March 2012 Impact

March 2012 Vol. 6, No. 7

IMPACT Inspiring Students to Pursue Lives of Purpose

University awards three Community Impact Grants to benefit students, community In an effort to act out Waynesburg University’s mission of faith, service and learning, three student organizations were granted $1,000 each for their visions for community development.

A

s servants for God, we are called to continually give to others. In 1 Peter 4:10, the Bible states “As

each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” At Waynesburg University, students are taught to provide assistance using their specific gifts and talents. Each semester, Community Impact Grants are awarded during Who’s Your Neighbor Week to students who want to make a difference in the community. Since the fall of 2009, students have been able to see a need within the local community and apply for a grant to aid their choice of community to find its needs and have

project.

Shannon Bartley, junior elementary

“We believe if we can save one life by

come up with exciting ways to educate

education major and CEC president, is

providing individuals with the experiences

a total of $3,000. The Council for

and excite the community about these

grateful for the additional funds that will

and information which enables them to

Exceptional Children (CEC), Freshmen

issues.”

make this day a success.

rethink their choices, our mission was

This year, three organizations received

Bonner Scholars and the 2011 Vira Heinz

Individuals were able to apply for a $500

“We hope this day we have planned not

accomplished,” Digiandomenico said.

recipients were selected by a committee

grant; classes, groups or organizations

only provides a fun day for the children,

consisting of University faculty, staff

could apply for a $1,000 grant. Grant

but also shows others that people with

received $1,000 for their Mondo Giusto

and administration based on the project’s

recipients are required to complete their

disabilities are just like everyone else and

and Garden: Ethical Consumerism and

value to the community, the project’s

project within the current semester and

deserve to be included,” Bartley said.

Sustainable Living project. Mondo Giusto

fundamental short- and long-term impact

are eligible for one award per school year.

and its planning and implementation

Candidates were required to fill out an

received $1,000 for its Distractions While

about practices of fair trade, buying

process.

application that included a budget and

Driving project. The goal of the project

locally and living sustainably. In addition,

a recommendation from a non-family

is to raise awareness about the risks of

the Vira Heinz recipients will hold a

member.

distracted driving through the “Arrive

dedication ceremony for a garden which

Alive Tour.” The Arrive Alive Tour

will serve as a beautiful and sustainable

Sarah Brandstetter, Bonner Scholar coordinator and a member of the selection

The University’s freshman Bonner class

The 2011 Vira Heinz recipients

will educate the community and campus

committee, believes that these grants

After being reactivated last fall, the

are a blessing to the community and

Council for Exceptional Children sought

enables community members to climb

connection between the campus and

the students through the application of

to build relationships and a sense of

into a vehicle and virtually experience

community.

Waynesburg University foundations.

community between local families

distracted driving through a simulator.

“It is so exciting to see students connect

with students with special needs and

Freshman Bonner Scholar and

Megan Peebles, a 2011 recipient and junior interactive design major, hopes

faith, service and learning through civic

University students. The $1,000 grant

psychology major Kyle Digiandomenico

their event will showcase the importance

engagement,” Brandstetter said. “All three

received will support Activity Day on

anticipates the positive effects of the

of buying locally and cause community

organizations have researched our local

campus planned for April 21.

simulation.

members to consider fair trade.

University alumnae continuing Waynesburg’s mission of service after graduation

T

wo Waynesburg University

individuals in nonprofit organizations

receiving the support of a community and

alumnae have made an impact

throughout the city to perform volunteer

the hands-on experience in a potential

end of their leadership experience with

and gained attention for

service for 35 hours a week.

career field,” Graham said.

PULSE, they remember fondly their

their dedication to maintaining the

Both Graham and Spicuzza work

Both women have been recognized

As Graham and Spicuzza near the

accomplishments at both Waynesburg

University’s mission of faith, service and

directly with the skill sets they learned

for their service by an online, higher

University and with the PULSE program

learning after their graduation dates.

at Waynesburg University, such as

education magazine, and Graham

and look forward to a lifetime of service.

social media, newsletter writing and

was recently named one of Western

relations and sociology graduate, and

annual report writing for the nonprofit

Pennsylvania’s 2012 “Rising Stars,” by

things that Waynesburg was able to

Sarah Spicuzza, a 2011 communication

organizations to which they are assigned.

