THE SIS & HERMAN DUPRé SCIENCE PAVILION SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE
The Dupré family joins Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, O.S.B., and Mr. James Towey, President of the College, for the groundbreaking of the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion on April 22, 2009.
“The Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion at Saint Vincent College is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of the school’s commitment to science education. I am particularly impressed by the facility’s innovative design elements—inspired by science and math themes—alongside its multi-use labs where different sciences can cross-pollinate their methods, tools, and ideas toward a greater understanding of the physical world. The country needs this right now.” Neil deGrasse Tyson Astrophysicist, American Museum of Natural History Director, Hayden Planetarium in New York City Saint Vincent College Threshold Series speaker 2
A Vision of Hospitality
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curved, three-story glass atrium serves as a window to the natural world and a welcoming gateway into the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion at Saint Vincent College, reflecting the Benedictine tradition of hospitality to people, to the mystery of God, and to all creation. The philosopher Karl Jaspers expresses something essential about the “Vision of Hospitality” when he writes that the search for the truth of reality ought not to be separated from love. “Love reaches out beyond beings to Being itself. It works from deep within us and fills us with yearning and hope. We trust that it will speak to us whenever we need it, and put us in contact with Being that already was before Creation, the fathomless Transcendence.”
SIS AND HERMAN DUPRÉ: A LEGACY OF LOVE
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erman Dupré graduated from Saint Vincent College in 1953 and was honored by the College in 1998 with the conferral of an honorary Doctor of Science Degree. An inventor and entrepreneur, Mr. Dupré holds 34 U.S. patents and developed one of the largest snowmaking systems in the world at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, Pennsylvania. He is the chief engineer for Snow Economics and his system is used worldwide. Mr. Dupré served as chief executive officer of Seven Springs for 40 years prior to his retirement in 1992. The former Mary “Sis” McSwigan was originally from Pittsburgh and enjoyed an outstanding career as a teacher of English and Physical Education in the Pittsburgh City School System. The couple has nine daughters -- Denise, Laura, Rosi, Anni, Janeen, Heidi, Gretl, Michele and Reneé. Sis and Herman Dupré have always recognized the importance of education, especially the role played by high school teachers, and have supported Saint Vincent College in this common goal. They established the College’s Great Teacher Recognition Program which recognizes the influential secondary school teachers of Saint Vincent freshmen. The Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion, the largest building project in the College’s history, is named in honor of Sis and Herman Dupré. 3
A LEGACY OF Leadership
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ope John Paul II reflects the educational mission of Saint Vincent College in a letter to George V. Coyne, S.J., director of the Vatican Observatory: “Science develops best when its concepts and conclusions are integrated into the broader human culture and its concerns for ultimate meaning and value.” Further, in his encyclical Faith and Reason, he captures something essential in the approach to education at Saint Vincent: “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.”
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ince its founding in 1846, Saint Vincent has counted on the support of good neighbors as partners in its development from humble beginnings. At the celebration of the College’s centennial in 1946, Saint Vincent awarded an honorary doctoral degree to Richard King Mellon in recognition of his outstanding leadership in support of development of the arts and sciences, not only at the College, but throughout the nation. In the photograph, the Dean of the College, Father Maurice Costello, O.S.B., is standing at the right of Mr. Mellon.
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he extent of Saint Vincent College’s presence in the field of health care was evident many years ago when eight alumni physicians who were on the staff at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh gathered at the bedside of their teacher and mentor, the late Fr. Edward Wenstrup, O.S.B. Left to right are Frank Luparello, M.D., C’49; Francis R. Perri, M.D., P’43, C’49, David Zontine, M.D., C’60, John Maloney, M.D., C’08; Regis McFadden, M.D., C’58; Mike Shaughnessy, M.D., P’56, C’60; Walter Mislucci, M.D.; and John O’Loughlin, M.D., C’60. Absent from photo was Michael Bell, M.D., C’60.
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aint Vincent College President Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., presents the President’s Award for 2011 to Stephanie Fitzgerald of Lower Burrell. Br. Norman played a key role in the design and execution of the Science Pavilion project.
The Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computing
H Dr. Boyer with Fr. Joel Lieb
erbert W. Boyer, C’58, D’81, is among Saint Vincent College’s most notable alumni, having received international recognition throughout his career for the pivotal role he played in creation of the biotechnology industry and the founding of the industry-leading pharmaceutical firm Genentech that utilized his DNA splicing technology to pioneer numerous lifesaving drugs. Dr. Boyer is Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California at San Francisco and co-founder of Genentech, Inc., the San Francisco-based biotechnology company he started with the late venture capitalist Robert Swanson in 1976. Born in nearby Derry, Dr. Boyer earned his bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry in 1958 from Saint Vincent College. He credits the late Fr. Joel Lieb, O.S.B., for inspiring his interest in genetics research. Dr. Boyer later earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. He has received numerous prestigious awards for this liberating work including the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 1980, the National Medal of Science presented at the White House by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, the LemelsonMIT Prize in 1996, the Albany Medical Prize in 2004, the Shaw Prize in Life Sciences and Medicine in 2004 for discoveries related to DNA research, and the Medal of Technology.
