Alcoa KAMA representatives recently presented a check to support of Penn State Hazleton’s "Pathways in Engineering Technology Program." Participating in the event were (from left): Kevin Salaway, director of development, Penn State Hazleton; Mark Kennedy, human resources manager, Alcoa KAMA; Wes Grebski, associate professor of engineering, Penn State Hazleton; and Blair Bell, project manager, Alcoa KAMA.

Alcoa KAMA in Hazleton, through a grant from the Alcoa Foundation, recently presented a $25,000 contribution to Penn State Hazleton in continued support of the “Pathways in Engineering Technology Program” at the campus. Funds will be used to purchase a rapid prototyping printer for engineering students to view their project designs during the semester of study and prior to construction.

Kevin Salaway, director of Development at Penn State Hazleton, said, “This is an extraordinary contribution to the engineering program at the campus. The equipment that we’ll purchase with these funds represents a significant advance in our laboratory capabilities and will greatly enhance the learning experience for our students. We are entirely grateful to Alcoa for this generous gift.”  

Blair Bell, project manager, at Alcoa KAMA, added, “Alcoa KAMA values partnerships with local universities such as Penn State to develop new initiatives promoting the engineering and science skills of our workforce.  As employers, we recognize the significance of these programs.”

According to Dr. Wes Grebski, associate professor of engineering at Penn State Hazleton and coordinator of the “Pathways in Engineering Technology Program,” the prototyping machine will be a tremendous asset to students enrolled in engineering programs at the campus. He explained, “Engineering students have a limited amount of time during the semester to develop, test and modify their projects. This device will provide a means of inexpensively modeling the objects.”

Rapid prototyping provides workers in research and development, engineering, and medicine the ability to create physical models directly from digital data in hours instead of days. It is fast, versatile and simple, allowing engineers to produce a range of concept models and functional test parts quickly and inexpensively.

The “Pathways in Engineering Technology Program” has four basic thrusts:

• Working with local school districts to address the “technology gap” among K-12 students through partnerships of faculty and students using education modules, in-service training (Act 48 approved), joint student projects, mentoring and summer camps;
• Creating a multi-disciplinary learning experience for university students in engineering programs to work side-by-side with other disciplines like business, marketing, communications and finance to reflect the cross-functional challenges that the real world embodies;
• Updating and maintaining state-of-the-art laboratory and classroom equipment which is essential in delivering an effective learning experience;
• Establishing and expanding partnerships with industry within the region to offer mentoring and internship programs, as well as career placement opportunities.

Grebski says engineering technology programs in the United States are struggling with low enrollments and difficulty in recruiting and retaining students. In fact, many universities are eliminating their engineering technology programs despite the heavy reliance of high-tech manufacturing in the United States on superior graduates from these programs.

Grebski believes there is an opportunity to better inform students and parents of the opportunities and expectations for engineering training among industry. Additionally, a recent study by the United States Department of Education showed that only ten percent of high school graduates in the U.S. pursue careers in engineering fields, which is roughly half the rate of their peers in Europe and Japan. This initiative addresses these gaps in ways that will benefit the students and the industries they may enter.

The program has been piloted at Penn State Hazleton, and educational and curricular changes approved by the University Faculty Senate are being implemented across the Penn State system.

Alcoa KAMA is the world’s leading producer of extruded plastic sheet and film for the thermoforming industry and provides solutions for food packaging, envelope window film, graphic arts and specialty uses, consumer packaging, bakery and deli packaging, medical packaging, and industrial and agricultural packaging. In addition to its Hazleton plant, Alcoa KAMA’s other facilities are located in Avenel, NJ; Manteno, IL; Rogers, MN; Laval (Quebec), Canada; and Sedgefield, England.

Linda Major, (right) manager of the Barnes & Noble Penn State Hazleton Bookstore, recently hosted a dinner to announce the recipients of the Barnes & Noble Scholarship at Penn State Hazleton. Pictured (from left): Penn State Hazleton Chancellor Gary Lawler, Sophia Badillo, a freshman business administration major, East Stroudsburg; Richard Pellicciaro, a freshman engineering major, Brookhaven; Grant Yamulla, a freshman liberal arts major, Hazleton; and Elyse Poor, a freshman liberal arts major, Haverhill, Mass.

Under the direction of Marlene Smith, instructor in music, the choir will perform many traditional Christmas favorites which are certain to instill the spirit of the season. Music slated for performance includes “Sing We Now of Christmas,” a seasonal fanfare; “Dashing Through the Snow,” a jingle bell spectacular; “Sending You a Little Christmas,” and “Issay, Issay,” an Ethiopian Christmas song. Featured soloists are Jessica Butler, Alicia Slough, and Caroline Devenuto. Additionally, a four-part male quartet will sing “While by My Sheep.”

For more information on this event or other activities at Penn State Hazleton, contact the Office of University Relations at (570) 450-3180.

The Alumni Chapter requests that parents and children attending the event bring a new, unwrapped toy of any size in exchange for the photo. The toys will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House at Geisinger Medical Center.

Parents are welcomed to bring a camera to take advantage of this great opportunity for holiday keepsakes and greeting card photos.

For additional information, please contact Carole Shearer, Penn State Hazleton alumni and development specialist, at (570) 450-3016.

Free and open to the public, the event is sponsored by the Penn State Hazleton Bookstore.  

For more information on this event or others at the campus, contact the public information office at (570) 450-3180. 

The annual award is given to a member of the association who has made a significant positive contribution to the welfare of the organization. Hilton has been a member of PCPA for over fifteen years, holding positions as a member of the association’s executive board for ten years, a “member-at-large” representing four-year public universities, Constituencies Commission Chair representing affirmative action, multicultural and diversity issues, and president from 2002-03. He has also served as a presenter at the association’s conferences and on the planning committee for the annual conference. He is currently the organization’s historian.

A Penn State employee for more than twenty-five years, Hilton was an advising and counseling specialist at University Park from 1979 to 1986, assistant director of student affairs at Penn State Hazleton from 1986 to 1996, acting director of student affairs from 1996 to 1999. He was named director of student affairs at the campus in 1999 and director of student and enrollment services in 2004.

A Penn State alumnus, Hilton earned a bachelor of science degree in education in 1977, a master of education in counseling and educational psychology in 1978 and a doctorate in higher education administration in 1989. Prior to attending the University, he served in the U.S. Navy for two years.

Hilton is involved in organizations such as Leadership Hazleton, the Greater Hazleton Human Relations Coalition, the United Way of Greater Hazleton and Campus Ministries of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He has conducted community programs on educational and career topics, and presented at conferences and seminars on leadership development.

Hilton resides in Berwick with his wife, Sandy. They are the parents of Sara and Matthew.

Penn State Hazleton’s THON Committee invites the community to come out and enjoy the festivities. There is an entry fee of $3.00 per person, with kids under 12 free.

For younger children, there will be a “Little Lion’s Den” full of games and goodies, decorating paper diamonds to be displayed on the gym walls, duck pond game and balloon darts. Older kids can enjoy an inflatable obstacle course, a 3-on-3 dodge ball dome, pizza eating contest, custom made vinyl street signs (while supplies last), money wheel, and a Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) tournament. Everyone will enjoy free food, holiday photos with the Nittany Lion, “Tricky Trays,” “Dunk” the person, slideshow of this year’s THON events, the official 2007 THON video, sales of Penn State Hazleton THON t-shirts that will be worn at the dance marathon, and a raffle for a brand new Playstation 3. 

The Penn State Hazleton THON Committee’s sponsor family, the Miller family from Lancaster, will be special guests at the event. Heidi Miller, who battled cancer and is in remission, benefitted from THON’s efforts and serves as a source of inspiration for Penn State Hazleton students’ fundraising efforts.

The members of THON have worked hard raising money in other events, such as dodgeball and card tournaments, canning, selling blue and white ribbons, and sending out letters to friends and family asking for donations.

All of the efforts lead up to THON weekend where hundreds of dancers and thousands of supporters come together in the hopes of one day finding a cure for pediatric cancer. This year’s THON will take place Feb. 22 through 24 at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State’s University Park.

THON is only a four letter word with one giant meaning. The world’s largest student run philanthropy raises money for the families of children with pediatric cancer through the Hershey Medical Center’s Four Diamond’s Fund.  Collectively, Penn State as a whole raised a jaw dropping $5.2 million in the 2006-2007 year. The Hazleton campus is working hard to smash last year’s total of $38,000.

Penn State Hazleton’s THON rally is sure impress.  The committee has put in a grand effort and now they put their faith into the hands of the community. Overall THON chairperson Dan Coco remarked, “No family has ever been turned down for assistance by the fund, and because of people like you, no family ever will be.”  The student members of THON ask the community to help them help the kids.

For more information about the rally please contact the Office of University Relations at (570) 450-3180 or for general information regarding THON visit http://www.thon.org/.  Online donations are also accepted.

Joi Gordon, chief executive officer, Dress for Success Worldwide, will be the keynote speaker at Penn State Hazleton’s second annual Symposium on Contemporary Women’s Issues. The event will be held Sun., Dec. 2, from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., in the Evelyn Graham Academic Building on the campus.  The event, called “Pathways to Personal Success,” is free and open to the public and will explore ways to achieve personal and professional success for women of all ages and backgrounds. 

According to Deidre Jago, assistant professor of kinesiology and committee chair, “The focus of this year’s symposium is preparing women to enter the workforce and the personal skills they need to excel and propel them through their careers. We’re very excited to host Joi Gordon who leads the best known organization for helping women enter and return to the workplace. The entire community is invited to hear Joi speak and participate in the special interest sessions.”

Jago added, “We talked with many students who feel they are receiving an excellent education, but need better preparation to face certain issues in the workplace and resources when they need assistance. The topics for the special interest sessions came directly from student suggestions and concerns. We also realize these issues are faced by women in the community especially those returning to the workforce or changing careers. We invite women of all ages and career stations to join us for these relevant and important topics.”

Following the keynote address, the day will include four individual break-out sessions which will be repeated. The day will conclude with refreshments served in the form of a “tea” sponsored by PPL and a fashion show by Dress Barn which will focus on making the most of limited pieces to create a professional wardrobe.

Break-out session topics, presenters and descriptions include:

Navigating your Career Path: Career Coaching
Presented by Cathy Colangelo, PHR, CC; “Your Life is Now” Life Enhancement and Career Coaching.
Live your life on purpose! Discover what you love to do and how to use your unique skills, talents and gifts to create a life and career you love.

Mentoring:  Developing and Sustaining a Meaningful Mentor Relationship
Presented by Melissa Miller, director, The Ophelia Project, YM/YWCA of Greater Hazleton.
What is a mentor and why do I need one?  Explore the purpose of a meaningful mentor relationship for women in business.  Learn the characteristics to look for in a mentor, how to approach a mentor, how to develop and sustain the relationship and how mentoring benefits both the mentor and the mentee.

Is that Your Fork, or Mine? Personal and Business Etiquette Skills
Presented by Kathy Maxwell, D.Ed., CHES; DUS Advisor/Career Counselor, Penn State Hazleton.
Etiquette is about presenting yourself with the kind of polish that shows you can be taken seriously.  Etiquette is also about being comfortable around people, and making them comfortable around you! Learn or improve your skills in dining etiquette, communication etiquette, and proper personal introductions. Etiquette skills learned today apply to aspiring young business women as well those jumping into the job market later in life – they are ageless!

Boosting Your Confidence -- Both Inside and Out!
Presented by Ronda Bogart, B.A., Certified Yoga Instructor, Wind-n-Sea Day Spa and Yoga Center, Bloomsburg.
Set aside preconceived notions that you need lots of time, or money, to create total body wellness. This session shares the tiny, simple ways -- using tools that you carry with you all the time -- to initiate these changes.  Journaling, meditation and yoga are just some techniques that will focus on inner beauty. Aromatherapy, self-massage, and tips for maximizing your spa experience will be discussed for balancing inner well-being with outer beauty.  

Keynote Speaker
The keynote address will be offered by Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide, an international grassroots organization that has provided professional attire, support and career development tools to more than 400,000 disadvantaged women since 1997.  In her role, Joi oversees an affiliate network that now spans 86 cities in 5 countries.  She is responsible for strengthening the Dress for Success brand, implementing innovative programming and developing collaborative relationships with corporations, foundations and individuals who share the organization’s mission.

Among her professional activities and accomplishments, Joi serves on the board of directors of Urban Brands, owner of both the Ashley Stewart and Marianne nameplates and a leading specialty retailer who targets the fashion-savvy urban, multi-cultural woman, and America’s Charities.  She sits on the women’s advisory councils of Office Depot and VOICE, an imprint of Hyperion Books.  Joi also serves on the advisory board of a New Jersey-based non-profit organization My Daughter’s Keeper. 

Over the past several years a number of prominent institutions have recognized Joi for her achievements.  In 2007 she was presented with an Ellis Island Medal of Honor and received the 2006 Visionary Award from Office Depot.  The Harlem YMCA and Coalition of 100 Black Women in New York City, among many other organizations, have presented Joi with community service awards to acknowledge her contributions.  A February 2007 cover story in Black Enterprise magazine recognized Joi’s leadership of Dress for Success as an example of successful social entrepreneurism.
 
An attorney, Joi worked as an assistant district attorney in the Bronx Criminal Court prior to joining the non-profit sector. 

She earned her B.A. in radio/television broadcasting and a juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma’s College of Law. In July 2004, Joi was awarded a scholarship to attend the Harvard Business School Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management Program as part of the executive leadership track. 

Joi lives in Queens with her husband Errol, where they own and operate a fleet of luxury limousines.  Her greatest joys are her two children, Sydney and Nicholas.

Additional Information
Funded through an endowment established by local business woman E. Lee Beard, the Women’s Symposium at Penn State Hazleton is designed to engage women’s interest in topics related to professional and personal development. Each year, the symposium will focus on a different theme, and all women are encouraged to support and attend the events.

Additional support for this year’s event is provided by the Penn State Commission for Women and Penn State Hazleton Student Activities Fund.

Locally, PPL, a strong supporter of community programs, will sponsor the tea reception after the breakout sessions are completed. Additionally, dressbarn, a national sponsor and official drop-off site for Send One Suit Week, Dress for Success’s annual suit drive, will sponsor a fashion show with clothing provided by the company’s Laurel Mall store.

The “Pathways to Personal Success” Women’s Symposium will be held Sun., Dec. 2, from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., in the Evelyn Graham Academic Building at Penn State Hazleton, with registration for the individual break-out sessions starting at 12:15 p.m. Reservations to attend the symposium are required, and seating is limited. For more information or to reserve a seat, call Toni Williams at (570) 450-3031, no later than Fri., Nov. 23. 

Master Sergeant John Roth, head of the campus ROTC program, said, “We continue the tradition of honoring those who are serving and have served their country and extend an invitation for area veterans and residents to join us. The program, presented by the cadets, will consist of remarks from Chancellor Gary Lawler and guest speaker Lieutenant Colonel John M. Kilgallon, United States Army, as well as a memorial wreath presentation, moment of silence and taps.”

