Behrend Magazine - Spring 2019 by Penn State Behrend

BEHREND M A G A Z I N E PENN STATE

SPRING 2019

"EXCELERATING" SUCCESS p.6 Partnership with Erie Insurance expands scholarship opportunities for first-year students.

On campus or online, our programs pay off

wo years ago, Penn State World Campus launched its first-ever online engineering degree—the bachelor of science in software engineering designed and taught by Behrend faculty members. The degree was recently ranked by TheBestSchools.org as No. 1 among online undergraduate programs in that field of study. It’s not the only successful Behrend program offered through World Campus. In all, our faculty teach nearly 1,000 students in online undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. This includes our finance degree, which has more than doubled in enrollment year over year since it was introduced online in 2014. For certain programs and segments of the student population, online is the place to be, and we are an increasingly active academic partner in such World Campus offerings. At the same time, we’re deepening our commitment to the on-campus student experience in myriad ways. We’re expanding our open lab model of learning and discovery, which brings students together with business and industry partners to explore ideas, advance technologies, and solve problems. In one of our newest ventures, we’ve partnered with Erie-based biodiesel fuel-maker HERO BX to establish a research lab where students and company chemists are examining ways to reduce sulfur in biodiesel feed stocks.

In Trippe Hall, our newest student residence, we’re helping students build international perspectives and cultural competency. Our Global Boarders program, based in Trippe, features group discussion of world events, language seminars, lectures and panel discussions on international topics, even world-cuisine house dinners. We’re creating opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in their fields of study, and nowhere is that need more critical than in nursing education. In our newly expanded Simulation Center, funded largely by a $900,000 gift from the Hirtzel Foundation, nursing students are building their clinical skills while “treating” high-fidelity mannequins that are programmed to replicate real-life medical situations. The expansion of our nursing facilities, like all of our investments on campus and online, is an intentional effort to match the needs of both our students and the marketplace. A college education is a significant but life-changing investment, and at Penn State Behrend, it pays off. Annual rankings by the compensation data software company Payscale place Penn State Behrend among the top 10 percent of all colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, both public and private, for highest return on tuition investment (ROI). At the same time, Penn State World Campus is consistently among the most well-represented in U.S. News & World Report rankings of Best Online Programs. The bottom line? Whether delivered on campus or online, our programs are a smart investment. If you have thoughts or ideas about the college, I invite you to share them with me.

Chancellor Ralph Ford rmf7@psu.edu Vol. 36 No.1 Penn State Behrend Magazine is published twice a year and provided free to alumni and friends of Penn State Behrend by the Office of Strategic Communications. Executive Editor: William Gonda wvg2@psu.edu. Editor: Heather Cass hjc13@psu.edu. Contributors: Robb Frederick ‘92, Steve Orbanek, Christine Palattella. Photos: Rob Frank ‘06, Matt Kleck, Tim Rohrbach. Change of address/Unsubscribe: Development and Alumni Relations at 814-898-6367 or kcc146@psu.edu. Correspondence: Behrend Magazine, 207 Glenhill Farmhouse, 4701 College Drive, Erie PA 165631902. Phone 814-898-6419. Copyright ©2019 Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. U.Ed. EBO 19-201

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BEHREND M A G A Z I N E PENN STATE

ON THE COVER

SPRING 2019

Rebecca Olanrewaju, a sophomore Plastics Engineering Technology major, is representative of the students who will benefit from a new partnership between Penn State Behrend and Erie Insurance to expand the collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pathways to Success: Summer Start Program, or PaSSS, with scholarship funding for nearly fifty additional students. The six-week PaSSS program, which began in 2017, allows students to begin their classes early, with a minimum of $2,000 in scholarship funding in each of their first two summers of study. Students who complete the two-year program are eighteen credits ahead of schedule by the start of the fall semester of their sophomore year. Learn more about the Erie Insurance-Penn State Behrend partnership, called Excelerate, on page 6.

IN THIS ISSUE 2018 Research Activity Totals More than $4 Million................................................. 2 Political Science Professor Explains Growing National Polarization...................... 9 Global Boarders Live and Learn in Trippe Hall...................................................... 10 Inspiring Young Minds.............................................................................................. 12 Student Successes Pile Up....................................................................................... 14 Engineering Students Spearhead Recycling Program.......................................... 16

Parents and Families Weekend Photo Album........................................................ 18 Tools of the Teaching Trade..................................................................................... 20 Athletics News.......................................................................................................... 24 Parting Pix................................................................................................................. 36

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In Brief

2018 research activity totals more than $4 million

Research is an important activity at Penn State Behrend. It not only enriches the lives of the faculty and staff members who conduct it, but the students who assist and the communities, organizations, and businesses that benefit from new discoveries. In 2018, Behrend was awarded $4.1 million from external sponsors to fund research and outreach projects. Among the awards: • Dr. Omar Ashour, assistant professor of industrial engineering, was awarded $299,788 from the U.S. National Science Foundation to study "Leveraging Virtual Reality to Connect Learning and Integrate Course Knowledge in the Industrial Engineering Curriculum." • Amy Bridger, senior director of corporate strategy and external engagement, was awarded $250,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the "Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation Beehive Network." • James Hodge, interim director of the Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research and Evaluation (CORE), and Dr. Melanie Hetzel-Riggin, professor of psychology, were awarded $200,000 from the Erie Community Foundation for the "CORE Expansion Project 2018.”

• Dr. Faisal Aqlan, assistant professor of industrial engineering, and Dr. Heather Lum, assistant professor of psychology, were awarded $199,875 from the U.S. National Science Foundation to study "Advanced Modeling of Metacognitive Problem Solving and Group Effectiveness in Collaborative Engineering Teams.” • Dr. Ivor Knight, associate dean and professor of biology, and Dr. Matthew Gruwell, associate professor of biology, were awarded $177,373 from the Great Lakes Protection Fund to study "Early Detection of Ship Mediated Invasive Species Through eDNA Detection." • Dr. Paul Lynch, assistant professor of industrial engineering, was awarded $154,165 from SKF USA, Inc. to study "Pyrowear Materials and Manufacturing.” • Sarah Whitney, director and education strategy and planning manager of Pennsylvania Sea Grant, a national program administered by Penn State Behrend, was awarded $789,525 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for “Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan Implementation.”

Silver honored for journal work Last fall, Dr. Pam Silver, interim associate dean for academic affairs and distinguished professor of biology, was honored with a Distinguished Service Award for her twenty-one years of service and devotion to Freshwater Science, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Silver served in various roles at the journal, including editor-in-chief for thirteen years, until her retirement from the journal last spring. You can read more about Silver’s honor and work on the journal at behrendblog.com.

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Jana Goodrich ’95 named a Penn State Alumni Fellow This past fall, Erie businesswoman Jana G. Goodrich, a 1995 graduate of Penn State Behrend’s master of business administration program, was honored as one of 14 Penn State Alumni Fellows. The lifelong title of Alumni Fellow is the highest award given by the Penn State Alumni Association. Goodrich has been president and CEO of Seaway Manufacturing Corp. since 2010, overseeing operations, engineering, information technology, administration, sales, marketing, and retail development. Seaway manufactures four premium vinyl window platforms, two patio doors and two sunroom lines. Founded in 1959, Seaway sells through specialty home improvement dealers in twenty states. Goodrich previously worked for two Fortune 500 companies, as a territory marketing representative for Xerox and as a systems engineer for IBM. In 1994, Goodrich founded Executive Education Services to provide consulting services in management, marketing, communication, etiquette, and professional development. After receiving her MBA, Goodrich consulted and lectured at Behrend for nearly ten years, teaching courses in management and marketing and helping to write the original curriculum for the college’s bachelor of science in interdisciplinary business with engineering studies. She also directed the Black School of Business’ Business Bridge (now the Business Leadership Weekend), an annual event that

helps business students make informed major and career choices and provides training in leadership, team building, negotiation skills, and etiquette. Goodrich maintains a strong connection to Penn State Behrend, serving on the Black School of Business Advisory Board and lending her advice to many projects and efforts. A member of the Penn State Alumni Association, Goodrich and her husband, Michael, have two children and two grandchildren.

Behrend's Ihab Ragai named ASME fellow Dr. Ihab Ragai, assistant professor of engineering, has been named a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Just 2 percent of the society’s 140,000 professional members earn the distinction. Ragai, a member of ASME since 1998, was recognized for his contributions to the field of advanced manufacturing. Throughout his career, in both industry and academic settings, he has studied the influence of materials and manufacturing processes on product design for automotive and aerospace applications. At Penn State Behrend, Ragai teaches courses related to machine design, new product development, and design for manufacturing. His research has focused on advanced manufacturing processes, smart manufacturing, machine condition monitoring, and machine structural optimization. In addition, he has served as a visiting professor of mechanical design at Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences in Germany. As an ASME fellow, Ragai is at the highest elected level of membership in the society, which promotes the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and applied sciences in more than 150 countries. His formal induction as an ASME fellow will be at the 2019 International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference, which will be hosted by Penn State Behrend and held at Erie's Bayfront Convention Center in June.