Get Involved!, Inc. These awards are

offer me. Graduating from PULSE is like

and advertising graduate, have continued

Spicuzza serves as an executive assistant

presented annually to 21 local, young

graduating college

life after college with Pittsburgh Urban

at Serving Leaders, and Graham serves as

professionals ages 21-29 in the nonprofit,

all over again,”

Leadership Service Experience (PULSE).

the communication coordinator at East

business and governmental sectors

Spicuzza said. “I

Liberty Development Inc.

who dedicate their time and talent to

am excited to see

community organizations and who are

what God has in

making a positive difference.

store for me.”

Margaret Graham, a 2010 public

PULSE, an organization committed to cultivating a community of young servant leaders to transform Pittsburgh, places

“PULSE provides a great opportunity to explore vocation and calling while

“PULSE is an extension of the great

IMPACT NEWS & NOTES • Waynesburg University will celebrate its 163rd year and the 162nd anniversary of its charter by

University director ordained and installed as Presbyterian Minister

W

aynesburg University’s

the many Ministers and Elders did I look

Roberts Chapel recently

toward the congregation and see how

hosted an ordination and

many wonderful people were there.”

installation service for the Rev. Dr.

The Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes, senior

the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Lawrence M. Stratton as the director

pastor of the Shadyside Presbyterian

Tuesday, March 20. The celebration

of Waynesburg University’s Stover

Church in Pittsburgh, preached

will be held in Waynesburg University’s

Center for Constitutional Studies and

a message entitled “The Great

Roberts Chapel at 11 a.m. The

Moral Leadership and a minister of the

Temptations of Scholarship” in which he

Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes from

Presbyterian Church.

outlined the challenges that Stratton will

be part of Waynesburg University’s

face as a newly ordained minister. One

endeavor of being a Christian institution

Shadyside Presbyterian Church in

The Rev. Tom Ribar, Waynesburg

Pittsburgh will address those in

University chaplain, issued words of

temptation, Barnes said, is to satisfy the

dedicated to the pursuit of truth and

attendance. The public is cordially

welcome and a call to worship for the

educational hunger of students.

service, especially as my academic and

invited to attend.

very special service. Ribar quoted Psalm

“As a professor, and now a minister,

spiritual path to Waynesburg began almost two decades ago,” Stratton said.

46 verse 10, “Be still and know that I

resist the opportunity to fill the hunger

• The Waynesburg University

am God,” to illustrate God’s hand in

of students. God created them to be

Department of Criminal Justice

Stratton’s journey to ministry.

hungry,” Barnes said. “You are to nurture

interim executive presbyter at

this hunger and to help your students

Washington Presbytery, conducted the

Administration and the Office of

Stratton was surrounded by his

The Rev. Dr. Donald P. Wilson,

Admissions will host its spring Mock

colleagues, friends and family as he

and your colleagues ask better questions

prayer of ordination and the “Laying on

Crime Scene Workshop Saturday,

received the traditional “Laying on of

about the world.”

of Hands” ceremony. Wilson charged the

March 24. The event provides high

Hands” ceremony and accepted the

school students the opportunity to

charge to guide Waynesburg University

sang two anthems, “Sicut Cervus,” by

the Lord and to welcome Stratton with

work with Waynesburg University

in the way of Jesus Christ.

Giovanni P. Palestrina and “My Soul’s

open arms. In the same prayer, he called

students and faculty, as well as experts

Waynesburg University’s Lamplighters

University to hold strong to its anchor in

“It was a very special experience to

Been Anchored in the Lord,” by Moses

Stratton to be an example of Christ in

in the field, to analyze crime scenes

be surrounded by so many people from

Hogan, under the direction of Melanie

Waynesburg University’s classrooms and

and collect and process evidence. A

the Waynesburg University community,

Catana, director of choral music at

hallways.

variety of workshops will be offered

along with my family and many friends

Waynesburg University. University

“We live in a broken time; to accept

and will allow students to determine

and colleagues from the past,” Stratton

faculty, staff and trustees, as well as

a call to ministry at a time such as this

if a criminal justice or forensic science

said. “During the service, I looked

University President Timothy Thyreen

could be frightening,” Wilson said. “The

major is right for them.

forward toward the pulpit and lectern;

and his wife, Mrs. Carolyn Thyreen,

University accepts Stratton at a time

only when I stood up after kneeling for

attended to show their support.

such as this to continue a mission of

the laying on of hands and after greeting

“It is a constant inspiration for me to

University alumna speaks about travels, documentary • The Waynesburg University Music Program will present a spring jazz concert Monday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m.