The Penn State Hazleton ROTC program has seen a substantial increase in participation in the past four years, with the cadet complement now numbering twenty-six.

Kilgallon is professor of military science at Penn State’s University Park campus. A native of East Meadow, New York, he was commissioned in 1988 and entered active duty in the U.S. Army as a field artillery officer upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

He began his career with the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (MLRS) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as a firing platoon leader, fire direction officer, and battery executive officer. He deployed with the battalion in August 1991 in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

After completing the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course in 1993, he was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery, 6th Infantry Division (L) at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. During his assignment there, he served in the following positions: battalion adjutant, battalion fire support officer for the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry (Manchu), and battery commander.

In 1998, Kilgallon was assigned to the Department of the Army Staff at the Pentagon where he served as an executive officer, and later as a protocol officer in the Office of the Chief of Staff, Army. Upon leaving the Pentagon in 2000, he attended Command and General Staff College at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Kilgallon was again assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in July 2000 and served as the corps artillery deputy G-3, and later as the battalion executive officer for 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery (Thunderbolt) for 27 months. He was deployed with the battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

After re-deploying from Afghanistan, he was assigned to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana, as an observer/controller and served as the field artillery CSS and brigade fire support/effects coordinator observer controller.

Kilgallon arrived at his present duty assignment as professor of military science at University Park on June 16, 2006.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Valorous Unit Award, the Army Staff Identification Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

Kilgallon earned a bachelor’s degree in management from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a master of science in administration from Central Michigan University, and a master of arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, R.I.

For more information on this event or others at Penn State Hazleton, please contact the public information office at (570) 450-3180 or visit http://www.hn.psu.edu/.

The next installment the Penn State Hazleton lecture series, sponsored by the Faculty Lecture Committee, will feature Hazleton native Pat Brogan sharing his affliction with dystonia through dialogue and screening of “Twisted,” the PBS documentary chronicling his and two others’ stories and scientists studying dystonia and neurology. The event, free and open to the public, will be held Tues., Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. in room 1 of the Kostos Building.

The hour-long documentary is a human interest story created by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Lauren Chiten and was one of only 28 films selected to be aired by PBS last year. Chiten’s narration connects Brogan’s dystonia story to those of Shari Tritt, whose dystonia affects her whole body, and Remy Campbell, an artist who gambled on a radical form of brain surgery—and won.

A former Lafayette men's basketball assistant coach, Brogan was diagnosed with dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes muscles to continually spasm, in the winter of 2003, the result of a hit-and-run accident in Sept. 2001. The top assistant at Lafayette under Fran O'Hanlon at the time of his accident, Brogan has since coached at Penn State and Georgia Tech. He was boys’ basketball coach at Tamaqua High School for the 2004-2005 season.

Sidelined from his promising career, Brogan tried treatments and medications without success. With no other options, he decided to gamble on Deep Brain Stimulation, in spite of the risks. “Twisted” followed Brogan into the operating room and beyond as he improved for a time, only to have the dystonia return more severely than ever.

At first, Brogan was reluctant to tell the outside world about his condition, figuring it might hurt him in getting a coaching job after he got better. But he found out that most people afflicted with dystonia don't hold jobs and are all but incapacitated. He decided he had a role to play and became active with the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation.

Brogan regularly returns to the Cleveland Clinic as his doctors try to pinpoint the exact area of the brain to give him relief from the dystonia, which may be inherited or caused by specific factors such as trauma. According to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, it affects about 300,000 North Americans. Most victims never know the cause of it, although Brogan doesn't question the link between the accident and his condition.

For more information on events at Penn State Hazleton, contact the Office of University Relations at (570) 450-3180.

Nanofabrication encompasses making things in the nano-range (10 to 1000 times the size of an atom) and in the micro-range (more than about 1000 times the size of an atom). This technology grew out of semiconductor microelectronics "chip" manufacturing. Today it is used in information storage, opto-electronics, sensors, micro-electro-mechanical (MEMs) devices, power semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, bio-medical applications, and, of course, in microelectronics.

Among the speakers are Bill Mahoney, a Nanofab process engineer and member of University’s Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization (CNEU). Located at Innovation Park, the Nanofab Center is a professionally-staffed, class 10 cleanroom facility providing a full range of processing capabilities. It offers expertise in "top-down" (e.g., deposition, etching) and "bottom-up" (e.g., self-assembling films) nanofabrication. Part of the Penn State College of Engineering, the facility is supported in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is one of the NSF’s National Nanofabrication Users Network sites. It is open for use by both the academic and industrial R&D community.

Maryam Ghorieshi, electrical engineering technology instructor, will discuss the Nanomanufacturing Engineering Technology (NMT) program available to students at Penn State Hazleton. 

For more information on the program or nanotechnology, please contact Maryam Ghorieshi at 450-3086. 

The Fast Horses
Monday, November 12
7:00 p.m.
Slusser/Bayzick Building

Michael Fosberg
Tuesday, January 22
7:00 p.m.
Slusser/Bayzick Building

Fort Pastor
Monday, January 28
7:00 p.m.
Slusser/Bayzick Building

Tai Yim’s
Chinese New Year Celebration
Thursday, Febuary 7
7:00 p.m.
Highacres Cafe

Brazz Tree
Monday, March 3
7:00 p.m.
Slusser/Bayzick Building

Bridget Gray
Tuesday, March 18
7:00 p.m.
Highacres Cafe

Barleyjuice
Thursday, March 20
7:00 p.m.
Highacres Cafe

The Fast Horses
Monday, November 12
7:00 p.m.
Slusser/Bayzick Building

The Fast Horses are a Minnesota-based Lakota (Native American) performing family who have delighted more than 3,000 audiences worldwide since 1998 with a variety of traditional dances performed in a contemporary light in full costume.

Skillfully interweaving story, music and dance with historical and present perspectives of Native Americans, the Fast Horses credit their success to the fact that they love what they do: entertaining and educating.

The Fast Horses mixes an array of rare and common songs and dances in their performances including the Northern Plains Traditional Woman's Dance, the stomping Buffalo Dance, the high-flying Eagle Dance and the roving Round Dance. However, the performers improvise and respond to the audiences needs, ensuring that each show is a customized experience. 

As educators and cultural ambassadors to overseas audiences, the Fast Horses have performed at the prestigious WOMAD (World Music Art and Dance) Festival in England, Australia and New Zealand four times. Closer to home, they have worked with the Discovery Theater in the Smithsonian Institute, the Naval Research Laboratory, the National Parks System, as well as various universities, colleges, schools, libraries and festivals.

For more information, visit: http://www.thefasthorses.com/

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Michael Fosberg
Tuesday, January 22 
7:00 p.m.
Slusser/Bayzick Building

Imagine discovering in your early 30’s that you are not the person who you thought you were! That you have a family, a history, an ethnicity you never knew. How would this discovery impact your life, the lives of those around you, your vision of yourself and society?

Michael Sidney Fosberg’s “Incognito” takes his audiences on such a journey. In a one-hour, solo-theatrical, autobiographical storytelling presentation, Michael relates his story of growing up believing he was white, then discovering early in his thirties he is actually black. In this often funny, deeply emotional one-man “play,” he guides his audience on a discovery of self filled with issues of race, diversity, family history, divorce, adoption, and finding a father.

The presentation unfolds as a mystery allowing the audience to make their own discoveries about themselves and their perceptions of identity, race and stereotypes. It has been hailed by educators and critics alike as an extremely effective tool, helping audiences to open the door on discussions of race and inclusion. Visit http://www.incognitotheplay.com/ for additional information.

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Fort Pastor
Monday, January 28
7:00 p.m.
Slusser/Bayzick Building

"Unique" is described in Webster's dictionary as 'different from others in a way that makes something worthy of note.' That may be the perfect description for the acoustic music of Fort Pastor. A blend of their Australian and American roots, charismatic acoustic guitars are pounded as often as strummed, with the odd didgeridoo, darabuka, djembe and mandolin thrown in to create an earthy, soulful whole. However, it's not just the music that separates this band. This band is a social movement.

Ardently expressing their views on war, social issues, and love within their music, Fort Pastor is out for social justice. So much so that they have created their own foundation called the "Social Justice Army (SJA)." Fans of the band join the 'Army' and commit to serving their community one hour a month. With local chapters of the SJA being formed all over the country, people are learning more about the issues their local communities are facing and affecting change. From homelessness to fair trade, Fort Pastor wants their fans to be informed of the problems this generation is facing. Their music serves as the inspiration and motivator for change.

After gaining the respect of organizations such as Bose, Shure, Slide Didge and G7th, the band tours relentlessly around the world.  Even though Fort Pastor has shared the stage with the likes of Jars of Clay, Mercy Me, Bebo Norman, Christopher Williams, Maeve, Greg Greenway and dozens of others, they continue to build their underground Army for social change one passionate concert at a time.

More information: http://www.fortpastor.com/

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Tai Yim’s Chinese New Year Celebration
Thursday, February 7
7:00 p.m.
Highacres Cafe

Celebrate Chinese New Year with the Tai Yim Kung Fu Lion Dance team from Maryland as they take the stage performing this tradition which is thought to bring good luck and scare away evil spirits.

The traditional lion dance began thousands of years ago when it was developed to celebrate the unlikely beast, Lin Shy. The legend of the beast is: The village people were told by the gods to intoxicate the beast with a vegetable infused with a powerful herb. The townspeople followed the gods' instructions and after the beast ate the vegetable and fell asleep the people banged their pots and pans together with all their might, frightening him out of his sleep and out of their village. The instructions from heaven worked and the beast ran away. Lin Shy came back next day, this time to protect the village. To express their gratitude the people began the lion dance in honor of the beast and his transformation from evil to good, from the village's destruction to its protection. 

Today the practice of lion dancing features an elaborately decorated papier-mâché lion with a tail about twelve feet long, operated by two people. One person performs as the head of the lion while the second person follows in as the tail. A group of musicians playing a drum, a gong, and cymbals accompany lion dancers. The drum represents the lion's roar, while the gong and cymbals represent the pots and pans the villagers used.

The Tai Yim Kung Fu Lion Dancers perform in the traditional manner, preserving and perpetuating an important piece of Asian culture.

Visit http://www.taiyimkungfu.com/Lion.php for more details.

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Brazz Tree
Monday, March 3, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Slusser/Bayzick Building

NYC-based violin/guitar duo Brazz Tree continues to astound and endear audiences across the country with their new brand of music: New World Acoustic Rock (otherwise known as Music NWAR). Though it draws on traditional forms born in places as far-flung as Ireland and India, Music NWAR remains firmly rooted in the exuberant, questing ethos of the New World. 

After releasing their first CD “Quest” (DIY) in 2004, Brazz Tree spent over a year touring and writing before they brought the new songs to producers Alan Camlet and Pete Thompson. With a bevy of guest artists and producer Michael Leonhart (Steely Dan, Lenny Kravitz), Brazz Tree’s newest creation “Spiral On” is the next step in the evolution of Music NWAR. With songs like “Out of Time” and “In a Hole” the listener is taken on a musical journey. 

Brazz Tree has toured extensively throughout the country and the Netherlands playing colleges and universities, theaters, clubs, and art centers. They were selected to perform at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, were on the Relix magazine compilation CD, and in their "Listen Up" section, and have received radio play from across the country including a spotlight on NPR and Acoustic Cafe (ACAFE) as "one to watch” and performed on the Woodsongs Radio Hour. 

Visit Brazz Tree at: http://www.brazztree.com/ 

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Bridget Gray
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Highacres Cafe (dining facility)

Slam poet Bridget Gray is the only female to win the National Grand Slam Poetry Championship two years in a row. At age 15, she entered a poetry contest with a vulnerable poem about the father she has never met. The piece took top honors and was published. 

With little more than her ambition, she left the Midwest to follow her dream of being an actress and a writer. In 2003, Bridget was chosen from over 400 poets/MCs across the country to become the voice and face for Nissan's "Electric Moyo" campaign. 

Bridget has been a featured poet on ABC's “Eye on L.A.,” BET's “Lyric Café,” and brought the house down receiving an extended standing ovation at her taping of HBO's “Def Poetry Jam.” She made stops ten major cities across the country, hosting some the hottest events and opening for name acts such as The Black Eyed Peas, Joss Stone and Erykah Badu, just to name a few. 

Acting is also one of Gray’s passions as evidenced in her cameo appearance in “Austin Powers 2” and guest appearances in CBS’s “The District,” UPN’s “The Hughley’s” and the video for “Music” by Madonna.

Gray has also released two CD’s, “Shades of Gray” in 2001 and “Self Love” in 2005. Samples of her poetry readings can be seen on her web site http://www.bridgetgray.com/ .

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Barleyjuice
Thursday, March 20, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Highacres Cafe (dining facility)

Ireland has been called the land of "happy war songs" and "sad love songs." And no one sings and celebrates the music of old Ireland and new creations like the six members of Barleyjuice - Keith "Swanny" Swanson, Kyf Brewer, Billy Dominick, Jimmy Carbomb, Eric Worthington and Gregor Schroeder.

Fast becoming one of the most beloved Irish/Celtic bands in the country, Barleyjuice is famous for their signature sound and vast repertoire which includes original and traditional work songs, soft and gentle love songs, rousing pub songs, ballads and just plain joviality. Fans of the band delight in the spectacle of guitars, banjos, mandolins, fiddles, tin whistles, bagpipes, concertinas, accordions, bodhrans, and congas that make up the tools of their trade.

Barleyjuice's self-titled first recording was steeped in traditional bagpipe and Celtic singing songs. By their second album, “Another Round,” Swanson and Brewer had written more than half of the material. Their tongue-in-cheek elements delight audiences thoroughly, in addition to, as Brewer notes, making it difficult for them to sing properly.

In 2006, Barleyjuice released their third album, “Six Yanks,” and stretched their avid fan base across America and into Europe with the help of such sites as MySpace and a seamless show.

This year marks the birth of the band's fourth offspring, “Bonny Prince Barley,” including immediately lauded crowd favorites like “Weekend Irish,” “Swig,” and a cover of The Clash's “London Calling.”

Learn more about Barleyjuice in a clip from their Web site. 

More information is available at: http://www.barleyjuice.com/

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Campus Chancellor Gary M. Lawler and Director of Academic Affairs Monica E. Gregory presented the awards during the ceremony in the gymnasium. Rosemarie Petrilla, physical therapist assistant program coordinator and faculty marshal, served as host of this year’s event. 

The following awards were presented to students at the ceremony:

• The President’s Freshman Award is presented annually to undergraduate degree candidates and provisional students who have earned a 4.00 (A) cumulative grade point average based on at least twelve graded Penn State credits. Candidates are eligible for this award if they have not exceeded 35 total credits earned. This award was established during the tenure of University President Eric A. Walker (1956-1970). This award was presented to Allison K. Anthony, Drums; Adam M. Arlotto, Hazleton; David N. Hartranft, Wyoming; Rami Y. Moussa, Cambridge, Mass.; Daehee A. Park, Wilkes Barre; Samantha L. Tentinger, New Ringgold; Natilee N. Weldon, Hazleton; and Jonathan M. Wilner, Mahanoy City. 
  
