The W.B. Kania & Associates Trustee Scholarship has been established at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus to provide financial assistance to students enrolled at the campus. The scholarship was made possible by a gift of $25,000 from W.B. Kania & Associates, matched by $25,000 from Joe Hardy, campus chairman of For the Future, The Campaign for Penn State Students. Annual scholarships will be awarded from the fund beginning with the fall of 2012 semester, with first preference given to students who are Fayette County residents.

Speaking on behalf of W.B. Kania & Associates, Paul L. Kania, CPA, explains, “Our firm has always stood behind the local community and placed a great value on higher education. When the Joe Hardy matching scholarship challenge was presented to us, we were very pleased to have the opportunity for our cash gift to be matched in its entirety by Joe’s generosity. The university’s trustee matching scholarship program provided an added incentive, essentially quadrupling the impact of our gift.”

Campaign Chairman Joe Hardy noted, “I thank Kania & Associates for stepping up to the Hardy matching scholarship challenge with such a generous contribution to our capital campaign. The impact of such a scholarship on current and future students is the reason I volunteer my time toward the campus capital campaign effort, and was the impetus for my issuing the challenge.”

Penn State Fayette Chancellor Dr. Francis K. Achampong says the new scholarship provides a valuable opportunity for students to attend the Fayette campus. “We owe a debt of gratitude to Kania & Associates for its investment in our students. We also deeply appreciate the generosity and leadership of Joe Hardy, our campaign chair.”

W.B. Kania & Associates is a full-service certified public accounting firm that was founded in 1958. Its clients range in size from large multi-state corporations to small single member sole-proprietor organizations in the retail, insurance, real estate, heavy equipment rental, mining equipment, and construction industries. The firm prides itself in providing close, personal attention to its clients and in the staff’s years of advanced training, technical experience and financial acumen.

The Trustee Matching Scholarship Program is designed to keep a Penn State education accessible to all qualified students, regardless of their financial means. The program has a unique matching component—the University matches 5 percent of the principal of each gift annually and combines these funds with income from the endowment to effectively double the financial impact of the scholarship. Implemented in 2002 upon approval by Penn State’s Board of Trustees, the program assisted approximately 4,400 students University-wide last year.

Nov. 7 marked the 4th annual Penn State Fayette Journée Française where local high school students of French participated in French language competitions (poetry recitation, posters, and multimedia presentations) in honor of National French Week at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. The theme for this year's celebration was L'Harmonie dans le monde francophone (Harmony in the French-speaking World). Students and faculty and the Penn State Fayette French-speaking community also enjoyed a performance by Tim Mooney, "Molière Than Thou,” a fast-paced one-man show featuring the comedy and social commentary of France's beloved 17th century playwright. A delicious Francophone lunch of Canadian Poutine (French fries with cheese and gravy), French Dip sandwiches and Mousse au Chocolat were enjoyed by all. Vive la Francophonie! 

Winners of Multimedia Francophone presentation on L'Harmonie (Geibel Catholic Senior High School, French 3,4, and 5) 

Back row from left to right: Jared Beck (also 2nd prize: Poster category), Daniel Dix (also 3rd prize, Poetry Recitation category), Katie Chambers (also 2nd prize, Poetry Recitation category), Brianna Workman (also 1st prize, Poetry Recitation category), Liz Mimis, Peter Tarka, Neil Solan 

Front row from left to right: Ashley Tomasko (also 1st prize, Poster category), Toni Ardabell, Taylor Yeardie (also 3rd prize, Poster category), Haley Hutchinson, Rachel Erdeley, Olivia Rakas, Patrick Nahhas, Jonah Delmar. 

Not pictured: Joe Lechnar, Brittany Rulli 

For more information or to be placed on the invitation list for next year's event, please contact Dr. Susan Frenchik, Penn State Fayette, 724-430-4121, sfc13@psu.edu.

Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus’ Chancellor Francis Kofi Achampong, Ph.D., was named to TALK Magazine’s 2011 salute to Minority Achievers.

For the past 37 years, the magazine has honored minorities “who have made outstanding contributions in their professions.” It is the hope of the magazine that the award recipients will inspire others.

Dr. Achampong, a naturalized American, received a bachelor of laws degree (magna cum laude) from the University of Ghana, two master of laws degrees from both the University of London and Georgetown University, and a Ph.D. in law from the University of London. He is licensed to practice law in New York and Virginia and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. Achampong holds a Certificate in Management and Leadership in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and served as a Fellow of the American Council on Education.

Before becoming chancellor at Penn State Fayette, he served as chief academic officer at Penn State’s Mont Alto campus for eight years. Additionally, he served in various capacities, including professor, department head, and interim dean at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va. As a professor he published a book on sexual harassment law and many articles, a number of which were cited by other scholars and two federal courts. He began his career in higher education as an assistant professor at Howard University’s School of Business.

“It is a privilege to have worked in higher education for the past three decades and to have had the opportunity to impact the lives of faculty, staff and students and contribute to the advancement of our democracy through the development of intellectual capital,” said Dr. Achampong.

Dr. Achampong is actively involved in Fayette County and serves as a member of the board of Fay-Penn Economic Development Council and the Westmoreland-Fayette Workshop Investment Board. He has positioned Penn State Fayette as a leader in generating discussion on important social issues and has welcomed and hosted forums on Marcellus Shale, American Cancer Society and Pittsburgh Ballet performances, among others. He has recently hosted and testified before the House Democratic Planning Committee on the effects of funding cuts on education.

“It is an honor to be recognized and selected by Talk Magazine in its annual tribute to minority achievers for what I consider to be not just my occupation or my life’s work but my calling and gift to society,” said Dr. Achampong.

Penn State faculty, admissions and student aid counselors will be available to speak with students interested in earning an associate degree. Open house participants will have the opportunity to learn about the various two-year degree options at Penn State Fayette including: nursing, liberal arts, electrical engineering technology, information sciences and technology, physical therapist assistant, mining technology, building engineering technology, business, human development and family studies, and letters, arts and sciences.

Participants who apply to Penn State Fayette’s associate degree program during the open house will have their $50 application fee waived.

For more information about the open house or associate degree options available at Penn State Fayette, call 724-430-4130. 

Jeff D. Bergman will share his business insight during the final CEO Conversation of the fall semester at noon Nov. 16 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. The event is free and open to the public and will be held in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the campus’ Community Center.

In 1987, Bergman founded SMT Health Services, Inc. where he served as the chairman, president and CEO. He engineered the process of taking the company public in March of 1992. SMT was sold to Apollo Management, L.P. in September 1997 for where Bergman remained part of management with Apollo through 2000.

Currently Bergman serves as a consultant to various domestic companies for manufacturing and product development in the LED light technology industry with facilitates in Xi’an and Beijing, China.

In addition to his consulting, Bergman has developed more than 215 acres in the western Pennsylvania area and has served as a line judge for the National Football League (NFL) since 1991. He also served on the board of directors of the National Football League Referees Association for 14 years. In addition, Bergman was on the board of the NFL Referees Charities for 10 years and helped raise more than $900,000 for charities.

In 2010, Robert Morris University honored Bergman with the Alumni Heritage Award, the university’s highest alumnus award that is presented annually for distinguished service and accomplishments.

The program will feature a presentation by Bergman about his background and experiences as an entrepreneur followed by a conversation with a panel of students and questions from the audience. The program will culminate with refreshments and a “meet and greet” providing students with an opportunity to interact with Bergman.

Participants will have the opportunity to experience a day in the life as a college student by sitting in on two mock classes taught by Penn State Fayette’s psychology and administration of justice faculty. Prospective students are invited to have lunch and take a tour of campus.

Space is limited, so those wishing to participate need to make a reservation by calling 724-430-4130.

SGA President Brent Lint explains the SGA is hosting the forum to give the candidates an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions concerning the welfare of our county in an environment that includes a diverse audience of voters, including students, faculty, staff, and members of the community. “This candidate forum will be a vital part of the students’ educational and developmental processes and will diversify their knowledge about the politics that govern Fayette County.”

The forum’s format will allow candidates to each have an opening statement, address questions posed to them by the moderator, and conclude with a closing statement.

The Penn State Fayette Alumni Society recently made a gift of $7,500 to Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus for the society’s campus scholarship fund.

The scholarship was endowed in 2005 to provide financial assistance to Penn State Fayette students. The funds for the recent gift were raised from the alumni society’s annual ice cream sale and the Blue and White Golf Outing. Presenting the check to Chancellor Dr. Francis K. Achampong (center) are alumni society board members (from left): President David Omatick, Nancy Port, Secretary Billie Jo Yuhaniak and Treasurer Wayne Port.

In 2007, America was welcomed into the home of John and Kate Gosselin, the parents of a set of twins and sextuplets on the popular reality show “John and Kate Plus 8.” Viewers tuned in each week to see the trials and tribulations of the larger than life family. On Nov. 3, Kate Gosselin will share her life experiences followed by a meet and greet session at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. The free event is open to the public and will be held at noon in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the campus’ Community Center.

From 2007 to 2009, The Learning Channel (TLC) followed the lives of the Gosselins and their brood which includes twins Madelyn and Cara and sextuplets Aaden, Joel, Leah, Collin, Alexis and Hannah. Fans of the show watched the family go on exciting outings to places like California and Walt Disney World coupled with simple everyday tasks like going to the dentist and grocery shopping for a family of 10. The show offered a look at how the parents juggled their gaggle of Gosselins.

In 2009, due to the Gosselin’s marriage separation, “John and Kate Plus 8” ended and in 2010 the show was changed to “Kate Plus 8” and featured Kate Gosselin and the children. The final episode aired Sept. 12, 2011.
In addition to the reality show, the Gosselins have written several books and have shared their life story with audiences at speaking engagements across the country.

Because of the popularity of the event, those interested in attending should make a reservation by calling 724-430-4248.

For Patricia E. Tobal, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus has played an integral part in many stages of her life. It only seems fitting that she has been named the 2011 Outstanding Alumna for the campus during a special advisory board meeting held Oct. 20.

For four decades, Tobal, who is a retired registered nurse, spent her career in the health care field serving the Fayette County community. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Penn State Fayette which enabled her to achieve her goal of becoming a nurse educator on campus as an adjunct instructor in both the associate degree and RN-BSN programs.

Tobal continued her studies at Duquesne University where she earned her master’s degree. She also has experience as a certified oncology nurse. She culminated her career as a nurse supervisor of the Nurse-Family Partnership, a nurse-led, evidence-based home visitation program proven to significantly improve the health, well being, school readiness and economic sufficiency of first-time, low income mothers and their children.

She is also active in several community organizations including the Hopwood Village Project, Old Trail’s Lions Club and Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers. She also serves on the planning committee for Women’s Day hosted by Penn State Fayette.

In 2008, Tobal was selected as one of seven recipients of the Steps Community Heroes Award. This award is a national Centers for Disease Control initiative which honors individuals who work to improve the health and well being of others in their communities.

Tobal and her husband Jim reside in Hopwood and are the parents of two grown sons, Ted and Daniel Tobal. Dan Tobal and Ted Tobal’s wife, Kelly Tobal, are both Penn State graduates.

This year’s theme “Films for Foodies” is ideal for people who love great food, cooking and movies.

“I’ve been thinking about this theme for a longtime,” says John Riddle, head librarian and adjunct professor of film studies at Penn State Fayette. “Ever since I saw ‘Babette’s Feast’ years ago, I kept movies about great food in the back of my mind. There’s just something about watching food being lovingly prepared.Even if someone isn’t a ‘foodie,’ they might become one after watching these films. Everyone is encouraged to come with an appetite!”

The festival will kick off on Oct. 19 with “Big Night” (1996) the story of two brothers who host a great feast in one final effort to save their Italian restaurant starring Stanely Tucci and Tony Shalhoub.

