May 2011 Vol. 5, No. 9
IMPACT Inspiring Students to Pursue Lives of Purpose
Stover Center affords students prestigious opportunity A recent trip to the nation’s capital provided a day of hands-on learning for 15 Waynesburg University Stover Scholars. Networking with revered dignitaries enhanced the day’s events as students gained a stronger sense of American politics and law.
F
ifteen Waynesburg University Stover Scholars were recently afforded a prestigious opportunity
to meet with a number of high-ranking officials in the nation’s capital.
“Waynesburg University’s Stover
Scholar program is committed to developing leaders who embrace the constitutional principles that guided the Founding Fathers in an effort to positively impact the direction of American politics and law,” said Waynesburg University President Timothy R. Thyreen. “We want our students to be inspired by those who dedicate their lives to public service.”
During the Washington, D.C., trip,
the students met with Justice Samuel A. Alito at the United States Supreme Court, where he described the dynamics of legal adjudication and shared his views regarding constitutional interpretation.
“I enjoyed meeting with Justice
Alito in Washington, D.C. Having the opportunity to discuss Supreme Court cases with an influential member of the Supreme Court was fascinating and inspiring,” said Madeline Snyder, a senior elementary education major from Jefferson, Pa.
Melissa Fox, a senior elementary/
special education major from Waynesburg, Pa., shared Snyder’s sentiments. “As soon
as Justice Alito walked into the room, I
sophomore sociology (pre-law) major from
gain a stronger sense of respect and
was in awe and felt a part of history,” Fox
Conneaut, Pa., recognized the benefits of
admiration for those who have served or
said.
the day’s hands-on learning opportunities.
are serving our government.”
Commenting on the opportunity
“The trip was a valuable supplement
Waltemeyer’s “respect and admiration”
to interact with prominent officials,
to my Waynesburg University education,”
for political leaders “drove home the
Stephanie Laing, a junior communication
Moyer said.
purpose of the trip,” said Dr. Lawrence M.
major from Nevada, said, “I really enjoyed
Stratton, Visiting Director of the Stover
gleaning such invaluable information
Attorney General Edwin Meese III. Meese
Center for Constitutional Studies and
from respected and influential political
encouraged students to reflect upon the
Moral Leadership.
figures. I now have an opportunity unique
original intent of the Constitution by
from my peers to take these prominent
challenging them to comprehend the
students to these high-ranking officials.
figures’ words and advice and apply them
objectives held by the document’s authors.
to my own ideas for the future.”
Meese urged the students to consider
to interact with individuals who daily
the ways in which the government is
address the constitutional and geopolitical
for the day’s noteworthy offerings.
limited by the document’s structure and
issues of our age,” Stratton said.
enumerated powers.
that are at the height of Who’s Who in
to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the
American Politics and once seemed far
major from Riverside, Calif., said he
first human in space as they discussed
beyond our reach,” said Anthony Cooper,
was honored to represent Waynesburg
cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s 108-minute
a sophomore sociology (pre-law) major
University in such an “influential and
orbital flight with Russian Ambassador
from Lewisburg, Pa.
professional setting.”
Sergey Kislyak at the Russian Embassy.
Laing was not alone in her appreciation “It was surreal to meet dignitaries
Following the meeting with Alito,
The group also met with former
Jacob Waltemeyer, a junior English
“The opportunity to put into practice
“It was a pleasure to introduce our They had the unique opportunity
The students also had the opportunity
“Only 20 years after the Cold War,
students met with Pennsylvania Senator
all that we have been learning through
visiting the Russian Embassy was an
Pat Toomey. Toomey discussed his desire
the Stover Program was an invaluable and
unprecedented and politically insightful
to fight for fiscally responsible policies,
amazing experience,” he said. “Seeing
opportunity for the Stover Scholars,” said
lower taxes and job creation.
a more in-depth picture of the political
Daniel Czajkowski, a sophomore criminal
world in Washington, D.C., allowed me to
justice major from Frederick, Md.
Like Laing and Cooper, Karen Moyer, a
Business students attend largest student investment conference
S
ince its inception into the business
from Canonsburg, Pa.; and Joel Wingard,
program at Waynesburg University
a junior finance major from Uniontown,
professional money managers, hedge fund
in 2009, the Student Investment
Pa., attended the conference.
managers, option broker dealers and other
some of the brightest financial minds in
Club has recognized steady growth.
professionals in the field of finance.”
the country.”
hands-on opportunities outside the
members of the club were recently
classroom that sets student members
Dayton and the United Nations Global
with valuable tools and professional
afforded the opportunity to accompany
apart in the workforce.
Compact, R.I.S.E. is the largest student
ideas to apply to their business classes at
Christian Ola, assistant professor of
investment conference in the world.
Waynesburg.
business administration at Waynesburg
and practice their financial analysis and
University, to the 11th annual R.I.S.E.
investment skills.
opportunity to learn from individuals
and involvement in the markets is due
Forum at the University of Dayton.
with professional backgrounds related to
to the fact that we are being taught by
As a result of this success, four
Joshua Cogar, a junior engineering/
The Student Investment Club offers
It also allows students to develop
“The Club has generated great
“At R.I.S.E., they learned from
Sponsored jointly by the University of
Each year it affords participants the
finance,” Mikkilineni said. “We were able to meet and learn from
The conference equipped the students
“Our broader perspective of business
participation and interest from our
Wall Street, Corporate America, financial
professors who really care about our
chemistry major from Waynesburg, Pa.;
students. As a result, we looked to attend
media, international community, and
learning and well-being,” Htlatky said.
Mark Htlatky, a sophomore business
a conference that would present them
more.
management major from Uniontown, Pa.;
with the opportunity to network with
Puja Mikkilineni, a senior finance major
students from around the world,” Ola said.
was learning about the several facets of
“The best part of the conference