In celebration of Penn State Hazleton's 75th anniversary, we invite alumni and friends to interact using the Penn State Hazleton Forum. Feel free to share remembrances, catch up with old friends and find out what is happening at the campus.

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

Under the direction of Marlene Smith, instructor in music, the choir will perform many holiday favorites including "Winter Wonderland," "Let It Snow," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and traditional carols in special arrangements.  

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

Insight Outlook Nov. 2008 (PDF)

Complete stories:

• Secretary of the Commonwealth commencement guest speaker
  
  
• Honoring Dr. Yamulla for his service to country and hometown

Photo Galleries:

• Commencement 2008
  
  
• Penn State Hazleton Alumni Legacy Project

PSU grads urged to go 'above and beyond'
By Tom Ragan
Standard-Speaker

Urging graduates of the Penn State Hazleton Class of 2008 to "think about going above and beyond," the secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania delivered the commencement address to about 600 people inside the campus' gymnasium.

Family, friends and faulcty watched as 32 received baccalaureate degrees, 46 associate degrees and three master's degrees as cameras flashed throughout the dimmed physical education building.

Men and women paraded in wearing caps and gowns and took their seats that were set up in rows, arranged that way for the first time, without the use of the bleachers in the gym.

Cortes, himself a Penn State graduate, having earned a master's degree in public administration and law degree from Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law, told the graduates that someone once told him he would benefit from a higher education.

"I advise you to work hard and long hours, and go beyond what your job description is, and to always volunteer to work warly and stay after hours when asked. You have to create opportunities for yourself," he said.

"Lead by example, always have a good heart, empower your subordinates, share your success with others and don't be afraid to rake a calculated risk."

Cortes mentioned the late baseball player, Roberto Clemente, who was taking supplies to Nicaragua following an earthquake in 1972 when he was killed in a plane crash.

Cortes said Clemente would always say "that any time you have the opportunity to make a difference in this world and you do not, it is a waste."

Commencement 2008

Penn State students received degrees and awards during Penn State Hazleton's thirty-eighth annual commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 16, 2008.

Director of Academic Affairs Monica E. Gregory and Senior Instructor of Mathematics Marlene Guers presented the candidates to Chancellor Gary M. Lawler who conferred thirty-two baccalaureate degrees, forty-six associate degrees, and three master’s 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.

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.

Gary F. Lamont, ’74, president of the Hazleton Educational Council, the campus advisory board, extended special recognition to the graduates and those who supported them in their educational endeavors.

Denise Corcoran, ’89, president of the Penn State Hazleton Alumni Society, inducted the new graduates into the Penn State Alumni Association.

Bachelor’s Degrees
Bachelor of Arts in History from the College of the Liberal Arts: Nellie M. Manis, Valley View.

Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the College of the Liberal Arts: Nellie M. Manis, Valley View.

Bachelor of Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences from the College of the Liberal Arts: Kimberlee A. Gallagher, McAdoo.

Bachelor of Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences from the University College: Luis F. Borrero, Fort Worth, TX; Justin C. Bower, Conyngham; Stephanie N. Farley, Drums; Ashley L. Kessell, Weatherly; Zachery M. Maurer, Nesquehoning; Tiffany D. Meno, East Stroudsburg; Marisol I. Velez, Hazleton; Errol J. Wizda, Jessup; and Beth A. Yurovchak, West Hazleton.

Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health from the College of Health & Human Development: Thomas R. Hudson, Manasquan Park, NJ.
Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology from the College of Information Sciences and Technology: Anthony F. Decusatis, Mountain Top; Michelle R. England, Glen Mills; Christopher A. Kerr, Hazleton; Amanda L. Mack, Tremont; Jedediah J. Panco, Hazleton; Natalie A. Sharbaugh, Summit Hill; and Ian A. Whitcomb, Mahanoy City.

Bachelor of Science in Business from the University College: Peter T. Bard, Hazleton; Brandi L. Budd, Lykens; Robert G. Ebinger, Effort; Brandon Magzanian, Blakeslee; Sara A. Michalyshin, Tresckow; Dharell L. Mosby, South Ozone Park, NY; Scott P. Murphy, Freeland; Gary A. Rarick, Tamaqua; Charles A. Smulligan Jr., St. Clair; Jesse S. Sokolofski, Sugarloaf; Tara L. Timmons, Weston; and Jacob Wright, Allentown, NJ.

Associate Degrees
Associate in Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences from the University College: Ashley D. Ellis, Gillett; Luke J. Hunsinger, Bloomsburg; Leigh A. Lescavage, Minersville; Sarah M. McCloskey, West Pittston; Joseph M. Pecora, Sugarloaf; Laura M. Phillips, Drums; and Donald H. Smedley, Danville.

Associate in Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering Technology from the College of Engineering: Justin A. Debalko, McAdoo; Brad T. Gerhard, Weatherly; and Christopher G. Lee, White Haven.

Associate in Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the College of Engineering: Adam B. Bachert, Quakake; Timothy F. Boyer, Nuangola; Jenny Cheng, South Plainfield, NJ; Thomas J. Dennis, Olyphant; Preston J. Lee, Alexandria, Va.; Julius L. Palmer, Weatherly; Brian A. Shonk, Kunkletown; Thomas J. Skotek, McAdoo; Sean M. Sullivan, Nesquehoning; Robert M. Turick II, Hazleton; Sean M. Winter, Easton; Michael K. Yachera, Tamaqua; and Morgan R. Yarnell, Ashland.

Associate in Science in Information Sciences and Technology from the College of Information Sciences and Technology:  Paul S. Wetzel, Ringtown.

Associate in Engineering Technology in Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology from the University College: Johan A. Alarcon, Hazleton.
Associate in Science in Medical Laboratory Technology from the University College: Holly D. Fisher, Bloomsburg; Keith M. Gordon, Schuylkill Haven; Leigh A. Lescavage, Minersville; Angela Solomon, Lansford; and Megan L. Ziller, Bloomsburg.

Associate in Science in Physical Therapist Assistant from the University College: Lauren M. Bard, Hazleton; Patricia R. Chadderdon, Cogan Station; Lindsay J. Golightley, Hanover Township; Rebecca L. Gouldthread, Northumberland; Karen L. Helfrich, Souderton; Chelsey D. Keiper, Northumberland; Bobbi L. Krammes, Schuylkill Haven; Megan K. Miller, Wapwallopen; Rachael D. Monahan, Pocono Summit; Kathryn D. Moore, Harleysville; Samuel J. Orlando, Jessup; David C. Racemus, Sweet Valley; Janelle R. Reese, Benton; Kelly K. Rodzewich, Freeland; Richard J. Smith, Sugarloaf; and Elizabeth E. Walter, Wapwallopen.

Master’s Degrees
During the ceremony, the first master's degrees earned at Penn State Hazleton in cooperation with Penn State Harrisburg and the University's Graduate School were awarded.

Master of Education Degree in Teaching and Curriculum from the Capital College: Samantha E. Heim, Lehighton; Ethan I. Hoyt, Nescopeck; and Susan E. O’Byrne, Hazleton.

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.”
Nellie M. Manis, Valley View, who received dual degrees in History and International Studies, graduated with high distinction. 

Frank C. Kostos Awards
Carl S. Frankel, assistant professor of biology, announced the Frank C. Kostos Award recipients who achieved the highest grade-point averages in their respective degree programs. Natilee N. Weldon, Hazleton, a sophomore Supply Chain and Information Systems major, received the honor for the full-time sophomore enrolled in a Penn State degree program. Weldon will transition to University Park in the fall to complete her degree. Marisol I. Velez, Hazleton, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences during the ceremony, was honored as the graduate earning the highest grade point average in a Penn State Hazleton baccalaureate degree program. Leigh A. Lescavage, Minersville, who earned associate degrees in Letters, Arts, and Sciences and Medical Laboratory Technology, was recognized for the highest grade-point average of a graduate in a Penn State Hazleton associate degree program.

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Honoring Dr. Yamulla for his service to country and hometown

In small, dimly-lit tented bunkers, young doctors barely out of medical school tended to the many perilously wounded soldiers arriving from the battlefield.

Far from home, in makeshift mobile hospitals and in the midst of the violent conflict, they performed and perfected some of the most advanced surgical procedures ever conceived.

At the very end of Korean War in 1953, as one young doctor administered aid to the last of the injured soldiers an Associated Press photographer captured the moment for posterity.

Today, a copy of that photo which was published in newspapers around the globe now sits faded and brown-edged on the mantle of the home of that good doctor: Stanley Yamulla.

In the days when coal reigned supreme in the region, Yamulla, the sixth of eight children, developed a love for learning and a work ethic to match. These traits, inspired by his parents, evolved to include a passion to help others. This is the core of the caring, learned doctor the community has come to know as “Doc Yamulla.”

He grew up in a small home on Wyoming Street in Hazleton. From a young age, he was taught the value of a dollar and the importance of hard work from his father Joseph who worked long hours, as so many did, in the coal mines of Hazleton. 

An entrepreneur from the start, young Stanley shoveled coal and hauled ashes from his neighbors’ coal furnaces for pennies per load. He delivered newspapers, painted houses, ran errands and even sold bananas to earn money to contribute to his family. Perhaps a dime or two might be left over for his weekly escape to the Saturday matinee. 

He maintained his money-making ventures well into high school, continuing to give all but a few dimes to his father to help support the family. Yamulla’s eyes still radiate with excitement when he remembers learning upon graduation from high school that his father hadn’t used all the money for family living expenses after all, but rather had saved much of it for Stanley to go to college.

His father had saved the lofty sum of $1,100 for Stanley, a small fortune in 1937. “It opened a door I had not expected to be opened to me,” Yamulla remembers, “Daddy (as he still calls him) gave me a wonderful gift that day.” 

Yamulla chose to attend Penn State Hazleton which was established only four years earlier. His was the first class in the “Hazleton Center” located in the old Broad Street School.

He told the story of being among a group of young students who volunteered to help with renovations at the old school, scraping, patching and painting to get the classrooms ready for the fall semester. When the work was completed on the eve of the first day of class “there was a dance party featuring root beer and snacks which made it all worthwhile,” he grinned.

A pre-medicine major, he graduated from University Park with his bachelor’s degree in 1941 and promptly applied to medical school. Waiting anxiously, Yamulla finally received his acceptance letter to the prestigious Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. “I was so thrilled. I was jumping up and down on the bed with happiness thinking ‘I’m getting into medical school with the promise of becoming a doctor,’” remembers Dr. Yamulla.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, changed everything. With doctors and surgeons in short supply and the war effort building, Yamulla’s medical training was put on a fast-track. He joined the Navy and was immediately thrust into accelerated medical training which included first-hand experience treating wounded airmen and sailors returning from the battlefields of the Pacific Theater.

