Yellow Jacket 5.2.13

51 W. College St. Waynesburg, PA 15370

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Vol. 90 No. 23

Coming full

circle

Commencement speaker encourages striving for excellence

By Sarah Bell Executive Editor As a United States Navy gunfire officer, Dr. Bruce Bickel directed air strikes against Communist forces in Vietnam and helped to build an orphanage in the process.

At the same time, in 1968, a college student name Kieu Cong Tin was visiting family in the same Vietnamese city that Bickel was in.

Tin was hit by shrapnel

Photo courtesy of Mad Anthony Yearbook

Last year, the graduation ceremony took place in the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse due to inclement weather. On Sunday, May 19, 653 Waynesburg University students will graduate.

653 to graduate during commencement ceremony Sunday, May 19

By Amanda Wishner Senior Editor On Sunday, May 19, the hard work of 653 Waynesburg University graduates, including 297 traditional undergraduate seniors, will finally come to fruition at this year’s commencement ceremonies.

Commencement Day will begin promptly at 10 a.m., when all graduates are required to

report to Marsh Center in the lower level of Roberts Chapel, where they will don their caps and gowns. The baccalaureate procession line-up will occur at 10:30 p.m., and the procession will officially begin at 10:50 a.m. under the direction of Dr. James Bush, assistant faculty marshal.

The graduates will report to Roberts Chapel at 11 a.m. for the baccalaureate serv-

ice, followed by a graduate luncheon in Benedum Dining Hall.

Tickets are required to attend.

Immediately following the baccalaureate, university honors cords and Academic Excellence pins will be available for distribution in the foyer of the gymnasium.

This is the first year that students are permitted to wear honors cords from various

departmental academic honor societies.

According to Vicki Wilson, university registrar, students were only able to wear traditional Latin honors cords and pins in the past, but this year, members of the faculty came together to make the decision to extend the rule.

“It’s kind of been an ongoing thing; in the See CEREMONY on AA4

during the Tet Offensive and had his leg amputated by a U.S. Army surBickel geon.

Although Tin’s leg was repaired, it was badly damaged; it was not properly repaired until 2007, when Bickel, an executive at PNC, led the forefront in raising more than $30,000 See BICKEL on AA2

Baccalaureate speaker believes education is about transformation

By Kyle Edwards Senior Editor Reverend Dr. Andrew Purves has been chosen to address Waynesburg University graduates, undergraduates and their families during this year’s Baccalaureate service.

A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Purves received degrees in philosophy and divinity from the University of Edinburgh, and a Th.M. from Duke Divinity

School. His Ph.D. is from the University of Edinburgh.

Purves Purves came to the US in 1978 and was ordained by Philadelphia Presbytery. He served as minister of the Hebron Presbyterian Church in Clinton, Pa. until 1983, See PURVES on AA2

Thyreen reflects on First alumni mission trip planned for July time at Waynesburg, traditions on campus

By Sarah Bell

Executive Editor

By Sarah Bell Executive Editor As president of Waynesburg University for the last 23 years, Timothy Thyreen has not had a lot of time to look back and reflect.

On May 19, Thyreen will participate in his last commencement ceremony as president of the university.

However, for him commencement is not about the president anyway.

“I don’t think it’s any more important than any other commencement,” Thyreen said.

“The commencement is for the students and the family.”

As the end of the year approaches, Thyreen was essential in putting together a commemorative addition of The Lamp, Waynesburg’s alumni magazine.

The project made him reflect on the accom-

plishments and changes that he made during his time as president, as well as the time that he and his wife, Carolyn, put into the school.

“Carolyn and I understood from the beginning the significant challenges that we faced here; nonetheless, we felt that Waynesburg was more than worthy of a lifetime of our devotion and hard work,” Thyreen said in a message to alumni in The Lamp.

“We believed that God would bless our efforts if we were willing to make the necessary sacrifices. And so, for 23 years we have labored. It has been a labor of love – a love for the students, for the faculty and staff, for the alumni and friends, and for the community.”

President Thyreen was selected by the See THYREEN on AA3

Bethany Taylor found herself dancing around her house to music by Shakira after finding out she did not get her dream job in Washington, D.C. The senior education major aspires to one day work in the nation’s capital; however, if she would have landed that job, she would have missed the opportunity to attend the first ever alumni service trip with Waynesburg University.

The trip to Patzún, Guatemala, is one that Taylor is familiar with.

As a student at Waynesburg, she traveled to Guatemala three times.

In November, when she said goodbye to the children at the Centro Nutricional y Hogar de Ninos, she did not know when she would have the opportunity to see them again.

“If I would have been offered that job, I wouldn’t be able to go on the trip – my heart is obviously in Guatemala,” she said.

Taylor will attend the landmark trip with six other university alumni,

Photo courtesy of Bethany Taylor

Senior education major Bethany Taylor walks down the street with children in Patzun, Guatemala. Taylor and six other alumni will attend the first alumni trip. one guest and two faculty members from Alumni Relations.

Heidi Szuminsky, director of Alumni Relations, has attended the Guatemala mission trip ten times, both as a Way-

nesburg student and as a trip leader.

Szuminsky was at the forefront of making the alumni trip a reality. She was surprised that the trip was approved so quickly.

“I expected to ask,”

Szuminsky said. “I did not expect it to work out as well as it did and I’m pleasantly surprised and very excited. It’s wonderful to be able to offer our alumni See ALUMNI on AA8

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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Commencement CAREER SERVICES:

University attempts to Graduates need to be willing to move to jobs prepare seniors for “Be persistent, be flexible. It’s almost a full-time debt before graduation

By Eric Bost

Editorial Assistant

It’s that time of year again, when seniors put on their caps and gowns and one by one, receive their diplomas and begin their journey into the real world.

For some graduates, the first step is to begin filling out job applications.

For others, it’s furthering their education in graduate school. In some instances, the

job looking for a full-time job. Just dig into it, put both feet in and go for it.”

Marie Coffman Director of Career Services

journey begins with a little of both.

For the Waynesburg class of 2013, getting hired out of school was practically a promise:

the National Association of Colleges and Employers said that respondents to the Job Outlook 2013 survey reportedly planned to

hire 13 percent more new college graduates this year than in 20112012.

But that was only a projection.

Now graduating seniors have to face reality.

NACE released another survey last week that reported that businesses plan to hire only 2.1 percent more college graduates in 2013 than they did in 2012.

In Pennsylvania, eduSee GRADUATES on AA4

Seniors open doors for future generations

Photo by Angela Wadding

This year’s senior class gift donated money for one of the new doors in Stewart Hall after the renovations. The goal of $2,500 has been surpassed.

Class of 2013 is leaving legacy by donating door in new tower of Stewart

By Rose Huwe Staff Writer When students walk through the doors of Stewart Hall next year, they will be reminded of the vast opportunities that lie before them.

The senior class of 2013 is leaving its legacy by donating a door in the new tower of Stewart.

“The door is meant to symbolize the class of 2013 ‘opening doors’ for future classes,” said Vikki Beppler, an alumni relations representa-

Bickel to give speech Continued from AA2 to send Tin to a hospital in Kenya – until this moment, the two men had never met.

“Bickel came back and raised money for the boy and then flew him to another country so that he could have the surgery he needed,” said President Timothy Thyreen. “That speaks to the character of him.”

This year, Bickel will serve as the speaker during the commencement ceremony on May 19.

Thyreen spoke of Bickel with the highest regard; at the same time, Bickel cred-

tive in the Office of Institutional Advancement.

The belief is that all students will walk through the door in Stewart at least once during their time at Waynesburg, reminding them of classes that have come and gone at the university.

“Even communication students who only have to take two science classes will be in Stewart at some point in their four years,” said Beppler.

The door will be

located on the first floor of the new tower in Stewart Hall. Students will have the option to take the elevator or walk through the door to the first floor.

Beppler could not give a definite answer on what type of door it will be. She said that detail is yet to be determined.

The money collected from students and parents will be presented to President Timothy Thyreen on May 2 at the senior class meeting.

Zachary Mason, who is

on the Senior Class Gift committee and is also president of the Future Alumni Society, will be presenting the donations to Thyreen.

This will be the last senior class gift that Thyreen will receive as President of Waynesburg University.

“The door is a great way to show President Thyreen that his work has been appreciated over the past 20 or so years,” said Beppler.

ited Thyreen for being such an inspiration.

“When he became president, he asked if I would become a board member to help him bring the school back to its Christian heritage,” Bickel said.

Immediately after the request, Bickel agreed and joined the Board of Trustees in 1991. He ended up serving as a member of the Board Executive Committee, as Board Secretary, as chair of the Student Services Committee and as Board Chair.

“He is a person with a great deal of abilities,” Thyreen said. “He is very committed to his faith.”

Bickel continues to serve Waynesburg as a speaker, adviser and member of the Morris Scholar advisory board.

Thyreen said that Bickel helped the university to “get back to [the mission of] 1849.” He added that Bickel was important to Waynesburg’s transformation during his term, as well. Bickel also said he understands the seniors, which is why his commencement speech will not be the typical commencement address.

“It’s going to be a conversation – trying to give advice to college graduates,” Bickel said. “I have been where you are going.”

The executive vice president and managing director of Private Foundation Management Services at PNC Bank added that speaking at this commencement was very important to him because it is the last commence-

ment that will take place while Thyreen serves as president of the university.

“The reason I wanted to do this is because it is his last commencement and I wanted to show my continued support of what [Thyreen] has accomplished,” Bickel said.

Bickel added that students do not have to worry that he will take over the commencement ceremony with his speech – he plans to be short and sweet. In his speech, Bickel plans to tell the graduating seniors, “you don’t want to pursue success, you want to pursue excellence because once you get to the top, the only way to go is down.”

However, Bickel said, when you pursue excellence, there is no way to go but up.

See SENIORS on AA5

By Olivia Latimer Editorial Assistant Debt.

It’s one of life’s largest stressors, a thing most Americans will have to live with at some point or another.

It’s something that has a big impact on the lives of recent college graduates.

Debt is a subject that college students are educated on before they graduate college and enter the real world for the first time.

Most college graduates in America have large student loans to pay off, all the while trying to live on an income and make payments on various other things.

Waynesburg University strives to make sure that students know how to handle debt before they leave.

“Debt is just like any sort of bad habit that continually nags at us,” said Christian Ola, assistant professor of business administration at Waynesburg University. He runs an annual seminar on debt for graduating seniors.

The purpose of the yearly seminar is to “arm students with knowledge on how to take on the world,” said Ola. Currently, there is over $1 trillion in college loan debt (that’s 12 zeros).

“To put that number into perspective, that is like spending one million dollars each day since Judas was born,” said Ola. “Debt prohibits us from being able to accomplish

Purves encourages Continued from AA1 when he was called to join the faculty of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

According to a recent press release from University Relations, Purves’ concise theological insights engage and enlighten a new generation of leaders.

“With a deep concern for the renewal of the church and an unwavering commitment to his faith, Purves speaks regularly on matters of theological and spiritual renewal,” the press release stated.

In a recent address at TEDx LeadershipPittsburgh, Purves talked about his methods of teaching.

“I try to find a way to help my students see the mystery in things, to help them see the inside of things, to help them get a grasp of the mischief at work in things – in people and among people,” Purves said.

“Or to put it more broadly, to get a sense of mystery.”

Purves went on to talk about how he believes that mystery is at the heart of everything, and that there is creativity not just learning, but in teaching.

all we hope to in our lives.”

This is one of the reasons that Ola feels it is important for students to know how to manage debt and payments before they graduate.

There are several pieces of advice regarding debt management that Ola has to offer.

The first suggestion that Ola has for students who are about to graduate or have recently graduated is to pay off student loans early.

“If possible, make one extra payment per year,” said Ola. “This will reduce the amount of years that it takes to pay off your loan, meaning that much less time to be paying interest.”

Another suggestion that Ola offered is to never charge more than you can afford to pay off in full each month.

“If you can’t afford it, don’t charge it,” said Ola. It really is that simple.

A big suggestion that Ola has in terms of not creating unnecessary debt is to buy a car that is one or two years old and try to finance it for three or four years, if possible.

“Some people don’t realize how long a 92 month car payment plan really is,” said Ola. “If a recent grad buys a car with that plan at age 22, they will be 29 by the time they pay it off and by then, it isn’t worth anything.”

Ola also has plenty of advice for younger stuSee PROFESSOR on AA5

“I have resolved to do whatever I can to help my students develop a sense of wonder. I want them to begin to think about their education, not in terms of competitive individualism and hierarchy and so forth, but as a community of discourse and discovery.

About wonder and to be wonder-filled and wondering,” he said.

“Because if I can help my students to be wondering, they might actually read a book once they leave my classroom because they’re filled with wondering.”

Purves said he wants his students to understand that education is about personal transformation. “[Education is] always embedded in culture, always acculturated – never outside of a culture – always open-structured, always open-ended. We’re never sure where it’s going, because we can’t close it off, we can’t reify and close down and solidify that which we know. But we’re opened out to transcendence and wonder, and to amazing things,” Purves said.

“I am about my mind – my person – being transformed, and about the transformation of my students. Whatever else I do, I’m a teacher. And I’ll help my students in any way I can.”

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Commencement

Financial aid changes expected for fall semester

By Chelsea Dicks Arts & Life Editor

his commitment to service through The Parish Project.

Gardner was a 1934 graduate of Waynesburg College. After graduation he went on to study ministry at the Princeton Theological Seminary. Gardner joined the Waynesburg College faculty in 1936, where he was a professor and the college’s Chaplin.

Waynesburg rewarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1954. Gardner’s career at Waynesburg College lasted until his death in 1972.

The Parish Project, headed by Gardner, began within a year of his being hired by Waynesburg College. Under the project’s reign, Gardner and a group of students provided pulpit supply to local towns that were underprivileged, and lacked places of worship.

The aim of The Parish Project, as described by Waynesburg College, was “to use our Christian groups in the student body to bring to the young people of our area the finest kind of scholastic, social and religious values.”

The students involved in The Parish Project set up character building

schools, vacation bible schools, sunday schools, week day bible schools and young peoples’ associations in Waynesburg’s neighboring towns. During the project, two new churches were built with the financial aid of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. Towns affected by The Parish Project include Carmichaels, Stringtown, Nemacolin and Crucible.

In his publication “The Waynesburg College Story,” William H. Dusenberry said, The Parish Project represented the beginning of a new spiritual frontier which should be extended to wider horizons.”

Every year, two awards are given- one to an individual and one to an organization on campus. However, this year, because the panel could not choose between Wharrey and Paganelli, two individual awards were given. In the 21 years of distribution, two individual awards have been given on only two other occasions.

The winners were judged by a panel of five, made up of Waynesburg See STUDENTS on AA5

Like many other small universities of higher education, Waynesburg University is undergoing some financial changes.

In the past, when a student applied for financial aid, the verification process included verifying the accuracy of one’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid data, which was verified by the submission of signed copies of the IRS 1040.

But starting this semester, future verification processes will look much different.

Federal regulation through the United States Department of Education is calling for Waynesburg to change its verification process to make it more customizable.

“What you are required to provide for verification will be different than someone else applying for verification,” said Matthew Stokan, director of financial aid.

“Their goal, obviously, is to simplify the process.”

From Stokan’s point of view, he is not sure that this idea will be simplifying the process.

He said that the verification worksheet that used to be two pages long will now be five or six pages long.

According to Waynesburg.edu, beginning in the 2012-13 academic year, an IRS transcript will be required for verification instead of a copy of the 1040.

If selected for verification, students will need to contact the IRS and order a tax transcript by one of the following

Thyreen reflects

ing parts of his year.

His favorite part of the ceremony is the processional and recessional.

It is tradition at Waynesburg University that during the processional, students split in two groups as the faculty, staff and administrators walk through the two lines.

This process shows that students are grateful for everything that the university employees have done for them during their four years at the university.

After the graduation ceremony, the recessional has the opposite effect.

The faculty and staff

line up and let the students walk through the lines.

It is a symbol that their students are now their peers.

“I think everybody loves that,” Thyreen said.

“Hopefully it’ll be outside because it’s a beautiful walk through the park for both the faculty and the students. One of the things we try to maintain is that the tradition of the processional is really something special.”

Thyreen also enjoys how beautiful the campus is now, in comparison to when he first stepped foot on campus.

It has transformed

Photo by Angela Wadding

Junior English major Julia Paganelli and senior pre-med major Shawn Wharrey were awarded the Harry E. Gardner service award. The awards were given based off of years, commitment, creativity and impact to service.

Senior, junior receive service award

By Megan Bayles Staff Writer Three years. More than $60,000.

Both time and money can be included among the accomplishments of senior biology major Shawn Wharrey during his time at Waynesburg University.

As co-chair of the university’s mini-Relay for Life for three years, Wharrey has spearheaded efforts to raise more than $60,000 for cancer research.

His dedication to both the campus and community are two contributing reasons that Wharrey was one of the two students selected to receive the Harry E. Gardner service award.

“I think that serving others is so important because not only do you have the opportunity to meet and learn from some amazing people, you learn a lot about yourself,” said Wharrey. “I can honestly say that Waynesburg University has truly taught me to integrate my faith, learning, and service on a day to day basis and there is nothing better than that.”

In addition, Wharrey

has been a frequent volunteer at Good Shepard Veterinary Hospital. He has also participated in three mission trips during his four years at Waynesburg.

Julia Paganelli, junior English major, was honored as well for her service efforts to eradicate the poverty and hunger in Greene County. She is now in the process of publishing a book based upon her past summer’s research on how poverty effects Greene County teens.

In addition, Paganelli is a Bonner scholar and volunteered regularly at the Greene County Food Security Partnership, the Jefferson Baptist Church, the Corner Cupboard Food Bank, Bridge St. Commons and St. Ann’s Good Neighbor Dinner. She has also participated in two mission trips.

“The top reason [to serve others] is to reflect on Christ and his coming kingdom,” said Paganelli.

“This is what God wants the world to look like-people loving other people sincerely.”

These service awards were named in honor of Rev. Harry E. Gardner and

Continued from AA1 Board of Trustees at Waynesburg College to serve as the university’s fourteenth president on Dec. 2, 1989.

Since then, commencement has been one of the most reward-

methods: on-line, by phone or by mail.

“What we have been told is that a large amount of people do file their tax returns on-line, so when you complete your FAFSA you can now use the IRS data retrieval tool, which will be faster,” said Stokan.

“Which will eliminate the need to ask for copies of tax returns and wait for sometimes weeks for them to get there.”

Stokan believes that this sounds good on paper, but, like everything, it is not perfect.

He said that some loopholes, like divorced couples who file a joint tax return, might prevent students from using the IRS data retrieval system.

Stokan said that the system changed due to overwhelming requests for tax returns and not enough hands to fill the requests.

The process for students who are non-tax filers is still the same.

One would need to send the school a copy of the IRS Form W-2 for each source of employment income received for tax year 2011.

“The bugs are still being worked out,” said Stokan.

“But with the Internet, things are bound to change and hopefully become easier.”

Stokan began explaining about how much the financial aid process has changed over the last twenty years he has been working for Waynesburg University.

He said that 12 years ago the school verified every student who went through the financial aid process, but now they only select a few due to unnecessary need.

since he began his presidency years ago.

“All of those things that you take for granted as you walk through the park weren’t there back then,” Thyreen said.

Thyreen wishes the Class of 2013 the best of luck on all of their future endeavors.

He is confident that after being educated at Waynesburg, they will go into the world being prepared for any situation.

He is also sure that his time was spent well surviving Waynesburg University for the past 23 years.

“We have been given a wonderful opportunity to provide a model for Christian higher education; to be a beacon of light to a world that desperately needs a moral force that will help bring about peace and justice,” Thyreen said in a letter to alumni in The Lamp.

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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Commencement

Activities planned during dead week

Ceremony to take place

By Katherine Mansfield

ities include the trip to Kennywood May 11; a day at Splash Lagoon and bowling at Meadow Lanes Thursday, May 16. None of the activities or trips cost more than $10 for graduating seniors.

Dead Week also offers those committed to community service one final opportunity to serve Greene County.

On May 14, all interested parties are invited to serve dinner at St. Ann’s church.

Dinner preparation begins at 3:30 p.m.

And seniors are welcome to Adopt a Highway May 16 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Those interested in cleaning up Waynesburg University’s section of highway are invited to spend the afternoon beautifying a section I76 near campus.

So those seniors who plan to spend the week between finals and commencement catching up on valuable sleep might want to reconsider all the snoozing.

Because Dead Week promises to be a lively, memory-making experience.

For more information on the trips and activities taking place during Dead Week, check out the flyer on myconnect, or follow @WU_SAB on Twitter for updates.

past a lot of kids have worn [academic honors society cords] without permission,” said Wilson.

“The department chairs had to provide lists to the provost, and he had an approved list of societies that could wear the cords… At a lot of other universities, students wear their cords for special ceremonies like pinnings, but because we don’t always have that… we try to make graduation as special as we can. If they’ve got the honor, they’ve earned the cord.”

Departmental honors society cords should be distributed before the ceremony by advisors.

Any other extra pins or medallions are not approved.

At 1 p.m., graduates will begin to prepare for commencement.

Students graduating with a bachelor’s degree will report to the gymnasium to robe, and master’s degree and doctoral students will report to the Center for Research and Economic Development building.

Commencement will begin at 2 p.m. outside of Miller Hall. However, in the case of inclement weather the rain site for the cere-

tions, but it’s going to be very competitive,” said Coffman.

“You have to be ready for that interview and you have to have a completed resume ready.”

Being prepared was one of the key factors Coffman pointed out that could improve a graduate’s chance of finding a job in their field right out of college.

According to a survey taken by 500 hiring managers by recruitment firm Adecco, 66 percent believe new col-

lege graduates weren’t ready for the workforce immediately after college.

“The key to getting your foot in the door is to have a good resume, a good cover letter and good interviewing skills,” said Coffman.

“You have to go in knowing that you can do the job and are able to tell the employer how you can do that job. I wouldn’t say it’s easy, but it’s doable.”

No matter what, Coff-

Copy Editor The nickname “Dead Week” is rather misleading.

Because Dead Week – the week between finals and commencement, in which seniors have nothing to do but wait – is, ironically, filled with opportunities for seniors to enjoy each other’s company off campus before college ends and real life begins.

Every year, Waynesburg University plans a variety of trips and activities to fill the schedules of soon-to-be graduates in the week leading up to their college graduation.

“It’s great that the school provides trips for seniors to participate in and to have a last ‘hurrah’,” said Katie Bingman, senior English and creative writing major.

“I’m looking forward to the Pirates game and Kennywood.”

WU seniors will cheer on the Buccos at their game against the Brewers Tuesday, May 14.

Vans will leave Stover at 5 p.m.; cost is only $10 for transportation and a ticket.

The fun doesn’t begin – or end – with the Pirates game, though.

Other Dead Week activ-

Graduates encouraged Continued from AA2 cation students have it the hardest.

According to Eric Veronikas of the Patriot News, Pennsylvania schools cut over $900 million in public education funding in 2012 in order to coincide with Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget and a poor economy.

According to Marie Coffman, director of career services at Waynesburg University, although some career fields have declined in the state of Pennsylvania, graduates have to be willing to move to where the jobs are.

“If you’re willing to go to North Carolina or South Carolina, you can get a job teaching,” said Coffman.

“Honestly, if [graduating education students] are ready to move, they can get a job and be ready to go by August.”

Coffman also said that while there aren’t many job openings in the education field, some have recently cropped up, and aspiring teachers should always be ready for an opportunity to apply.

“There are jobs open.

I’ve heard of some local school districts that are going to have some posi-

Continued from AA1

Photo courtesy of Mad Anthony Yearbook

Congressman Timothy Murphy spoke during last year’s commencement services.

This year, the commencement speaker will be Dr. Bruce Bickel. The celebration will be held on the lawn outside of Miller Hall, unless there is poor weather. mony is the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.

Other rain locations, such as the Goodwin Performing Arts Center and Alumni Hall, will be announced on the morning of graduation and marked clearly with signs.

man encourages all graduates of the Waynesburg class of 2013 to stick with the application process, no matter how long it takes you to find your career.

“Be persistent, be flexible. It’s almost a full-time job looking for a full-time job,” said Coffman.

“Just dig into it, put both feet in and go for it.”

The tradition of holding commencement outside of Miller Hall is a practice that President Timothy Thyreen has upheld since being appointed in 1990, Wilson said.

“It’s always been that when you matricu-

late as a freshman, that’s typically where the ceremony is held; that’s where you get your certificate coming into the university,” she said. “So it’s kind of a full circle when you have the ceremony out front.”

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Page AA5

Commencement

Social now plays an even bigger role in job placement

By Rob Longo Editorial Assistant With social media begging to play a huge role in job placement, recent college graduates should become more sagacious about what they post on their Facebook walls and Twitter accounts.