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In Brief

Continued

Winner of the 2017 Lake Effect National Poetry Competition “November” By Qingying (Susan) Li & then, as if by magic, the late light sweeps up the last stragglers loitering outside of the Motel 6, stalking shadows half-crescent, beating geese songs into the gravel, teething on the ruins of this summer. Mother says this is just the way of the world: how every tick of the clock presses another bruise under the great white eye of the moon. She tells me it is always dawn somewhere, but it is hard to believe in anything beyond the tight mean pulse

From left: Dr. Tom Noyes, George Looney, and Ben Gauge, a Creative Writing major

High school poetry contest draws 1,500 entries Poetry is often the first foray into creative writing for young people. It is where they can experiment with grammar and play with language and structure to arrange their thoughts in clever and meaningful ways. To encourage this wordplay and creative exploration among U.S. high school students, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences hosts the Lake Effect National High School Poetry Competition. The contest is administered by the college’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree program and named after its renowned literary journal, Lake Effect. This year, the contest received 1,500 entries from high school students across the nation. To select the winners each year, Dr. Tom Noyes, professor of creative

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writing and English, and student assistants read every poem to whittle down the submissions to about fifty entries. The final fifty are then passed on to George Looney, distinguished professor of English and creative writing and award-winning author of seven full-length collections and two chapbooks of poetry. Looney ranks the top five or ten poems. Three cash prizes—$300 for first, $200 for second, $100 for third— are awarded thanks to the poetry competition sponsors, Penn State Barnes & Noble University Bookstores and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. This year’s entries are still being reviewed. Winners will be announced by the end of February at behrend.psu.edu/ poetrycontest, where you can also read last year’s winning poems.

of these hours. And down here there is no exit sign, not a soul on interstate 95 for so many decades, nothing left to happen— mother shivering in the stillness, praying to steal away from these bodies for one night, as if forgiveness could make gravity unhinge all around us; summer sucking its lungs in, moaning for any small mercy; the dim flickering lamp between us a lighthouse shining on the ragged edges of the world. Meanwhile the geese are still singing their hymns, still splitting open on the knifepoints of their own limbs. We know their need. Our throats furl their geometry into hunger, circle in orbit around the matted underbelly of the night. But in the morning we will tiptoe out of our bodies— still enough we can forget to be alive. We will flay the room raw, bone white. We will surrender nothing to the imagination.

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Sustainable Food Systems Program expands to Behrend Katie Chriest gets excited thinking of the opportunities that lie ahead in the realm of food systems. “In the context of the university’s Sustainable Development Goals, there’s a real understanding of the possibility of ending food insecurity and fighting poverty,” Chriest said. “That’s something that Penn State believes in.” Chriest recently joined the university as sustainable food systems program coordinator for commonwealth campuses. The position expands the Sustainable Food Systems Program that launched at University Park three years ago and served as the impetus for the university’s student farm.

The Sustainable Food Systems Program already has a strong presence with students. Last summer, four student interns With the expansion, Penn State Behrend will now have provided food- and garden-related outreach at the Sisters increased access to sustainable food systems education, of St. Joseph Neighborhood outreach activities, and Network’s Farmers Market in programming that has proven Erie, and as part of the inaugural “In the context of the university’s successful at the University Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainability Village at Erie’s Park campus. Blues and Jazz Fest. They also there’s a real understanding of the worked with children from Behrend was chosen for the expansion because of food possibility of ending food insecurity Bethesda Lutheran Services systems programs already in who visited campus. and fighting poverty.” place on campus. Among them Chriest said the program is is the student garden, started – Katie Chriest partnering with Erie's Public by the Greener Behrend student Schools, one of only two organization in 2016. The college’s Housing and Food Pennsylvania recipients of a USDA farm-to-school grant, as Services office also has been using an Urban Cultivator for its well as Emmaus Soup Kitchen and through the Erie Garden "Dig It" kitchen program, which allows dining staff to grow Coalition. She expects several student research projects to and cook with fresh herbs, vegetables, and microgreens. begin in conjunction with the program, and the Lion's Pantry The Waste Not program, meanwhile, facilitates the donation has been expanded in partnership with the Second Harvest of excess dining hall food to the Erie City Mission. And the Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania. Further connections Behrend Lion’s Pantry has expanded this year under the are being forged through the region’s new Food Policy supervision of Rob Felger, an AmeriCorp VISTA member Advisory Council. serving as food security liaison at the college. Chriest expects several student projects related to sustainable food systems to begin soon and encourages faculty, staff, and students interested in helping to contact her at kmc503@psu.edu.

School of Business accolades and achievements The Black School of Business has news to share: • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International has extended its accreditation of the school through 2023. Accreditation by AACSB is the highest standard of achievement in business education, with just 5 percent of the world’s undergraduate degree programs earning the distinction. • Students in the school’s MBA program scored in the top 9 percent in the nation on the most recent Educational Testing Service (ETS) Master of Business Administration Major Field Test. The fifty-eight Behrend students who took the test scored an average of 260 out of 300 possible points on the exam, which places Behrend students in the 91st percentile!

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Scholarships to Safety net of services help to ensure students thrive at Penn State Behrend

Chancellor Ralph Ford, left, student Rebecca Olanrewaju, and Tim NeCastro, president and CEO of Erie Insurance, were on hand to announce the establishment of the Excelerate scholarship program.

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"Excelerate" Success W

hen Rebecca Olanrewaju first calculated the cost of attending college, she based her decision on some very simple math. “I am not an only child,” she said. “I have a younger sister who will be a freshman when I am a senior. That’s two people who will need some sort of financial support from our mother. It would be selfish of me to take more than my share before my sister even gets to college.” To reduce her costs and to ease her transition to the college environment, Olanrewaju enrolled in Penn State Behrend’s Pathway to Success: Summer Start program, or PaSSS. The six-week program, which began in 2017, allows students to begin their classes early, with a minimum of $2,000 in scholarship funding in each of their first two summers of study. Students who complete the two-year program are 18 credits ahead of schedule by the start of their sophomore year. “I saw that as a way to get ahead,” said Olanrewaju, who is pursuing a degree in Plastics Engineering Technology. “It also gives me a cushion if I fall behind in one of my later classes.”

University. An initial commitment of $1.5 million provided by Erie Insurance, combined with $2.5 million in matching funds from Penn State, brings the total investment to $4 million. “The idea behind this partnering effort is really quite simple,” Chancellor Ralph Ford said. “It’s intended to broaden the pathway to a college education for more area young people and to help build the talent that powers economic revitalization of the Erie region.” The community benefits when those students remain in college, said Tim NeCastro, president and CEO of Erie Insurance. He sees the Excelerate scholarships as a long-term investment in the local workforce.

“Excelerate supports high-performing high school students who might otherwise not go to college and creates a pathway to higher education and real-world work experience that is vital to the well-being of our workforce, our city, and our region,” NeCastro said. “Building strong communities is good for local businesses like ours because it helps to attract and retain intended to broaden a talented workforce.”

“Excelerate is the pathway to a college education for more area young people….”

A second component of the Excelerate program will provide — Dr. Ralph Ford, Chancellor real-world work experience and additional opportunities for career growth. Students will receive funding if they work as interns The PaSSS program is working at Penn State Behrend, and for community organizations or at small businesses, including not only for Olanrewaju: Nearly 90 percent of the students startups and entrepreneurial ventures. They also can join who enroll in the program–many of whom are the first in their faculty-led research teams that are working on projects for families to attend college–return for a second year. That’s those companies. nearly 30 percent higher than the national average. For Olanrewaju, now a sophomore, those new opportunities “The PaSSS program creates a safety net of services to help extend the advantage she received through PaSSS. ensure students’ success,” said Dr. Mary-Ellen Madigan, “The whole experience with PaSSS really made my transition senior director of enrollment management for the college. to college easier,” she said. “It allowed me to deeply “That includes mentoring, on-campus job opportunities, integrate myself into the Penn State Behrend community and individualized math and English preparation.” and it gave me a solid foundation as I began to consider To expand the program’s impact, the college has partnered what I want for a career.” with Erie Insurance to provide scholarship funding for nearly “An internship is the next step,” she said. “That’s an opporfifty additional students – doubling the enrollment in PaSSS. tunity to apply what I have learned and, in the process, The new program, called Excelerate, is funded through maybe give something back.” two Penn State endowments, with matching funds from the

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Social Media Shapes Marketing Career W

hen Katharina Becker ’18 was earning her Marketing and International Business degrees at Penn State Behrend, she had no idea that she would end up working in a cutting“I love being edge industry.

of input because there are not a lot of ‘best practices’ that we can reference in our field, and we get to set the standard.” Becker said she enjoys her job. “I love being exposed to and sharing new products. My favorite part of my job is seeing all the awesome content that our talented influencers produce.”

exposed to and sharing new products.”

“I’d never heard of influencer marketing until I did an internship at ApexDrop in Erie,” Becker said. Today, she is a senior campaign developer at the company, which works with Instagram micro-influencers that have a minimum of 5,000 followers on the social media platform. “We expose influencers to new products,” she said. “They, in turn, share those products with their followers.”

But Becker’s influencers go beyond content; they also deliver results. “You’d be surprised at the widespread impact they have for our clients,” she said.

Becker’s duties span product promotion from start to finish, including building landing pages and targeted emails for campaigns, choosing influencers that meet her clients’ needs, and monitoring the progress of campaigns to be sure they run smoothly. “Influencers can be creative in how they share our clients’ products,” she said. “We encourage authenticity. They don’t have to promote anything that doesn’t meet their expectations.” Becker never anticipated working in influencer marketing. But, then, how could she have? It’s a career path that only opened a few years ago with the rise of social media networks. “It’s a great conversation starter,” Becker said. “I recently went to a networking event and attracted the most people to my table as they were curious about my job and influencer marketing.” Another perk of working in a relatively new field? Plenty of room to chart your own course. “I am able to give a lot

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Katharina Becker '18 > Photo Credit: Victoria Steiner.

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A Widening Gulf in Washington Political Science faculty member explains factors in growing polarization

ew U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler— the first graduate of Penn State Behrend to serve in Congress—isn’t afraid of a fight. As a member of the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps, he prosecuted more than 100 terrorists during the Iraq War. The halls of Congress won’t be much friendlier. With the legislature divided— Republicans control the Senate, but Democrats hold a majority in the House—the ideological gulf is widening. Reschenthaler arrived at the Capitol with an 82 percent approval rating from the American Conservative Union Foundation, based on his voting record in the Pennsylvania State Senate. For him, a move to the center would be a political risk, said Dr. Robert Speel, an associate professor of political science. “There have always been divisions between conservatives and liberals in Washington,” Speel said, “but the divide now might be the strongest since the Civil War. Fifty years ago, or even thirty years ago, there were still a lot of moderates in the delegations, and they were instrumental in getting laws passed. Today, the moderates have all but disappeared, at least in Washington.” Three factors have pushed the parties farther apart, Speel said:

Primary elections reward the most partisan candidates. “Voter turnout tends to be low in primary elections,” Speel said. “The

voters who do turn out generally represent the most committed wing of the party, and they usually support the most liberal, or most conservative, candidate. “Primaries weren’t always the route to the nomination,” Speel said. “Before the 1970s, presidential nominees were selected in smoke-filled rooms at the conventions. Party leaders got together to decide who would be the strongest candidate in the general election and they tended to choose moderates. “In 1968, the Democrats nominated Hubert Humphrey, even though he hadn’t competed in the primaries. When Humphrey lost to Nixon, the Democrats committed to using the primaries to select their next nominee. It didn’t help them. In 1972, using that process, they nominated George McGovern.”