The event will be held in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center. The event is free, and the public is cordially invited to attend. The Waynesburg University Vocal Jazz Ensemble, the Instrumental Jazz Combo and the Percussion Ensemble combine to bring you a night of jazz and percussion standards.

• Waynesburg University’s second annual Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held Saturday, April 14, in the University’s Center for Research and Economic Development.

All undergraduates who have been actively involved with research projects mentored by University faculty are eligible to showcase their work by displaying a poster or giving an oral presentation. All research presented is representative of research as defined by Council On Undergraduate Research (CUR). CUR’s definition states that research is “an inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.”

On February 15, the Waynesburg University community was blessed with the presence of a Waynesburg alumna, Anne Banister. Since graduating in 2009, Banister has committed her life to serving the world around her by applying the skills she gained at Waynesburg University.

She spoke to faculty and students in McCance Auditorium about her life after graduation through a lecture titled “Mountains Between Us: Educate, Equip, Empower.”

During her time at Waynesburg University, Banister pursued a degree in communication with a minor in service leadership. Originally, she was unsure of attending a small school, but after visiting Waynesburg University for the first time, she got a sensation that something bigger was going on and that God was present on campus. She soon found that her academic experience would extend much further than the classroom.

“In the fall of 2006, one of my friends invited me to attend a viewing of Invisible Children during Waynesburg’s ‘Who’s Your Neighbor Week,’” Banister said. “I was absolutely shocked by the genocide in the 20-year war. This really sparked my interest in picking up my minor in service leadership and my interest in helping those in need.”

The staff and faculty at Waynesburg University pushed her to work harder and to achieve more. Before graduating, Anne produced four documentaries for four nonprofit organizations, including the West Waynesburg Jesus Distributor, PeaceWorks, World Vision and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“The faculty at Waynesburg University really did encourage me to be the best that I could be,” Banister said. “The hands on, real world application along with the leadership aspect that Waynesburg focuses on pushed me out of my comfort zone and has really given me more than adequate preparation for what I am doing now.”

Since graduation, Banister has been working with organizations in the small country of Nepal. Located South of China, Nepal is a developing country that suffers from poor health, social inequality and a lack of government support.

“A lot of people are required to fend for themselves,” Banister said. “The country consists of a lot of farming; it’s a physically demanding environment there.”

Banister has been fighting for equal rights in Nepal through working with the charity the Edge of Seven, an organization that invests in projects that further alleviate women in developing countries of social inequalities, along with giving them education, health and economic opportunities.

faith, serving and learning.”

Standout women’s basketball trio named All-PAC The Waynesburg University women’s basketball team was rewarded for one of its best seasons in program history by the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) when it handed out its annual post-season awards. Three Yellow Jacket standouts were honored as members of the All-PAC teams, including senior point guard Hannah Hunter, who was lauded as a first-team pick. Hunter finished second on the team and eighth in the conference in scoring at 13.3 points per game, while also finishing second in the league in assists (5.41 assists per game) and steals (2.96 steals per game). Hunter was also lauded as a three-time PAC Player of the Week and a two-time member of the D3Hoops. com Team of the Week. Junior guard Jessi Drayer picked up a second-team nod after leading Waynesburg and finishing sixth in the PAC in scoring with 14.5 points per game. Drayer was also a member of one of the D3Hoops.com Teams of the Week and her 31 points against Chatham Dec. 10 were the second highest individual scoring performance in the PAC this year. Fellow junior guard Brittany Spencer rounded out Waynesburg’s All-PAC trio with an honorable mention selection. Spencer averaged 10.3 points per game, while leading the team and ranking sixth in the PAC in rebounds with 7.4 boards per game.

After the player awards were announced, Jacket head coach Sam Jones picked up one of the biggest honors of his time with the Jacket women when he was named PAC Coach of the Year.