“More and more employers are beginning to Google your name,” said Marie Coffman, director of career services and placement. “Sometimes, they’ll even do this before they bring you in for an interview.”

When employers look at Facebook, Coffman said the first thing that goes into consideration is

Students win award Continued from AA3 University faculty and

Professor gives advice Continued from AA2 dents who are just starting out in college.

Ola encourages students to figure out a budget for themselves for each week or month and know

the profile picture.

“The pictures don’t have to be professional headshots, but they shouldn’t be in bad taste,” said Coffman. “There better not be any red Solo cups in the picture.”

Coffman also said that employers are now beginning to ask potential employees to “friend” them on Facebook, only for a few hours to look at their profile. At that point, Coffman said employers look at everything from recent status updates to friends.

“You just have to be careful,” Coffman said.

Coffman said the same guidelines apply for those who have Twitter

accounts.

“Make everything private and don’t have a negative attitude,” said Coffman. “Even if you had a bad previous experience – whether it’s a bad job experience or internship, don’t Tweet about it.”

According the Coffman, LinkedIn is where the social media land-

scape shifts from fun and games to professionalism.

“LinkedIn is definitely professional,” Coffman said. “LinkedIn should be nothing but professional development.”

Coffman also said that it is wise to follow companies that employees would like to work for on LinkedIn.

staff.

Their decision was based upon the individual’s years of service, commitment to service, creativity in service and the impact their service had on themselves and those

around them.

In addition, the applicants were required to write a personal essay.

“I try not to be a voting member because of my involvement with service overall within the Univer-

sity,” said Dave Calvario, director of the Center for Service Leadership and a member of the judging panel.

“I let the words in their essay speak for themselves.”

their personal spending habits.

“Create a budget for the month and take out that money in cash and put it in an envelope,” said Ola. “Only spend what’s in the envelope and when it’s gone, it’s gone. Don’t ever dip in past that budget.”

Debt is very important for students to be aware of before assuming the role

of a grown-up in the real world.

“The number one fear in the U.S is that people will outlive their money,” said Ola. “Yet no one does anything about it. No one saves.”

Debt is something that can be very damaging to many aspects of life if not taken care of responsibly.

Right now, around 50 percent of divorce cases in America cite financial troubles as the main reason for the divorce.

“Having no debt removes a tremendous element of stress,” said Ola. “You need to be independent in life, and you can’t be independent if you owe people things.”

“Make everything private and don’t have a negative attitude. Even if you had a bad experience – whether it’s a bad job experience or internship, don’t tweet about it.”

Marie Coffman Director of Career Services

“Try to find people in the organization and connect with those who have similar jobs,” she said.

According to an article on the Business Times website, 93 percent of employers are now using LinkedIn to recruit new workers.

Waynesburg University has a number of resources to help students navigate the job market after graduation.

Professional development, a one credit class, is offered for those who want to perfect their résumé and learn more tips on landing a job after college.

Coffman tries to hold a professional headshot day once a semester, where

students can get their picture taken against a professional background to use on their social media profiles. Recently, the career services office at Waynesburg created a Facebook page; tips and tricks on how to get your dream job are posted frequently.

Above all, Coffman said make sure all of your profiles match up to who you really are.

“Employers are looking for consistency,” said Coffman.

If anyone has any questions, Coffman’s door in the career services office on the third floor of the Stover Campus Center is always open.

Seniors donate gift

what the gift will be,” said Mason.

“These students are chosen by the Alumni Office.”

For the past two years, the senior class has donated to the mission trip fund.

The fund was one of the options for this year’s gift, along with the door and a donation to the scholarship fund.

However, the consensus was to donate the door and impact Waynesburg University students in a new way.

“I am truly proud of the class of 2013 because of the impact they are leaving at Waynesburg University,” said Beppler.

Continued from AA2 The goal was to raise $2,500 for the door. As of press time, the goal had already been surpassed.

“Any donation makes a difference. I believe the senior class has seen what alumni do for them and realize that giving back to the school is great,” said Beppler.

The process of choosing what the gift will be was left to the Alumni Office.

“There is a senior class gift committee and the four seniors select

YELLOW JACKET

Page AA6

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Commencement

Yellow Jacket seniors reflect

It’s about the people; Children’s story applies to post-college life they make the place I started crying about graduation last Saturday.

I was texting Nick Farrell, who will soon take my place as the Yellow Jacket editor, and I thought about how I would have to say goodbye to him, the rest of the Yellow Jacket staff and my Department of Communication family.

I can’t handle the idea of walking away from everything I have here.

Yes, I have had a lot of success in our department.

Yes, I have a pretty decent GPA and I have learned a lot.

But to me, walking away from the academic aspect of Waynesburg isn’t the hard part – I will always be learning. Plus, I’m on my way to graduate school at West Virginia University, so I won’t have the opportunity to miss the classroom setting too much.

It’s the people here.

From the moment I stepped on this campus, I realized that Waynesburg was different.

I was a freshman, convinced that I would never make a friend in college and everyone that I passed said hi to me. It was easy to feel right at home.

My sophomore year, I switched my major from “exploring” to “communication,” and that is when my life changed forever.

And no, I’m not just saying that for dramatic effect.

For the first time in my entire life, I felt like I really belonged somewhere. I started to shed the angry exterior that I built up during the course of my dreadful high school career.

My eyes were opened to a whole new world.

It started with, arguably, the sweetest professor on campus – Professor Kristine Schiffbauer.

SARAH BELL Columnist

She saw that I was angry and she asked about it. She told me that she was there if I needed to talk.

It may not seem like much, but it was enough to make me adjust my attitude.

I realized that there were people who cared about me. I realized that the professors here wanted me to succeed.

And I realized that if I didn’t start appreciating my life more, not only would I have a miserable college experience, but I would get nowhere in life.

(Be honest; who wants to work with someone who is negative all the time?)

Now when I tell this story to the people in the department that didn’t know me then, they have trouble believing it.

Sure, I still get irritated when the Jacket’s not going well or I have what seems like 65 assignments due in one week.

The difference is that I love my life now.

I love it.

I love newspapers.

I love this department.

I love this university.

Like I said, it started with Professor Schiffbauer, but my “family” grew from there.

My adviser (and the Yellow Jacket adviser) Brandon Szuminsky, quickly became one of my favorite people on campus.

He helped me grow as a person and as a professional.

He listened to me talk about everything – from what I think my dreams mean, to problems on the Jacket staff to my theories as to why he and I should

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go...” – Dr. Seuss, Oh, the places you’ll go When I was little, my mom read this book to me. At the time, I saw it as nothing more than an entertaining story for children. And that’s what I was: entertained.

KYLE EDWARDS Columnist

When I got to college, I started working at the library.

Not surprisingly, this book popped up again, and I decided to flip through it, for old time’s sake. This time, I wasn’t just entertained.

I understood.

I hadn’t read the book

in years, and I opened it – at the very beginning of that stage in my life – and I get it. And it stuck with me through the rest of college.

We’ve all heard the saying, “life is short,” and I’m no exception.

But I guess you never really know exactly what it means until you’re a few short weeks away from graduation and the real world is suddenly staring you in the face.

It’s like you’ve just finished a terribly long jour-

ney, and just as you cross the finish line, you look up and see that it’s not a finish line at all. It’s just another starting line.

And the gun is about to go off.

With graduation rushing up to meet me, I am suddenly struck by the gravity of my situation.

I’m about to be done with school.

Forever.

On top of the sheer enormity of that simple See STORY on AA7

Surprises make every day more interesting My life is constantly full of surprises.

It really keeps things interesting.

If someone told me in high school that in four years I would be graduating from a university with a big, bad bachelor’s degree, I would probably laugh in their face.

For the longest time, I was convinced that college was absolutely not for me.

Let’s be honest: I was an underachiever with no plans and no urge to grow up any time soon.

I applied to one college during my senior

year, AMANDA and WISHNER that was Waynesburg Columnist University. I only chose it because my sister went there, and for the sole purpose of shutting up my nagging guidance counselors.

I got my acceptance letter and promptly forgot about it… until I graduated from high school.

Most of my friends had colleges lined up; they couldn’t stop talking about their cam-

pus visits and classes and future roommates.

Suddenly, my mind changed.

I didn’t want to be left out; I wanted that experience, too.

For the last month of summer, I panicked.

I visited countless two-year and four-year campuses, but nothing felt right.

And that’s right about when I pulled out my Waynesburg University acceptance letter.

I made some frantic phone calls and asked if

they’d still take me.

One week later, I started classes.

At first, Waynesburg didn’t feel right, either.

For the first two years, I hated it.

I tried to drop out more than a few times and go to cosmetology school instead. I had a hard time relating to people.

Things just weren’t right in my life, and I was unhappy.

But in my darkest days, I adopted a new mantra (which I probably See LIFE on AA7

Bonner scholarship provides valuable lessons

When I first sat down to write this all I did was stare at the blank page when it finally hit me: I’m writing this because I will be graduating college in a few weeks.

Wait, come again? How can that be? I feel like orientation was just a few months ago. As a college student isn’t your typical response.

When I really think about my time as a student, the first thing that comes to mind is the person I have become. Four See PEOPLE on AA7 years ago, I was the little

ANGELA WADDING Columnist

girl who grew up in the country and didn’t know anything about the real world or my potential.

I was coming to college because I knew I didn’t want to stay at home and I was ready for a change. I also knew that I wanted to do something amazing with my life I just didn’t know how. I remember

the first time I told my parents I wanted to be a photographer.

My dad looked at me, tilted his head and said, “Excuse me?”

“Why not?” I said. “It’s something I love to do.

Why would I want to do something I hated every day?”

My dad responded with some smart remark about making money and how important money is.

He’s right, to an extent.

My mom, being the amazing women she is, politely reminded me of

this conversation a few weeks ago when I had a minor breakdown about how I was never going to find a job and if I did find a job it wouldn’t be paying enough. I mean, I could barely afford college.

The whole college thing was helped by the fact that I was receiving this scholarship that I knew nothing about, other than it made my mother extremely happy.

I quickly learned everything there was to know See SCHOLARSHIP on AA7

YELLOW JACKET

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Page AA7

Commencement

People make places better

A bittersweet experience

Continued from AA6 stay friends forever.

You should feel bad for him. He doesn’t get paid enough for this.

And then there’s Dr. Sherman, who never has time to finish his class prep because I’m sitting in his office, acting like it’s my office too.

He is, by far, the person who encouraged me the most about attending graduate school. He pushed me to take my GRE and to start applying.

He told me that I could get into Harvard and that I would, eventually, be the editor of the New York Times.

Though I know that’s not true and I don’t see

Photo by Katherine Mansfield

There are currently four seniors on the Yellow Jacket staff (from left): Angela Wadding, Amanda Wishner, Kyle Edwards and Sarah Bell. Each senior reflected on their experiences during their time at Waynesburg University.

Wadding, Wishner, Edwards and Bell all agree that the end of senior year is a bittersweet experience.

Life full of surprises Continued from AA6 found on Tumblr or something): “Bloom where you’re planted.”

And that’s exactly what I did.

I found my own little niche in the Department of Communication and the Yellow Jacket.

I eliminated all of the toxic influences from my life and got to know some of the most genuine, unique people I’ve ever met, like a grownup goth, a Ryan Gosling lookalike and the second half to legacy that is Amangela.

I’m finally really happy with where I am.

But now that I’m in full bloom, right where

Scholarship valuable Continued from AA6 about the scholarship and when I say quickly, I mean a few days.

The scholarship was the Bonner Scholarship, and it was an information and number overload when I finally got the lowdown.

I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, except that I liked to help my community and that I had this opportunity because of it.

So, there I was, this naïve, nearly small-minded, freshman, and I heard that I would be doing 140 hours of community service in one semester, which boiled down to ten hours per week.

I was like, hold the phone, no way.

I’m going home.

Mother told me otherwise.

I’m happy she did,

I’m planted, it’s time for me to leave.

Unlike some of my fellow senior friends, I’m not afraid to graduate.

I’m not afraid that I’ll wind up starving on a street corner somewhere. My parents have taught me that you can have a lot, even if you only have a little.

If you keep up with my columns at all, you know that I’ve got all my ducks in a row to move to Wyoming in July.

Just in case you’re not up on your geography, that’s 1,400 miles away.

Part of me is excited.

It’s a whole new adventure in a beautiful city.

But deep down, I’m completely terrified.

I’ve lived in the same house in Canonsburg all of my life. My mom is my best friend. I’ve had

the same irreplaceable group of friends since high school.

I’ve just begun to enjoy the amazing personalities and people that I’ve met here.

Just thinking about leaving everything behind is enough to make me cry like a baby and make chickening out look extremely valiant.

But life isn’t slowing down.

It’s time to start all over again.

That being said, I guess I’ll leave you with some wisdom that I wish I could go back and tell my freshman self; things that I’m still struggling to understand and keep in mind right now as I begin this new chapter in my life.

Make the best of the hand life deals you, and

don’t take anything for granted.

Enjoy the time you have with people while you have the chance, but don’t let your fears hold you back. You’ll only wind up with regrets.

Things change faster than you can ever imagine, for the good and the bad.

It’s not always easy, and it hardly ever makes sense in the moment, but everything always seems to work out for the best in the end.

Life is one big adventure, and you have no way of predicting what’s just around the corner.

It’s completely unexpected.

And that’s one of the things that makes it so great.

Thanks for being along for the ride.

A-Wish out.

(once again, amazing woman), because without her push I would never be who I am today.

The Bonner Scholarship hasn’t just gotten me through college financially; it has also opened my eyes to so much as well as provided a ridiculous amount of opportunities for me.

I was able to attend national conferences and represent Waynesburg University.

I was also able to plan one of those national con-

ferences and learn to be proud of my hard work, after a few sleepless nights anyways.

My point is, this was more than a scholarship.

Of course the money for school was an amazing blessing and it really took a lot of burden off of my parents and myself and yeah, I’ll be leaving college with a really low amount of debt.

But it has made me, me.

I now know how

important it is to know and learn about the community in which you live.

I know what I want to do with my life.

That’s something that would have taken a lot longer to learn without Bonner.

I now understand that poverty and hunger cannot be solved by giving people things and most important, I learned is that this will always be a part of me.

This is who I am and who I will remain.

Story applies to reality Continued from AA6 word, I’m facing the real world with no job offers (yet – fingers crossed) and no idea what the future holds for me.

Can’t I just go back to high school, when life was simpler?

Lord, I never thought I would hear myself say THAT sentence.

But it’s the truth. The real world is fast approaching, and many of us feel like we’re not even ready.

But here’s another truth: we will be.

“You have brains in your head. You’ve got feet in your shoes.”

If you stop and think about it for a minute, we seniors are as prepared as we can be to move on to the next step of our lives.

We’ve run the gantlet that is today’s system of education, and we survived.

Sure, there are some who may be more prepared than others – I know several people who have their job and housing situations already lined up – but when it comes to being prepared, we start at the same base level.

We’ve all received a wonderful education from Waynesburg University that will allow us to go out into the world and make our mark.

Whatever major you’re about to complete, you’ve been given the necessary tools to face your chosen field’s challenges head-on.

What you choose to do with those tools will shape the course of your future. It’s all completely up to you.

myself at either of those places, it’s nice to have someone who believes that I can do anything.

That is what I’m going to miss about Waynesburg.

I’m going to miss late nights at the Jacket. I’m going to miss it taking Katherine Mansfield and I 45 minutes to walk to my apartment that’s five minutes away from campus.

I’m going to miss chasing Professor Krause down to ask him one question. I’m going to miss knowing that my twin sister, Brittney, is across campus in Miller Hall if I need her; Kelly Witas quoting “Pitch Perfect” with me; Katie Fletcher and Katlin Denny bringing food to the Jacket office, because it’s the only way they can see me.

Who are we kidding?

I’m going to miss it all.

“You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”

Albert Einstein once said, “Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.”

What I take from this is that we should try to not only be of value to the company or organization that we work for, but we should also be of value to ourselves.

Another saying that’s tossed around a lot is that if you “find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Until recently, this sounded very cliché to me. Now I know better.

I’ve come to realize that I’ve been stressing out too much about finding a job and paying off my looming pile of debt and not enough about making sure that job is one that I can be happy in.

If you’re a senior like me, that should be your major focus right now (aside from finishing up classes and getting ready for finals, that is).

You don’t want to get a job and grind through it for the next few years, if not the rest of your life.

You want to find a job that will give you the opportunity to smile every day.

You’re just starting the next stage in your life and if you’re not happy, you’re doing it wrong.

Go out, meet new people, fall in love, go exploring, travel, make new memories, learn a new skill, learn a new language, sing, dance, cry, laugh, pick up a hobby, shake hands, kiss babies.

“You’re on your own.

And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go.”

YELLOW JACKET

Page AA8

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Commencement

Graduate school an option for seniors Students encouraged

By Lucas Diethorn Assignments Editor It is the time of year when seniors to be say their goodbyes to classmates, professors and schools.

But some students may be continuing their college career in graduate school next year.

Waynesburg University offers graduate programs in business, counseling, education and nursing, as well as professional degree completion programs in business and nursing.

According to the university’s website, Waynesburg’s graduate programs are designed for working professionals in the Pittsburgh area. The curriculums are rigorous, challenging and rewarding, according to the site.

With off-campus centers located in Monroeville, Seven Fields and Southpointe, students can find a location that is close to

home or work.

The university continues its mission of faith, learning and service through its graduate program.

The graduate program website states, “through our mission of making connections between faith, learning and serving, Waynesburg University seeks to inspire students to a life of leadership and purpose for the glory of God. We help build the foundation for our students to transform their communities and the world.”

There are admission requirements for getting into graduate school.

For Aaron Thompson, who graduated from Waynesburg University last year with a degree in communication, graduate school was an offer he could not refuse.

“The graduate system has an assistant position in the sports information office; they pay for the

MBA,” said Thompson.

“The experience has been rewarding. I hadn’t had much business experience, so it has kind of opened my eyes to a lot of different things.”

The first step to graduate school is the application and essay process.

Both can be found on the website at waynesburg.edu, or the admissions office on campus in Miller Hall.

Along with the application and essay, students need to turn in a resume and two letters of reference. Once all of that is completed, there is an interview with the admissions committee.

“I interviewed for the position in March, but I had worked in the office before. Professor Krause encouraged me to do that and told me that grad school was beneficial,” said Thompson. “It has taught me a lot about the approach of the business

side of things.”

In order to be admitted into the Master of Business Administration program, applicants must have graduated from an accredited four-year college, have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, be at least 25 years old and have three years of post-baccalaureate experience.

For Thompson, the experience was exactly what he needed to advance his career.

“I only took a couple of business classes in school, but it’s beneficial towards students, especially if you’re in communications, to have a business background as well,” said Thompson.

“It has been a good fit for me. I took a lot from the experience.”

For more information on the graduate program at Waynesburg University, an inquiry form is available at www.waynesburg.edu/we b/gaps/inquiry.

“I do not think it is ever too early to get involved in alumni events and activities,” said recent 2012 graduate Alison Busby.

Busby attended the Greene County Alumni Dinner Friday April 26, in Benedum Dining Hall.

Since, graduating last May with an elementary and special education degree, Busby is currently working as a graduate assistant in the Teaching and Primary Sources program at the university. In her job with Teaching with Primary Sources, Busby has the opportunity to work with educators and continue to develop professionally.

While working in Teaching with Primary Sources, she is pursing her Masters in Education in instructional technology from Waynesburg as well.

“I have continued my connection with Waynesburg University,” Busby said. “On top of continuing my education at Waynesburg and working part time for the university, I serve as the WU cheering coach.”

Busby cheered while she was a student at Waynesburg and is glad she is able to stay involved with it.

“Coaching cheer allows me to stay connected to the students and continue to be involved on campus,” Busby said.

Since Busby is still so involved with Waynesburg, attending the alumni dinner was something she was excited about.

“The dinner was a great success,” said Busby. “I enjoyed catching up with recent alumni and meeting

lor.

“Ever since I went on my first trip, they stole a piece of my heart. They’re my family. I can’t believe I get to go back so soon after graduation.”

The group will be com- By Matt Jones pleting some sort of manu- Staff Writer al labor during the trip, though the specifics have When students return to not yet been decided. campus in the fall of 2013 Waynesburg University will look a bit different.

The campus will be undergoing many renovations this summer. The plans for improvement will start at the end of this academic calendar year and continue into cation within the field.

“I am going to graduate the month of August. The school and work as a gradu- improvements that will take ate assistant,” said Sallach. place, including current reno“I need to pass the boards to vations to the Rudy Marisa be certified to go out as a Field House, will cost nearly graduate assistant and work $500,000. Roy Barnhart, senior vice president of finance on my own.”

Results take two weeks and admissions, feels that the to receive; the wait can be physical changes to the camnerve wrecking for some of pus will benefit the students in the long run. these young adults.

“People take for granted “Our boards mean just as much to us as the boards the time and money that it mean to nurses. We have to takes to maintain the campass the exam to get certified pus,” said Barnhart. “At the to then apply for a states end of the day, these changes license,” said Sallach. “No are here for the students.”

Among the many renoone understands the seriousness of the BOC. If you do vations to campus are not pass, you cannot changes that will be done to become certified and, there- the dorm halls of Thayer, fore, cannot practice. That is Martin, Denny and Ray. The community showers four years of education wasted and a new career path to in Thayer Hall will be turned into private showers then take.”

when blockades are added to create personal shower stalls. Kelly Hardie, assistant dean of student service, said that she received many complaints about the showers.

“Students had actually recommended that we change the community showers,” said Hardie. “We took those concerns and now are in the process of making those changes.”

Other changes to the dorms will include new carpets, curtains and a patio for Ray Hall, and new windows for Denny Hall. The dorms aren’t the only buildings that will undergo renovations.

The performance and looks of the Criminal Justice House, Buhl Hall, Benedum Dining Hall and the locker room at John F. Wiley field will also be enhanced. The Criminal Justice house fire arm stimulation room will be expanded; Buhl Hall will get a new boiler system, Benedum Dining Hall will receive a new carpet and the John F. Wiley stadium will have a new hot water tank for both the home and visiting locker rooms installed.

Continued from AA1

Photo courtesy of Bethany Taylor

Heidi Szuminsky, director of donor and alumni relations, poses with Dora on a recent trip to Guatemala. Szuminsky helped to make the alumni trip a reality. and Szuminsky are Waynesburg graduates.

“All service trips, and in particular the trip to Guatemala, are life-changing for those who attend and so it’s natural that alumni would want an opportunity like that after graduation,” Szuminsky said.

The alumni attending

the trip range from the graduating classes from 2005 to 2013. For Taylor, the opportunity to attend the trip again will provide a number of unique, eyeopening experiences. But that is not what Taylor is looking forward to the most.

“I just can’t wait to see my kids again,” said Tay-

Athletic Training seniors prepare for test

By Adam Moses Staff Writer Waynesburg University athletic training seniors are preparing for – and stressing over – the upcoming Board of Certification exam.

According to the board’s website, the BOC exam is the only accredited certification program for athletic trainers in the country – which is why Waynesburg students have been preparing for the test for four years.

The test is a compilation of everything the seniors have learned during their time at Waynesburg University.

“Major concerns were basically that everything we’ve learned the past four years – there was so much to review,” said senior athletic training major, Nichole

Peters. Over the past five years, the national percentage pass rate for the Board exam has risen from 32.0 percent to 47.9 percent, according to bocatc.org. Senior athletic training major Mary Sallach Waynesburg University did an outstanding job of preparing her for this exam.

“Waynesburg University completely prepared me for this exam,” said Sallach. “I have been challenged for the last four years on this material both in the classroom and out at clinical.”

Peters agreed that the learning she received at Waynesburg University has been valuable in preparing her for the board exam.

“I think Waynesburg University did a really good job,” said Peters. “Our ath-

letic training department is a difficult major, and by our class load as well as our clinical placement, I think that we were well prepared.”

Many of the senior athletic training students plan to use these credentials to ensure their future and careers.

“Right now I have a job lined up in Charleston, W.Va. at Dynamic Physical Therapy. I would be sent out to a local high school if I got the job, so it would be a great experience,” said senior athletic training major Brandon Karabinos. “If I do not pass the exam I will not have this wonderful opportunity, so me getting the job depends on passing the exam.”

Some athletic training students plan to use the certification to gain higher edu-

By Abby Pittinaro

past alumni.”

Busby enjoyed seeing such a wide age range and enthusiasm for the University.

“The people in attendance Friday was a testament to the positive impacts that Waynesburg University had and continues to have on its students,” said Busby The main goal of the dinner was for the university to update the local alumni and friends on what is happening on campus.

“Even though they are close and connected with our campus community there still may be some information they are not aware of,” said Alumni Relations Representative, Vikki Beppler.