Dr. Boyer is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. In 2004, Business Week magazine named him one of the “Greatest Innovators of the Past 75 Years” and Parade Magazine named him one of the “Ten Most Important Innovators Who Transformed the World.” He was featured on the cover of TIME magazine in 1981 with a story entitled, “Shaping Life in the Lab: The Boom in Genetic Engineering, Genentech’s Herb Boyer.” In 1989 Dr. Boyer and his wife, Grace, made a generous gift to Saint Vincent College that created student scholarships in memory of Mrs. Boyer’s father, T.L. Hensler, and her brother, Timothy. These scholarships provide students with demonstrated academic and leadership potential the opportunity to attend Saint Vincent.
Dr. Boyer and Robert Swanson
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the Boyer School Advisory Council Mr. James F. Will, L.H.D., C’60, Chair President Emeritus Saint Vincent College
Dr. Herbert W. Boyer, C’58 Co-Founder Genentech, Inc.
Dr. William E. Amatucci, C’86 Section Head, Space Experiments Section Plasma Physics Division Naval Research Laboratory
Dr. Angelo DeMezza, C’69 Physician
Mr. Thomas Anderson Co-Owner Maritom
Dr. William A. DiCuccio, C’70 Physician
Dr. Umberto A. DeRienzo, C’88 Physician
David A. Dzombak, Ph.D., P.E., DEE, C’79 Blenko Professor of Env. Engineering Dept. of Civil and Env. Engineering Carnegie Mellon University
Mr. Michael L. Keslar, C’80 Executive Vice President The Bank of New York Mellon
Dr. Thomas P. Gessner, C’64 Physician Mr. Donald A. Haile, C’63 Venture Partner Site General Manager Fidelity Investments
Ms. Cheryl A. Harper, C’88 Physics and Mathematics Teacher Greensburg Salem High School
Mr. Francis A. Marasco, C’64 Former President Eckerd Pharmacy Services Mr. Mark Joseph Pincus, C’96 Research Investigator Early to Candidate Distinct Project Unit Biochemistry and Cell Biology sanofi-aventis U.S. Dr. David M. Siwicki, C’80 Physician Dr. Fred L. Soisson, Jr., P’47, C’51 Former Physician Ms. Shelley D. Sturdevant, C’88 Technical Director PPG Coil and Extrusion Coatings PPG Industries, Inc. Mr. Stephen P. Yanek, C’68 Program Manager Applied Physics Laboratory The Johns Hopkins University Dr. Daniel J. Yaniro, C’79 Director, VoIP Program and Project Management AT&T Laboratories
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THE BOYER SCHOOL FACULTY Dr. Stephen Jodis Ph.D., Auburn University Dean, Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computing Biology Dr. James Barnett Ph.D., University of California at Davis Dr. Bruce Bethke, Chair Ph.D., The Catholic University of America Dr. James Kellam Ph.D., Purdue University Dr. Jennifer Koehl Ph.D., Illinois State University Dr. Olivia Long Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Steven Gravelle Ph.D., Northwestern University
Dr. Michael Rhodes Ph.D., Duquesne University
Dr. Michael Sierk Ph.D., University of Virginia
Dr. Cynthia Walter Ph.D., University of Chicago
Dr. Jason Vohs Ph.D., University of Georgia
Chemistry Dr. Bettie Davis Ph.D., Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University
Computing and Information Science Br. David Carlson, O.S.B., Chair M.S., Syracuse University
Dr. Caryl Fish Ph.D., State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Dr. Daryle Fish Ph.D., State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Dr. Matthew Fisher, Chair Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University Dr. Cynthia Martincic Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh Dr. Anthony Serapiglia Sc.D., Robert Morris University Engineering Science Dr. Paul Follansbee Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University
Masters in Health Sciences Dr. Michael DeBroeck, DNP, Robert Morris University
Dr. Christina Safranski Ph.D., University of Notre Dame
Dr. Daniel Stairs DNP, Robert Morris University
Physics Dr. David Grumbine Ph.D., Lehigh University
Dr. Beverly Silvis DNP, Chatham University
Dr. Mohamed Anis Maize, Chair Ph.D., Purdue University
Mathematics Dr. Daniele Arcara Ph.D., University of Georgia
Dr. John J. Smetanka Ph.D., University of Chicago
Dr. Michael Botsko, Chair Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Daniel Vanden Berk Ph.D., University of Chicago
Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B. Ph.D., Northwestern University Mr. Larry Mismas M.A., Duquesne University
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The Angelo Taiani Planetarium and Astronaut Exhibit
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he centerpiece of the glass-walled atrium is a state-of-the-art planetarium—the Angelo J. Taiani Planetarium and Astronaut Exhibit—made possible by a gift from the 1948 graduate, who enjoyed a successful career as an aerospace engineer with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Mr. Taiani wanted the new planetarium and exhibit to bring recognition to the nation’s space program. He first became interested in aerospace when he was assigned to work with early guided missiles and space ordnance as a project officer for the first ten Jupiter launches. Mr. Taiani worked on numerous projects at NASA as a general space engineer, in test support at Cape Canaveral and later the Kennedy Space Center on the Juno project. He also worked in support of the Space Shuttle program. The planetarium features the latest digital technology that can project the nighttime sky and can also take viewers on a tour of the solar system.