  
• The M. Leonard Shaevel Award is presented in memory of M. Leonard Shaevel, who taught physics at Penn State Hazleton from 1967 until his death in 1982. It consists of a cash award and is given to a student with a high grade point average enrolled in science who best exemplifies the educational values of Professor Shaevel. These values include, but are not limited to, a strong work ethic, persistence, and a commitment to science and scientific inquiry. This year’s winner was Nancy L. Varvara, Baltimore, Maryland. 
  
  
• The Academic Achievement Award is presented to currently enrolled Penn State Hazleton fulltime or part-time students who have earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.7 or higher by the end of the spring semester of the academic year the award is given. This year’s winners were Allison K. Anthony, Drums; Adam M. Arlotto, Hazleton; Victoria M. Binder, Drums; Bo J. Boutcher, Martinsburg, WV; Beth S. Bradbury, Barnesville; Christine S. Brandon, Freeland; Joann Burger, Freeland; Patricia R. Chadderdon, Cogan Station; Jenny Cheng, South Plainfield, NJ; Kathryn M. Conrad, Doylestown; Christopher J. Dent, Wayne, NJ; Ryan M. Dewar, Honesdale; Michael Donlin, Berwick; Allison M. Doxbeck, Milford; Jeffery W. Eveland, Coal Township; Brandon J. Farzad, Endwell, NY; Sarah E. Feeko, Sheppton; Lynn M. Ferry, Drums; Meagan J. Foulk, Emmaus; Lindsay M. Franks, New Milford; Mary K. Gallo, Tamaqua; Lindsay C. Glen, Northampton; Heather L. Gorr, Barnesville; Rebecca L. Gouldthread, Northumberland; Phillip M. Halliday, Hazleton; Ryan A. Halloran, Oxford, NJ; Logan D. Hansman, Sugarloaf; Ronald R. Harman, Drums; David N. Hartranft, Wyoming; Aaron J. Heffelfinger, Bath; Karen L. Helfrich, Souderton; Roy T. Henninger, Winter Park, FL; Brandon N. Herman, White Haven; Katie Hoffman, Weatherly; Chad J. Hostrich, Drums; Cherise A. Hostrich, Drums; Jared B. Houghtaling, Equinunk; Thomas W. Igo, Barnesville; Megan A. Infante, Roselle Park, NJ; Matthew D. Keiter, Driftwood; Christopher H. Knecht, Nazareth; Ronald G. Korch, Weatherly; Jennifer M. Kriner, Mahanoy City; Zachary D. Kuter, White Haven; Erik R. Lehrbach, Mt Bethel; Haley M. Lentz, West Hazleton; Nicolai J. Lesko, Weatherly; Cristina N. Longo, Lanoka Harbor, NJ; Nicholas R. Lorenz, Damascus; William P. Lutz, Franklin; Karly M. Maliniak, Clifton, NJ; Nicholas A. Marsicano, Drums; Megan McFarling,West Hazleton; Karen R. Metzger, Lancaster; Jeremy M. Miller, Tresckow; Joshua R. Miller, Weatherly; Paul M. Miller, Weatherly; Gregory J. Molinaro, Hazleton; Rachael D. Monahan, Pocono Summit; Kathryn D. Moore, Harleysville; Marijoan T. Morena, Mountaintop; Rami Y. Moussa, Cambridge, MA; Tan L. Nguyen, Hazleton; Michael T. Nicholas, Zion Grove; Samantha M. Nicholson, Bangor; Kathryn A. Orbinpost, Conyngham; Samuel J. Orlando, Jessup; Jason A. Oshman, Elysburg; Jedediah J. Panco, Hazleton; Daehee A. Park, Wilkes Barre; Amy L. Peca, Lansdale; Eric M. Petruncio, Quakake; Jason K. Pollick, Hazleton; Benjamin D. Raffel, Waynesboro; Daniel T. Ray, Oceanside, NY; Michael J. Reigel, Summit Hill; Elaina B. Reimiller, Hazelton;  Colin M. Rimshaw, Conyngham; Camila Roces, Mahanoy City; Amy E. Ruscavage, Pottsville; Sarah C. Sisock, Freeland; Rand W. Skuba, Sugarloaf; Jessica M. Spare, Drums; Anthony V. Spaulding, Pleasant Mount; Samantha L. Tentinger, New Ringgold; Tehetna F. Tesfaye, Mount Joy; Tara L. Timmons, Oneida; Mario A. Tombasco, Sugarloaf; Nancy L. Varvara, Baltimore, Md.; Marisol I. Velez, Hazleton; Nemahun H. Vincent, Freeland; Natilee N. Weldon, Hazleton; Alissa A. Wheeler, Montgomery; Jonathan M. Wilner, Mahanoy City; Austin Wulf, Hazleton; Yaling Yang, Brooklyn, NY.
  
  
• The Scholar’s Lion Award recognizes students who earned the highest grade point averages baccalaureate and associate degree programs.
  
  Students who achieved the highest grade point average in their college of study, earning at least a 3.71 grade point average, included Daniel T. Ray, Oceanside, NY, from the Smeal College of Business Administration;  Jason A. Oshman, Elysburg, Communications; Natilee N. Weldon, Hazleton, Division of Undergraduate Studies; Jennifer M. Kriner, Mahanoy City, Education; Mario A. Tombasco, Sugarloaf, Engineering; Karly M. Maliniak, Clifton, NJ, Health & Human Development; Ryan A. Halloran, Oxford, NJ, Information Sciences & Technology; Marisol I. Velez, Hazleton, Letters, Arts & Sciences; Cherise A. Hostrich, Drums, Liberal Arts; and Nancy L. Varvara, Baltimore, Md., Science.
  
  Students earning the highest grade point average in associate degree programs at Penn State Hazleton, with a minimum 3.85 grade point average and at least forty Penn State credits completed, were Karen R. Metzger, Lancaster, Business Administration; Christopher J. Dent, Wayne, NJ, Mechanical Engineering; and Samuel J. Orlando, Jessup, Physical Therapist Assistant. In the campus baccalaureate degree program category, the student with the highest grade point average, a 3.85 minimum and completing at least 104 Penn State credits, was Lynn M. Ferry, Drums, a business administration major. 

Penn State Hazleton faculty members were also acknowledged with the following awards: 

• The Teaching Excellence Award, which recognizes and celebrates outstanding teaching, was established in 1994 by the Hazleton Educational Council, the campus advisory board. Candidates for this award may be nominated by students, faculty, staff and friends of the campus. Selection of the recipient is made by a committee of faculty members from another Penn State campus. The award consists of a plaque and a stipend. This year’s recipient was Marlene Guers, M.Ed., senior instructor in mathematics. 
  
  
• The George T. Bobby Excellence in Academic Advising Award is a tribute to Professor George T. Bobby, who taught exercise and sports science at Penn State Hazleton from 1967 until his death in 1989. Professor Bobby is remembered as a conscientious advisor. The award, consisting of a plaque and a stipend, is given annually to a faculty member whose commitment to academic advising is in keeping with the high standards maintained by Professor Bobby. The winner was Frantisek Marko, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics. 
  
  
• The Outstanding Teaching Award for Part-time Faculty and Staff recognizes excellence in teaching for part-time faculty and staff. It was developed by the campus faculty senate faculty affairs committee, and is supported by the office of Academic Affairs. The award consists of an inscribed plaque and a stipend. The recipient was Robert Reevs, M.A., instructor in Communications Arts and Sciences. 
  
  
• The Butler Technology and Teaching Award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding application and innovation in the use of computer technology in the classroom. In selecting an award recipient, the committee considers creativity and originality of the project and whether it has had a positive impact on students. The award consists of a suitably inscribed plaque and a stipend. J. Alfredo Jimenez, associate professor of mathematics, was the winner of this year’s award.

Guest speaker for the event was Dr. Wieslaw (Wes) Grebski, associate professor of engineering, who was honored with the highest award for faculty at Penn State, the Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching in spring 2007. Named in honor of Penn State’s president from 1950 to 1956, the Eisenhower Award is presented to tenured faculty employed as full-time members of the University for at least five years and with undergraduate teaching as a major portion of their assignments.

Born in Poland, Grebski earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Stanislaw Staszic University of Mining and Metallurgy, Krakow, Poland. He joined the faculty at Penn State Hazleton in 1984.

Dr. Grebski successfully combines the three thrusts of Penn State’s mission - teaching, research, and service - which he then makes available to his students, his profession, and the industrial community. He works closely with his students to ensure their understanding of the materials in his courses and advance their learning. He also brings them together with engineering professionals and organizations through internships to give the students a hands-on approach to learning and an opportunity to gain real world experience. These internships benefit companies by combining quality work with novel ideas at minimal expense.  Grebski’s pursuit of academic excellence led him to pursue a pilot program, Realigning Pathways in Engineering Technology, a multi-faceted approach to improving the engineering technologies programs on campus and throughout the university. This program is designed to address changes in industry and the global economy, improve preparation of high school students considering a career in engineering technology, and impact recruitment and retention of engineering and engineering technology students. 

His research and scholarly activities range from numerous publications and papers to more than 75 national and international conference presentations. A member several professional organizations, he served as the secretary, vice chair and chair of the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department Heads Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers from 1995 to 1997. 

At Penn State, Grebski has served on a variety of committees influencing both his colleagues and his courses. In the community, he has served as a consultant for the CAN-BE Business Incubator, the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center.

Community Day will be held rain or shine, with most outdoor events moved indoors in inclement weather.

Activities and events at Community Day span educational and informative offerings to live musical and theater performances by local and university groups. The entertainment portion of this year’s event will deliver something for all ages and tastes.

Arts, Entertainment and Food

A more robust schedule of music and theater groups from the campus and community are scheduled to perform in the Slusser/Bayzick Building and include:

• Local fiddler Paul Riffon, sponsored by Fellin’s Jewelers. Riffon will play traditional American fiddle tunes, Irish dance tunes, and very traditional Appalachian-style music. Riffon will start the day performing in the garden of the Administration Building from 1 to 2 p.m.
  
• Perennial favorite, the Hazleton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Robert Lagana, will play entertaining selections of best-loved Broadway tunes at 2 p.m. 
  
• Newcomers Two of Us, local performers Joe and Dot Sweet, will play and sing audience favorites, while engaging members of all ages with musical trivia questions. They will take the stage at 3 p.m.
  
• Nuremberg Community Players, another new Community Day participant, will take the stage with excerpts from productions performed over the past two years, including Godspell, South Pacific, Singing in the Rain, and more, in full costume. In addition, they will intersperse improv-style audience participation features (think “Whose Line…” style) called “Theatre Games,” between their musical numbers. Cast members from New Jersey and University Park will return to lend their talents in the show. The Nuremberg Community Players will close the day’s performances in Slusser/Bayzick from 4 to 5 p.m.

Current and past students will showcase their musical talents in the student and alumni bands performing in the campus pavilion.

• Starting the day is Burning Cold, a group comprised of Penn State Hazleton students playing modern renditions of popular songs. 
  
• Next on the schedule is The Tomcats, local brothers Mario, Joe and Chris Tombasco, who are Penn State Hazleton and Hazleton Area School District students, playing favorites of the ‘60s through modern day. 
  
• Closing the day is Lehigh Valley-based Hoozya Daddy, a classic rock band with Penn State Hazleton alumni who has quite a following in the Allentown area. This performance is sponsored by the Penn State Hazleton Alumni Society who encourage all alums to come back to campus for a mini-reunion. Hoozya Daddy’s extensive repertoire includes covers of bands from AC/DC to ZZ Top and much more! Visit the band’s web site at http://www.hoozyadaddy.net/ to sample their music.
  

Art will play a part in the Community Day festivities with

• A variety of local artists and crafters displaying and selling their works in the lobby of the Graham Building
  
• Free caricatures by Angie Jordan of “Mugs and Magic” on the campus mall, near the bookstore. The “Magic” part of the duo, Scott Sullivan, will be strolling the campus and amazing event-goers with his illusions.

No event is complete without food! At Community Day, Penn State’s own Creamery Ice Cream, a tradition for more than 100 years, will be available by the scoop in the garden by the Administration Building. Stop by and taste vanilla, chocolate or the very famous “Peachy Paterno.”

One of Penn State Hazleton’s newest facilities, the Charles T. Butler Teaching and Learning Resource Center, will serve as food central with hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue, chili and much more served in “Higher Grounds,” the cyber café, along with the full coffee and refreshment menu loved by Penn State students, faculty and staff.

Additionally, Penn State Hazleton Army ROTC will sell refreshments at their table near the PA Army National Guard rock climbing wall located between Butler and the Physical Education Building. Student Government Association (SGA) will sell water and candy in the Administration Building garden.

Education and Information

The learning opportunities at this year’s event include displays and information sessions with Penn State Hazleton faculty and community members.

Penn State Hazleton’s Library will serve as the “History Center” with a display of Hazleton’s past from the extensive collection of Joseph Michel, former owner of Eager Beaver Engineering Company. Included will be survey and mining maps and equipment, artifacts from the WB&H Railroad and local businesses, historic correspondence and more. Mr. Michel will be on-hand to discuss the value of these items.

Also featured in the library will be Penn State alumnus Lil Junas who has offered to undertake the project of recording alumni memories to be used in Penn State Hazleton’s 75th anniversary in 2009. Junas returned to the area after an illustrious career in the communications field working for newspapers, teaching at colleges and universities and authoring books. 

Information on the National History Day (NHD) regional competition, scheduled for March 8, 2008, at Penn State Hazleton, will also be available in the library. Each year, more than half a million students, encouraged by thousands of teachers nationwide participate in the NHD contest. Students choose historical topics related to an announced theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research then present their work in original papers, exhibits, performances and documentaries. Competition is held in two divisions: junior division for grades 6-8 and senior division for grades 9-12 at local, state and national levels where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators. Winners of the national competition receive cash prizes and the chance for a full four-year scholarship.

Campus faculty, one of the best resources at Penn State Hazleton, will share their professional and personal interests through a series of “faculty spotlights” offered at various times throughout the day. Participating faculty, their backgrounds, topics and descriptions include:

• Dr. Wes Grebski
  Wes Grebski is an associate professor of engineering at Penn State Hazleton and coordinator of the Mechanical Engineering Technology program. Promoting the concept of project-based education, Dr. Grebski has initiated a number of projects which are being undertaken jointly by Penn State engineering/engineering technology students and secondary students. Grebski was recently honored with the Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching, the highest award for faculty members at Penn State.
  
  Ultralight Airplane Display
  The experimental aircraft is one of the joint projects being done by Penn State engineering/engineering technology students and secondary students. The aircraft is a wooden structure with detachable fold-back wings. The aircraft is being powered by a 2.5 liter Subaru engine. The project is approximately 75% complete.
  