“Eat Drink Man Woman” (1994) will take to the silver screen Oct. 20. The film uses food as a metaphor for the values of life in this classic film. One reviewer recommended keeping the number of a good Chinese restaurant handy, for after watching the film the viewer will start craving Chinese food.

Oct. 26 will highlight the film “Babette’s Feast” (1987) a film set in a 19th century rural Protestant Dutch village. Babette, a Parisian chef fleeing a secret past, has come to live a simple life.

The final film of the festival is the acclaimed documentary “Super Size Me” (2004)  on Oct. 27. Director Morgan Spurlock makes his mission to show the ill effects of fast food by living on nothing but McDonald’s for a month and recording what happens to him.

All movies begin at 7 p.m. and admission is free. For more information, call 724-430-4155.

Chaz Kellem has battled osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare bone disorder since birth. Instead of allowing his diagnosis to become an obstacle, he has used it as a platform to speak to people about overcoming life’s difficulties and achieving their dreams. Kellem will share his inspirational story at noon Oct. 25 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. This free event is open to the public and will take place in the cafeteria located at the campus’ Community Center.

Kellem’s bone disorder causes his bones to break easily which has resulted in more than 40 broken bones and 12 surgeries. But despite these challenges, Kellem still has the passion, motivation and energy, “to showcase the abilities of people with disabilities.”

Even with his obstacles and the use of a manual wheelchair, Kellem graduated from Edinboro University with a degree in sports administration. “Edinboro University was truly a magical place for me as it opened doors, showed me I can be successful and provided me with the knowledge I needed to make things happen,” he said.

Today, Kellem is the manager of diversity initiatives with the Pittsburgh Pirates. When he is not at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Kellem can be seen serving on several non-profit boards including the Edinboro Alumni Board, Consumer Health Coalition, UCP (United Cerebral Palsy) of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network.

Kellem also has a love for adapted sports where he not only organizes the programs, but also actively participates. He is a wheelchair basketball coach and plays second base for Pittsburgh’s only wheelchair competitive softball team.

“Wheelchair sports have been a blessing, as I have had the opportunity to visit many parts of the United States that I would not have seen otherwise,” said Kellem. “I want to make an impact on this region in a positive way, and right now I try to do that through encouraging interactions and helpful messages.”

Kellem will be speaking in conjunction with National Disability Month.

Current high school students, recent high school graduates and returning non-traditional adult students are encouraged to attend Penn State Day, the only scheduled Saturday campus tour of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus on Oct. 22, from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. beginning in the Eberly Building. Penn State Day is designed to be an informational event allowing students and their families to explore the range of opportunities awaiting them at Penn State Fayette.

The event will kick off with an optional campus tour at 9a.m. Also featured during the event will be information about how students can complete six baccalaureate degrees, nine associate degrees or the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors at the Fayette campus. Other activities that day will include meeting with faculty, informational workshops about applying to Penn State Fayette, student aid services and a look at student life and student activities.

Attendees who plan to apply to Penn State Fayette during the Penn State Day event should bring their official high school/ college transcript and SAT or ACT score to qualify for a $50 application fee waiver.

For more information and to register, call the Penn State Fayette Admissions Office at 724-430-4130, or visit the website at www.fayette.psu.edu/admissions. Parents are welcome to participate.

Radio host and founder, chairman and CEO of FreeMarkets, Inc., Glen Meakem, will continue the fall 2011 “CEO Conversations” series on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. This free event begins at noon in the campus’ Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center.

Since its inception in 1995, FreeMarkets has experienced exponential growth. The company, which works with businesses to improve purchasing functions, went public in 1999 and was sold in 2004. Meakem’s entrepreneurial spirit continued in 2005 when he co-founded Meakem Becker Venture Capital, a leading early-stage venture capital firm based in Pittsburgh.

In 2008, Meakem became a member of the broadcasting community as host of a conservative radio talk show “Glen Meakem on the Weekend.” The show is broadcast over the airwaves in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Meakem, who holds eight United States patents for electronic commerce inventions, was named one of forty technology pioneers by the 2003 World Economic Forum. His other accolades include the Anti-Defamation League’s National American Heritage Award, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Western Pennsylvania, and an honorary Ph.D. in business administration from Robert Morris University. Meakem graduated cum laude from Harvard, and earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

The program will feature a presentation by Mr. Meakem about his background and experiences as an entrepreneur followed by a conversation with a panel of students and questions from the general audience. The program will end with refreshments and a “meet and greet” during which students will have an opportunity to interact with Mr. Meakem.

Prospective students will be able to apply for admission, and have the $50 application fee waived. They will also be able to submit their student aid application for spring classes starting Jan. 9, 2012, receive assistance requesting official transcripts and start the G.I. benefits application. Veterans are encouraged to bring their 2010 filed income tax forms to complete the student aid application.

Apryl Kadish, Penn State Fayette veterans’ affairs admissions counselor, wants veterans who are interested in attending Penn State Fayette to know what services are available. “Penn State Fayette offers programs and services to make the transition from military life to college life smooth for veterans. The goal of the open house is to make the application processes easier,” she explains.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 724-430-4130.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare profession is considered one of the largest industries and will generate 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between 2008 and 2018. The nursing and physical therapist assistant degrees offered at Penn State Fayette prepare graduates to enter this growing workforce.

During the program, participants will sit in on a mock nursing and physical therapist assistant class to experience the allied health course offerings available at Penn state Fayette. To get the big picture of student life on campus, prospective students can enjoy a complementary lunch and take a tour of campus.

For more information about the open house or to register, call 724-430-4130.

For Penn State laureate Linda Patterson Miller, the phrase “home is where the heart is” rings true. Miller will visit Penn State Fayette, The Eberly campus on Tuesday, Sept. 27, to discuss how members of America’s so-called “Lost Generation” of the 1920s searched for home as a physical place and a place in the heart. This free event is open to the public and will be held at 12:15 p.m. in Swimmer Hall in the Williams Building on campus.

In July, Miller began her tenure as the 2011-2012 Penn State Laureate. Miller, a full-time professor of English at Penn State Abington, is the fourth person to hold this title and the first to be chosen from a Penn State campus other than University Park. Miller’s area of expertise includes writers and artists such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso and Fernand Leger. She has shared her expertise with the world of television by serving as a scholarly consultant on expatriate American writers and artists for “American Playhouse” and PBS. She was a guest scholar on Ernest Hemingway for C-SPAN’s ongoing series “American Writers: A Journey Through History.”

Miller says she aspires to bring the excitement of the humanities to her audience because of its power to transform lives and define what it means to be human. “I’m also excited to represent another facet of Penn State (at a campus other than University Park), which gives truth to the words ‘we are one university, geographically dispersed.’ It is an honor to be chosen,” says Miller.

During the course of the academic year, Miller will travel throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to share her perspective and insight on social, cultural and artistic topics.

Participants will have the opportunity to tour classrooms and labs and meet with faculty and current students. Representatives from admissions will be on hand to explain the application process.

Apryl Kadish, admissions counselor at Penn State Fayette, says the admissions team is excited to share information with prospective students about one of the rapidly growing industries in the United States. “The field of healthcare is one that is always changing and growing. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10 of the 20 fastest-growing occupations are healthcare related and the industry will generate 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between 2008 and 2018,” she explains. “Students who graduate from either the nursing or physical therapist assistant programs are on track to have a fulfilling career that has longevity.”

For more information about the open house or to register, call 724-430-4130.

The Ewabo Calypso Band will delight audience members with their exciting Caribbean music on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. This free event begins at noon in the campus’ cafeteria in the Community Center.

Originally from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Ewabo performs high-caliber reggae, calypso and Latin music that is popular with different types of music lovers. The band’s music emphasizes the steel drum, better known as a “pan” to people in the Caribbean. Not only do the musicians entertain audiences with their international and contemporary music, they also share stories about the rich Caribbean culture.

Ewabo demonstrates their mottos of “One Love” and “Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright” as they perform a variety of remarkable musical arrangements.

Ewabo has performed for various festivals, special events and celebrities including former President Bill Clinton. The band will perform on campus in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

David J. Malone, president and CEO of Gateway Financial Group Inc., launches the fall 2011 “CEO Conversations” series on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. This free event begins at noon in the campus’ Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center.

In 1982, Malone assisted in the founding of Gateway Financial in Pittsburgh, which specializes in generational wealth planning and executive benefits for public and private companies.

Malone is a member of several professional insurance industry organizations including The Advanced Association of Life Underwriters and National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He currently serves as director of Gateway Financial Wealth Management and Western PA Surgery Center and president of Hotel Development Systems, Inc.

Malone is also involved in numerous civic organizations, including the Holy Family Foundation, YouthPlaces, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Jewish Healthcare Foundation.

Besides his involvement in the insurance industry and civic organizations, Malone is engaged in various real-estate, hotel, operating and multi-use companies.

Malone graduated from Allegheny College with a bachelor of science in economics. He also attended American College where he earned his chartered financial consultant (ChFC) designation in 1980 and his chartered life underwriter (CLU) designation in 1985.

CEO Conversations is an initiative of the late Dr. Emmanuel I. Osagie, chancellor of Penn State Fayette from 2007 to March 2010. The program is designed to give students the opportunity to hear from and talk with key individuals in the local, regional, and national business communities about business, entrepreneurship and leadership.

CEO Conversations debuted in fall 2007 with local businessman, philanthropist, and former Fayette County Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III as the guest speaker. Guest speakers have also included American Eagle Outfitters CEO James O’ Donnell; Sheetz Inc. Chairman Stephen Sheetz; former Attorney General and current Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett; Allegheny Construction Group Owner Laura Deklewa; Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl; Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack; former First Lady of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Marjorie Rendell; Pittsburgh Penguins CEO Ken Sawyer; Philips Healthcare CEO Don Spence; Westinghouse Electric Company Chairman Steve Tritch; Burt Hill Principal/Chairman Emeritus John Kosar; Highmark, Inc. President/CEO Dr. Kenneth R. Melani; Whitney, Bradley & Brown President/CEO William C. McMullen; MSA President/CEO William M. Lambert; Heinz North America President/CEO Scott O’Hara; ProTech Compliance President/CEO/Founder Curtis Aiken; Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. President Kim Tillotson Fleming, CFA; YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh President/CEO Eric Mann; Steratore Sanitary Supply President and NFL Official Tony Steratore; and Eat n’ Park Chairman Jim Broadhurst.

This new concentration will prepare students to work in a variety of criminal and juvenile justice settings as well as other organizations which benefit from an understanding of forensic psychology. Probation officers, parole officers, drug and alcohol counselors, youth workers, victim support workers, and a host of other career paths are open to graduates with this degree.

Dr. Richard A. Ball, professor and program coordinator of the administration of justice department at Penn State Fayette, says this new concentration will offer students the ability to become part of an exciting and ever-changing field. “The addition of the forensic psychology concentration allows students to add another dimension to their administration of justice degree that will provide even more job opportunities. It will prepare students to have a career not only in the law enforcement sector, but in the academic realm as researchers or teachers on any topic in which psychology and law intersect,” he says.

The academic team teaching this concentration has an extensive background in law enforcement and psychology with experience in school psychology, correctional counseling, development of jail visitation policies for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and publishing articles concerning social psychology of offenders and jail problems.

The forensic psychology concentration is available as part of an administration of justice bachelor degree that can be completed at Penn State Fayette.

Dr. Diane DePaolis Kiproff, the daughter of DePaolis, says her mother was a professor with Penn State Fayette since the early days of the campus until her retirement in 1990. “I can remember when my mother taught at Penn State Fayette when it was at Ella Peach School in Downtown Uniontown,” says DePaolis Kiproff. Because of DePaolis’ love of art and Penn State Fayette, DePaolis Kiproff and her husband, Dr. Paul Kiproff, decided to dedicate a sculpture in her mother’s memory at the Fayette campus.