Gerrymandering has made House elections less competitive. “The boundaries of congressional districts are drawn to favor the party that is in power,” Speel said. “Very few districts are still a toss-up, so elections increasingly are decided in the primaries, where conservatives choose the Republican candidate and liberals choose the Democrat. There is no room in that for moderates. “There are ways to change that, however,” he said. “Last year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the state’s congressional districting map violated the Pennsylvania Constitution. When the legislature failed to draw up a

new map that was fairer to both parties, the court did it for them. “Arizona has a nonpartisan commission that draws up house districts, and the candidates who are elected there often are more moderate. In California, a bipartisan commission draws the congressional boundaries. In November, seven of that state’s congressional seats switched parties.”

Voters rarely punish overly partisan incumbents. “We’ve always had partisanship and ideologues in Congress,” Speel said, “but, in the past, there also was an understanding that certain lines should not be crossed. Lawmakers wanted to be respected, whether they were in or out of power. “That eroded in the 1990s, with the rise of Newt Gingrich, who seemed to revel in partisan combat. Before then, the Senate at least maintained the pretense of rising above politics. Today, the people we send to Washington don’t see a political gain in compromising. They’re actually afraid the party base will attack them if they reach across the aisle. “The problem, again, is that the type of voters who say they want compromise are the least likely to vote,” Speel said. “Those voters in the middle need to stop sitting on the sidelines and saying, ‘I don’t like anyone in Washington.’ They need to go to the polls and vote. If they don’t, the polarization of the parties is only going to continue.”

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Global Boarders Live and Learn

Special option offers international living experience on campus

< Hannibal Pharathikoune is the resident assistant for the Global Boarders program.

or college students, there are as many lessons to be learned in a shared living situation as there are in the classroom. From laundry to meal preparation to handling roommate conflicts, there is no limit to the soft skills to be honed while living away from home.

by distinct academic and out-of-class opportunities.

And now at Penn State Behrend, students have the opportunity to expand their horizons further through Global Boarders, an internationalfocused living option in Trippe Hall, the college’s brand-new $28.5-million residence facility.

Global Boarders is open to all Behrend students, and extras include in-house academic advising; group discussion and viewing of world events; special lectures and panel discussions; language seminars; house concerts; and world cuisine house dinners. The Black School of Business supports the program’s academic enrichment components.

Living-learning communities like Global Boarders enable students with common interests to live together and share learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom in an atmosphere enriched

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“Global Boarders was designed to foster community among international and domestic students and extend the livinglearning concept in a purposeful way,” said Dr. Ken Miller, senior director of administration and student affairs.

Nearly fifty students signed up to participate in Global Boarders this inaugural year, with an almost even split of international and domestic students.

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The students share one floor of the new residence hall where Hannibal Pharathikoune, a senior Chemistry major, serves as resident assistant.

In addition to planned activities, students have chances to connect in more casual ways.

“These spontaneous feasts have brought the students from the Global Boarders floor as well as other residents in the building together. There may be nothing more effective in embracing a new culture than sharing a meal with one another.”

“All of the residents who joined Global Boarders came in with an open mind Pharathikoune is an enthusiastic and desire to expose themselves to supporter of Global Boarders. Having grown up in a "Global Boarders was designed to foster military family, he has witnessed first-hand community among international and how enlightening and domestic students and extend the livinginspiring it can be to live learning concept in a purposeful way." with people from different cultures and countries. —Dr. Ken Miller, “As I was growing up, I was constantly moving to a new state or country,” Pharathikoune said. “I was exposed to many unique cultures and people who ultimately inspired me to keep exploring. When I was asked to be part of Global Boarders, I was excited to have the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of residents and learn more about their culture, ideas, and passions, and help them do the same.”

These formal and informal interactions are what campus administrators had hoped would occur.

“Global Boarders residents are not required to attend the programs senior director of administration and student affairs we offer in Trippe Hall,” said Kelly Shrout, associate director of new things,” Pharathikoune said. “I student affairs. “It’s entirely up to them regularly see the majority of them in the how much they want to participate. The study lounges and other common areas experience is as much as they want to interacting and helping one another with make of it.” homework.” Pharathikoune said many are taking Additionally, he said, students in the full advantage. Global Boarders program have been “Every other Wednesday, in the fall, taking turns cooking and sharing dishes we had a guest speaker who presented from their home countries. a topic unique to southeastern Asian “I’m a firm believer that food countries, which was our focus region connects people regardless of their that semester, and the events were backgrounds,” Pharathikoune said. well received by the residents. Students are actively engaged and sometimes astounded by the information presented.” Pharathikoune is a native of Okinawa, Japan, where he said there is a cultural belief that the journey is just as important as the destination. That’s certainly true for students in Global Boarders who have chosen to make the journey to a degree as valuable as the degree itself.

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INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS

Alumna works to diversify STEAM fields

^ < Chanel R. (Easley) Hall is a 2011 Chemistry graduate.

omen make up more than half of the U.S. workforce, but they hold just 20 percent of the nation’s tech jobs. That percentage is in the single digits for women of color. The lack of diversity can be stifling in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), which rely on creativity, critical thinking, and ingenuity. Bringing broader perspectives to bear on a problem or project can lead to new ideas and innovative solutions.

themselves in challenging STEM-based careers. It can be a powerful force for inspiration.” Today, Hall is the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) network manager at the Foundation for Tacoma Students in Tacoma, Washington, where she is charged with bringing various entities together to encourage more girls and minority populations to explore careers in the STEAM fields.

“If we focus on giving underserved It’s an area that Hall has first-hand Ushering more women and populations what they need, they will experience in, having worked underserved populations into for several years as a program these fields is the focus of one rise to fill that gap.” – Chanel R. (Easley) Hall ´11 coordinator at Techbridge Girls in Penn State Behrend alumna, Seattle, a nonprofit organization Chanel R. (Easley) Hall, a 2011 that designs and delivers STEM programs to K-12 girls from Chemistry graduate, who knows what it’s like to stand out. low-income, under-resourced communities. “When I was in school, I didn’t really see many women, let There, Hall witnessed the power of role models who reflected alone women of color, in the STEM fields,” she said. “I think the student body. it’s essential that kids see real-life examples of people like 12

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“At Techbridge Girls, I saw that having women, especially women of color, visit the classroom and participate during field trips had a big impact on the girls,” she said. “It was important for the students not just to see these women, but to hear about their experiences and how they persevered.” Hall knows the value of a good mentor. She has several, including Tracy Halmi, associate teaching professor of chemistry, who Hall credits with guiding her toward education. “I originally wanted to go into chemistry research, but Tracy really encouraged me to look into education,” Hall said. “She’s a big reason I’m even in this field now.” Halmi said the admiration goes both ways: “Chanel’s work with STEAM is so important for future scientists. Honestly, she has been a role model for me.” Hall has her work cut out for her in the Evergreen State. “When you look at the ethnic breakdown in Washington state, there’s definitely some work to be done in diversifying the STEAM fields,” she said. Hall is convinced that she and others can move the needle if young people in underserved populations are given the right foundation, tools, encouragement, and role models. “If we focus on giving underserved populations what they need, they will rise to fill that gap,” she said. At the foundation, Hall will be working to increase opportunities and STEAM education not just for girls, but for all

students of color and those affected by poverty. “It’s a collective effort,” she said. “We’ll be bringing community members and organizations as well as teachers and business partners together to develop strategies to reach these students. As a manager, I have to look at system-level changes and then lead the network in accomplishing the goals we establish.” She plans to cast a wide net because while some might be more math- or science-minded than others, Hall believes that anyone can learn to be successful in a STEAM field. “It’s really about developing a growth mindset,” she said. “It’s saying to yourself, ‘l don’t really know what I’m doing, but I’m going to figure this out.’ Anyone can be a scientist if they hone their critical thinking skills and self-confidence.”

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Student Success

enn State Behrend students succeed in and out of the classroom. Here are just some of the many students whose accomplishments and achievements were remarkable in 2018.

WE ARE...proud!

STUDENTS SWEEP COMPETITION Behrend Plastics Engineering Technology students swept the awards in the Blow Molded Parts Competition at the 34th Annual Blow Molding Conference in Pittsburgh in the fall. Ryan Bauer and Logan Luzier took first place with their calf hutch. Zachery Ishman and Michael Sterner won second place with their riot shield. Jacob Tingley and Michael Rossi took third place with their plastic blank firing cartridge project.

NEW RECORD SET The student members of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Club set a new record and took first place in the International Supermileage Challenge, held in June 2018 at Eaton Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marshall Proving Grounds test track in Michigan. The competition challenges teams to create vehicles that squeeze the most mileage out of a single tank of high-octane gasoline. The Behrend vehicle traveled 3,013 miles on a gallon of gas, which was a new U.S. record. The team also placed second in the Design Report Sub-Competition.

PSU HACKATHON Five of our students placed at PSU Hackathon, a 24-hour computer hacking competition held at Penn State University Park this fall. Morgan Atterholt and Shrey Arora won first place in the JP Morgan Chase Challenge and third place in the Google Cloud Services Challenge. Zihao Zhang, Yilu Dong, Xinpeng Zhao, and Sheng Su won first place in the KCF Technologies Challenge.

