December 2010 Vol. 5, No. 4
IMPACT Inspiring Students to Pursue Lives of Purpose
Graduate Counseling Program offers student purpose and peace Tom Schlosser has found contentment in knowing that he is on the journey that God has made for him. As the pieces of his life fall into place, he has relinquished control to God and continues to take steps of faith.
L
ittle boys enjoy playing “Cops & Robbers” throughout freespirited, childhood days. Tom
Schlosser was no exception as he always dreamed of becoming a police officer. Today, however, instead of offering the right to remain silent to offenders, he empowers individuals to speak. Feeling an unwavering push to help others and realizing that God is the author of his story, Schlosser enrolled in the Master of Arts in Counseling Program at Waynesburg University. His decision has proven to be one that has brought clarity to his life’s purpose and peace to his heart. “I always knew that helping others was a part of my plan, but I began to question what that actually meant,” he said. While the responsibilities of police officers are admirable and important, Schlosser said he felt a career in counseling best fit his desire to help individuals find the peace that existed in their lives After receiving his undergraduate degree from Waynesburg University, Schlosser became a youth worker for adjudicated teens at a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to help those in need “understand what is right and choose what is best, living life to the fullest.” He spent his time divided between various roles including a big brother,
a support system and a disciplinarian,
Counseling Program in the fall of 2009.
integral part of both his academic and
among others. In doing so, he felt an
He plans to complete his degree in the
personal development.
irresistible pull to rehabilitate those who
spring of 2011.
overflowed with hurt, sadness, pain and brokenness.
“Through the program, I am gaining
“My facilitators have definitely pushed and challenged me to become better,
the knowledge and skills to help others
while at the same time encouraging me
find out who they are so that they can
and supporting me as they reveal my
I realized just how much I lived in my
paint their own picture for their life,” he
strengths and the areas I need to develop
own little world complete with blinders,”
said.
or improve,” he said. “The facilitators
“It was through these experiences that
he said. “It was almost daily that I
Students in the Counseling Program
have a variety of backgrounds and for that
witnessed a type of destruction I had
are placed in cohorts, allowing students
reason, the knowledge and experience we
never encountered before then.”
to experience the program with the same
gain in the classroom is unmatched.”
Feeling called to advance in this
classmates throughout the duration of the
Using techniques learned in class,
field, Schlosser was discouraged by the
program. For Schlosser, this has made all
Schlosser is currently completing a
realization that a master’s degree would
the difference.
600-hour internship with Gateway
be inevitable. “I just wasn’t in the mindset to go back
“You embark on this journey as a class,
Rehabilitation Center in McMurray, Pa.
and I think that adds a different level of
“I am extremely blessed to have the
to school,” he said. “It was at that point
learning and growth than if we were to
opportunity to be able to learn from those
that I had a shift in thinking about what
randomly have life-changing experiences
who work there,” he said. “They too were
my purpose was, and I really felt God was
with individuals you’ve known for just a
called to this field, and it shows through
working in my life.”
few weeks,” he said.
their passion. You don’t necessarily pick
He gave in, listened to God’s plan and enrolled in Waynesburg University’s
The facilitators within the program,
this field; it picks you.”
according to Schlosser, have been an
Students achieve third consecutive 100 percent pass rate
“W
e have high
“The 100 percent pass rate is an
Pennsylvania, 7,100 individuals tested
cutting edge of educational requirements,
expectations of our
indicator of program quality and reflects
from 84 programs with an average pass
but the department leads in making
students, and they rise
the continued efforts of the faculty to
rate of 86.59 percent. In addition to
improvements based on changes it
produce graduates with a comprehensive
testing above the state and national pass
foresees in the profession,” Darocy said.
knowledge base and strong critical
rate averages, Waynesburg University
“The professors see the potential in each
of nursing at Waynesburg University, are
thinking skills,” said Dr. Nancy Mosser,
students maintained the 100 percent
one of us. They are great mentors, always
300 percent true as indicated by the third
chair of the Department of Nursing
pass rate even after the National Council
striving for excellence, and instilling in
consecutive year of a 100 percent pass
and professor of nursing at Waynesburg
of State Boards of Nursing altered the
us the same values.”
rate on the National Council Licensure
University.
NCLEX-RN test plan in April 2010 and
to the challenge.”
