Summer 2004 by Gannon University

Summer 2004 Magazine

Editor’sInklings Summer has arrived in Erie at last. I still remember trying to study when sunshine seemed to beckon me outside and everything was awakening from the cold winter and damp spring. My 15th college reunion this June will recall those fleeting moments, as I follow the familiar paths and encounter new buildings and unfamiliar faces. The class of 1999 graduated on the cusp of a new millennium. Full of promise and passion, and free from academia “at last,” they followed a multitude of pathways of their own, forging ahead in directions some of them had certainly never foreseen when first they started at Gannon. Gannon magazine Editorial Assistant Maggie Irvine chronicled a few of their paths (page 6), and we’re even prouder of their service to their professions, communities, and countries than we were of their undergraduate achievements. More often than not, when alumni return to campus and I have a chance to speak with them, they mention a memorable professor who truly changed their lives. Many of the students whose lives have been touched by Dr. David Kozak ’66 (page 12) say that were it not for him, they never would have dreamed of pursuing careers in Political Science. In speaking with them it is quite clear that he is the heart of a nexus of contacts for his students, expanding their knowledge and opportunities. Gannon has benefited from talented and dedicated administrators over the years, but few have possessed the sense of whimsy and creativity of Vice President for University Advancement Susan Black-Keim. When she returned from Chicago several years ago, exclaiming over “Cows on Parade,” many were skeptical about attempting a similar public art project in Erie. The astounding success of GoFish! in 2001 grew from her vision; the time, talents, and occasional tears of the entire volunteer FishCommish; and the fiscal and creative support of the many sponsors and artists. GoFish! raised over $200,000 to benefit the Gannon University Scholarship Fund and the Erie Art Museum. Its offspring, LeapFrog! (page 16) has hopped into Erie this summer, and we all hope that it is just as popular and productive in funding scholarships, supporting artists, and bringing the joy of art to the entire Erie community. Whether serving Gannon, their communities, their faith, or their country as the graduates of 1999 do, our Gannon alumni are living the mission of the University here and around the world.

Deb Bartle, Editor bartle@gannon.edu (814) 871-5817

contents

Features 6 ’99 Still Shining Brightly The Class of 1999 Is Thriving Five Years after Graduation.

12 The Kozak Connection From Presidential Politics to Local Legislators, Kozak Connects Students with Opportunities.

16 LeapFrog! Erie’s New Art Project “Ribbets” Attention.

Departments 2 18 19 20 22 29

NewsNotes FacultyFocus AlumniFocus SportsScan AlumNotes EndNotes

Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. President David R. Fabian ’63 Director of Public Affairs Deb Bartle Publications Officer and Editor Maggie M. Irvine ’05 Editorial Assistant

Contributors: Dr. Paul DeSante ’55 Julie Groenendaal ’98 Jana Hunt Jeannie Kloecker Nick Pronko Renae Pryjmak ’06 Design: Tungsten Creative Group

On the Cover: Larry Gioia, Ashley Heath, and Mark Sandidge, of the Class of 2004, celebrate their commencement. Photo right: Nash Library welcomes summer.

NASA Chief Speaks at Gannon Commencement

The Honorable Sean O’Keefe, administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was the keynote speaker at Spring Commencement on May 4, 2004. During the ceremony at Tullio Arena, President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., presented O’Keefe with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Before his appointment as NASA’s 10th Administrator, O’Keefe served in the White House as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and as deputy assistant to President George W. Bush, overseeing the preparation, management, and administration of the federal budget and governmentwide management initiatives across the Executive branch. Dr. Garibaldi awarded 626 degrees during the ceremony, comprising: two Doctoral, 204 Master’s, 390 Bachelor’s, and 30 Associate’s. Seven students were recognized for earning perfect 4.0 GPAs with the Archbishop John Mark Gannon award for academic excellence. They were: Julia Bodnar, Kevin Bogacki, Emily O’Connell, Sonya Pyle, Derek Salony, Diane Wiener, and Chad Yurisic. Katie Lee Kephart was awarded with the Gannon University Medal of Honor for leadership, character, and scholarship.

Gannon Web Site, Magazine, and Annual Report Win

Gannon University’s redesigned web site received a Silver Addy for “web site design” in the Western New York Addy Award competition. Gannon’s web site was selected for a merit award in the 19th annual Admissions Advertising Awards competition sponsored by HMR Publications Group in Atlanta, Georgia. The Admissions Office, which oversees www.gannon.edu the web site, also won silver Addys at the Erie Ad Club Awards for the Experience Gannon viewbook and the overall Experience Gannon recruitment campaign. Gannon magazine won a silver Addy in the category of Consumer Magazine and the Annual Report of the President won a gold Addy in Collateral Material. The Annual Report also received a Crystal Award of Distinction from the international Communicator Awards, placing it in the top 18% of over 3,000 submissions. Tungsten Creative designed the viewbook, campaign, magazine and Annual Report with Gannon’s Admissions and Communications Offices, while LiquidMatrix, a subsidiary of Datatel, Inc., redesigned the Gannon web site.

Chautauqua-at-Gannon Features Steve Scully of C-Span 2

C-Span senior executive producer and political editor Steve Scully presented the 30th Chautauqua-at-Gannon lecture and answered audience questions on politics and current events. Scully spoke on “The Road to the White House 2004,” based on his attendance at all nomination caucuses and his personal interviews with all 10 Democratic presidential candidates and President George W. Bush. The free lecture series brings speakers on a variety of topics to the Gannon campus to lecture for students, faculty, staff, and others.

Honors Students Present Paper at Meeting Eight students from Gannon’s Honors program —Brian Adzima, Nicole Bubar, Greg Hartle, Christina Kline, Rob Saper, Becky Sheehan, Sarah Sunseri, and Nicholas Switzer—attended the American Mid East Honors Association meeting from April 16-18 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Nicole and Brian presented a paper titiled, “SelfEsteem in Honors Students.” The students as a group entered the talent show that is a feature of the Saturday night activities. The judges created an award for them, the John Cage Award, for their humorous musical performance.

Left to right: Becky Sheehan, Greg Hartle, Nicole Bubar, Christina Kline, Rob Saper, and Sarah Sunseri

Dr. Garibaldi Receives Award and Speaks at Summit President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., appeared as a featured speaker for a prominent NAACP event and was also honored by his alma mater during a recent trip to Washington, D.C. Garibaldi joined U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and National Education Association president Reginald Weaver as featured speakers at the March 4-5 summit. During a plenary session on “Preparing and Sustaining Excellent Teachers for Our Children,” Garibaldi presented a 45-minute lecture titled “How Qualified Teachers are Prepared.”

The summit, “From the Courtroom to the Classroom: The Role of Teacher Quality in Closing the Achievement Gap,” was designed to identify ways that states, districts, community-based organizations, colleges of education, and administrators can increase, retain, and train highly qualified teachers in minority districts. The following day, March 6, Garibaldi received the Howard University Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement in the field of education. Garibaldi was honored during the university’s 2004 Charter Day Gala for his achievements and advances in his field. “Dr. Garibaldi is a gifted leader with tremendous insight into the requirements of higher education and a strong vision of what the industry needs to do to attract the brightest of students, as well as make the overall college experience both meaningful and exciting,” said H. Patrick Swygert (left), president of Howard University, as he presented Dr. Garibaldi with his award. Garibaldi earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology magna cum laude from Howard in 1973 and a Doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1976.

NewsNotes

Roman Collaboration

Rev. Nicholas J. Rouch,Vice President for Mission and Ministry, recently returned from a trip to Rome, where he was working to strengthen Gannon’s collaboration with the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota) in their Rome program and visiting two seminarians from the Diocese of Erie who are studying in Rome, including Dan Hoffman (photo, right). Dan is the first Gannon student to take advantage of a semester of study in Rome arranged through the collaboration. Dan attends the Pontifical University of St. Thomas, usually referred to as “The Angelicum,” where he studies theology with students from all around the world. Dan will returnfor his senior year at Gannon in the fall of 2004.

Students Starve for Dollars

More than 60 students fasted for 30 consecutive hours to raise $1,800 for poor children and families around the world. Each student participating in the 30-Hour Famine raised at least $30 in pledges, or $1 for every hour of the famine. Funds were donated to World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization that serves the poorest children and families in nearly 100 countries, including the United States. Sponsored by GU’s Campus Ministry, the 30Hour Famine is also designed to raise students’ awareness of world hunger. As part of the famine, the students also reflected on hunger and discussed their experience.