DePaolis Kiproff says her mother was involved not only in building recognition for the campus, but also lending a hand in various campus activities. She recalls when her mother wrote a handbook for graduation and helped bake cookies for several events on campus. “Being a professor at Penn State Fayette was a big part of my mother’s life. She really cared about her students, and often felt like they were her friends. This is why I wanted to put a sculpture on campus in her memory.”

After her mother’s passing in Oct. 2008, a friend of DePaolis Kiproff suggested she take an art class at Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington, Pa. While at a fundraiser for the organization, DePaolis Kiproff walked into a gallery and found a sculpture that reminded her of her mother and felt it would be a good piece to donate to Penn State Fayette.

The piece DePaolis Kiproff chose is “Chesnutt” by Will Giannotti. The handcrafted sculpture has a lot of movement and is light and playful. It features a large globe with a smaller globe nestled inside.

DePaolis Kiproff felt the piece symbolized what her mother loved about art and craft. “Wood was her favorite medium to work with, and she was always fascinated with the representation of mother and child in art,” she explains. “This piece resonated with me and was something my mother would have enjoyed.”

Giannotti, a Pittsburgh based artist, uses wood as his primary medium. His background in furniture design and construction, as well as art history, helps him to create art with a narrative component. His sculptures, including “Chesnutt,” are comprised of hollow-formed wood constructions that are created through a complex lamination process which includes several layers of wooden rings.

A reception will take place immediately following the dedication.

This year’s musical entertainment will feature several national and local performers, including Johnny Angel and The Halos, Harold Betters, The Stickers, Dr. Zoot and the Suits, NewLanders, Tres Lads, and the Augsburg German Band. The Community Center’s Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium is serving as the Community Stage and will feature local musical performers and dance ensembles.

The littlest of festival-goers will be able to stay nice and dry by visiting the Kiddie Koal Mine in the Auxiliary Gym in the Community Center. Children will have an opportunity to enjoy several exciting activities including inflatable amusements and craft activities provided by Touchstone Center for Crafts.

Depending on the weather the morning of the festival, arts and crafts and other vendors will be situated indoors or outside. A delicious variety of food including cupcakes, popcorn, pulled pork, chicken and more will be available for purchase.

Visitors to the festival will want to stop by the Coal and Coke Heritage Center to learn about the history of coal mining and the culture of the region. A special exhibit on blacksmithing and mining tools, photographs of miners, and historical artifacts from the homes of mining families will be on display. Weather permitting, Nick Ireys from Touchstone Center for Crafts will be demonstrating blacksmithing at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.

After seeing the history of coal mining, guests can learn about the present and future of mining technology. Miners with Alpha Natural Resources will be available outside of the Coal and Coke Heritage Center to show examples of the latest technology available in the mines today.

A new addition to this year’s festival is a car show sponsored by the Penn State Fayette student organization, S.H.I.F.T.

Tickets to the Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival are $5 at the gate; children 4 years old and younger get in free. Miners also get in free with their Miner Certification Card, UMWA Card, Company ID Card, Miner's belt or Miner's hard hat. 

After conducting a nationwide search, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus has named Jason Broadwater as the new director of student and enrollment services.

Broadwater, a Fayette County native and current Connellsville resident, brings experience in university admissions and student services to Penn State Fayette.

Broadwater was previously employed with West Virginia University where he served as an admissions counselor and student services coordinator for the university’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism. As an admissions counselor, he increased student enrollment and generated participation in the National Alumni Recruitment Network. In his most recent role as student service coordinator, Broadwater developed and launched recruitment campaigns, created an internship connection blog for the School of Journalism, and garnered a 65 percent participation rate of graduating students completing an internship.

Penn State Fayette Chancellor Francis Achampong says Broadwater is joining a campus community that is focused on growing its student population and is therefore “an excellent fit.”

Not only has Broadwater contributed to the world of academia, he has also served as developer and philanthropist of the Andy B. Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation. This non-profit organization is working to develop a research fund to raise money for pediatric cancer research, awareness and support. Through Broadwater’s leadership, the organization has raised over $35,000.

Broadwater earned his master of science in integrated marketing communication from WVU and his bachelor of arts in communication from Bethany College.

Now in its fourth year, the Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival continues to celebrate and educate festival goers about the rich history of southwestern Pennsylvania’s coal and coke region. This September 10, when the festival again takes place at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus in Uniontown, Pa., the Coal and Coke Heritage Center will be open for tours and will be featuring a special exhibit about the importance of blacksmithing to the mining and coking industries of years past.

Elaine Hunchuck DeFrank, an oral historian for the Coal and Coke Heritage Center, explains, “Blacksmithing was a valued trade and coal and coke development hinged on the hands of the smiths. Every operation employed a blacksmith and some very small operations were serviced by a neighboring smith.”

In the hundred years between 1870 and 1970, a stretch 30 miles long and 3 miles wide between Mount Pleasant in Westmoreland County to the north and Smithfield in Fayette County to the south was known as the Connellsville Coal and Coke Region. The local coal mines and beehive coke ovens in the region provided the world-class fuel for Pittsburgh’s burgeoning steel industry.

DeFrank, who has researched local blacksmithing extensively, reports farriers were needed to shoe the horses and mules used in pre-mechanical mining operations, while blacksmiths made and repaired the many tools—including shovels, picks, drill bits and more—used by miners and the men tending the coke ovens.

“Some of those tools are on display at the Coal and Coke Heritage Center in the lower level of the library building on the Penn State Fayette campus,” DeFrank says.

According to DeFrank’s research, in the late 1700s blacksmith shops were found along what would become the National Road, present day Route 40. Then in 1867, John Moore, an émigré from England, bought property in Merritstown that had a blacksmith shop. Moore and and his four brothers, Earl, Orie, Ira and Robert, were blacksmiths and farriers and served the needs of growing communities along Route 40.

By the turn of the 20th century, Wildey’s blacksmith shop and livery stable was operating in Uniontown, and there were other blacksmiths and farriers in the region, as well. Lazonia Christopher and his wife, Sarah, migrated from Pisgah, W. Va. to Fairchance, Pa., in 1901. After working at several mines as a blacksmith, Christopher opened his own blacksmith shop around 1908, helped by his four sons.

DeFrank says Christopher and his son, Earnest, soon became known for their solid-steel “Christopher Pick,” a miner’s tool with a specially-tempered tip. “The popularity of the pick prompted Christopher to apply for a trademark and in 1925 a registered trademark bearing the Christopher name was documented in the U.S. Bureau of patents.”

The Industrial Revolution and technology eventually displaced blacksmiths, but their history is important, DeFrank points out. Not only did these tradesmen provide for the coal and coke industries, they provided services for area farmers and others.

Visitors to the Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival will be able to see some of the tools blacksmiths made for the mining and coke industries, and they will be able to see a blacksmithing demonstration. Nick Ireys from Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington, Pa., will be demonstrating blacksmithing at the festival at various times during the day—at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.

The Coal and Coke Heritage Center will also be featuring its latest book, “Another Time Another World: Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal, Coke, and Communities” by John A. Enman, as present-day miners will be talking about the high-tech mining industry of today.

The Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival is a family-friendly festival that offers musical entertainment of all kinds, as well as food, local arts and crafts, the popular Kiddie Koal Mine, and Zambelli fireworks. This year the S.H.I.F.T. Car Show will also be taking place at the festival. Featured entertainers include Johnny Angel & The Halos, Harold Betters, The Stickers, Dr. Zoot and the Suits, Tres Lads, Augsburg German Band, and NewLanders, plus local dance ensembles and other entertainers. Tickets are $5; children 4 years old and younger get in free. Miners also get in free with their Miner Certification Card, UMWA Card, Company ID Card, Miner's belt or Miner's hard hat. Additional details about the festival are available at The Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival website: www.coalandcokemusicfest.org.

Key sponsors of this year’s festival include Alpha Natural Resources, Geneva Marketing Group, Herald-Standard.com, The Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette, PA Department of Tourism, CRH Catering and Gerome Manufacturing.

Chad Long, assistant director of student affairs says he wanted to ask Winter to visit campus to share his insights on social media because it is a topic that affects students and members of the community on a daily basis. “Often, people display personal information without thinking twice about who can access it including total strangers. I hope not only students, but also members of the community will take away the knowledge on how to protect themselves.”

Winter is an associate in the litigation department at Saul Ewing where his area of expertise is commercial litigation. He is also a pro bono committee member at the firm.

Alpha Natural Resources of Waynesburg, Pa., pledged $65,000 over the course of five years to support the scholarship fund for incoming high school seniors who are pursuing an associate degree in mining technology. The mining technology program at Penn State Fayette offers students an education that blends science and mathematics with management practices and applied courses in mining technology to prepare students for supervisory roles in the mining industry.

“The Penn State Mining Technology degree program was specifically designed to fast-track graduates to supervisory roles in the mining industry. By providing this scholarship opportunity for our students, Alpha Natural Resources, a key employer in the region, is helping to make a quality Penn State education affordable,” explains Lori Omatick, director of development for Penn State Fayette. “Alpha Natural Resources’ partnership with Penn State Fayette is well established and we are pleased with this generous gift that benefits our students.”

Jim Blanc, director human resources for Alpha Natural Resources, says Alpha Natural Resources supports Penn State Fayette’s mining technology degree program in an effort to expand educational opportunities and to encourage students to enter the coal mining industry for a rewarding and challenging career. “The mining technology degree program provides students with a specialized education to help prepare them to become skilled, educated supervisors,” he adds.

Scholarship awards are made by Penn State Fayette’s Scholarship Selection Committee. Students who are selected to receive the scholarship are eligible to apply again the following year.

Already two students have been awarded the new scholarship. The scholarship recipients are Allen Cottrell Jr. of Smithfield, Pa., and Lee Higginbotham of Hopwood, Pa. Both Cottrell and Higginbotham are incoming freshmen mining technology students for the fall 2011 semester at Penn State Fayette.

Comedian Ty Barnett of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and Comedy Central fame will tickle audiences’ funny bones Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. The public is invited to attend this free event at Swimmer Hall in the Williams Building.

Barnett is one of the most requested comedians in colleges across the country. He has a unique way of addressing difficult subjects, such as race and religion, with laughter. Barnett’s edgy and smart comedy charms audiences to laugh and think about social issues.

Barnett grew up in Chicago’s South Side, where he relied on his charm and humor. His ability to make people from different cultures laugh became a valuable asset. In 2002, he was voted up-and-coming comedian of the year at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and was named outstanding performer at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival. Fans of “Last Comic Standing” will recognize Barnett as the runner-up on season four in 2006.

Barnett has appeared on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and HBO’s “Bad Boys of Comedy.” He has hosted his own stand-up shows on Comedy Central and is a regular guest on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” on CBS. He has performed with many comedy powerhouses including Al Green, Chris Rock and Robert Schimmel.

A new book written by a local author examines why and how athletes are permitted to use anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs at the collegiate, professional and international levels. Titled T/E Ratios and Steroids: The Gray Areas of Athletics, the book is the result of years of research by Frank Georgiana Jr., an information resources and services support specialist at the library at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.

Georgiana has been studying the subject since 1970 and his research often proved challenging.

“The makings of my book were marked by the positive as well as the negative, including much difficulty in getting questions answered by some national and international sports associations about Testosterone to Epitestosterone Ratios.” This was tremendously frustrating for Georgiana, but he persisted and eventually was able to talk to some key sources. “The NCAA and Major League Baseball eventually confirmed my suspicions about T/E Ratios.”