The words of Dr. Terri Small, professor
Examination for Registered Nurses. This year, 39 Waynesburg University
The NCLEX is administered following graduation from a baccalaureate,
increased the test’s difficulty level. Patricia Darocy, a senior nursing
nursing graduates collaboratively
diploma or associate degree program.
student, began the nursing program in
achieved the feat, establishing the only
An individual must pass the exam in
May 2009 as a second-degree student after
baccalaureate program in the state of
order to become licensed to practice
hearing of the program’s reputation.
Pennsylvania to do so.
as a registered nurse. In the state of
“Not only is the nursing program at the
IMPACT NEWS & NOTES
Waynesburg benefits through Marine Corps Marathon
Thanksgiving break serving others.
R
I learned not only medical
and can hear their heart beating in
it meant to be a servant,” said
The University offered three service
anticipation. Finally, the gun explodes
Crouch. “I saw firsthand what
mission trips covering a variety of
and marks the start of the Marine
a servant of God looked like
academic and professional interests that
Corps Marathon in Arlington, Va. Over
and how being a servant saves
give students the opportunity to serve
40,000 runners begin to run the long and
and changes lives.”
both the Greene County community
demanding 26 mile course.
• Thirty-eight students and four faculty and staff members spent their
and beyond. The projects included
unners step up to the finish
“Looking back on this day,
line. Posed in a stance ready to begin, they lean slightly forward
stuff, but I also learned what
Stationed throughout the course are
While Crouch attended the marathon as part of a
a nutritional orphanage in Patzun,
medical professionals ready for any
course requirement, the other
Guatemala; World Servants in Philippi,
health-related emergency. Among
medical professionals chose
W.Va.; and Habitat for Humanity in
them are 13 athletic training students
to volunteer their time at the
Greene County, Pa.
from Waynesburg University. Michele
marathon. Without the medical servants,
Kabay, assistant professor and director
the marathon runners’ safety would be
of athletic training, established a
at stake. Spending the day with these
relationship with the U.S. Marine Corps
medical professionals brought Crouch
previously and wanted students to
to fruition regarding the service of those
recognize the importance of service in
around her.
• Waynesburg University recently hosted Bayney R. Karran, ambassador of Guyana and former ambassador to Venezuela. Ambassador Karran presented two lectures to Waynesburg University students. The lectures were titled “Climate Change in the Caribbean: The Threat and Guyana’s Response” and “The Hemispheric Integration Process: A Perspective from Guyana.” Karran was appointed ambassador of Guyana to the United States in December 2003, and also serves as Guyana’s permanent representative to the Organization of American States (OAS). Karran replaced Dr. Odeen Ishmael who visited Waynesburg University in 1999, as a result of Waynesburg University’s international student exchange program. • The Office of University Relations at Waynesburg University was recently selected to receive four awards in the annual MarCom Awards Competition. The competition is an international creative competition that recognizes exceptional achievement by marketing and communication professionals. Waynesburg University’s submissions were among 5,000 others entered by individual communicators, media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. Waynesburg received a Platinum Award, two Gold Awards and an Honorable Mention. • Waynesburg University has partnered with Ten Thousand Villages for its seventh year to offer a unique shopping experience to the community during the holiday season. The store will be open Monday through Saturday through Dec. 20. The store will encompass 100 artisan groups representing more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Ten Thousand Villages is part of a worldwide movement determined to practice fair trade. Artisans will receive a fair trade profit for their product while Ten Thousand Villages donates the overhead cost of the sale to Waynesburg University to benefit the Waynesburg University Mission Trip Scholarship Fund. In the past six years, the store has generated $4,500 for Waynesburg University’s Mission Trip Scholarship Fund. The fund provides assistance to students who travel domestically or internationally to serve others.
the field. The opportunity allowed them
“Although they come from different
to work closely with physicians, nurses,
backgrounds and different lifestyles,
paramedics and Navy personnel while
they all do the same thing,” Crouch
gaining valuable hands-on experience.
said. “Each one of them on a daily basis,
Stationed at the Foxtrot medical
and especially this weekend, help those
station during the marathon, sophomore
particular individuals that need help.
athletic training major Becca Crouch
They reach out their own hands and grab
was exposed to illnesses and injuries
onto an individual that needs help.”
she had only learned about. According
Seeing the dedication of the medical
to Crouch, what impacted her most
volunteers impacted Crouch’s outlook
was not the medical aspect of the trip.
on her career as a medical professional in
Crouch learned the value of being a
this world.
servant leader.