  
• Dr. Junghun Choi
  JungHun Choi is an assistant professor of engineering at Penn State Hazleton. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Kookmin University in Korea.  Dr. Choi and his ASME students are working on a solar-powered car and airplane and he plans for form a robotics group so students can apply class room knowledge into real field work by building and programming mobile robots.
  
  Robotic Arm/Skill Crane
  The Skill Crane (Robotic Arm) has eight motors with a feedback system controller.  The user can operate the crane to access and grab candy bars.
  
  
• Dr. Chris Goguen
  Chris Goguen is a new faculty member in the biology department, coming to Penn State Hazleton from the University Park campus where he worked for several years as a lecturer in wildlife science. His training is in wildlife ecology and conservation biology with an emphasis on birds and mammals. Dr. Goguen has studied cowbird ecology and management issues in the western United States for over a decade, most recently studying the association between cowbirds and bison.
  
  “Cowbirds, Cuckoos & Other Parasites of the Bird World”
  Avian brood parasites are bird species that lay their eggs into the nests of other species forcing those “hosts” to act as foster parents in the raising of their young. Globally, there are about 100 species of these parasites including cowbirds, cuckoos, honeyguides, finches, and even a duck. The most widespread brood parasite in North America is the brown-headed cowbird. Female cowbirds never build their own nests and are known to have parasitized more than 200 different species of birds. Although some species can recognize a cowbird egg and remove it, many other species do not and often suffer costs. In this talk, Dr. Goguen will review some of the interesting strategies employed by brood parasites, focusing on cowbirds and cowbird management issues here in the United States.  
  
  
• Dr. Warren Bareiss
  Warren Bareiss hails from Southampton, PA. He received his B.A. in anthropology from the University of New Mexico, M.A. in communication from the University of Pennsylvania, and Ph.D. in mass communication from Indiana University. Dr. Bareiss teaches courses in how to deliver speeches and on film analysis. His research looks into the culture of communication, especially communication that involves particular spaces. His most recent work is on the Kingston Trio and the San Francisco Beat scene of the 1950s. 
  
  “How to Read a Movie: Fun Film Analysis Skills”
  Most people take movie watching for granted by just leaning back and enjoying a good story. We don't usually think about how the images are put together in a specific way to create intended meanings and moods. In this workshop, we will break a scene down into its most basic parts--the grammar of film--to show how the language of film works. After this workshop, you might not be able to watch a movie in the old way ever again!
  
  
• Carl Frankel
  Carl Frankel is assistant professor of biology at Penn State Hazleton, with a specialty in genetics and is a member of several environment-oriented groups in the Hazleton area. He has been taking groups of adults and children into fields, streams and forests for many years, hoping that they will learn to enjoy and value their natural surroundings.
  
  “Exploring the Environment”
  This easy walk – all on paths – will focus on identifying common and/or interesting plants and animals and learning about the history and ecology of our ridge top forests.  
  
  
• Dr. Bill Ellis   
  Bill Ellis is professor of English and American Studies and has taught at Penn State Hazleton since 1984. His specialty is folklore, particularly urban legends. He’s served as president of the Children’s Folklore Section of the American Folklore Society and also of the International Society for Contemporary Legend Research. His interest in anime began by watching it with his daughter, then in high school, and realizing that many of the series used elements of folktales and legends familiar in Western Culture. He has since given presentations on anime both at the American Folklore Society and at Otakon, the East Coast’s biggest anime convention.
  
  “A Brief Introduction to Japanese Anime for Parents”
  Dr. Ellis plans to talk as a parent about the appeal anime has for teenagers and young adults. Many elements of anime seem at first exotic, strange, and violent, but the culture from which it comes is very similar to contemporary America in dealing with the pressures of a fast-paced work world, the need to succeed at all costs, and deal with the many dangers that contemporary life presents us with. Illustrating his talk with some brief clips from popular anime series, Dr. Ellis will try to help parents see the real-life issues that draw youngsters to this art form, and perhaps encourage them to sit down and watch
  some of the classics with them. 
  
  
• Dr. Girija Subramaniam
  Girija Subramaniam, professor of chemistry at Penn State Hazleton enjoys involving kids in scientific demonstrations. She received her doctorate degree in organic chemistry from Kent State in Ohio, and completed her post doctoral work at Dartmouth Medical School.  She worked with Nobel Laureate Jean-Marie Lehn, an organic chemist with research interests in nanomaterials, photochromic materials, liquid crystals and photonic materials.
  
  “Fun with Chemistry”
  These demonstrations and hands-on activities include “How full is full?”, “One-Way Screen,” “Tornado in Bottle,” “Collapsing Can,” and “Floral design making.” 
  
  
• Dr. Dave and Kathy Orbin
  Dave and Kathy Orbin have been doing genealogical research on their respective families for ten years. Their research has taken them to numerous courthouses, archives and libraries. They have visited The National Archives in Washington, DC, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and attended National Genealogy Conferences. They have explored many internet and on-line sources, and visited cemeteries across the country. David is a retired Penn State biology professor, and Kathy is a retired teacher and office worker.
  
  “Tracing Your Roots, Finding Your Ancestors” 
  The program is an introduction to research techniques involved in discovering your family history.  The Orbins will offer a multimedia “how to” of genealogy; a brief overview of procedures for starting a family history, and getting past some common impediments to discovering ancestors. It will also describe how to access resources such as local libraries, county, state and federal records to discover when, where and how your ancestors lived.  Time will be allotted for questions from the audience. 
  
  
• Dr. J. Alfredo Jimenez 
  Alfredo Jimenez is associate professor of mathematics at Penn State Hazleton, having completed undergraduate studies at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and graduate studies at the University of Durham, England, under a British Council Fellowship. He is currently interested in using technology to make better use of time for teaching and learning, and to help students visualize and better understand mathematical concepts.
  
  “Mathemagic”
  Mathemagic is an entertaining and interactive presentation involving logic puzzles, patterns, and mathematical tricks. No advanced knowledge of mathematic is required beyond the third grade level.

Student Involvement 

Students have become involved in all phases of Community Day, planning and running a variety of activities and venues, as well as the behind the scenes operations. Three years ago, Community Day was rescheduled from the summer to the fall to include the most vital groups at Penn State Hazleton – the students. Each year, student participation has increased and this year proves to be the best yet.

Last year, the Nittany Lion Cubs Den, an activity center for kids run by students, was introduced and gave students groups like THON (dance marathon committee that raises money to fight pediatric cancer), Penn State Education Association’s (PSEA) future teachers, and Rotaract the opportunity to design and operate a venue to reach out and interact with community children.

This year, these student groups have once again collaborated on the Nittany Lions Cub Den, creating activities, planning the setting, and scheduling students to work. Sargent Art and Hershey Foods’ Hazleton plant are supporting the student effort by donating supplies.

Additional student groups are involved in other ways:

• The award-winning Penn State Hazleton Cheerleaders will perform routines and hold a mini-clinic to teach their moves to anyone interested in learning. 
  
• The campus tennis team, coached by Deidre Jago, assistant professor of kinesiology, will present an exhibition and clinics. The tennis team is co-ed, with men and women competing against Penn State campuses within the conference. 
  
• Penn State Hazleton Army ROTC will sell sports drinks and showcase their activities  near the Army National Guard rock climbing wall, a new feature for kids age 14 and up (with parental permission) to test their skills. A tradition at Penn State since 1863, ROTC classes provide leadership and management training and life skills to all students, not only those interested in military service. 
  
• Student Government Association (SGA), the governing body on campus and sponsor of various programs throughout the year to enhance campus life, will sell water and candy in the Administration Building garden with proceeds used to enhance student programming. 
  
• Projects from students in the campus engineering programs will be displayed, including a cement leveler and wind turbine. Penn State’s engineering students, with the guidance of faculty members, work with area businesses to address their needs and design and build projects with financial assistance from PENNTAP. 
  
• Members of the Multi-Cultural Council (MCC) will celebrate the wide range of diversity at the campus with displays of various cultures represented in the student population. Throughout the academic year, MCC arranges programs for students to educate and celebrate the differences of global societies.

Schedule of events and activities

Community Day 2007 (PDF)

Arts and Entertainment
Time	Event	Location	Description
1 to 5 p.m.	Artists and Crafters	Graham Building Lobby
	Caricatures by Angie Jordan	Campus Mall, near bookstore
	Strolling Magician Scott Sullivan	Various
1 to 2	Fiddler Paul Riffon	Administration Bldg. Garden	American, Irish dance tunes, and  Appalachian-style fiddle music
1 to 2	Burning Cold	Pavilion	Student/local band
2 to 2:45	Hazleton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Concert	Slusser/Bayzick Building	Broadway Tunes
2:30 to 3:30	The Tomcats	Pavilion	Student band
3 to 3:45	Two of Us (Joe & Dot Sweet)	Slusser/Bayzick Building	Singing/audience interactive performance
4 to 5	Nuremberg Community Players	Slusser/Bayzick Building	Excerpts from past productions in costume
4 to 5	Hoozya Daddy	Pavilion	Alumni classic rock band based in the Lehigh Valley
Education and Information
1 to 5	Historic Hazleton Display	Library	A portion of Joseph Michel’s amazing collection
	Alumni Memories Recordings	Library	Help us prepare for our 75th anniversary by sharing memories of the campus
	National History Day Display	Library	Students/Parents - Find out more about entering the March 8, 2008 competition!
	All about Bugs!	Bookstore portico	Fun and entertaining bug info
	Faculty Spotlight: Wes Grebski	Campus Mall	Ultralight airplane under construction
	Faculty Spotlight: Junghun Choi	Butler Lobby	Robotic arm/Skill crane
	Student Engineering Projects	Campus Mall	Wind turbine and Cement leveler
	Valley Regional Fire & Rescue	Admin. Bldg. Area	Health Information and Screenings
2 to 2:45	Faculty Spotlight: Chris Goguen	Graham 115	Cowbirds, Cuckoos & Other Parasites of the Bird World
2 to 2:45	Faculty Spotlight: Warren Bareiss	Graham 109	“How to Read a Movie: Fun Film Analysis Skills”
2:45	Faculty Spotlight: Carl Frankel	Bookstore portico	“Exploring the Environment” (nature walk) - Learn all about plants, animals & insects around us
2:45 to 3:30	Faculty Spotlight: Bill Ellis	Graham 109	“A Brief Intro. to Japanese Anime for Parents”
2:45 to 3:30	Faculty Spotlight: Girija Subramaniam	Graham front walk	“Fun with Chemistry”
3:30 to 4:15	Faculty Spotlight: Dave & Kathy Orbin	Graham 115	“Tracing Your Roots, Finding Your Ancestors”
3:30 to 4:15	Faculty Spotlight: Alfredo Jimenez	Butler Seminar Rm (lower level)	“Mathemagic”
Information Booths
1 to 5	General Information	1. Driveway of Admin. Bldg.	Information on Community Day
		2. Under canopy on campus
		mall near Phys. Ed. Building
	Continuing Education,	Driveway of Admin. Bldg.	Learn more about Penn State Hazleton and
	Alumni Chapter and Alumni Society	getting involved!
Demonstrations/Tours/Fun
1 to 5	Nittany Lion Cubs Den - Made possible with the support of Sargent Art and Hershey Foods	Butler Lobby	Variety of activities for kids with student groups PSEA,  Rotaract, THON, & more!
	Photos with the Nittany Lion	Lion Statue	Free photos!
	Engineering Club Skill Crane	Butler Lobby	Test your skill!
	Student Engineering Projects	Campus Mall, near Graham Bldg.	Cement leveler and wind turbine
	Army National Guard Rock Climbing Wall	Lawn between Butler and Phys. Ed. Bldg.	14 & up. Parental permission required!
2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.	Campus Tours	Start at Nittany Lion statue in front of Admin. Bldg.	Learn about Penn State Hazleton from a Lion Ambassador!
Student Group Activities
1 to 5	Nittany Lion Cubs Den - Made possible with the support of Sargent Art and Hershey Foods	Butler Lobby	Variety of activities for kids with student PSEA,  Rotaract, THON, & more!
	Penn State Hazleton Army ROTC	Lawn between Butler and Phys. Ed. Bldg.	Information, activities, refreshment sales.
	Student Group Displays	Campus Mall	Activities and information on the interests of Penn State Hazleton students
1:30 to 2	Penn State Hazleton Cheerleaders	Gym	Watch/learn from our award-winning squad
2 to 3	Tennis Team Clinic	Tennis Court	Improve your game!
3 to 3:30	Penn State Hazleton Cheerleaders	Gym	Watch/learn from our award-winning squad
Food and Refreshments
1 to 5	Grab a bite at the Cyber Café	Higher Grounds, Butler TLRC, 2nd floor	Burgers, hot dogs, pierogies and more!
	Don’t forget dessert - Creamery Ice Cream!	Garden - Next to Administration Building	Hand-dipped Peachy Paterno, Vanilla and Chocolate ice cream!
	Water and candy sales	Garden - Next to Administration Building	Sold by Student Government Association
	Gatorade sales	Lawn between Butler and Phys. Ed. Bldg.	Penn State Hazleton Army ROTC
	Creamery Ice Cream pick-up  Loading dock - Highacres Café (Dining hall)		If you ordered half-gallons of ice cream, don't forget to pick them up!
1 to 5	Bookstore open		Wide variety of Penn State merchandise

 

Penn State Hazleton’s Faculty Lecture Committee has planned three upcoming lectures for the fall semester. The events, covering various topics, are free, and community members are encouraged to attend.

The lecture series begins at 7 p.m. on Mon., Sept. 17, in room 1 of the Kostos Building with an event marking Constitution Day with Glenn Palmer, professor of political science at Penn State’s University Park. Dr. Palmer will discuss “The Effects of Domestic Politics in Democracies: Choosing, Winning and Losing Wars.”

Dr. Palmer is editor of Conflict Management and Peace Science and executive director of the Peace Science Society (International). His publications have appeared in International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Conflict Resolution, American Journal of Political Science and the American Political Science Review. His most recent book, The Causes and Consequences of International Conflict: Data, Methods and Theory, will be published in 2008.  Palmer is co-author of A Theory of Foreign Policy, published last year by Princeton University Press. His recent research interests focus on the domestic factors that affect the foreign-policy behavior of democratic states.

Palmer earned his doctoral degree at the University of Michigan and has taught at Penn State since 2000. He was previously affiliated with Texas A&M University.

The next installment in the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thurs., Oct. 18, in room 1 of the Kostos Building as Maria Jacketti, poet and instructor in English at Penn State Hazleton, presents the annual George Tseo Memorial Lecture. She will discuss and read her translations of Nobel Prize winning Chilean poets Pablo Neruda and Grabriela Mistral, as well as her own original work in fiction and poetry.

The final event on Tues., Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. in room 1 of the Kostos Building will feature Pat Brogan sharing his affliction with dystonia through dialogue and screening of “Twisted,” the PBS documentary chronicling his and two others’ stories and scientists studying dystonia and neurology.

All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information on these events or others at Penn State Hazleton, contact the Office of University Relations at (570) 450-3180.