Uniquely though, he would serve in not just one war away from home, but two. Soon upon the close of World War II, the Korean War, which would claim the lives of 54,000 American servicemen, would call the this battlefield surgeon to duty once again.

Yamulla’s surgical experience in the hospitals and MASH units serving both WWII and the Korean War was invaluable to his training and would later benefit patients of his civilian practice. Treating the traumatic injuries of war was not only a proving ground for surgical skills, but often demanded the most innovative medical procedures. The expertise he gained from these environments, coupled with his specialist training at some of the best medical schools in the country, came with Yamulla when he eventually established his practice in Hazleton. 

Yamulla returned home and began a surgical residency at the Allentown General Hospital. The first year was exceptional remembered Yamulla, “I assisted in all operations performed by my boss at the time, Dr. Takeo Yamashito. He was terrific, a great surgeon, known the world over.” he said.

Yamulla was then accepted to Washington University in St. Louis for his second year of surgical residency and was soon offered a position as a resident at the university’s famous School of Medicine. Studying at Washington University had its advantages: it was among the first hospitals to have a patient survive a procedure that involved the removal of a lung and was the institution where two famous surgeons, Dr. Evarts Ambrose Graham and Dr. Warren Henry Cole, developed the Graham Cole Test, a breakthrough diagnostic procedure related to gallstones.

Yamulla returned to Allentown General for his third year of surgical residency and met a lovely young woman named Grace Lucille Huber. They were married during his fourth year back at the Allentown Hospital and remain together today, soon to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.

The good doctor could have established a successful practice anywhere in the country, but his love for home and family brought him back to Hazleton. Back at home with his new wife and the money for a down payment borrowed from his brothers, the Yamullas bought a home on Franklin Street. After completing his last year of residency at the Hazleton General Hospital, he opened his own office in the Markle Banking and Trust Co. building in downtown Hazelton. It was the very place his father had kept his college savings, Yamulla remembered.

Patients were always the first priority with Yamulla and they could, and very often would, reach him at all hours of the day. Long before answering services, machines and voice mail, the phone at the Yamulla home would ring, answered by Grace, one of the kids or Stanley himself. He would gladly listen to any problem and, if the situation warranted, he’d be on his way to a house call. 

Money was never the priority for Yamulla. If the prognosis called for surgery, he was there regardless of the ability to pay. He remembered with a laugh accepting a turkey for an emergency appendectomy he performed one evening.

His referrals were a great resource to people of Hazleton, providing access to world-renowned surgeons, some of whom he befriended during his time in military service or through the conferences he regularly attended.

Committed to life-long learning and continuously enhancing his skills, Yamulla relentlessly attended conferences on breakthrough medical diagnostics and procedures.  Among these was the International Breast Cancer Conference held in Miami each year and which led to his interest in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. 

Yamulla is adamant when discussing the fight against breast cancer: prevention and early detection starts with education. “Women must be properly informed on how and when to perform self examinations,” Dr. Yamulla asserts. Along with many others, he believes that breast cancer is one of the most treatable and curable of all cancer, if detected early.

In 1962, his knowledge was put to the test in the most frightening way imaginable. His daughter, Barbara, was diagnosed with breast cancer and treated at H. Lee Moffett Cancer Center by Dr. Douglas Reintgen, a surgeon whose lectures Yamulla regularly attended. Dr. Reintgen had developed treatment of breast cancer which involved a dual attack on the disease through performing a lumpectomy and lymphoscintigraphy.  

Yamulla developed his own skills in this approach and was the first surgeon in northeastern Pennsylvania to have permission to start these newest techniques and eventually the first to perform a lymphoscintigraphy operation in Hazleton.

His work with the breast cancer continues today and borders on evangelistic as he advocates for young women to know about early detection and how to seek treatment. 

Dr. Stanley Yamulla is what Tom Brokaw would refer to as a member of the greatest generation. Reared in a family that asked for no favors and in a community built by its own, he was thrust into a world at war yet managed to pursue his dreams - contributing to medical advances and saving lives. Now as he approaches his 90th birthday, we acknowledge this good doctor for his service to country and his hometown. 

Epilogue
Today, Dr. Stanley Yamulla remains a true friend to the Hazleton community, staying involved in many philanthropic efforts such as the Hazleton High School Auditorium restoration project, MMI Preparatory School fundraisers, local Boy Scouts of America programs and Penn State Hazleton fundraising events. He resides near his family in the Hazleton area and enjoys interacting with his grandchildren, especially getting them to Penn State football games. According to university records, Dr. Stanley Yamulla is one of the oldest living alumni of Penn State Hazleton.

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Links:

Penn State Hazleton Alumni Society

Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association

Give to Penn State Hazleton

Penn State Hazleton’s Office of Student Affairs will host the second annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast ceremony from 9 a.m. to noon Mon., Jan. 19, at the Highacres Café, the campus dining facility. Renowned poet and storyteller Shindana Cooper will be the guest speaker for the event. Her program, MLK: Enlightenment and Service, focuses on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his vision of community and service. The event is free, with limited seating available.

Shindana Cooper is dedicated to stimulating awareness in the African and African-American communities by perpetuating the centuries-old tradition of oral history. In her most requested presentations, Cooper takes her audiences from a small African village, through the Middle Passage, from life on the plantation to a safe house on the Underground Railroad. Her emotional characterizations include Sojourner Truth, Mary McLeod, and Harriet Tubman.

Cooper has performed for public, private and parochial schools, colleges and universities, as well as church groups and corporate organizations. She has been the featured performer at Baltimore’s Afram Expo, Baltimore’s Artscape Celebration, and The National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice in Washington, D.C. Cooper also conducts workshops for children and adults on storytelling and the celebration of Kwanzaa.

Recently, Cooper produced her own radio program, “Keepers of the Culture,” for WCCN in Baltimore and hosted her own television special, “Stories from ’Round the World.”

Seating for the free event is limited, and reservations must be made by Jan. 5. To register or for more information, please contact Bonnie Bernhard Sukana in the Office of Student Affairs at (570) 450-3160 or by e-mail at bxb34@psu.edu.

Featured programs include:

• Industrial maintenance training in electricity/electronics, motor controls, programmable logic controllers, instrumentation, precision machining, welding, and refrigeration.
  
  
• Certification workshops on PHR/SPHR, APICS CPIM, and ISM supply chain management.
  
  
• Spanish for the workplace, in health care, manufacturing, customer service, and law enforcement.
  
  
• Engineering credit certificate in digital processor contral for manufacturing processes

Course instructors will participate and provide information on the courses they teach.

For more information, contact Penn State Hazleton's Office of Continuing Education at (570) 450-3110.

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 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.

At 7 p.m., parents and children are invited to attend a dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol in room 1 of the Kostos Building.

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

Penn State Hazleton THON Chair Joey Schwartz said, “The Hazleton area has been great in supporting THON for many years. This year we have set a goal of raising $50,000. We invite the community to come out and enjoy the fun and festivities in support of the fight against pediatric cancer.”

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, build-a-bear station, rock wall, and even fun blow-ups to play in. Older kids can enjoy toilet bowl races, faculty “pie in the face” and music by a DJ.

Everyone will enjoy free food, holiday photographs with the Nittany Lion, “tricky trays,” a slideshow of this year’s THON events, the official 2008 THON video, sales of Penn State Hazleton THON t-shirts that will be worn at the dance marathon, and the raffle for a brand new HD television.

Special guests include the Miller family from Lancaster, Hazleton THON Committee’s sponsor family. Heidi Miller, who battled cancer and is in remission, benefitted from THON’s assistance and serves as a source of inspiration for Penn State Hazleton students’ fundraising efforts.

"We are all very excited to have Heidi and her family come to our THON Rally again this year," said Schwartz, "Her courageous batter with osteosarcoma inspires us every day."

Members of THON have raised money through other events, including a dodge ball tournament, karaoke night, canning, selling blue and white ribbons, and sending letters to friends and family soliciting donations.

All efforts culminate each year at THON weekend in February where hundreds of dancers and thousands of supporters come together for the two-day dance marathon. Collectively, Penn State students raised an amazing $6.6 million last year, with the Hazleton campus contributing $38,000.

For more information about the rally please contact the Office of University Relations at (570) 450-3180. For more information on THON or to donate online, visit http://www.thon.org/. 

Each and every Taikoza performance has one common theme: unique instruments combining for an original (and unforgettable) sound. The featured instrument is the taiko, a large, barrel-like drum that can fill the air with the sounds of rolling thunder. Taikoza uses taikos of various sizes, ranging from two to six feet, and weighing up to 170lbs. The largest is a 6-foot drum that is 4 1/2 feet in diameter. 
 
In addition to drums of assorted sizes, Taikoza incorporates also the shakuhachi, the fue (both bamboo flutes) and the Koto (a 13-string instrument) to create a new dimension and a powerful impact on the audience. Their love for the Taiko art form transcends national boundaries, bringing new energy to this ancestral form.

Taikoza’s shows provide enjoyment through a unique cultural experience of Japan. Taikoza introduces the various musical instruments and explains some of the history of the festivals that inspire the music. Traditional costumes add to the visual excitement of the performer’s dynamic movements.

The next cultural event will feature African dance and drum ensemble Kulu Mele at 8 p.m. on Tues., Feb. 3, in the Slusser/Bayzick Building.

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

With 41 books - including 9 encyclopedias - and hundreds of articles in print on a wide range of paranormal, spiritual and mystical topics, Guiley possesses an exceptional knowledge of the field. She has approximately one million copies in print.

Her popular encyclopedias on ghosts and spirits, angels, vampires and werewolves, magic and alchemy, witchcraft, demons, dreams, mystical and paranormal experience and saints are considered essential sources for authors, researchers, film and documentary producers, and paranormal investigators. Her work has been translated into 14 languages and has been selected by major book clubs around the world. She appears in television programs, documentaries and docu-dramas with paranormal themes, and makes numerous media and lecture appearances, including colleges and universities. She conducts original field investigations of haunted and mysterious sites.

Guiley is a frequent guest on Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, the leading nighttime talk radio show. She is the featured paranormal expert with a monthly report on three radio shows: the Richard Syrett Show, Toronto; Scott Colburn's Exploring Unexplained Phenomena, Lincoln, Nebraska; and Tim Yancey's Encounters Paranormal Radio in Florida.