MATERIALS DAY POSTER WINNER Plastics Engineering Technology senior Olivia Dubin, left, won the poster competition at Materials Day at Penn State University Park this past fall. The competition included more than 100 posters, many of which were prepared by graduate students. Dublin presented work she had done with Dr. Alicyn Rhoades, associate professor of engineering; Anne Gohn, engineering researcher; and Dr. Ralph Colby, professor of materials science and engineering and chemical engineering at University Park. Dubinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winning poster title was: The Effect of Various Molecular Weight Poly (ether ether ketone) on Crystallization Peak Half Times Using Fast Scanning Chip Calorimetry.

BEHREND MAGAZINE

STUDENT MANAGED FUND GROWS

The Intrieri Family Student Managed Fund, established in 2011 with an initial $100,000 gift by Vincent Intrieri '84 and his wife, Joanne, and subsequently added to by the Intrieris and other donors, has grown to roughly $700,000, thanks to sharp insights and smart investments by Behrend’s business students in the FIN 362 Student Managed Fund—Associate Analyst, FIN 462 Student Managed Fund—Lead Analyst, and FIN 461 Portfolio Management and Analysis courses.

XXV INTERNATIONAL MODEL UN CONFERENCE Behrend’s Model United Nations team placed third at the XXV Lake Erie International Model UN Conference in November. Team members included Mike Campese, Henry Chiapa, Raul Garcia, Merna George, Andrew Hall, Marissa Litzenberg, Carlos Mora, Ricardo Rodriguez, and Frank Ruszkowski. Rodriguez, who represented Australia on the Asia Pacific Economic Partnership, and Hall, who represented Vietnam, won superior delegate awards. Garcia, who represented Australia on the UN Human Rights Council, and Campese, who represented Argentina on the council, won excellent delegate awards.

FIRST-PLACE POSTER This past fall, senior Biology major Megan Solan won first place for her poster in the undergraduate research division of the 39th Annual National Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Conference in Sacramento, California. Solan studied the effects of road salt products on aquatic insects and compared the toxicity of traditional road salt to other products marketed as being more “eco-friendly.”

ˆ Dr. Sam Nutile, assistant professor of biology, left, and Megan Solan, a senior Biology major, discuss Solan’s award-winning poster.

JUNIOR HONORED WITH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Paul Hoffman, a junior Accounting major, was chosen as the 2018 Erie Junior Achievement Celebrating Success honoree for helping to educate youth in the community and for starting his own business—Hoffman United, a construction, property management, and real estate development company—in Erie.

SPRING 2019

When You Give an Engineer a Problem… E

ngineers are problem solvers by nature. So it should come as no surprise that when faced with a recycling conundrum, students in Penn State Behrend’s School of Engineering saw an opportunity.

The quandary China, which is the largest consumer of recycled material from the United States, has significantly reduced the amount and types of material it will accept and introduced heavy restrictions on contamination, which is trash mixed in with recyclables. This has forced a wave of changes in the U.S. recycling industry. The bottom line: Recycling is becoming harder and more expensive for consumers and businesses to do and less profitable for material recovery facilities. It's not hard to see how this could lead to a breakdown in the recycling system.

Seeds of change Recycling and the waste generated by landscaping containers is what led Valerie Zivkovich, a senior from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, to the Plastics Engineering Technology (PLET) program at Penn State Behrend. “I worked at a vegetable farm in high school, and we were constantly throwing out plastic containers that the plants were in,” Zivkovich said. “We couldn’t reuse them because of potential contaminants in the soil, and I understood that, but I thought there had to be a better way. I wanted to develop a better plastic for agricultural use.” Zivkovich and her capstone project partner, fellow PLET senior Olivia Dubin, had heard the uproar from the Penn State Behrend community about the prospect of no longer recycling and began to think that the college could recycle its own plastic bottles. At a campus-wide meeting with Waste Management officials, Zivkovich and Dubin presented a proposal to collect, clean, and pelletize bottles into raw

BEHREND MAGAZINE

^ Valerie Zivkovich, left, and Olivia Dubin

material that could then be used to create new products.

automatic sorting technology and material handling of plastics.”

“Basically, the process will involve collecting plastic bottles—primarily PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PP (polypropylene) such as pop bottles, Starbucks cups, etc.—then grinding them up into tiny pellets and using or reselling them to a vendor,” Zivkovich said.

“As PLET majors, we learn about the impact and importance of recycling,” Dubin said. “We are excited to have come up with a solution that our whole campus could be involved in.”

They worked on their initial plan with Jason Williams, assistant teaching professor of engineering. “I think this could work because we already have most of the equipment and skills in our plastics department,” Williams said. “We are unique in that we have both a plastics factory and a research facility. This combination of resources makes Behrend a great place to test something like this.” Waste Management agreed and awarded the students a $3,000 Think Green grant to help get the program going. Williams is excited about the possibilities. “I think this initiative is a valuable teaching tool and a demonstration of how engineers can make things better,” he said. “It will also give us tools we can use to study ways to handle postconsumer waste. I think there is a lot of research opportunity in developing

It takes a village The first step, Zivkovich said, is spreading the word about what can and can’t be recycled and the importance of rinsing containers before tossing them into the recycling bin. “There definitely needs to be a campus-wide education campaign to teach others how to recycle properly— with information sessions, posters, and clear signage on the collection containers,”Zivkovich said. Other priorities include finding more funding and securing workspace. “There’s a need for a new grinder and that’s $45,000,” Zivkovich said. “We’re applying for grants to find that funding. As for lab space, the Merwin building in Knowledge Park would be ideal.” Another important part of the equation: volunteers from all four schools. “Whatever major you are in, you’ll deal with recycling somewhere—at home, at work, in your community,” Zivkovich said. “This affects all of us, whether you work in the industry or not.”

BEHREND MAGAZINE

Students Set a Place for Women in History

“For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.”

his quote by author Virginia Woolf sums up the invisibility of women in the collective history of the world. Overshadowed by the accomplishments of men, few females have made it into the history books. And, yet, women have made their presence known in every aspect of human existence from art to banking to the military to the board room and beyond. In 1979, feminist artist Judy Chicago gave thirtynine women a seat at the table in her masterwork “The Dinner Party,” a giant sculpture that imagines famous women from myth and history engaged in conversation. The installation art, which took more than five years to produce, is composed of thirty-nine ornate place settings on a triangular table with thirteen plates on each side. An additional 999 women’s names are written in gold on the floor. The piece toured the world, gaining an audience of millions; it is now on permanent display at the Brooklyn Museum. This year, Penn State Behrend hosted its own dinner party in the John M. Lilley Library. Students in last spring’s WMNST 106 Representations of Women in Literature, Art, and Culture taught by Dr. Sarah Whitney, assistant teaching

professor of English and women’s studies, painted plates to honor women from a wide variety of backgrounds. The students’ work was then on display in the library’s gallery space for several months.

Others are more surprising.

Students were tasked with researching a woman of their choice who had made significant contributions to the world. Then they designed and painted a plate, using color and shape creatively to demonstrate the chosen figure’s importance. Students also wrote a reflection paper exploring their figure’s historical, and personal, impact on the artist.

“The purpose of ‘The Dinner Party’ was to recognize women who history had forgotten and I wanted someone who was unconventional, even by today’s standards,” Boniger said. “Pavlichenko has an incredible story. She is a young woman from a Ukrainian village who became the Soviet Union’s greatest sniper during World War II. She showed that woman can be hard and strong, and they don’t have to be the delicate, soft things that society would prefer we be.”

“Using hands-on materials to make historical events come alive is a key part of my teaching practice in general,” Whitney said. “I think using manipulatives is particularly important in studying ‘The Dinner Party’ because it is a visceral, intense piece, and because Chicago was intentional about using traditional women’s art practices, like china painting and embroidery, to honor forgotten female artists. By doing it, you sort of experience Chicago’s process.” Some of the plates honored women you might expect, such as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, author Maya Angelou, and women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony.

Molly Boniger, a junior English major, chose to honor Soviet sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko.

Whitney was pleased with the range of women and topics that students picked. “The plates reflect a diversity of choices, which is wonderful,” Whitney said. “I especially enjoyed learning about new women from our international students whose choices spanned the globe. Furthermore, some students chose mythical or fictional figures, such as Shakti, which were also quite enlightening.” Even Judy Chicago was impressed with Behrend’s dinner party. A post on the Behrend Blog about the exhibit reached the artist who wrote to say, “I’m impressed that the students used china paint, and I’m glad that they learned so much.”

SPRING 2019

Parents, Families & Alumni Weekend 2018 Penn State Behrend welcomed hundreds to campus for Parents, Families & Alumni Weekend. Thanks to all who joined us to help celebrate Behrend's big 70th birthday!

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Save the date

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Parents, Families & Alumni Weekend is scheduled for September 20-22, 2019. We hope you can attend!