Homan and Tallmadge Win $145,000 Grant

2004 Student Research Writing Award Winners

Assistant Professors Michelle Homan, Ph.D. (Environmental Science and Engineering: below, left), and Weslene Tallmadge, Ph.D. (Chemistry: below, right), recently won $145,000 in funding from the Great Lakes Commission for their study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. They will set up precipitation and air sample collection points within, upwind and downwind of the City of Erie in order to quantify the extent and characterize the transport of PAHs to the Bay and Lake. These chemicals are routinely emitted into the atmosphere from industry and automobiles, with their primary sources being incomplete combustion of coal, wood, oil, and gasoline.

The faculty judges for this year’s competition were Professors Gary Berringer, Bryan Brendley, Linda DiJoseph, Dennis Fletcher, Kenneth Gamble, Thomas Hudson, Barry Jackisch, Sister Min-Shik Kim, Michael Latzer, James McGivern, James McPherson, Charles Meacci, Dawna Mughal, Suzanne O’Connell, Patricia Pollifrone, Steven Ropski, Ruth Shoemaker, David Tobin, Mary Wagner, and Karen Weston.

The goal of the study is to evaluate the potential contribution of urban sources of PAHs to Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. The Homan-Tallmadge study findings will be used by the Great Lakes Commission and by local, regional, state, and federal agencies to reduce environmental and public health impacts associated with air quality.

The Peter C. Braeger Student Research Writing Awards, presented in April, recognize research and writing completed by students over the past year in the graduate, undergraduate, and freshman categories. This year’s first-place graduate was Joan Francis Rowland, Nursing. Undergraduate level winners were Occupational Therapy majors Denise Cox, Julieann DeBlasi, Emily Specht, and Angelique Miller. First-place freshman was Amy E. Snyder, Occupational Therapy.

NewsNotes

WERG Rocked the Block

Eric Gringol

Gannon’s WERG Radio Rocked the Block with a music and arts festival on May 1, featuring local bands and artists’ exhibits. Sponsored by Media Play and WERG, “Rock the Block” was designed as a fun end-of-the-semester event for Gannon students as well as a showcase of the local arts scene. The event was staged on West Seventh Street, between Peach and Sassafras, under the arch, with local bands taking the stage for six hours. Artwork from a number of Gannon artists, including students Heather Cline and Renae Pryjmak and Graphic Designer Eric Grignol, was displayed inside Waldron Center. Also participating in the festival were students Amanda Borer, Erin Hilderbrand, Christina Kline, Jess Kuzemsky, and Evan O’Polka.

Founder’s Day Awards

The Founder’s Day Leadership and Service Awards recognize students who have made outstanding contributions to the Gannon community in leadership, service and academics. The University Ambassador of the Year award winner was Rose Marie Zawistowski, the Educational Opportunity Program award went to Mark J. Sandidge, the Joe Luckey Award for Dedication to the University was presented to Crystal Lynn Keck, the Monsignor Wilfrid J. Nash Award for Christian Service went to Marielle Rose Lafaro, and the St. Catherine Medal for Undergraduate Leadership and Service winner was Danielle Rene Petrozelle.

Gannon Knight Wins Two Keystone Awards Gannon University’s student-produced newspaper, The Gannon Knight, received two first-place awards in this year’s Keystone Press Awards competition sponsored by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, located in Harrisburg.

In the “Ongoing News Coverage” category, The Knight was honored for its coverage of the University’s opposition to the placement, near the campus, of a pre-release center for prisoners. The award encompasses both news and editorial coverage of a story. Several staff writers and editors contributed to the coverage, including Erin Leahy, editor-inchief; Matt Rink ’03, former editor-in-chief and fall 2003 managing editor; Bobby Cherry, sports editor; and Sheena Stewart, news editor. Rink received the “Feature Story” award for an article he did on Mike Lyon ’74, who discussed the closing of his record store in Wesleyville, Pennsylvania.

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;99 Still Shining

Brightly

by Maggie M. Irvine

The Class of 1999 graduated on the cusp of a new millennium. Full of promise, energy, talent, and spirit, they set out to make their way in the bigger world after leaving Gannon. Where have they gone? What are they up to? Have their lives involved hardship or happiness, perseverance or plenty? Join Gannon magazine as we see if they’re still going “like it’s 1999.” Many of the ’99 grads singled out for notice at their commencement exercises shared a similar drive and focus. Several were Honors Scholars, others won academic and University awards, or set athletic records. But academic ability does not necessarily translate to the “real world,” where contacts, connections, personality, and other variables often affect success.

Making News

When Gannon magazine first tried to track down Timothy J. Craig, he was busy in Annapolis, Maryland, covering legislation as a reporter for The Washington Post. Following graduation, Tim went to work for The Baltimore Sun. He was given a street map and an assignment, then expected to find his way around. It was a test of sorts, he said; they wanted to see if he would be able to do the job and find the stories. After several years covering stories from crime to government, Tim accepted a job at The Washington Post in 2003. As a newspaper reporter, Tim values the time he is able to devote to researching and writing

Tim Craig

a story, though he has also appeared on CNN and other live news broadcasts. “It is a little bit of an anomaly for me to come so far so fast,” Tim acknowledged. He attributes the foundations of his success to his involvement as a reporter and news editor for The Gannon Knight during college, which he said helped to prepare him by teaching him.

Overseas Success Jackie Mozga entered Gannon as a Spanish/ International Relations major with a desire to work in an embassy abroad and an athletic talent that ultimately earned her multiple honors in the records of Gannon’s softball program.

Jackie Mozga, center, with

Jackie, who came to her Italian teammates. Gannon on a softball scholarship, was a member of the first softball team in Gannon history to earn a spot in an NCAA Tournament in 1999 and still holds the Gannon softball career records for games pitched and won-lost percentage. During her senior year at Gannon, Jackie accepted an offer to play for a professional European softball league in Italy and moved there following graduation. Since then, she has traveled around the globe with her softball team (winning the European Championships in Prague

and going to Australia in 2000 for a pre-Olympic tournament with the Italian National Softball Team), taught English, served as a translator, and is currently working as a sales assistant for SIG Simonazzi S.p.A., a Swiss-owned company based in Parma, Italy, that designs, manufactures, and sells beverage manufacturing equipment lines. “Unless you have a very specific major, it’s difficult for a university to prepare you for a career,” Jackie said. “Gannon prepared me well, but the experience you gain on the job is even more precious. I think it’s more exciting that way.”

Shining in the Spotlight

Jana Rumbaugh came to Gannon knowing exactly what she wanted to do— Theatre! With the support of Professor Shawn Clerkin, Jana received a Theatre Scholarship, which helped immensely since she was paying for school herself.

Jana Rumbaugh with a cast- After graduating and mate from “West Side Story.”

working for one year toward her MFA in acting at West Virginia University, Jana decided to move to New York City to gain real experience in theatre. She said she’d expected things to be constantly challenging, and they are. “One thing I learned at Gannon is you get out of it what you put into it,” Jana noted. “I’ve found it’s true for all things in life.” Jana has just been cast in the title role in a new offBroadway musical called “Making Mary,” has performed on both MTV and VH1, and recently finished a production of “The Gay Divorcee” with the NYC company Musicals Tonight! She spends her summers working with New York City children as the theatre director and choreographer for Camp Chipinaw in upstate New York. “The career I’ve chosen is a tough one, and my life is anything but traditional. I have no desire to be famous. I want to be a working stage actress and enjoy what I’m doing,” Jana said.

A Dream Realized 8

As a member of Gannon’s basketball team, Steve Moyer established two Division I and II records for making 442 career three-point field goals between 1994-99

and for making 124 season three-point field goals in 1999. Steve graduated from Gannon with a Bachelor’s degree in English and found that his athletic talents could take him far. He is a professional basketball player in Europe, where he played for four years in Germany. Last year he played in Holland’s top league.

Steve Moyer playing in Germany. Although each of the leagues in Europe limits the number of American players a team can have, in Germany Steve had the chance to play with fellow Gannon alumnus Tony Lyons, his former roommate. Culture shock hasn’t been an issue for Steve, because his teams have conducted practice in English. That didn’t keep him from becoming fluent in German. Steve understands Dutch, as well.

idelined by an injury at the beginning of last season, Steve is back in shape and can’t wait for the upcoming season. In the meantime, he is teaching in an after-school program and will direct and coach at his own basketball camp this summer, as he’s done before. “I always knew I wanted to play professionally after college, but I didn’t know if it would happen,” Steve said. “When I look back, it’s amazing that I’ve been playing for five years.You’ve got to just go for it—don’t be afraid.”