All new students were required to complete the first part of the confidential, online alcohol education course before the start of the fall semester.

The formal program starts at 10 a.m. with presentations on degree programs, admission strategies, financial aid opportunities, and housing options. Get to know faculty, staff, and current Penn State students, and stay for a free tailgate lunch.

Register online at http://www.openhouse.psu.edu/. Additional information on other admissions programs is available at: http://www.hn.psu.edu/Admissions

For more details, please call 570-450-3142 or 800-279-8495. ext. 3142.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to:

• register to win an iPod shuffle
• enjoy free refreshments
• learn about the enhanced resources of the IT Department and equipment that may be borrowed
• experience the Digital Commons, the newest campus feature.

For more information, contact the IT Helpdesk at 450-3456.

Drop by:

• for free coffee, hot chocolate and donuts
• network with alumni who are former campus commuter students
• get information on campus opportunities
• get a free keychain

Take a few minutes to relax and chat with fellow local commuters, and alumni who have literally been in your shoes!  Last year’s attendees really found their advice on how to “fit in” and make a commuter schedule work extremely helpful.

Enjoy Los Llaneros on Thurs., Oct. 9, at noon in Butler Lobby. 

This group's unique sound traces back to the South American group’s exotic inspiration: the Colombian/Venezuelan plains that surround the vast basin of the Orinoco River. The music of
this geographically and culturally unique area evolved from the contact between nomadic Indians and Jesuit settlers five hundred years ago.

Authentic “Llanero” music is rarely performed outside these savannas because of its difficult harp, cuatro, and percussion techniques. Don’t miss your chance to hear the music that remains one of Latin America’s best kept secrets.

Los Llaneros have won several awards at Latin American competitions, and René Devia, the ensemble’s harpist, is recognized as one of Colombia’s foremost specialists in Llanero music.

Dr. Kushmerick is an expert in muscle cell mechanics and energy metabolism, and in the use of MRI imaging and spectroscopy to investigate physiology and pathophysiology of muscle including human muscular diseases.

He will discuss “Humans Adapting to Space Travel,” which he describes as follows: 

Humans stand in awe at the night sky, and marveled at the moon and stars for millennia.  The construction of the International Space Station (ISS) followed early missions to the moon, and enabled our recent decision to establish a colony on the moon.  Throughout evolution the human body never was exposed to the absence of gravity as occurs in the ISS or 16% of earth’s gravity on the moon.  Results from space exploration show that physiological systems adapt to altered gravitational fields.  But we do not understand the mechanisms involved or how to control them.  In order for astronauts to work long periods at low or zero gravity and yet function adequately upon return to earth’s gravity requires a deep understanding of these physiological mechanisms.  Critical questions remain how to devise counter measures to enhance function in space and return from space to Earth conditions, how to optimize human function with 16% Earth’s gravity in a moon colony, and to learn the consequences of prolonged adaptation to low gravity.  In this lecture I discuss the remarkable ability of humans to adapt to conditions in space and the challenges for our future colony on the moon.  Very exciting opportunities for biomedical science accompany space exploration.  We know that the lessons learned from astronauts are also relevant to normal and abnormal human function on Earth.

Dr. Kushmerick earned his B.S. from the University of Scranton and M.D. and Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1988, he was appointed professor of radiology, bioengineering, and physiology and biophysics at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine in Seattle. Previously, he held positions at Havard University, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

Dr. Kushmerick is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Physiological Society, American Society of Biological Chemists, Biochemistry Society, Biomedical Engineering Society, Biophysical Society, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, and Society for General Physiology.

His research has been featured in publications such as American Journal of Physiology, Biophysical Journal, The Journal of Physiology, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The next event, the George Tseo Memorial Lecture, will be presented by South African poet and educator Dr. Gabeba Baderoon on Wed., Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. in room1, Kostos Building. Dr. Baderoon, assistant professor of Women's Studies at University Park, will read her original poetry from “A hundred silences.”

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

Activities scheduled for Saturday, October 4 include:

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  - Arrival and Spend Time with Your Student

• Noon - Alumni Tailgate
  Join the Penn State Alumni Society to watch the Nittany Lions take on the Purdue Boilermakers in the lobby of the Charles T. Butler Teaching and Learning Resource Center.
  Refreshments and door prizes provided!
  
  
• Noon - Tennis match versus Penn State York at the tennis courts.
  
  
• Murder Mystery Dinner
  5 to 5:30 p.m.  Registration at the Highacres Cafe (pick up your tickets)
  
  6 to 7:30 p.m.  Buffet dinner at the Highacres Cafe
  
  6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Murder Mystery
  
  9 to 10 p.m. Casino Night at the Slusser/Bayzick Building - Win some awesome Penn State prizes!

On Sunday, October 5, events include:

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Spend Time with Your Student
  
  
• 1 to 5 p.m. - Community Day - Celebrate the launch of Penn State Hazleton's 75th anniversary!
  Various events across campus, such as food, University Creamery ice cream, music and dance performances, pictures with the Nittany Lion, Education Stations with faculty members, Student Art Walk, Space Shuttle and Slide inflatables, horse-drawn carriage rides, and much more!

Printable Family Weekend Schedule

Penn State Hazleton's annual Community Day, a celebration of the relationship between campus and the Greater Hazleton community, will be held Sun., Oct. 5, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the campus. Sponsored by the Hazleton Education Council, the campus advisory board, Community Day is free and all are invited to attend. The event will be held rain or shine, with most outdoor venues moved indoors in inclement weather.

Community Day 2008 will officially launch the 75th anniversary celebration of Penn State Hazleton, which will continue until December 2009 with a variety of activities.

Community Day is designed to showcase the resources of the campus and the university and the talents of the area community members and campus students, faculty and staff. The event features entertainment and fun, historic and educational components, and food and refreshments. Among the new features this year are horse drawn wagon rides around the picturesque campus, family fun attractions, and interactive “Education Stations” with Penn State Hazleton faculty and friends.

The entertainment portion of this year’s event will deliver something for almost all ages and tastes. Music and dance groups scheduled to perform 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.
• The Hazleton Philharmonic’s Big Band Sound, under the direction of Robert Lagana, will play entertaining selections of big band era tunes at starting at 1 p.m. in the Slusser/Bayzick Building;
• The Northeast Migrant Education Song and Dance Group will perform starting at 2 p.m. in the Slusser/Bayzick Building.
• At the campus pavilion, the popular Lehigh Valley-based Hoozya Daddy, a classic rock band with Penn State Hazleton alumni, will perform from 3 to 5 p.m. 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.

Family fun abounds with the Nittany Lion Cub’s Den, an activity center in the Pavilion for kids to create crafts and projects with student groups including THON, Rotaract, and Student Government Association (SGA). Hershey Chocolate and Sargeant Art have graciously donated supplies for the Nittany Lion Cub’s Den.

Additionally, kids large and small are invited to enjoy the Space Shuttle and big slide inflatables on the athletic field. 

Kids can sharpen skills at the women’s basketball team clinic and shoot-around in gym and at the tennis team exhibition and clinic on the tennis courts.
A perennial favorite, “Mugs and Magic,” the team of caricaturist Angie Jordan and magician Scott Sullivan, will appear again this year thanks to the sponsorship of Leader Data Processing.

The Penn State Hazleton Library will serve as the History Center this year, with four focal points:
• Sharing school memories - the Library continues to collect personal stories of what it was like to be a student at Penn State Hazleton. Read what more than 40 Hazleton alumni have written about their experience and share your own story.
• The Hazleton Collegian digital archives - Library staff will demonstrate how you can search the back issues of the school's newspaper. The newspaper has been scanned and is now available online from the earliest issue (December 1937) through April 1994. More recent editions are available in the Library's Archive.
• Research being done by Penn State Hazleton faculty and students - The Library will have on display recent publications of our faculty as well as posters from last year's research fair that will showcase some of the outstanding work being done by our faculty and students.
• Local history display - Noted local historian, Joseph Michel, will display objects from his extensive collection of mining memorabilia. Given his popularity at the last two Community Days, Mr. Michel has been asked back to showcase objects from his collection and his own wealth of knowledge on local mining.

Penn State Hazleton faculty and friends will offer a variety of interactive learning opportunities at the Education Stations on the campus mall. The Education Stations will feature: 
• Solar Car – 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 on which Penn State engineering/engineering technology students and secondary students are collaborating. The solar powered car, experimental airplane, and the wind turbine are examples of some of the projects which have been completed recently.

• Skill Crane – Dr. Shaobio Cai and Engineering Students
Shaobio Cai is an instructor in Mechanical Engineering. The Skill Crane (Robotic Arm) has eight motors with a feedback system controller. Users operate the crane to access and grab candy bars while learning about robotics.

• Nature Walk – Dr. Carl Frankel
Carl Frankel is assistant professor of Biology at Penn State Hazleton, with a specialty in genetics. He 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.
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.

• Who’s Been Walking in the Woods - Animal Track Casts – Dr. Chris Goguen
Chris Goguen is assistant professor of Biology. His training is in wildlife ecology and conservation biology with an emphasis on birds and mammals.

Studying mammals is not easy. Most mammals are secretive and active only at night, and are, thus, tough to see directly. Still, most habitats support many species of mammals that can be detected if you know what types of “signs” to look for. Footprints (“tracks”) are probably the most commonly recognized type of mammal sign. With practice, it’s possible to identify many mammal species from their tracks. Dr. Goguen will display casts of the tracks of many local species, present some tips on identification, and will discuss how wildlife biologists use tracks and other signs in their studies. He will also teach how to make plaster casts to preserve mammal tracks by allowing interested children (or adults) to make their own casts of prepared footprints.   

• The Powerpuff Girls Go Anime – Dr. Bill Ellis
Bill Ellis, professor of English and American Studies and a Penn State Hazleton faculty member since 1984, is better known in the anime world as the curator of “Sensei’s Anime Gallery,” an online exhibition of Japanese animation art. He will bring along a wide selection of his personal collection of animation sketches from Toei’s Powerpuff Girls Z series. Followers of the original series, along with anime fans, can watch a typical episode and look at some of the actual pencil drawings that brought it into being.

The Powerpuff Girls, created by Craig McCracken, have been a familiar part of the US Cartoon Network since 2001. On April 1, 2006, the Japanese studio Toei Animation (creator of Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z, and many other popular series) began running ads announcing that they were planning to create an anime version of the series. At first, anime fans in the U.S. assumed this was an April Fools’ joke, but in fact the new series, named Here They Come! The Powerpuff Girls Z, had a highly successful run on Japanese TV from July 2006 to June 2007. The new show, which reworks the original premise entirely in anime terms, has since been dubbed into several languages, including English, and has been shown in Taiwan, the Philippines and Brazil. 