Georgiana says the extreme controversy about performance-enhancing drugs is a real hurdle to people who might otherwise be willing to talk about the subject. “Only the National Football League came forward—twice, without any hesitation, delay or denial—to confirm that Testosterone to Epitestosterone Ratios exist in their league.”

From a young age Georgiana was interested in learning about nutrition and exercise programs, in large part inspired by his father who was a gifted athlete. “My father excelled in six different sports: football, basketball, baseball, track and field, cross-country and boxing.” Georgiana learned these sports from his father, but he explains his father’s most important contribution was his coaching on sound nutritional and exercise principles.

As he grew as a young man and encountered obstacles to participating in sports in school Georgiana began researching and educating himself about medicine and science in earnest. “I studied all aspects of exercise physiology and nutritional biochemistry. I even researched anabolic steroids, human growth hormones and other performance-enhancing drugs. What I did not learn from books, I learned from the medical and scientific specialists in their respective fields.”

That accumulation of information became T/E Ratios and Steroids: The Gray Areas of Athletics, published by Stefano’s Printing Inc. in Dunbar, Pa. T/E Ratios and Steroids is available at a number of locations, including the Uniontown Giant Eagle store, eBay and at frankgeorgiana.com.

Elementary and middle school math teachers are back in school this summer to learn new concepts for the classroom. Teachers from Connellsville, Uniontown, Carmichaels, Ringgold, Washington, Brownsville, Jefferson Morgan, IU1 and Champion Christian School are taking part in the second-year of a three-year professional development program called The Math Academy, developed in partnership by Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus and the Intermediate Unit One Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education.

The program is funded through a grant of $192,500 each year to the academy to promote Algebra readiness in grades three through eight.

Last year, the academy focused on the concept of numeracy, how you think about whole numbers. This year, participating educators are deepening their understanding of rational numbers, which are numbers that can be written as a fraction. Next year’s focus will be geometry.

The key component of the academy is to instruct educators on how to make mathematical concepts more hands-on and, in turn, more accessible to students of varying mathematical abilities.

Paul Coltus, program support for the math academy, says the more traditional way of teaching mathematical concepts is difficult for today’s students to grasp. “Educators are finding out that students are more tactile when it comes to learning. Current students are not visual learners like they have been in the past. It has come to a point where the old styles are getting phased out and mathematical manipulatives are taking their place.”

Coltus explains by using learning tools, such as fraction pie puzzles and geoboards, a student who is a high achiever at math can help another student who may be struggling with the concept by demonstrating how to use these manipulatives.

Amy Lewis, of the IU1 and coordinator of the Math Academy, explains how essential interactive learning is to students. “We are using strategies that have been developed by research to teach concepts that are troublesome for students. Using a hands-on approach helps a student develop a deeper understanding of difficult concepts. It is our hope that educators who participate in the academy walk away with a renewed confidence level of the concepts and learn different techniques to make a classroom connection.”

Lewis also added that she hopes the 51 educators in attendance this summer take the opportunity to participate in professional networking through the school year.

Instructing the educators this year are Nicole Hill, a math professor at Penn State Fayette who crafted the curriculum for the program; Harry Lynch, a retired high school math teacher; Mindy Harris, a math coach from Uniontown Area School District is teaching classroom connections; and Lewis.

This year Hill, Lewis and Penn State Fayette Director of Outreach Joseph Segilia worked together to develop the academy.

Segilia explains, “In its partnerships with The Math Academny, Penn State Fayette is reaching out to the area’s education system and is helping to address a need, helping teachers become more effective in the classroom. In using the resources of the university, such as its mathematics faculty, our campus can connect with the school districts and teachers who educate the youth of the community.”

The countdown is on for the 2011 Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival September 10 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. This year’s festival will feature a lineup of musical performers that will entertain festival attendees of all ages. The lineup includes Johnny Angel and The Halos, Harold Betters, The Stickers, NewLanders and more.

Every year this special festival celebrates the culture, labor and music of the coal and coke region of southwestern Pennsylvania. The festival offers a full day of musical entertainment of all kinds, as well as ethnic foods of the region, local arts and crafts, the popular Kiddie Koal Mine, and fireworks! This year, the S.H.I.F.T. Car Show will also be taking place at the festival.

For more than 30 years, Johnny Angel and The Halos have been delivering high-energy shows that has the audience on its feet dancing. The band, which specializes in music from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, has performed with music industry powerhouses from those decades including The Four Tops, James Brown, The Beach Boys, The Turtles and The Monkees. Johnny Angel and The Halos will perform at 8 p.m.

Festival favorite, Harold Betters, will return for his fourth consecutive festival to entertain the audience with his unique form of jazz at 4:30 p.m. This Connellsville, Pa., native has performed at venues locally and across the country. Betters has worked with music legends Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong, who described Betters’ music as “rich and honest.”

Fans of country music will want to see The Stickers perform at 6:30 p.m. The Pittsburgh-based band’s current single “She Don’t Like a Thing” jumped 10 spots to No. 25 in its second week on the charts. This marks their third single to break into the Top 40 this year. The band has opened for several famous country acts, including Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, Clint Black and Blake Shelton.

Swing band Dr. Zoot and the Suits is making its first appearance at the festival this year. Founded in 1998 at a local club in Pittsburgh, Dr. Zoot and the Suits has grown into a nationally recognized swing band. Dr. Zoot and the Suits regularly perform in Atlantic City, N.J., Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville in Key West, Fla., and other venues. They take the stage Sept. 10 at 3 p.m.

NewLanders is returning for its fourth festival performance. They bring a unique style of musical storytelling to the Coal and Coke Heritage Center at 1:30 p.m. By combining traditional instruments, like the Appalachian lap dulcimer and mandolin, with rich harmonies and electric instruments, NewLanders is able to bring to life stories of the western Pennsylvania region.

Tres Lads, an acoustic trio from Pittsburgh, is a new addition to this year’s festival. The band’s robust sound is attributed to all three “Lads” singing lead and playing guitar. Tres Lads covers crowd favorites such as Journey, Queen, The Beatles, Jane’s Addiction, Oasis and Bon Jovi. Tres Lads will perform at 1:30 p.m.

One musical group that has been a part of the festival from the beginning is the Augsburg German Band. A favorite band at western Pennsylvania Oktoberfests, clubs and festivals, the band will get the audience on its feet to polka! Augsburg German Band will take the stage at noon.

For the second year, Zambelli fireworks will wrap up the day-long activities.

Tickets for the Coal and Coke Festival are $5 in advance or at the gate. Children 4-years-old and younger, as well as miners, get in free.

“I’m very excited to add wrestling to our intercollegiate athletic program,” explains Vince Capozzi, the campus’ athletic director. “With the popularity of the sport in our area, it seemed like a natural fit for us.”

The school’s first home match will be Saturday, Nov. 16, when the Roaring Lions host Penn State New Kensington at 7 p.m. in Penn State Fayette’s Community Center Main Arena.

Former Uniontown Area High School head wrestling coach Jerry Simon will lead the fledgling program at Penn State Fayette. Simon graduated from California University of Pennsylvania in 1967 with a teaching degree. He was a three-year member of that school’s wrestling team, serving as captain in his senior season. At Uniontown, Simon spent 25 years as the head wrestling coach, where he also taught French and Spanish for 38 years. He retired from both positions in 2005.

After six years on the sideline, Simon notes he is eager to get back into coaching. “I’m very excited to be a part of starting this program at Penn State Fayette. Penn State has a great wrestling tradition and I’m looking forward to establishing that here at Fayette,” Simon says.

Simon also noted that it is not too late for high school graduates to enroll at Penn State Fayette and participate in the wrestling program this fall.

Capozzi points out, “We are very fortunate to have someone with Jerry’s experience. He is very enthusiastic and really knows the sport.”

The addition of wrestling brings the total number of intercollegiate varsity sports offered at the Fayette campus to nine. The others are Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Co-ed Golf, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Women’s Softball, and Men’s Baseball.

For more information about the Penn State Fayette wrestling program, visit the school’s athletic website at www.goroaringlions.com or contact the Athletic Department at 724-430-4100, Ext. 4515.

This July, upcoming high school seniors have an opportunity to discover the benefits of a Penn State education and all that Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus has to offer during “Spend a Summer Evening.” The event, which will include a picnic reception, will be held at the campus’ Community Center on Wednesday, July 20, from 6-8 p.m.

Prospective students can experience life at Penn State Fayette by taking a campus tour, participating in a scavenger hunt, and meeting with Penn State Fayette faculty. Visitors can also learn about Penn State’s 160-plus majors, including six baccalaureate degrees and nine associate degrees that can be completed locally at Penn State Fayette. Admissions and student aid staff will be on hand to answer questions.

For more information and to register, call 724-430-4130 or register online at www.fayette.psu.edu.

Director of Outreach Joseph Segilia explains, “The various camps that are offered at Penn State Fayette throughout the summer enrich and enhance the education students are receiving from their school districts. Additionally, it allows participants to explore academic areas they might want to pursue in higher education and a variety of careers that may be of interest to them.”

Mining camp will take place July 18-22 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the history of coal in the local region, conduct experiments, and explore a mine that is used to design products that increase safety in coal mining.

During the week of July 27-30, students who enroll in the SAT Prep Camp will learn tips, tricks and testing techniques to help on the SAT. An overview of the writing, critical reading and mathematics sections will be given. The camp will meet each day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information about the Mining or SAT Prep Camps, contact Penn State Fayette’s Continuing Education office  at 724-430-4211. To complete the camp release and health forms, visit www.fayette.psu.edu and click on Continuing Education.

Week one will take place July 11-14, and offers a wide variety of classes such as your favorite seuss!; heroes and villains; little tea cups; tennis; and nature-palooza. During week two, July 18-21, students can participate in sitting under the stars; become a chess master; crime scene investigator; and art blast. Important components of the classes include safety and meeting students from other school districts.  The fee for each class is $55, which also includes lunch. There is a discount for students who take four classes or more.

For more information, a complete schedule of Kids in College courses or to register, call 724-430-4211 or visit www.fayette.psu.edu and click on Continuing Education.

The Uniontown Hospital Auxiliary donated $10,000 to Penn State Fayette’s Nursing Scholarship Program. The organization contributes annually to benefit students seeking a degree in nursing at the campus with proceeds from the group’s Festival of Trees fund-raising event. From the left:  Hospital Auxiliary President Sally Spegar and Festival of Trees Committee Co-chairs Mary Smolley and Joyce Hutchinson present the check to Penn State Fayette Chancellor Francis Achampong and Melissa Miner, coordinator of Penn State Fayette’s nursing program.

Forty-one students from six local school districts were inducted into the newly formed Fayette County 4.0 Club on Saturday, June 25, at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. The sophomores, juniors and graduating seniors from Albert Gallatin School District, Brownsville School District, Connellsville School District, Geibel Catholic High School, Laurel Highlands High School and Uniontown High School were offered admittance to this new organization by finishing the 2011 academic year with a cumulative 4.0 or better grade point average.

Jes Hutson, 4.0 Club Planning Committee chair and Penn State Fayette instructor, says, “With all the distractions in our current society and culture, it’s not easy for youngsters to always focus on their studies. These students who excel academically should be recognized for their achievement. They have a bright future ahead if they persist in their endeavors, and we wish them much success.”

Featured speakers at the event included Clara Pascoe, executive director of the Community Foundation of Fayette County, a co-sponsor of the event, who talked about scholarship opportunities available to students through the Foundation, and Joe Price of First Niagara, who recommended four tips to help the students make their way into the future: set priorities, have goals, be self-motivated, and have passion for what they want to do. Price also suggested that as the students grow and become successful, they can give back and become active members of their communities by volunteering.