SPRING 2019

TOOLS OF TH SPRING 2019

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Behrend Magazine surveyed faculty members of the college to ask what teaching tool they couldn’t live without. The answers were interesting and surprising. Here’s what they had to say. “Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty. It acts like all plastics act, but it acts much faster. Stretching, melting, cracking, sagging, bouncing, and so on. I use it in class all the time and I keep a few cans on my desk.” — Dr. Alicyn Rhoades, associate professor of engineering

“A course calendar that helps both students and the instructor stay on track. It is really helpful to see upcoming course events like tests and assignment due dates.” — Margo Kertis, assistant teaching professor of nursing

“Chalk and a chalkboard. It can be used for problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic discussions. It doesn’t require an upgrade, tech support, electricity, or training and is recognizable around the world.” — Dr. Ash Deshmukh, professor of accounting

“A scheduling tool like Doodle.com is great for organizing meetings with multiple people. Instead of getting a dozen emails with everyone’s availability, I can set up a Doodle poll and choose the date and time that the maximum number of people can attend. I also use the one-on-one meeting function for advising meetings. Students can click on the link in the signature line of my email, see when I am available, and choose a few times when they would like to meet. I can then confirm the best time and we’re all set. No more backand-forth emails. It really streamlines the process.” — Dr. Heather Lum, assistant professor of psychology

“I can't live without Adobe applications (i.e., Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, etc). I use them to create visuals for my classes that vary from static to interactive. In the past, I relied on Microsoft PowerPoint, but I have become an avid user of Adobe applications because of the appealing visual and interactive representation you can get with them. I believe these visuals increase student engagement in class and motivate them to complete tasks.” — Dr. Ahmed Yousof, assistant teaching professor of game development

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“I could not live without three-ring binders and sheet protectors. All of my lecture notes, discussion prompts, video links, in-class activities, and assignments for each class are housed in separate threering binders. I would never be able to be as organized and purposeful as an instructor if I did not have these.” — Dr. Melanie Hetzel-Riggin, professor of psychology

HE TRADE

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“The teaching tool I can’t teach without is my wireless presenter (with laser pointer and slide changer). This helps me teach more efficiently because I can move around the classroom without having to go back and forth to the podium to transition to the next slide. Works wonders!” — Dr. Grace Galinato, associate professor of chemistry

“Good old lesson planning. Having a goal and plan for every lesson is very valuable. The things I learned while completing the Pennsylvania K-12 art education certification help me when I am preparing new or adjusted courses. They also help when I notice a reoccurring problem and need to course correct and try something different to get the content across to students. Maintaining my certification requires me to take courses to enhance my pedagogical approach, which helps me stay aware of many different and new practices.” — Heather Cole, assistant teaching professor of digital arts

“Folders! I start planning every class by organizing it into folders. Sometimes the folders represent single chapters from a text; other times, they are topic areas. Either way, it helps me get all the information I need to teach organized. I have both manila and electronic folders for every class I have taught, so I can go back and pull information that might be relevant in another course or share it with a colleague who needs it.” — Linda Hajec, assistant teaching professor of accounting

“The teaching tool that I could not live without is Stock Trak. It’s a stock market simulation that I use in FIN 420 Introduction to Investments, and it provides students with a simulated trading environment that uses live asset prices. The experience is vital to student learning.” — Eric Robbins, lecturer in finance

“Chemical demonstrations! I can’t think of a more energetic or dramatic way to garner student interest. Chemical demonstrations not only capture their attention, but can help students remember concepts in an unforgettable manner. It may not work for all disciplines, but it is a wonderful teaching tool for the physical sciences.” — Tracy Halmi, associate teaching professor of chemistry

SPRING 2019

One Short Life Has Long-Lasting Impact

Loss of infant son leads Behrend alumnus to create Grady’s Decision to arrive at the hospital was longtime Behrend baseball coach Paul Benim. In 1998 and 1999, Smith had played for Benim, helping to lead the Lions to back-to-back ECAC titles and 35-8 and 33-10 records, respectively. The impact Benim had had on Smith over the years was considerable. When Smith first joined the team in the fall of 1997, he shared his favorite Bible verse (Philippians 4:13) with Benim. Two years later, Smith was amazed to hear Benim repeat the verse back to him as he pitched in the seventh inning of a playoff game.

^ Ryan and Gianna today

n July 26, 2009, Ryan Smith sat nearly immobile in the neonatal intensive care unit at Saint Vincent Hospital, breathing shallowly, his mind and heart racing. The thought of even moving was overwhelming, but then again, nothing could be more painful than what Smith and his then-wife Katrina were experiencing. The couple had just made the decision to remove their son, Grady, from life support. He and his twin sister, Gianna, had been born prematurely at twenty-six weeks. While Gianna was holding her own, Grady had endured three major brain bleeds and every breath was a challenge for him. “I remember thinking, ‘I don’t know how I can walk out of this room. How do I go tell people what just happened?’” recalled Smith, who earned a degree in Management in 2000 and an M.B.A. in 2002 from Behrend. Walking out of the room became a fraction easier when the first person

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“I walked the first two batters of the inning, and Coach Benim came out to the mound. He looked at me and said, ‘Ryan, you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you.’ I was so floored by his memory that I just stood there in awe,” Smith said. Benim’s arrival at the hospital that day in July was welcome. But this time, the stakes were much higher than a playoff baseball game. Together, the two went for a brief walk. “I don’t remember how long we walked, but I just vented and vented, and he took all of that in,” Smith said. “When we got back to the front door, he looked at me and said, ‘You can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you.’” The support from folks like Benim and others proved vital to Smith over the next few months. For seventy-one days, Gianna was under intensive care at Saint Vincent. At one point, she was flown to UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, before returning to Saint Vincent in Erie and, eventually, being released to her parents. For the Smiths, the ordeal involved months of hotel stays, fast food meals, and hospital parking bills. It was this

experience that served as the impetus for Smith to create Grady’s Decision, a nonprofit organization designed to assist families experiencing premature birth. “We realized there’s nothing out there to help families who are in this situation. It was such a stressful time, but we thought, ‘How can we take Gianna’s hope story and Grady’s life and do something for others?’” Smith said. Grady’s Decision works to meet families where they are. The organization helps families with parking costs, food, temporary housing, and transportation needs. The number of families who experience premature births is considerable. One out of every ten babies is born prematurely and babies born before the thirty-second week, as the Smith twins were, are considered micro preemies. “(Grady’s Decision’s) mission is to give people more opportunities to see their child,” Smith said. “I never want someone to miss out on seeing their child in the NICU because he or she has to work.” Since its founding almost ten years ago, the organization has raised more than $1.5 million to help more than 1,500 families in several states and two countries. Phil Stuczynski, a lecturer in business at Penn State Behrend, and his wife were among the families who were helped recently. Several prominent companies, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, have supported the organization and its mission. “Grady has been a part of everything we’ve done, and we’ve let his story live on,” Smith said. “The whole experience shows that no matter how old you are and no matter how long you live, your life can have a deep impact.” For more information on Grady’s Decision, visit gradysdecision.com.

BEHREND MAGAZINE

ANNOUNCING OUR 70TH ANNIVERSARY

$70 Paver Donation Sale

For a short time, you can add an inscribed paver to the Mary Behrend Monument for only $70. This special anniversary tax-deductible donation level will be offered only through June 30, 2019; after that pavers will return to their previous donation level of $150. There is no limit to the number of pavers you can purchase, and family/friend groupings of pavers can be requested. All donations are acknowledged with a tax receipt. Make your donation and specify your inscription of up to three lines at

behrend.psu.edu/monument.

SPRING 2019

ATHLETICS

Season Report How Sweet It Is

ATHLETICS

The men’s soccer team captured the program’s ninth Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship to advance to their seventh NCAA Tournament. The Lions defeated Lycoming and John Carroll to advance to the Sweet 16 sectional semifinals for the first time in program history. (See story at right.) Behrend also earned its first-ever postseason rankings in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Top 25 poll, finishing at No. 16.

Men’s soccer team makes it to NCAA's DIII 'Sweet 16' round A highlight-reel bicycle kick in the 102nd minute lifted the Penn State Behrend men’s soccer team over host John Carroll in the second round of the NCAA Division III soccer tournament. The goal— the ninth of the season for senior Dakota Lange, a forward from Apollo, Pennsylvania—broke a two-overtime tie and carried the Lions into the Sweet 16 round of the tournament for the first time in program history.

able to connect again, stretching for a chest-high kick that found the net.

Lange scored on a crossing pass by Nick Schwarzel two minutes into the second overtime period. The ball bounced high off his leg, but Lange was

The Lions ranked No. 16 after finishing with a 16-4-2 overall record for the 2018 season.

It was the team’s second 1-0 win in as many days: The Lions blanked Lycoming College in the tournament’s first round, on November 10. “These guys know how to grind,” head coach Dan Perritano said. “They have each other’s backs, in terms of how they defend, and they recover well when we lose the ball. We compete well against teams that are better than us because of that.” Unfortunately, the Lions fell to Calvin College in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament in November. Calvin entered the Sweet 16 with a 19-1 record and a twelve-game winning streak.

The women’s soccer team won their eighth straight and fourteenth overall AMCC Championship this fall and advanced to NCAA Tournament play. A handful of teams fell short of winning AMCC Championships. Men’s golf, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s cross country finished as runners-up this season. The women’s volleyball team was one set away from winning back-to-back conference titles with a 3-2 defeat to Pitt-Bradford. The men’s golf team battled back from fifth place after day one of the AMCC Championships to earn second by just nine strokes. The men’s cross country team placed second out of eight teams at the AMCC Championships. The Lions had twelve runners in the Top 23, while nine of them earned the AMCC All-Conference. Zachary Tingley was named the AMCC Newcomer of the Year. On the women’s side, Behrend placed six runners on the AllConference Team.

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Alumni inducted into Hall of Fame Six former student-athletes have been added to the Penn State Behrend Athletics Hall of Fame. They are, from left, Dustin Fairchild ’08 (swimming), Kevin Buczynski ’08 (basketball), Kristin Macha ’07 (softball), John Fleming ’76 (soccer), Brittany Yost ’07 (water polo), and Anthony Spoto ’08 (water polo). In addition to this year’s individual honorees, the Athletics Hall of Fame banquet, which was held in the fall in McGarvey Commons, recognized the 1993 women’s basketball team, which was the first to play in an NCAA postseason tournament, and the 1993 softball team, which played in the ECAC tournament.

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ATHLETICS Behrend’s Brown appointed to top NCAA governing council Dr. Chuck Brown, Penn State Behrend’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), has been selected to serve on the Division III Management Council, one of the top governing bodies within the NCAA organization.

may sponsor legislative proposals; make interpretations of Division III’s bylaws; and handle resolution of issues and recommendations from other committees.

The Management Council reports directly to the President’s Council and handles the implementation of policies adopted by the NCAA Board of Governors. The council

Behrend soccer coach and daughter walk to Pittsburgh This spring, Penn State Behrend men's soccer coach Dan Perritano and his daughter, Emma, traveled from Erie to Pittsburgh. By foot. The walk of more than 120 miles was a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Emma, who has cerebral palsy, had her wish granted in 2009. It took nearly two weeks to complete the journey. They occasionally had company—Penn State Behrend women’s soccer coach Patrick O’Driscoll joined them for one leg of their journey. Walking for a cause is not new to Dan and Emma, as they walked across the state in 2015 to raise money for Arc of Erie County. "We get a lot of support when we're walking. And we get a lot of support via donations and messages," Perritano said. Dan Perritano with daughter Emma >

ATHLETICS

Brown, associate director of the Black School of Business and an associate professor of accounting, is one of just two FARs in the country to serve on the council. His four-year term began in January.