Serving and Protecting Antiterrorism Officer Jamie Marki Caldwell entered Gannon intending to serve in law enforcement and thought of joining the FBI. With guidance from Criminal

Jamie Caldwell Photo by U.S. Army photographer PFC Justin Nieto, Military District of Washington

Justice professors Karen Weston and Jim Meko, she shifted paths slightly and enrolled in Gannon’s Army ROTC program and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army’s Military Police Corps. After two years at Fort Carson, Colorado, Jamie was reassigned to Fort Belvoir,Virginia, where she served as the post’s Operations Officer and then as the Deputy Provost Marshal. Jamie left active duty in part because of her family (she is married and has a two-year-old son), but her drive to serve has kept her at the center of things. In her present position, as a civilian employee with the Department of the Army, she works with the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division, police, and other law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism for the U.S. Army Military District of Washington.

Thames River, where many of the students had never even been on the underground or north of the river.” Anita returned home to Erie in 2003 and was surprised to find a position at Gannon that seemed tailor-made for her. “I never dreamed when I left Gannon in May 1999 that five years later I would be here in this capacity,” Anita said. As Director of the Schuster Program for the Arts, Anita oversees both internal and external grants for the arts, manages the Schuster Art Gallery and assists in promotion of both the Schuster Theatre and the Erie Chamber Orchestra.

amie was responsible for law enforcement operations for an installation serving over 175,000 personnel daily when the terrorists struck on September 11, 2001. During the subsequent days, her unit provided support for law enforcement, security details for transport of the deceased, and special escort for President George W. Bush and visiting dignitaries. She plans to start evening classes at law school in the fall of 2005 while continuing in her present position. “Gannon prepared me well for my career, but I’m a firm believer in learning how to figure things out on your own,” she said.

Anita Snider (above, right) with a photo of Gannon University benefactor William Shuster (photo, right) posing with her (photo, center), Jana Rumbaugh (photo, left), and other cast members of “Mack and Mabel” at the debut performance in the new Schuster Theatre.

Enriching the Arts Back Home

“Being part of the Schuster Program for the Arts has given me a rewarding opportunity to expand the arts as well as to accomplish the dream that the late William Schuster, longtime Gannon benefactor and Trustee, had of bringing the arts to the University and Erie. It just goes to show that once you find a home at Gannon, you will always be welcomed back.”

As a scared freshman in 1995, Anita Snider never imagined where she would be nine years later. Though she began as a Psychology major, Anita found her niche the first week when she auditioned for the musical, “Mack and Mabel,” at the Schuster Theatre and was cast. She earned her BA in Theatre/Communication Arts from Gannon and then her MA from Michigan State University, planning to pursue a Ph.D. Deciding that she wanted time off before continuing, Anita moved to London, England, and taught high school drama. “The job was described to me as ‘challenging,’ and it was,” she said. “It was also very rewarding. I worked in an economically depressed area of London, south of the

Two Partnerships Made at Gannon Service, love, and medicine joined the lives of Brad Collins and Tiffany Pryor and Melissa Griffith and Jonathan Miller.

Brad graduated from Gannon with a BS in Chemistry and then went on to medical school and an M.D. at Penn State University at Hershey. Tiffany graduated from Gannon with her BS in Nursing and worked

in the St.Vincent Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) unit for two years and then also went to Penn State University at Hershey to finish her graduate education, earning her MSN as a family nurse practitioner. On October 12, 2002, Brad and Tiffany were married at Gannon’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel by the priests who “helped them to deepen their faith at Gannon,” including Rev. George Strohmeyer, Rev. Joseph Gregorek, Rev. Scott Detisch, Rev. Nicholas Rouch, Very Rev. John M. Schultz, and Rev. Casimir Wozniak.

ollowing their graduation from Penn State, Brad was assigned his Internal Medicine Residency at Brown University, and the couple moved to Rhode Island, where they currently reside.

As noted in the Spring 2003 issue of Gannon magazine, Brad and Tiffany continue to live the Gannon mission by spending time every year providing medical care to the poor in Sabanta de Yasica, Dominican Republic, a volunteer effort introduced to them by a fellow Gannon alumna, Bridget Rafferty ’98, who also brought Melissa and Jonathan into the fold. Melissa has made the trip three times as a translator and said, “This is the most rewarding thing we have done since graduation. I end up learning more from the Dominican people each time I go…about the things I don’t need in order to be happy.”

Melissa and Jonathan both earned their BS degrees in Biology from Gannon. Melissa entered the Master’s program in Physical Therapy at Gannon, while Jonathan attended MCP-Hanneman Tiffany and Brad agree School of Medicine. that both of their careers After Melissa earned in medicine were her MS in 2001, she dependent upon their joined Jonathan in graduate educations, but Pittsburgh, where he Gannon played an integral was completing his role in their formation third year of medical as adults. “The ability to school. They married deal with adversity, to and eventually moved not always take the easy to Cleveland, Ohio, route, and to work hard in order for him to and accept what you’ve Brad andTiffany Collins with Melissa and Jonathon Miller do a residency in on their recent trip to Ireland. earned—are all things we Emergency Medicine learned from Gannon,” at MetroHealth Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center. Tiffany said. Melissa works at Richmond Heights Hospital and Brad is currently a doctor at Lifespan Health Systems enjoys practicing physical therapy in that setting. in Providence, Rhode Island, and Tiffany is a nurse “There is so much to learn about medicine, and I like practitioner at Coastal Women’s Health. “It is truly to be right there at the heart of it,” she said. rewarding and humbling to do what we both do, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” Brad said. Julie Chamberlain Teslevich planned to become a registered nurse and work with the elderly when she started at Gannon. After her first semester, however, she switched to the opposite end of the age spectrum and changed her major to elementary education.

Pedagogy Paradigm

Oh, the places you will go...

Since graduation, Julie has worked in the Charles County Public Schools in Southern Maryland.

She has taught second and fourth grade at J.C. Parks Elementary School and hopes to teach kindergarten someday. “Education is continually changing, but Gannon helped prepare me for the challenges I have encountered,” Julie said. “Each person at Gannon played a special role in my life, offering me advice that I will remember and use forever.”

arried to a fellow elementary teacher, Julie is working on her Master’s degree in Administration and Curriculum Development at McDaniel College. She hopes to eventually serve as a vice principal or on the Board of Education where she could develop and support school district curricula.

Politics Revisited

Lisa Gillette didn’t choose her major until the beginning of her sophomore year, taking full advantage of Gannon’s liberal arts curriculum to explore many possible paths, including a semester in Spain during the spring of 1998. This expanded her perspective on culture, diversity, international affairs, and politics. She pursued an International Studies/Spanish major, knowing it would offer flexibility when she graduated. She couldn’t be happier with her decision. While at Gannon, Lisa was an active participant in the Model United Nations, where she served on the planning committee in 1998 and as the Assistant Secretary General during 1999 under the direction of Paul Foust. She was also the program coordinator for Leadership Erie for a year and one of 26 fellows for the Center of the Study of the Presidency at the George H.W. Bush Library in College Station, Texas, and was invited to attend conferences in Texas and Washington, D.C.

Lisa Gillette noted, “I never knew I would love my job as much as I do.”

Julie Teslevich’s second graders benefit from her boundless enthusiasm and energy. Her extensive experience prepared her well. “I have one of the most rewarding and fulfilling jobs,” Lisa said. In her current position with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, she provides supplemental services to the children of the nation’s migratory farm workers. “I’m responsible for evaluating services, drafting policy, ensuring that we are complying with federal regulations, coordinating state-level leadership programs, and a handful of other things,” she added. Lisa earned her graduate degree from the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh and conducted research in Santiago, Chile, for a few months during that time.

hough she enjoyed college immensely, Lisa said she worried much more about entering the “real world” than she needed to. “I thought finding a job would be harder,” she said. “I never knew I’d love my job as much as I do.”

Future on Fire

The promise, energy, and ambition of the class of 1999 have been tempered by experience and forged into success in their wide-ranging fields of endeavor. They have harnessed their talents and used the skills they’ve learned in and outside of Gannon. When they return to Gannon to celebrate their 10th reunion, we’re confident that they will still be shining brightly.