According to event organizer Amber Robinson, a sophomore business administration major from New York City and SGA public relations chair, “As American citizens, it’s important to remember those people directly and indirectly affected by the events of September 11, 2001. We, as students, feel that a memorial ceremony is a great tribute to those people.” Robinson adds, “We extend an invitation to the community to come to the campus and join the observance.”

Included in the event will be remarks by campus and student leaders, followed by an open forum for expression.

For more information, call the University Relations Office at (570) 450-3180.

Fun and exciting events have been planned for this year's Family Day, an opportunity for families to experience Penn State Hazleton with their students, on Sat., Sept. 29.

Registration begins at noon, followed by a digital camera scavenger hunt, baseball game, and plenty of free time to spend with your student. At dinner, test your crime-solving skill at the murder mystery performance titled "Bullets and Barbecue" accompanied with a themed buffet. After dinner, families move to the casino night which is run by students and offers some high end prizes. 

Family Night is a great time to reconnect with your student and get a taste of Penn State Hazleton. 

Complete the registration form. The deadline is Fri., Sept. 14.

Pictured, from left, are: Kevin Salaway, director of development, Penn State Hazleton; John Madden, Penn State Hazleton; Wes Grebski, associate professor of engineering and program coordinator, Penn State Hazleton; John T. Andreacio, regional president, Northeast Pennsylvania, KNBT; and Tony Cusatis, vice president - relationship manager, KNBT.

Complete stories

• Alumni Focus: From Hazleton to Mexico, Salvadore Lio has left his mark on international business
• Campus Life: Engineering professor earns teaching honor

Additional information

• Campus hosts CNN's Lou Dobbs for live town hall broadcast
• Commencement 2007
• Performing Arts return to Penn State Hazleton
• Jack Palance Trustee Scholarship established at campus

He spent his days working in the family grocery store on Alter Street in Hazleton stocking shelves, sweeping the floor, helping customers, and waiting his turn in the midst of one of the most devastating economic times known to this country. But in the midst of the Great Depression, valuable lessons were learned – lessons like helping neighbors by extending personal resources, the value of working together to get through tough times, and the importance of hard work.

Little could Salvadore Lio know the work ethic and values being developed would remain with him the rest of his life and lead to an important role in the future.

One of six children born into an Italian immigrant family, Sal’s parents stressed the importance of education, even during a time of such modest means. Graduating high school at sixteen, Sal deferred his education goals until older brother Tony completed his studies. Once it was his turn, Sal, like his brother, attended the Hazleton Undergraduate Center before transitioning to University Park to earn his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1942. Interestingly, university records show that Salvadore Lio is one of Penn State Hazleton’s oldest living alumni.

Always looking to the future and for new opportunities, Sal contacted a long list of companies for summer employment during his junior year in college, receiving responses from two. One company, Monsanto, extended an offer in the plastics division research department in Springfield, Mass., and Sal jumped at the opportunity even though he never traveled outside Pennsylvania. By summer’s end, he secured a permanent position upon graduation, embarking on a lifelong career and working his way through the ranks of product development to middle management and, ultimately, to international business. 

Monsanto officials quickly recognized Sal’s astute decision making and management skills and chose him to lead the company into Central and South America in 1949. Sal explained that in the midst of this initial international venture into Brazil, he discovered the representative with whom he was negotiating was a fraud. Averting disaster, he proved himself to the company and earned a promotion to the executive level.

A few months later, Sal was tapped to lead the next endeavor, this time to Mexico City, Mexico, at a time when the country was very open to foreigners and business opportunities. He oversaw operations at a new plant producing polystyrene and served as plant manager, establishing Monsanto’s foothold for future global expansion and creating a successful firm that is still in existence today. *

Expecting to live in Mexico City for a few years, the Lios stayed through the rest of Sal’s career until he retired in 1981. Wife Dorothy (“Dot”) has many wonderful memories of their time including the beauty and cultural richness of the city, describing the idyllic scenery punctuated by the famous “Mexican blue skies, glorious trees and flowers, beautiful wide avenues.” Looking back now, Dot says they were living in paradise and didn’t even know it.

The Lios quickly overcame their immigrant status, forging friendships and alliances across all levels once the citizens realized they were hardworking, trustworthy people. At one point the Lios hosted a breakfast in their home for a presidential candidate to meet with members of the American Chamber of Commerce, of which Sal was president.

It was a wonderful place to raise children, says Dot, whose five children attended a private Mexican school. She said, “We didn’t expect to stay as long as we did and weren’t sure which school to send the children.” All of the children are bilingual and have college degrees.

According to son John, “My parents were very wise to send us to the Mexican school. It was a huge plus and brought us closer to the language and culture. As children, we learned it was different…not better, just different.”

Now residing in California, John works in the electronics manufacturing industry and has traveled and worked around the world. “My experiences living and growing up in a different culture have been a tremendous benefit to me professionally. Many Americans operating internationally don’t understand cultural differences and have a hard time adapting. Thanks to our bold and courageous parents, these are advantages we enjoy today.”

Daughter Susan Wake agrees, “Living in Mexico is a huge part of our history, and we are comfortable in both countries. This experience taught us that the U.S. perspective is not the only one. We are more open to other countries’ customs, ideas and viewpoints.”

After a fulfilling management consulting career in Mexico and the U.S., Susan continues the Lio family tradition of helping others. She returned to college to earn a family counseling degree and now works mainly with immigrant families, assisting with generational differences, cultural adjustments and educational opportunities.

And while the Lio family is spread across the country and the world, there is still a strong connection to Penn State. In addition to Sal, his brother Tony and sister Carmella (who waited to start her studies until Sal finished) both started at the Hazleton Undergraduate Center and completed bachelor’s degrees at University Park. Son Robert earned his degree in mining engineering, while daughter Sharon interned at Penn State’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to complete her degree in dietetics.

This spring granddaughter Esther Gomez (Susan’s daughter) graduated from University Park, serving as the student marshal of the Department of Letter, Arts, and Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts commencement ceremony, and was commissioned into the U.S. Marines. Sal was surprised and pleased that Esther continued the Penn State tradition, even though she didn’t know it was his alma mater until after she applied. According to Susan, “Penn State’s resources and programs matched my daughter’s criteria when she was exploring universities. It was the best fit.” She added, “This was a tremendous source of pride for my dad.”

Just as evident in Sal is the sense of pride and commitment in his work. In Sal’s time, international expansion meant exhaustive travel via planes and trains, uncomfortable settings, face-to-face negotiations, and, like other pioneers before him, the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Today, firms “go global” by launching a Web site, meeting via satellite, and inking deals with the touch of a key stroke–all in contrast to the business world less than fifty years ago.

To think that one of Hazleton’s own and one of Penn State Hazleton’s oldest alumni helped to create a successful, ongoing company in a foreign land, now part of a multi-billion dollar business group, and forged Monsanto’s international expansion is remarkable.

This legacy which Sal said was “all in a life’s work” became the title of the chapter on Sal’s career in the Lio family history book coordinated by Susan in honor of Sal’s eighty-fifth birthday. And what a work it is.

(* Salvadore Lio coordinated Monsanto’s purchase of a Mexican-owned sales company to form Monsanto Mexicana, S.A. In 1971, the Mexican government required companies in the country to be majority Mexican owned. Monsanto Mexicana and Industrias Resistol, another chemical company, merged to form the Monsanto-Resistol-DESC joint venture known as the Grupo Industrias Resistol S.A. (IRSA) with Lio serving as vice president. In 1992, Grupo DESC acquired Monsanto’s share of the venture, making it part of one of the largest industrial corporations in Mexico. DESC’s chemical division produces styrenic resin and specialty polymer products used by food, electrical appliance, packaging, construction, furniture and entertainment industries in Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Central and South America.

Today, the Monsanto Company is focused on agriculture and supporting farmers with more than 17,000 employees in sixty-one countries around the world.)

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Campus Life: Engineering professor earns teaching honor

Wieslaw (Wes) Grebski, associate professor of engineering at Penn State Hazleton, has been honored with one of the highest awards for faculty at Penn State, the Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching. Penn State President Graham Spanier, right, presented the award to Dr. Grebski, left, at a recent ceremony at University Park.

Grebski is one of 5,500 full-time professors across the Penn State University system.

Named in honor of Penn State’s president from 1950 to 1956, the Eisenhower Award is presented annually to two tenured faculty members employed full-time by the University for at least five years and with undergraduate teaching as a major portion of their assignments.

Grebski joined the faculty at Penn State Hazleton in 1984. Born in Poland, he earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Stanislaw Staszic University of Mining and Metallurgy, Krakow, Poland.

Dr. Monica E. Gregory, director of Academic Affairs at Penn State Hazleton, said, “Wes Grebski is a uniquely devoted teacher who tirelessly forges initiatives to provide students with the best possible learning experiences. His dedication to student engagement is recognized by students, colleagues, university administrators, and members of the industrial community. For him, students come first!”

Chancellor John Madden said, “We are extremely proud of Wes Grebski’s contributions to the students, campus, community, and the fields of engineering and education. This honor validates the extraordinary efforts that Wes puts into everything he does, and demonstrates the difference that one person can make.”

According to Gregory, Grebski successfully combines the three thrusts of Penn State’s mission - teaching, research, and service - which he then makes available to his students, his profession, and the industrial community. He works closely with his students to ensure their understanding of the materials in his courses and advance their learning. He also brings them together with engineering professionals and organizations through internships to give the students a hands-on approach to learning and an opportunity to gain real world experience. These internships benefit companies by combining quality work with novel ideas at minimal expense.

Grebski’s pursuit of academic excellence led him to pursue a pilot program, Realigning Pathways in Engineering Technology, a multi-faceted approach to improving the engineering technologies programs on campus and throughout the university. This program is designed to address changes in industry and the global economy, improve preparation of high school students considering a career in engineering technology, and impact recruitment and retention of engineering and engineering technology students.

His research and scholarly activities range from scholarly publications to paper presentations at more than 75 national and international conferences. presentations. A member several professional organizations, he served as the secretary, vice chair and chair of the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department Heads Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers from 1995 to 1997.

At Penn State, Grebski has served on a variety of committees influencing both his colleagues and his courses. In the community, he has served as a consultant for the CAN-BE Business Incubator, the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center.

When asked what the award meant to him, Grebski said, “I am very fortunate to enjoy what I do. When I get up, I look forward to coming to work and teaching students. It’s nice to be recognized and get positive feedback, but what’s really rewarding to me is making a difference in the lives of students.”

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Links:

Penn State Hazleton Alumni Society

Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association

Give to Penn State Hazleton

Welcome New Students!

For the complete schedule of activities and events, please visit: Orientation 2007

Print version of schedule: Orientation 2007 Schedule

Elaine Palance, center, established the Jack Palance Memorial Trustee Scholarship at Penn State Hazleton. Also pictured are Chancellor John Madden, Sam Lesante, Attorney Pasco Schiavo and Director of Development Kevin Salaway.

Following his death, daughter Holly Palance, on behalf of the family, requested that a memorial scholarship fund be established at the campus. The Jack Palance Memorial Trustee Scholarship at Penn State Hazleton is the culmination of money raised from friends and family around the world. Penn State Hazleton students will immediately benefit from the scholarship which will be awarded for the fall semester.

Elaine Palance said, “Jack loved this area and the people. We visited as often as possible, and thought it was important to keep his memory alive. I can’t think of a better way than helping young people attain their educational goals.”  

The Trustee Scholarship program is designed to keep a Penn State education accessible to all qualified students, regardless of their financial means. Trustee Matching Scholarships provide matching funds from the university to a donor’s contributions resulting in a doubling of a donor’s gift to the campus.

Implemented in 2002 upon approval by Penn State's Board of Trustees, the program assisted more than 4,000 students in 2006-07.

Born Volodymir Ivanovich Palahniuk, son of a Ukranian coal miner, in Lattimer Mines, Jack Palance is well known for roles in the 1950s movie classics “Shane,” and “Sudden Fear.” In television, he won the Emmy Award for the 1957 show “Requiem for a Heavyweight.”  In the 1980s Palance also co-hosted (with his daughter Holly Palance) the television series Ripley's Believe It or Not. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1992 for his performance as cowboy Curly Washburn in the 1991 comedy “City Slickers.”

In addition to his home in the Los Angeles area, he kept a local residence and visited several times a year. Among his closest friends was local television producer and entrepreneur, Sam Lesante. Lesante assisted campus development director Kevin Salaway and local attorney Pasco Schiavo with beginning a dialogue with Palance and his family related to supporting the campus. Attorney Schiavo serves as vice president of the Hazleton Educational Council, the campus advisory board, and chairs the campus Development Committee.

“Jack expressed interest in supporting the campus and it's wonderful to see his wishes come to fruition,” Lesante said. Attorney Schiavo added, “Many of us here in the community view Penn State Hazleton as a true asset to the region, and it's gratifying to know that someone like Jack Palance agreed.”

“The Trustee Scholarship program with the matching funds component is a great way to double the impact of a donor’s gift,” Salaway explained, adding, “We’re very honored the Palance Family saw fit to create a lasting legacy for Jack Palance at the campus.”

As Pennsylvania's land-grant university, Penn State uniquely provides education and public service to support the citizens of the Commonwealth and the nation. The focus is on collaborative activities with industrial, educational, and agricultural partners here and abroad to generate, disseminate, integrate, and apply knowledge. The Hazleton campus is one of 24 campuses located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including a medical center and a law school.

Penn State's Hazleton Campus was established in 1934 as the Hazleton Undergraduate Center in various locations. The campus' current location was established in 1948 with the purchase of 26 hilltop acres of a permanent residential estate of local coal baron Eckley B. Markle. Through gifts and purchases, Penn State Hazleton now consists of 104 acres of land, with the historic structures standing side-by-side with new and modern academic buildings. Students can complete the first two years of most of the 160 majors offered by the University, as well as several bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, and a master of education degree.

For more information on the Trustee Scholarship program, contact Kevin Salaway, director of Development at Penn State Hazleton, at (570) 450-3015.

Related information: Jack Palance Memorial Scholarship Fund

Wednesday, June 13, at 6 p.m.

Kostos Building, Room 1

More information

Penn State students received degrees and awards Friday evening during Penn State Hazleton's thirty-seventh annual commencement ceremonies.

Director of Academic Affairs Monica E. Gregory presented the candidates to Chancellor John Madden who conferred forty-six associate degrees and forty-three baccalaureate degrees to students completing programs of study at Penn State Hazleton and other Penn State locations who chose to participate in the graduation ceremony here. 

This weekend more than 10,600 students University-wide will receive associate, baccalaureate, graduate, medical, and juris doctorate degrees in ceremonies across the state.

Guest speakers for the event were award-winning faculty members Elizabeth J. Wright, assistant professor of English, and Sherry K. Robinson, assistant professor of business administration.

Dr. Wright has been a member of the English Department at Penn State Hazleton since 2000. She was honored with the 2006 Hazleton Educational Council Outstanding Teaching Award, which recognizes and celebrates outstanding classroom accomplishments.