Brown has been a member of the Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee since 2015 and has been Behrend’s FAR since 2009.

“It’s really great to have Chuck in a leadership position on the Division III Management Council,” said Brian Streeter, senior director of athletics. “This is a national committee, and Penn State Behrend has a seat at the table.”

Alumnus swims Lake Erie This summer, Penn State Behrend alumnus Rob Cooney, a 2001 Plastics Engineering Technology graduate, swam twenty-four miles across Lake Erie, from Long Point, Ontario, to Freeport Beach in North East, Pennsylvania. The feat took him 13 hours and 32 minutes. He was accompanied by several kayaks on which he had posted inspiration— photos of his wife, his three children, and his father. “My dad has Parkinson’s Disease, so I used the swim to raise $17,000 for Parkinson Partners of Northwest Pennsylvania,” Cooney said.

Congrats to Rob, not only for going the distance but also for using his athletic goals to help others! #BehrendStrong

SPRING 2019

Pride of the Lions

SPRING 2019

Alumnus racking up big wins at marathons, half Ironmans Matt McWilliams ’16 attacked his first half Ironman event with such intensity that he needed intravenous fluids after he finished.

ATHLETICS

“It was the toughest event I had ever competed in,” he said of the race, which consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13-mile run. “I pushed myself until I was passing out and ended up needing an IV after I finished. A couple of weeks later, I signed up to do the same race the next year. I was hooked.” Four years later, McWilliams, 25, isn’t just competing in half-Ironman events, he is winning them. He won the Ironman 70.3 Muskoka in Huntsville, Ontario, last July and followed it up with another first-place finish at the Ironman 70.3 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September.

BEHREND MAGAZINE

His success is no surprise to McWilliams’ former cross-country and track coach, Greg Cooper. “Matt is an incredibly determined and hardworking athlete,” he said. “Give him a task and tell him he can’t do it, and he will work harder than anyone you’ve ever seen to prove that he can. He was a leader on the team, in both words and action. Never did I have to wonder if Matt was working hard. I probably had to hold him back more than anything.” When Cooper did let him go, though, McWilliams ran like an Olympian. Actually, faster than an Olympian. “In his senior year, Matt ran a 1500 meter race in 3:48.73,” Cooper said. “That summer, Matt Centrowitz won the gold medal in the 1500 meter at

the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro with a 3:50:00. Two seconds slower.” McWilliams, who earned a degree in aerospace engineering and a minor in physics, currently works as a materials engineer at Beaumont Technologies in Erie. When he’s not working, he’s working out. The Ironman wins don’t come easy, you know. “I usually only take one or two days off a month,” McWilliams said. “Weekly, I swim five times, bike four times and run six times, so I have to double up some days. It can be hard to fit it all in, but the company I work for has a gym and an endless pool so I can get a workout in at lunch.” Add in regular strength training, and the hours McWilliams spends training equates to a part-time job. He doesn’t plan to make it a full-time job anytime soon.

BEHREND MAGAZINE

Quotable Matt

He’s off to a great start. This past fall, he completed his second marathon in Hamilton, Ontario. He won it, finishing the 26.2-mile race in 2:24:04. The Olympic qualifying time is 2:19:00. Can he take five minutes off? “I wouldn’t bet against him,” Cooper said. “He’ll do it. And when he does get to the world stage, he’ll be the kind of guy who will spend an hour signing autographs for kids because he is a young man with a great heart and character, too.” He’s a winner, that’s for sure.

Average pace: I just ran a 5K at a 4:45 per mile pace. I ran my fastest half marathon at a 5:15 pace. First Tri: My first tri was a sprint distance (.5-mile swim, 12.4-mile bike and 3.1mile run) at Peek ‘n Peak in 2012. I ran my first half-Ironman two years later. On limits: I like endurance events. They strip you raw and reveal your weaknesses. The longer the race, the more of a mental game it is. I enjoy pushing my body and mind to the limit, and sometimes, I find I can push farther than I thought possible. On plateaus: I got to the point last year where my races weren’t reflecting my training, so I found a coach. He lives in Pittsburgh, which means our interactions are mostly online or by text. He really helps me put the pieces together. Hiring a coach is one of the best training decisions I’ve made.

Building his brain: I mentally prepare for a race in the weeks prior. My coach sends some workouts that are purposely almost impossible to complete. I have to go deep, mentally, to get them done. On swimming: Swimming is by far my weakest and least favorite leg of the triathlon. I never swam competitively until I was an adult, and it’s a long, slow process to learn how to swim efficiently. I’m improving, but I have a long way to go to get to the front of that pack. On the perfect race: Long triathlons have so many aspects that are out of your control—like weather or a flat tire—as well as things in your control that you can mess up like nutrition or forgetting gear that a perfect race rarely happens. All the races that fall short of perfect motivate me to try harder next time.

ATHLETICS

“I earned my pro card at a race in Texas this year, but I decided to continue racing as an amateur,” he said. “Depending on how the next year goes, I might turn pro in 2020. I also think I’m going to try to qualify for the Olympic trials in the marathon distance next year. These two goals will keep me training through another Erie winter.”

On running: I started running in middle school after I found out I was too small for football. I love running because it’s a pure and natural sport. What you put into it is what you get out of it. I also enjoy the time it gives me to think. I never wear headphones, so I have almost an hour a day to think.

On determination: To be a good triathlete, you have to have a lot of selfdiscipline. Nobody makes me do each workout. It’s an individual sport and you have to be able to motivate yourself. I truly enjoy the challenge of trying to improve. Lean (calorie-burning) machine: Between being a young male and working out as much as I do, I burn 4,000-5,000 calories a day, which keeps me lean. I have put on muscle in my legs and back, but it didn’t slow me down. In fact, I’ve been running faster. Free time fun: In my limited spare time, I enjoy building with Legos.

Ultra challenges: I’m doing my first 50K (31 miles) this spring in Portland, Oregon, and I’m signed up for a halfIronman in Panama City in May. I’d like to win a few more half-Ironmans in 2019.

Photo Credit: Paul Madder SPRING 2019

SPRING 2019

THE IMPACT OF GIVING

Investing in a growth opportunity S

uccess breeds success. Penn State Behrend continues to advance in nearly every measureable way—in enrollment, academics, research, and outreach— and in our fundraising efforts as well. We have a fundraising goal of $52 million in the current University campaign known as A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence, which runs through June 30, 2021. We’re at the halfway point in the campaign, and at $30 million, we’re more than halfway toward our goal. That’s thanks to the efforts of campaign chair Greg Yahn ’85, ’99 MBA; his all-volunteer committee, and a great many others. While the need for scholarship funding is ever-present, philanthropic support in this area has been outstanding in recent years. Given the success in that area, we’re now turning our attention to building greater support for faculty research, program support, and capital projects—areas of focus that will grow the margin of excellence for the college. Faculty research and program support from business and industry, government and foundations, and alumni and friends is critical to our success. It enables us to attract and retain faculty who are inspiring in their teaching and innovative in their research. It provides the resources to give our students outstanding learning experiences. It distinguishes Penn State Behrend as a destination for educational excellence. Support for capital projects will enable us to meet the needs of our growing college as identified in our 2016 Campus Master Plan. We’re envisioning a new fitness and recreation center, a new learning space known as Knowledge Commons, additional computer laboratories, and the renovation of the former plastics lab in the Fasenmyer Building to create more classroom and faculty office space. All of these projects represent naming opportunities for donors to the college whose philanthropic goals might be furthered by such support. Through the years, beginning with Mary Behrend’s gift of Glenhill Farm that established the college, philanthropy has fueled our growth and success. With your support, we can achieve even more. If you’d like to talk about the impact you can make by investing in Penn State Behrend, please call us at 814-898-6159 or email kem7@psu.edu.

Kevin E. Moore ’85, ’89 MPA Director, Development and Alumni Relations

EVERY GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE On the pages that follow, we profile the gifts of a number of alumni and friends of the college who are making an impact on the lives of our students. These donors are not alone in their ability to put the power of philanthropy to work for the benefit of Behrend students. Your gift— no matter the amount—can help. With more than 36,000 alumni and attendees of Penn State Behrend, individual gifts of as little as $50 per year can have a huge collective impact. Please consider adding Penn State Behrend to the organizations you support. You can contribute by electronic funds transfer, credit card, payroll deduction, or a cash gift to support the area of the college that means the most to you. To learn more, visit behrend.psu.edu/giving.

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Open Doors Program Generates $7 Million in New Scholarship Funding P

enn State has a long history of opening its doors to students facing financial, academic, or personal challenges to success. It’s why the University created the Open Doors Scholarship program, a special limited-time opportunity that enabled donors to triple the impact of their support for students. Open Doors Scholarships are aimed at helping students at the highest level of financial need, defined as those whose families can cover no more than 25 percent of their educational costs. In 2018, Penn State Behrend donors committed more than $2.3 million to establish eighteen new Open Doors scholarships that will benefit Behrend students. With a 2:1 match by the University, which was offered through June 2018, the total impact is nearly $7 million in new scholarship dollars. Once fully funded through multi-year payments by the donors, these new scholarships can be expected to provide an estimated $310,000 in additional financial aid to Behrend students annually. Meet some of the people behind the new Open Doors Scholarships.

Paul Hoffman Scholarship Paul Hoffman is the first student in the history of Penn State Behrend to establish a scholarship. A junior Accounting major, he is not only a full-time Behrend student but also an entrepreneur. At the age 12, Hoffman started his own lawn-care service, going door to door to drum up business. That venture has evolved in the years since. With his sister, Christine Hoffman, he now runs Hoffman United, which owns 165 rental units in Erie and employs seventeen people. The business encompasses construction, property management, and real estate development and has a declared goal of improving blighted areas of the city and enhancing and transforming neighborhoods.