The Kozak

Connection From Presidential Politics to Local Legislators, Kozak Connects Students with Opportunities

The phrase “six degrees of separation” refers to the concept advanced by social psychologist Stanley Milgram in 1967 that we are all connected to others, even strangers, through as few as six people. If we think about whom we know, and whom they know, we can connect ourselves to anyone, right up to the President of the United States.

Professor David C. Kozak of Gannon’s Political Science Department is the University’s resident local amd national political commentator.

Dr. David C. Kozak ’66, represents the vital link in that chain of connection for his students. Kozak uses the connections he has forged over 25 years of service to the United States and its leaders to connect his students to opportunities in the political sphere—some they would never realize with such ease were he not showing them the way. Kozak has lectured on leadership to the staff of the White House, to the Director of the Secret Service, and to students at the National War College, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He brought national political affairs reporter David Broder to lecture at Gannon and started the “Chautauqua-atGannon” program in 1987 with his friend, Dr. Daniel Bratton, former president of Chautauqua Institution. Kozak has co-taught a semester-long course with Congressman Phil English (R-PA), and two with Secretary of Homeland Defense Tom Ridge during Ridge’s time as Governor of Pennsylvania.

Seizing Opportunities

From the moment he began teaching Political Science, Kozak was ready to seize opportunities and make the most of them. As the director of Leadership Erie, an adult education program for members of the Erie community, he has made it his goal to share those opportunities with others. Kozak’s philosophy is simple and direct. “Father Joseph J. Barr, who founded the Political Science Department at Gannon, taught me something I’ve never forgotten,” Kozak said. “‘Book learning and library study will only take you halfway.You have to learn from practicing professionals.’ That’s the heart of what I do. I provide the theory and let my students learn first-hand from the professionals.” During the last local election, Kozak brought all the candidates for Mayor and County Executive into class to speak to his students. He brought America’s most experienced astronaut, Col. Susan Helms, a former student of his at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado,

to campus to speak to his classes and hosted Dr. David M. Abshire, former NATO Ambassador, who spoke about President George W. Bush’s first 100 days in office. Kozak has led student groups to each of the national political conventions in the past decade, securing internships and additional opportunities for them there. Other speakers included Steve Scully, senior executive producer and political editor at C-Span, who spoke to a packed room on “The Road to the White House

regional, and national levels. “Meeting so many players in the Washington, D.C., scene gave me an idea of what it takes to live within the Beltway and survive as a credible participant in the political process,” said Captain Brendan Wolf ’97. Wolf majored in Political Science at Gannon, then earned his Juris Doctor from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Ohio, passed both the Ohio and District of Columbia Bar Examinations, and served as a Legal Assistance Attorney for the Marine Corps before becoming a Company Commander with the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. “My classes with Dr. Kozak ran the whole gamut, from basic U.S. government and presidential politics, to the Ridge Governorship, campaigns and elections. It would be safe to say that if he taught it at Gannon, I probably took it,” he noted.

The 1996 Democratic National Convention was the site of many fruitful connections for Gannon students. 2004.” Kozak managed to bring Secretary Ridge back to campus in February to speak at length on leadership and managing change before a rapt audience of students from Kozak’s “Homeland Security” class and Leadership Erie participants. Team-teaching courses with Congressman English and with Secretary Ridge while he was Governor remain some of Kozak’s favorite career highlights.

Think Nationally, Work Locally

Brittany Weber ’04, a Political Science major who has been the Leadership Erie intern for the past two years, spoke with awe about her mentor and professor. “He has connections with everyone—people you wouldn’t even imagine. Brittany Weber ’04 with political He gets them to come to comedian Mark Russell. Erie, or we go to them. It’s amazing.” Weber has been accepted into the University of Pittsburgh graduate program in International Affairs. These connections have led many of Kozak’s former students to become involved in politics on local,

‘‘

Wolf was a National Presidential Studies Fellow—part of a nationwide program run by Kozak out of Gannon in conjunction —Kim Canfield with the Center for the Study of the Presidency, in Washington, D.C. Two hundred college students from across the country gathered for two weeks at the sites of each of the National Political Conventions. The first week consisted of classes and lectures by politicians, journalists, lawyers, and analysts, followed by a week in which the students served as interns to legislators, news media, and other participants—gaining insider perspective on the political process.

If it weren’t for Dr. Kozak, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Driven to Serve

’’

Kim Canfield ’02, now as a uniformed Police Officer with the U.S. Secret Service stationed at the White House, noted, “If it weren’t for Dr. Kozak, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Becoming a Secret Service police officer was a synthesis of her lifelong dream and Kozak’s encouragement. After her freshman year, Canfield was one of the students who accompanied him to the 1996 Democratic Convention. “When he learned that I was interested in the Secret Service he connected

Kim Canfield ’02 at her graduation from the U.S. Secret Service Training Academy, with Director of the Secret Service W. Ralph Basham and Assistant Director of Human Resources and Training Keith Prewitt.

me with his contacts and helped me get an internship at their headquarters. He kept encouraging me to keep going after what I wanted.” Lisa Gillette ’99 (featured in “Still Shining Brightly” on page 11) credits Kozak with opening her eyes to the possibilities of governmental service.

Kozak’s political science class, “The Ridge Government II”

From Dave’s Scrapbook

“As one of 26 fellows for the center

CNN Anchor Bernie Shaw for the Study of the Presidency, I with Lisa Gillette ’99. was invited to attend conferences in

College Station, Texas, and Washington, D.C.,” Gillette noted. As Program Coordinator for Leadership Erie and leading over two dozen professionals (all older than she) to Cleveland to attend a private meeting of the Council of Great Lakes Governors and Premiers of Ontario and Quebec when Kozak couldn’t make the trip.

Kozak and Larry King.

“She handled herself with utter confidence and poise,” Kozak remembered. “All of the other participants at this high-level meeting were just floored by the kid running everything with such aplomb.” Participating in both national political conventions was one of the highlights of Gillette’s college experiences, she said. “I worked with Bernie Shaw on CNN and was right in the thick of things from the beginning to the end of the conventions. It was amazing!” “Dr. Kozak always taught us that successful people have written goals...I couldn’t agree more,” added Wolf. “At least in my environment, this is a daily occurrence, whether it is workrelated, personal, or otherwise. He raised my own expectations of my performance at work, at home, and in life in general. I am now my hardest critic.”

Actions Speak

Captain Wolf noted, “My college experience was beneficial because professors took a genuine interest in me, and not merely my college course-load. Unfortunately, I saw a few students wandering aimlessly through college with no set goal in mind. I learned many things besides academics from Dr. Kozak—short, mid-range and long-term goal-setting; that actions speak louder than words; that results matter; and the importance of having balance in your life among work, friends, family, values, and passion for whatever you may do. The ability to think is priceless.” Kozak’s commitment to enriching his students’ coursework with political perspective that can only be gained from hands-on experience continues. That constant interweaving of theory and reality challenges and rewards student and mentor alike and is the heart of the Kozak connection.

Sam Donaldson, Ruth Roeder ’96 and Kozak.

Kozak joined Captain Brendan Wolf at his commissioning as a second lieutenant. Dave’s former student, Col. Susan Helms.

Leap Frog!

Erie’s New Public Art Project “Ribbets” Attention.

Art has imitated evolution in climbing from the water onto the lily pad in downtown Erie

since the FishCommish (which brought GoFish! to life) announced the 2004 Lake Erie Art Project— LeapFrog! GoFish!’s broad appeal to adults and children made it wildly popular in the summer of 2001, when pledges, auctions, and even a book about the fish created by local artists raised over $100,000 for the Gannon University Scholarship Fund. The LeapFrog! project, named for the children’s game of “leap frog” and for the leap year of 2004, connects with kids in much the same way as GoFish!—uniting a kids’ game with the local area (Erie is home to seven species of frogs).

Designed by GoFish! sculptor David Seitzinger, the fiberglass frogs were molded in standing and sitting positions. Like the GoFish! project, LeapFrog! will benefit the GU Scholarship Fund and the Erie Art Museum. During the summer the frogs are hopping into being from 26th Street north to the Bayfront and from Liberty Street to East Avenue. Project Coordinator Jody Farrell, who co-chaired GoFish!, is leading the committee, with Gannon Vice President for University Advancement Susan Black-Keim, who originated GoFish!, serving as a project adviser along with John Vanco, Director of the Erie Art Museum. So far, they have sold patrons 100 of the frogs, which will be decorated by local artists and installed throughout the summer.