The Dr. Frank J. Luparello lecture Hall
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ne of the giants in medical education, the late Dr. Frank Luparello, C’49, was responsible for the training and development of thousands of doctors during an illustrious career spanning more than 50 years. Dr. Luparello’s work is known all over the United States as the director of medical education at Mercy Hospital and one of the first directors of medical education in the United States. Dr. Luparello had lifelong admiration for the Benedictine teachers he had as an undergraduate pre-med student at Saint Vincent. According to Thomas W. Nasca, M.D., former dean of Jefferson Medical College, “Dr. Luparello influenced the care of literally millions…through education of medical students, residents and ongoing education of practicing physicians.” The Dr. Frank Luparello Lecture Hall pays tribute to an outstanding teacher and physician.
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WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE HELP OF MANY FRIENDS
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aint Vincent College extends heartfelt gratitude to the large number of alumni and friends who have helped make the dream of a superior science facility a reality. Through their generosity Saint Vincent has become a valuable resource for the people of our region—not only in science education, but in all aspects of human development. In addition to the major donors listed below, all contributors to the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion and to the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computing are recognized in the Atrium of the Science Pavilion. Each day at morning and evening prayer, the Benedictine Community remembers all of our alumni and friends. Anonymous Allegheny Foundation Elizabeth Andreoli Dr. Thomas & Irene Antkowiak Dr. Thomas J. & Patricia Antos Dr. Gene & Michelle Battistella & Domenic The Beechwood Company The Benedictine Monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey Dr. Geoffrey & Kelly Bisignani Dr. Gregory & Audrey Bisignani Keith P. & Cara Biskup Dr. & Mrs. Herbert W. Boyer Joseph D. Cestello Bob & Deanna Clouse Commonwealth of Pennsylvania The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County Dr. Bernard & Antoinette DeLeo Dr. Angelo & Pamela DeMezza George, Gail, Garrett & Grant Derhofer Dr. & Mrs. Ross F. DiMarco, Jr. In Memory of Cam & Lucy Domenic J. Christopher & Ann Carey Donahue The Dunlap Family & Centimark Corporation David A. Dzombak, Ph.D. & Carolyn J. Menard Eden Hall Foundation
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Family and Friends of Sis & Herman Dupré Paul & Kathleen Fish Dr. Paul & Carolyn Follansbee A. James & Lisa Forte Dr. Robert & Nancy Gannon Dr. Anthony F. Gentile Dr. Thomas & Penny Gessner Paul & Roberta Giunto Dr. Thomas & Margaret Greubel Gerald & Bonnie Guz Donald & Mary Haile Dr. Robert & Marjorie Hartsock Dr. Carl T. & Deirdre Hasselman Don Hoffman Family Jendoco Construction Corporation Dr. Peter & Sara Juliano Dr. Francis & Kriss Lally John & Kiera Lally Dr. Patrick & Valerie Lally Dr. & Mrs. Frank Luparello The Gordon & Kate MacVean Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation Evelyn & Batista Madonia, Sr. Dr. John R. & Rosemary Mazero McCune Foundation Dr. Edward Regis & Elizabeth McFadden Bill & Rosemarie McGarrity Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation
Charles J. & Martha McIntyre Ish & Mary Lou McLaughlin Dr. Carey & Suzanne McMonagle Richard King Mellon Foundation R. K. Mellon Family Foundation Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Moss & Family Roland J. & Florein M. Mueller Dr. Edward & Bernadette Murcko Mary & Jim Murdy National Science Foundation Dr. Harry & Monica Null Joseph W. & Mary O’Toole Wylie & Marilyn Overly A.J. & Sigismunda Palumbo Charitable Trust Dr. John S. & Dorris Parker Michael Passalinqua Dr. Francis & Prudence Perri William A. Petrosky Paul & Melodie Phillips The Pittsburgh Foundation Carol G. Pollock Aldo J. Prosperi, M.D. John & Stefanie Puccetti Dr. James & Debra Ramsay Joseph P. Rich Robert Rogalski & Sharon Fair-Rogalski Mark & Maureen Rossi Dr. Richard & Linda Ruffalo
Joseph A. & Marlene Scarpo Paul A. & Rebecca Seaman Jerry & Carol Shields Gary Sieber Dr. Whitney & Susan Snowman Dr. & Mrs. Ferdinand L. Soisson, Jr. Dr. Robert & Dorothy Staffen John, Leslie, Kimberly & Michael Stevens Angelo J. Taiani Glen & Betty Tenley H. James & Mary Towey Very Rev. Paul E. Turnbull United States Steel Corporation UPMC Mercy Medical Staff Thomas J. & Sandra L. Usher Chuck & Shirley Varsel Walworth Medical Associates John & Ginnie Wandrisco Douglas & Laura (Dzombak) Warren Phil & Marianne Weihl West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund Jim & Mary Ellen Will Stephen & Carol Yanek Daniel & Elizabeth Yaniro The Daniel Yates Family Dr. G. Alan & Jo Ellen Yeasted Zappone Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County