• Ten Common Landscaping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them – Dr. David Orbin
Dave is a retired Penn State biology professor and a Master Gardener. Landscaping is a major component of a home’s cost and value. Properly selected, planted, and maintained landscape materials can beautify a home and increase its value. Dave will discuss and illustrate common mistakes that cost homeowners time and money. He will also explain how to avoid these costly mistakes. 

• Vegetable Gardener’s Tips and Tricks - Mary Ann Miller
Mary Ann is a Penn State Master Gardener and a lifelong vegetable gardener. She will offer simple tips and tricks to aid those who would like to grow vegetables to improve their family’s nutrition and reduce food costs. Given the rising costs of produce, many are considering growing their own vegetables and fruits. Growing produce at home means access to lower cost vegetables that can be free of pesticides and other contaminants. Mary Ann will describe simple ways to produce vegetables in the home garden. 
• Landscaper’s Walk – Dr. Dave Orbin.
Dave is a retired Penn State biology professor and a Master Gardener. Dave will lead a walk around the Penn State Hazleton campus and describe landscaping issues using the campus trees flowers and shrubs as illustrations. The talk will cover selecting, planting and maintaining landscape plants. 

• Mathemagic – Dr. J. Alfredo Jimenez
Alfredo Jimenez is associate professor of Mathematics at Penn State Hazleton who 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 increase teaching and learning, and to help students visualize and better understand mathematical concepts.

Mathemagic is an entertaining and interactive presentation involving logic puzzles, patterns, and mathematical tricks. No advanced knowledge of mathematic is required beyond third grade.

• Who Wants to be a Penn State Fan – Jackie Ritzko
Jackie is an instructional designer with an instrumental role in supporting faculty using technology in courses. Clickers are an example of the types of technology used at Penn State Hazleton.

See how much you know about Penn State by playing “Who Wants To Be a Penn State Fan?” A new game begins every 30 minutes in Butler 116 – the new Information Technology Suite. Test your Penn State knowledge, use our classroom clicker technology and win prizes!

The new Digital Commons, a resource center for faculty and student video productions, will be open for visitors to preview during Community Day.

Additionally, a traveling educational insect display from the University’s entomology department will feature live insect displays to handle, educational materials, pest management information, fun giveaways, activities and games.

Food and refreshments, always a favorite, will be available throughout the day. The Hazleton Educational Council will sponsor grilled food on the lawn between Butler TLRC and the Physical Education Building. University Creamery ice cream – vanilla, Peachy Paterno and Penn State Hazleton Diamond Delight, a special flavor to mark the 75th anniversary – will be sold in the garden of the Administration Building. Desserts and specialty coffee drinks will be sold in the Higher Grounds Cyber Café located in Butler TLRC.

Penn State Hazleton faculty members interested in working with students on research projects will present summaries of their research topics at the annual Research Evening at 6:30 p.m., Wed., Sept. 24, in room 114 of the Evelyn Graham Academic Building. The event is sponsored by the Faculty Senate Research Committee

Students are strongly encouraged to attend this event. Advanced undergraduate students may develop independent research projects and gain experience working with faculty mentors.  Mentored student research projects in all fields of study will be presented at the Research Fair in early April.

More information on faculty researchers and their interests is available at: http://www.hn.psu.edu/Academics/uresearchfaculty.htm?cn21

By RAY SAUL
Staff Writer
Standard-Speaker

Dr. Thomas M. Caccese and Penn State Hazleton men's basketball are eight words that have been virtually synonymous for the past 32 years.

In recognition of his long service and remarkable success at the local campus, Caccese will be inducted into the Hazleton Area Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, Sept. 21.

Caccese actually became associated with the Hazleton campus program as a player in 1968-70. He recently began his 33rd year as head coach.

Among his coaching achievements are:
    *A total of 441 victories, the most ever of any Penn State men's basketball coach in the 106-year history of the program at University Park and the various campuses throughout the state.
    *Five Penn State University Athletic Conference Northern Division championships.
    *Five Eastern Conference championships.
    *One conference state championship (1995).
    *Named "Coach of the Year" three times.
    *Qualified for the PSUAC playoffs in 21 of the last 27 seasons.
    *Achieved a 65 percent winning percentage over the last 32 years.

In 2001, Caccese was honored by the Pa. Senate and House of Representatives for "his exceptional coaching achievements and outstanding contributions to men's basketball." He established the Penn State Basketball School in 1983 for boys and girls in grades five through nine. In the past 25 years, over 5,000 youngsters from the Hazleton area have attended the summer basketball school.

Caccese has been director of athletics at the Hazleton Campus for 30 years. In 2005, he received the Robert J. Scannell Roll of Honor, awarded to the outstanding athletic administrator of the year. He served two terms as president of the Council of Athletic Directors. 

In 1991, he developed a Scholar-Athlete Monitoring Program. All Penn State Hazleton athletes are evaluated through a written report from the faculty to the athletics director during the fourth week of each semester class attendance, exam grades and overall performance are critiqued and appropriate measures are taken when necessary. 

Penn State Hazleton athletes have consistently ranked at the top of the conference in the number and percentages of Academic All-Conference honors. During the 2007-2008 seasons, 65 of 94 PSH athletes achieved a 3.0 or higher in their season of participation, a 69 percent success rate. 

The varsity sports program has grown from three sports in 1978 to eight in 2007-08. Since 1990, Hazleton has won 21 conference state titles in soccer, tennis, softball and basketball. Caccese has served at chairperson of the basketball committee and a member of the standards and ethics committee. 

The athletic director and coach is an assistant professor and tenured faculty member in the College of Health and Human Development, Department of Kinesiology. He has earned four degrees, including undergraduate degrees in engineering and health and physical education, a master's degree in physical education and a doctorate in sports administration (summa cum laude). 

His doctoral dissertation produced the first research on psychological burnout of college coaches and was recognized internationally as the definitive research on the subject of psychology of burnout in college coaches. The research has been published in national and international journals. 

Caccese remains an active competitor. In 2004, he was the badminton silver medalist in the Pennsylvania Senior Games and the a national participant in the 2005 Senior Olympic Games. In 2006, he was selected Temple University Outstanding Sport and Recreation Administration Graduate. 

Caccese is a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association and a member of the National Senior Games Association and the American Coaches Federation. He is a member of the Outstanding Young Men of America nominating committee.

Lee Rainie, researcher and former editor, will be the featured speaker at Penn State Hazleton’s first event of the 2008-2009 Lecture Series at 7 p.m., Wed., Sept. 17, in room 1 of the Kostos Building. Sponsored by the Faculty Lecture Committee, the event is free and open to the public. In honor of Constitution Day, Rainie will discuss "The Internet's Growing Power in American Politics."

Rainie is the founding director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Since December 1999, the Washington, D.C., research center has examined how people’s internet use affects their families, communities, health care, education, civic and political life, and work places. In addition, the project uses regular surveys to track online life. It regularly reports findings on subjects such as teenagers’ and senior citizens’ use of the internet, broadband adoption, trends in email use, how people employ search engines, use of the internet to gather news (especially about politics), blog creation and readership, and trends in music and movie file sharing. The project has issued more than 100 reports based on social issues and online activities. It also has focused research on important public policy questions such as public attitudes about trust and privacy online, development of e-government, attitudes about intellectual property issues, the impact of spam, and the status of digital divides. The project is non-partisan and takes no positions on policy matters. All of its reports and datasets are available online for free at http://www.pewinternet.org/.

Former managing editor of U.S. News & World Report, Rainie is a graduate of Harvard College and has a master’s degree in political science from Long Island University.

The next installment of the lecture series will feature Dr. Martin Kushmerick, professor in the radiology and physiology & biophysics departments at the University of Washington. He will discuss "Humans Adapting to Space Travel" at 7 p.m. on Tues., Oct. 7, in room 1 of the Kostos Building.

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

To register or for more information, contact April Snyder, student activities coordinator, by calling 450-3077 or emailing amh254@psu.edu. Reservations are required by Sept. 15.

Gina Monks, instructor in mathematics, will serve as coordinator of the Math Dimension which provides both open tutoring and tutoring by appointment – free of charge. Students may participate in open tutoring sessions from 9 to 11 a.m. and 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the fall semester. Courses for open tutoring include Math 3, Math 4, Math 21, Math 22 and Math 26. Students may also schedule appointments for tutoring at other times and for other math courses by completing a form in the Math Dimension or by visiting Math Dimension.

According to Monica Gregory, director of Academic Affairs, the Teaching and Learning Resource Center noticed an increased demand in math tutoring. Math faculty from across the campus came together to design the concept and select content for the center. Dr. Gregory added that the Math Dimension will provide quality service to students to learn and improve math skills, as well as offer students a place to study and help each other.

For more information on the Math Dimension, contact Gina Monks at (570) 450-3093 or monks@psu.edu

Penn State Hazleton encourages students, faculty and staff to enroll in PSUTXT, an easy and accessible system that lets them know via cell phone when classes are canceled due to weather conditions or if the campus has an emergency situation. Sign up now for PSUTXT and, when necessary, Penn State Hazleton will send a text message alert directly to your cell phone and/or e-mail account.

To register, visit http://live.psu.edu/psutxt . For additional information, contact Annemarie Mountz at amountz@psu.edu.

Orientation is an important part of the collegiate experience, and is designed to introduce new students to each other, the campus, and the academic atmosphere. Our student-centered approach will provide a positive start, prepare you for upcoming academic challenges and enhance your success at Penn State.

Orientation details are available at: Orientation 2008

Print version of schedule: Orientation 2008 Schedule

He is pictured with, from left, dinner chairman Jim Bognet, chapter president Denise Corcoran, and Penn State Hazleton Chancellor Dr. Gary Lawler.

Prior to the dinner, chapter representative presented a check for $1,000 toward the group's endowed scholarship at Penn State Hazleton.  Participating in the check presentation were, from left to right, Denise Corcoran, president; John Skwierz, treasurer; Dr. Gary Lawler, Penn State Hazleton Chancellor; Kevin Salaway, director of Development; Carole Shearer, alumni and development specialist. 

Students honored during the ceremony included: Christopher Cascio, Weston; Marie L. Hayes, Hazleton; Angela Henning, Kelayres; Thomas Martin, Elysburg; Shanan K. Reed, Nanticoke; Steven S. Sellati, Berwick; Erroll J. Wizda, Jessup; John Woodring, Hazleton; and Michael K. Yachera, Tamaqua.