“Many sponsors chose to pay $3,500 up front for their LeapFrog! sculptures so they could keep them instead of putting them into the auction,” said Black-Keim, “but we’ll still have plenty. Since it’s run by a volunteer committee, all the money goes to support education and art. We’re delighted at the enthusiasm everyone has shown.”

Mary Carol Gensheimer, artist and Assistant Professor of Communications at Gannon, created the “Victorian Flower Frog,” (photo, right) which stands before Old Main, possibly surveying West Sixth Street for tasty flies. “I wanted a bright, cheerful frog and thought that the yellow hue would appeal to children,” she said at the unveiling, which featured LeapFrog! cookies and green punch. “GoFish! promoted Gannon University, the arts, Erie, and local artists in a unique and compelling way,” Farrell noted. “We had no idea how popular it would be, and it was especially gratifying to see all the kids touching, exploring, and searching for the fish. We hope to kindle their imaginations the same way with LeapFrog! It’s all about bringing art to the people— offering them the whole city as an art exhibit.” Or perhaps as one big frog pond.

“Croak-A-Dot” by David N. Seitzinger, sponsored by Diane and David Blake, Mary Alice and Tom Doolin, Geri Cicchetti, the Arts Council of Erie, and the Erie Zoo.

Children couldn’t wait to touch Gensheimer’s inviting “Victorian Flower Frog.”

FacultyFocus Mark A. Jubulis, Ph.D.

“Political Science majors ought to be exposed to many different subjects.” Education

Ph.D. from University of Notre Dame in Political Science BA in Political Science from Canisius College

Awards and Achievements

Fulbright scholar at the University of Latvia 1994-1995 Author of Nationalism and Democratic Transition in 2001 Presented on the role of nationalism in the breakup of the Soviet Union at the London School of Economics in April 2004. 2004 Excellence in Teaching Award from the students of Gannon

It should come as no surprise that the man who said his proudest professional moment was receiving the 2004 Excellence in Teaching Award from the students of Gannon is a big believer in lifelong learning. The award signified to him that his students recognized his commitment to Gannon’s focus on quality teaching. As a former Fulbright scholar at the University of Latvia in 1993-1995, Mark Jubulis encourages students to take foreign languages, study abroad, and consider dual majors or classes in history, philosophy, or economics. “Governments deal with a wide range of issues,” he noted, “and Political Science majors ought to be exposed to many different subjects.” Jubulis is Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of History, Political Science, and Legal Studies (he will become an Associate Professor next year), and serves as Program Director for Political Science majors. He covers a wide range of topics and time periods in his courses. From U.S. foreign policy and international relations, to comparative government and political theory, Jubulis tries to incorporate varied materials, points-of-view, and interests. “In my upper level seminars, I try to use a diverse array of reading materials, including novels and short stories. One class that incorporated literature was my seminar last fall on ‘The Communist Experience.’ We read books by Orwell, Koestler, Kundera, and Ha Jin.” One of his history professors at Canisius, Dr. Larry Jones, inspired Jubulis to become a teacher. “He was an amazing lecturer and a prominent scholar, yet he always had time for his students,” he said. “I hope my students take the same lifelong interest in learning from my classes.” He added, “I was influenced the most at Notre Dame by my mentor, George Brinkley, who served as my dissertation advisor. He has an incredible ‘institutional memory’ of Notre Dame and made me aware of the previous generations of students and faculty who studied and taught there. Teaching there was an amazing experience that confirmed my desire to be a professor. “One of the best things about being a professor is the opportunity to continuously learn new things and study new subjects,” added Jubulis. “Gannon’s relatively small classes allow a lot of interaction between the students and professors. I am able to get to know our Political Science majors very well by the time that they are seniors. I also think that they learn the most in smaller classes that are conducted in a seminar format.”

Jubulis received the 2004 Excellence in Teaching Award from SGA Vice President for Academic Affairs Mike McGravey.

AlumniFocus Michael J. Krahe ’76, ’81M

A teacher by trade, Mike Krahe still exudes the easy charisma associated with those favorite teachers who remain in our memories. While discussing his position as Vice President of Employee Relations for Erie Insurance Group, Krahe noted, “You don’t map life out.You make choices and hope that if you do the right thing in a given situation, it will lead you down the right path.You have to have passion for what you do.”

“You have to have passion for what you do.”

Krahe has a talent for choosing the right path. His journey from Cathedral Prep to “sitting at the executive table” bears out his words. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in English from Gannon as a commuter while working to put himself through school, then went on to teach at St. George School in Erie while living in a group home and counseling juvenile offenders at night. The two seemingly different jobs fueled his interest in motivation. “I wanted to know how groups of people work together. What makes them tick?” he mused. His fascination took him through a position as a full-time probation officer for juvenile offenders, to St.Vincent Hospital as a mental health intake specialist, back to Gannon to work on his Master’s degree in Community Counseling and serve as Gannon’s alumni director, into private practice with his father-in-law, and finally on to earn his Ph.D. “When I think about where I am and what I’ve done, I think about Gannon,” Krahe said. “Bob Wallace, Father Levis, John Rouch, my father-in-law, Frank Pizzat, Phil Kelly, Ward Peterson—they gave me a solid liberal education. More than just the subjects, they taught me to value people—that everyone deserves consideration, opportunity, and fair treatment. When deciding where a company is headed, what it wants to accomplish, and how to get it done, its most important resource isn’t money. It’s people.” When he sought a company for which to work, Krahe looked for one that shared those values. He found it in Erie Insurance. “Lots of companies just bring people in, as if anyone will fit into a position. We look for just the right fit. This organization values its people. It’s my job to keep our corporate culture one where the relationship between supervisor and employee is one of trust and confidence.” “The more we focus on these key elements, on people, fit, continuing education, relationships, growth and advancement, the more we unlock even greater organizational efficiency. Our people recognize it. They see it in action every day as we promote from within. I started as a staffing supervisor. Jeff Ludrof started as a field adjustor. Now he’s the CEO of Erie Insurance. I feel so blessed… so fortunate.”

Name

Michael J. Krahe

Grad year

Gannon University 1976, 1981 MS Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from State University of New York at Buffalo

Occupation

Vice President of Employee Relations at Erie Insurance Group

Family

Wife, Valerie (daughter of long-time Gannon professor Dr. Frank Pizzat); Daughter, Jennifer; and Son, Andrew

Miscellaneous

Helped develop Erie Insurance “Adopt-aSchool” program with Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School; active with Red Cross, March of Dimes, Juvenile Diabetes, United Way, and Neighborhood Art House.

by Dan Teliski, Gannon Sports Information Director

Gannon’s student-athletes turned out one of the best years in school history during 2003-04, both in competition and in the classroom. The 14 programs that accumulate overall records won 60.7 percent (201-130) of their competitions. (The cross country and golf teams don’t produce overall records.) Five programs recorded 20-win seasons, four of five programs eligible for GLIAC post-season tournaments qualified, and two programs advanced to their regional tournaments. In addition, men’s swimming and men’s golf sent individuals to NCAA post-season competition. Overall, the men’s programs won 61.1 percent (96-61) of their competitions, while the women’s programs produced a 60.3 (105-69) winning percentage. Gannon’s student-athletes were just as successful in the classroom. Twelve of Gannon’s 18 intercollegiate athletic teams produced a team GPA of 3.0 or better, including all nine women’s programs, and the athletic department recorded an overall 3.10 grade point average during the fall of 2003. 59 percent of Gannon’s student-athletes recorded GPAs of 3.0 or better, and 36 percent made the Dean’s List. In addition, 34 student-athletes recorded perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Baseball

The Gannon baseball team finished the 2004 season with a 22-24 record, increasing its victory total for the fourth consecutive year. The Golden Knights’ .478 winning percentage was its best since the 1985 squad went 23-19.

Nick Leslie completed a stellar career with a .355 average. The catcher hit .350 or better in each of the last four seasons and finished as Gannon’s all-time leader in RBI (120). Senior first baseman Phil Gnacinski finished his career as Gannon’s all-time home run leader with 18, while Charlie D’Agostino and Chris Matteucci concluded the season with .323 and .308 batting averages respectively.

Softball

Fourth-year head coach Beth Pierce led the Gannon softball team to its fifteenth consecutive winning season with a 28-17 record. The Knights finished seventh in the GLIAC with a 7-11 league mark. The 2004 GLIAC Postseason Tournament at Lake Superior State on April 30 and May 1 was cancelled due to inclement weather and poor field conditions. The Knights had advanced to the GLIAC Tournament Championship during the previous two seasons. Gannon has posted 14 consecutive 20-win seasons. The Knights have averaged 31.5 victories per season under Pierce, who is the school’s all-time leader with a .659 winning percentage.