At the dinner, a current student spoke to give her Waynesburg testimony.

“Greene County native and current student Megan Bayles was at the dinner to speak to our guests about why she chose Waynesburg University and her experiences so far,” Beppler said.

“She did a great job.”

Since the event was a success, the university hopes the Greene County Alumni Dinner becomes an annual event.

“We host alumni dinners across the country each year, so I expect this will be on our calendar for next year as well,” said Beppler.

Alumni Relations puts on several events a year for alumni and recently have tried to connect current students with them. It is never too early to get involve according to Busby, and you can get involved now. If you are interested in connecting and networking with alumni, contact Vikki Beppler to join the Future Alumni Society.

Alumni trip planned the opportunity to continue in the lifestyle of service after they’ve graduated.”

The decision to take the trip to Guatemala, instead of another mission trip location, was partially because Szuminsky has experience traveling to the country but it was, more importantly, based on the fact that the alumni specifically requested to take a trip back to the center.

“This is really a trial run. We didn’t even open this trip up to the whole alumni family. We only invited those who had gone before,” said Szuminsky.

“If all goes well, which we believe it will, we will most likely continue to offer an alumni service trip each summer and it may or may not be to Guatemala.”

Vikki Beppler, Alumni Relations representative, is attending the trip alongside Szuminsky. It will be her first time traveling to the country. Both Beppler

to get involved in alumni activities Staff Writer

Campus undergoes many renovations

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Senior enjoys being more than just a number

A time for reflection

By Eric Bost Editorial Assistant Bright lights, big city: that’s what Corey Rearick thought college was all about.

But that’s not the experience the biology major got when he arrived at Waynesburg University.

“I really expected college to be something that it’s not,” said Rearick. “I expected a big atmosphere; a really alive place.

I thought about transferring because I saw all my

friends go to big state schools and saw how much fun they were having.”

At the end of his freshman year, Rearick sent an application to his dream school, the University of Pittsburgh, but decided to stay at Waynesburg even before receiving a letter of acceptance. It turned out to be the right decision, because that year, Pitt had accepted too many people and had to room See SENIOR on BB2

Photo courtesy of Karen Moyer

Senior pre-law major Karen Moyer (center) poses with friends in front of a Roman bath. In addition to majoring in pre-law, Moyer minored in math, history, philosophy, political science and English.

Pre-law major leaves mark through service, classes

By Rob Longo Editorial Assistant It’s not every day that two professors have a dinner table discussion arguing over a student. Senior pre-law major Karen Moyer may be the exception.

“My wife came home one day and began telling me about this wonderful student that did really well on her math assessment test,” said Richard Waddel, professor of criminal justice and social sciences.

“I said she couldn’t have her because she was my student. So we had a dinner table argument over who got her. We ended up coming up with a compromise.”

Waddel’s wife, Kathryn, is an instructor in the math department.

“I’m glad we came to a compromise, or else there would have been a lot of

Photo courtesy of Karen Moyer

Moyer traveled on a mission trip to Belize during her sophomore year at Waynesburg University. discontent in the Waddel household,” Richard Waddel said.

Moyer, a native of Con-

neaut Lake, Pa., will graduate with five minors – math, history, philosophy, political science and Eng-

lish – in addition to a prelaw degree.

Between balancing classes and playing soccer for the Yellow Jackets, Moyer was also a member of the law society, the Stover Scholars program and the Honors Academy.

As if she wasn’t busy enough, Moyer found time to study abroad at the prestigious Oxford Academy in England last spring. While studying abroad, Moyer traveled Europe, visiting Ireland, Rome, Portugal and Spain.

“The cost to travel around Europe is relatively cheap,” Moyer said.

Moyer has also traveled to South America, when she spent her spring break in Belize her sophomore year.

As far as law school goes, Moyer may hold off for the time being.

Smithyman looks foward to life after graduation

By Kyle Edwards Senior Editor

Senior accounting major Carly Smithyman is ready for graduation.

“Fortunately for me, I committed to a job with UPMC after graduation back in October,” the South Hills native said. “I will be a financial analyst in a two-year accelerated financial management rotational program.”

Smithyman explained that, through the program, she will have the opportunity to spend time in a hospital as well as three other areas that each last six months. “[This job experience] will enable me to discovSee PRE-LAW on BB4 er where my strengths

and desires are for permanent positioning after the two years are complete,” Smithyman said. “I also plan on getting my MBA at the University of Pittsburgh through UPMC throughout the course of my rotational program.”

Smithyman graduated in 2009 from Thomas Jefferson High School.

While Smithyman said that the number of memorable stories she has acquired from Waynesburg over the years cannot be put into a short version of words, she has been fortunate enough to gain great friends through participating in both women’s varsity volleySee GRAD on BB2

Full circle: Education major returns to alma mater to teach

By Kyle Oland Sports Editor Jordan Harvey began her career at Evangel Heights Christian Academy. When she graduates, Harvey will return to Evangel Heights; however, the math and education student will no longer be the one learning, but the one doing the teaching.

“I have a job offer from [Evangel Heights Christian Academy],” said Harvey.

“I would be teaching middle school math and seventh grade Bible and language arts.”

Harvey, a gifted math student according to her professors, was meant to be a teacher. She has worked as a math tutor in

the Knox Learning Center since her freshman year and tutors, on average, 16 hours a week.

“I really enjoy helping people figure out their problems and putting it all together,” she said.

And, according to her professors, Harvey is very good at teaching. “[Jordan] is a superior mathematics student,” said Dr. James Bush, professor of mathematics.

“She is meticulous, detailed and very thorough.”

According to Bush, his pupil has a number of qualities that will make her a great teacher.

“She is very poised and mature,” he said. “She has the talent to be a teacher,

and I expect her to expect a high level of math proficiency such as I have.

There would be no greater tribute than for her to hold her students the way I have held her.”

Teaching runs in Harvey’s family: her mother is a teacher at Evangel Heights. The idea of working with her mother one day is something that Harvey is excited about.

“It would be interesting working with my mom.

She would actually be my boss,” said Harvey. “I think at times I would just have to shut my mouth and be like, she is my mom, but she is also my boss. It would be a balancSee TEACHER on BB7

Photo courtesy of Jordan Harvey

Education major Jordan Harvey plans to return to her high school, Evangel Heights Christian Academy, to teach Bible and language arts and math after graduation.

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Page BB2

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Spotlight

Athletic training major learns to expect the unexpected

By Angela Wadding Chief Photographer During her time at Waynesburg University, Mary Sallach learned to expect the unexpected.

The most unexpected thing was her engagement.

“I met the love of my life here in Eberly Library,” said Sallach. “I didn’t want a really serious relationship while in school, but now I am getting married next June after I finish graduate school.”

After graduation, Sallach will attend California University of Pennsylvania to receive her M.S. in athletic training.

Sallach’s involvement with the Athletic Training Student Association has been a large part of her WU life: she was first a member, then secretary, and eventually served as president of the organization.

That is not the only way Sallach has been involved on campus. Dur-

Photo courtesy of Mary Sallach

Senior athletic training major Mary Sallach (right) learned to expect the unexpected during her four years on campus. She plans to attend California University of Pennsylvania to earn an M.S. in AT after graduation. ing her sophomore year, Sallach attended a mission trip with the university to Puerto Rico to work with the Roberto Clemente Sports City.

One of Sallach’s favorite

memories is from that trip.

“When I came back, we were then invited to a Pirates game and sat in the manager’s box with Roberto Clemente, Jr.;

Louis Clemente and their mother, as well as the comanager of the Pirates and some other players from the team that won the World Series that year,” Sallach said.

Waynesburg University instilled in Sallach a love for community service.

“I can say that, after going to school here for four years and being a part of a lot of community

service projects, and then going on mission trips, [Waynesburg University] has really proved to me that community service and mission should not be an every once in a while thing but a part of life that goes along with everything else,” said Sallach.

Waynesburg has shaped Sallach into the woman she is today.

“Waynesburg University has taught me to be confident in the skills you know and to always trust that God will place you where he sees you fit the best,” she said.

And even though she is ready to take that next step into the unknown, Sallach will never forget her time as a Yellow Jacket.

“I am going to miss my friends and peers. I have high hopes for all my friends – I know they will go off to far places,” said Sallach. “Some great people go here and I will miss learning from them, as well as laughing with them.”

Senior combines Computer science major pursues passion love of music, life “It would be awesome to combine proBy Kyle Oland

nesburg University Sports Network started a popular Pittsburgh Pirates blog called “The ‘Mc’ Effect.”

The soon-to-be Waynesburg grad generated a cult following because of the blog and Anderson’s Twitter account has more than 2,000 followers.

“At its best, the blog would get 5,000 views a month,” said Anderson.

Additionally, Anderson spent last summer working for TribLive Radio as a commentator on the daily Pirates pregame show.

“I think the Trib realized I knew what I was talking about because of

my blog and they realized I was pretty good at speaking on air,” he said.

During that time, Anderson coined the catch phrase ‘MarteParty’ when the Pirates top prospect Starling Marte was called up to make his debut.

He said after Marte hit a homerun in his first game, the phrase trended across the country and was even said on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight.

Being a realist, Anderson understood that breaking in as announcer would be difficult upon graduation, so he focused

on his computer science degree.

After graduating, Anderson will take a job with Remote DBA Experts in Pittsburgh as an entry-level database administrator.

While his days on the radio talking about baseball have come to an end, Anderson still would love to combine his passion for baseball and abilities in mathematics and computer science into a career.

The graduating senior had an interview with ESPN, but said the job was way over his head.

He believes, one day, he will be qualified to work for the national sports outlet.

“It would be awesome to combine programming, mathematics and sports and combine them all together to tell people information that former jocks would not be able to tell you,” said Anderson.

at a smaller school like Waynesburg because he could interact with professors on campus, which would be more difficult at a larger state school.

“I remember I failed my first organic chemistry test, and I went to the teacher and explained to him that I never usually fail things and that I needed help,” said Rearick.

“He went through every single problem with me. He took an hour and a half out of his day

to explain the entire test to me again, and I don’t think that would happen at a big school.”

Even though he likes the community and special attention a smaller school like Waynesburg has to offer, Rearick said that he still would like to attend school in a big city. After graduation, Rearick plans to take the year off to travel.

Although it will be difficult to be away from his girlfriend of more than

two years, he said that it’s something you have to toughen up about.

Rearick said that after his year of traveling is over, the next step for him is medical school, preferably in a bigger city.

“Pitt is number one through five on my list. I really, really want to go to Pitt,” said Rearick. “I just want to go to a city.

I’ve spent enough time here in [Waynesburg]. So anywhere where there are buildings and lights.”

met throughout the duration of each sport season have given me amazing friends and ‘family’ that will never be forgotten,” she said.

“I have met so many people within the small campus environment,

establishing close relationships with many great people that turned into even greater friends.”

Friendships weren’t the only kind of lasting relationship that were formed during her time

here, Smithyman said.

“I was also lucky enough to meet my best friend and fiancé during my time here who has, along with everyone else, impacted my life greatly,” Smithyman said.

Sports Editor

By Nick Farrell

Assistant Sports Editor A journey from New York to Pennsylvania presented senior sports broadcasting/sports information major Steven Hullings with an amazing opportunity three years ago.

“I did a lot of online college searching on my own, and with surveys through College Assistance Plus, Waynesburg was a consistent name along with several other schools,” said Hullings, a graduate of Prattsburgh Central School. “I visited nine schools, and Waynesburg had the most to offer me.”

Hullings admitted that the presence of fellow New Yorker and former Major League Baseball broadcaster Lanny Frattare in the Department of Communication was a plus.

“Lanny was probably at least 50 percent of the reason why I came here,” said Hullings. “Lanny was a big draw because I knew I’d be getting quality teaching and quality critiquing from somebody in the field which I aspired to go into.”

Thanks to his classroom experiences and dedication, the Penn Yan, N.Y., native climbed the ranks at WCYJ-FM in the blink of an eye. After his third semester, Hullings was appointed student general manager of the campus radio station.

“My most rewarding experience came when I was asked to be the general manager,” said Hullings.

“The semester before, when I was just applying for an executive staff position, I was very afraid that I wouldn’t even get a position. Just to know that my hard work had paid off – that’s probably the most significant and rewarding experience for me.”

Hullings, who began his

career at Waynesburg as a sophomore, has made wise use of his three years here. He has taken advantage of opportunities both on and off campus to further his career. Last summer, he interned with West Virginia Radio Corporation and, more recently, he participated in the Department of Communication’s first mission trip, an eight-day sojourn to Trans World Radio Bonaire in January.

Hullings said that this mission trip experience, combined with Waynesburg’s commitment to faith, academics and service, may have helped him find what he deems a fulfilling career.

“My dream job would be to work for or own my own radio station that’s not just a radio station, but a ministry center,” said Hullings.

Hullings said he hopes to incorporate hardcore and metal music into his dream radio ministry job.

Richard Krause, chair of the Department of Communication, recognized Hullings’ achievements, which include leading the radio station and announcing Waynesburg football and men’s basketball for Waynesburg University Sports Network. Krause said that Hullings has seized and succeeded in every opportunity during his three-year journey that took place 360 miles away from home.

“I remember when I first met Steve, and talking about everything that was possible here,” said Krause. “You have that conversation, and you hope that student enrolls and you hope that student becomes involved. This is one of those few times where, when we talked about what potentially could happen, it’s been exceeded.”

In middle school, Jon Anderson’s dream was to be a broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After selecting Waynesburg University as the destination for his higher education, Anderson wanted to enroll as a sports broadcasting major.

But because his father would not let him declare sports broadcasting as a major, Anderson entered the field of computer science.

“At first it was kind of sad, because I thought my dream had ended,” said Anderson. “But turns out, the sad story turned out happy and I realize now why my dad did what he did.”

As it turned out, Anderson was able to successfully pursue both of his passions.

Anderson announced on the side for the Way-

Senior enjoys time Continued from BB1 some of them in hotel rooms around campus.

“I’m glad I didn’t [transfer] because I don’t think I would have done as well academically at a big school,” said Rearick.

Rearick said that he’s happy he decided to stay

Grad makes big plans Continued from BB1 ball and lacrosse teams.

“The people I have

gramming, mathematics and sports...to tell people information that former jocks would not be able to tell you.”

Jon Anderson Senior computer science major

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Page BB3

Spotlight

Weaver thirsts to make a difference

By Rob Longo Editorial Assistant

Photo courtesy of Bethany Taylor

Senior education major Bethany Taylor holds Cristina, a child who lives at the Centro Nutricional y Hogar de Ninos in Patzún, Guatemala, where Taylor attended three mission trips.

Education major follows calling to teach

By Katherine Mansfield

feel about learning.”

Taylor has certainly made learning fun for the students she taught at Jefferson-Morgan Elementary.

“That was the best part of student teaching, was being able to really be an encourager,” said Taylor. “I would have students come to me…and just be like, ‘I wrote this story, it’s really cool. Would you like to read it?’ Just being able to encourage what their talents were [was rewarding].”

When Taylor was not making an impact on students in the classroom, she was making a difference in the lives of orphans in Guatemala – she has been on three mission trips to the third world country and will be returning this summer for the alumni trip. “[The kids] have nextto-nothing as far as material possessions go, but they

And sing, badly.”

One of her favorite college moments happened in Some people are born to October – Taylor’s friend, crunch numbers. Others who was studying marine are born to write. biology in North Carolina, And Bethany Taylor was surprised their group of born to teach. friends with a weekend “Teaching just feels natvisit. ural to me,” said Taylor, “I was an emotional senior education major. “I mess because I was so get in the classroom and I excited,” laughed Taylor. love it. I love trying new “We hadn’t seen her in so concepts; I love trying new long, and she just showed things. It’s so fun – you up. We got to hang out have a ball. Kids say the with her all weekend…it funniest things. It’s great.” was really nice to hang out Taylor has known she together and catch up.” wanted to be a teacher Though Taylor will since second grade, when miss Waynesburg UniverMrs. Guzzo inspired her to sity – “College went so want to share her passion fast,” she said – she is eager and knowledge with othto take her first steps into ers. the real world.

“She was just so awe“I love the D.C. area – I some. She loved teaching,” love how diverse it is, and I said Taylor. “She was so think there’s so much to do excited about it, and that there,” said Taylor. “It’s By Olivia Latimer made us want to be excited definitely growing in the Editorial Assistant about it and learn, so I just field of education. I’m hopwanted to make people feel ing to get a job teaching in Six weeks in Belize, the way that she made me the D.C. area.” honors in nursing and leadership were some of the highlights of Jenna Griffith’s time at Waynesburg University.

Among many things, one of the senior nursing major’s largest achieveBy Eric Bost ments during the last four years was being awarded Editorial Assistant the Vira I. Heinz Women It’s the small, close-knit in Global Leadership community of Waynesburg Scholarship. This scholarUniversity that Julie Tischship enabled her to spend er likes best about this colsix weeks in San Ignacio, lege.

Belize.

“The small classrooms During her time in and the small community Belize, Griffith lived with in general have been really a local family and combeneficial, just because you pleted her internship at feel like you can get to the San Ignacio Hospital. know people easier and creAside from her experiate deeper relationships ence in Belize, Griffith with people,” said Tischer. was involved in many other nursing-related Only once has Tischer met Waynesburg Universiorganizations and activity’s President Timothy ties at Waynesburg University.

Thyreen; that meeting Some of her involvebecame a story that she’ll ments include Sigma never forget.

Theta Tau International – Tischer, an avid rock a nursing honors society – climber, and some friends and Student Nurses Assodecided one day that climbciation of Pennsylvania. ing the Goodwin PerformGriffith also gained ing Arts Center would be a nursing experience workblast. ing as a lab assistant in the “We were climbing up nursing lab, where she the side of the GPAC and mentored sophomore [President Thyreen] saw us nursing students. Griffith from his house and he was also a Leadership called campus security on Photo courtesy of Julie Tischer scholar. us,” recalled Tischer. “Two For three of her four Senior biology major Julie Tischer poses with a turtle shell, showing off her personSee KEPHART on BB6 ality. Tischer really appreciated the community aspect of Waynesburg. years at Waynesburg, GrifCopy Editor

are just so genuinely happy and thankful for just being able to spend time with us,” said Taylor. “They taught me so much about how to really appreciate the little things in life.

They really helped me to value relationships and the things that God’s blessed me with.”

God has been a driving force in Taylor’s life; she integrates her faith into everything she does, and Taylor said she feels blessed to have been given the opportunities to serve in Guatemala and to play piano for Upper Room and Chapel.

Though Taylor is involved with many campus organizations, including Kappa Delta Pi, the Council for Exceptional Children and Peer Education, she enjoys spending time off campus.

“I like going on road trips,” said Taylor. “I’ll just get in my car and drive.

Heidi Weaver is thirsting to make a difference.

Born and raised in Lancaster County in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, Weaver attended Lancaster Mennonite High School, where she was involved with the student government and played soccer.

When it came to choosing a college, Weaver made a list of what she wanted and came to the conclusion that Waynesburg University was the right choice.

“There were a few reasons why I picked Waynesburg,” Weaver said. “It was very affordable, and I liked the fact I could play soccer here. I also like the faith element of the school as well.”

Weaver discovered her passion in 2011 when she studied abroad. Weaver spent one month of her summer in India, thanks to the Vira I. Heinz Program, where she worked on water development projects.

Though she originally wanted to work in foster care, Weaver realized what she really wanted to do was provided clean water to those who do not have access to drinkable water.

Weaver recently got back from Los Angeles, where she worked with The Thirst Project, a nonprofit organization, for three months. According to their website, The Thirst

Close-knit community a plus for Tischer

Project is an effort to spark a movement in high schools and colleges around the country to raise awareness and provide solutions to the water supply problem across the world.

Weaver spent the past couple of months traveling across the country speaking to high schools and colleges about water.

“I want to help continue working with people that don’t have clean water,” said Weaver. “I want to make the world a better place.”

Weaver holds the effort to produce clean drinking water to all very close to her heart.

“I want to see people reach their full potential and not be hindered by something that shouldn’t be the leading cause of death,” Weaver said. “You can’t care for someone’s soul before you care for their body.”

After graduation, Weaver is considering taking a tentative position with The Thirst Project.

“No matter what, I just want to help people,” said Weaver.

Reflecting on her time at Waynesburg, Weaver has a few words of advice.

“Take chances,” she said. “I never planned on being involved as much as I did. Through random opportunities and talks, my professors pushed me to take risks.”

Senior encourages participation at WU fith worked at the Writing Center as a writing consultant.

“Writing and literature, outside of nursing, are two very big passions of mine,” said Griffith.

During her freshman and sophomore years at Waynesburg, Griffith was involved with the National Theatre Honors Society, Alpha Psi Omega.

Upon graduating from Waynesburg University, Griffith will be working as a nurse at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., in the neonatal intensive care unit. “[One of my favorite memories was] last semester during my pediatric and OB rotation,” said Griffith. “It was the most fun I’ve had with nursing.”

Many things stand out in Griffith’s mind as favorite times from Waynesburg University, including “meeting all of my best friends in Stewart Hall,” said Griffith.

Griffith expressed how grateful she is for the department that she was in during her college career. “[One of my favorite things I did] was being part of such an outstanding nursing program and growing from everyone I have met at Waynesburg,” said Griffith. “Also, Taco Tuesdays with my nursing girls.”

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Page BB4

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Spotlight

Senior appreciates Christian atmosphere

By Lucas Diethorn Assignments Editor As the school year draws to a close, graduating seniors reflect on their time at Waynesburg University.

“I’ve really loved my time here at Waynesburg,” said Emily Schubert, senior psychology major. “I’ve made some of my best friends, met my fiancé [Jason Logan] and had some of the best mentors.”

Schubert began at Waynesburg University as a communications major, but switched to psychology her sophomore year and added a minor in Biblical and ministries studies.

For a while, though, Schubert did not think that Waynesburg was the school for her.

“Honestly, I thought about transferring during my freshman year to another school that was more of a ‘Christian bubble’ school,” said Schubert. “Then I realized how valuable it is to have a school where I can grow in my faith without the college prescribing exactly how that has to happen.”

Schubert explored her

faith by joining the Chapel band. She also played in the orchestra, was a Leadership scholar and was president of the Pro-Life Advocates.

Schubert enjoyed all of the activities at the university, including the service-learning project that is required.

“For service learning class, I liked the trip I went on for the Pittsburgh Project,” said Schubert.

“We helped elderly people in Pittsburgh with their home repairs.”

That was not the only traveling that Schubert did during her time at Waynesburg.

“I loved my semester studying abroad,” said Schubert. “I went to the University of Oxford and had such a challenging, rewarding time.”

Schubert was very pleased with her experience at Waynesburg and found that it encompassed much more than just learning in a classroom.

“Throughout various classes here at WU, and then my classes over there, I really started to understand that all truth is God’s truth,” said Schubert. “It’s a pretty freeing experience.”

Involvement, education important to Kephart

By Lucas Diethorn Assignments Editor “One of my biggest joys is that I’ve been able to be involved in so much in the last four years,” said Evan Kephart, senior Biblical and ministries studies major.

Kephart focused his studies on religion and philosophy at Waynesburg University. He received the Biblical and Ministries Studies Department’s Outstanding Senior Award, and was nominated for the Harry E. Gardener service award. But the acknowledgements don’t stop there: he also received the Exceptional Impact award through the Bonner Scholars Program at the university.

Kephart played the drums for both the Chapel worship team and the Upper Room worship team for two years.

Pre-law major reflects Continued from BB1 “It all depends on what kind of job I get after college,” said Moyer. “I might take a year or two off.”

Moyer is interested in becoming either an abstractor or a paralegal for a law firm after graduation.

If Moyer does get a job as a paralegal, she said she would most likely wait

Kephart serves the community outside of Waynesburg, as well. He has been a staff member at Pine Springs Camp for the last six summers.

“Service has been such a huge part of my life here at Waynesburg,” said Kephart. “If I think about it, I pretty much majored in service learning. Every class, every lecture – they all contributed to my thinking about service.

I’ve come to realize the depth of learning that can take place through serving, and I couldn’t thank Waynesburg or the Bonner Foundation enough for the commitment to service that they have instilled in me.”

Though he enjoyed the Waynesburg experience, Kephart was not sure that he would choose Waynesburg four years ago.

See PROFESSOR on BB7

Photo courtesy of Brittney Bell

(From left) Juliann Isgan, Michael Sickles, Natalie Naser, Colin Wilson, Krystal Bowlen, Brittney Bell and Melissa Shoaf, make up the first class of middle level education majors to graduate from Waynesburg.

Bell embodies mission through service, learning

By Katherine Mansfield Copy Editor Stuffed animals always made the best students.

“You know, they always did exactly what I wanted,” joked Brittney Bell, recalling a childhood spent play-teaching her siblings and stuffed animals. “Their handwriting looked a lot like mine, so I thought they were so smart.”