^ Paul Hoffman and his parents, Paula and Tom Hoffman

before their first year, learning skills, establishing connections, and earning credits that will help them graduate on time. Those who successfully complete the first session can return for a second summer.

“My focus is on improving the Erie community,” Hoffman said. “Part of that is giving back when I can.”

“I thought this scholarship was the perfect way to support hardworking people who want to pursue a college degree but might not be able to afford it,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman created an Open Doors Scholarship that gives first preference to students who attend a program known as PaSSS, or Pathway to Success: Summer Start. The program, launched at Behrend in 2017, helps entering students make the transition to the college starting in the summer

He gave $50,000 to establish the scholarship, and in a show of support for their son’s philanthropy, his parents, Tom and Paula Hoffman, matched his gift at an equal amount. The University’s 2:1 match for Open Doors Scholarships then took the full amount of the scholarship to $300,000.

“My wife and I both graduated from Penn State, and we view the chance to get a Penn State education as extremely valuable,” said Tom Hoffman, an attorney with Knox Law in Erie and also a member of the board of directors of Penn State Behrend’s Council of Fellows and chair of Penn State’s Planned Giving Advisory Council. The couple jumped at the chance to support their son in such a meaningful way. “The money he’s using to establish this scholarship is money he’s earned through his own business,” Tom Hoffman said. “You could definitely call us proud parents.”

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THE IMPACT OF GIVING William and Wendy Korb Scholarship William Korb ’62 and his wife, Wendy ’63, are longtime supporters of students at both Penn State Behrend and University Park. Most recently, the couple established five Open Doors scholarships: three for engineering students at University Park, one for Behrend students participating in the PaSSS program, and a second for Behrend students in the Complete Penn State program. With an initial combined gift of just over $100,000 leveraged by a 2:1 match by the University, the two William and Wendy Korb Open Doors Scholarships at Penn State Behrend total just over $300,000. “It’s all about education,” William Korb said. “We’ve reaped the benefits of a Penn State degree, and this is our way of giving back.” ^ Wendy and William Korb

An Erie native, William Korb attended Penn State Behrend for two years before graduating from University Park with a degree in Industrial Engineering. The couple’s son, David, earned a degree in Management Information Systems at Behrend in 1987. In 2006, the Korbs established the Korb Family Trustee Scholarship in Engineering at Behrend, and in 2014 created the college’s first early career professorship with a $1 million gift. The William and Wendy Korb Early Career Professorship in Industrial Engineering is designed to support talented faculty in the discipline of industrial engineering at the start of their academic careers. Korb is the retired president and CEO of Gilbarco, the world’s leading supplier of fuel dispensers, credit card readers, and point-of-sale devices for gasoline stations.

Myron and Marlene Jones Scholarship Myron Jones was a pioneer in Erie’s radio and television broadcasting industry. He was also a longtime friend and supporter of Penn State Behrend and of the college’s radio station, WPSE 1450 AM/107.1 FM.

^ Myron Jones

Nearly thirty years ago, Jones helped Penn State Behrend secure the original license for WPSE. In 2014, he and his wife, Marlene, created the Myron Jones Fund for Broadcasting to support the station in perpetuity. Through the years, the Joneses also contributed to student scholarships and youth programs at Penn State Behrend. Since 2011, the Myron Jones Broadcasting Award has been given annually to a Behrend student who is involved in the broadcasting field and who demonstrates leadership, volunteerism, and entrepreneurship.

Myron died this past year at 92. Following his death, Marlene continued the couple’s legacy of philanthropy to Penn State Behrend by establishing an Open Doors Scholarship. Her $150,000 gift combined with a 2:1 match by Penn State resulted in a $450,000 scholarship, which will give first preference to students who participate in the PaSSS program.

OPEN DOORS Penn State was founded on the notion that everyone with a desire for higher education should have the opportunity to pursue it. Private support can not only bring talented students from every background to Penn State. It also can help them graduate on time and on track to successful careers and lives. The goal is to ensure that every student, regardless of heritage or financial well-being, has access to a timely degree and true Penn State experience.

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Benjamin A. and Carolyn A. Lane Scholarship Ben Lane’s heart was always with Penn State Behrend. He and his family lived in a yellow house on Jordan Road for decades, and over the years the campus grew up around them. Ben died in 2011, but his wife, Carolyn, continues to live in the same house. “This college has always been part of our lives. You can’t separate the Lanes from Behrend,” said Kate Delfino ’86, one of the couple’s two daughters. “My parents believed in the school and its mission, and we wanted them to continue to be part of it going forward.” To honor their parents and their connection and commitment to the college, Kate and her sister, Ann Umbach ’77 ’80g, along with their families — Kate’s husband, Joseph ’92g; her sons, Joseph and Nicholas, and Ann’s husband, David ’83g — have established the Benjamin A. and Carolyn A. Lane Open Doors Scholarship with first preference for students in the Complete Penn State program. That program provides support to students who are at risk of not graduating due to unexpected hardship.

The philosophy of the Open Doors Scholarship would have touched her father deeply, Delfino said. Ben Lane attended Penn State on the G.I. Bill before joining the Behrend faculty in 1954 to teach English and German, then going on to serve as dean of students and director of admissions at the college. He retired in 1985 as a professor of English emeritus. In 1986, the college established the Benjamin A. Lane Outstanding Service Award and, in 2012, named an outdoor seating area at the south entrance to the Reed Union Building as Ben Lane Plaza. “My parents both really believed in the power of education to transform lives. My dad was dedicated to the students above all else,” Delfino said. “He believed in them and was an advocate for them, and that is what really drove him. We felt that this particular scholarship was appropriate because we saw my dad go above and beyond to help students who needed it countless times. I have no doubt he’d be thrilled to have this legacy.” Ben Lane >

Let Us Be Your Memory Keeper As the Behrend Archives celebrates its tenth anniversary, we are hoping to add to our collection of college history. We are particularly interested in items, such as pennants and other memorabilia, bearing the college’s various campus names, especially Behrend Center. Scanned or original photos are welcome, and if you live in the Erie area we’d be happy to scan them for you. Also, the Behrend Archives has an ongoing oral history program and we are always interested in hearing your stories about your days at Behrend. For more information about the archives, to share a story or schedule an oral history interview, contact Jane Ingold, reference and instruction librarian and archivist, at 814-898-7278 or jli4@psu.edu.

IMPACT THE WORLD The visionary gifts of alumni and friends empower Penn State to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems. Public universities are distinguished by a dedication to serving the needs of society. The University proposes to become the leader in food, water, and energy security; to address fundamental challenges associated with human health and well-being; and to be a driver for economic development, job creation, and student career success.

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THE IMPACT OF GIVING

Hirtzel Foundation Supports Nursing Facilities Enhancements The need for registered nurses is expected to grow 15 percent nationwide through 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Kimberly Streiff, instructor of nursing at Penn State Behrend, is seeing that job demand firsthand: All of Behrend’s May 2018 nursing students had jobs waiting for them when they completed their degrees. “You look at the national job market, and you’ll see there’s a definitive need for more nurses,” Streiff said. To help meet that need, Behrend has expanded its nursing labs significantly with the help of a $900,000 gift from the Orris C. and Beatrice Dewey Hirtzel Memorial Foundation of North East, Pennsylvania. With the expansion, students will now be learning in an expanded Simulation (SIM) Center with three SIM bays—up from two previously—each with its own control room. The SIM Center features high-fidelity mannequins that are programmed to simulate real-life situations involving patients in a multitude of scenarios,

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from cardiac arrest to epileptic seizures. One of the labs is designed for intensive care and medical-surgical simulations; a second is customized for obstetrical/neonatal simulations, and the third lab can be adapted as needed for medical-surgical, pediatric, or psychiatric simulations. In addition to providing students with hands-on experience addressing true-to-life health conditions, the simulations can be broadcast live to other students observing, Streiff said. “You can’t always predict the type of patient you’re going to see,” Streiff said. “These labs allow us to create and simulate different scenarios, which give students a chance to practice in a realistic learning process environment.“ In addition to the expansion of the SIM Center, which was relocated to a larger space, the project doubled the size of the program’s nursing skills lab, which features nine beds, equipment, and supplies arranged in a hospital-like setting. Penn State Behrend's nursing program is now able to enroll as many as eighty nursing students, up from fifty. In addition, the improvements and expansion better position the program to work with community

partners and move into new areas of academic study. “These new expanded facilities and high-tech equipment not only allow us to grow our nursing program now, but also prepare Behrend to be a regional leader in nursing into the future," Streiff said. The Hirtzel Foundation was established by Philip D. Hirtzel in memory of his parents. Hirtzel had a strong interest in enabling local students to obtain a college education and in encouraging the availability of high-quality health care in the region. The expansion of the college’s nursing facilities advances these objectives. Since 1995, the foundation has made gifts to Penn State Behrend totaling more than $1.1 million for equipment purchases and facilities projects; these include a $176,000 gift to fit the School of Science’s confocal microscope with an ultraviolet laser and camera for better analysis of tissue samples and a $381,000 gift for the purchase of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) used to detect trace amounts of toxic elements in environmental and biological samples.

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^ Industrial Engineering senior Petar Dotchev, left, and Dr. Faisal Aqlan, assistant professor of industrial engineering, work with Siemens Tecnomatix software.