Women’s Lacrosse

Second-year head coach Steve Wagner brought the women’s lacrosse program back to national prominence with a 9-5 record. Gannon has recorded a winning lacrosse season every year during its nine-year history. The Knights finished the season with a four-match winning streak and were ranked sixth nationally in Division II. The Knights concluded the season with impressive wins over Indiana (25-11), St.Vincent (20-3) and crosstown rival Mercyhurst (19-7). All-American candidates Lauren Bevington and Mindy Richmond led Gannon’s offensive charge. Bevington tied a school record with 14 points against the St.Vincent Bearcats, while Richmond broke a school record with nine goals against them. Bevington also broke Gannon’s single-season assist mark with 68.

Women’s Water Polo

The Gannon women’s water polo team continued making waves in only its fourth season on the varsity level. The Knights broke the school record for victories in a season and finished the 2004 campaign with a 20-7 record.

Nick Leslie

AthleteFocus Knights Coach Don Sherman directs an aggressive defense. The squad won the inaugural Division II Eastern Championships in mid-March and finished 20-0 against Division II opponents. All seven losses came at the hands of Division I programs. Gannon received an at-large bid to participate in the 2004 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Eastern Championships for the second consecutive season. The Knights finished 12th at the championships after a 9-6 setback to Division I Wagner in the 11th place match. Gannon finished 11th during their inaugural trip in 2003 after defeating Villanova 8-3. The sport of water polo doesn’t sponsor championships for each division and crowns only one champion. Gannon was the only Division II school at the 12-team Eastern Championships.

Golf

Sophomore Dave Patronik qualified for the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Central/Great Lakes Super Regional May 3-5 at the Lassing Pointe Golf Club in Union, Kentucky. Patronik is the Great Lakes region defending champion. Dave Patronik The sophomore won the regional and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championships last season as a true freshman. He was named to the all-GLIAC men’s golf honorable mention team, finishing tied for ninth at the regional tournament and 13th at the 2003 GLIAC Championships. He averaged 74.7 strokes in his 10 best rounds in league play, missing a spot on the all-GLIAC second team based on a tiebreaker.

Heather Ford

Senior pitcher Heather Ford concluded her collegiate softball career on April 28 with a victory in her last starting assignment, a three-hit shutout of Walsh University. Nobody has ever done it better in the history of the program. Ford finished the 2004 season with an 18-9 record and 0.90 ERA, breaking the school’s single-season record for complete games (24) and innings pitched (179.1). She also tied the school’s single-season record for shutouts (10). Ford ended her career as Gannon’s all-time leader in appearances (111), games started (90), complete games (81), victories (68), earned run average (1.06), innings pitched (673.1), strikeouts (857) and shutouts (35). She shattered the career record for strikeouts by 368, the innings pitched record by 103 and had a career ERA that was 0.44 lower than the previous record. “I really didn’t know what to expect from the team and the level of competition when I first came here,” said Ford. “I couldn’t have done it without the rest of the team. The great players in our program backed me up while I was on the mound and teamwork wins games.” Her accomplishments didn’t stop on the field. She was also one of the team’s best student-athletes, producing a 3.07 cumulative GPA while majoring in Social Work. Ford’s solid performance in 2004 was a fitting way to end her career, and she will have fond memories of Gannon and the softball program. “I love this place,” noted Ford. “I’m really going to miss it. I have never been on a team with so much cohesiveness. I’ll always remember the 5 a.m. practice. We struggled through everything as a team, things like those early morning practices, good times and bad. The team always stuck together.” It will be the hard times that Ford and her teammates gave opposing hitters that other GLIAC teams are grateful to bid goodbye.

1964

LORETTA TRAYNOR (VMC) is very much alive and living in Hudson, Ohio. Gannon magazine regrets any distress our incorrect listing in the Winter/Spring issue of Mrs. Traynor as deceased may have caused to her or her friends and family.

1966

JOSEPH F. HEAVEY was recently elected vice chairman of the board of

directors of MVP Health Care, a full-service employee health benefits company. Joseph is CEO of The Children’s Medical Group in Poughkeepsie, New York.

America, a world-wide innovator in electronics located in Smyrna, Georgia.

1970

GIANNI (NAN) DEVINCENT-HAYES, PH.D. (VMC) appeared on “Pennsylvania Books,” of PCN TV (Pennsylvania Cable Network). The program featured the author’s most recent release, Zambelli,The First Family of Fireworks. The show, a version of C-Span, is seen state-wide on 145 cable systems.

EDWARD L. ARRINGTON is the mayor-elect of the village of Owego, New York. JOHN F. DENSLINGER has been appointed as executive vice president of sales and marketing for Murata Electronics North

1971

PAUL V. DIFUCCIA was named the first chief operating officer of Erie County’s Civic Coordinating Committee. KEVIN L. WITHERUP ran in the 2004 Boston Marathon!

1972

GARY M. BOYER was appointed to the post of marketing outreach professional in Empire State College’s FORUM Management Education

Gannon Honors Distinguished Alumni

On April 17, Gannon honored 10 individuals as Distinguished Alumni for their service to their professions, their communities, their faith, and their alma mater.

Pictured seated left to right: George C. Hillman, Jr. ’73 MBA, Humanities; Carla Noziglia ’63 VMC, MA, Sciences; Suzanne S. Prevost ’82 RN, Ph.D., CNAA, Health Sciences; Mark J. Minnaugh ’81, Business; Louis D. Salen ’50 EdM, Education; and standing: Alumni Association President Russ Forquer, Richard W. Suminski ’79 MBA, Master’s Degree Award; Thomas J. Nash ’67 MBA, Monsignor Wilfrid J. Nash Principles of Christian Conduct Award; Sally B. Rouch, Ph.D. Honorary Alumna; John J. Boland ’65 MA, Ph.D., Engineering; and Dr. Antoine M. Garibaldi. Mark Zagorski ’90 MBA, Young Alumnus, is featured on page 26.

AlumNotes

Program. Gary will develop and manage programs to promote FORUM, the college’s executive business degree program. DENNIS J. DUNNE is the new chef instructor for Mercyhurst College Northeast Campus’s Culinary and Wine Institute.

1973

REV. STEPHEN E. KRIVONAK III celebrated the 25th anniversary of his holy priesthood in April 2004, at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Erie.

1974

LORRI (EDELMAN) ERHARDT was appointed project leader for Kendle International Inc.’s American Operating Unit. Kendle is a leading full-service contract research organization in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lorri provides strategic planning for projects and primary customer oversight.

1977

JOHN M. BARTH was elected to the additional post of chairman of the board of directors of Johnson Controls, Inc., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. John is also president and chief executive officer. JOHN P. FONZO, J.D. is vice president and general counsel for Commonwealth Marketing Group in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

A Perspective on the Annual Fund by Russ Forquer ’71, Alumni Association President

When the Alumni Association Board of Directors developed the Association’s Strategic Plan (available online at www.gannonalumni.org, we identified the need for alumni to support the University’s fundraising efforts. I give to the Annual Fund because I unequivocally believe that I owe Gannon University for the wonderful life that I am enjoying. My service and contributions to Gannon University are my “dues.” However, I recognize that not everyone has the strong personal feelings that I have. Listed below are additional reasons it is important to support Gannon University: The Annual Fund does more than most alumni realize: • it supplies financial aid, which attracts more students and increases enrollment; • it helps fund Nash Library’s periodicals, journals, and publications, keeping them current and enhancing student research; • it improves technology on campus, which speeds communications and innovation; and • it supports social and athletic programming and enriches student life. In addition, each year colleges and universities are ranked in a variety of publications and guides for prospective students. One criterion used in these rankings is the percentage of alumni who contribute to their alma mater. Each gift helps raise Gannon’s ranking and reputation. Equally as important, charitable foundations and corporations with matching gift policies consider the percentage of alumni donors when determining whether to award grants to the University. As you can see, your gift— regardless of size—makes a difference. By giving to the Annual Fund, you speak out and confirm the values that Gannon University represents. Giving is easy. Visit the Alumni Online Community at www.gannonalumni.org and follow the “giving” links to make a contribution online. If you have questions about the Annual Fund, contact Britt Daehnke ’98, Assistant Director of the Annual Fund, at daehnke001@gannon.edu or at 1-877-GU-Alums, extension 6. If you have questions about the Alumni Association or getting involved in the University, I urge you to contact me at (814) 453-3366, extension 23, or at sales@forquer.com.