Bell has wanted to be a teacher ever since she can remember, and her passion for and dedication to education shines through her every action.

Bell, a Bonner Scholar who is also active in Kappa Delta Pi – the education honor society – and Drus, was recently awarded the Department of Education’s Outstanding Senior Award for middle level education, and participates in community service in both Greene County and abroad.

Though she spent her senior spring break serving in Jamaica, it was her mission trip to Camden, N.J. – the United States’ most dangerous city – that had the biggest impact on Bell’s life.

“These kids that are so young are telling you stories about their life…that you never want to experience, ever – about how their dad got killed or how their house got broken into and their dog got shot,” said Bell. “But they just, they shrug it off, they say it like it’s nothing.

After graduation, Bell plans to spend two months in Camden, N.J. – the United States’ most dangerous city – tutoring children as part of the Urban Promise program. Bell first traveled to Camden last spring.

Even though they’ve experienced all these things, they’re still so faithful; they still have all this drive and so much passion. I just think that’s so nice.”

Learning from and teaching students is a job that Bell says should not remain limited to the classroom.

“It’s not just a job where you go the last minute when you have to get there and leave as soon as the bell rings,” she said.

“I think it’s important for teachers to let kids know that they really care about them.”

When she isn’t studying, student teaching, working at Dairy Queen

or sleeping – Bell does enjoy a nice, long nap every now and again – the graduating senior makes time for adventure. She loves trying new foods, taking road trips and being pushed out of her comfort zone.

One of Bell’s proudest and most memorable college moments was completing the Quaker Steak and Lube atomic wing challenge with her best friend and twin sister, Sarah.

“I am a huge, huge fan of spicy food and I have always wanted to do it,” said Bell. “I was like, ‘Oh, I want to do this so bad,’ and so I did, and it was extremely painful. I went

deaf in an ear for five minutes – I can’t really recall the situation because my mind was so hazy because it hurt so bad to eat those wings, but I did it.”

Waynesburg University has been a wonderful experience for Bell, but she is ready to spend two months in Camden, working with children, after graduation.

“I don’t know what I want in five years,” said Bell. “I had this long-term goal when I came to college, and my goal was to graduate. And then I gained so much from the experience. …So I have no idea where I’m going to be in five years, but I’m sure I’ll learn a lot.”

Hands-on experience a highlight for senior

By Chelsea Dicks

two years before trying to get into law school. When that time does come, Moyer hopes to continue her education somewhere in California.

Overall, Richard Waddel is pleased, not only with Moyer, but with the senior class as a whole.

“I’ve really enjoyed this group,” Richard Waddel said.

“Sometimes you want to flunk some students so you can see them a few more years. I hope I’m still around teaching when their kids come here.”

Photo courtesy of Brittney Bell

Arts & Life Editor When she graduated high school, Alyshia Meyers was still unsure of where she would receive her higher education. But she did know that she wanted to major in forensic science.

“I had a high school teacher who really got me into forensic science,” said Meyers. “She really enjoyed it and enjoyed teaching it, and I guess she passed that on to me.”

Meyers said that her love for solving puzzles

fits perfectly with a forensic science major.

After visiting the small, close-knit campus of Waynesburg University, Meyers knew that this was where she belonged.

She managed to form a close group of friends during her freshman year that remained intact throughout her time at Waynesburg.

“Every favorite memory I have of Waynesburg goes back to all my friends, and we are doing something from going to football games to just having a movie night – it’s all

they [my favorite memories] center around,” said Meyers.

Some of Meyers’ greatest accomplishments were being elected president of the Forensic Science Club and getting involved with the school and the community.

“It is a lot of fun to organize and get ready to do,” said Meyers. “And doing things such as mock crimes scenes.”

Meyers is graduating this semester and said that her senior year has been hectic.

She is still not sure

what she is going to do after graduating; she hopes to get a job and, if not, she will probably go to grad school.

Meyers is about to head out into the real world, but she wants to leave a little advice for underclassmen. After four years at Waynesburg University, Meyers has advice for underclassmen.

“Start looking early for a job. Go into your senior year knowing what you want to do, and have a plan,” said Meyers. “And, most importantly, have fun.”

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Page BB5

Spotlight

New experience draws athletic training major to WU

By Angela Wadding Chief Photographer Waynesburg University was the college of her dreams.

Though WU is 3,000 miles from Rachael Moon’s hometown, Brea, Calif., the Cali girl chose Waynesburg because she wanted to try something new.

“I chose Waynesburg University because I wanted to be adventurous, and Waynesburg was a private Christian college with an athletic training program,” said Moon.

“It also had a football team, which makes the athletic training program that much better.”

Moon will be graduating in May with a double major in athletic training and exercise science.

After graduation, Moon plans to move back west and attend California State University, where she will earn a Masters degree in kinesiology.

Moon said she has learned a lot during the

Photo courtesy of Rachael Moon

Senior athletic training and exercise science major Rachael Moon attended a mission trip to Jamaica during her time as a students. Moon is most grateful for all of the people she was able to meet at Waynesburg University. last four years.

“Not only did I learn a great amount within my field of study, but I also grew as an individual

through campus life, activities and my experiences,” said Moon.

“As a west coaster, I got to experience east

coast culture and gain knowledge about different social settings.”

One of the things Moon has grown accus-

tomed to during her time at WU is the cold.

“I now have a winter wardrobe,” laughed Moon.

“I also never expected to experience my first snow day while I was here.”

Moon has been a member of the Athletic Training Student Association during her career as an athletic training major.

She has also attended mission trips to Puerto Rico and Jamaica, which Moon said were some of the best experiences she had during college.

Moon is grateful for the friends she has made at Waynesburg University; these friends are what she will miss the most when she travels back California after graduation.

“I met some amazing people here that I would never have met if I didn’t attend Waynesburg,” said Moon.

“The Athletic Training Student Association also worked hard to be involved in activities outside of our group, and I thoroughly enjoyed each opportunity.”

Senior gives advice for becoming a star Minto looks forward

By Nick Farrell Assistant Sports Editor How do you become a star as a freshman at Waynesburg University? Ask senior Megan Peebles, and she’ll tell you to win Waynesburg Idol.

“Winning that was really cool, and so was the fame afterward,” said Peebles, a digital design major. “Right after I won, people would point and be like ‘Are you Megan Peebles?’ And then [instructor of communication] Brandon Szuminsky had me sign the newspaper article where my face was. I thought that was really cool because I was a freshman and he was acknowledging me in class.”

The girl with the golden pipes from Uniontown, Pa., has done so much more in the last four years

than just win that singing contest. She has also served as the editor of Mad Anthony, the campus yearbook, for the last three years.

Peebles’ tenure as yearbook editor has been one of the longest and most successful of any editor, said Richard Krause, chair of the Department of Communication.

“To my knowledge, I know of only one other student leader who had an editor position for three years,” said Krause.

“Megan stepped in at a time when there was a hole there, and we needed somebody good. It’s not typical for us to hire a sophomore, but I think the record indicates that we’ve had two really good publications under her leadership and we’ll anticipate and expect a third when the next yearbook is

published.”

Peebles remembers the pressure of taking over the position as a sophomore, especially at a time when rumors were spreading about the cancelation of Mad Anthony.

“I heard that they might cancel it, so I knew that I definitely needed to step up my A-game,” said Peebles.

Both Krause and Peebles believe that the yearbook has come a long way in the last three years. Her proudest accomplishment as yearbook editor was transitioning Mad Anthony into a full-color publication. This allowed Peebles to make a permanent mark on Waynesburg lore, one that is even more significant than her Waynesburg Idol title.

“Whenever I was hired, I wanted to have a color yearbook. That was my

big thing, because I really like color,” said Peebles.

Peebles has also proudly seen Mad Anthony’s popularity increase after each publication.

“Pretty much everyone knows that we have a yearbook now, and that was a big thing,” said Peebles. “They know that it’s free and that it comes out annually.”

Just as Peebles says she is sometimes inspired by what she finds on social media, perhaps her own work will inspire future designers at Waynesburg.

“We want our students to get involved in the department, which is a message that is communicated to the freshmen the very first day we meet,” said Krause. “[Peebles] has certainly done that, and that’s a very good role model for the students.”

to embracing future

By Olivia Latimer Editorial Assistant Some students fear college graduation and what comes after it.

Others look forward to embracing it.

Marissa Minto, senior nursing major from Butler, is very excited to enter the real world as a working nurse.

Upon graduation, Minto plans on working as a nurse for the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC, where she completed her internship.

During her time interning, Minto worked as a patient care technician in the emergency department at the children’s hospital.

Other career options Minto is considering are

U.S Air force nursing, returning for her Master’s degree in nursing and nursing education.

“I’m not just going to stop here,” said Minto.

“My plan is to continue advancing my education.”

During her time at Waynesburg University, Minto participated in Colleges Against Cancer, volunteered with Horses for Hope – a therapeutic riding center – and assumed the role of secretary for the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania.

Minto was also involved in leading Bible studies in Burns Hall and in the Department of Nursing.

She also attended several mission trips. Minto’s misSee KEPHART on BB6

Art major proud of her accomplishments, plans to open tea room, host soup kitchen

By Amanda Wishner Senior Editor

Photo courtesy of Emily Dubberke

Senior art major Emily Dubberke won the Waynesburg Idol competition in the fall of 2011; Waynesburg was a fresh start for her.

When Emily Dubberke began her first year at Waynesburg University, she saw it as a fresh start.

After the initial fear of entering an unfamiliar (but beautiful) campus and making new friends subsided, she became completely immersed in the campus community.

In a matter of four short years, the Bridgeport, W.Va., native and art major/psychology minor learned how to paint with watercolors and make pottery.

Dubberke participated in four theatrical productions and lent her choreography skills to two. She was given the opportunity to travel to Wyoming for a 10-day photography class and even had her best work displayed in her very own senior

art exhibit this year.

“I feel like I have accomplished so much that I am very proud of,” said Dubberke.

“There are so many opportunities at Waynesburg; if you want to accomplish many things, you can.”

Dubberke has big dreams following graduation. Her goal is to open a tearoom, where customers can relax with a cup of tea before browsing a display of Dubberke’s pottery.

She plans to use her proceeds to host a weekly soup kitchen.

“It’ll take a lot of hard work and time to make it happen,” she said.

“But in the mean time, I’ll be patiently saving up money and working wherever God takes me.”

Dubberke views her time spent at Waynesburg University as a blessing. She feels most

impacted by the faculty in the Fine Arts Department that guided her along the way, especially when times got tough.

“From an advisor who helped me switch majors when I was in a complete panic before the beginning of freshman year, a teacher giving me a relaxation CD when I thought I was about to come undone during finals week, to a new teacher my senior year who helped me with my work when I was going through one of the hardest times of my life – the teachers here actually care about each and every student, and I encourage every student not to hesitate to reach out for help if it is ever needed,” she said.

“I want to thank each and every teacher, counselor, advisor and staff member for the amazing guidance I received in my time here.”

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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Spotlight

Marketing major excels in class, on campus Roper finds perfect

By Kyle Edwards

fit at Waynesburg

Senior Editor Marketing major Madison Klein may not be graduating until December, but that hasn’t stopped the Uniontown native from getting things in order for after this year’s commencement.

“Currently, I am applying for internships, and after I graduate I’d like to get a job in the marketing or advertising field,” Klein said. “I’m also getting married in July to a wonderful guy I met here [at Waynesburg]. I always say that if I got anything out of coming to Waynesburg it’s a good education and a husband.”

Klein attended Uniontown Area High School, where she graduated with High Honors and a GPA of 3.75. She has made the Dean’s list every semester during her time at Waynesburg.

Klein said that one of the coolest things that happened to her while she has been at Waynesburg was being interviewed by WCTV. “I was interviewed on ‘The Greene Room,’ and

By Amanda Wishner Senior Editor

Photo courtesy of Madison Klein

Senior marketing major Madison Klein (second from right) feels prepared for anything after her experiences at Waynesburg. Klein will graduate in December. got to show off my art and some of the paintings I have done – both in my own time and in my classes here,” she said.

Another experience that Klein enjoyed while at Waynesburg was the “Shark Tank” project.

“For our Management Policy course that all business seniors have to take, we have to face the ‘Shark Tank,’ a panel of all of our professors in the business department, and request

$5,000,000 in funding for our corporation,” Klein said.

“It was the most nervewracking thing, but my whole team – I was the CEO – worked extremely hard on this project, pulling some 14-hour days stuck working in Hanna Hall – but it was a wonderful experience.”

Klein attributes her success to the smallness of Waynesburg University and the experiences her

professors gave her.

“I have received a wonderful education here at Waynesburg and feel that through these crazy, difficult presentations, I have some great real-world experience and am totally ready to go into the real business world,” she said.

“My professors are amazing, and I feel I have gotten a great personalized education – and the small class sizes are wonderful.”

Pre-med major plans to start vet school

When Emily Roper began applying for colleges, she knew exactly what she was looking for.

Despite some initial feelings of fear and hesitancy, the Shippensburg, Pa., native was able to find her perfect fit at Waynesburg University and “embark on a new adventure.”

“When I began my college search, a Christian university was non-negotiable for me,” said Roper.

“I wanted to major in Children and Youth Ministry. Waynesburg University had a perfect atmosphere for me, and I met many professors and new friends who were determined to help me grow in my faith and my education.”

Roper has come a long way in the last four years.

However, her proudest accomplishment came this year when she was given the opportunity to become the first music student to perform a senior recital for credit.

“I was able to combine all four years of studies in Biblical and Ministry Studies and Music into a one-night presentation,” she said.

Roper owes much of her success to her friends and two especially impactful professors: Rev. Dr. Jeffery Kisner and Dr. Ronda DePriest.

“These two professors have been vital to my growth while at Waynesburg University. I am forever grateful for their dedication to my life,” she said.

“I am most thankful to [the university] for providing me with the opportunity to grow in education and faith in a safe environment.”

Just as she began an exciting new start four years ago, adventure seems to be a recurring theme in Roper’s life. Following graduation, Roper will not remain in Pennsylvania for long. She will be traveling to Thailand and Laos for a two-week business mission trip. She will then pack her bags for Winona Lake, Ind., to serve as the dance department assistant at the fourweek MasterWorks Festival for the Christian Performing Artist.

Roper is also considering attending the University of Michigan to pursue a master’s degree in Arts Administration in Performance.

Nursing major passionate about her field of study

By Olivia Latimer Editorial Assistant Brianna Pierorazio, senior nursing major from Baltimore, Md., has been passionately involved with her major field of study during her four years at Waynesburg University.

She interned at the University of Maryland Medical Center as a part of the Summer Student Nurse Residency Program and currently works as clinical associate at the WVUH’s Rudy Memorial Photo courtesy of Shawn Wharrey Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va. Senior pre-med major Shawn Wharrey has gone on three mission trips, starred as the lead role in three of the Pierorazio has served as eight plays he’s been in, served as president of student service and co-chaired the Mini-Relay for Life on campus. a student senate representative, is a Fiat Lux mentor and a freshman orienBy Eric Bost a free application.” tation leader.

“I think Waynesburg animals,” said Wharrey.

Wharrey’s success at has taught me how to She has also participatWharrey has already Editorial Assistant Waynesburg began during combine faith, learning been accepted to the Ohio ed in the peer education In his four years at his first visit to campus. and serving and how to State University’s vet Waynesburg, Shawn Wharrey said that his first apply it to my own life,” school. Out of the 1,600 Wharrey has gone on visit was on Merit Day, said Wharrey. applicants the university three mission trips, where he won the marine “It’s amazing how accepted, only 400 interstarred as the lead role in biology department schol- Waynesburg is such a views were given. three of the eight plays arship. He said that it was small school, but I’ve Of those remaining he’s been in, become pres- because of this financial learned just as much, if 400, only 10 students ident of Student Senate, aid that he came to Way- not more, in the biology were given early acceptContinued from A1 co-chaired the university’s nesburg. department than from ance. Wharrey was one of Mini-Relay for Life for “I had worries at times someone in a state the 10. three years and has won because I didn’t know school.”

“My biggest accom“A really funny story is the Harry E. Gardner how I was going to pay for After finishing his edu- plishment is getting into that when I was looking at Service Award. [school],” said Wharrey. cation, Wharrey wants to vet school,” said Wharrey. schools, I hated WaynesOh, and he’s also gradu- “My parents don’t make become a veterinarian. “Even though that doesn’t burg, and I swore there ating Suma Cum Laude. much; my dad’s a con- Wharrey said that his sound Waynesburg relat- was no way I was going to That’s quite a lot, see- struction worker and my background in service at ed, there’s no way that I be a student here,” said ing that Wharrey almost mom’s a hairstylist. So for Waynesburg helped him would have been able to Kephart. “Four years later, chose to gain a higher edu- me to go to college was a prepare for his future accomplish that big task if I couldn’t be more grateful cation elsewhere. big deal.” career. it wasn’t for everything for everything that Way“Waynesburg was actuFour years later, Whar“As a future, vet serv- that I’ve learned and nesburg has given me. I ally my second choice,” rey now lives by the Way- ice to people is great, and everything that I’ve done have been so blessed to be said Wharrey. “I only nesburg University mis- what I plan on doing the during the last four a part of this community. applied because there was sion. rest of my life is serving years.”

The staff and professors at

Wharrey excels in theater, classroom, as leader on Waynesburg’s campus

Kephart grateful

program for four years and was the vice president for two years.

“I loved being a part of Waynesburg University Honors Academy, and participating in the honors seminar courses,” said Pierorazio.

Pierorazio has many memories and favorite activities that she was involved in during her time at Waynesburg.

Pierorazio also enjoyed her time working in the campus mailroom and considers her mission trip to Tuba City, Ariz., one of the highlights of her college career.

“It was a great, lifechanging experience,” said Pierorazio.

After graduating from See NURSE on BB7

Waynesburg have challenged me to think beyond myself and to impact that world that I live in.”

While Kephart said that his parents, friends and professors have greatly influenced him and supported him, he owes his successes to someone else.

“I want to give all the honor and Glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” said Kephart.

“Without Him, I am nothing. I give thanks to Him for seeing fit to use me for His glory.”

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Spotlight

Athlete successful on field, in classroom Nurse shows excitement

By Rob Longo Editorial Assistant As a Division III student-athlete, being successful in the classroom is just as important as being successful on the field.

Senior criminal justice major Jordan Helmick knows all about that.

“He’s been a star for us,” said Adam Jack, department chair for criminal justice and social sciences. “I’ve really seen him evolve.”

Born in Baltimore and raised in Cumberland, Md., Helmick attended Fort Hill High School, where he was a standout football player and also ran track.

Helmick found his way to Waynesburg thanks to head football coach Rick Shepas, who recruited him. Despite being a vocal leader today on and off the field, Helmick wasn’t always that way.

“When he first got here, he was real quiet,” said Jack. “He really started to open up more, though.”

Helmick claims he started to open up with the help of Zac Northern, who was the resident director of Willison Hall last year.

“I really wasn’t involved when I first got here,” Helmick said. “I started to open up more to the Christ and faith aspect of Waynesburg. I’d like to thank Zac Northern for pushing me to go out of my comfort zone and have a stronger relationship

Teacher returns Continued from BB1 ing act of what aspects of work I would talk to her

Continued from BB6

Waynesburg University, Pierorazio intends to live in Morgantown and work as a registered nurse at Rudy Memorial Hospital.

Minto looks forward Continued from BB5

sion trip experience includes a medical mission trip to South Africa as well as a trip to the Bahamas with the nursing department. “[My favorite memories were] definitely the mission trips,” said Minto. “I really

Photo courtesy of Jordan Helmick

Senior criminal justice major Jordan Helmick balanced being a Division III athlete, as well as a successful student during his four years at Waynesburg. with Christ.”

As a member of the Yellow Jacket football team, Helmick was a three-year letterman and played strong side outside linebacker.

Helmick is very proud of what was accomplished on the gridiron during his time at Waynesburg.

“It was awesome having success on the football field, having a historic record and getting a ring,” said Helmick. “I loved participating in the all-star

games I played in, as well.”

Coming into Waynesburg, Helmick wanted to take a career path that was focused around a degree in human services.

Helmick fully committed himself to criminal justice his sophomore year.

“I wanted to be more hands on than human services,” said Helmick.

After graduation, Helmick is hoping to be granted an endowment

from the Heinz Foundation, which would allow him to mentor students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools System.

Currently, Helmick is going through the application process. Long-term, Helmick hopes to become a juvenile probation officer, because he likes working with the youth.

“I work well with young adults and had a tough life growing up, so I feel like I can relate to them,” Helmick said.

about.”

Harvey acknowledges that she may not stay at Evangel Heights long because her fiancé, Joseph Rzempoluzh, is seeking employment at summer camps.

She said that she envi-

sions heading west or leaving the country once she and Rzempoluzh get married.

Just as Harvey sees herself moving on with her career, Bush sees his pupil moving up in the professional ranks.

“She will teach for a while, but I think other challenges will come in our life,” said Bush.

“I expect her to seek out more challenging endeavors such as advanced placement classes or administration positions.”

Professors inspire senior Continued from BB3 hours later we saw him and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s gonna see us,’ and he didn’t recognize us.”

As you can imagine, Tischer is the farthest thing from shy, and she developed close bonds with some of her teachers in high school. It was because of those friendships that she fell in love with the study of biology.

“My science teacher, Barbara Reed, who I had throughout high school and taught me in every single science course, really influenced that decision,” said Tischer.

Tischer has been able to develop the same relationship with her professors at Waynesburg. She said her biggest influence at the university has been Chad Sethman, assistant professor of

Of her time at Waynesburg, Pierorazio feels blessed to have had the opportunity to meet so many of the university’s students, faculty and staff.

“I met some of the best and most kind people, students, professors and staff I think I’ll ever meet,” said Pierorazio.

enjoyed that service.”

Other fond memories of Minto’s include the Student Activities Board activities on campus and being a part of the strings ensemble.

“I like being involved in music,” said Minto.

She expressed how much she enjoyed her time at Waynesburg, academically and otherwise.

“I love the Waynesburg University community,” said Minto.

biology, who inspired her to want to become a microbiologist.

“Chad Sethman has been a mentor as far as my professional goals are concerned,” said Tischer.

“Down the road, I kind of want to look at what he’s done and follow in his footsteps. That’s what led me to go into microbiology for graduate school.”

Tischer said that she is attending the University of Georgia to earn her Ph.D. in microbiology after she graduates from Waynesburg University. After having strong relationships with her teachers throughout her schooling, it’s only fitting that Tischer plans to become a teacher when all is said and done.

“I feel that, without my high school teachers and professors in college, I wouldn’t have the interest or motivation,” said Tischer. “I really want to give back and pass that along and inspire young minds.”

English major Chemistry major excited for future, family cherishes friends

By Chelsea Dicks

Arts & Life Editor

By Sarah Bell Executive Editor A change of pace and the ability to make her own decisions drew senior English major Tabitha Newman to Waynesburg University.

But it was the people she met and the experiences she had that made her grateful for choosing the small Christian campus.

“The most important aspect of my college experience has been the relationships I’ve developed here.”

Newman said. “Some were only for a short time, and some will last for a lifetime, but each person I befriended, each discussion I had, and each memory made has had a huge impact on my life.”

Of each memory that impacted her life, she would choose sharing the stage with her best friend, Briana Hozak, as a highlight – the duo performed together in the fall play “Arsenic and Old Lace.” In addition to being involved in theater productions and Alpha Psi Omega, Newman is a member of the Waynesburg Uni-

versity Honors Academy and she worked on the staff of Muse & Stone. For her first two years as a student, Newman was a Bonner Scholar, and did hundreds of hours of community service for the program.

“I am glad that I chose Waynesburg,” Newman said. “I made a lot of really good friends, and met some awesome people. My teachers challenged me in a way I had never been challenged before, and I grew so much in my faith.”

Newman did not expect her experience at Waynesburg to be a life changing as it was, but even as a senior in high school, it felt like the right fit.

“I was looking for a Christian college that had a creative writing program and a theatre program that wasn’t too legalistic,” Newman said. “I wanted the freedom to make my own choices, like going or not going to chapel, but I wanted those options to be there in case I chose to do so. I also wanted a change of scenery from my home area. “

Every senior travels a different path after graduation.

Some students choose to continue their education in graduate school, others go out into the real world and some decide to start a family.

Senior chemistry education major Jerica Briggs is excited for the path that awaits her.

But as many seniors do towards the end of their college career, Briggs finds herself reminiscing.

“I actually stumbled into my major, because I came into Waynesburg as a straight chemistry major,” said Briggs. “But I was in my gen-chem. class and everyone was lost because the professor talked really fast, and I ended up tutoring about half of the class. That is when I realized I really enjoyed teaching, as well, and that is when I went into chemistry education.”