Full- and part-time degree seeking students twenty-two years of age and older are invited into the organization after completing a minimum of twenty-four Penn State credits and earning a 3.4 GPA or higher. Benefits include motivation for students to achieve academic and leadership excellence, publication of a semi-annual newsletter, a forum for the exchange of ideas on activities and programs for adult students and scholarship opportunities through Alpha Sigma Lambda Adult Education Foundation. Inductees must be present to assume membership into Alpha Sigma Lambda.

The ceremony also included the honorary induction of faculty and staff members whose work with adult learners has been instrumental in the success and achievement of these students. They included Dr. Charlene H. Harrison, director of the Center for Adult Learner Services, University Park; and Penn State Hazleton faculty and staff: Dr. Gary Lawler, chancellor; Dr. Molly Wertheimer, professor of Communication Arts & Sciences and Women Studies; Dr. Rose Petrilla, senior instructor in Physical Therapy and coordinator of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program; and Debra Conway, assistant director of Continuing Education.

The program begins at 11 a.m. in room 1 of the Kostos Building. Lunch is provided.

To register, visit Spend a Summer Day or call 570-450-3142 or 800-279-8495, ext. 3142.

Sherry Robinson, associate professor of Business Administration at Penn State Hazleton, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to lecture and perform research at Buskerud University College, Hønefoss, Norway, during the 2008-2009 academic year, according to the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
 
From August 2008 to July 2009, Dr. Robinson will teach business courses at graduate and undergraduate levels and perform joint management research projects with Buskerud faculty. She is one of approximately 800 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad through the Fulbright Scholar Program. Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the program’s purpose is to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the rest of the world.

Dr. Robinson first visited Norway in May and June 2004 with Rotary International’s Group Study Exchange, a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. She began to study the language and returned several times to visit friends and improve her language skills at the University of Oslo, eventually passing the fluency certification in 2006.

At Penn State, Dr. Robinson has taught a variety of business administration, management, international business, marketing and economics courses. Her research topics include entrepreneurship, particularly rural women small business owners, as well as a project on business incubators. Her pedagogical research has focused on the use of interactive technologies, such as “clickers” (student response systems) and podcasting.

She has helped to develop a new student exchange program between Penn State Hazleton and Buskerud University College, making Hazleton the first campus in Penn State to offer a study abroad session in Norway, other than student teaching experience. Two students from Penn State Hazleton successfully completed International Management and International Marketing during this summer’s session at Buskerud. This reciprocal program will bring Norwegian students to Penn State Hazleton for a semester of study.

While at Buskerud University College, Dr. Robinson will teach Organization and Management, Consumer Behavior, Travel and Tourism Marketing, and Negotiating. Additionally, she will assist the Fulbright office in Oslo with podcasting.

A native of New Albany, Dr. Robinson earned her bachelor’s degree from Messiah College in 1990, master of science in Business Administration from Bucknell University in 1994, and doctoral degree in Applied Management and Decision Sciences from Walden University in 2000. She has taught at Penn State since 1995 and was granted tenure and promoted to associate professor of business at Penn State Hazleton in July 2007.

This event will provide information on career options, financial aid and registration for fall courses.

For more information or to register, call the Office of Continuing Education at (570) 450-3110. 

Penn State students received degrees and awards during Penn State Hazleton's thirty-eighth annual commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 16, 2008.

Director of Academic Affairs Monica E. Gregory and Senior Instructor of Mathematics Marlene Guers presented the candidates to Chancellor Gary M. Lawler who conferred forty-six associate degrees, thirty-two baccalaureate degrees, and three master’s 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.

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.

Gary F. Lamont, ’74, president of the Hazleton Educational Council, the campus advisory board, extended special recognition to the graduates and those who supported them in their educational endeavors.

Denise Corcoran, ’89, president of the Penn State Hazleton Alumni Society, inducted the new graduates into the Penn State Alumni Association.

Associate Degrees
Associate in Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences from the University College: Ashley D. Ellis, Gillett; Luke J. Hunsinger, Bloomsburg; Leigh A. Lescavage, Minersville; Sarah M. McCloskey, West Pittston; Joseph M. Pecora, Sugarloaf; Laura M. Phillips, Drums; and Donald H. Smedley, Danville.

Associate in Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering Technology from the College of Engineering: Justin A. Debalko, McAdoo; Brad T. Gerhard, Weatherly; and Christopher G. Lee, White Haven.

Associate in Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the College of Engineering: Adam B. Bachert, Quakake; Timothy F. Boyer, Nuangola; Jenny Cheng, South Plainfield, NJ; Thomas J. Dennis, Olyphant; Preston J. Lee, Alexandria, Va.; Julius L. Palmer, Weatherly; Brian A. Shonk, Kunkletown; Thomas J. Skotek, McAdoo; Sean M. Sullivan, Nesquehoning; Robert M. Turick II, Hazleton; Sean M. Winter, Easton; Michael K. Yachera, Tamaqua; and Morgan R. Yarnell, Ashland.

Associate in Science in Information Sciences and Technology from the College of Information Sciences and Technology:  Paul S. Wetzel, Ringtown.

Associate in Engineering Technology in Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology from the University College: Johan A. Alarcon, Hazleton.
Associate in Science in Medical Laboratory Technology from the University College: Holly D. Fisher, Bloomsburg; Keith M. Gordon, Schuylkill Haven; Leigh A. Lescavage, Minersville; Angela Solomon, Lansford; and Megan L. Ziller, Bloomsburg.

Associate in Science in Physical Therapist Assistant from the University College: Lauren M. Bard, Hazleton; Patricia R. Chadderdon, Cogan Station; Lindsay J. Golightley, Hanover Township; Rebecca L. Gouldthread, Northumberland; Karen L. Helfrich, Souderton; Chelsey D. Keiper, Northumberland; Bobbi L. Krammes, Schuylkill Haven; Megan K. Miller, Wapwallopen; Rachael D. Monahan, Pocono Summit; Kathryn D. Moore, Harleysville; Samuel J. Orlando, Jessup; David C. Racemus, Sweet Valley; Janelle R. Reese, Benton; Kelly K. Rodzewich, Freeland; Richard J. Smith, Sugarloaf; and Elizabeth E. Walter, Wapwallopen.

Bachelor’s Degrees
Bachelor of Arts in History from the College of the Liberal Arts: Nellie M. Manis, Valley View.

Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the College of the Liberal Arts: Nellie M. Manis, Valley View.

Bachelor of Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences from the College of the Liberal Arts: Kimberlee A. Gallagher, McAdoo.

Bachelor of Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences from the University College: Luis F. Borrero, Fort Worth, TX; Justin C. Bower, Conyngham; Stephanie N. Farley, Drums; Ashley L. Kessell, Weatherly; Zachery M. Maurer, Nesquehoning; Tiffany D. Meno, East Stroudsburg; Marisol I. Velez, Hazleton; Errol J. Wizda, Jessup; and Beth A. Yurovchak, West Hazleton.

Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health from the College of Health & Human Development: Thomas R. Hudson, Manasquan Park, NJ.
Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology from the College of Information Sciences and Technology: Anthony F. Decusatis, Mountain Top; Michelle R. England, Glen Mills; Christopher A. Kerr, Hazleton; Amanda L. Mack, Tremont; Jedediah J. Panco, Hazleton; Natalie A. Sharbaugh, Summit Hill; and Ian A. Whitcomb, Mahanoy City.

Bachelor of Science in Business from the University College: Peter T. Bard, Hazleton; Brandi L. Budd, Lykens; Robert G. Ebinger, Effort; Brandon Magzanian, Blakeslee; Sara A. Michalyshin, Tresckow; Dharell L. Mosby, South Ozone Park, NY; Scott P. Murphy, Freeland; Gary A. Rarick, Tamaqua; Charles A. Smulligan Jr., St. Clair; Jesse S. Sokolofski, Sugarloaf; Tara L. Timmons, Weston; and Jacob Wright, Allentown, NJ.

Master’s Degrees
During the ceremony, the first master's degrees earned at Penn State Hazleton in cooperation with Penn State Harrisburg and the University's Graduate School were awarded.

Master of Education Degree in Teaching and Curriculum from the Capital College: Samantha E. Heim, Lehighton; Ethan I. Hoyt, Nescopeck; and Susan E. O’Byrne, Hazleton.

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.”
Nellie M. Manis, Valley View, who received dual degrees in History and International Studies, graduated with high distinction. 

Frank C. Kostos Awards
Carl S. Frankel, assistant professor of biology, announced the Frank C. Kostos Award recipients who achieved the highest grade-point averages in their respective degree programs. Natilee N. Weldon, Hazleton, a sophomore Supply Chain and Information Systems major, received the honor for the full-time sophomore enrolled in a Penn State degree program. Weldon will transition to University Park in the fall to complete her degree. Marisol I. Velez, Hazleton, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences during the ceremony, was honored as the graduate earning the highest grade point average in a Penn State Hazleton baccalaureate degree program. Leigh A. Lescavage, Minersville, who earned associate degrees in Letters, Arts, and Sciences and Medical Laboratory Technology, was recognized for the highest grade-point average of a graduate in a Penn State Hazleton associate degree program.

Last year, more than 650 area kids attended Penn State Hazleton's Summer Youth Programs. Join the fun!

Penn State Hazleton Summer Youth Camps (PDF)

For more information, call Continuing Education at (570) 450-3110.

Under the direction of Marlene Smith, instructor in music, the choir will perform music from the Baroque Period, Italian madrigals, and some contemporary works by such noted composers as John Rutter and Ken Medema. A special feature of the program will be a medley of Broadway musicals with selections from “Oklahoma,” “Dream Girls,” “Annie,” “My Fair Lady” and more. Featured soloists are Marisol Velez, Alicia Slough, and Michael Crivellaro.

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

Sponsored by Penn State Hazleton Continuing Education and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC), the event will feature Rose Baker, program manager of Penn State’s Economic and Workforce Analysis Initiative, and David Passmore, director of Penn State’s Institute for Research in Training and Development. The report, “Forecast of Employment and Job Openings in Pennsylvania Plastics Manufacturing, 2004–2017,” was funded through a contract between the Pennsylvania Plastics Initiative and the Employment and Training Administration of the US Department of Labor. An online copy of the report is available at http://paplasticsjobs.notlong.com/.

According to Debra Conway, assistant director of Continuing Education at Penn State Hazleton, “There are more than 3,300 plastics manufacturing jobs in the region. Penn State’s report about the future of Pennsylvania plastics manufacturing has rich implications for the health of the area’s economy.”