Software Gifts Advance Student Learning In-kind gifts of software from global IT solutions provider Siemens will give engineering and business students at Penn State Behrend access to three industry-leading design and manufacturing management platforms. Two additional gifts of software from RoboDK Inc. and Riskalyze Inc. will likewise benefit Behrend students. Siemens Tecnomatix suite of software The Siemens donations, valued at $10.8 million, provide access to NX high-end CAD/CAM/CAE software for design, simulation, and manufacturing; Teamcenter, the world’s most widely used product lifecycle management system; and Fibersim for design, analysis, and manufacture of composite materials and parts. “These gifts support both teaching and research at Penn State Behrend,” said Dr. Faisal Aqlan, assistant professor of industrial engineering, “and will give

our students excellent tools for build ing the skills they need to succeed in their work.” RoboDK simulator platform RoboDK’s in-kind donation of software, valued at $90,000, will give engineering students the opportunity to use simulation software for robotics applications. “The software will be used to teach our students how to program robots offline and work on manufacturing projects that involve automated processes,” Aqlan said. The RoboDK platform will also be used in research initiatives with local industry as well as undergraduate senior design projects. Riskalyze risk analysis software With the donation from Riskalyze, valued at more than $83,000, students in

the Black School of Business now have access to that company’s investment risk-assessment software for use in stock trading simulations and in management of the school’s Intrieri Family Student Managed Fund. In FIN 420 Investment and Portfolio Analysis, Eric Robbins, lecturer in finance, employs the software to introduce students to the world of investment by exploring different types of investments, comparing them in terms of risk and other dimensions, and learning how to combine different assets to form a portfolio. “When it comes to financial education, I think it’s extremely important to bring in tools that students are going to use when they enter the workforce,” Robbins said. “Riskalyze software exposes students to the technology that professionals are using every day and allows them to experience real-life investment decision scenarios.”

CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES Philanthropy can provide the opportunities—on campus and out in the world—that let students discover their full potential and make a difference. Penn State is at the forefront of teaching excellence in the classroom and online, but delivery of content is only the beginning. Transformative experiences that go beyond traditional modes of learning help students build global perspectives, digital capabilities, an appreciation for the arts and humanities, and so much more.

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THE IMPACT OF GIVING Schlaudecker Scholarship Helps Adult Learners In the early 1960s, James Schlaudecker was a young husband and father of two working as a garage mechanic for $1 an hour. It certainly wasn’t enough to support his family. So, in 1963, Schlaudecker decided to use the money his late father had left him to do something his dad had urged him to do before passing—enroll in college. It took five years to complete his associate degree at Penn State Behrend—juggling employment, family responsibilities, spotty transportation, and financial challenges—but he did it. “It was a struggle, but one that was extremely important for me to achieve,” he said. Now, Schlaudecker ’68 is helping students in similar situations. He and his wife, Sandra, have created a First-Time Endowed Donor Matching scholarship designated for adult learners enrolled in Penn State Behrend’s mechanical engineering technology and electrical engineering technology programs. The Schlaudeckers’ gift of $50,000 was matched by the University, bringing the total scholarship amount to $100,000. “I was an unenthusiastic student in high school, with the grades to match,” Schlaudecker said, “but at Behrend, I entered an exciting environment of learning and discovery. It was one of the most fulfilling, although most challenging, periods in my life. I was hungry to learn and succeed. Remembering this,

^ James and Sandra Schlaudecker

I decided to create a scholarship for others who might be experiencing the same challenges I had faced.” After his graduation from Behrend, Schlaudecker launched a career with Procter & Gamble that ultimately took the couple and their son all over the world. He has now retired and settled in Blacksburg, Virginia. “Penn State Behrend represents a crucial chapter in my life,” he said, “and Sandy understands the warm spot in my heart for the college, which is why she also supports this donation enthusiastically. I hope this scholarship helps others who have dreams of going to college but are facing financial challenges that might otherwise keep them from getting that degree."

Rees Foundation Gifts Provide Support Two Ways A recent gift from the John Nesbit Rees and Sarah Henne Rees Charitable Foundation of Titusville, Pennsylvania, is supporting one of Penn State Behrend’s premier cultural enrichment programs, while a second gift will benefit Behrend students in the form of scholarships. The Rees Foundation, established following the deaths of its benefactors in 1988, serves the needs of residents of Crawford, Forest, Venango, and Warren counties. The foundation has supported Behrend since 1990 with funding to establish and support scholarships and programs that help residents of these four counties. One of two recent gifts is a twoyear commitment totaling $50,000 for Penn State Behrend’s Music

at Noon: The Logan Series. The series offers informal lunchtime performances by professional chamber music ensembles and includes an educational component for area schoolchildren. As part of the agreement, the Logan Series staff will develop a public concert performance and outreach program in Titusville. Through a second gift, the foundation is providing scholarship assistance to Behrend students from the four counties it serves with preference given to those who live in the Titusville area. The grant of $20,000 a year for each of five years is intended to provide scholarships that help students who might not otherwise be able to attend college get a Penn State Behrend education.

^ Music at Noon: The Logan Series offers informal lunchtime performances by professional chamber music ensembles and includes an educational component for area schoolchildren.

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ALUMNI NEWS 1950s Ronald Young ’57 (Behrend 1950-51) and Dorothy Hughes Young ’57 are retired and living in Sun City West, Arizona. Ron writes that he would love to hear from other Behrend students from the early ’50s. youngs20@aol.com

1960s Tom Wood ’63 (Behrend 1958-60) is a retired senior vice president at Capital One Bank. He and Carol have downsized from their 6,800 sq. ft. historic home in Magnolia, Miss., to a more manageable ranch in Hammond, La., to be closer to one of their daughters and two of their four grandsons. Prior to the move, Tom was an alumni admissions volunteer for Penn State. wood3151@gmail.com

1990s Bob Carter ’95, ’03 M.B.A., relocated to Raleigh, N.C., to become the business development manager for engineered foams at global plastics manufacturer Armacell. mingocrew@msn.com Crystal Brown-Battle ’99 (Behrend 1995-97) has published the book “If Passports Could Talk,” a memoir of her travels in 60 countries available on Amazon and Bookbaby. Crystal lives in Attleboro, Mass., with her husband, Trevor; follow her on Instagram at crystalbattle2018. crystalbattle@comcast.net J. Brian Foht ’98 (Behrend 1992-94) owns Foht Investments, a real-estate investment firm in Erie and Naples, Fla., specializing in affordable and luxury properties. jbrianfoht2@gmail.com

2000s

Doug Davidowski ’02 is a product engineering manager for commercial products at JCB North America. He managed the 2017 JCB Team of the Year, which designed the world’s first telescopic single-arm skid steer and compact track loader. Doug and his wife, Leslie ’04, live in Pooler, Ga. dougdavidowski@gmail.com Krista Mikula Shore ’07 and Michael Shore ’06 are engineers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va. They live in Fredericksburg with their 2-year-old son, Kristopher. krismikula@gmail.com Kristen Pivarnik ’08 is the accounting and budget manager for the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office in Pittsburgh. kristenmarie8@yahoo.com

2010s Jeff McCausland ’10 and Marie Ebner McCausland ’12 (Behrend 2008-10) are both postdoctoral research fellows in Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine. They live in Cleveland with their son, Jeffrey. jam487@case.edu Chris Desmond ’13 has been promoted to business development manager at ARC Group Worldwide, working on new-product development for plastics products and metal injection molding. Chris lives in Longmont, Colo. cdesmond@arcw.com Jeremy O’Mard ’13 recently was promoted to managing consultant at IBM and to the rank of captain in the Maryland Defense Force. He lives in Upper Marlboro. jeremy.omard@gmail.com Josh McAleer ’15 is a data and analytics specialist in the underwriting division of Erie Insurance.

Kara Holden Onorato ’00 is the CFO at Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C. She is an active volunteer, advocate, and fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of her daughter, Sonny, who passed away at age 2 from acute myeloid leukemia. konorato1@yahoo.com

How to interpret these class notes • All alumni whose names are in bold type spent some or all of their Penn State years at Penn State Behrend. • For those who completed their studies elsewhere in the University, years at Behrend are shown in parentheses after the graduation year. • Regular type indicates a Penn State graduate who did not attend Behrend—most often the spouse of someone who did. • If no state is given after a city name, that city is 1) in Pennsylvania, 2) in the state referred to earlier in the class note, or 3) a major city requiring no further identification.

Find Alumni News on the web: • On Facebook: “Penn State Behrend Alumni” • On LinkedIn: “Penn State Behrend Alumni Society” • On Twitter: Follow us at “BehrendAlum”

Now let’s hear from you! Email your class note information to Kristen Comstock at kristencomstock@psu.edu, mail it to her at Penn State Behrend, Metzgar Center, 4701 College Drive, Erie PA 16563, or submit it online at behrend.psu.edu/classnotes.

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SPRING 2018

X I P G N I T PAR Stranger Things star visits Behrend Emmy-nominated actor David Harbour—who plays the character of Chief Hopper on the hit Netflix series Stranger Things—opened the 2018-19 Speaker Series at Penn State Behrend in September with a question-andanswer session about his career on screen and stage. Harbour repeatedly encouraged students to accept their flaws. “Embrace the things you don’t like about yourself,” he said. “It will set you free, and the things you think are wrong with you are what make you beautiful and unique.”

Grape extension center hosts open house This past fall, the Penn State Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Center held an open house for community members to see the work being done there and try a few of the tasty varieties that researchers are experimenting with. The applied science and outreach center was founded sixty-six years ago by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences to help the region’s grape growers identify, treat, and prevent agricultural disease and pest infestation. The center is directed by Dr. Mike Campbell, professor of biology at Behrend.

Twenty-five years of College for Kids This summer marked the silver anniversary of Penn State Behrend’s popular College for Kids summer enrichment program. More than 1,300 young students participated in week-long classes on topics that ranged from programming robots to engineering K’NEX bridges to designing “escape rooms” to developing their improv skills and much more. More than 100 different classes were offered.

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5K has sweet ending The Athletics Department’s annual Berkey Creamery Ice Cream Run, a fall 5K (3.1-mile) event held on campus each fall, offers runners and walkers a truly sweet ending—an all-you-can-eat sundae bar featuring Penn State’s world-famous Berkey Creamery ice cream, a perfect post-run treat to cool down participants.

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70 years

and growing Penn State Behrend celebrated its 70th year this fall and, my, how we’ve grown. In 1948-49, just 146 students enrolled at what was then known as Behrend Center. There were only twenty faculty and staff members. Today, Penn State Behrend offers nearly fifty degrees and has a total enrollment of more than 5,100 in its programs offered on campus and online. Some of the college’s faculty, staff, and students gathered on the soccer field last summer to mark Behrend’s big birthday with this family portrait.

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