“It is one thing to be a medical
Students initiate projects to benefit less fortunate
“T
he Christian Mission is a volunteer army.” From these words came the foundation of the endeavor known
today as The Salvation Army. Although the story of the ministry’s
creation is intricate, the concept is rather simple. In 1852, a man by the name of William Booth decided to abandon the traditional pulpit and take his message to the streets of London. It was there that he shared the Gospel with the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute.
professional, and the whole time you are helping others you are just thinking about yourself and how it makes you look good,” Crouch said. “It is another to be an excellent medical professional and help out others around you, not caring how it will make you look.” Exposure to the dedication of serving others shaped in Crouch what she hopes to accomplish with a career in athletic training. Working side-by-side with medical professionals who dedicate their time to serving others influenced her to uphold the same values in her future practice. As a result of her experience, she would like to serve as a role model in the future to instill the importance of service in students just as the medical professionals at the Marine Corps Marathon did that day.
Waynesburg athletes achieve accolades Both of the Waynesburg soccer programs, along with the Yellow Jacket football team, saw a slew of its top players earn All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) accolades in the month of November. The Jacket men of the gridiron led the
His far from traditional path caused disagreement from church leaders, while also
group with 11 all-conference selections,
gaining followers in the form of more than 1,000 volunteers and 42 evangelists.
including five first-team picks. Junior
He converted thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and drunks with his words of hope
cornerback Sean Hunt, junior defensive
and salvation. As a result, his converts became soldiers of Christ known as
tackle Darryl Moore, Jr. and sophomore
Salvationists serving under the name of “The Christian Mission.”
safety Bryan Gary picked up first-team
From 1881 to 1885, more than 250,000 people were converted under the
honors on the defensive side of the ball.
ministry. The Salvation Army spread to the United States in 1879, and the
Gary was honored as a first-team linebacker.
movement rapidly expanded to Canada, Australia, France, Switzerland, India,
Waynesburg’s offense was represented on
South Africa and Iceland. The Salvation Army is active in virtually every corner
the first team by junior center Nick Hanley
of the world today.
and sophomore tight end Adam Moses.
Like the founder of The Salvation Army, Waynesburg University students,
Senior offensive tackle Melvin
faculty and staff, are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others while
Warrick and sophomore kicker Jon Storck
turning people to Christ. Students annually initiate a number of food, school
were lauded as second-team selections,
supply and clothing collection drives to benefit those less fortunate.
while senior quarterback Brad Dawson,
This year, in support of The Salvation Army Greene County Service Center’s
sophomore defensive lineman Matt Krause,
Project Bundle-Up, students have raised more than $1,200 to provide outerwear
junior safety Ryan Williams and senior kick
for infants and children under 18 years of age and senior citizens age 62 and older.
returner Troy Garove were named honorable
The ministry offers Greene County residents the opportunity to request coats, hats, gloves and boots through an application process. Sister Audrey Quinn,
mention picks. After going 10-6-3 this fall, its best record
director of the Salvation Army Greene County Service Center said this year,
in at least nine years, the Waynesburg
“Waynesburg University came to the rescue.”
women’s soccer team was rewarded with
“With untiring energy, the staff and
four All-PAC selections, the most for the
students held a furniture sale at the
program since 2004. Included in the quartet
University, helped at our flea market and
were the team’s first first-team picks since
sponsored a cheesesteak sale. These efforts
2007, junior forward Courtney Ebersole
benefit a great number of children and
and junior goalkeeper Katrina Kelly. Senior
seniors in the County. Without Waynesburg
midfielder Danielle Danhires and freshman
University we would be unable to reach all
defender Victoria Shepherd were given the
these people.”
nod as honorable mention honorees.
In addition to supporting The Salvation
On the men’s side, junior midfielders
Army, the Waynesburg University community
Erick Burke and David Floyd were
collected nearly 340 shoeboxes in support
selected as second-team and honorable
of Operation Christmas Child, once again
mention picks,
sharing the Gospel of Christ around the world.
respectively.