Plastics manufacturing is a productive and growing industry in Pennsylvania, but must face a number of threats if it is to maintain its growth and stability. Baker said, “Output and productivity of the Pennsylvania plastics industry are likely to grow. As with all manufacturing in Pennsylvania and in the entire country, global competition and the need to reduce production costs will continue to affect plastics industry employment.”

Passmore added, “There is constant pressure on the industry to stay competitive.” As an example, he noted that China’s low labor costs and undervalued currency allow its plastics manufacturers to operate at relatively low profit margins. These factors could allow China to increase its penetration of U.S. markets.

Baker and Passmore will also discuss the affects of future U.S. policies and legislation, exports, increased competition, business-to-business sales, and other potential problems and opportunities.

To make a reservation or for information about this seminar and continuing education opportunities at Penn State Hazleton, contact Debra Conway at (570) 450-3136 or e-mail dxk40@psu.edu.

View the photo gallery of Sean Astin's visit to Penn State Hazleton.

Actor, director and producer Sean Astin will appear at Penn State Hazleton on Fri., April 11, at 3 p.m. in the lobby of the Evelyn Graham Academic Building to support Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the Democratic presidential primary. Astin will discuss his reasons for backing Clinton, followed by a question-and-answer session.  The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Best known for his roles in “Lord of the Rings,” “Rudy” and “The Goonies,”  Astin has actively supported the Clinton campaign appearing with all members of the Clinton family. He graduated with honors from UCLA where he earned B.A. in history and B.A. in English (American literature and culture). He resides in Los Angeles with his wife Christine and their daughters. 

During this political season, Astin joins the ranks of Clinton family and friends making Penn State stops.
 Chelsea Clinton visited University Park on Thurs., April 10, and Penn State Hershey on April 3. Former president Bill Clinton spoke at Penn State Altoona April 3, University Park on March 27 and at Penn State Brandywine on March 7. Additionally, Sen. Barack Obama came to University Park on March 30, and Sen. Hillary Clinton spoke at Penn State Fayette on Monday, March 24.

The visits are part of Penn State's effort to expose students to the 2008 presidential campaign, part of the University's open-door policy to host campaign stops during this primary season.

For more information on this event or others at Penn State Hazleton, call the Public Information Office (570) 450-3180.

Kenny Jackson, member of the 1982 Penn State Nittany Lion football championship team, will be the featured speaker at the Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association annual dinner on Thurs., June 5, at Top of the 80s restaurant. Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m., with dinner starting at 6:30.

In addition to Jackson, Penn State Hazleton Chancellor Gary Lawler will provide a state-of-the-campus address and chapter president Denise Corcoran, ’89, will provide a review of the group’s past year.

A wide receiver for the Nittany Lions from 1980-1983, Jackson was twice named a collegiate All-American in 1982 and 1983 and played an integral role in Penn State's first national championship in 1982. Following graduation, he enjoyed an eight-season career in the NFL, playing predominantly with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jackson served on the coaching staff at his alma mater for eight seasons, coaching Penn State's wide receivers from 1993 to 2000 and helped develop future NFLers Bobby Engram, Freddie Scott and Joe Jurevicius. He also served as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2001 to 2003.

During the collegiate football season he co-hosts the live pre- and post-game "Penn State Tailgate Show" on WHVL-TV.  Jackson and former NFL running back Blair Thomas are partners in a chain of Harrisburg area sports bars called KoKoMos.

Jackson, former Penn State quarterback Todd  Blackledge, and six other former NFL players left March 31 to spend eight days in the Middle East. The former players will be busy coaching troops in a flag football tournament as part of the USO's Operation Gridiron: Huddle with the Troops.

Reservations for the dinner are required by May 22 and may be made by calling Jim Bognet, ’70, dinner chairman, at 459-1859 or 233-0796. Cost for the event is $35 per person with proceeds benefitting the Greater Hazleton Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund at Penn State Hazleton.

Full-length articles

• Campus Life: ROTC resurgence on campus

Two busloads of Penn State Hazleton students departed this morning to take part in the seventh annual Rally in the Rotunda, a Penn State student gathering to urge legislators to grant higher appropriations to the state-related Universities — Penn State, Temple, Lincoln and Pittsburgh. The event starts at 1 p.m. at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg.

Hazleton campus student participation was organized by the Governmental Affairs Committee of the campus’ Student Government Association (SGA), according to committee chair Camille Hazel. University-wide, the event is sponsored by the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) and the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA).  Several hundred students are expected to attend.

Hazel said, "It's important to let the legislators know that we're really concerned about tuition increases and the importance of investing in students.”

Gov. Ed Rendell proposed a 0.78 percent increase in state appropriations for the university on Feb. 5. His proposal suggested 1.96 percent decreases for Agriculture Extension and Agriculture Research.

Penn State President Graham Spanier spoke before the state House Appropriations Committee Feb. 26 to request that the legislature vote to increase the allotment to 6.9 percent.

CCSG Director for Government Affairs Kathryn Mattes, who attended the Hazleton campus from 2005 to 2007, said the focus of the rally will be on students as an investment that will pump money back into the state economy. "As long as you're investing in these kids, you're going to get back your money," Mattes said.

She pointed out the fact that the Pennsylvania budget is the nation's third largest, but the state legislature ranks 47th in investing in universities.

In addition to Mattes, other speakers include:

• State Rep. Mike Fleck, R-Huntingdon        
• CCSG Alumni Interest Group President Mike Cooper
• CCSG President Bobby Casiano
• UPUA President Hillary Lewis
• State Rep. Bernie O’Neill, R-Bucks County
• State Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre County

Penn State Hazleton's Student Government Association asks the campus community to remember the victims of the last year's tragic events at Virginia Tech and honor the Hokies on Wed., April 16, by wearing orange and maroon.

At 8 p.m., a candlelight vigil will be held at the Nittany Lion statue in front of the Administration Building. The campus and area community are invited to attend.

The poster and display presentations will be featured and judged from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the lobby of the Graham Building. Oral presentations will be judged starting at 6:30 p.m. in room 115 of the Graham Building. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

Planned by the Penn State Hazleton's Research Committee, the fair will feature approximately thirty students representing a variety of disciplines including literature, chemistry, biology, engineering, psychology, physical therapy, arts, mathematics, computer science/information technology, and more. The work presented has been or is currently being performed by students at Penn State Hazleton under the supervision of faculty members.

Each poster display will contain any combination of text, illustrations, photos, and models of data compiled by students during their respective research. Student researchers will be on-hand for explanation. Students choosing to make an oral presentation are allotted seven to ten minutes, and may use multi-media equipment to enhance the project. Recognition and prizes will be awarded to the students of the top three presentations in both categories.

For more information, visit Undergraduate Research.

"Testing of the system also raises awareness of the system, increases the confidence of responders and provides insight into the weaknesses and strengths of a plan. Testing will help to proactively identify and resolve any issues," said Annemarie Mountz, assistant director of Public Information.

At 1:30 p.m. on March 31, PSUTXT administrators from each campus will log into the system and send a message that will clearly be marked as a test. "Having 26 people log into the system at once to send messages to each of the alert categories will test the company's server, to make sure it can handle that sort of demand," Mountz said. She said that e2Campus, the company that hosts the PSUTXT service for Penn State, is aware of the upcoming test.

Penn State's PSUTXT was launched in August 2006 and currently has more than 38,000 valid subscribers. However, not everyone who thinks they're subscribed actually is.

"There are a number of subscriptions in the system that remain unvalidated," said Mountz. "These people have not yet successfully completed the validation process, so they are not set up to receive PSUTXT messages although they may think they are. This test also will help to make those people aware that their PSUTXT accounts are not active and they need to complete their subscription validations."

Validating the cell phone at the time of opt-in verifies that users have an active text messaging service on their accounts; ensures that only the person who owns the mobile phone is signing up for the service; and ensures that the user correctly keyed in their phone number.

Those who receive the test message on March 31 do not need to take any action. Anyone who initiated a subscription to PSUTXT but does not receive the test message on March 31 should log into the PSUTXT system by going to http://newswires.psu.edu/ and clicking on the "PSUTXT LOGIN" button at the bottom of the page.

"Once logged in, they should update their cell phone information, and then click on 'Services' to have a new validation code sent," said Ara Bagdasarian, president of e2Campus. "Once they receive the validation code, they need to enter it on the registration page on the Web site to complete the process and validate their accounts."

Subscribers who continue to have difficulty validating their account should visit http://omnilertsupport.com/e2campus/ online.

Anyone who has not yet subscribed to PSUTXT should go to http://newswires.psu.edu/ and click on the "PSUTXT REGISTER" button at the bottom of the page to sign up. For more information, e-mail AMountz@psu.edu.

Dr. Judith Giri, noted cancer researcher and educator, will present the annual Mylar Giri Lecture in the Natural Sciences at Penn State Hazleton at 7 p.m., Thurs., March 27, in room 1 of the Kostos Building. Sponsored by the Faculty Lecture Committee, this year’s lecture marks twenty years of honoring the late campus physics professor Mylar Giri. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Judith Giri, widow of Mylar Giri, is an associate professor in the department of pathology at the Medical College of Georgia and director of the medical college’s Tumor Tissue and Serum Bio-Repository and the Georgia Statewide Cancer Biorepository.

An expert in immunology, cell and cancer biology, and drug development, Giri will discuss her research which focuses on cancer treatment in a presentation titled “Personalized Medicine: How molecular approaches are changing the practice of medicine–scientific and ethical aspects.”
Giri’s education includes a B.A. in biology from Hunter College/Herbert H. Lehman College of the City University of New York, Ph.D. in microbiology from Rutgers University, postdoctoral study in molecular and developmental biology at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, staff fellowship in hematopoiesis and biochemistry at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons Cancer Center, and postdoctoral research in immunology at Penn State.

She has authored and co-authored numerous professional publications and has made many presentations in the U.S. and around the world.
The next installment in the lecture series will be feature Dr. Doris Schattschneider, educator and author, at 7 p.m., Tues., April 8, in room 1 of the Kostos Building discussing “Mathematics and the Art of M.C. Escher.”

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

The Penn State Hazleton Players will perform “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown – Revised” at 8 p.m. on March 18, 19 and 20 in the Slusser/Bayzick Building at the campus. Admission for the event is $3 for students and $5 general admission. The production is directed by Heidi Schnappauf.