She received her B.A. in English from the University of New Hampshire, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Wright teaches courses in composition and United States literature, with an emphasis on women writers.

Her research focuses on early twentieth-century United States women writers and how such authors write about a wide variety of topics, including war, immigration, and disability. She is particularly interested in Dorothy Canfield Fisher, a Vermont author, who wrote extensively on the impact that war has upon families.

She lives in Stroudsburg with her husband, Andrew Smith, and their two children, Elanor and Abigail.

Dr. Robinson has been recognized for her innovative use of technology in the classroom, most recently as the 2006 recipient of the campus Butler Technology and Teaching Award. She received this award for engaging students in interactive learning by using electronic response devices ("clickers.")

Dr. Robinson has been a faculty member at Penn State Hazleton since 2004, teaching a variety of management courses. Her primary research centers on rural women small business owners. She also studies learning games and new media such as podcasting and vodcasting.

She earned her B.S. in business administration from Messiah College, M.S. in business administration from Bucknell and Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences from Walden University. She also attended the International Business Institute and the University of Oslo.

Dr. Robinson visits Norway several times a year and speaks fluent Norwegian.

Rosemarie Petrilla, B.H.S., M.P.T., D.P.T., Physical Therapist Assistant Program Coordinator and president of the Penn State Hazleton Faculty Senate, served as the faculty marshal and led the academic processional. Dr. Gregory also announced the graduates who earned distinctive honors recognition and gave special recognition to Associate Professor of Engineering Wes Grebski who was presented with the Milton S. Eisenhower Award, the University’s highest honor for faculty members. Carl S. Frankel, assistant professor of biology, announced the Frank C. Kostos Award recipients.

Alumnus Ronald L. Schell, ’70, president of the Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, inducted the new graduates into the Alumni Association. 

Following the ceremony, a reception, co-sponsored by the Penn State Hazleton Alumni Society and the Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, was held in the lobby of the Evelyn Graham Academic Building.

Degrees presented include:

Associate Degrees:
Associate in Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences: James T. Minor, Palmerton.

Associate in Science in Business Administration: Christina M. Lammardo, Long Pond; and Joseph G. Maloney, Freeland.

Associate in Science in Medical Laboratory Technology: George A. Aram, Honesdale; Karen C. Brister, Clarks Summit; Kathleen A. Dalton, Dalton; Natasha M. Serviss, Weatherly; and Tina M. Vogtman, Sugarloaf.

Associate in Science in Physical Therapist Assistant: Carolyn M. Beitler, Fogelsville; Pamela A. Bray, Weatherly; Alexandra M. Brown, Stroudsburg; Janet L. Claudfelter, Bloomsburg; Nicole D. Demko, Swoyersville; John T. Ferdinand, Drums; Nicholas A. Galle, Pottsville; Erin M. Gardner, Wilkes-Barre; Phillip M. Halliday, Hazleton; Anthony E. Iorio, West Wyoming; Tani K. Jankaitis, Shenandoah; Keren Khawaja, Hazleton; Michael K. Kuhns, Whitehall; Amanda D.Lachette, Beaver Meadows; Maryjane R. Long, Elysburg; Jennifer M. Paskey, Shenandoah; Kelly K. Rodzewich, Freeland; Jonathan Sarnoski, Eynon; Megan Schnaufer, Beaver Meadows; Rachel A. Selert, Weatherly; Amanda J. Shollenberger, Fleetwood; Kelly S. Sirois, Coaldale; and Daniel D. Slotterback, Lavelle.

Associate in Engineering in Electrical Engineering Technology: Johan A. Alarcon, Hazleton; and David J. Kepp, Hazleton.

Associate in Engineering in Mechanical Engineering Technology: Scott D. Bogard, Berwick; Vincent G. Doyle, White Haven; Jonathan M. Kuntz, Brockton; Kevin R. McLaughlin, Massapequa, NY; Sari M. Rajjob, Kingston; David J. Sitar, Dallas; Robert S. Sosnoski, Bloomsburg; and Michael J. Thomas, Nanticoke.

Associate in Engineering in Nanomanufacturing Technology: Michael A. Budda, West Hazleto; Daniel W. Miller, Hazleton; Darryl J. Schwarz, Mountaintop;  Michael A. Vila, East Stroudsburg; and Justin T. Warburton, Milton.

Baccalaureate Degrees:

Bachelor of Arts degrees:

Psychology: Megan J. Majetsky, Quakake.

Letters, Arts, and Sciences: James R. Buchman, Sheppton; Shannon N. Byers, Bartonsville; Christine Cascione, Long Valley, NJ; Kathy A. Eckrote, Drums; Colin J. Fanelli, Ashland; Trista M. Gallagher, Hazleton; Michelle Greaney, Lake Ariel; Jessica L. Hartman, Nescopeck; Nicholas R. Lorenz, Damascus; Kenneth T. Melber, Jim Thorpe; Kimberly L. Plaza, West Hazleton; Francine M. Schreffler, Hazleton; Laura L. Stolpe, White Haven; Jeffrey J. Tranguch, Lattimer; and Tabe-Sarah B. Yisrael, Hazleton.

Bachelor of Science degrees:

Information Sciences and Technology: Sean B. Boyle, Beaver Meadows; David J. Budda, West Hazleton; Edward P. Choma, Mountaintop; Christopher J. DeMatt, Hazleton; Brandon D. Geise, Sunbury; Thomas P. Leighow, Zions Grove; Andy C. O’Brien, Pennsdale; Mark A. Paulhamus, Montoursville; and Jay A. Signorello, Brodheadsville.

Psychology: Christopher E. Walters, Wilkes-Barre.

Smeal College of Business in Marketing: Michael R. Sharkey, Hazleton.

Business: Angelica Calderon, Maspeth, NY; Gregory M. Drelich, Mountaintop; Joseph P. Gaspar, Metuchen, NJ; Christopher A. Generose, Hazleton; Austin C. Gregory, Weatherly; Rodney W. Hardwick, Weatherly; Michael V. Martinez, Bronx, NY; Sara A. Muscavitch, Kelayres; Michael J. Napoli, Dover, NJ; Zachary C. Pawlowski, Whitehall; Richard A. Peat, Bronx, NY; Mark A. Rusanowsky, Berwick; David A. Steward, Ringtown; Christopher A. Thomas, Benton; Tara L. Timmons, Oneida; and Teresa M. Travis, Mountaintop.

Awards
In memory of the late Frank C. Kostos, who retired as campus director in 1973 after a twenty-seven-year affiliation with Penn State Hazleton, the Hazleton Educational Council, the campus advisory board, established an award which is presented annually to three students as follows:

1. to the full-time student with the highest grade point average in Penn State course work and enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at the end of the sophomore year. This year’s recipient was nutrition major Amy L. Peca, Lansdale.

2. to the full-time Penn State Hazleton baccalaureate degree student with the highest grade point average in Penn State course work who intends to graduate. This honor went to Nicholas R. Lorenz, Damascus, who earned his degree in Letters, Arts, and Sciences.

3. to the full-time Penn State Hazleton associate degree student with the highest grade point average in Penn State course work who intends to graduate. This year’s winner was Karen C. Brister, Clarks Summit, who earned her degree in Medical Laboratory Technology.

The Kostos Award consists of a cash award and a replica of the Nittany Lion.

Distinctive Honors
Students who are in the top twelve percent of their graduating class in their college, and who have completed the required number of credits receive special recognition. The twelve percent is divided into two percent “with highest distinction,” four percent “with high distinction,” and six percent “with distinction.”

Students graduating with “Highest Distinction” were Karen C. Brister, Clarks Summit; and Nicholas R. Lorenz, Damascus.

Best wishes to all graduates!  We are...Penn State!

Penn State Hazleton’s summer basketball camps for boys and girls mark a quarter century of improving basketball skills, as well as encouraging academic excellence among student athletes. More than 5,000 students have attended the programs which are the longest running youth basketball camp at any Penn State location.

According to Dr. Tom Caccese, Penn State Hazleton director of athletics, men’s basketball coach and assistant professor of kinesiology, the basketball camps were started to meet the needs of the community. “In 1982, there were three basketball camps in a 60-mile radius; none were for girls,” he said. “There was a real need in the community and we were able to meet it.”

Caccese contacted former Bishop Hafey High School basketball coach Cy Fulton who had run such camps and asked for assistance in starting the program. Caccese then approached campus Continuing Education director Larry Gingrich who agreed to provide financial backing for the camps.

In the summer of 1983, eighteen girls and seventy-eight boys in grades five through nine arrived on campus for the first basketball camps. “The turnout was excellent,” he said, “And the girls’ camps ended up being the very first in the area.”

The basketball camps continued every summer with each camp running for one week. Then, in 1989, a record 146 boys signed up, and it became apparent that a second week was needed. In 1994, the girls’ camp enrollment soar to ninety-four and the following year, a second week was added.

In 1986, Caccese added a unique element to the camps, “Academics for Athletes.” He saw many students who were good athletes, but were focusing more on sports than their grades. He said, “In 1984, the NCAA passed Proposition 48 setting requirements for high school student athletes’ grades and SAT scores. This camp was the perfect opportunity to stress the importance of academics to students in the fifth and sixth grade – well before high school.”

Counselors from the Hazleton Area School District worked with the students for the first few years, but Caccese saw the students in the camps connected with and responded to the camp counselors even more. “The counselors–mainly college students–related personal experiences from high school and college, giving these kids invaluable insight,” he said.

Since the camp’s inception in 1983, Caccese has kept the records which show that in the first ten years, 1,620 boys and girls attended the basketball camps. In the second decade, there were 2,581 attendees – nearly 1,000 more boys and girls. The last five years, an average of 400 students enrolled in the camps each year, bringing the total to more than 5,000.

The figures also show that approximately thirty-five percent of the students who participated in basketball camps since 1983 have gone to Penn State Hazleton for their education; thirty former basketball camp participants are or have been members of the basketball coaching staff; and eighteen former basketball camp participants returned as Penn State Hazleton students and played for his Penn State Hazleton Nittany Lions. 

Several campers have gone on to play Division I collegiate basketball, with many earning scholarships. Among the more well known are Bob Krizansky (camp of 1983) who went on to a successful basketball career at Lehigh University as an All-American player; Christine Koren (late 1980s) who attended Seton Hall College on a basketball scholarship; and most recently, Joy Gallagher who attended Wagner University on a basketball scholarship and is graduating this spring.

While the camps draw kids with visions of playing basketball at the high school and college level, there are many who attend because the campus is a great place to spend a week. “I’ve talked with many kids over the years who come for the social aspect of the camp–they just want to meet other kids,” he says, “Plus both the kids and parents feel this is a safe environment.”

Caccese began his affiliation with Penn State Hazleton as an engineering student in 1968 after serving in the U.S. Navy. He went on to earn undergraduate degrees in engineering and health and physical education, his master’s degree in physical education, and a doctoral degree in sports administration. His doctoral dissertation produced definitive research on the psychological burnout of college athletic coaches, with several articles published in national and international journals. His other areas of expertise include basketball, ballroom dance, badminton, and sports history.

A member of the Penn State Hazleton faculty since 1973, Caccese holds the positions of assistant professor of kinesiology, director of athletics and men's basketball coach. He has overseen the development of Penn State Hazleton’s varsity athletic programs which have grown from three sports in 1978 to seven in 2005. Since 1990, Penn State Hazleton teams have won seventeen conference state titles in soccer, tennis, softball, and basketball.

For more information on basketball camps and other summer camps for kids, visit Summer Youth Camps or call the Office of Continuing Education at Penn State Hazleton at (570) 450-3110.

The Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association will hold its annual dinner meeting on Tues., May 29 at the Top of the 80s restaurant. All Penn State alumni and community members are invited to attend the event featuring guest speaker Dick Anderson, Penn State assistant football coach in charge of the offensive line (guards and centers). Anderson will provide an update and preview of the Nittany Lion’s 2007 team.  The evening begins with a cash bar at 6 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner, and the chapter's annual meeting.
 
In his thirtieth year on the staff, Anderson is in his eighth season working with the centers and guards. He helped develop a unit that opened lanes for Tony Hunt to gain 3,000 career rushing yards, second-highest in school history, with 1,000-yard seasons in 2005 and 2006. Anderson helped mold a unit that paved the way for Larry Johnson to become just the ninth 2,000-yard rusher in NCAA history in 2002.

He coached the quarterbacks from 1993-99, with his initial two pupils, Kerry Collins and Wally Richardson, matriculating to the NFL, with Collins leading the New York Giants to Super Bowl XXXV.

He began working with the offensive line from 1990-92, following his return to Penn State after six seasons as head coach at Rutgers, leading his team to a 21-16 win over Penn State in 1988, RU’s first win in the series in 70 years.

During his 1973-83 stint on the Lions’ staff, Anderson turned out some exceptional performers including Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Munchak.

Originally from Queens, N.Y., Anderson played both ways at end for Coach Rip Engle at Penn State from 1960-62, and graduated in 1963. He was a graduate assistant on Engle’s staff in 1963 and 1964.

Tickets for the dinner are $28.50, and may be purchased by contacting dinner chairman Jim Bognet at 459-1859 or the Alumni Office at Penn State Hazleton at 450-3016. Reservations must be made by May 21. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the Chapter's scholarship fund at Penn State Hazleton.

Most Valuable Player Awards

From left, front row: Melissa Smith, cheerleading; Tramone Clark, basketball; and Karen Helfrich, volleyball. Back row: Mike Graaf, baseball; and Chris Wing, tennis.

Penn State University Athletic Conference All-Conference Players

From left, front row: Shannon Byers, basketball; Ashley Kessell, basketball; and Elise Williams, volleyball. Back row: Mike Graaf, baseball; Brett Ednie, baseball; Keiser Zamora, basketball; and Tramone Clark, basketball.

Academic All-Conference

Penn State Hazleton student-athletes who maintained at least a 3.0 grade-point average were presented with an Academic All-Conference Award. They included, from left, front row: Kate Cobb, Sarah Brocca, Lindsey Lee, Rachel Piccione and Karen Helfrich. Back row: Rebecca Entenman, Michael Lennon, Chris Wing, Brandon Farzad, Keiser Zamora, Niaz Osman, Brandon Kundrick, Dharell Mosby and Shannon Byers.

All-American Scholars

The Penn State Hazleton students awarded the All-American Scholars certificate for student-athletes who maintained at least a 3.5 grade-point average are, from left, front row: Kate Cobb, Rachel Piccione and Karen Helfrich. Back row: Luke Koval, Niaz Osman, Anthony Spaulding, Michael Lennon and Brandon Farzad.

All photos: Blaine Falkena, Standard-Speaker

CNN crews set up the campus gym for a live broadcast of "Lou Dobbs Tonight" at 6 p.m. and a special live broadcast of a town hall discussion on immigration at 8 p.m. on Wed., May 2.

View CNN and Lou Dobbs photo gallery.