Making that decision proved to be the right move for Briggs. During her sophomore year, she

Photo courtesy of Jerica Briggs

Senior chemistry education major poses on the pillars outside of Stover Campus Center. She is excited for graduation and the idea of starting a family. was selected to attend her first of three national conferences, where she got the opportunity to present her personal research.

Another accomplishment of Briggs’s is her involvement with the university’s Gamma Sigma

Epsilon chapter, the honor society for the Department of Science, and the Kappa Delta Pi chapter, the Department of Education’s honor society.

Briggs’s plans after graduation are to enjoy her time as a newlywed and,

possibly, make plans to start a family.

Briggs’s advice to those returning to Waynesburg University next year is to enjoy the atmosphere of Greene County and to be as active on campus as possible.

Page BB8

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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Weekly attendance down in year two of Roberts Chapel

By Nick Farrell Assistant Sports Editor Waynesburg University is home to a beautiful chapel that is rarely filled.

According to Media Service’s record of chapel attendance, the average attendance of weekly worship services declined this year.

The attendance record dates back to Oct. 25,

2011, the second regular Tuesday service in Roberts Chapel. In 16 services during the 201112 school year, an average of 157 students took a break from their studies for a contemporary worship service on Tuesday mornings.

That average has decreased by approximately 20 students this year, the first full school

year that Roberts Chapel has been fully functional.

According to the attendance record, an average of 136 students have attended the 28 weekly services during the 201213 school year. The last service of the spring semester was held on Tuesday.

These averages do not include the annual Charter Day celebration or

Martin Luther King Jr., Day Convocation.

Evan Kephart, senior biblical and ministries studies major, said that he is interested to know if the change in venue from Alumni Hall to Roberts Chapel has turned some of the older students away.

“I’ve noticed that there seem to be less people here,” said Kephart.

“That’s telling of what people are feeling. I know that when I first came to this chapel, I was a little jaded because it seems like a grand chapel and there’s so many stigmas attached to it with the traditionalism and how much money was spent on it. I think it may have hurt a lot of people’s faith.”

Along with the change

in venue, the general structure of the service is much different from past years. Some students have complained that the contemporary worship sessions in Alumni Hall were much more appealing than the more traditional services that are currently offered.

“I just feel that it’s See ATTENDANCE on A2

Musicians unite for 43rd GNP concert Students preparing for summer missions Venues for trips include Taiwan, domestic sites

By Jenny Schouppe Staff Writer

Photos courtesy of Jeff McCollough, ‘98

(Above) Rachel Eisenstat (center) leads the vocalists in song.

(Far Left) Paul “Minstrel” Burger sings out during the 43rd annual GNP reunion concert.

(Left) Bill Molzon, assistant professor of communication, relishes the atmosphere in the GPAC.

Band ‘Still Truckin’’ for annual show

By Chelsea Dicks Arts & Life editor People lined up outside the Goodwin Performing Arts Center, waiting for the doors to open. Some waved hello to others who they had not seen since this time last year; exchanging memories and catching up, just like a family reunion.

Then, the doors opened.

People of all ages and from all over clambered together to the front of the stage, filling the seats waiting in anticipation for the show to begin.

The crowd began to cheer as members of

Gross National Product and friends took the stage with their instruments in hand and smiles on their faces, ready to perform the 43rd annual GNP concert.

The theme of the concert ‘Still Truckin’ stood for the elongated number of years so many performers had been involved with this concert, and for the audience members who made the show a reality.

“You know the audience really makes the show,” said Bill Molzon, professor of communication. “They are as dedicated to the show as much as the musicians.”

The show began with a short introduction and welcome to the audience, then the members of GNP and friends did what they do best: they began

to perform.

A variety of musicians, ranging from high school bands to university students and Waynesburg alumni performed at GNP. “It’s fun to share the stage with musicians of their caliber,” said Molzon.

Performers played the guitar and piano and also entertained the crowd with harmonica and tambourine. As soon as the members began to strum, beat, tap, blow and sing, the entire auditorium reverberated the lively music shaking the room.

Members of Waynesburg University’s communication program ran a broadcast of the event to a TV in the lobby and on the two HDTVs to the right and the left of the stage, giving anyone sit-

ting anywhere a close-up of the drummer beating on his drums or the singer rocking it out. The show was also broadcast live and is located on the GNP Facebook page.

Everyone in the crowd enjoyed the wide genre of music presented by the group. Many clapped their hands or sang along with the GNP members. Others stood in the aisles and danced. Everyone, no matter what their age, seemed to really enjoy the show.

A member of a band who usually plays in the GNP concert brought her two young children with her to experience the event. She quickly realized that the they could not keep themselves still in their seats and moved

See SERVICE on A3

Incoming freshmen to use updated version of MyConnect portal

By Phil Henry Staff Writer

Waynesburg University will be implementing a new way to collect and store information on incoming freshman and transfer students this coming fall semester.

Starting this fall, all information that Waynesburg University needs to gather from new students will be filled out through a new portal [myConnect] online.

“Students can complete the information that we used to request in a stack of papers on their phones now,” said Brian Carr, director of the center See GNP on A6 for student success and

disability services. “We are putting it in our demographics’ language. The fact that they can do this stuff on their phone or iPad, as opposed to sitting down with a bunch of papers is great.”

The new portal not only makes it easier for incoming students, but also teachers, said Carr. It gives them access to a database of information about the students based on departments.

“For instance, if Professor Krause needs to know who is interested in the Yellow Jacket, he will have a list of names according to interests that

SPORTS

INSIDE

REGION

Women’s track wins first-ever PAC Championship at Washington & Jefferson.

See Page C1

Former Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman discusses women in politics during her visit to Waynesburg as the keynote speaker of the DeVito Lecture.

State Rep. Pam Snyder garnered approval for her first resolution in the House of Reps.

INSIDE Copyright © 2013 by Waynesburg University

Mission service trips are encouraged throughout the four years that students spend at Waynesburg University.

The final mission service trips of the academic year start the week after finals. May 10-18, Frank Pazzynski and Melissa Sargent will be leading a trip to Tuba City, Ariz.

Twelve students will live on a Native American Reservation for the week, serving the Navajo and Hopi people.

“I hope that I am able to observe teaching in a

new environment,” said Jon Sandoval, freshman mathematics and secondary education major. “I feel I will learn a lot from the Navajo and Hopi people.”

While students lead in Arizona, Tom Ribar, university chaplain, will take a group of 18 students to Jackson, Miss. to work with the John Perkins Foundation.

Service will consist of various projects ranging from landscaping and grounds work to construction and remodeling work on homes that the Perkins Center makes available to single mothers and newly released prisoners.

“Every year, I am equally excited to spend time with Dr. Perkins,” said Ribar. “John Perkins is a

Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A1-A4 Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1, B4 Editorial/Op-Ed . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2, B3

Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C1-C4 Arts & Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D1-D2 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . .D3-D4

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Campus

Speaker relates to students with sermon Stover Scholars take exclusive tour of historic Ohio bakery

By Nika Anschuetz Staff Writer The label says it all: Made in the U.S.A. Bundy Baking Solutions in Urbana, Ohio takes pride in the American jobs they create.

On Friday April 26, the Stover Scholars traveled to the factory to meet Dr. Bundy, owner of Bundy Baking Solutions.

The Stover Scholars received an exclusive tour of the factory and were shown a prime example of capitalism at its core.

“I don’t like how cheap they are paying their people overseas,” said Bundy, Photo by Nika Anschuetz about companies that Rev. Dr. Jeffery Kisner delivered a sermon about the Christian calling on Tuesday. Kisner, a professor of humani- export jobs oversees.

“How do you take advanties, shared some of his experiences as a college student with the congregation. tage of people because of being alone in a brand of what our calling as “We believe that the they’re poor? If you’re new place.

Christians should be. message of Jesus Christ making money, share it That’s how Rev. Jeffery “We’re called to extend means change for our culKisner, professor of Bibli- hospitality to strangers,” ture, for our public life, for cal and ministry studies at said Kisner. our life together,” said Waynesburg University, Kisner explained that Ribar. “Not just a life said his first day at Cen- true hospitality is lost in together with believers tral College went when he the world. He gave exam- but a life together with

By Eric Bost Editorial Assistant spoke at chapel Tuesday. ples of how Abraham took neighbors, with all types “All the feelings that I in three strangers and told of people.”

Think back to orienta- had tried to stuff during the story of the Good Kisner said that by Continued from Page A1 tion weekend, the time the long drive; the fear of Samaritan in the Old Tes- extending our hospitality, when high school gradu- the loneliness, the loss tament. we act in the name of the ates are welcomed into and the strangeness that the students selected, said “God is hospitable to Lord. their new accademic com- comes with being at a us,” said Kisner. “We are “The stranger delivers Carr. munity at Waynesburg brand new place split my creatures made strangers the academic community A progress bar, located University. For some, it gut like a lumberjack and aliens in a creation to Christ the opportunity at the top of the form, will might have been just a mauls a hollow log,” said that we wrote, and there- to break through their aid students to complefew short months ago. For Kisner. fore we ought to extend comfortable but some- tion. the graduating seniors, “With this, once you He explained that, after hospitality to the aliens times creative styles of that date turns four in the learning that he couldn’t and strangers among us.” living,” said Kisner. start it, there is a feeling fall. afford the tuition, he felt He said that we should “After all, isn’t this what that you want to get Imagine a freshman like a failure and was take our hospitality and the ministry of Jesus, the through to the end,” said who just finished unload- afraid to tell anyone that bring it elsewhere. Earlier stranger, was all about?”

Charles Beiter, English ing his clothes from his he had failed. in chapel, university Kisner is grateful that professor and director of brand-new car. He had It was then, Kisner Chaplain Tom Ribar rec- he is at Waynesburg, advising. just made the journey to explained, that he went to ognized those who would because he is able to witTyler Schrock, a fullthe campus where he meet with his faculty be a part of the summer ness examples similar to time web programmer for would be living at for the advisor. Though Kisner mission trips and said that the one he experienced Waynesburg, was the one next four years, but it was was a stranger, the advisor we are not a part of a when he was a freshman. that introduced students just another normal day. embraced him and gave “closet religion,” mean“Thanks be to God and to the software and is now He brought his stuff him his full attention. ing that we go out and to Christian higher educa- responsible for improving into his room, and sudKisner explained that spread the Word of God, tion that makes room for the MyConnect portal.

“The new process helps denly the emotions hit what his advisor did in instead of keeping it to the stranger who resides him: he was scared, afraid 1973 is a perfect example ourselves. in our land,” said Kisner. improve communication with new students,” said Schrock. “In the past, information was very dense and hard to manage about coming to praise campus are to blame for ing to chapel. People are for both students and the the decrease in atten- going to blame it on [Rev. University staff. This the Lord,” said Snow.

Donald Wilson, interim Though this school dance.

“It’s not about the director of Christian Life], year has seen a lower weekly count, there have building, it’s not about the people are going to blame Continued from Page A1 been several spurts of high administration, it’s not it on Tom [Ribar, Chapabout the way chapel is lain], people are going to attendance marks.

This year’s Charter run,” said Kephart. “I blame it on the chapel almost stiff now,” said Jeff Champ, a sophomore Day service brought an truly believe that people band, but really all they’re sports broadcasting major estimated 360 people to are going to find excuses doing is finding excuses to for why they aren’t com- not be faithful.” that says he doesn’t fre- Roberts Chapel.

Dec. 6, 2011 – the final quent the weekly services because of how different chapel service before they have become. “The Christmas break last year university wants students – sports the highest attento be plugged into an area dance on record for a church, which I agree Tuesday chapel service. with, but since they offer That session was again chapel on a different day, I popular this year, as the think they should offer service held on Dec. 4, something that more stu- 2012 drew 225 people to dents would agree with. I the chapel, just three bodthink that chapel has ies fewer than its predebecome, basically, a tradi- cessor.

However, on four sepational church service.”

Steve Snow, junior rate occasions this spring, criminal justice major, fewer than 100 students said that if many students attended the weekly servshare this opinion, they ice.

According to the attenshould remember that worship is about who dance record, no weekly they are praising, not how. service has failed to draw “I’ve heard a lot of peo- a triple-digit crowd in any ple say that the changing of the past three semesof chapel from more con- ters.

While Kephart admits temporary to traditional might have played a big that he has his own reserfactor in [lower atten- vations, he believes that dance], but for me, it’s the Christian students on

Final service emphasizes hospitality

Online portal updated

Attendance declines

with your employees.”

Bundy grew up on a farm in McKee’s Rocks, Pennsylvania. He came from humble beginnings and built his business from the ground up.

“I went broke, then went broke again,” said Bundy. “I knew bakers had used pans in their warehouses, so I started marketing used pans.

Then I started buying and selling used bakery products.”

Although Bundy has faced several obstacles, he plans to continue creating jobs in America.

Bundy Baking Solutions manufactures and sells industrial pans that are used for baking. They sell to various companies around the world, includSee SCHOLARS on A3

process makes the information more searchable and less overwhelming for all involved.”

Beiter said it is really helpful for housing as well.

“You can indicate your choice of dorms, first and second. You can also indicate your roommate, all that, right on the form.”

Carr said he has already sent nearly 300 schedules to members of the incoming freshman class.

“We try to ensure the students success as best we can by asking the questions that we do. We look at each and every individual student and tailor-make their schedule,” said Carr.

Waynesburg wants to utilize the technology to develop connections made to the incoming students.

“The new portal has allowed us to obtain information, more streamlined information,” said Carr.

“It is a benefit to the students who are coming in.”

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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Page A3

Campus

‘If you want something done, ask a woman’ N.J. Governor encourages women at WU

By Jordan Mitrik Staff Writer Waynesburg University welcomed former Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman on April 24 as part of the DeVito Lecture Series.

With bright lights shining down as she stood behind a podium, Whitman discussed the challenges women face in today’s world from her unique perspective as the first female governor of New Jersey.

“As Margaret Thatcher one said, ‘In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.’ I think frankly in Washington D.C. today we need more leaders who can get things done,” said Whitman.

Even with all the barriers that women have

Scholars tour bakery Continued from Page A2 ing McDonald’s, Wonder Bread and Little Debbie.

After touring the factory, the students toured the Bundy museum, which is filled with different baking memorabilia.

“While touring Dr. Bundy’s museum, it was obvious his appreciation for history,” said senior pre-law major Karen Moyer. “He had everything from bread slicers to soup warmers to advertisements and more. I thought it was fascinating to see how far we have come in various industries.”

Three floors of an old barn are dedicated to the illustrious museum.

Antique baking equipment and signs of old bakeries filled every part of each room in the museum.

“It was interesting to see all the bread companies that thrived in the past; the amount of them was surprising,” said sophomore forensic accounting major Jeremy Hinkle. “This taught me just how much the business world has transformed around the country. Businesses of the past served a much smaller local population, while modern day businesses

Photo by Jordan Mitrik

Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman speaks at the DeVito Lecture in Alumni Hall last Wednesday. Whitman discussed her experiences as one of the first female governors in America. overcome in American history, they are still vastly underrepresented in society, according to Whitman.

Whitman stated there needs to be a diversity of values and ways to solve problems in society, and to achieve this, women and minorities need to have a bigger role in politics.

serve customers on a regional or nationwide basis.”

As the Stover Scholars toured the factory, Bundy made a point to stop and talk to his workers. He showed genuine compassion and concern for his workers.

“My workers don’t work for me. We work together,” said Bundy.

Bundy’s success is due, in large part, to his work ethic. He chooses to treat his employees with dignity and respect: he even offers incentives to quit smoking and shares profits with his employees.

“His generosity and willingness to help others while maintaining the hardworking, blue collar values he was raised with was truly inspirational,” said senior pre-law major Anthony Cooper.

Bundy encouraged the Stover Scholars to practice what they believe in and to become unique leaders “Dr. Bundy is a great example of what a true businessman should look like,” said senior accounting major Zander Shashura. “While being profitable is important to him and his business, money is not what motivates him. His passion for the baking industry and being able to give back to his employees and others drives him in all that he does. He sets a standard for business professionals around the world to follow.”

“I agree that women are underrepresented simply for the sake of what I think it means that we simply are not utilizing the best people to serve our country and movie it forward,” said Jessie Kiner, freshman nursing major who attended Whitman’s speech. “Women bring a certain perspective that is valuable to work in

coordination with a man’s perspective.”

As of 2013, there are only five governors in the United States that are female.

In the nation’s capital, 19 states do not have any females serving in the House of Representatives and only 17 states have females in the United States Senate.

As she addressed students, Whitman stated that women have a key role in helping to bring back the United States government back to a “sensible center.”

“We [women] bring a different set of life experiences, we do have a different way of problem solving, we do a bring a different approach as we look at

issues, and that is good and that is healthy,” said Whitman.

Whitman stated she was able to succeed and do whatever she wanted with her life because of the support of her parents and self-confidence they instilled in her while she was growing up.

Today, with six male grandchildren, Whitman hopes that they do not have to worry about this issue, and will not have to think twice about working beside, with or for women.

“It is the people in this room, men and women alike, that can make this happen,” Whitman said to the students.

“For those of you at this university; no matter where your path takes you, no matter what organization you work for, you will want the best possible talent to make that organization a success. If you are smart, you will not exclude 50 percent of the population that can give you that kind of talent you need.”

University teams with Red Cross Southpointe campus hosts training session

By Matt Giardina Staff Writer The thundering footsteps of the impending herd of runners were barely audible, drowned out by the overpowering eager roars and thrilled screams.

The immense barrage of rowdy spectators swarmed to the curb hoping to witness the finish.

Crazed fans, hard-pressed against the barrier desperately craned their necks, trying to catch a better glimpse of the runners heading towards Copler Square.

The unexpected explo-

Service teams ready Continued from A1 wealth of wisdom combined with a humility and transparency fitting for a true disciple of Jesus.”

Students will spend several mornings with Dr. Perkins, studying scripture and learning about the Christian Community Develop model of community engagement. Dr. Perkins will also challenge the students to take the task of racial reconciliation seriously.

The third service trip is to Camden, N. J. and is led

by Dave Calvario, dean of students and director of the center for service leadership.

According to the Associated Press, 335 Camden workers representing onesixth of the local government work force lost their jobs in 2012. Camden is

sion ripped the scene, sobering the crowd and tearing out the joy.

In an effort to combat tragedies similar to the occurrence at the Boston Marathon, the Waynesburg University counseling program partnered with American Red Cross to host a disaster mental health training session at Waynesburg’s Southpointe Center on Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m.

According to Dr. Scott Tracy, Director of Graduate Programs in Counseling, the graduate students who attended learned psychological first aid.

“Psychological first aid represents the initial counseling approach to help victims of a disaster begin the process of emotional recovery,” said Tracy. “It involves help-

ing the individual understand the magnitude of events, vent feelings in a healthy way and identify resources for support.”

Tracy believes this therapeutic method to be an important approach to counteract these devastating downfalls.

“The best way to prepare for disaster is before it strikes,” said Tracy.

“Incidents in Boston, Mass. and West, Texas have recently reminded us that no one is immune from tragic events.”

Although no one is immune to such dreadful measures, psychological first aid helps bring relief to the victims.

“Studies show that victims who undergo psychological first aid are less likely to develop serious traumatic reactions to dis-

aster events,” said Tracy.

“Studies also show that the healing process and progression through the stages of loss evolve faster.”

The importance of psychological first aid was recognized ages ago and the ARC continues to advance the study.

“PFA is a standard treatment protocol that has been around in some form for 50 years,” said Tracy. “The ARC continues to use research to better refine the method.”

Aside from its expertise in the field, Tracy contacted the ARC because the organizations mission.

“The ARC is an amazing group of volunteers and their mission closely parallels that of Waynes-

rampant with open drug dealing, prostitution and related crimes. More than half of Camden’s 80,000 residents live in poverty.

“Though Camden has its problems, I still love the cultural immersion we get in inner-city life,” said Calvario.

Service will consist of working with children at UrbanPromise’s K-12 school as well as its after school program.

Other time will also be spent on various labor projects in UrbanPromise’s school and ministries.

“This trip is uniquely eye-opening because the kids in Camden have been through terrible experiences, experiences I would never want to happen to me, but yet they are so open to God,” said middle level education major Brittney Bell.

Bell attended the Camden trip last year and will have a two-month internship with UrbanPromise

this summer.

The fourth trip to Taipei, Taiwan will be led

by Dr. Richard Blake, librarian.

Sophomore biblical and ministries studies major Ryan Smith, sophomore psychology major Kyle Digiandomenico and junior biblical and ministries studies major Robert Parise will all be attending the trip.

These three students will be immersed in the culture and Christian presence, or lack thereof, in Taiwan.

Less than five percent of Taiwan’s population is Christian, and much of that five percent are Presbyterian.

Historically, Christians have played an important role in education, health and social services across the island.

“We hope to learn about and add to that story,” said Blake.

At the different service sites in Taiwan, the stu-

dents will do a variety of things, including help troubled youth and the homeless, teach English, observe the Christian evangelization in Taiwan.

The group will lead a worship service on May 17 and introduce the students and faculty to the faith, learning and serving environment of Waynesburg University.

“I’m looking forward to experiencing the differences between my culture and theirs,” said Digiandomenico. “It will be exciting to get to live with a Taiwan family for a week and experience what the experience on a daily basis.”

Blake hopes to pair up with Christ College students during their initial day trips to Service Sites to act as guides and translators.

Any Waynesburg student can participate in a mission trip the university offers during the upcoming semester.

See BRANCH on A6

Page A4

YELLOW JACKET

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Op/Ed

Space vacations no longer science fiction

Show appreciation

We’ve all played The Picnic Game, whether it was in preschool, on a long road trip or during a really boring night on which the most fun thing to do was eat candy all alone in the Stover Campus Center.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the rules of The Picnic Game, here’s a brief overview: the first person starts off by saying “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing,” and then states something clever that begins with the letter “A,” like “a picnic basket.”

That’s what I would say, at least.

Each participant continues the sequence by recalling every object that is being brought to the picnic, and then adds an object that begins with the next letter in the alphabet.

This game gets pretty intense after “P,” especially when the next person in line isn’t too sharp and can’t think of anything cool that begins with a “Q” after rattling

NICK FARRELL Columnist

off the previous 16 items.

(Nine times out of 10, that’s me.)

Now that we students here at Waynesburg might be too mature for a childish endeavor such as The Picnic Game, maybe it’s time for an adventure to a different scene.

You know, to diversify ourselves and get the most out of our college education. I think we should go to outer space.

It’s going to be all the rage in a couple of years.

Virgin Galactic, a company within Richard Branson’s Virgin Group that includes Virgin Mobile, completed its first rocket-powered test flight Monday morning over the Mojave Desert and is now a bit closer to becoming the world’s first commercial “spaceline.”

Toward the end of the hour-long test flight, SpaceShipTwo reached its maximum altitude of 56,000 feet, thanks to its rocket motor.

According to a statement from Virgin Galactic, the spacecraft, which resembled a jet, broke the sound barrier but did not technically embark on a space flight.

According to NASA, a spacecraft must travel higher than 50 miles for its passengers to be considered astronauts. This flight barely exceeded 10 miles in altitude.

Virgin Galactic has high expectations for its commercial space flight and hopes to achieve full space flight by the end of this year.

If you’re afraid of heights or get easily queasy, this isn’t the mode of transportation for you; if Virgin Galactic reaches its goal of true space flight, space tourists may travel hundreds of miles into the air and experience several minutes of weightless-

ness.

This isn’t a trip for penny pinchers, either; more than 500 would-be passengers have already signed up for short flights that will cost $200,000 per seat.

I hope that cost comes down soon. How cool would it be to take a journey to outer space?

Before the 1960s, travelling to space was just a thing of the imagination.

Now there’s a chance that, maybe, some of us will be taking our families on trips that aren’t in different countries, but are on different planets.

That’s really using the imagination. But that’s what The Picnic Game is about, right?

So the next time a friend, parent or stranger asks you to bring something that begins with the letter “Q” to a picnic, you could tell them that you’d rather search for a quasi-stellar object in your quintessential space suit during your commercial flight to the Moon.

Take the time to recognize excellent teaching As the 2012-2013 school year winds down, students are probably going to begin studying for their finals. But studying doesn’t have to be a 24-hour process. Breaks can be taken to help you relax and take your mind off of finals week. While students are in the middle of a stress-free relaxing period, they should go online and check their email.

Unless they deleted the message, there’s an opportunity to nominate one of their favorite teachers for the annual Lucas Hathaway Teaching Awards.

The awards recognize two full-time professors and one part-time professor for their excellence in teaching. This is the students’ time to give back to their teachers and university. This is their time to show appreciation for the teachers that have given them an extensive amount of knowledge in their field of study. The teachers and professors at Waynesburg take the time to help whatever student asks for it.