AlumNotes

1979

DR. BRYAN K. TIPPETT has been appointed to the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. This board licenses and regulates the pharmacy profession and investigates compliance with state laws governing the manufacturing and dispensing of drugs. He is the dean of instruction, Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, Arizona.

1980

ANNE S. MOOSMAN, RN was promoted to director of nursing at MAIN Medical, Inc., which specializes in diagnostic imaging.

1982

LESLIE (LOMBARDO) DUNFORD has been promoted to vice president for corporate governance for The Cleveland Foundation.

births a son, Lucas Reilly (September 26, 2003), to Kathy Jo Mulcahy Maloney ’93 and her husband, Bill. a daughter, Elizabeth Ann (March 19, 2004), to Kenneth M. ’90 and Melissa R. Marshall Ogorek ’90.

a son, Ryan Michael (August 26, 2003), to Lori Jones Thomson ’01 and her husband, J.R. a son, Jonah Guy (January 10, 2004), to Christian G. Witter ’95 ’97M and his wife, Tara.

Lifelong Commitment of Alumnus Honored Judge John F. Cherry ’73 received the Angelo Skarlotas Award from the Dauphin County Young Lawyers Association in February. The award is their highest honor. Cherry was honored for his lifelong commitment to serving the community and the law, and to children.

Judge John F. Cherry receives his award from Pamela Polack, Esquire, of the Young Lawyers Association.

Cherry was the driving force behind the Young Lawyers Association’s revitalization of the “Law Day Program: Lawyers and Judges Go Back to School.” Recognizing the importance of the program to the schools and the untapped resources available within the Dauphin County Bar Association, Cherry helped transform the program from fewer than 10 lawyers speaking in a dozen classrooms to over 75 lawyers speaking in over 100 classrooms in 2003. He continues to recruit new lawyers and school districts for the program.

Cherry’s award for dedicated service to the legal community comes as no surprise to his fellow Gannon alumni. He was honored by the University in Spring 2003 as a Distinguished Alumnus for distinction in his field, reflection of Gannon’s ideals through dedicated public service, and his steadfast commitment to the University.

AlumNotes

1983

Football Alumni from various years gathered at Gannon Field in May.

KERRY FRANCHUK is a freelance editor for the AmCham News living in Russia.

1984

DIANE (DAVID) MCKAY Diane McKay’s home renovations aired on Home and Garden TV channel in May. Diane is client sales executive at Clarkston Consulting in Atlanta, Georgia.

1985

ORLANDO V. FULGENZIO III was promoted to senior vice president of Internet development for First Commonwealth Professional Resources Inc. in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

1986

JOHN J. FREIDHOFF was nominated for the U.S. Coast Guard “Junior Officer of the Year” award. John is the manager of Buffalo State College’s Aquatic Research Field Station and the college’s science ship research fleet.

1987

MICHAEL J. LORINGER is employed at TRW Automotive in Fenton, Michigan. JAMES P. PASSMORE, D.D.S. rejoined the staff of West County Dental in Fairview, Pennsylvania.

1988

GERALD VAN DE MERWE is the new CEO and president of the YMCA of Greater Erie. He has worked for the YMCA since 1989.

1989

MATTHEW E. DENNISON opened his new antiquarian bookstore in Summit Plaza, Erie. Named after his son, Benjamin Paul, the store features used and rare books as well as antiques, prints, and collectibles. Matthew was previously employed by The Erie Book Store and Barnes and Noble Booksellers for nearly 16 years.

marriages Francis “Frank” J. Colantuono ’71 married Paula G. Scherer on February 14, 2004. Brian Justin Fleckenstein ’03M married Ellen Elizabeth Burke on June 14, 2003.

Erin M. Grande ’98 married Ray Moritz. Michelle Ann Hites ’01 married William Isaac DeRooy on July 26, 2003. Kristen L. Kallner ’98 married Nathan Jones on April 3, 2004.

Molly Flynn ’00 married Michael J. Loringer ’87 1LT Lantz Schwabenbauer married Cynthia Hedrich ’01 on July 5, 2003. on September 12, 2003. Susan Lynne Fox ’03M Erin Margaret Stadler married John Patrick Timon on August 2, 2003. ’03 married Thomas Jay Wright on May 31, 2003. John W. Fulkman, Li Ting ’98 married III, D.C. ’93 married Heather Michele Parko on Debra Lynn Palazzi on February 14, 2004. December 5, 2003.

AlumNotes

1990

WENDY (MARIELLA) SIMON ’96M ran in the 2004 Boston Marathon!

KENNETH M. OGOREK co-wrote the teacher manual for a high school religion textbook Encountering Jesus in the New Testament.

1997

Anthony Letizio ’97 has completed his first year of medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in the top 10% of his class.

Mark Zagorski ’90 MBA received the 2004 Distinguished Young Alumnus Award.

1991

ROBERT M. PUPI is back in Texas after spending two years in Malaysia setting up Dow Chemical’s new laboratory and training employees there to perform analyses. He earned his MS in chemistry (organometallics) from West Virginia University and has worked for Dow Chemical (previously Union Carbide) in West Virginia and Texas.

1992

MARSHA E. GONGAWARE, CTRS is in her 11th year with Passavant Memorial Homes in Pittsburgh, and also works for Community Living Care.

1993

JOHN W. FULKMAN, III, D.C. is a founding partner of Gateway Chiropractic Health and Rehabilitation Clinic in Texas.

1998 STANLEY J. ORLOP, D.O. a graduate of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, is a practicing internist for a physician group based near Toledo, Ohio.

1994

SAMUEL C. ASHBAUGH moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to serve as project manager in Governor Rendell’s Office of Management and Productivity.

1995

DAVID J. HASAK helped develop a new fluidhandling platform which will be used in building process analyzer sampling systems. David is an engineer at Swagelok Company in Willoughby, Ohio.

1996

RICHARD R. “ROD” GRIOLA works for CNN as a photojournalist.

KIMBERLY A. FABRIZIO ’98M is vice president of QMultiMedia, a for-profit subsidiary of WQLN Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania. She oversees the marketing and operations of Q-MultiMedia and continues to serve as director of educational services for WQLN-TV and radio.

KRISTEN (KALLNER) JONES is a sixth grade gifted-andtalented teacher in Fairfax County Public School. She and her husband Nathan reside in Old Town Alexandria,Virginia. NICOLE M. KARDAS ’00M has joined Integrated Rehabilitation Group and will work out of both its Murphy’s Center and Edmonds offices. JENNIFER J. ROMANSKI recently received the “Inclusion Teacher of the Year” award from Stanley Switlik School, Monroe County Public Schools, in Key West, Florida. Jennifer is a first grade teacher at the school. LI TING is an application engineer at INA, USA Corp. in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and is

in memoriam Alumni

Donald J. Alberstadt ’82 Donald A. Burger ’77 J. R. Carrick, D.P.M. ’48 Joanna Casey Davis ’41 James J. Dewhurst ’43 Karen Slomski Dylewski ’75 Joseph P. Gentile, Jr. ’70 Phillip D. Giewont ’86 Ronald C. Gottschling ’60 Louis J. Grande ’64 Leo A. Heise ’52 Vincent L. Jenco, D.O. ’52 Albert J. Johnson, Jr. ’73 Thomas A. Knobloch ’57 Mary V. Liberatore ’67 John P. Mannino ’50 Francine Corapi Markiewicz ’78 Louis A. Marnella ’49

Rev. Robert F. Milewski, C.H.C. ’76 Frederick F. Miller ’49 Jerome E. Munz ’71 Thomas P. Musante ’58 Robert J. Netkowicz ’72 Michael L. Patalita ’67 Mario S. Pecoraro ’54 Suzanne Falls Percifull ’73 Rev. William A. Powell, Ph.D. ’73 Joseph A. Swift ’57 Robert J.Vilchinsky ’57 Thomas C.Voskuhl ’63 Stanley J. Witkowski ’53 Sister Annunciata Youhas ’50

Friend

Violet Scolio Waldron

AlumNotes working on his MS degree at Winthrop University. JESSICA A. VITLAR ’00M has joined Mukilteo Physical Therapy, Mukilteo, Washington, as a therapist, providing traditional patient therapy.