Additional coverage: Penn State Live

Penn State Hazleton will host CNN anchor and best-selling author Lou Dobbs on Wed., May 2, for a live town hall broadcast on the topic of immigration from 8 to 9 p.m. Additionally, “Lou Dobbs Tonight” will air live from Penn State Hazleton from 6 to 7 p.m.

The program will focus on the impact of illegal immigration in the Hazleton area and broaden the dialogue to include its nationwide effects on America’s cities and towns. A panel of experts will discuss border security, community activism and the effect of corporate complicity on illegal immigration. A live, invitation-only audience will also participate in the dialogue.

In 2006, the Hazleton City Council passed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, a local statute designed to relieve the community’s criminal, financial and social pressure associated with illegal immigration. As the city faces litigation over the constitutionality of the statute, other communities are considering similar laws.

Dobbs will facilitate the panel discussion and be joined by panelists including Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta; George Grayson, professor at the College of William and Mary; Robert Rector, a senior research fellow with the Heritage Foundation; Kris Kobach, a law professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City; T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council; John Trasvina, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund; Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens; Russell Pearce, an Arizona state representative; and Sheriff Ralph Ogden of Yuma, Ariz.  

According to John Madden, Penn State Hazleton chancellor, “Our campus is here to provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas. It is my hope that work that has been and is being done out of the media spotlight emerges through this forum.”

Dobbs is a national best-selling author and award-winning journalist who joined CNN in 1980 as anchor of Moneyline and is the only original anchor on the air today. While at CNN, Dobbs helped CNN become the leader in television business news and oversaw the launch of CNNfn and CNNfn.com in 1995. He received the George Foster Peabody Award for his coverage of the 1987 stock market crash, and he won an Emmy Award for his groundbreaking series “Exporting America” in 2004. In 2005, the National Academy of Arts and Sciences honored Dobbs with its Lifetime Achievement Emmy for business and financial reporting. 

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is one of the world’s most respected and trusted sources for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; four Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; CNN Pipeline, CNN.com’s premium live video news service; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and partnerships for four television networks and two Web sites.

As Pennsylvania's land-grant university, Penn State uniquely provides education and public service to support the citizens of the Commonwealth and the nation. The focus is on collaborative activities with industrial, educational, and agricultural partners here and abroad to generate, disseminate, integrate, and apply knowledge. The Hazleton campus is one of 24 campuses located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including a medical center and a law school.

Penn State's Hazleton campus was established in 1934 as the Hazleton Undergraduate Center in various locations. The campus' current location was established in 1948 with the purchase of 26 hilltop acres of a permanent residential estate of local coal baron Eckley B. Markle. Through gifts and purchases, Penn State Hazleton now consists of 104 acres of land, with the historic structures standing side-by-side with new and modern academic buildings. Students can complete the first two years of most of the 160 majors offered by the University, as well as several bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, and a master of education degree.

Admissions representatives from Penn State will hold an off-campus information program on Mon., April 23, at the Mahoning Valley Country Club, 323 Country Club, Lehighton. The program begins promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Information presented will include an overview of Penn State’s multi-campus system and more than 160 academic programs, the admissions process, financial aid, and student life.

Register for Penn State Night in Lehighton. Additional details are available by calling 800-279-8495, ext. 3142 or 570-450-3142.

Upcoming off-campus events include:

Penn State Night in Danville
Tuesday, May 1
6:30 p.m.
Frosty Valley Country Club
Danville, PA

Penn State in the Poconos
Thursday, May 3
6  p.m.
Great Wolf Lodge
1 Great Wolf Drive (Rte 611)
Scotrun, PA

Wieslaw (Wes) Grebski, associate professor of engineering at Penn State Hazleton, has been honored with one of the highest awards for faculty at Penn State, the Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching. Penn State President Graham Spanier, right, presented the award to Dr. Grebski, left, at a recent ceremony at University Park.

Grebski is one of 5,500 full-time professors across the Penn State University system.

Named in honor of Penn State’s president from 1950 to 1956, the Eisenhower Award is presented annually to two tenured faculty members employed full-time by the University for at least five years and with undergraduate teaching as a major portion of their assignments.

Grebski joined the faculty at Penn State Hazleton in 1984. Born in Poland, he earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Stanislaw Staszic University of Mining and Metallurgy, Krakow, Poland.

Dr. Monica E. Gregory, director of Academic Affairs at Penn State Hazleton, said, “Wes Grebski is a uniquely devoted teacher who tirelessly forges initiatives to provide students with the best possible learning experiences. His dedication to student engagement is recognized by students, colleagues, university administrators, and members of the industrial community. For him, students come first!”

Chancellor John Madden said, “We are extremely proud of Wes Grebski’s contributions to the students, campus, community, and the fields of engineering and education. This honor validates the extraordinary efforts that Wes puts into everything he does, and demonstrates the difference that one person can make.”

According to Gregory, Grebski successfully combines the three thrusts of Penn State’s mission - teaching, research, and service - which he then makes available to his students, his profession, and the industrial community. He works closely with his students to ensure their understanding of the materials in his courses and advance their learning. He also brings them together with engineering professionals and organizations through internships to give the students a hands-on approach to learning and an opportunity to gain real world experience. These internships benefit companies by combining quality work with novel ideas at minimal expense.

Grebski’s pursuit of academic excellence led him to pursue a pilot program, Realigning Pathways in Engineering Technology, a multi-faceted approach to improving the engineering technologies programs on campus and throughout the university. This program is designed to address changes in industry and the global economy, improve preparation of high school students considering a career in engineering technology, and impact recruitment and retention of engineering and engineering technology students.

His research and scholarly activities range from scholarly publications to paper presentations at more than 75 national and international conferences. presentations. A member several professional organizations, he served as the secretary, vice chair and chair of the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department Heads Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers from 1995 to 1997.

At Penn State, Grebski has served on a variety of committees influencing both his colleagues and his courses. In the community, he has served as a consultant for the CAN-BE Business Incubator, the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center.

When asked what the award meant to him, Grebski, in his typical self-effacing manner, said, “I am very fortunate to enjoy what I do. When I get up, I look forward to coming to work and teaching students. It’s nice to be recognized and get positive feedback, but what’s really rewarding to me is making a difference in the lives of students.”

Shows are slated for 8 p.m. on April 19, 20 and 21 in the Slusser/Bayzick Building at the campus. Tickets, available at the door, are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Community members are invited to help celebrate the return of Penn State performing arts at the campus and in the community.

To view dress rehearsal photos, visit: "All in the Timing."

After a four-year hiatus, the performing arts have returned to Penn State Hazleton thanks to the generosity of alumnus and local patron of the arts Dominic Landro who established a program through a gift to the campus. The program which debuted in fall 2006 is designed to engage students’ creative interests, enrich the student experience, and showcase student talent at a program open to the public.

Theatre instructor Regina Rockensies began to actively recruit students for the production courses last fall. “It’s very exciting to help revive the theatre program at Penn State Hazleton,” Rockensies said. “Penn State has a long-standing, successful tradition of performing arts. We are looking to develop this program on a local level to enhance the Hazleton campus, as well as the surrounding community.”

A Brooklyn native and graduate of College Misericordia, Rockensies earned her master of fine arts degree in acting from Ohio State University, where her graduate work focused on acting with complex text and movement. She has performed professionally both in theatre and on-camera in commercials. Recent credits include Hermia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with the Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and the short film “Norman,” which was the winner of the Esquire Magazine 2004 Celluloid Style Film Competition.

The program consists of three courses, covering the history, craft and art of the theatre, as well as performance and production. Rockensies teaches acting fundamentals and production courses, while Dr. Vincent Landro teaches the introductory theater course. Landro, a Penn State alumnus who earned master’s degrees in directing and arts management and his doctoral degree in theatre history and criticism, has an extensive theatre background, teaching at several colleges and universities, and researching and writing on a variety of theatre topics.

The spring production, which runs from April 19 through 21, features five, one-act comedic plays from David Ives’ “All in the Timing,” including “Sure Thing,” “Words, Words, Words,” “The Philadelphia,” “Variations on the Death of Trotsky,” and “English Made Simple.”

A long-time supporter of Penn State Hazleton, Dominic Landro said that his interest in this area stems from his own experience in theater while a student at the University. “I became interested in the theater as a way to balance my academic focus in engineering with the unique experiences that involvement in theater can provide,” said Landro.

An alumnus of the Hazleton campus who earned baccalaureate degrees in engineering in 1955 and liberal arts in 1956, Landro received numerous accolades for his performances on the stage at Penn State, while pursuing his education. He returned to the Hazleton area to run his family’s plumbing business, while maintaining his interest in theater by joining area arts groups.

Shows are slated for 8 p.m. on April 19, 20 and 21 in the Slusser/Bayzick Building at the campus. Tickets, available at the door, are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Community members are invited to help celebrate the return of Penn State performing arts at the campus and in the community.

Additional information is available from the Public Information office at 450-3180.

Raymond M. Smullyan, Oscar R.Ewing Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Indiana University in Bloomington, will be a guest lecturer at Penn State Hazleton at 7 p.m. on Tues., April 17, in room 1 of the Kostos Building. Sponsored by the Faculty Lecture Committee, the event is free and open to the public.

A noted philosopher, logician, mathematician, musician, magician, humorist, writer, and maker of marvelous puzzles, Dr. Smullyan will discuss topics from his book “Satan, Cantor, and Infinity: And Other Mind-Boggling Puzzles.”

Professor Smullyan's specialty is mathematical logic, particularly relating to the work of distinguished Austrian mathematician Kurt Godel, generalizing and extending some of Godel's results, as well as making them understandable to the public. 

Born and raised in Far Rockaway, Long Island, New York City, Smullyan earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago in 1955 while working on graduate level research and teaching mathematics at Dartmouth College.

Smullyan was awarded his Ph.D. in 1959 from Princeton University while studying under famed mathematician and logician Alonzo Church. Smullyan taught at Princeton from 1958 to 1961 before his appointment to the Jewish Yeshiva University in New York where he taught until 1968. In 1982 he became Professor Emeritus of the City University of New York - Lehman College and Graduate Center. He was then appointed Oscar Ewing Professor of Philosophy at Indiana University.

Smullyan's publications have been quite remarkable, with two books on retrograde analysis chess problems, a series of popular puzzle books, and some books on the foundations of mathematics and mathematical logic.

Apart from writing about and teaching logic, Smullyan released a recording of his favorite classical piano pieces by composers such as Bach, Scarlatti, and Schubert. He has also written an autobiography titled “Some Interesting Memories: A Paradoxical Life.”

In 2001, documentary filmmaker Tao Ruspoli made a film about Raymond Smullyan called “This Film Needs No Title.”

For more information this or other events at Penn State Hazleton, visit “News and Events” or contact University Relations at 450-3180.

View photos of the Tues., April 17, Candlelight Vigil.

Coverage of the vigil from the Standard-Speaker, Hazleton:

Mourners remember those killed at Virginia Tech     

Wednesday, 18 April 2007 

By Amanda Christman, Standard-Speaker

A group of about 60 people gathered at Penn State Hazleton campus and shivered in the 33-degree weather to remember those who died in the worst school shooting in United States history on the Blacksburg, Va., campus of Virginia Tech.

Students, staff from PSU and members of the Hazleton area huddled around the Nittany Lion shrine in front of Penn State Hazleton’s administration building.

The crowd – mostly students – stood with their candles glowing a brilliant orange in the dark, hands carefully cupped over the flames as wax dripped to the ground during the 9 p.m. service.

Penn State Hazleton sophomores Kate Mattes, Danielle Kubrak and Amanda Rea planned the vigil in order to remember and heal.

A vigil was also held at Virginia Tech’s drill field Tuesday night.

Mattes said students at Penn State are “horrified” by Monday’s events. She said students were unsure how to react and she felt a vigil was the best way to express their feelings.

Penn State Hazleton Chancellor John Madden said the Penn State community knows staff, faculty and students that are part of Virginia Tech community. He said Penn State engineering professor Dr. Jung Jun Choi just received his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. “There is a personal tie,” Madden said.

Also, he said, colleges and universities are generally considered a safe place, so the shooting was disquieting for many.

Dwayne Hilton, director of student and enrollment services said he feels college and university communities should be obligated to ensure that this event never happens again. Hilton said people must reach out to those who are in trouble and help them.

Mattes suggested that even extending a smile to a stranger can make a difference.

Dr. Molly Wertheimer, professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, said she felt sorry for the shooter, Cho Seung-Hui, asking how could someone become so alienated with so many people around him. “The best support is each other’s support,” she said.

A moment of silence was held before those attending were given a chance to speak about the shooting.

Amanda Rea, Student Government Association president at the campus, said the full effect of the events that took place Monday didn’t hit her until today when she talked with her mother. She said it dawned on her that the parents of those students that were slain were planning on emptying out their children’s dorm rooms with them in a few weeks; however, now those parents are emptying out their children’s dorm rooms alone.

Antonio Rodriguez, of Hazleton, said he has a son attending Temple University in Philadelphia and that was one reason he decided to attend the vigil. “All they wanted was to go to college. God bless all of them and God bless all of you,” he told the crowd. Rodriguez, standing next to the Nittany Lion, suggested that the crowd should sing “Amazing Grace.”

A few seconds after Rodriguez stepped back into the crowd, a quiet voice from a woman began to sing the first line of the song. As she continued, the song grew louder as others joined in, echoing the hymn into the darkness. 

Candlelight vigil announcement:

The Penn State Hazleton community will demonstrate their sympathy and support of the victims, families and community at Virginia Tech after Monday’s tragic events. A candlelight vigil will be held at 9 p.m. Tues., April 17, at the Nittany Lion shrine in front of the campus Administration Building.
 
According to student Kate Mattes, who is coordinating the event with fellow student Danielle Kubrak, “Many students have voiced a need for some sort of service. This is the largest school shooting in our nation’s history, hitting far too close to home. We invite the campus community and the local community to come together in a show of compassion toward those students who were killed or injured and for their families and friends as they try to cope.”
 
Chancellor John Madden, who will support the students with his presence at the vigil, added, “It's a great tragedy and senseless as well - as many tragedies are. I think that the idea of expressing sympathy for the people who were lost and for the people who lost them is tremendous. Each of our lives is a treasure.”
 
Area alumni and residents are invited to join in the vigil. Candles will be provided.
 
For more information, contact the Public Information Office at (570) 450-3180.

Kessell, a Weatherly Area High School graduate, scored 232 points this season, a 16.6 per game average, after being limited to 14 games after breaking her hand diving for a loose ball. The all-time leading scorer in Penn State Hazleton women’s basketball with 1,068 points, Kessell reached the 1,000 point mark this season. A psychology major, Kessell will return for a fourth year of play next season.

Byers, the team captain, averaged 16.9 points per game and led the Lady Lions in rebounds with 236 this season. The first four-year women’s player at Penn State Hazleton, she closed out her stellar career with 1,041 points (second all-time), a 14.9 per game average, and 1,057 rebounds (first all-time). A Bartonsville native and Pocono Mountain High School graduate, Byers will receive her degree in psychology in May and plans to further her education at Lehigh University.