The teachers care about their students learning.

With all the time they have given to you, the least you can do is take a few minutes to fill out a form and send it to the Provost’s office.

Continue to build on the legacy of seniors With the passing of time, goodbyes are always imminent, no matter what manner they are in.

The time of year has come once again to say goodbye to our Waynesburg University seniors.

Some seniors are sad and some are relieved.

But whether or not they’re excited or anxious both groups have taught me something, especially here at the Yellow Jacket.

This not the end.

Bonds are always made in the weirdest ways. Believe me: I have seen it over my two years and four semesters here at Waynesburg.

All of the work that you do with people creates friendships that will never fade. So when you graduate and you get your degree, that doesn’t mean it is a barrier between you and the friends you have made.

You have left something behind, and for that you can’t be sad.

You should rejoice that you mentored someone or showed them how to study or how to do the work to continue an

LUCAS DIETHORN Columnist

organization, such as the Yellow Jacket for example.

Graduation time is more of a passing of the torch.

The seniors always leave behind bits of advice even though they may not realize it. They do not know it, but all year long they are teaching us different things that, we will remember in the future, and better ourselves and also the paper in the process.

You can’t focus on the negative when you graduate.

Look at it this way: you won’t have any more eight a.m. classes or any more general requirement classes that aren’t necessarily important to your career.

Then you have the summer to look forward to. I really enjoy the summer off, and once again, you don’t have to stop talking to the people who you were at school

with.

I have also heard some seniors say that they do not get a summer because they already have a job lined up for when they graduate.

Well, I say that you should be really excited because you already have a job. If anything that should tell you that your time at school was well spent and you succeeded in that process.

Another thing that you should look at is what did you leave behind when you graduated.

“Its not what you take when you leave this world, its what you leave behind you when you go.”

That is some of the best advice I have ever heard. The words were said by my grandfather and they are also lyrics to a song by Randy Travis.

So maybe he didn’t mean them to be instituted for a college graduate. But I think it fits.

It is not what the seniors take with them; they will take knowledge and the memories they had with them.

The more important

thing is what they leave behind them after they graduate.

Did you leave a lasting memory with someone?

Did you make the school better or an organization better? Or, in one senior’s case, did you create a pioneer group with a new organization?

These are the questions that if you can answer yes to, you have done more than enough to be happy with the years you spent in school.

And I think that all of the seniors can say that they left many things behind at Waynesburg.

And that is all that really matters.

Now it is up to us, the juniors and sophomores and freshmen. We have to carry on their legacy and continue to build upon what they left.

Whether it be the work that they did while here or the memories they made, we have to keep that alive.

Like my grandfather told me, its what you leave behind when you go that really matters and shapes who you were and who you are.

YELLOW JACKET

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Page A5

Op/Ed

Chemical weapons would cross the line Biological attack not in the spotlight The latest step in the Syrian civil war, if verified, crossed a line.

But was it President Barack Obama's red line?

British, French, Israeli and now American intelligence have asserted, with "varying degrees of confidence," that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad have used outlawed chemical weapons, possibly the horrific sarin, on rebels seeking his overthrow.

Given such weapons' dispersive nature, civilians would have been caught in the crossfire.

Assad's government categorically denies the allegations. Meanwhile, the body count builds: As of February, the estimate reached 70,000 deaths in the 2-year-old conflict that grew out of the Arab Spring protests.

And what of Obama and the United States?

The Dallas Morning News understands his

behind-the-scenes caution and recognizes that few Americans want to involve their military in another war in that part of the world.

The country's experiences in Afghanistan and especially Iraq should give Americans pause.

We want our leaders to be decisive, but we also want them to be right.

And it was Obama who, in August, decisively offered this warning: "We have communicated in no uncertain terms with every player in the region that that's a red line for us and that there would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front or the use of chemical weapons," he said.

"That would change my calculations significantly."

So if the intelligence is confirmed, doing nothing has ceased to be an

option, even as President Obama has consistently resisted bipartisan calls to take a stronger hand in Syria.

The latest push is for the U.N. Security Council to establish a no-fly zone to blunt the Assad regime's air superiority.

More than a year ago, this newspaper called on the U.S. to take a lead role in funneling arms and humanitarian aid to the anti-Assad forces.

Either move brings risk. Enforcing a no-fly zone puts pilots from the U.S. and other nations in harm's way.

Yet patrolling a no-fly zone also could yield intelligence for targeted strikes and give the U.S. and its allies one way to begin controlling chemical stockpiles.

Arming the rebel forces means sorting out which forces to arm.

Islamic extremists, some with al-Qaeda sympa-

thies, have taken hold of portions of the multisided anti-Assad rebellion.

There is no guarantee America or its allies one day won't have these weapons turned against them.

But there's that red line.

Obama used those words for a reason, and failing to act now would send precisely the wrong message to other nations that may face similar ultimatums.

Who would take a red line on, say, Iran seriously if the United States did nothing?

Obama must lead the effort through the U.N. to make clear to Assad and everyone else that the world agrees: Actions have consequences. ___

This editorial originally appeared in The Dallas Morning News

Coffee Week gets creative juices flowing As a self-proclaimed coffee addict (experts say the first step is admittance, and I proudly admit to drinking, on average, six cups of coffee each day), I was jump-out-ofyour-seat excited when National Public Radio deemed last week Coffee Week – one week of articles and audio dedicated to all things java.

Each morning I eagerly logged onto NPR – my favorite media outlet – to drink in the site’s caffeinated content. As a coffee snob, I assume that I know all there is to know about coffee.

These suspicions were confirmed when I received a nine out of 10 on NPR’s coffee quiz. So, naturally, I was rather shocked when I began reading an article whose information was, well, new to me.

Coffee Week really opened my eyes to some fascinating facets of coffee I’d never before considered. Sure, I knew that the there are hundreds of coffee plants and yeah, I knew that the most popular coffee bean – the one big names like Starbucks and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters use – is the Arabica bean. Of course I knew that Brazil is the leading producer of coffee in the world.

What I didn’t realize is

KATHERINE MANSFIELD

Columnist

that Vietnam has such a thriving coffee economy.

Vietnamese farmers grow Robusta coffee trees, whose beans are bitterer than their Arabica cousins’. Robusta coffee is popular in Europe, but less common in the United States, where many a coffee drinker prefers a little coffee with their sugar and mocha flavoring.

(I’m not judging. I’m just saying.)

I knew that Americans consumed an outrageous amount of coffee daily, but I didn’t realize my coffee consumption is through the roof: based on how many cups of coffee I drink each day, I should live in Iceland, not America. In Nordic countries, people sip an average of eight cups of coffee each day, compared with the United States’ humble two cups a day.

I knew that coffee sparked more than one revolution: it was over coffee that discontented citizens plotted the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and both the French and the American revolutions were planned in coffeehouses. What NPR taught

me is that Sultan Murad IV, ruler of the Ottoman Empire, hated coffee so much that dressed as a peasant, frequented coffeehouses and decapitated those he caught enjoying a cup of joe.

Coffee was so controversial that King Charles II ordered all coffeehouses in England closed – his order lasted 11 days, because uproar over the coffee shops’ closings made Charles fearful of a rebellion. But the fact remains that coffee has been the root of “evil” for many world leaders.

It’s also been a blessing to the creative minds of history.

Coffee isn’t just the Drink of Rebellion. It’s not an instant beverage college kids gulp while cramming for finals, and it’s not an un-pronounceable latte one orders at Starbucks. Coffee is the drink upon which most great ideas are founded.

L. Frank Baum penned “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” while on a coffee high: the author drank four or five cups of coffee every morning. Honore de Balzac was a bit more extreme: the French novelist drank an estimated 50 cups of coffee each day to make it through his rigorous 13-hour writing workdays.

Bach and Beethoven

composed some of their greatest works in coffeehouses. In fact, Bach so loved coffee that he titled one work “Coffee Cantata.” Other great entertainers, like Frank Sinatra, have sung odes to the drink. Sinatra’s “Coffee Song (They’ve Got an Awful Lot of Coffee in Brazil)” remains one of the most famous coffee tunes to date.

NPR’s Coffee Week was refreshing. I learned that coffee is enjoyed in various ways globally: it’s enjoyed as a drink of choice; it sparks revolution and genius; and it unites people the world over.

At our log home atop Mansfield Mountain in Washington, Pa., coffee has strengthened the bond between my dad and me.

We wake up and drink freshly ground, freshly brewed coffee in the mornings; at night, we sometimes chat over a shared pot of Roast for Change coffee, our coffee brand of choice.

The only qualm I have with coffee is that its magical creative juices often fade as the caffeine buzz comes crashing down on you.

Which seems to be the case right this moment.

Excuse me while I refuel with a cup or two of Eberly Library coffee.

By Rob Longo May 3, 1972

Editorial Assistant

May 4, 1912 A search committee recommends Reverend Erza F. Baker to be appointed to the Board of Trustees at Waynesburg College. Baker, who previously worked at Huron College in South Dakota, received a $1500 salary. Baker was unanimously elected to the Board of Trustees on June 14.

May 1, 1917 President Herbert Pierrepont Houghton suggests regular summer session classes at Waynesburg College. Classes began on this date and lasted six weeks. The cost of the summer sessions was $20.

Information courtesy of the Waynesburg College Story.

Serious offenses are uncovered at Waynesburg College. It was discovered that some students were able to make long-distance phone calls on the school phones without paying the toll.

Within two and a half months, the offenders were able to rack up a $10,000 phone bill; however, the phone company was able to trace roughly 98 percent of the phone calls, and the perpetrators were caught.

The world is coming to an end.

CHELSEA No, but really: lately it DICKS seems like everything that could go wrong has Columnist gone wrong for the USA. First: North Korea relaunched its missile pro- white poison, were sent to gram and has been send- multiple American politiing threats to the United cians, including President States. Second: the Boston Obama.

Ricin itself is a compoMarathon Bombings opened the country’s eyes nent of a common plant in to the dangers of home- the Middle East that is grown terrorists and the used as an ornamental damage two people can plant in the USA. It can be do. Third: even though it used for medicine, but the was a while ago, the substance has darker uses Sandy Hook incident as well. Ricin can be a destroyed the futures of highly potent toxin that many innocent young can kill a person with Americans. Lastly: the amounts as small as a few United States has a biolog- grains of sand and can result in death within 72 ical terrorist.

If you read that last sen- hours. When I heard this, tence over again and I got a sick sinking feeling exclaimed, ‘WHAAT?’ in my stomach.

Now, this is just my like I did the first time I heard about this situation, own phobia-induced opinyou are one of many. This ion. I know a nuclear terroristic attack occurred bomb can destroy a city, about three weeks ago, but a biological attack but was overshadowed by could destroy a whole the Boston bombings. country. If poison was When the news did, final- inserted into the water ly, break, I found that system, or into certain there truly is not that foods we purchase from much information about different countries, that attack could reach from the attack – yet.

I am a huge NCIS fan the Pacific beaches of Caland one of the episodes ifornia to the Atlantic that has stuck with me all lighthouses of Maine. these years is an episode Scary stuff, right? So why where one of the main didn’t I hear much about characters receives a letter one of my worst fears takwith a biological disease ing place?

Because sometimes the that, when opened, would infect whoever breathed it media has spotlight vision. What I mean by in.

The main character this is many media was close to death, and sources were so overthe NCIS special agents whelmed with the Boston did everything they could Marathon Bombings that to find the culprit. In the the ricin letter case fell end, the character ended into the shadows. Sure, up living – barely – and you could read an article that stated ‘ricin letters the terrorist was caught.

But the part that still have been sent to political haunts me today is the leaders of America’ on a ending. When a woman couple of websites, but took a sample of the virus, they were short and very she walked down the hall similar, giving vague and placed it in a room information that showed filled with potencies for the lack of research done biological attacks that had by many news sources.

Now the police force happened to America. The scene was silent as she has made an arrest. A Miswalked down the hall and sissippi martial arts typed in the password instructor was charged code. The door opened this past Saturday of and inside was a huge attempting to use a bioroom with small drawers logical weapon.

A lot of bad things have covering every wall. She placed the specimen happened recently. I can’t inside one of the drawers remember another time in and walked out, but the my life, other than the camera did not follow her: 9/11 attacks, where a she was not the focus of string of terrible events this scene. The room was, fell upon the United and it got the message States one after the other.

Do I really think the across to me.

A story like this makes world is ending?

Yes, but that is a result for great TV, but a couple of weeks ago, this actually of my religious beliefs and happened in the real not of the occurrences world. Numerous letters that have taken place filled with a specimen recently. I just needed a known as ricin, a powdery way to pull you in.

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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Campus

Take Back the Night educational for some students

By Joe Kondash Staff Writer Rape and sexual assault happens daily and is nothing to take lightly. Both were topics of discussion at this year’s Take Back the Night on April 25.

Take Back the Night is an event that is put on by the peer education team, and talks about the serious issue of rape and sexual assault. The peer education team took time to schedule speakers and readings of emails sent by survivors.

All of the speakers at this conference had a personal connection to the

topic.

“I used to be a sexual assault services coordinator in Fayette County, so I did a lot of what they talked about tonight with the advocacy and counseling but I also teach a class in human violence so we touch a lot on sexual trauma as well as other types of trauma,” said Mary Hamilla, school counselor at Waynesburg University.

The other speakers both had stories that made them grow to care about the topic more.

“I was assigned to detective unit at the police department in 2006

“Report, report. If you happen to fall victim, you need to let someone know. Tell somebody, get some help.”

Margaret Denny Registered nurse

and I was assigned to the sexual assault response team for Montighanny County, and ever since then I have had my hands in sexual assault investigations,” said Larry Haisley, detective for the Morgantown Police Department.

Take Back the Night was not only a first

encounter with a conference of this nature – the speakers were inexperienced as well.

“This is actually the first time I have spoken to university students and I really thought it went well, I thought it was good feedback and everyone seemed receptive to the topic,” said Haisley. “I

GNP rocks the GPAC Continued from A1 out to the lobby, where six-year-old Joey and fouryear-old Savanna began to have their own party, spinning around and dancing in the way all young children dance.

The children were not the only ones to get into the performance. People of all ages were tapping their feet, bobbing their heads and moving their shoulders. Even the performers danced around and laughed at each other as the show went on. “[GNP] has become a family event,” said Molzon, and many people at the show agreed. They keep coming back for

think it’s good to be here on a university campus to raise awareness that these things do happen here.”

Many students got very emotional during this conference and asked a ton of questions that were very deep.

“I thought the crowd was very good, I had some very good questions that people posed to me, so I think they did a very good job,” said Margaret Denny, registered nurse, manager of emergency room, sexual assault nurse examiner and Waynesburg University alumna.

The speakers all had

one main point to take away from these personal accounts.

“Report, report. If you happen to fall victim, you need to let someone know. Tell somebody, get some help,” said Denny.

Denny and Haisley both agreed that sexual abuse is never the victim’s fault, no matter the circumstances.

“These types of things do happen to normal people and that it can happen to anyone,” said Haisley.

Hamilla said that she plans to hold similar events every April, which is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Branch hosts screening

training session because of the beneficial learning experience.

“This is a great program where students can obtain the practical experience that they will need in the psychology field,” said Emiliani Being able to know what steps to take from the beginning is a huge aspect in treating the emotional turmoil experienced during a tragic event.”

Tracy considers the process of psychological first aid to be an important asset for a counselor to acquire.

“All counselors will interact with victims of a disaster sometime in their career,” said Tracy.

“Understanding the first few steps is an important part of a counselor’s toolkit.”

Continued from Page A3

Photo courtesy of Jeff McCollough, ‘98

Randy Jones (left) and Albert King perform a bluegrass tune during the 43rd annual GNP concert last Saturday. more than the large genre of music; they come for the homey environment.

Molzon exclaimed that when he hears performers and audience already talking about next year, it makes him excited that this event will keep taking place, and he and his

high school band will keep being blessed by the opportunity to perform.

“If it weren’t for the audience, I don’t see how this show would have continued,” said Molzon.

“How many people were there and how many people stayed for the four

hours, and that is telling of how much they like the show and support the show.”

Molzon and the rest of his friends who are ‘Still Truckin,’ hope to keep the tradition going next year and invite anyone to come and join the family.

burg University, so it was a natural fit for us,” said Tracy.

Tracy believes the ARC is influential in this area and in its psychological first aid training sessions for students.

“Our students will have the added benefit of hearing one of the Red Cross’s leading experts in Disaster Mental Health,” said Tracy. “We want our counseling students to be prepared when the aid for assistance is made.”

A sophomore psychology major, Emma Emiliani, looks forward to attending a psychological first aid

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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Page A7

Campus

The Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 “__ the Boss?”

5 “Grand __ Opry” 8 Acting part 9 D i s n e y ’s d e e r 12 “Moulin __!”; Nicole Kidman film 13 One of the planets 14 Disposable razor brand 15 “Auntie __”; Rosalind Russell movie 16 “__ Number Four”; sci-fi film 18 “__, Dear” 19 “Baby __”; Ti n a F e y m o v i e 20 Actress Tu r n e r 21 Israeli Prime Minister Golda __ 23 Feasted 24 Pull hard 25 “The __ Wi f e ” 26 Jackson or Ve n t u r a 28 Actress Anderson 29 Johnson of “Laugh-In” 30 Sightseeing trip 32 Initials for actor Olmos

35 “__ whiz!”

3 6 To m We l l i n g ’s r o l e o n “Smallville” 37 Suffix for young or gang 38 Frasier and Niles 40 Actress Debi 41 Mike or Cicely 42 Sitcom for Sherman Hemsley 43 “__ Always Sunny in Philadelphia” 4 4 Wr i t i n g instruments DOWN 1 “ M u r d e r, S h e __”

2 “48 __” 3 Olympic gymnast Korbut 4 “ We ’ r e o f f t o __ the wizard...”

5 Malia or Sasha 6 “__ Night with Jimmy Fallon” 7 Large Australian bird that cannot fly 10 Actor on “NCIS” 11 Foolish 12 Frank and Marie B a r o n e ’s younger son 1 3 Wa t e r s t o n o r Donaldson 15 Actor Harmon

17 “__ About Yo u ” 1 9 “ Yo u r s , __ and Ours”; movie for Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo 20 “The __ King”; blockbuster animated film 22 Relaxation 2 3 “ L e t ’s M a k e a D e a l ” c o n t e s t a n t ’s

choice 25 Overfill 26 Series for Catherine Bell 27 Build 30 Doogie and Moesha, e.g.

31 Light switch positions 33 Stapleton and Smart 3 4 H o c k e y ’s

Bobby __ 36 Shoelace problem 37 Identical 39 “__ walked out in the streets of Laredo...”

40 “A __ of the Wo r l d ” ; S i g o u r n e y We a v e r m o v i e

Last Issue’s Answers:

Crossword by MCT Campus

End of the Year I I A J S Y S T U D Y B T Y A

K Z F U R O E X N Q S Q B Q Z

A L D N E J M T E E Y R A D Z

U K A I T K Q K M C F O D V I

O L E O H S O P H O M O R E D

J Z P R G P V A S I J I G S R

G Z D L I W V C E L C E E R N

L N F K N V B N R N J N S A B

U J I O L I J R F F I G E E K

Z W R V L M A J S O W Z Y T L

N O I T A U D A R G T Z B K G

L X T X V E O S G V H E D B I

O F H J I I L K X D K F O W S

W E F I N A L S J T S O O R R

A E R A E E F F O C X P G X S

SOPHOMORE GRADUATION JUNIOR ALLNIGHTERS GOODBYES SENIORS

FINALS STUDY FRESHMEN COFFEE TEARS LEAVING JOY

Music Downloads

week ending May 2, 2013

#1 Album Save Rock and Roll Fall Out Boy

Top Songs

Source: Billboard.com

1. Just Give Me a Reason - Pink Featuring Nate Ruess 2. Can’t hold us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 3. Thrift Shop - Maclemore & Ryan Lewis 4. When I was your man - Bruno Mars 5. Gentleman - PSY

Design by Jessica Schinkovec

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Page A8

Thursday, May 2, 2013

The Back Page

COMMENCEMENT traditions

By Sarah Bell Executive Editor

ATTIRE

THE UNIVERSITY

MACE PROCESSIONAL

& RECESSIONAL

MILLER HALL

LAWN

As graduation approaches, the importance of learning more about commencement traditions is growing.

For example, do you know why some of your friends have different colored tassles than you do? Or do you know for how many years commencement has been held on Miller lawn, rather than in one of the buildings on campus?

Here’s a snapshot of Waynesburg commencement traditions, to get you prepared for the big day.

The biggest tradition at graduation is the academic attire/regalia. No, it’s not more important that you are wearing a gown than it is that you are receiving a diploma; however, the tradition of Waynesburg’s attire contains more aspects than anything else.

For example, there are three styles of robes (or gowns) and each style represents the level of degree being earned by the graduate. According to the Waynesburg website, “Associate’s and bachelor’s degree robes have pointed sleeves and are black. Master’s level robes are black, have an oblong sleeve, which is open at the wrist with the base hanging down, and the rear part of the oblong is cut square while the front arc cuts away.

Doctoral gowns are also black and much fuller with bell-shaped sleeves, and trimmings include velvet panels down the front and three bars of velvet on the sleeves.”

The velvet on the doctorial robes is often black, but can change depending on the field of study.

The cap is pretty basic. It’s black, four sides, button at the top. The more important part of the equation is the tassle that accompanies it, which changes color

based on the field of study of the degree granted (see sidebar for specifics on what the colors of tassles, as well as trimming of doctoral gowns and edging of hoods means). Seniors, please note: tassles are worn on the right side and shifted to the left after the degree has been conferred.

Then there’s the tam. Ever heard of it? Most of you probably haven’t, and that is because tams are used for doctoral degrees. They are made from black velvet. The number of sides varies. According to the university website, “Tams are ‘poofed’ at the top instead of flat and come with a tassel, usually in a gold bullion color with one or two buttons.”

Finally, there are hoods for master’s and doctoral level candidates at the university. They are made from the same fabric as the gown, but change size depending on the degree. Hoods are typically “lined with college or university colors, they typically have one field color and one chevron color. The edges of the hoods are velvet and in the color of the degree’s field of study.”

Long story short, the mace, or academic scepter, was an early sign of medieval university officials. Earlier maces were much more elaborate and ushered around on a wooden staff by royal messengers. Fast-forward a few years, when the first Waynesburg College mace was donated to the school in 1983 (Side note: the original mace is on display in the Paul R. Stewart Museum in Miller, if you want to check it out).

“In 2007, when Waynesburg was approved for status change from college to university, a new mace was commissioned.” It incorporates the Waynesburg University seal on all four sides. And now, instead of being carried by royal messengers, the Faculty Marshal leading the procession at academic ceremonies carries it throughout the year.

We will start at the southeast corner of Fountain Park and before we know it, we will be graduates. That is where the processional begins — in Fountain Park — and then it continues through the park and up the sidewalk from the corner of College St. to the Miller Hall lawn, where all of this year’s graduates will receive the diploma that they have been working toward. According to the university website, “The Faculty Marshal leads the procession followed by the graduate candidates, then the administration and faculty. At the front of Miller Hall, the graduates split ranks and line the walk, allowing the

administration, speakers and faculty to pass through the middle. This symbolizes the respect and appreciation held for their faculty, administration and special guests.”

Graduates may then proceed to their seats.

And then, in what I would call an adorable coming full circle moment, the recessional occurs — “at this time, the faculty members line the sidewalk of Fountain Park splitting ranks for the graduates to pass through.

This is symbolic of the faculty showing respect and recognizing the new graduates as peers and no longer as students.”

Miller Hall is the second oldest building on campus and one with the most historic, heartfelt story behind it. University students made the bricks for the building.

Their fingerprints can still be seen in many places outside the 1875 structure.

According to the Waynesburg website, “the students are welcomed to the Waynesburg University campus family upon their enrollment and matriculation at the beginning of their education in a ceremony on historic Miller Hall’s lawn. Their education progresses full circle and finishes with the Commencement Ceremony, where they will receive their diploma on that same historic lawn. The tradition of holding Matriculation and Commencement services on the front lawn of Miller Hall dates back to 1990.”

For the seniors in the class of 2013, things didn’t go exactly as planned, as our matriculation during freshman orientation weekend was held in the Marisa Fieldhouse. I think it was raining (insert sarcasm: doesn’t sound like Waynesburg, right?) However, the idea of starting and finishing in the same place is nice; even though the location is the same, the people have changed beyond belief.

Last year, the first matriculation service was held in the chapel, beginning a new tradition “and clearly centering Christ in the foundation of the education obtained at Waynesburg University.”

WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY’S standard colors

Degree

Tassel/Hood color

DNP MA MAT MBA MEd MSN BA BML BS BSBA BSMB BSN

Apricot White Light blue Drab Light blue Apricot White Drab Golden yellow Drab Golden yellow Apricot

So, now you’ve had a quick lesson

on Waynesburg’s commencement traditions. From the attire to the recessional, graduation day will surely be one to remember.

All of the seniors out there will have a chance to share these commencement traditions with thier family and friends, while making their own traditions that will be passed down to future generations.

And, if you’re not a senior, your time is coming faster than you think — trust me. To the rest of the Class of 2013, see you bright

and early

May 19.

Design by Cori Schipani

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Purple is the new Greene

Photo by Kyle Edwards

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Menhart

During their April 18 meeting, the Greene County Commissioners declared May 3, 2013 Paint Greene County Purple Day.

The Greene County Relay For Life will be held May 4-5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. These banners were hung from lampposts in order to garner attendance.

Greene County Commissioners declare May 3 ‘Paint Greene County Purple Day’

County gearing up for 100th anniversary of ACS through Greene County Relay for Life

By Kyle Edwards

By Nick Farrell

Senior Editor At their April 18 meeting, the Greene County Board of Commissioners proclaimed May 3, 2013, “Paint Greene County Purple Day.” The proclamation supports the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Greene County.

“A big part of ‘Painting Greene County Purple’ is the banners that are hanging on the lampposts all over town,” said Liz Menhart, communications director.

“You see those all over the community.

County employees also usually try to dress up in purple on that day.”

Menhart said that the board of commissioners has proclaimed a day like this for several years

now.

“Usually it’s something to do with the color purple,” she said.

“It’s always designated to the day before the Greene County Relay For Life so that the county can contribute to promoting the cause.”

Menhart said that raising awareness has always been the goal of this particular proclamation.

“By proclaiming this, the commissioners hope to generate publicity and awareness for the Greene County Relay For Life so that it will drive the attendance up for the event,” Menhart said.

“It’s an important part of the county now – you can see the banners hanging all around the different communities.

We hope to get more peo-

ple come to the event so that Relay For Life can raise even more money. Whether the people want to walk or fundraise or just look around, we want them to be there to show the county’s support for the cause.

And, of course, all proceeds go to Relay For Life.”

In a recent press release from the Greene County Commissioners’ office, Jacki Headlee, Relay For Life of Greene County event chair, expressed her gratitude for the proclamation.

“We are so thankful for the support of the commissioners and Greene County as a whole,” Headlee said.

“The people of Greene County have big hearts, and each year, they have given

Assistant Sports Editor

Like many people, Margie Smith participates in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life because she lost a loved one to cancer.

“I relay because I lost my mother, when she was my age now, 32 years ago to pancreatic cancer,” said Smith.

“This is how I describe her: a church-going, apple-eating, spa-going, non-smoker, nondrinker - but it doesn’t matter. Cancer doesn’t care.”

Thirty-two years later, Smith is now a senior community income development representative for the east central division of the ACS. “In the hopes that, someday, cancer will be a thing of the past is why I relay,” said Smith.

See COUNTY on B3 Smith will have

another chance to contribute to the search for a cure when the Relay for Life of Greene County begins on Saturday at 8 a.m. and continues for 24 consecutive hours.

According to the event’s website, 30 teams and nearly 600 participants are registered for this year’s Relay and have already raised more than $100,000; however, Smith is not sure that the teams will reach the county’s overall goal of $235,000.

Smith encourages the community to participate and help the fight against cancer during the Relay, which is open to the public.

“We may not make goal by the end of the Relay, but we are still accepting funds if people want to do postevent fundraisers or make a donation by Aug. 31,” said Smith.

This is unusual for a

county that has stood out as one of the nation’s best fundraisers for cancer research.

Last year, Greene County was recognized for being second in the nation in per capita fundraising for a county with a population of fewer than 40,000 people.

According to Smith, nearly six dollars were raised for every citizen of Greene County. In addition, the Relay for Life of Greene County was rated 162nd out of 5,300 relays nationwide for total fundraising.

“I just think that there is a passion in Greene County for really getting to the bottom of this disease and putting an end to it once and for all,” said Smith.

“They are just passionate people.”

This year’s Relay, which will take place at See GREENE on B2

Snyder’s first resolution in House creates Worker’s Memorial Day

By Kyle Edwards Senior Editor House adopts Snyder’s resolution for Worker’s Memorial Day After serving as the Representative for the 50th district of Pennsylvania for almost three months, Republican Pam Snyder was able to garner approval for her first resolution in the state House of Representatives – unanimously at that.

“It was a very special moment for me,” Snyder said.

“It was also an opportunity for me to make my first remarks on the floor – I spoke for the resolution that day – and I

Snyder

was very proud to b e standing t h e r e representing the people of the 50th

district.”

The resolution designates April 28 – a date that coincides with the anniversary of the creation of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was enacted in 1971, as Worker’s Memorial Day. “It’s a day where we honor workers that were killed or injured on the job in the prior year,” Snyder said.

“There are still way too many accidents in

the workplace and there are still a lot of people who lose their lives on the job every day. This is just a way to pause and remember those that were hurt, injured or killed.”

For Snyder, that this resolution was the first to be accepted was very meaningful.

“About 25 years ago, my husband was a lineman for the local utility company.

One night, an ice storm hit and I was at home with our baby girl and I heard a knock at the door,” she said.

“I’ll never forget the feeling that came over me when I saw his boss standing at

the door, because I knew that something bad had happened.”

That night, her husband’s boss explained to her that her husband had been working on a telephone pole that had a rod in it – a fact that no one noticed – and the pole was struck by lightning.

Her husband fell – along with the pole – 30 feet to the ground.

“So this is something that I’ve experienced first-hand,” Snyder said.

“I know how it feels to be in that situation. That’s why this resolution is so important to me.”

Another motivating factor was her position on the labor and

industry committee, Snyder explained.

When the chair of the c o m m i t t e e approached her with the resolution and asked her if she would be interested in pushing it forward, she immediately said ‘absolutely.’

“I think that everybody that gets up every morning and goes to work is very grateful that they’ve put in another safe day at work,” she said.

“In the 50th district especially we have people that have very dangerous jobs – with the mining and drilling industries in the area. I think that this resolution mirrors the 50th district

and the people that live here.”

Snyder said that getting this resolution approved went as smoothly as she could have hoped.

“I think whenever it’s a resolution honoring people regarding what sector we’re representing I think we all come together in agreement,” she said.

“In my nine years as commissioner, we never had a resolution that was contested when it came to honoring someone. I was hoping that it would go this smoothly and it did.”

As for what’s next, Snyder said she’s just going to keep working See SNYDER on B2

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Page B2

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Editorial

Historical Society museum opens for season 23rd annual Ramp Fest sees record attendance at Maxon-Dixon Park

By Katherine Mansfield Copy Editor Jars.

Rows and rows and rows of glass jars.

This season, the Greene County Historical Society proudly presents the glass jar and bottle collection that belonged to the late Dorothy Rush Clark of Khedive.

Clark, a dairy farmer and lifelong bottle collector, amassed hundreds of antique bottles and jars during her lifetime.

Among her impressive array of glass jars and bottles is a perfume bottle from Lows Prize Medal Perfumes of London and New York, pricey antiques and various canning jars from the 1800s through the 1980s.

“There’s a lot of [jars],” laughed Eben Williams, executive director and administrator of the Greene County Historical Society museum. “People said it was cool. Some of the people came out just to see it. Just the amount of glass jars – people were fascinated by it.”

The display is on loan from Clark’s sons Brice and Bruce Rush, and was unveiled at the Greene County Historical Society’s opening day.

The jar collection is part of the museum’s summer theme, Food and Food Reduction.

The museum’s summer season kicked off Sunday, April 28, when a large crowd flocked to the society’s grounds for breakfast and a living history.

“It was pretty successful – over 100 people came out, which is pretty impressive for a Saturday,” said Williams.

Festivities began at 8

By Rob Longo Editorial Assistant

Photo courtesy of Katie Bailey

The Greene County Historical Society officially opened its museum Saturday. A pancake breakfast was held in the morning, and reenactors from the 140th Pa. Volunteers Company A were in attendance, drilling and marching throughout the day.

a.m. with an all-youcan-eat pancake breakfast: for $6 ($3 for children under 12), attendees were encouraged to gorge themselves on syrup-drenched buttermilk, buckwheat and corn flapjacks chased down with a cup or two of coffee.

In previous years, a keynote speaker lectured after the breakfast.

This year, happy breakfasters toured the museum, admiring the museum’s general store re-creation and “oohing” at the 100year-old pickle in the

kitchen.

The local reenacting group, the 140 Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company A, entertained museum-goers with a living history reenactment.

The company’s annual boot camp was held Friday evening into Saturday morning, and reenactors spent the night on the Historical Society’s grounds.

In the morning, they play-acted life as Union soldiers for enthralled onlookers.

“Doug Wilson did a talk asking for people to

donate things to help the soldiers,” said Williams.

Wilson said that spending the weekend with like-minded individuals and training in the same manner as soldiers trained in the 1860s was the best part of the weekend.

“I addressed the board of the Greene County Historical Society as though I were a soldier serving in 1863 and thanked them for allowing us the use of the county’s poor farm – See SEASON on B4

Hundreds made their way to MasonDixon Park in Mount Morris, Pa. this past weekend to celebrate an unusual food.

The 23 annual Ramp Festival took place on April 26 and 27.

A source of family fun and entertainment, the festival is held to celebrate and eat ramp-oriented foods for which the festival is named.

“People come for the ramps,” said Connie Ammons, the festival coordinator.

“They love ramps.”

Ramps, by definition, are wild leeks or early spring vegetables with a strong garlic odor and onion flavor.

Ramps come into season in the early spring, hence the timing of the festival.

Many describe ramps’ taste comparable to that of garlic, but “earthier.”

At this year’s Ramp Festival, a wide variety of 52 crafters were on site, ranging from wood working to jewelry, and even maple syrup.

Twelve food venders were there as well – some preparing food with the garlic-

Continued from B1 Waynesburg Central High School, will introduce a few new aspects.

For one, the Relay for Life of Greene County is a member of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the political affiliate of the ACS that fights for cancer legislation.

Thanks in part to Greene County’s ACS CAN Chair Dillon Spencer, Smith says that the local Relay for Life has again received recognition, this time at the regional level.

“In the east central division, which is Penn-

Snyder gets approval Continued from B1 hard for her district.

sylvania and Ohio, we are number one in ACS CAN enrollment,” said Smith.

Additionally, the Relay is considered a Cancer Prevention Study-3 site this year.

Smith explained the ACS has conducted several of these studies and that they have provided fruitful findings about cancer.

“In the first CPS study, we were able to draw the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, and it resulted in the Surgeon General Warning labels on cigarette packets,” said Smith.

“A lot of other very significant links toward behavior, environment and nutritional factors like exercise are being linked to different can-

cers through this study.”

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., participants ages 30-65 that have never had a cancer diagnosis may make the commitment to the long-term study that will require biannual surveys.

Smith’s goal is to gain 148 signatures for this program.

“It is really a chance to be a part of a grassroots research study, to make history, to finally start filling in the blanks and figure out what the answer to cancer is,” said Smith.

“We want people that are really committed and are interested in being a part of history and actually helping us find the answer to what causes all of these different cancers. I know

that Greene County people care a lot about this issue and I feel like they are going to reach this goal.”

Smith hopes that these new additions to the program will add to the community aspect of the event, which she believes is an expression of support for survivors and hope for those who are currently dealing with the illness and its consequences.

“It’s the businesses, it’s the churches, it’s the schools, it’s the nursing homes, it’s the college; it seems like everybody does something for the Relay,” said Smith.

“I like to think of it like ‘Horton Hears a Who,” that ‘a person’s a person, no matter how small.’”

“Right now, I’m looking at a few issues to get my first bill introduced.

Here again, a lot of my work and my resolutions will come out of my committee assign-

ments,” she said.

“That’s really where you have your finger on the pulse of what’s going on – your committee meetings and the legislation that comes out of your

committee.

Right now, I’m just going to keep working hard every day for the good people of the district that I represent. That’s why I’m here, and I’ll get the job done.”

See RAMP on B4

Southwest Regional to accept applications for new volunteers

By Amanda Wishner

Greene goes purple

like substance, others without.

According to Ammons, beer-battered deep fried ramps were the crowd favorite.

Other foods available for selection were sweet sausage sandwiches topped with peppers, onions and ramps, fried potatoes with ramps and ramp salad. Ramp jelly was also available for sale, and there was even a ramp wine and cheese tasting.

Another crowd favorite is the MasonDixon Dog, which is a hot dog piled high with chili, sauerkraut, onions and ramps.

Active military members and veterans could stop by the booth and pick one up for free.

According the Ramp Festival’s website, it’s the least they could do.

Compared to Ramp Festivals in the past, Ammons deems this one a huge success.

“This year went really well,” Ammons said.

“It was better than we ever had.”

Ammons added that roughly 500 people attended the festival on Saturday.

Despite some rain

Senior Editor The Southwest Regional Medical Center is currently accepting applications for the 2013 session of its junior volunteer program.

Anyone between the ages of 14 through college age is eligible to apply to participate.

According to Pam Pulkownik, marketing associate at Southwest Regional Medical Center, the program gives local youth “the opportunity to learn how the hospital and all of its departments work together to form a seamless work environment.”

Volunteers typically range from high school students interested in completing their senior hours or improving their college resumes to university students fulfilling the necessary service requirements for service learning courses or various campus programs, she said.

“I think with this age group when you’re really trying to figure out what you want to

do, and if you have an interest in healthcare, this gives [volunteers] the opportunity to see if this is the right career field for them,” she said. “It allows them to really see how every department impacts the area you’re interested in, and they can see there’s more to it than what they envisioned.”

Junior volunteers at Southwest Regional Medical Center have a variety of responsibilities and must commit to a minimum of 30 service hours.

Their duties include completing administrative tasks, helping patients, assisting in various departments within the hospital, along with other tasks.

Volunteers may also make deliveries with the hospital book cart or work at the Cherry Door thrift shop, where they will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in retail, pricing and display.

All junior volunteers See SWRMC on B4

YELLOW JACKET

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Page B3

Region

District change-up: Dayich to oversee three additional districts

By Chelsea Dicks Arts & Life Editor Greene County districts are once again undergoing change.

After the re-establishment of magisterial districts in Greene County, Magisterial District Judge Louis Dayich will now oversee three additional townships.

Magisterial districts are evaluated every 10 years, in accordance with U.S. census results.

The state supreme court re-established the districts Tuesday, and the changes will be effective Aug. 1.

Dayich will now oversee Perry, Washington and Whiteley townships.

The townships will be eliminated from Magisterial District Judge D. Glenn Bates’ district; however, Bates will continue to oversee Clarksville and Jefferson boroughs and Franklin,

Graphic by Chelsea Dicks

Magisterial District Judge Louis Dayich will now oversee three additional districts in Greene County - Perry, Whiteley and Washington. The districts are re-established every 10 years in accordance with the Census results.

Jefferson and Morgan townships.

Dayich was not

available for comment at press time.

Dayich’s district

currently includes Waynesburg, Aleppo, Center, Freeport,

Gilmore, Gray, Jackson, Morris, Richhill, Springhill and Wayne

townships.

Though Dayich’s district was restructured, no boroughs or townships have been removed from Magisterial District Judge Leroy Watson’s district.

Watson’s district includes Carmichaels, Greensboro and Rices Landing, as well as C u m b e r l a n d , Dunkard, Greene and Monongahela townships.

But there was another district that was re-established.

The state recently consolidated the magisterial district offices of Jesse J. Cramer and Dwight Shaner, who will retire at the end of this year.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, Shaner’s office will be eliminated, and Dawson, Dunbar, Everson, Perryopolis and Vanderbilt and Franklin, Lower Tyrone, Upper Tyrone See DAYICH on B4

Rain Day history and traditions to continue Stewardship Week kicks off summer at “With all of the events that happen, you county fairgrounds can’t help but have a good time.”

By Lucas Diethorn

Assignments Editor

It all started with a hat.

In 1874, two Waynesburg gentlemen agreed to bet on whether or not it would rain on a certain date.

The winner won a hat.

And just like that, Rain Day was a Greene County tradition.

Applications for the annual event are now being accepted for this year.

“It really is a lot of fun,” said Andrew Cotton, who has attended Rain Day five consecutive years.

“With all of the events that happen, you can’t help but have a good time.

And the fact that it always rains is hilarious.”

Rain Day got its

County to be painted purple Continued from B1

of their time and talents.”

Andrew Cotton Greene County Resident

beginning in the Daly & Spraggs Drug Store, located in the center of Waynesburg.

Legend has it that one day a farmer was in the drugstore and mentioned to Byron Daly that it would rain the next day, July 29.

Mr. Daly asked him how he knew and he replied that it was his birthday and that it always rained on his birthday.

He kept a journal for several years in which he recorded the weather, and, according to legend, it rained every July 29.

Daly thought this was too sure a thing

to let slide.

He started betting salesmen who came into his drugstore that it would rain in Waynesburg on July 29.

The bet was usually a new hat, which, of course, he would win.

Rain Day grew in the years after the Special Event Commission was formed back in 1979.

The commission has since brought continuity to the event and also brought some big names to the borough of Waynesburg.

Throughout the history of the hat bet,

The Greene County Relay For Life will be held at the Waynesburg Central High School Raider Field of Pride May 18-19 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Relay will serve as an enroll-

ment site for Cancer Prevention Study-3, a long-term, nationwide research study designed to find links between cancer diagnoses and lifestyle, environmental, genetic and other factors.

Waynesburg has beaten many celebrities.

Last year Brett Kiesel, defensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, made the hat bet with Waynesburg.

Celebrities from out of state have also foolishly accepted the bet.

Troy Aikman, a Hall of Fame quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 19892001, made the bet with the borough in 1996. He too lost.

The first loser of the hat bet (on record) was a sports writer named Al Abrams, who lost the bet in 1939.

“All the celebrities lose every time,” said Cotton.

“I think they all have a gambling problem.”

The hat bet is not the only Rain Day See TRADITIONS on B4

If you are interested in donating to the Greene County Relay For Life, or for more information, visit www.relayforlife.org and search for “Relay For Life of Greene County.”

By Katherine Mansfield Copy Editor As daydreams of swimming pools and ice-cold lemonade dance in the heads of those eager for sweet summertime, the National Association of Conservation Districts dreams of a cleaner, greener world.

The Greene County Conservation District will again kick off the summer with its annual National Soil and Water Stewardship Week at the Greene County Fairgrounds.

The weeklong event, held in conjunction with chapters of the NACD nationwide, will begin May 5 and run through May 12.

According to nacd.net, the first Stewardship Week was held in 1955, a weeklong event that allowed conservation groups across the United States to reach out to their communities and promote a more eco-friendly way of life.

Since then, the event has been held annually across the nation.

Stewardship Week promotes social respon-

sibility and teaches the general public to use natural resources more wisely.

This year’s theme is “Where Does Your Water Shed?” – the NACD press release suggests that conservation groups host river and stream cleanups and educate the public on the importance of clean water to the community during the week.

Among Stewardship Week’s highlights is the annual service fair, which was originally scheduled for Sunday, May 11, between 10 a.m. and 3 pm. at the Greene County Fairgrounds.

Unfortunately, the service fair has been cancelled.

It will be rescheduled for a later date, but Stewardship Week activities will still be held during National Soil and Water Stewardship week.

The service fair provides local organizations the chance to network with potential volunteers and recruit members.

Traditionally, vendors See ECO on B4

YELLOW JACKET

Page B4

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Region

Prisoner charged A man incarcerated at the Greene County Prison is facing an additional charge after police allege he spit in the face of the prison warden on April 16.

State police said Randy A. Kimble, who was incarcerated at the prison in Franklin Township for violating the terms of his probation, is facing a new charge after he spit in the face of Warden Harry Gillispie.

Police said that Kimble was subsequently charged with aggravated harassment by a pris-

SWRMC looks for help Continued from B2 will be mentored by a senior volunteer or Southwest Regional staff member.

Pulkownik says the hospital program tries to cater to the individual interests of each volunteer and make the experience worth-

Season starts for museum Continued from B2 which is now the Historical Society’s Museum – for use as a staging ground for recruitment purposes,” said Wilson.

Williams said that the living history reenactment was a popular stop for those in attendance

Eco week to be held Continued from B3 use the fair to promote their causes and upcoming events.

Lisa Snider, district

oner and arraigned on the new charge before Magisterial District Judge Glenn Bates.

Bates placed an additional bond of $10,000 on Kimble following his arraignment.

According to Greene County Court records, Kimble was found guilty of theft and receiving stolen property in 2010 and later violated the terms of his probation resulting in his incarceration.

It was not clear what prompted the incident.

Man charged State police said Mark Johnson, 49, of Bobtown was charged with simple assault after he allegedly struck Charles Stallman, 49, of Dilliner during an altercation at a residence on Dazelle St. in Dunkard Twp. at 1 a.m. April 13.

Police said the assault caused severe swelling and damage to Stallman’s left eye.

along Greene St. in Franklin Twp. during the evening of April 26.

The checkpoint resulted in three DUI arrests, 34 traffic citations and 23 written warnings.

Crash reported

State police in Waynesburg and the Waynesburg Borough Police Dept. conducted a sobriety checkpoint

State police said vehicles driven by Kenneth W. Rhodes, 45, of Wind Ridge and Michael E. Johnson, 48, of Marion, Va., collided on Barton Hollow Road in Center Twp. at 2:34 p.m. April 25.

Police said four passengers in Rhodes’ vehicle suffered minor

while.

“If they have any certain areas they’re interested in, we try to give them the opportunity to work in that area,” she said. “We really want them to learn and gain something from this experience and feel like they’re getting more out of volunteering than just hours.”

According to Pulkownik, volunteers are essential to South-

west Regional Medical Center.

“Volunteers are the backbone to our hospital. They’re the smiling first line of communication you see when you walk in the doors,” she said.

“Most volunteers don’t expect any thanks yous; they just genuinely want to make a difference in their community and give back. They really are crucial to us.”

To receive more information about the junior volunteer program or to obtain a volunteer application, please contact Pulkownik at 724-6272412 or pamela.pulkownik@sw -rmc.com.

Applications can also be found online at the Southwest Regional Medical Center website by clicking on the community tab and selecting volunteers.

at the museum’s opening day. After a morning spent reliving and remembering the county’s past, a public meeting was held inside the museum to generate interest and solicit new members.

At the 1 p.m. meeting, new board members were approved and event plans for the coming year were brainstormed.

The society has already solidified plans

for various summer activities. The ever-popular ice-cream social will be held June 23; before then, though, there are plenty of unique events for Greene County-area residents to attend. The Greene County Historical Society will host the Kelly Miller Circus Tuesday, May 28; admission information can be obtained by calling the society at 724-627-3204.

Checkpoint results

manager of the Greene County Conservation District, could not be reached for comment at press time.

Continued from B3 For more information on Greene County’s National Soil and Water and Perry townships Stewardship Week, con- will be added to tact Lisa Snyder at 724- Cramer’s district.

852-5278.

Cramer’s district

Dayich picks up districts

injuries in the crash, and it was unknown if Rhodes was injured.

Johnson and a passenger in his vehicle were not injured.

Police said Rhodes was traveling north when he under-compensated a left curve, traveled into the oncoming lane and impacted Johnson’s vehicle head-on.

After impact, Rhodes fled the scene on foot, police said.

A 4-year-old boy who was sitting on the front seat passenger lap unrestrained received minor injuries from the airbag,

and a 2-year-old boy who was in a child safety seat but not buckled in the rear seat received minor injuries as well.

Rhodes was arrested for hit-and-run along with numerous other traffic violations, police said. Center Twp. Fire Dept. assisted at the scene.

Traditions to continue

respect to the men of Company K, 2nd Battalion and the 110th Infantry, a battalion from Waynesburg that lost men in France in World War I. Almost half of the 250 men from Waynesburg were injured or killed on that day.

As John O’Hara once wrote, “On that Rain Day in 1918, it rained bullets on the men of Company K.” Applications for the event this year are now available to download online at www.raindayfestival.com/downloads.

Continued from B3

event.

Since the Special Events Commission was established in 1979 there have been window decorating contests, umbrella contests (fitting for the rainy occasion), the Jack McCracken Award and even a battle of the bands.

All the festivities The circus will per- grow quiet at the same form twice: a matinee time each year to pay will begin at 4:30 p.m., and the evening show will start promptly at 7:30 p.m. The annual Garden Party will take place June 9; admission is $15, and includes informational gardening sessions, live entertainContinued from B2 ment and the Doll and Dollhouse show. The many other summer Sunday, Ammons said events can be found on the crowd was still the society’s website. pretty good.

Next up on the schedule for the Mason-Dixon Park is currently includes the Purple Martin FesBelle Vernon, Fayette tival on June 29, City and Newell boroughs and Jefferson and Washington townships.