The classic Peanuts comic strip stories come alive in this musical story as Charlie Brown, played by Michael Crivelliaro, is discouraged by the pressures of everyday life, ranging from how to get up the courage to talk to the little red-haired girl to getting a kite in the air and even writing a book report on “Peter Rabbit.” He and the rest of the Peanuts’ cast teach us that happiness can be found in the simplest things in life.

Other cast members include Alicia Slough playing Charlie Brown's outspoken little sister Sally, Lauren Dock as Lucy Van Pelt - the obnoxious jokester, Andrew Murray as the soft spoken and intelligent Linus Van Pelt, Michael DiGregorio as the musical genius Schroeder, Adam Orseck as the "cool" Snoopy, and Jordan Clapper as the under-bathed Pig Pen.

Come laugh, cry and enjoy this musical adventure of the ups and downs in the world of Peanuts, and support the arts at Penn State Hazleton.

The program will be offered on Tuesdays from March 11 through May 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Penn State Hazleton and includes workbooks based the HRCI exam specifications and a practice CD.

This course is great for people in general management and for human resources managers who want to brush up on key functional areas before seeking certification. It consists of six modules centered on the HRCI exam format including strategic management; workforce planning and employment; human resource development; compensation and benefits; employee and labor relations; and occupational health, safety, and security.

The Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) is the leading independent, internationally recognized certifying body for the HR profession. HRCI certifications require professionals to demonstrate their expertise in the core principles of HR practice and the application of those principles.

For more information, contact Debra Conway, assistant director of Continuing Education, at (570) 450-3136 or dxk40@psu.edu.

Athena Abate, Mount Pocono; Angelo Acampora, Dingmans Ferry; Joseph Albanese, Hillsborough, NJ; Allison Anthony, Drums; Cameron Arthur, Susquehanna; Sophia Badillo, East Stroudsburg; Pherin Bailey, Denver,  CO; Alcina Bayley, Albrightsville; Jennifer Bell, East Stroudsburg;  Justin Benn, Mountain Top; Christa Benyo, Milnesville; Vasilios Bessas, Oak Ridge, NJ; Divya  Bezawada, East Brunswick, NJ; Michael Blass, Hazleton; Bernard Bonner, Drums; Luis Borrero, Forth Worth, TX; Bo Boutcher, Martinsburg, WV; Candice Bowen, Woodbridge, VA; Justin Bower, Conyngham; Timothy Boyer, Nuangola; Alyssa Boyle, Freeland; Beth Bradbury, Barnesville; Thomas Braswell,  Levittown; Steven Bronson, Honesdale; Amber Bugaiski, West Hazleton ; Jolene Busher, Weatherly;  Bonnie Caja , Bellflower, CA; Robert Calderone, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ; Brooke Campbell, Whitehall; Kristine Carbone, Mount Bethel; Daniel Carhart, Saylorsburg; Jennifer Carpenter, Douglassville; Jacob Carrelli, Conyngham; Christopher Cascio, Weston; Catherine Caterson, Montrose; Patricia Chadderdon, Cogan Station; Nicholas Chernansky, Sugarloaf; Samuel Chodur, Nesquehoning; William Christiansen, Lima, NY; Neil Ciotola, Hazleton; Jordan Clapper, Hallstead; John Coleman, Stockholm, NJ; Daniel Connell, East Stroudsburg; William Corcoran, Hanover Twp.; Kaitlin Correale, Beaver Meadows ; Rohaan Coutinho, Hazleton; Michael Crivellaro, Coopersburg; William Curry, Danville; Frank D'Angelo, Beaver Meadows; Evan Dawson, Vernon, CT; Caleb Day, Trout Run; Jose, De La Cruz, Hazleton; Cassandra Decusatis, Mountain Top; Christopher Dent, Wayne, NJ; Albert Desanto, Hillsborough, NJ; Daniel Dibernardo, Lancaster; Brandon Dickman, Westom; Steven Dickson, Weatherly; Michael Digregorio, Washingtonville, NY; Ashley Donnelly, Berwick; Allison Doxbeck, Milford; Gary Dundon , Succasunna, NJ; Nicholas Durcik, Mountain Top; Robert Ebinger, Effort;Jessica Endick, Mahanoy City; Michelle England , Glen Mills; Brittany Farrell, Westwood, NJ; Daniel Fellin, Hazleton; Craig Ferro, Saylorsburg; Lynn Ferry, Drums; Laura Flohl, Bangor; Allison Fox, White Haven; Jason Fudge, Sugarloaf; Curtis George, Mountain Top;  Krista Gibbons, Mahwah, NJ; Ryan  Gibney, Hillsborough, NJ; Ryan Gilleran, Starrucca; Gregory Gilson, Whitehall; Matthew Grad, Drums; Victoria Greco, Philadelphia; Neil Gretz, Manalapan, NJ; Michael Groshek, Berwick; Jenna Grula, Hanover Township; Joseph Gurka, Summit Hill; Ryan Halloran, Oxford, NJ; Logan Hansman, Sugarloaf; Stephanie Harris, Drums; David Hartranft, Wyoming; Despina Hatzakos, Stroudsburg; Marie Hayes, Hazleton; Kaitlyn Hay, Emmaus; Kevin Heffelfinger, Danielsville; Sarah Hightower, Stafford, VA; Robert Hines, Stroudsburg; Katie Hoffman, Weatherly; Christopher Horton, Coopersburg; Cherise Hostrich, Drums; Jeffrey Houser, Hazleton; Stephanie Huff, Easton; Justin  Jacobs, Chestnut Ridge, NY; Abigail Johnson, East Stroudsburg; Curtis Jones,  Hazleton; Kevin Jordan, Hazleton; Jeffrey Kasakyan, Woodside, NY; Jason Kavanaugh, Freeland; Sean Kelly, Mahanoy City; Matthew Keniston, Milford; Brandon Kerins, Lincoln Park, NJ; Daniel Kesselring, Hazleton; Azeem Khan, Stroudsburg; Christina Kiraly, McAdoo; Mallori Kistulentz, Hazleton; Jay  Kothari, New Hyde Park, NY; Eric Kowalski, Wind Gap; Jennifer Kriner, Mahanoy City; Karrie Kuntz, Hazleton; Sean Landis, Drums; Christopher Leighow, Zion Grove; Kenneth Lewis, Danville; Justine Lowery, Hazleton; Arthur Luchowski, White Haven; Daniel Luong, Swiftwater; William Lutz, Franklin; Keith MacDermott, Stillwater; Amanda Mack, Tremont; Brandon Magzanian, Blakeslee; Lauren Manfredi, Hazleton; Nicholas Marsicano, Drums; Thomas Martin, Elysburg; Amy Marusak, Weatherly; Kelsey MCAndrew, Coal Township; Sarah McCloskey, Freeland; Michael  McGlynn, Jim Thorpe; Justin Metz, Hazleton; Karen Metzger, Lancaster; Sara Michalyshin, Tresckow; Timothy Midas, Lansford; Kathryn Moore, Harleysville; Michael Moore, Colts Neck, NJ; Dharell Mosby, South Ozone Park, NY; Lisa-Marie Moscato, Staten Island, NY; Ian Muller, Saylorsburg; Abigail Myers, Weatherly; Meghan Natale,  Hazleton; Eric Ng, Montgomery, NY; Michael Nicholas, Zion Grove; Samantha Nicholson, Bangor; Stephen Nickoley, Rockaway, NJ; Nicholas O'Keefe, Saylorsburg; Samuel Orlando, Jessup; Jason Oshman, Elysburg; Kristin Paisley, Hazleton; Jedediah Panco, Hazleton; Meghan Parkhurst, Dingmans Ferry; Sarah Parks, Mountain Top; Nicholas Petrole, Tresckow; Eric Petruncio, Quakake; Kara Petrusky, Elysburg; Rachael Piccione, Drums; Jason Pollick, Hazleton; Brian Pond, Athens; Elyse Poor, Haverhill, MA; Melissa Porth, Freehold, NJ; Derek Price, Drums; Ryan Price, Coaldale; Jason Prince, Lebanon,NJ; Faith Prussock, Freelannd; Mark Quiaoit, New York, NY; Jeremy Racho, Sugarloaf; Benjamin Raffel  Waynesboro; Yovanny Ramirez, Pleasantville, NJ; Gary Rarick, Tamaqua; Tyler Raup, Turbotville; Daniel Ray, Oceanside, NY; Shanan Reed, Nanticoke; Saul Reedy, Bloomsburg; Elaina Reimiller, Hazelton; Alyssa Reyes, Tresckow; Ashleigh Richards, Stroudsburg; Kelly Richter, Damascus; Rachel Riley, Cresco; Colin Rimshaw, Conyngham; David Ritsick, McAdoo; Richard Ritzer, Mt Bethel; Amy Rizzardi,  Pottsville; Amber Robinson, New York, NY; Michael Rumain, Honesdale; Thomas Russell, Weatherly; Jana Samkova Berwick; Jason Samuels, Elmira, NY; Matthew Santarelli, Sugarloaf; Rebecca Schaller, Nescopeck; Nicole Schofield, Dunmore; Shannon Schoonover, North Brunswick, NJ; Kyle Schweitzer, Hazleton; Jonathan Scollo, Milford; Joseph Sekula, Towanda; Steven Sellati, Berwick; Robert Senick,  Hazleton; Austin Sepulveda, Belvidere, NJ; Amanda Serra , Hazleton; Patrick Sheridan, Mattituck, NY; Kevin Sia, East Windsor, NJ; Cecelia Slough, Lykens; Justin Slusser, Nescopeck; Donald Smedley,  Danville; David Sobolewski, Weston; Amber Stehr, Lebanon; John Susan, Frackville; Tehetna Tesfaye, Mount Joy; Brent Tinari, Doylestown; Donna Tweed,  Jim Thorpe; Michael Vary, Canadensis; Rei Vazquez, Wyckoff, NJ; Marisol Velez, Hazleton; Diana Veras, West Hazleton; Chad Walters, Milton; Randi Wardingo, West Hazleton; Jessica Waterloo, Nazareth; Natilee Weldon, Hazleton; Jonathan Wilner, Mahanoy City; Sean Winter, Easton; Scott Wintersteen, Danville; Errol Wizda, Jessup; Michael Yachera, Tamaqua; Grant Yamulla, Hazleton; Kyle Yanchunas, Berwick; Keiser Zamora,  Hazleton; Timothy Zaprazny, Mountain Top; Rachel Zawisza, Philadelphia; Max Zelenevich, New Hope; and Bryana Zumbuhl,  Sheppton.