Selert, another Weatherly Area graduate, led the Lady Lions in scoring this season with 402 points (20.1 per game average) and finishes her two-year career at Penn State with 680 points. Selert will earn an associate degree in physical therapy in May and plans to continue her education and basketball career at College Misericordia.

On the men’s side, Penn State Hazleton was the only team to place three players on the 12-man roster. The team finished the season with a 15-3 record and was co-champions of the Northern Division.

Zamora, a 6'5" freshman forward and former Hazleton Area High School standout, averaged 13.6 points per game in his first season with the Penn State Hazleton Lions.

Clark, a 6' sophomore guard from Brooklyn, NY, led the team with a 14.8 point per game average. This is his second consecutive selection to the All-Conference team.

Ednie, a 6'3" sophomore guard/forward from Hazleton Area, had a 13.7 point per game average this season. He also joins Clark as a two-time selection.

Additional PSUAC All-Conference women selected were: Brooke Conjar (Harrisburg), Cara Zibelman (Delaware), Trish Clemas (Schuylkill), Dana Johnson (Delaware), Jamie Brindle (Harrisburg), Shana Jordan (Abington), Laney Pastoria (New Kensington) and Erin Mahoney (Penn College).  Larry Johnson of Delaware was named Coach of the Year.

Additional All-Conference men selected included: 1. Abe Hitz (Harrisburg), 2. Marcus Genevro (DuBois), 3. Tim Forrest (Delaware), 4. Marvin Dutton (Abington), 5. Rock Ahmad (Schuylkill), 6. Kevin Genevro (DuBois), 8. Justin Hamilton (Greater Allegheny), 10. Brian Collins (Scranton), and 10. Jeremy Hurt (New Kensington). Dave Bennett of DuBois was named Coach of the Year.   

“Dr. Lawler brings to Penn State a strong background in student-centered higher education,” said John Romano, Penn State vice president for Commonwealth Campuses. “His leadership style complements the vision established for Penn State Hazleton under John Madden’s guidance, and we look forward to Dr. Lawler’s contributions toward its future.”

Lawler received his master’s degree in mathematics from the State University of New York at Albany and his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from The University at Albany. He began his academic career as professor of mathematics at Adirondack Community College in Queensbury, N.Y., where he served for 23 years and was named assistant to the vice president for academic affairs.

In 2001 he became academic dean at the College of St. Joseph and in 2004 was named its vice president of academic and student affairs. In that role he administered and evaluated all academic programs and policies, and supervised all student life, residential life, athletics and other student service personnel, as well as business outreach and continuing education. He was responsible for enrollment management, led comprehensive assessments of student learning outcomes for both the college’s undergraduate and graduate programs, and implemented a campus technology plan, which resulted in the development of smart classrooms.

“I am very excited to represent Penn State Hazleton and advance its goals,” said Lawler, “and I look forward to collaborating with faculty, staff and students to build upon its successes.”

Madden announced in September that he would retire at the end June 2007 after the completion of the 2006-2007 academic year.

He has been affiliated with Penn State Hazleton since 1998 when he was named campus executive officer, followed by a title change to chancellor in July 2005.

Prior to his arrival at Penn State Hazleton, Madden served for a year as the acting Associate Dean for Faculty for the Commonwealth College and for twelve years as Director of Academic Affairs at Penn State York. He joined Penn State York in 1978 as an assistant professor of psychology and taught psychology courses and performed research at the campus for the next eight years.

Under his stewardship, Penn State Hazleton has progressed on a variety of fronts including the launch of baccalaureate degrees in Business, Information Sciences and Technology (IST), Letters, Arts, and Sciences (LAS), Organizational Leadership and a master’s degree in education (from the Harrisburg Campus).  The campus also added a Nanomanufacturing Technology associate degree program, and saw the construction of the Charles T. Butler Teaching and Learning Resource Center.  The campus Continuing Education program also grew considerably during these years, with credit and noncredit programs, workforce development, and community outreach, including programs for low-income children.

Since coming to the Hazleton area, Madden has become an integral part of the community by serving various organizations that impact the economic, educational and quality of life in the area. He is a founding board member of Partners in Education, and has served on many boards, task forces and community project. He is currently a board member of CAN DO, chairs the CAN BE Incubator Advisory Committee and serves on the CAN DO Executive Committee.  Additionally, he serves on the boards of the Hazleton Healthcare Foundation and the Hazleton Rotary. Madden is also a member of the Luzerne County Council of Presidents and the Northeast Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities and serves on the Executive Committee of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Technological Institute. This past year, he has been instrumental in initiation of a Community Assessment program to enable the community to address the rapid demographic and other changes occurring in the Hazleton area.

Madden has also served many functions at Penn State, serving on and chairing numerous committees, search committees, administrative organizations and task forces in his years there. In 2004-2005, he co-chaired a University task force to make recommendations for the future of the commonwealth campuses, and he served on a similar task force for University Outreach and Continuing Education.

During his career, Madden has helped to obtain more than $1.6 million in educational grants from such organizations as the National Science Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation. While at Penn State York, one of his projects garnered a $658,000 grant from the NSF for innovation in technology education and encompassed three Penn State campuses, the College of Engineering, Penn State Harrisburg and two secondary schools in the York area. In his other role as Director of Academic Affairs, he assisted faculty in securing grants for instructional equipment totaling more than $195,000, and he is particularly proud of a $271,000 NSF grant that supported an educational intervention program for minority K-12 school students.  The program has since been endowed and continues to this day.

Madden is former research director of the Verbal Interaction Project in Freeport, N.Y., where his conducted research to evaluate this early educational intervention program for 2- to 4-year-old children and their parents. The program continues today, and a replication is currently operating at the Hazleton Catholic Social Services. He also did basic research in cognitive development.  He was an adjunct assistant professor and clinical instructor of advanced psychological studies at Adelphi University where he received his doctoral degree in 1975. Madden earned his bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University in 1967.

Madden resides in Drums with his wife, Margo, and has two grown children.

Please contact Dr. Patrick O’Neill at 450-3036 for additional information.

Film producer Robert May will visit Penn State Hazleton, to screen and discuss his documentary “The War Tapes” at 7 p.m. on Thurs., April 12, in room 1 of the Kostos Building. Sponsored by the Faculty Lecture Committee, the event is free and open to the public.

Straight from the front lines in Iraq, “The War Tapes” is the first war movie filmed by soldiers themselves. The soldiers–Sergeant Steve Pink, Sergeant Zack Bazzi and Specialist Mike Moriarty–and others captured over 800 hours of footage, providing a glimpse of their lives in the midst of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While they battled unconventional forces, the soldiers recorded events that conventional journalists have been unable to capture. They mounted tripods on gun turrets, inside dashboards and used POV (Point of View) camera mounts on their Kevlar helmets and vests. Based at LSA (Logistics Support Area) Anaconda in the deadly Sunni Triangle, under constant threat of ambush and deadly IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attacks, they traveled, as a unit, 1.4 million miles during their tour, and lived through over twelve hundred combat operations and two hundred and fifty direct enemy engagements.

May worked closely with director Deborah Scranton and co-producer/editor Steve James to edit the raw footage into a coherent, thought-provoking documentary. The result is a 97-minute raw portrait of three men as they face, and struggle to understand, their duty. 

“The War Tapes” won awards for Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival and Best International Documentary at the BritDoc Festival.

May’s other producer credits include the Oscar winning documentary, “The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara,” as well as “The Station Agent,” “Stevie,” and “Hoop Dreams.” Most recently, May produced 2006’s “Bonneville,” a feature film starring Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Joan Allen.

May formed SenArt Films in August of 2000 and was a former president of a nationally recognized security firm.

Photos, reviews, and other information are available at http://thewartapes.com/.

The final installment of the series, at 7 p.m. on Tues., April 17, in room 1 of the Kostos Building, will be presented by Raymond M. Smullyan, Oscar R.Ewing Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Indiana University in Bloomington. A noted philosopher, logician, mathematician, musician, magician, humorist, writer, and maker of marvelous puzzles, Dr. Smullyan will discuss topics from his book “Satan, Cantor, and Infinity: And Other Mind-Boggling Puzzles.”

For more information on other events at Penn State Hazleton, visit News and Events or contact University Relations at 450-3180.

Penn State Hazleton reference librarian Shannon Richie will present the “Cool Tools” portion of the program, informing students on the latest library and Web resources. Teaching and Learning Resource Center coordinator Jane Waitkus will provide “Tips and Techniques,” proper research, writing and citing procedures. Also included in the session are free dinner and a free copy of the book “Cite Right.”

To register, please contact Jane Waitkus in the TLRC located in Butler 203E or by calling 450-3017.

The event kicks off with a panel discussion from noon to 12:45 p.m. in room 115 featuring area health care professionals Jill T. Snyder D.O., obstetrics/gynecology; Allen Sabatino, MSN, FNP, NPC; coordinator of Health Services, Penn State Hazleton; Valerie Bell, cancer prevention nurse/consultant, Pa. Dept. of Health; and Laura Toole, oncology social worker, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, discussing several types of cancers including cervical and breast, testicular, skin, and colorectal.

A variety of information and screening booths will be set up in the lobby. Among the participants are Linda Farley, MS, FAAA, certified audiologist, with information on the effects of iPods and MP3s on hearing; Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Serento Gardens, Victim's Resource Center, AIDS Council, Planned Parenthood, and Penn State Cooperative Extension family living agent Mindy Graver with a healthy snack/nutrition display.

Blood pressure and body fat screenings, along with heel screenings for osteoporosis also will be offered.

Stress relief options including free chair massages by students in the campus Physical Therapist Assistant program, under the direction of Dr. Rose Petrilla, and mind and body techniques by campus counselor Debra Jemo also will be featured in the Graham lobby.

For more information on this event, contact Sally McGuire, director of Continuing Education, at 450-3053.

Most recently, this philanthropic effort has become focused on the Penn State Hazleton campus where the Chic Sacco Memorial Trustee Scholarship was established for students majoring in hotel, restaurant and institutional management.

“Penn State Hazleton is a significant contributor to the community, providing higher education opportunities to area young people and supporting much needed resource and economic development initiatives of the region,” commented Mike Leib, chairman of the Chic Sacco Memorial Golf tournament committee. “Establishing this scholarship is a fine tribute to Chic and will enable many young people to pursue their dreams long into the future,” added Gary Lamont, committee member.

Sacco was an avid regional ambassador of promotion and goodwill through his positions as longtime member, club champion, director and manager of the Valley Country Club and as a restaurateur, operating Chic Sacco’s Cozy Spot on East Diamond Avenue in Hazleton which he established in 1937 and, in later years, the Villa Roma at Harvey’s Lake with his wife, Lily, and her sister.

Sacco was the original organizer and driving force behind the Hazleton area’s largest pro-am golf tournament which was named in his honor during his lifetime and now memorializes him. According to Clark Luis, current golf pro at the Valley Country Club, many people look forward to the tournament each year, “He was so good with the pros that they would contact us to get a spot to play in the tournament!” Luis continued, “Chic had a natural, affable style – always a smile and quick with a joke. He really made the tournament a great event, and that kept the pros and the members coming back year after year.”

Proceeds from the tournament have benefited many deserving organizations over the years. Last year, funds supported the annual holiday food baskets from several local social service agencies, Swing Club, and Young Men’s Polish Association (YMPA), the emergency services program of the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO), and the outreach of Helping Hands.

At the campus, the impact of the Chic Sacco Memorial Trustee Scholarship is increased by a program where donor contributions are matched by university funds resulting in doubling the amount of a gift to the campus. “The Trustee Matching Scholarship Program,” explains Kevin Salaway, director of Development at Penn State Hazleton, “is an extraordinary way to generate scholarships for deserving students through matching funds from the university.” He continues, “We are extremely grateful to the Chic Sacco Memorial Golf Tournament Committee for choosing Penn State Hazleton as the recipient of this gift and for the far-reaching effect it creates here.” 

For more information on the Trustee Matching Scholarship program at Penn State Hazleton, contact Kevin Salaway, director of Development, at 450-3175. 

The lecture series kicks off at 7 p.m. on Mon., March 26, in room 1 of the Kostos Building with the annual Mylar Giri Lecture in the Natural Sciences in honor of the late campus physics professor. The featured speaker is former Weather Channel on-air storm analyst and WBRE meteorologist Dr. Jon Nese, currently a meteorologist and senior lecturer at Penn State’s University Park.

His topic, “Mediarology,” will explore the variety of ways that humans have altered the weather and climate, from city to global scales, and the dialogue (or lack thereof) that has accompanied the changes. Emphasis will be placed on the role the media in characterizing the discussion – both from a scientific and entertainment perspective.

A member of the Penn State Hazleton faculty from 1995 to 1998, Nese also served as chief meteorologist at the historic Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia from 1998 to 2002. He is the author of two books: “A World of Weather: Fundamentals of Meteorology,” an introductory level college textbook, and “The Philadelphia Area Weather Book,” which received the 2005 Louis J. Battan Author’s Award from the American Meteorological Society.

The next installment is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thurs., April 12, in room 1 of the Kostos Building as Oscar-winning film producer Robert May screens and discusses his documentary “The War Tapes.”

Straight from the front lines in Iraq, “The War Tapes” is the first war movie filmed by soldiers themselves. The soldiers–Sergeant Steve Pink, Sergeant Zack Bazzi and Specialist Mike Moriarty–and others captured over 800 hours of footage, providing a glimpse of their lives in the midst of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

May, a native and resident of northeastern Pennsylvania, formed SenArt Films in August 2000 and was a former president of a nationally recognized security firm. His first picture, “The Station Agent,” won a Sundance Film Festival Acting Award. May also served as the executive producer on the Oscar-winning film “The Fog of War.”

The final lecture, at 7 p.m. on Tues., April 17, in room 1 of the Kostos Building, will be presented by Raymond M. Smullyan, Oscar R.Ewing Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Indiana University in Bloomington. A noted philosopher, logician, mathematician, musician, magician, humorist, writer, and maker of marvelous puzzles, Dr. Smullyan will discuss topics from his book “Satan, Cantor, and Infinity: And Other Mind-Boggling Puzzles.”

Apart from writing about and teaching logic, Smullyan released a recording of his favorite classical piano pieces by composers such as Bach, Scarlatti, and Schubert. He has also written an autobiography titled “Some Interesting Memories: A Paradoxical Life.”

All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information on these events or others at Penn State Hazleton, visit News and Events or contact University Relations at 450-3180.

The drive is open to the community, and donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh more than 110 pounds and in good general health. Appointments may be made by calling the Red Cross office at 455-9517. Walk-ins also are welcomed to donate.

Note: the University's new Access Account Password Change Initiative requires all students, faculty, staff, and other Access Account holders to change their passwords at least once a year to help increase security at the University. If you haven't changed your password yet this academic year, go to http://its.psu.edu/password/ and change your password today.

Questions should be directed to the Penn State Hazleton IT Helpdesk  or 570-450-3456.