Students inducted into the Fayette County 4.0 Club include:

• Albert Gallatin School District—Megan Coll, Crystal Dice, Jennifer Dice, Elizabeth Fotta, Courtney Hitchcock, Cullen Hoone, Alexa Martin, Abigail Nickerson, Austin Pegg, Brandon Pegg and Taylor Shipley.
• Brownsville School District— Rachael Fawley, Jennifer Kutek, Brandon Myrga and Angela Pelehac.
• Connellsville School District— Lindsey Boors, Stephanie Burkus, Kelsey Conn, Lindsey Dove, Sierra Emert, Michael Jacobyansky, Mikisa Solomon and Trey Vanek.
• Geibel Catholic High School—Nicholas Oppman.
• Laurel Highlands High School— Gianna Caromano, Emily Densmore, Breese Kasievich, Alyssa May, Elise Monaghan, Marcelle Murray, Alexander Rolaf,  Alyssa Springer, George Teslovich, Joseph Yuhas, Alexis Zawelensky and Benjamin Zuchelkowski.
• Uniontown High School—Mia DeFrank, Violet Bleu Kern, Erik Oscar Klatt, Alexandra Rohlf and Natalie Szewczyk.

Photos of the 2011 Fayette County Club Inductees

The Penn State Fayette Alumni Society invites the community to participate in the ninth annual Blue & White Golf Open to be held Friday, July 15, at the Uniontown Country Club. The golf event will be a “scramble” format, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The entry fee includes golf, use of a golf cart during the event, dinner, a chance to win prizes, and more. Deadline for sponsorships is July 6. Individual golfers are able to register up to the day of the outing. Proceeds from the event benefit the campus and community initiatives of the Penn State Fayette Alumni Society. For more information, call 724-430-4190.

Sophomore Kasey Ruble was named to the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) First Team, her second such time to be honored this year. Ruble was also named to the PSUAC First Team in basketball for 2010-11. Ruble led the Lady Roaring Lions with a .429 average, .683 slugging percentage, three home runs, 27 hits, seven doubles, 26 runs scored, 19 stolen bases and 12 RBIs in 22 games. Ruble also won three games, pitching eight complete games, striking out 41 batters in 56 innings.

Joining Ruble on the PSUAC teams are sophomore Sarah Swaney and freshman Jill Guthrie, both of whom earned PSUAC Second Team nods. Swaney became a valuable piece of the infield, moving to shortstop after injuries depleted the roster. Swaney picked up her play late, recording six hits in a doubleheader at Penn State Schuylkill, while hitting .264 with 10 RBIs and a team-high three triples in 21 games.

Guthrie joined Ruble as the only Lady Roaring Lions players to play in every game, becoming the primary backstop in all 22 games. Guthrie hit .413 with five doubles and one home run, and tied for the team lead with 12 RBIs while slugging .540. Her 16 runs scored were second only to Ruble, as were her 13 stolen bases.

The Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame will honor two Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus scholar-athletes for their hard work and dedication both on the field and in the classroom. Shannon Ardabell and Zachary Rockwell will be recognized at this year’s Sports Hall of Fame ceremony on June 25.

Ardabell, a senior softball player and administration of justice major, started her academic career at Shippensburg University, but transferred to Penn State Fayette in 2009. Before her transfer, Ardabell excelled at Rugby and won the 2008 Women’s Rugby National Championship at Shippensburg. Even though Penn State Fayette did not have a rugby team, Ardabell found another outlet for her love of sports.

“When I transferred to Fayette, I was upset that there wasn’t a rugby team,” she explains. “But then I was introduced to the softball team. I felt right at home, and I was able to make many friendships and belong to a team that I am proud of.”

Ardabell started 17 games in left field for the Lady Roaring Lions in 2011, hitting .250. She was second on the team with 11 RBI, and drew a team-high eight walks.

Her academic success earned her recognition on the PSUAC Academic Honor Roll and as a USCAA Academic All-American. Ardabell is also a 2006 Uniontown High School Graduate, where she lettered in basketball, softball and track.

Rockwell, a golfer and 2011 graduate with an associate degree in electrical engineering technology, led the Roaring Lions golf program to its best season ever. His individual performances included tournament titles at the Penn State Mont Alto Invitational and the Penn State New Kensington Tournament. Rockwell capped his individual accomplishments with a third place finish at the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference Championships and an eighth place finish at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships. Rockwell averaged 77.5 in six tournament rounds in 2010.

“What really was most enjoyable about the competition was the friendships and meeting new people,” says Rockwell about his tournament experience.

Success on the golf course did not stop Rockwell from excelling in the classroom, as he carried a 3.93 cumulative GPA, and earned acceptance into the Pi Sigma Phi Honor Society at Penn State Fayette. His academic achievements earned him spots on the PSUAC Academic Honor Roll and USCAA Academic All-American team.

Rockwell is a 2004 graduate of Uniontown High School where he lettered in golf.

Ardabell, Rockwell and other area scholar athletes will be recognized at the 2011 Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony on Saturday, June 25, at 5:30 p.m. at Penn State Fayette’s Community Center.

High school students from seven local Fayette County schools will be inducted into Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus’ 4.0 Club on Saturday, June 25, at 9:30 a.m. in the Community Center Main Arena on campus. Graduating seniors, along with juniors and sophomores, who finished the 2011 academic year with a cumulative 4.0 or better GPA since starting high school were offered admittance to this new organization.

Jes Hutson, Planning Committee chair and Penn State Fayette kinesiology instructor, explains, “There are banquets and events in Fayette County to honor athletes, scholar-athletes and students involved in community service, and it made sense to try and start something county-wide to recognize and honor our very best and brightest students with a 4.0 or better GPA.”

The Community Foundation of Fayette County is sponsoring the inaugural year of the 4.0 Club. Tickets for the event are free for the inductees and $8 for guests. The event includes a light breakfast.

Letters containing information about the 4.0 Club were sent to all county high schools. However, if a qualifying student did not receive information, please contact the admissions office at 724-430-4130. All reservations must be made by June 21. No tickets will be sold at the door.

This summer, upcoming high school seniors have an opportunity to explore the benefits of a Penn State education and all that Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus has to offer during “Spend a Summer Evening.” The event, which will include a picnic reception, will be held at the campus’ Community Center on Wednesday, June 22, from 6-8 p.m.

Prospective students can experience what it is like to attend Penn State Fayette by taking a campus tour, participating in a scavenger hunt and meeting with Penn State Fayette faculty. Plus, attendees can learn about Penn State’s 160-plus majors, including six baccalaureate degrees and nine associate degrees that can be completed locally at Penn State Fayette. Admissions and student aid staff will be on hand to answer questions.

For more information and to register, call 724-430-4130 or register online at www.fayette.psu.edu.

Kids in College features courses in Sports and Fitness, which include Zumba, tennis, and physical fitness; Liberal Arts and History with classes ranging from acting and literature to a celebration of the Mexican culture; Arts and Crafts classes including a no-bake cooking class, recycled art, and digital photography; and Math and Science courses including “ooey gooey” science, “awe-sum” math, and the science of weather. The fee for each course is $55. There is a discount for students who take four classes or more.

For more information, a complete schedule of Kids in College courses or to register, call 724-430-4211 or visit www.fayette.psu.edu and click on Continuing Education.

The partnership evolved in response to requests from the local mining industry in Somerset County, which wanted local residents to have an opportunity to pursue the unique degree program closer to home. Classes may begin as early as June 6 if enough students are enrolled.

Penn State Fayette Chancellor Francis Achampong explains, “Meeting the educational and workforce development needs of our communities is at the core of our mission. Being able to partner with the Alleghany College of Maryland to bring our mining technology program to Somerset County demonstrates our commitment in this regard.”

Allegany College of Maryland President Cynthia Bambara adds, “We’re delighted to have a memorandum of understanding for the needed program in this area. It’s a win-win for the Somerset County campus of Allegany College of Maryland and Penn State Fayette.”

Penn State Fayette’s mining technology degree program is the only one of its kind in the state and trains students to assume a leadership role in the mining industry. Prospective students have the opportunity to choose a maintenance or production focus—or a combination. The maintenance-oriented track prepares students to become maintenance supervisors, while the production-oriented track educates students to become mine supervisors or engineering aids.

Bringing the mining technology degree program to Somerset County may be a boon to the local economy, as well as individuals— including recent high school graduates—who are looking for a good career.

Anyone interested in learning more about the mining technology degree program in Somerset should call 724-430-4130.

Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus Chancellor Francis Achampong and Allegany College of Maryland President Cynthia Bambara sign a memorandum of understanding to bring Penn State’s Associate Degree in Mining Technology to ACM’s Somerset Campus. Also attending the signing are (from left): Joe Segilia, Penn State Fayette director of Outreach and Continuing Education; Larry Hunchuck, Penn State Fayette program coordinator and instructor of mining technology; Hank Parke, director of public relations at PBS Coals, Inc; and James Snider, Allegany College of Maryland vice president of Pennsylvania campuses.

Six summer camps will be offered from June 13-Aug. 4:

• June 13-16—High school students in grades nine through 12 can learn about future occupations during Health Care Career Camp.
• June 20-23—Students will learn basketball and team building skills during Basketball School. Boys in grades kindergarten through sixth and girls in grades kindergarten through seventh are eligible to attend Basketball School.
• July 11-14—High school students in grades nine through 12 can attend SAT Prep Camp to learn how to tackle the SAT exam.
• July 25-28—High school students in grades nine through 12 can explore advanced industry technologies in Mining camp.
• Aug. 1-4—Students in grades six through eight can attend CAMP Tech. Participants will have the opportunity to choose between a robotics or animation focused camp.

For more information about the 2011 summer camps or to register, call 724-430-4211 or visit www.fayette.psu.edu and click on Continuing Education.

More than 30 Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus’ students received awards honoring academic and athletic achievements at the annual awards banquet held this spring. Among the evening’s top honors were:

The Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award, named in honor of the late Penn State President and Mrs. Eric Walker, was presented to Brent Lint. The award was established in 1971 to recognize a full-time undergraduate student who possesses outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship in programs and services that have positively influenced students and contributed to the campus and its prestige. A junior business major, Lint has been active on campus as well as in the community. He has served in several campus life and leadership organizations including the Student Government Association, Academic Affairs Committee, Student Activities Committee, THON Team, Blue and White Society, Business Club, and Pi Sigma Phi Honors Society. He also volunteers as a teaching aid Learning Center tutor, and note taker and mentor for Disability Services. In addition to campus life, Lint volunteers for numerous community service agencies including, Big Brothers Big Sisters, American Heart Association, Salvation Army, Lymphoma Society and he is an Eagle Scout. Lint has received several honors including the Port Family Public Service Award, and most recently the Herald-Standard Community Service All-Star Award.

The Dennis Hippo Memorial Award, in honor of Dennis Hippo, a member of Penn State Fayette’s first graduating class who was killed in action in Vietnam, is awarded to one male and one female full-time student each year. The recipients must exemplify the attributes of Hippo in the areas of leadership, campus and community involvement, academic persistence, service and altruism. This year’s award recipients were Brittany Mihalko and Corey Spaw. A junior engineering major, Mihalko has been involved in many campus clubs and organizations, including the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); Women in Science Engineering and Technology (WISET); THON Team; Pi Sigma Phi Honors Society; and the Blue and White Society. Most notable, Mihalko founded Grow, Recycle Energize, and Educate for a better eNvironment (GREEN), a campus student club. Spaw is a junior Human Development and Family Studies major. He has been involved with the Student Government Association, where he served as a senator in 2010 and vice president in 2011. He has been active as a member of the THON Team for three years, serving as the financial captain in 2010 and morale captain in 2011. He is also involved in several clubs and organizations, including Lion Ambassadors, Diversified Students Association, Student Activities Committee and the Coalition for Equity.