There are five people who are running for the expanded district, and all have cross-filed.

Ramp fest held at park

Man cited State police said Timothy Temple, 25, of Waynesburg was cited for disorderly conduct following an incident at a location near Third St. in Franklin Twp. at 1:53 a.m. April 24.

which celebrates the small bird that lives in western Pennsylvania.

The park will also host Frontier Fest, which celebrates the historical significance Greene County played in the early days when the county was a frontier.

Frontier Fest will take place the fourth weekend in August.

Trio lauded by Presidents’ Athletic Conference Read more on C4

Thursday, May 2, 2013 PRESIDENTS’ ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Byrum Louco carries men to second place finish Sophomore selected MVP of PAC Championships

By Kyle Oland Sports Editor After taking the backseat to the dominance of the women’s track & field team over the past few years, the men’s team put on an impressive show at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships at Washington & Jefferson College over the weekend.

While the Yellow Jackets did not win a team title, they finished second behind Westminster College for the highest finish

in program history.

“I am so proud,” said head coach Jason Falvo. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed we didn’t win, but the [team’s] effort was amazing and we will be back next year to finish the job.”

Leading the way for Waynesburg was sophomore Byrum Louco, who was named both PAC Men’s Track MVP and PAC Men’s Track & Field MVP. The speedy sophomore won gold medals in the

400-meter hurdles and the 4x400 relay, and second in the 4x100 while placing third in both the 400meters and 110-meter hurdles.

Louco, who qualified for Nationals in the 400meter hurdles as a sophomore, defended his title from a year ago. His time of 56.71 gave him an easy win and put him among the top-10 runners in the country for that event.

Later he teamed up with sophomore Lorenzo See MEN on C4

Photo by Kimber Blair

Sophomore Byrum Louco runs down Saint Vincent’s Chris Hameed during the final leg of the 4x400-meter relay at the PAC Championships on Saturday.

Women’s track claims first title Led by six individual titles, Yellow Jackets edge Grove City by four points to earn PAC Championship

By Kyle Oland Sports Editor Back in the winter when women’s head track & field coach Jason Falvo was looking at his roster, he couldn’t help but think that in his nine years of coaching at Waynesburg, this was his deepest team.

With athletes who could score points across the board, Falvo figured this would be the year his team won a Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship.

On Saturday, the Yellow Jackets won the 2013 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Track & Field Championships at Washington & Jefferson College. Waynesburg bested runner-up Grove City College by four points to win the first-ever PAC title in women’s track & field history.

“I am so proud of how Photo by Kimber Blair the [women’s team] all worked together to pull From left to right: Seniors Jaimie Post, Megan Fortna and Rhea Huwe react to receiving the PAC Championship trophy on Saturday. this championship off,” said Grove City (150) and W&J jump with a leap of 5.11 meters her whole career,” said Falvo. her second-place finish in the Falvo. “It’s been a nine-year (148.5) finished second and (16-9.25). Huwe also took sec- “She wanted to do as many 200 left a bitter taste in her ond in the 200-meters, breaking events as she could to help and mouth. journey and I am so thankful third, respectively.

“The 200 was the individual that this team was able to win a Senior Rhea Huwe led the the tape with a time of 25.74 she was able to have great success. To score 30.5 points in one title I wanted the most,” said team with two individual titles. seconds. championship.”

In total, Huwe accounted for meet is impressive. Her hard Huwe. “Even though I posted Led by six individual champi- The senior finished first in the work and dedication paid off.” ons, the Yellow Jackets finished 100-meters with a time of 12.76 30.5 team points.

While Huwe won two titles, “Rhea has been stepping up with 154 team points, while seconds and first in the long See JACKETS on C4

Baseball splits with Westminster Softball ends season with losses

By Carson Fox Staff Writer After taking a 10-4 victory on Friday at CONSOL Energy Park, the Waynesburg University baseball team split a double header with Presidents’ Athletic Conference opponent Westminster on Saturday, winning the first game 12-2 and losing the second game 51. The Yellow Jackets (1817, 9-12 PAC) put up 12 runs on 13 hits in the

game one victory, but only managed one run on four hits in the game two loss to the Titans (15-20, 7-12 PAC).

In game one, Waynesburg centerfielder Clay Roman opened up the scoring in the third inning

when he knocked in catcher Marc Timmons on a ground out. In the next three innings, the Jackets put up nine more runs on Westminster and controlled the game from there. Leftfielder Nick Berdine brought in two more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh, when he hit his conference-leading sixth homerun of the season.

All but one Jacket

Eric Bost Sports Editorial Assistant

Although the Waynesburg softball team was eliminated from Presidents’ Athletic Conference playoff contention, it still tried to finish the season strong when it took on rival Washington & Jefferson in a doubleheader Friday.

“Our goal was to try and make things difficult for them to make the See BASEBALL on C2 playoffs,” said Waynes-

burg head coach Lou Giachetti. “I know a lot of things had to happen, but if we could do our part and sweep them, that would have been satisfying for us.”

The Jackets (15-21, 7-11 PAC) honored seniors

Rachel Moon and Lauren Roycroft during the pregame Senior Day ceremony.

Although Waynesburg wanted to send its soonto-be graduates out on a good note, the Presidents wanted to get themselves ready for postseason play.

W&J (24-12, 13-5 PAC) proved to be too much for the young Yellow Jacket squad, as it completed a sweep by winning 5-1 in See SEASON on C3

YELLOW JACKET

Page C2

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Sports SPORTS COMMENTARY

Memorable year for Waynesburg athletic program coming to an end To say it was a good year for Waynesburg sports would be an understatement. The Waynesburg athletic program accomplished a feat that had not occurred since 1993.

With the women’s track & field team claiming a Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday, it marked the third time this year a Waynesburg University sports team won a PAC title.

It also marked the first time since 1993 that a PAC team title was won by at least three teams.

The three PAC titles won in each season (fall, winter and spring) marked the first time in Waynesburg history that a title was won by a team in each season.

In the fall, the football team reeled off ninestraight wins to start the season.

In the regular season finale, the Jackets fell to rival W&J, but were still named co-champs with the Presidents. After receiving a bid to play and host the ECAC SouthWest Bowl Game, the Yellow Jackets defeated Carnegie Mellon 28-24.

In the winter, the wrestling team claimed its third PAC title in four years.

In addition to the team’s success, junior Luke Lohr was named an All-American following his seventh place finish at Nationals.

Then, just this past weekend, the women’s track & field team won

Kyle Oland Sports Editor

the first PAC title in program history. With postseason meets coming in the next week, a number of Jackets have an opportunity to earn individual post-season titles.

I have enjoyed covering these and all other Waynesburg teams as Sports Editor this year. It has been a true pleasure to cover a number of fantastic sporting events during each team’s season.

The coaches and athletes of each team have made my job (I wouldn’t even call it that) an absolute blast. With the help of my excellent staff this year, we have enjoyed bringing weekly coverage of Yellow Jacket athletics.

With the athletic season coming to end, I want to briefly highlight my three most prominent sports moments during the 2012-2013 Waynesburg University athletic season.

3. Byrum Louco wins PAC Track MVP This past weekend Byrum Louco had probably the best individual performance for a track athlete in Waynesburg history.

If you are reading the section this week, you are probably tired of seeing Louco’s name, but the sophomore multi-sport

athlete deserves every column inch he is taking up.

Over the weekend, the sprinter ran eight races while also participating in the long jump. He won titles in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x400meter relay while placing second in the 4x100, third in the 110-meter hurdles and fourth in the 400meters.

For his efforts, Louco won the PAC Track & Field MVP (the highest honor an individual can win from the PAC).

Quite honestly, without Louco carrying the team on his back, the men’s track team would not have finished second at the PAC Championships.

2. Willie Leavell’s punt block against Thomas More This play will go down as one of the most exciting plays in Waynesburg football history.

With Waynesburg trailing 10-7 late in the fourth quarter, sophomore Willie Leavell busted through the punt protection of Thomas More to block the punt try by the Saints.

In one motion, Leavell blocked the punt, caught the ball in his gut and raced 18 yards into the end zone for the go-ahead score.

Leavell and his teammates hung on for the 1410 victory over the then nationally-ranked Saints.

Without Leavell’s gamechanging play, the Jackets likely would have lost to

the Saints and may have never won a PAC title.

1. Anthony Bonaventura’s win at PAC’s Heading into the 174pound title match at the PAC Championships in February, Waynesburg held a slim 10-point lead over Thiel.

Jacket junior Anthony Bonaventura faced off against Tomcat Jerrold Roosa. A win by Bonaventura would increase his team’s lead to 20 points and all but guarantee a PAC title. A loss would allow Thiel to tie Waynesburg’s team score.

In all three previous matches against Roosa, Bonaventura had lost.

Despite never beating his opponent, Bonaventura scored a late third period take down to upset Roosa and win his first career PAC individual title, while also securing a PAC title for his team.

The raw emotion of Bonaventura is what made this moment special to witness.

When the clock hit zero and the buzzer rang, the junior wrestler jumped to feet and let out a triumphant yell while raising his hands in joy towards his teammates and coaches on the side of the mat.

As I write this and get ready to hit the period button on my keyboard for the last time this year, I can’t help but already look forward to next year, and another year of Yellow Jacket sports.

Baseball splits Continued from C1 starter had a hit, and five Jackets had multi-hit games.

“Game one’s offensive output was something we’ve been expecting in every game since we’ve started the season,” said Waynesburg head coach Mike Humiston. “It didn’t surprise me that we scored that many runs, what surprises me is that we don’t do it more often.”

Jackets’ starting pitcher Brian Resnik pitched a strong game for the Jackets, going a full seven innings, while allowing just two runs on seven hits. He also struck out four and walked two.

With a 2.87 ERA and five wins on the season, both of which rank fifth in the PAC, Humiston believes his freshman will be a contributing force for the team for years to come.

“I’m not sure why more people weren’t on him as a senior in high school,” said Humiston.

“We are so excited about not only him for this year, but certainly for next year and years to come. He’s going to be a huge part of our program.”

Unfortunately for the Jackets in game two, the offensive success did not continue. The team was only able to put up one run on four hits in support for starting pitcher J. Jay Paskert.

Though the Jackets only had one strikeout in the game, Humiston does not want to make the excuse that the Jackets were not hitting the ball well.

“You can’t go from scoring 10 runs one day, to

scoring 12 runs the next day then expect to win by scoring one run,” said Humiston.

Paskert only went three and one-third innings while relinquishing four runs with two strike outs and a walk. Thomas Ellis struck out the side in the 6th inning but the damage was already done.

Even though Paskert leads the PAC in innings pitched with 80.1, Humiston doesn’t believe that Paskert was fatigued during his start.

“Even the balls that we got outs on were hard hits.

They were squaring the ball up on him,” said Humiston.

Though Waynesburg has been eliminated, Humiston is firm in his belief that his managing strategy for this weekend’s upcoming series will not change.

“We’re going to play the guys who are going to help us win baseball games, period,” said Humiston.

Although the Jackets have a possibility to play in the postseason through an ECAC Tournament bid like they did last season, Friday’s upcoming series against Grove City may be the last games for a multitude of graduating senior players.

Humiston believes the end of this regular season will result in somewhat of a letdown for these players because they will not have the chance to play in the PAC Playoffs.

“Not having any regrets at the end of the season is one of the things we’ve been talking about since the beginning of the year,” said Humiston.

“Unfortunately, our guys are going to have the feeling of ‘we could’ve’ or ‘we should’ve’ once this year is over.”

YELLOW JACKET

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Page C3

Sports

Athletes of the Week Pair of sprinters have dominating days on the track

Jackets unable to set season wins record

By Carson Fox Staff Writer

Huwe

Louco

Two track athletes shined this past weekend, while their respective teams excelled at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships at Washington & Jefferson College.

Senior Rhea Huwe and sophomore Byrum Louco were named this week’s Waynesburg University athletes of the week. Huwe is honored for winning the long jump event with a top distance of 5.11 meters and for also winning the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.76 seconds.

She also placed first in the 200-meter dash, while helping the women’s track and field team to its firstever PAC title.

Louco is honored for his first place finish in the 400-meter hurdles with a top time of 56.71 seconds.

He also finished first as part of the 4x400-meter relay time. His other top finishes include: second in the 4x100 relay, third in the 110-meter hurdles, fourth in the 400-meter dash and eighth in the 100meter dash.

For his outstanding day on the track and remarkable sophomore season, Louco was named both the PAC Men’s Track MVP and the PAC Men’s Track and Field MVP. He also led the men’s team to a second place finish at the event.

Both Jacket standouts will be back in action with their teams on Friday, May 10.

Season ends for softball Continued from C1 game one and 7-5 in game two.

The Jackets missed their senior leader Moon during the doubleheader.

She missed the final 11 games of the season after suffering an injury. The Brea Olinda, Calif. native ranked second on the team in batting average, runs, hits, triples and RBI. “[Rachel’s] the leader on our team; she’s always been the face of our team, and it was unfortunate what happened,” said Giachetti. “Sometimes you don’t think your last game’s coming. Ever since she got hurt, we didn’t play as well as we had been before she was hurt.”

The Jackets could’ve used Moon in game one, as they weren’t able to muster up many hits.

W&J’s Krista McCartney tossed all seven innings, only allowing one run on five hits. The Jackets finally figured out McCartney in the fifth inning, when sophomore catcher Jessica Gavin singled home shortstop

Lax season ends on a losing note

Madison Presto with two outs.

It was too little, too late, however, as the Presidents already had the advantage they needed.

Washington & Jefferson built a 4-0 lead over the Jackets after the fourth inning. While only holding the Presidents to one run early on, W&J was finally able to have a big inning, scoring three runs on three hits in the fourth.

Junior Jacket pitcher Carrie Maier dropped her record to 9-7 after giving up five runs on 12 hits in seven innings pitched.

The Jackets fought harder in game two, but to no avail.

Giachetti wanted to unleash his full arsenal of players, as 19 total players, including four pitchers, saw the field in a back and forth affair between Waynesburg and W&J. The Jackets took the early lead when Jasmine Blackwell brought in Ashley Clark in the top of the first inning. The Presidents had the immediate answer, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

After W&J added another two runs in the third, Waynesburg coun-

John Lydic Staff Writer The women’s lacrosse team ended its season with a lopsided loss to Thiel in the semi-final round of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships.

Before the game, Waynesburg head coach Maria Shepas had an important message for her team.

“Just have fun, play 60 minutes and leave it all on the field,” said Shepas.

Their coach’s words did not inspire a victory, as the Yellow Jackets saw another season come to a close when they fell to the Tomcats 18-0.

Thiel opened the scoring just 30 seconds into the game when sophomore Casey Mahdi scored her 47th goal of the year.

“They were an aggressive, physical and very tal-

tered with four runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game late.

However, the PAC Tournament-bound Presidents countered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning to break the tie and eventually win the game.

Giachetti was frustrated after the loss because of Waynesburg’s late season woes.

“Our season comes down to about three weeks,” said Giachetti.

“It comes down to who’s hot and who’s not, and we weren’t.”

Now that the Jackets’ season is over, Giachetti said it’s up to him to get his team ready for next year. He said that he has to make sure his team doesn’t start off Presidents’ Athletic Conference play the same way it have the past two seasons.

“I’ve got to get better at getting them prepared to play a short, 3-4 week season,” said Giachetti. “I’ve got to be able to motivate them a little better and make them understand that, two years in a row now, we’ve gone 0-6 out of the gate in the conference, and it’s too hard to overcome that.”

ented team,” said head coach Maria Shepas.

The Tomcats scored five goals in the first five minutes of the game and they did not look back from there.

Thiel added seven more goals before the end of the half to lead 12- 0 at the intermission.

Thiel picked up in the second half right where it left off. The Tomcats scored four goals in the opening four minutes of play in the second half.

The Tomcats added two more goals to close the game, and won by a final score of 18-0.

The Jackets were limited to only six shots, while Thiel managed 28 shots.

Senior Mandy Ormsby led Waynesburg with two shots. Four other Yellow Jackets recorded a shot.

Freshman goaltender JoHanna Phillips made eight saves in the losing effort.

“I think I did well this season,” said Phillips. “I made over 100 saves and continue to improve.”

Taking a look back at the 2013 season, it was a season of improvement; Waynesburg went 2-9 for the season, matching the most wins in a single season in program history.

“I definitely see us winning more soon. There were a few games this year we could have won if we played a 60 minute game,” said Shepas.

The Yellow Jackets will lose two seniors in attackers Tricia Swab and Carly Smithyman. Swab played 30 games for the Yellow Jackets in her career.

Smithyman appeared in 40 games over her four years, tallying nine goals.

“I valued every minute of my time on the field with the them,” said Ormsby.

Their coach also noted the two’s contributions.

“Both girls had great

seasons individually.

Carly played better than ever before,” said Shepas.

Ormsby also believes that with the return of many players, this team is on the rise and destined for better times.

“I see this team headed in the right direction. You will see a strong and rooted program next year,” said Ormsby.

With only two seniors leaving, a majority of the roster returns, including leading scorer Toria Shepherd who tied the single season goals record this year..

“I think we made huge strides in our fundamentals and chemistry as a team,” said Shepherd.

With a host of returning players, Shepas believes this team is in the position to achieve great things.

“I am expecting everyone coming back to have a different mentality,” said Shepas.

“It starts with girls coming back. New freshman have will also have immediate impact.”

Photo by Ryan Harr

Sophomore Ashley Clark readies herself before a pitch during Saturday’s season finale. The sophomore collected two hits in the Jackets game two loss to W&J.

YELLOW JACKET

Page C4

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Sports

Trio brings home conference awards

PAC laurels from the championship meet, hosted by Washington & Jefferson. Junior thrower Megan Sowers was named PAC Field MVP while Louco was honored as the best overall male athlete in the conference with the PAC Track & Field MVP award.

Falvo said that Sowers was a key component in Waynesburg’s title run for reasons that exceeded her abilities in field events.

“Megan has shown great determination and great maturity over this year. I am so proud of the young lady she is becoming on and off the track,” said Falvo. “Not only is

she a top javelin thrower in the country, she is also just as great of a person off the track. She is a great teammate and is becoming a leader for us.”

Louco, a two-sport athlete at Waynesburg, showed just how dominant of an athlete he is by making the transition from basketball to the track without facing any setbacks.

“I [have been] training since the beginning of summer and throughout the school year, but it’s very hard to train for track when I am in basketball season because all of my focus is on basketball,” said Louco. “There were a

lot of hours put into training for track, and I still have more to do to end this season.”

Both of Falvo’s awardwinning athletes are headed to ECAC Championships, where he believes they will continue the success they experienced at the PAC Championships.

“I think for both of them, the sky is the limit,” said Falvo. “Both are talented enough to become All-Americans this year. We have three weeks to get ready and I know they are ready for the challenge. I expect great things from them.”

Both Louco and Sowers have experienced the national stage once before. As his coach said, Louco is reaching for the sky with success at nationals on his mind.

“I won’t take anything less than All-American status because I hate coming up short when it comes to anything that I do,” said Louco. “Last year I didn’t run my best, but I know that won’t happen again this year. I know I can continue my success this year.”

Falvo, Louco and Sowers only have a short time to relish their respective awards. The Yellow Jackets will begin their quest for an ECAC title on May 15. The four-day event is hosted by Springfield College.

time that we would beat Bethany. Lorenzo, Dave, Justin and Byrum love that race and are really driven to win.”

Heading into the meet, Falvo indicated that Louco would have a busy day and his performances would be a dictating factor in the team’s finish in the standings.

“Going into the PAC’s, I knew that I was going to have a heavy load because that was going to give our team the best chance to win,” said Louco. “Coach Falvo and I talked about the heavy load and decided that it was what I need to do for the team.”

Falvo added: “Byrum was outstanding; he is a special athlete. [Earning] 29.5 points in nine races over two days is an impressive showing.”

While Louco had a great showing, he said he didn’t even run his best races – something that may be credited to the number of races he ran.

“I am very blessed to have my athletic ability that has helped me with all that I have accomplished so far,” he said. “I didn’t have a single great race. I just had a lot of good ones that helped the team.”

The other individual champion for the Jackets was senior Tony Lamosek, who placed first in the discus with a heave of 44.04 meters (144-6).

Freshman Anthony Janicki took second in the javelin with a throw of 56.43 meters (185-2).

Other top finishers for Waynesburg included sophomore Jason Propst

who finished third in the high jump with a height of 1.88 meters (6-2). Also in the jumps, senior Christian Jackson placed fourth in both the long and triple jumps while Cobb took third in the triple jump.

In the mid-distance events, Mikulin took fourth in the 800 while Angotti placed fourth in the 1500.

Louco believes that what he and his teammates accomplished over the weekend is only the beginning of an historic time for the track teams.

“Placing second is great motivation for next year,” said Louco.

“I think next year we will be a very strong team that will be able to compete for a PAC Championship.”

Falvo, Sowers and Louco honored by PAC

By Nick Farrell Assistant Sports Editor As a unit, Waynesburg’s two track & field teams put together the program’s best showing at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships last weekend.

Head coach Jason Falvo led the Yellow Jacket women to their first-ever PAC title and the men to a second-place finish. For that, Falvo was recognized as women’s PAC Coach of the Year, but as he said, all the recognition goes to his athletes and assistants.

“This award is a team award,” said Falvo. “I could not do it without the great assistant coaches we have on our staff and the hard work and dedication they give. We are truly blessed by their efforts. I share this award with all of them; they earned it.

This is the second time Falvo has won the award.

He was also named women’s PAC Coach of the Year in 2009.

Sophomore Byrum Louco praised his coach’s dedication, saying that this may not be the last time Falvo wins the Coach of the Year award.

“Coach Falvo is one of

Jackets win PACs Continued from C1 my best time, a time I only dreamed of, I still fell short. It was disappointing, but it’s given me drive and confidence to strive for Nationals in the 200.”

Two of Waynesburg’s athletes successfully defended their titles from the previous year. Junior Megan Sowers won her second title in the javelin and senior Megan Fortna defended her title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Sowers, an All-American a year ago, dominated her event, besting Thiel’s Cassidy Kravec by nearly four meters.

“It’s always great to bring home another title personally, but it felt extra amazing this year considering it contributed to winning the PAC championship on the women’s side,” said Sowers.

Fortna, an All-PAC performer in the fall for the cross country team, wrapped up her collegiate running career with her second title in the steeplechase.

Fortna’s time of 11:34.68 bested Grove City’s Laurel Skorup by 20 seconds.

Sophomore Amanda Hobe and senior Carly Schubert continued the tradition of Waynesburg dominating in the field events with individual titles of their own.

Hobe won gold in the triple jump with a mark of

Photos by Kimber Blair

Top: Head coach Jason Falvo (left) interacts with his team after receiving Women’s PAC Coach of the Year.

Bottom: Byrum Louco receives his PAC Track MVP award from PAC Commissioner Joe Onderko.

the best coaches I have had for track,” said Louco.

“He is one of the most unselfish coaches that I know. Since we don’t have a track and sometimes have to practice at odd times during the day, he is more than happy to

go out whenever we have time to. Coach Falvo should be earning PAC Coach of the Year every year. He is that good of a coach.”

Falvo’s two squads sported athletes that also took home individual

10.45 meters (34-3.5). The title was the first of the young jumper’s career.

She added a fourth-place finish in the long jump to help Waynesburg take home the title.

Schubert, who missed all of last season, took first in the shot put with a heave of 12.15 meters (3910.5). The senior added silver in the discus. For her efforts, Schubert was awarded the PAC Women’s Field MVP. Sowers followed in the footsteps of Krystal Baker, who won the award in 2012.

During Falvo’s tenure as head coach, the field events have always been the strength of his teams, and without his athletes’ performances in the jumps and throws over the weekend, the outcome would have been much different.

“Our coaching staff does a great job evaluating talent on our team and developing the talents of our athletes,” said Falvo.

For Huwe, who ends her career as a champion, there could be no better ending.

“This is the first track team to win a PAC title, it’s amazing,” said Huwe.

“I could not be more proud of my teammates.

This is something every single one of us can be proud of forever, including our coaches.”

Added Sowers: “We deserved the title. I am so proud to be a part of team that is so close; we are like a family to one another. It felt great to come out on top this year.”

Men finish second Continued from C1 Mikulin, senior David Cobb and junior Justin Angotti to score an impressive win in the 4x400.

With his team trailing with one lap to go, Louco brought his team back on the anchor leg.

The Jackets’ time of 3:19.31 edged St. Vincent and Bethany by almost two seconds.

The Waynesburg 4x400 team lost to Bethany just a week prior at the PAC Quad meet, and felt going into it that the Bison were the team to beat.

“We just needed to run our best race,” said Falvo.

“It was just a matter of