1999

2LT ERIN (TORPEY) FRANK is currently serving with the medical unit in Camp Wolverine, Kuwait, where she conducts postdeployment assessments of homeward-bound soldiers. She is a physician’s assistant and worked at the University Primary Care facility in Olean, New York, before being deployed overseas with the Army Reserve in August. LORI A. KOSARKO has been hired by Alpern Rosenthal, Erie, as a accountant in the tax department.

2000

Alumni Authors

When Dr. Stephen M. Scrimenti ’78, ’80M addressed issues of societal justice at his psychology practice, he explained that he did not want his practice or his employees to promote anything contrary to the Catholic Church’s teachings. This was easier said than done, for many of them did not know or understand those teachings; and the encyclicals in which the Church explains them can be difficult for lay persons to read. As Scrimenti spoke with his wife, Toni ’79, regarding the problem, she noted that contraception was only the tip of the iceberg. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” they say, and in the Scrimentis’ case, the result was a book. Catholic Social Ethics: A Basic Primer seeks to explain the Church’s stance on topics from just war, euthanasia, abortion, and capital punishment to cloning and stem cell research. Designed to be easy-to-read, the primer conveys the deep convictions and rationale behind the Church’s stance on these key issues and has already been adopted as a text by teachers at Gannon and Cathedral Prep in Erie. Stephen and Toni oversaw and edited the project with contributed chapters from Paul Lorei ’93M, photographer and adjunct professor of English and History at Gannon; Laura Merriott, nurse practitioner; Barbara ’67 VMC and Edward ’68 Burkett, heads of the Natural Family Planning Office for the Diocese of Erie; and Rev. Joseph Gregorek, Ph.D., Biology Professor at Gannon.

KAREN J. ANDRUS is the new branch manager of PNC Bank’s Waterford, Pennsylvania, office. LINDA S. LLOYD, RN earned the certified registered nurse first assistant credential (CRNFA). Linda is a registered nurse at Saint Vincent Health Center. BRENT L. SEGELEON is doing his first of four internships in Miami, Florida, toward his graduate degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

(counterclockwise from lower left) Barbara Burkett, Toni Scrimenti, Laura Merriott, Paul Lorei, Rev. Joseph Gregorek, Dr. Stephen Scrimenti, and Edward Burkett

AlumNotes RACHAEL A. SMITH is working full-time for PUMC-Northwest as an obstetric nurse, and is currently enrolled in a Family Nurse Practitioner program.

STEPHANIE S. SIAR was promoted to metallographic technician at Alcoa Eastalco Works in Frederick, Maryland. She started at Alcoa as a senior technician two years ago.

2001

2002

SARA E. BROWN joined the Nashville-based advertising agency Gish, Sherwood & Friends as an assistant account executive. BERT A. COPPLE, JR. is currently serving with the 7th Cavalry Squadron at Fort Stewart, Georgia. MICHELLE (HITES) DEROOY is a laboratory analyst in wet chemistry at Microbac Laboratories, Erie.

DEBORAH M. LACHAPELLE is a microbiologist at Arch Chemicals in Rochester, New York.

National Physical Therapy certification exam and are board-eligible. They are therapists at Safe Harbor Behavioral Health in Erie, providing clinical assessment/intervention and individual, family and group therapy.

2003

DANIEL G. CONWELL ’03M has accepted the position of varsity football coach at Norwin High School in Pittsburgh. For the past seven seasons, Daniel was the varsity football coach for Holy Name School, a Catholic school in Parma Heights, Ohio.

and media teacher in Union City, Pennsylvania. TIMOTHY M. FOLEY is a chemist with Mylan Pharmaceuticals. SUSAN (FOX) TIMON ’03M is an elementary teacher in the Iroquois School District in Erie.

BRANDON D. HIGLEY joined Mylan Pharmaceuticals in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a chemist.

PAMELA R. RUPPERSBERG works with autistic children as a therapeutic support staff assistant for the Gertrude Barber Center in Erie.

MATTHEW A. KOLAKOWSKI has been named as supervisor for CurranShaffer Funeral Home in Apollo, Pennsylvania.

April Business Ambassadors Breakfast

JENNIFER L. KRIEG is a physician assistant for the Emergency Care Physicians of Northern Kentucky. ANDREW J. RUPPERSBERG is the manager of Champs Sporting Goods Store in Cincinnati, Ohio. 1LT LANTZ P. SCHWABENBAUER is stationed in Kendahar, Afghanistan, with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division from Ft. Drum, New York.

NICOLE C. KUSS graduated with her MS in Counseling and Human Services from Canisius College. She is now a career counselor for the Army Center and Alumni Program at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Athena K. Ernst ’02M, Susan N.Young ’02M, and Tina L. Askins ’03M passed the

Gannon’s April Business Ambassador Breakfast featured Ralph Pontillo ’85, President, Manufacturers Association of NW PA (left) and Jim Rutkowski, Jr. ’83 (second from right) Treasurer and General Manager, Industrial Sales and Manufacturing, Inc. as guest speakers. Other attendees included Mayor Rick Filippi, Esq. ’89 (second from left); and Chet Giermak, Retired CEO, ERIEZ Magnetics (far right).

BRIAN J. “JUSTIN” FLECKENSTEIN ’03M is a high school English

ERIN (STADLER) WRIGHT is a special education teacher for the Corry Area School District in Corry, Pennsylvania.

EndNotes

“Service is the rent we pay for living.” As the faculty and staff, the students of the Class of 2004, and their families and friends gathered to celebrate Commencement, we were privileged to listen to a truly inspiring message from the Honorable Sean O’Keefe, Administrator of NASA. He spoke eloquently and with great sincerity about the overwhelming importance of service, noting that in the coming years, each of our graduates will have an opportunity to help make America a better place for all. “You can help us protect our homeland security, promote democracy abroad, fight new and deadly diseases, enhance environmental quality, improve our schools, better the lot of those less fortunate, and advance economic and technological progress,” he told them. It was clear that his message resonated with everyone present, for this is the heart of Gannon’s Mission: service to our communities, our nations, our faiths, and our families. The call to serve others is an integral part of the education of all Gannon students, whether they are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs. We know that the message is reaching our students because of their responses. Gannon’s students and alumni demonstrate conclusively through their actions, their dedication, and their determination that they recognize the difference they can make to one individual or to many people. This year at the Baccalaureate Mass, the Most Reverend Donald Trautman, Bishop of Erie, offered a special blessing for a group of students who are devoting a year of their lives to service. Stephen Crowe and Larry Manno will either be joining the Peace Corps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, or Jesuit Volunteer International. Sara Fisher and Marielle Lafaro will be serving L’Arche. Joshua Hayes and Renee Austin are working with the Coalition of Christian Outreach. Dedicating a year of their lives is a tremendous act of generosity and a huge gift for our young alumni to give, and one which we know will be valued greatly by those whose lives they improve. Seminarians Joseph Bell and John Kuzma have begun their journeys of service

to God and Church by entering St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, and St.Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, respectively. Three of our new graduates—second lieutenants Patrick Doyle, James Nemec, and Derek Salony—have chosen to serve their country in the Army. At their commissioning ceremony, they pledged to defend our Constitution. These brave young officers face the uncertainty of war with courage, compassion, and the conviction that they truly can make a difference to those in need throughout the world. They may travel thousands of miles and face hardships unimaginable to all of us who remain behind. We wish them an honorable and productive journey and a safe return home. Our Center for Social Concerns noted that Gannon undergraduates recorded over 25,000 hours of community service last year. I am proud of our students’ dedication, and equally proud to be part of a community where the professors often put down the textbooks and teach compassion and concern by example. Working side-byside with their busy, scholarly professors as they serve their community teaches our students more than twenty hours of lectures on the importance of service ever could. There are countless more alumni like those from the Class of 1999 featured in this issue of Gannon magazine. Some are educating young minds as Julie Chamberlain does or safeguarding the rights of migrant workers like Lisa Gillette. Many are protecting our country abroad and at home, like Jamie Caldwell. Alumni nurses, physical therapists, translators, and doctors bring hope to the poor as Brad and Tiffany Collins, Melissa and Jonathan Miller, and Bridget Rafferty ’98 do. The vital importance of educating ourselves and our students about the desperate need in our world can seem overwhelming.Yet just as every journey begins with a single step, even the task that seems insurmountable can be approached and achieved one small piece at a time. Our students and our alumni are using their own unique gifts to improve our world and fulfill the meaning of the adage: “Service is the rent we pay for living.”

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The Final Touch

Mark Sandidge, Class of 2004, applies the finishing touch to his mortarboard message.