The Scholastic Excellence Award recognizes students who compete in a written and oral academic research presentation. This year’s finalists were John Peck, Katie Smaniotto and Hongyuan Zhan. Zhan was the award recipient.

The complete list of student award winners includes:

Leadership Awards

• Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award: Brent Lint
• Dennis Hippo Memorial Award: Brittany Mihalko and Corey Spaw

University Awards

• Evan Pugh Scholar Award: Jessica Smell
• Freshman President’s Awards: Tyler Degusipe, Cody Gibson, Frances Gilmore, Brett Greene, Heather Hunchuck, Alan King, Mitchell McCloskey, Vincent Micoli, Samantha Molton, Jacob Phelps, Jerrett Porterfield, Brittney Stremp, Lisier Torres, Devon Tressler, Garrett Wingrove

Academic Awards:

• Administration of Justice Student of the Year Award: Jason Wingfield
• Associates in Business Award: Tricia Haas
• Bachelors of Science in Business Award: Marissa Thomas
• English and American Studies Award: Jessica Smell
• Human Development & Family Studies Baccalaureate Award: Jennifer Cavallo
• Kinesiology Award: Brandon Mitchell (Fall), Tyler Burd (Spring)
• Math Award: William Aldom
• Philosophy Award: Zachary Craig
• Thelma Sandy Award in Nursing: Ashely Ludwig (Fall), Saumya Sebastian (Spring)

Campus Awards

• Scholastic Excellence Award Winner: Hongyuan Zhan
• Port Family Public Service Award: Brent Lint
• Joanne Genova Sujansky Memorial Leadership Award: Rebecca Johnson
• Drozd Family Humanitarian Assistance and Community Service Award: Therman King
• Club of the Year Award: Superior Hotrods and Import Focused Team (S.H.I.F.T.)

Athletic Awards

• United States Collegiate Athletic Association Academic All-American Honors: Nicole Garrety (women’s basketball); Ian McCombs (men’s basketball); Zack Rockwell and Michael Peton (golf); and Shannon Ardabell (softball)
• United States Collegiate Athletic Association First Team All-American: Leah Ambrosini (volleyball)
• United States Collegiate Athletic Association Honorable Mention: Katie Sleasman (volleyball) and Sam Beucher (baseball)
• Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Player-of-the-Year: Leah Ambrosini (volleyball) and Sam Beucher (baseball)
• Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Setter-of-the-Year: Katie Sleasman
• Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Newcomer-of-the-Year: Jillian Guthrie (women’s basketball)
• Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) All-Conference First Team Honors: Jillian Guthrie and Kasey Ruble (women’s basketball); Jennifer Naymick (cross country); Leah Ambrosini, Katie Sleasman and Marney Hillen (volleyball); Seth Rockwell (golf); and Sam Beucher and Cody Ward (baseball); and Kasey Ruble (softball).
• Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) All-Conference Second Team Honors: David Winns (men’s basketball); Kayla Hatfield (women’s basketball); Alex Rossi (volleyball); and Sarah Swaney (softball)
• Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) All-Academic Team:
Sam Beucher (baseball); Ian McCombs, Chris Hunchuck and Alex Santella (men’s basketball); Nicole Garrety, Kayla Hatfield, Ashley Knauer and Shelby Yourchik (women’s basketball); Leah Ambrosini, Marney Hillen, Ashley Knauer, Lacey Matthews, Alex Rossi and Megan Tirpak (volleyball); Shannon Ardabell, Megan Hall and Sarah Swaney (softball); Jen Naymick (cross country); Seth Rockwell, Michael Peton, Marino McGalla and Robert Neubauer (golf); and Shannon Ardabell, Megan Hall, Marney Hillen, Taylor Lux, Jessica Roby and Sarah Swaney (softball).

The winners of the “Jack McMullen Memorial Radio Production Contest” at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus were named at a special awards presentation May 5 at the campus. Zak Risha of Uniontown, Pa., a sophomore secondary education student, was named the winner for his entry, “Changes in Fayette County I’ve experienced in my 22 years.” The runner-up was Marshall Fife of Coal Center, Pa., a junior business major, for his production titled “Boxing in S.W. PA.”

Awards plaques and cash prizes of $250 and $100, respectively, were presented to the winners by three of the contest judges and John A. McMullen II. The winners’ entries will become part of the Oral History Project at the Coal and Coke Heritage Center, and Risha has been interviewed on-air by WKPS at State College, Pa., and WMBS in Uniontown.

McMullen instituted the contest to honor his father, John “Jack” McMullen, who passed away in 2005. For nearly 50 years, Jack McMullen was a radio personality, news director, disc jockey and play-by-play announcer on local radio stations. The contest was proposed as a learning experience for Penn State Fayette students.

Six Penn State Fayette students submitted entries in the competition. The other students and their entries included Stephen Dzambo, “Transitioning from high school to college: a true learning experience”; Adam Filburn, “Observations of a retail cashier”; Rachel Franks, “How technology has changed teens”; and Kelly Huston, “For the kids, my experience as a THON dancer.”

Contest judges who presented the awards included Judge Fred C. Adams, Fayette County Court of Common Pleas, retired:  Dr. Evelyn Hovanec, Penn State Fayette associate professor emerita; and Brian Mroziak, WMBS’ station manager. The other judges were Robert Eberly Jr. of Hilton Head, S.C., and Boshra Gheopreal, program manager of WKPS, The Lion—“The Voice of Penn State.”

McMullen gave the keynote address in which he honored the student’s efforts “at this particular audio art called radio, and to single out the best among you,” and went on to memorialize his father. In describing his father’s career, McMullen remembered one of his father’s famous abilities: “Jack McMullen was fearless as a public speaker. He was a grand raconteur—a fancy French name for a great story-teller. I never saw him prepare. He just got up there and improvised and charmed.”

McMullen also recognized Dr. F. Russell Filburn, senior instructor in communication arts and sciences who coordinated the contest, and Bobby Salitrik, Penn State Fayette’s multimedia specialist who assisted the students in the audio production of their entries.

Sponsors of the contest are John A. McMullen II of Oakland, Calif., a Penn State alumnus, and Carolyn J. Ciarlo McMullen, widow of the honoree. Plans to continue the contest next year and make it a permanent fixture are under consideration.

Listen to or read the transcripts of the winning contestants.

Pamela S. Moore was honored as the recipient of the 26th Outstanding Fellow Award by Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus on May 12. The award was presented by Penn State Fayette Chancellor Dr. Francis K. Achampong at a special meeting and ceremony of the Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette at the Uniontown Country Club.

The “Outstanding Fellow of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus” was established in 1985 by two local businessmen. Their intent was to honor a “community leader” whose support of the campus had been so exemplary as to warrant special recognition by the Advisory Board and its administration, faculty, staff and students. Considering that Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus does not grant honorary degrees, the “Outstanding Fellow Award” is the highest honor the campus can bestow. The recipients of this award possess the qualities that truly illustrate the phrase, “Penn State proud.”

Achampong says, “Pam epitomizes volunteerism and engaged citizenship at its best. She has given generously of her time, energy, and talents to multiple endeavors at Penn State Fayette over the years. We not only wanted to thank her profusely for that but also wanted to recognize her in a befitting way, and this award allows us to do just that.”

Moore was born and raised in Uniontown, and is the daughter of Darrell and Margaret Moore. She began her career with Crown American in 1981 as a marketing director at the Uniontown Mall. She was promoted to regional marketing director in 1985 and in 1988 she became the general manager of Washington Crown Center in Washington, Pa. In 1992, Moore returned home to become general manager of the Uniontown Mall, a role she retains today. Throughout her career, Moore has received a variety of accolades for her professional accomplishments.

Moore also has a strong belief in volunteerism and is involved with several community organizations, including the Penn State Fayette community. She has served as a committee chair for the Penn State Blues and White Gala since its inception three years ago, has generously supported Penn State Fayette’s THON Team for many years, and she regularly supports a number of Penn State Fayette’s signature cultural and athletic events.

Moore also is involved with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. In 2002 and 2003, Moore became the first female president of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. Moore served as the Uniontown Rotary Club President in 2003 and 2004. During her presidency, the club received “Club of the Year” and “the “Presidential Citation.” Individually, she was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow in 2005, was chosen as the 2009 Rotarian of the Year, and obtained the Governor’s District Service award in 2008 and 2010.

Moore has received several other awards for her commitment to community service including the Captain’s Star Award from the Salvation Army in 2007; the Fayette Chamber of Commerce’s Herman Buck Award for Community Service; the Chamber Presidential Award; the Circle of Excellence Award; and most recently, she was named the Fayette County Citizen of the Year by the Fayette Chamber of Commerce.

Currently, Moore serves on the board of Communities In Schools, the Fayette Business and Industrial Development Corporation, the Fayette County Flag Committee, The Salvation Army, and the Fayette Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee.

Ward finished the season with a .477 batting average, second in the PSUAC and fourth in the nation. He was second in the conference in stolen bases, swiping 14 in 15 attempts.

Beucher hit .327 with five home runs and a team- high 24 RBI. His five home runs (including a Grand Slam) led the PSUAC and placed him seventh in the nation.

Since 1981, women have gathered at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus to enjoy a day of motivation, personal growth and laughter at the annual Women’s Day on Campus. This year, Women’s Day turns 30-years-old and will be held Thursday, May 19, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the campus’ Community Center.

The featured speaker for the 2011 Women’s Day is award-winning humorist Dan Bain. In 1994, Bain was inducted into the world of comedy when coworkers asked him to emcee a company party. Since these humble beginnings, Bain has entertained crowds at Fortune 50 corporate events, national conferences and a taping of “Wheel of Fortune.” Bain’s work has been published in several well known collections including “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and “America’s Funniest Humor.” In the past four years, he has written “Bain’s Beat,” a humor column for Raleigh’s Midtown Magazine.

This year’s Women’s Day workshops include: “G.I. Issues for Women,” a discussion about various digestive problems that ail women, presented by gastroenterologist Dr. Raji Balu; “The Estate Planning Needs of Women,” presented by Linda Cordaro, Esquire, that offers a look at the estate planning concerns that are common to most women; and “Keep on gardening…until you’re planted!,” a workshop that looks at how to make gardening an activity that can be enjoyed by people throughout their life, presented by home gardener, master gardener and garden writer Susan Brimo-Cox.

More than 30 local agencies and businesses will take part in the Community Service and Informational Fair. Women’s Day participants can gather information about services and volunteer opportunities from the participating organizations.

Women’s Day Committee Chair Tina Reed says, “For the past 29 years, Women’s Day has been a very popular and important event on many women’s spring calendars. I think the popularity stems from the fact the event not only offers much to enjoy, learn and celebrate, but it also has very uplifting and engaging speakers as well as informative workshops. In addition, the women who visit the Community Service and Informational Fair walk away with a lot of information about volunteer opportunities and services from the participating agencies and businesses.”

Registration for Women’s Day is required and participation is limited. Registration by May 13 is $20; after May 13 is $25. For more information or to register, call 724-430-4144.

David B. Meredith, P.E., associate professor of general engineering at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, received the 2011 Marion Smith Service Award from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at The Ohio State University.

The award honors Ohio State alumni who have contributed to their community, the university and/or society.

Meredith organizes a number of events at Penn State Fayette designed for middle and high school students, including E-Days, MathCOUNTS, Girrl Power!, Pi Day, JETS/TEAMS competition and Engineering Explorer Post 614 sponsored by McMillen Engineering. These annual events encourage students to explore careers related to science, technology, engineering and mathematical fields.