The Penn State Hazleton lecture series, sponsored by the Faculty Lecture Committee, continues this spring semester with Dr. Arthur V. Chadwick discussing “Use of Space Age Technology in a Dinosaur Excavation in Eastern Wyoming.” The event, free and open to the public, will be held Tues., Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. in room 1 of the Kostos Building.

Dr. Chadwick is a professor of geology and biology at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, TX, where he also serves as chairman of the biology department.

He is presently engaged in directing the excavation of one of the largest dinosaur sites in the world in northeastern Wyoming and is studying the taphonomy of this site. Additionally, he has carried out sedimentological research in the Grand Canyon, paleoecological research on the “fossil forests” in Yellowstone National Park, and taphonomy of fossil whales in the Pisco Formation in southern Peru.

Dr. Chadwick was born in California where he received his undergraduate education. He earned his Ph.D. from University of Miami, followed by additional work in geology at University of California. He was instrumental in establishing the geology department at Loma Linda University, and was a visiting professor of geology and geophysics at University of Oklahoma prior to taking his present position.

The next installment in the series will commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Mylar Giri Lecture in the Natural Sciences, named in honor of the late campus physics professor. Dr. Judith Giri, a leading medical researcher and educator and widow of Dr. Mylar Giri, will present an exploration of how cancer treatments affect patients and society on Thurs., March 27, at 7 p.m. in room 1 of the Kostos Building.

All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the mixer to network with colleagues from the local business community. Students involved in THON will inform attendees of activities and progress to date.

THON is the largest student run philanthropy in the world, raising money to help kids with cancer at Penn State's Children's Hospital at the Hershey Medical Center. Last year Penn State students raised more than $5.2 million, with Hazleton students contributing more than $37,000 through the support of local residents and the business community.

Complimentary refreshments, including Penn State's University Creamery ice cream, will be

A $5 donation at the door is suggested.

CPIM designation and training benefits professionals involved in production and inventory management, operations, supply chain management, procurement, materials management, and purchasing.

Offered by the University College of the Pennsylvania State University and administered locally by campus Continuing Education Offices, the production management program consists of five courses including:

• Basics of Supply Chain Management which covers industry fundamentals and provides a comprehensive review of successful manufacturing strategies to prepare participants for the Basics of Supply Chain Management Exam. Basic concepts and language, as well as the relationships among master planning, inventory management, forecasting, Just-in-Time manufacturing, material requirements planning, capacity management, distribution, production activity control, total quality management, and purchasing will be reviewed. Industry newcomers and those seeking to advance into management roles will benefit from this course.

• Detailed Scheduling & Planning helps to prepare participants for the Detailed Scheduling and Planning exam by exploring various techniques for material and capacity scheduling, including concepts and techniques of material requirements planning, capacity requirements planning, inventory management practices, and procurement and supplier planning. New applications such as material-dominated scheduling and processor-dominated scheduling are applicable to the process industries as well as other mature production environments.

• Execution & Control of Operations course assists in preparation for the Execution and Control of Operations APICS CPIM exam by reviewing skills to prioritize and sequence work, execute work plans, implement controls, report activity results, and create and analyze performance evaluations. Additional topics include techniques for scheduling and controlling production and process operations, and the execution of quality initiatives and continuous improvement plans in addition to the control and handling of inventories.

• Master Planning of Resources Review aids in priming students for the APICS CPIM exam on this topic. Issues reviewed are processes used to develop sales and operations plans, evaluation of internal and external demand and forecasting requirements, and the importance of producing achievable master schedules consistent with business policies, objectives, and resource constraints. This course also covers developing and validating a plan of supply, relating management of demand to environment, and developing and validating the master schedule.

• Strategic Management of Resources explores the relationship of existing and emerging processes and technologies to manufacturing strategy and supply chain-related functions. The course addresses three main topics: aligning resources with the strategic plan, configuring and integrating operating processes to support the strategic plan, and implementing change.

According to Conway, “Students have the option of completing the entire program and receiving a certificate or choosing individual courses. “

The Basics of Supply Chain Management course begins Mon., Feb. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Penn State Hazleton. Instructor for this course is Ed Daveski, president of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of APICS. Daveski has instructed CPIM course for the last three years and has been responsible for developing certification programs for several companies.

For more information, contact Debra Conway, assistant director of Continuing Education, Penn State Hazleton, by calling (570) 450-3136 or e-mailing dxk40@psu.edu.

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.

All submisions are due by February 22, 2008. Awards will be given at the Fall Academic Achievement Ceremony.

    * Butler Technology & Teaching Award

    * George T. Bobby Advising Award

    * Outstanding Teaching Award for Part-Time Faculty and Staff

    * Teaching Excellence Award

If you enjoy reading and discussing great literature, then join the Penn State Hazleton community for a monthly informal discussion group starting in February. Sponsored by the Penn State Hazleton Barnes and Noble Bookstore, the series titled “Great Books at Highacres” will be held at 7 p.m. in the Harlam Lounge of the Administration Building. The discussions are open to the community as well as students, faculty and staff of the campus.

Discussion dates and books are:
Mon., Feb. 18 - The Children of Men by P.D. James. Discussion led by Eileen Morgan, English instructor.

Mon., March 17 - The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. Discussion led by Michael Polgar, assistant professor of sociology.

Mon., April 21 - Sister Teresa by Barbara Mujica. Discussion led by Patrick O’Neill, art history instructor.

The campus bookstore is offering the featured books at a 10% discount to Great Books participants.

For more information, contact the Penn State Hazleton Bookstore at (570) 450-3100.

The Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association and the Penn State Hazleton THON Committee are teaming up with the American Red Cross to sponsor a blood drive on Mon., Jan. 28, from noon to 5 p.m. in the Slusser/Bayzick Building. 

Joyce Bradbury (front, second from left), executive director of the Hazleton Chapter, American Red Cross, accepts a donation from Wister Yuhas, board member, Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, in support of the upcoming blood drive at Penn State Hazleton on Mon., Jan. 28. Also pictured are members of the Penn State Hazleton THON Committee who will be assisting with the blood drive. They are, from left: first row, Lauren Dock, Bradbury, Yuhas and Jessica Waterloo; second row, Le'Anna McNally, Matt Puhak and Nicole Umosella; third row, Krista Bramble, Courtney Kirschman, Michael Watt and Meghan Parkhurst.

Joyce Bradbury, executive director, Hazleton Chapter of the American Red Cross, said, “We are grateful that so many students, faculty, staff and alumni at Penn State realize the importance of collecting blood for hospital patients. The THON Committee and Alumni Chapter, with our American Red Cross volunteers, do a great job and we certainly appreciate all their hard work.”

Wister Yuhas, Alumni Chapter board member, said, “Penn State alumni in the Hazleton area are proud to continually support the efforts of the American Red Cross. In addition to monetary support for food and refreshments, we, along with the members of the THON Committee, will assist the American Red Cross volunteers at the blood drive.”

Penn State Hazleton THON Committee members will assist the American Red Cross with recruiting donors on campus prior to the bloodmobile and serve as donor escorts and snack table staff during the event. The recruiting event will be held Thurs., Jan. 24, in the Charles T. Butler Teaching and Learning Resource Center. All who register to donate will receive a THON t-shirt and have the opportunity to win a $20 Sheetz gift card. Appointments may be scheduled online.

The American Red Cross Biomedical Department will make a contribution to THON for every unit of blood collected. This is the third year the Penn State Hazleton THON Committee has assisted with a blood drive at the campus to support their cause.

The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, or THON for short, is the world’s largest student run philanthropy,  raising money for the families of children with pediatric cancer at the Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey. Last year, THON raised more than $5.2 million.

Blood is a perishable commodity - red cells last only 42 days and platelets only 5 days - therefore the need for blood is ongoing. Donors are asked to  “Do Something Amazing – Save a Life.”  Only about five percent of those eligible give blood, which can be done every 56 days. 

Blood donors must meet three requirements: be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health. Donating blood takes only about one hour. All donors must present identification prior to donating. 

For more information contact the Hazleton Chapter of the American Red Cross at (570) 455-9517.

At the event, Sarah Walton, student aid coordinator at the campus, will provide information on applying for financial aid for college, steps on completing the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and financial aid deadlines. She also will present details on financial aid sources available to students such as grants, loans, scholarships and federal work-study programs. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. Financial aid materials will be available to attendees. 

Parking for the seminar will be available in Lot C behind the Physical Education Building. In case of inclement weather, the session will be held Tues., Feb. 5, at the same time and location. 

To register or for more information, please call the Financial Aid Office at (570) 450-3163 or 800-279-8495, ext. 3163.

Information on declaring a major including academic requirements and administrative enrollment controls will be reviewed.

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.

The squad will compete in the All Girl Division II section against fourteen teams from across the country. In all, more than 250 college and university groups will perform in a variety of categories and divisions ranging from cheering featuring Division IA universities such as University of Kentucky, Ohio State University and Louisiana State University, to mascot national championships to dance and hip hop national championships.

Penn State Hazleton cheerleaders are Ashley Broyan, a sophomore architectural engineering major, Freeland; Katie Brigante, a freshman psychology major, Tobyhanna; Sacha Choupa, a freshman psychology major, Gaithersburg, Md.; Irene Cullen, a freshman sports medicine major, Coaldale; Christina Franzosa, a freshman pre-medicine major, Hazleton; Stephanie Fuss, a freshman public relations major, Blakeslee; Brittany Gluck, a sophomore business finance major, Hazlet, N.J.; Margaux Leone, a sophomore communications major, South Orange, N.J.; Marita Machey, a freshman forensic science major, Hazleton; Sarah Sisock, a sophomore elementary education major, Freeland; Melisa Smith, a junior hotel, restaurant, and institutional management major, Easton; Elizabeth Tedesco, a sophomore advertising major, Conyngham; and Lauren VanHorn, a freshman elementary education major, Allentown.

The squad is coached by Crystal Piparato, a 2004 Penn State Hazleton graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business. Piparato was a member of the squad for three years, assistant coach for two years, and has been head coach for four years.

The competition will air at various times on ESPN, with updates available at varsity.com.

Penn State Hazleton cheerleaders traveling to Florida to compete in the national championship include, from left, first row: Margaux Leone, Christina Franzosa, Elizabeth Tedesco, and Katie Brigante. Second row, from left: Sacha Choupa, Irene Cullen, Stephanie Fuss, and Sarah Sisock. Third row, from left: Marita Machey, Brittany Gluck, Ashley Broyan, Melisa Smith, and Lauren VanHorn.

Practice under the watchful eye of coach Crystal Piparato.

Good Luck Cheerleaders!