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thinking green: a common vision
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aint Vincent’s legacy of hospitality extends to the stewardship of the environment. The support of the R. K. Mellon Foundation in furthering the commitment to the preservation and enhancement of the environment has enabled the College to demonstrate its solidarity in this mission by providing leadership for a grass roots project to remediate abandoned mine drainage from the Loyalhanna watershed, supporting environmental research opportunities for undergraduates, conducting educational outreach to local students and residents on a range of environmental issues, and partnering with the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve to protect the natural landscape. In keeping with the Benedictine value of care for the earth, The Sis and Herman DuprÊ Science Pavilion incorporates sustainable design. The goal for the project is to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification through improvements to the quality of the site, reductions in water and energy consumption, use of materials that reduce the impact on the environment and provides a healthy and safe place for faculty members and students to work. The decision to re-use as much of the existing structures as possible supported the desire to create as small an environmental footprint as possible. One of the most interesting aspects of the Science Pavilion is the custom-designed geothermal heating and cooling system. The first phase of the extensive system utilizes a series of 227 wells in a field 100 yards behind the Pavilion to provide natural heating and cooling. The geothermal system is capable of pumping 1,800 gallons per minute and recovering approximately nine million BTU per hour from the earth. Other aspects of the system will add to energy savings such as pumps and fans which are able to run at variable speeds depending on need, and an energy recovery system which captures heat from the air that is being exhausted from the building. The building also employs many other energy-saving devices such as occupancy sensors that automatically turn lights on and off, water conserving plumbing fixtures in the restrooms and supplemental solar power panels that will generate electricity from sunshine. The extensive use of glass in the atrium provides energy savings by utilizing the sun to provide heat and natural light. 14
becoming scientists: student research
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r. John Smetanka, Vice President for Academic Affairs, has said that an essential characteristic of a science education at Saint Vincent is student research with personal faculty guidance. A senior research project serves as the integrating, capstone experience of the fouryear science curriculum. Student research at Saint Vincent is funded by the A.J. Palumbo Student Research Endowment. Representative of the nature of student research in the sciences are eight chemistry majors who made presentations at the 241st national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Anaheim, California. The students and their research topics: Zachary C. Allan, ”Environmental Effects on Assays in Microfluidic Paper-based Analytical Devices”; Ashley M. Lemming, “Mode of Inhibition of Xanthine Oxidase by Fruit and Vegetable Extracts”; and Michael S. Banales, “Synthesis of chloramphenicol analogs”. Standing, from left, Matthew R. Dolcich, “Ring-Opening Polymerization of L-lactide with Tin Alkoxide Initiator/Catalysts in Ionic Liquid Solvents”; Anthony J. Marquis, “Utilization of IPr*, a Highly Sterically Hindered N-Heterocyclis Carbene, in the Stabilization of Group 13 Metal Complexes”; Joel A. Caporoso, “Chemical synthesis of lactose analog inhibitors”; Matthew J. Myers, “Synthesis of 1,3-bis (1-adamantyl)-4,5-dihydro-2-ylidene and subsequent reactivity with group 13 metal halides”; and Vincenzo M. DiSantis, “Exploring reactivity of the n-heterocyclis carbine, 1, 3 bis (1-adamantyl)-imidazol-2-ylidene with group 13 metal halides.”
Arissa Trulick, left, works in the lab with Dr. Cynthia Walter, associate professor of biology.
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