“It is real honor to receive this award, because I knew Dean Marion Smith when I was a student. He got me started giving talks to high school students about engineering and also started my teaching career when he made me an engineering tutor. Forty years later, I am still doing both,” says Meredith. “I am very excited to share information about STEM with members of the community, especially middle and high school students. Math truly is the universal language and, if I can convey how important this concept is to today’s youth, then that is reward enough for me.”

Award recipients were chosen by the Mechanical Engineering Alumni Recognition Committee, which includes faculty and members of the department’s external advisory board. The award is named after Marion Smith who earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1947 from Ohio State and went on to serve the college for more than 37 years as a faculty member and associate dean of the College of Engineering.

Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus launched the public phase of its efforts in For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students recently at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa during the third annual Blues and White Gala scholarship fundraiser. The announcement was made by Dr. Francis Achampong, chancellor of Penn State Fayette, and Joseph A. Hardy III, volunteer chair of the campus campaign committee.

Hardy issued a surprise challenge to the alumni and friends of the campus in attendance, stating that he would match campaign contributions and commitments received by June 30, 2011, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to a total of $250,000. He said, “I hope that this challenge will give the campaign a spark and spur excitement among our community.”

The Penn State University-wide For the Future campaign is directed toward a shared vision of Penn State as the most comprehensive, student-centered research university in America. The university is engaging Penn State’s alumni and friends as partners in achieving six key objectives: ensuring student access and opportunity, enhancing honors education, enriching the student experience, building faculty strength and capacity, fostering discovery and creativity, and sustaining the university’s tradition of quality. The campaign’s top priority is keeping a Penn State degree affordable for students and families by securing scholarship support. The For the Future campaign is the most ambitious effort of its kind in Penn State’s history, with the university aiming to raise $2 billion by 2014.

Achampong announced a Penn State Fayette campaign goal of $8 million. Since its launch in January 2007, the campus has raised nearly $2.3 million. Achampong said, “This campaign is extremely important because of its focus on our students, 90 percent of whom currently qualify for financial aid. Although we have achieved nearly one-third of our goal, we still have a long way to go.”

Hardy added, “Penn State Fayette is a tremendous asset to our community as the only four-year degree-granting institution in the county. We need to create a ‘stampede’ of support for the campus to make certain that we give our students every opportunity to attain a world-class education.”

Other members of the volunteer campaign committee include Vice Chairman Robert Eberly III, Debra Brede, Terry McMillen and Joshua Swimmer.

Douglas Matthews, senior vice president of tubular operations at United States Steel Corporation, will share thoughts and insights with the 2011 graduating class of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus on May 14 as the featured speaker at the campus’ commencement ceremony. Mathews is a Uniontown native and 1987 Penn State graduate.

Matthews attended Penn State Fayette and graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Duquesne University. In 1988, Matthews joined U.S. Steel Corp. as a management associate at the Edgar Thomson Plant, Mon Valley Works’ steelmaking facility near Pittsburgh.

Matthews quickly progressed through increasingly responsible management roles with the company. From 1998-2003, he oversaw iron production at the former USS/KOBE steelmaking venture in Lorain, Ohio, and at Gary Works in Gary, Ind. In 2006, he became the vice president and general director of U.S. Steel Serbia, d.o.o., where he oversaw all operations at facilities in Smederevo, Šabac and Kucevo. When U.S. Steel completed the acquisition of Canadian steelmaker Stelco Inc. in 2007, Matthews was named president and general manager of U.S. Steel Canada.

In February 2009, Matthews was elected vice president of tubular operations and president of U.S. Steel Tubular Products. Matthews advanced to his current position in November 2010.

Some 120 students will be graduating from Penn State Fayette in May. The commencement marshal will be Wayne Port, a Penn State Fayette faculty member, past chair of the Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette, an Alumni Society member, and a local attorney.

Commencement will take place in Penn State Fayette’s Main Arena in the Community Center beginning at 10 a.m.

Penn State Fayette’s mining technology degree program is the only one of its kind in the state and trains students to assume a leadership role in the mining industry. Prospective students have the opportunity to choose a maintenance or production focus—or a combination. The maintenance-oriented track prepares students to become maintenance supervisors, while the production-oriented track educates students to become mine supervisors or engineering aids.

Penn State Fayette Director of Outreach Joe Segilia says bringing the program to Somerset County can help the local economy, as well as those looking for a good career. “Penn State Fayette decided to offer the program to meet the workforce development needs of the mining industry in Somerset County but, for those looking for new opportunities, a career in mining can be lucrative. This degree program can fast track someone into a high-level position, which can lead to a high salary.” Allegany College of Maryland provided an opportunity for Penn State Fayette to bring its ABET-accredited program to the local community. Segilia explains, “In the past, having to travel to Penn State Fayette in Uniontown may have been a challenge. Now residents of Somerset County can take advantage of the program and not travel very far.”

To learn more about the mining technology degree program in Somerset, call 724-430-4130.

Junior English major Peck, of Fort Hill, will present “Manipulations of Early Modern Society: The Brilliance of Queen Elizabeth I;” Smithfield resident Smaniotto, a sophomore human development and family studies major, will share her thoughts on “Competency in Adolescents;” and Zhan, a sophomore business administration major residing in Lemont Furnace, will discuss “Evaluation of ANSYS.”

The Scholastic Excellence Award winner will be determined by a combination of scores from the oral presentations and scores from the students’ ten-page papers.

To be eligible for the award students must have at least 30 credit hours at Penn State Fayette within the past four academic years, hold a cumulative GPA of at least 3.67, and not be a previous award winner. The winner will be announced at the annual Student Awards Banquet on April 29.

The panel judging the presentations includes Jes Hutson, instructor of kinesiology; Dr. Lindsey Jones, assistant professor of English; Dr. Danielle Mitchell, associate professor of English; Lynn Petko, instructor of English; and Dr. Brad Whitsel, associate professor of political science.

Sophomore Kasey Ruble and freshman Jill Guthrie were named First Team All-PSUAC, while sophomore Kayla Hatfield was named Second Team All-PSUAC. Guthrie was also named Freshman of the Year.

Uniontown Area High School graduate Guthrie led the team in scoring with a 12.3 points per game average, while averaging nearly six rebounds per game. She also led the team in steals with 57.

Ruble, a sophomore from Albert Gallatin, averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while dishing out 4.6 assists.

Hatfield, a graduate of Trinity High School, averaged nearly nine points a game and averaged 5.1 rebounds per contest.

The Lady Roaring Lions finished the season 11-4 in the PSUAC, for third place in the final regular season standings. It marked the highest win total in the program’s short four-year history and its highest finish in the final conference standings. Fayette defeated Penn State Schuylkill in the PSUAC quarterfinals, earning at trip to the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park where they lost a semifinal round matchup with eventual champion Penn State Brandywine.

Winns averaged a team-high 16.9 points per game for the men’s team, which finished eighth in the conference. Winns’ .571 shooting percentage ranked second in the PSUAC. He also pulled down 186 rebounds for an 8.1 rebounds per game average (fifth in the PSUAC) and he posted six double-doubles on the year.

A “Lion for a Day” open house will be held Thursday, April 28, at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus from 9 a.m. to noon. Prospective students will have the opportunity to experience college life by attending mock classes, touring campus, and talking with Penn State admission counselors and faculty.

Current high school students and adults will have the opportunity to learn how to prepare for an exciting future with any of Penn State Fayette’s six baccalaureate degrees, nine associate degrees or the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors. Parents and guardians are welcome. Prospective students who apply to Penn State Fayette during “Lion for a Day” will have the $50 application fee waived. Students must bring their high school transcript and SAT or ACT score to qualify for the waiver.

Reservations are encouraged, walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can be made by calling 724-430-4130 or online at www.fayette.psu.edu.

Prospective Penn State students who are interested in submitting a FAFSA application during the workshop should bring copies of their 2010 financial documents, including federal tax returns, W-2 forms and untaxed income statements, as well as amounts of their current assets. Those students who are considered “dependents” should be accompanied to the workshop by a parent or guardian. For more information, or to register for the workshop, call 724-430-4131.

It’s a new fundraising record! The third annual Blues and White Gala scholarship fundraising event hosted by Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus April 2 raised a little over $40,000 for student scholarships. This brings the total of Blues and White scholarship funds to $100,000 over the three years the gala has been held.

Lori Omatick, director of development for the campus and the gala event chair, says, “The generosity of Blues and White Gala supporters is remarkable and Fayette campus students, again, are the deserving beneficiaries. The scholarship funds raised by the Blues and White Gala help close the financial gap for a number of our students, both new enrollments who will begin classes this fall, as well as returning students.”

More than 100 people attended the black-tie event held at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Local WTAE-TV anchor Sally Wiggin was the gala’s mistress of ceremonies, and popular entertainers Finesse Band provided the music that had people dancing for hours. Both silent and live auctions were successful and gala attendees went home with some noteworthy items, including sports memorabilia, travel, shopping and dining packages, and much more.

Currently, 90 percent of Penn State Fayette students qualify for student aid. Brian Fernandes, director of Student and Enrollment Services, says, “Penn State Fayette is Fayette County’s only four-year institution of higher learning, so our campus has a unique role in the region. The 1,100 students who attend the campus understand the benefit of earning a Penn State degree—they know that the University has a world-wide reputation and that top corporate recruiters in a recent Wall Street Journal study ranked Penn State No. 1. Having these additional, direct scholarship funds available makes the dream of a Penn State education possible for a number of our students.”

The gala also provided the Fayette campus an opportunity to recognize The Eberly Foundation as a “Friend of Penn State Fayette.” This special honor was created to recognize an individual or organization who has been exceptionally supportive of Penn State Fayette.

Penn State Fayette Chancellor Francis Achampong is pleased with the success of the fundraising event and says, “The commitment of those who supported the gala and their generosity in making a Penn State education accessible and affordable to our students is truly gratifying and very much appreciated.”

Some of the gala’s key sponsors include: W. Gerald and Carolyn Eberly Blaney; 84 Lumber Company/Nemacolin Woodlands Resort; Brian and Deborah Boyle/Uniontown Country Club; The Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette; Centra Bank; Alpha Natural Resources; BAE Systems; Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Inc.; Ford Business Machines; J. Blair and Kathy McGill; and Percy Road Housing—University Commons.

The open house will provide veterans considering college this summer or fall an opportunity to streamline the college application and student aid process if they are interested in Penn State Fayette.  Admission counselors will be on hand to assist with requesting official high school, college and military transcripts; applying for GI benefits; completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and applying to Penn State Fayette. Prospective students must bring their 2010 income tax forms and DD214 to complete the FAFSA and GI benefits applications. Those veterans who apply to Penn State Fayette during the open house will have the $50 application fee waived. Veterans attending the open house will receive a free Penn State Fayette T-shirt.

Reservations are required for the open house and can be made by calling 724-430-4130.

Robin Becker, the 2010-2011 Penn State laureate, will conduct a public poetry reading Monday, April 18, beginning at 6 p.m. at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. This free event is open to the public and will take place in the Cultural Center in the Williams Building.

Becker published her first book of poetry, “Personal Effects,” in the 1970s.  She continued to release poetry collections, including “Giacometti’s Dog,” “The Horse Fair,” “Domain of Perfect Affection” and “All-American Girl,” which received the Lambda Literary Award in Lesbian Poetry.  Becker was also awarded the 2010 Glenna Luschi Award for Excellence in Writing from Prairie Schooner magazine for 10 poems that were published in the journal.

Becker is a full-time professor of English and women’s studies at Penn State University. In 2000, Becker received the University’s George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching.

A reception will be held in conjunction with the reading. Music will be performed by saxophonist and first year, Penn State Fayette student Sean Wright.

