Gainer of the Diocese of Harrisburg

at Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica in Latrobe. They can now proclaim the readings, other than the Gospel, at Mass and other sacred celebrations. Petrone will be attending St. Vincent Seminary while Hepinger will be attending St. Vincent Seminary for the 2016-17 school year. RT. REV. SEAN W. ROWE ’14M recently completed work on his Ph.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership at Gannon. Rowe was ordained and consecrated as the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania in September of 2007. He also serves in the Diocese of Bethlehem, where he was elected the Bishop Provisional in 2014. REBECCA M. STRAUB ’17M has joined the athletic training staff at Alfred State, the State University of New York College of Technology in Alfred, N.Y., as an assistant athletic trainer. She will work with the volleyball team and the women’s soccer team this fall.

ASHLY N. WYRICK is currently enrolled in the physician assistant program at Mount Union University in Alliance, Ohio.

KRISTAL K. AMBROSE is the founder of the Bahamas Plastic Movement. She runs a free five-day summer camp for youths on the island of Eleuthera where students trawl the waterways for plastic, and bisect and document plastic debris in the stomachs of sport fish like mahi mahi. Under her supervision, they also constructed community trash cans out of plastic bottles. The camps bring environmental issues to the students and give them a platform to find solutions that work for the community.

HOLLY A. DILL designed and conducted a unique research project, with the results benefiting S.O.N.S. (Save Our Native Species) of Lake Erie fishing club in Erie, helping them to create optimum conditions for hatching fish in the future.

Achieving National Ranks DAMIANO G. CICCHINELLI, AVERY S. CRAIG, RYAN O. DAVIS, REYNALYNN S. PALANCA, ASHLEY SARLO, KYLE VOLKMAN, all 2016 graduates, were recently commissioned in the United States Army as Distinguished Military Graduates in the top 20 percent of ROTC cadets nationwide. Cicchinelli will be joining a combat engineers unit in Florida as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. Craig will be assigned as a field artillery officer at Ft Drum, N.Y. Davis will be assigned as an infantry officer. While Palanca and Sarlo will join the Army Nurse Corps and Volkman will join the Judge Advocates General Corps and attend Wake Forest University School of Law.

DID YOU FIND ALL THE GEMS? 15. Gannon University, Ruskin Campus (C-2)

16. GIVE Day (C-3) 17. Schuster Theatre (A-2) 18. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, PSAC (F-3)

19. Patient Simulation Center (D-3) 1. Environaut (J-2)

8. Mother Helena Dillon S.S.J. (C-2)

20. Archbishop John Mark Gannon (H-2)

2. Model United Nations (A-4)

9. T.R.A.V.E.L. Program (I-5)

21. “Newsboy” (C-3)

3. Little Free Libraries (H-2)

10. Schuster Gallery (B-3)

22. WERG-FM 90.5 (B-1)

4. Bionic Arm (D-2)

11. Gannon Arch (E-2).

23. Recreation and Wellness Center (H-3)

5. Old Main (D-2)

12. Lake Erie, Tampa Bay (J-3)

24. The Gannon Knight (E-5)

6. World Flags (A-4)

13. Center for Business Ingenuity (B-2)

25. Sand (G-5)

7. Erie Chamber Orchestra (B-3)

14. Archaeology Program (D-4)

26. A.J.’s Way (C-5) #GUPOSSIBILITIES 37

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