This year’s ice cream flavor selection includes: Bittersweet Mint, Butter Pecan, Chocolate, Coconut Chip, Cookies-n-Cream, Death By Chocolate, Peachy Paterno, Peanut Butter Cup, Strawberry and Vanilla. Black Raspberry frozen yogurt is also available. All ice cream will be delivered directly from the Berkey Creamery to Penn State Fayette courtesy of Jackson Farms, who provides the use of a freezer truck and driver.

Orders and payment must be received by the Penn State Fayette Development office no later than Monday, April 18. Ice cream pick-up day is scheduled for Saturday, May 7, from 9–11 a.m. inside the Community Center snack bar area. All ice cream orders must be placed in advance. No ice cream will be for sale the day of pick-up.  For an order form, call 724-430-4190.

Women’s Day on Campus will be 30 this year, and planning committee members are working to make this popular annual event extra special. “Celebrating Women 2011” will be held May 19 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Details are being finalized, but Women’s Day Committee Chairwoman Tina Reed says, “This year’s keynote speaker will be humorist and award-winning author Dan Bain. There will also be workshop presentations covering a variety of topics including health, estate planning, preventing identity theft, and gardening. Plus, we have more than 30 participants in the Community Service and Informational Fair.” Some of the Women’s Day Committee members, which include community and campus representatives, are seen here at a recent planning meeting: (seated in front, from left) Kathy Iannamorelli, Tina Reed, Collette Ridgeway; (second row, from left) Marlene Guzy, Dee Palmer, Paula Congelio, Earla Knoyer and Jessica Becker-Davis. To receive a mailer about the event, call 724-430-4144.

The panelists for the event include Fayette County Judge Steve Leskinen; Assistant District Attorney Michlle Kelley; Attorney Mark Mehalov from Zebley, Mehalov & White Law Offices in Uniontown; Barb Eicher, a recent Fayette County juror; a representative from the Pennsylvania State Police; and Dr. Richard Ball, professor of Administration of Justice at Penn State Fayette.

Jurors have an important role when it comes to the American Justice System, explains Dr. Ball. “Juries are the bedrock of the American Criminal Justice System, ensuring the involvement of the people and educating citizens about the legal system. In a time when democracy is under siege throughout the world, it is especially important that we protect it at home, and the way to do that is through citizen participation.” The experience can be a rewarding one, Ball says. “Research on American juries tends to show that, while we have our problems, most jurors do a good job and come out with a real sense of pride in themselves and the system.”

Penn State Fayette partnered with the Herald-Standard to present these community forums to offer an opportunity for area residents to learn about and discuss topics of interest related to local crime and law enforcement. The forums are free to the public. No reservations are required.

In 2009, Recycled Percussion’s popularity grew when they came in third place on the hit NBC show “America’s Got Talent.” After the competition, the band worked with former “America’s Got Talent” host Jerry Springer on a live version of the show at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, and the MGM Grand resort and casino in Mashnantucket, Conn. Recently, Recycled Percussion has been performing a solo show at the Tropicana in Las Vegas.

Recycled Percussion delivers a unique sound to audiences by using alternative instruments to create music. The band often turns to trash cans, ladders, mailboxes and even power tools to deliver their blend of “trash rock.”

Justin Spencer, the founder of the group, was introduced to the idea of playing buckets as a percussion instrument by watching performers in the New York City Subways. Joining Spencer are percussion specialist and body percussion talent Ryan Vezina; percussionist, DJ and media director Todd Griffin; and percussionist and guitarist James Magoon.

Tickets to the performance are $5. Advance ticket purchases are strongly suggested and can be made by calling 724-430-4271.

Audiences will be treated to some of the bard’s most nail-biting sword fights and heartwarming romantic scenes from “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Hamlet,” “Macbeth” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Groups of 25 or more that plan to attend, please call 724-430-4248 for reserved seating.

Shakespeare-in-the Schools was founded in 1984 by the University of Pittsburgh’s Theatre Arts Department. Its mission is to bring the works of Shakespeare and other classical forms of theater throughout Western Pennsylvania and the tri-state region. It is Shakespeare-in-the-Schools’ goal to excite audiences and make Shakespeare more accessible.

James Broadhurst, chairman of Eat n’ Park Hospitality Group, will wrap up the spring 2011 series of “CEO Conversations” at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus on Wednesday, April 20. The free event is open to the public and will be held in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the campus’ Community Center from noon to 1 p.m.

In 1973, Broadhurst joined the Eat n’ Park company as executive vice president and treasurer after working at PNC Bank’s commercial banking division for seven years. In 1975, he was elected president and became chairman and CEO nine years later. Broadhurst has received several professional accolades, including Hospitality Executive of the Year from the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society, the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year Award, and the Keystone Award.

Broadhurst is active in his community and has served on many boards and committees, including the Executive Advisory Council of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and as emeritus director of the National Restaurant Association.

Broadhurst, who is a 1965 graduate of Penn State University, was named the 1994 Alumni Fellow by the College of Health and Human Development, received the 1997 Distinguished Alumnus Award, and was selected to serve as the 1999 Conti Distinguished Professor at the University.

CEO Conversations is an initiative of the late Dr. Emmanuel I. Osagie, chancellor of Penn State Fayette from 2007 to March 2010. The program is designed to give students the opportunity to hear from and talk with key individuals in the local, regional, and national business communities about business, entrepreneurship and leadership.

CEO Conversations debuted in fall 2007 with local businessman, philanthropist, and former Fayette County Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III as the guest speaker. Guest speakers have also included Attorney General Tom Corbett; Fayette County Judge Nancy Vernon; Sheetz Inc. Chairman Stephen Sheetz; American Eagle Outfitters CEO James O’Donnell; Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack; Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl; Allegheny Construction Group Owner and President Laura Deklewa; Pittsburgh Penguins CEO Ken Sawyer; First Lady of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Marjorie Rendell; Principal/chairman emeritus of Burt Hill John Kosar; Chairman of Westinghouse Electric Company Steve Tritch; Philips Healthcare CEO Don Spence; President/CEO of Highmark, Inc. Dr. Kenneth R. Melani; President/CEO of Whitney, Bradley & Brown William C. McMullen; President/CEO of MSA William M. Lambert; President/CEO of Heinz North America Scott O’ Hara; President/Founder/CEO of ProTech Compliance Curtis Aiken; President of Hefren-Tilloston Kim Tilloston Fleming, CFA; and President/CEO of YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Eric Mann, and president of Steratore Sanitary Supplies and NFL official Tony Steratore.

Several local high school volleyball players will continue their athletic careers in college at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Planning to join the three-time PSUAC champion Roaring Lions for next fall are Emily Caldwell (Belle Vernon), Janelle Cooper (Laurel Highlands), Victoria Kearns (Laurel Highlands), Katie Salisbury (Yough), and Marissa Wallace (Albert Gallatin).

Caldwell was named All-Westmoreland County while serving as team captain for the Lady Leopards. She intends to major in nursing.

Cooper is a right side hitter who was a senior captain, named All-Fayette County and will graduate in the top 10 percent of her class later this spring. She plans to pursue a degree as a physical therapist assistant.

Kearns, a setter and defensive specialist, is transferring to Penn State Fayette from Pitt. She was named to the All-Fayette County team.

Salisbury plans to major in nursing and is a middle hitter. She was named to the All-Westmoreland County Team and is a senior captain who averaged 4.6 blocks per game.

An outside hitter, Wallace was a team captain at Albert Gallatin and also plays softball.

The event will feature a keynote address by Dr. Robert DeJesus, who will present “Understanding Healthcare Legislation.” DeJesus will cover the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and how it will impact health care in Fayette County. DeJesus, who is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, has spoken on this topic at the Republican Doctors Caucus in Washington D.C., the “NightTalk” television program and numerous civic groups. The event will conclude after closing remarks at 10 a.m.

Joseph Segilia, director of outreach at Penn State Fayette, explains, “The purpose of the Fayette Business Leaders Network is to encourage leaders of Fayette County businesses to come together to discuss and learn about issues that impact businesses here in Fayette County. The organization encourages these business leaders to create an active network with their executive and management peers to learn more about the community, discover local and statewide business resources, and share ideas that can make a difference.”

Business owners, presidents, CEO’s, vice presidents, executives, plant managers and anyone interested in the advancement of Fayette County’s business community is encouraged to attend. The cost of the event is $10 per person.

Fayette Business Leaders Network is sponsored by Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, Catalyst Connection and Defense Procurement Assistance Center.

Prospective Penn State students who are interested in submitting a FAFSA application at the workshop should bring copies of their 2010 financial documents, including federal tax returns, W-2 forms and untaxed income statements, as well as amounts of their current assets. Those students who are considered “dependents” should be accompanied to the workshop by a parent or guardian. For more information, or to register for the workshop, call 724-430-4131.

The open house will offer high school students and adults the opportunity to tour campus, participate in a lecture by a Penn State Fayette faculty member, and speak with current Penn State Fayette students. Admissions counselors will discuss Penn State’s more than 160 degree programs, as well as student aid and admission processes. Anyone who applies to Penn State Fayette during the open house will have the $50 application fee waived. Applicants must bring their high school transcript and SAT or ACT score to qualify for the waiver. Admission counselors will be available to assist prospective students in completing the application.

For more information and to register, call 724-430-4130 or register online at www.fayette.psu.edu.

William Shakespeare’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” is a coming-of-age story about two best friends who deal with their problems as young men in love and their two attractive girlfriends. Once family and sidekicks become involved, the story takes a comedic turn, complete with zany antics. The Lion Players add their own unique twist by setting the story in the 1980s.

“There is nothing like a well-acted, live performance of a play,” explains Lynn Petko, advisor of the Lion Players. “The Lion Players have acquired quite a reputation in the area for presenting Shakespeare in a way that people of all age groups can appreciate, are surprised about, and want to see again and again.”

New this year, the Lion players will host “Dinner with the Cast” at 5 p.m. April 8. Dinner will take place at the Bird’s Nest Cafeteria in the Community Center. The cost of dinner is $10 per person. To reserve seats for large groups or for “Dinner with the Cast,” call 724-430-4248 or 724-430-4271.

Penn State Fayette students who were recognized and inducted into Pi Sigma Phi this year were (name, hometown and degree program indicated):

Ralph N. Adams, Garards Fort, Pa.—Electrical Engineering Technology
William J. Aldom, Donegal, Pa.—Engineering (Pre-major)
Kayla A. Ashton, Hopwood, Pa.—Nursing
Timothy D. Beilstein, Marianna, Pa.—Engineering
Hannah M. Bodnar, Coal Center, Pa.—Science (Pre-major)
Chris D. Clinger, Smithfield, Pa.—Human Development and Family Studies
Rebecca E. Corvin, Connellsville, Pa.—Liberal Arts (Pre-major)
Nicholas A. Cramer, Smock, Pa.—Engineering (Pre-major)
Lauren J. Danko, Connellsville, Pa.—Human Development and Family Studies
Tyler A. Davis, Adah, Pa.—Electrical Engineering Technology
Alan D. DeGennaro, Washington, Pa.—Division of Undergraduate Studies
Amanda L. Diehl, Republic, Pa.—Education (Pre-major)
Robert L. Edwards, Connellsville, Pa.—Business
Brian W. Freeman, Pittsburgh, Pa.—Mining Technology
Robert L. Gallagher, Acme, Pa.—Electrical Engineering Technology
Nicole M. Garrety, Lemont Furnace, Pa.—Division of Undergrate Studies
Courtney D. Gluvna, Masontown, Pa.—Letters, Arts, and Sciences
MaryKate A. Griffin, Dilliner, Pa.—Administration of Justice
Katie M. Herman, Vanderbilt, Pa.—Nursing
Gina R. Hoff, Uniontown, Pa.—Human Development and Family Studies
William C. Hogue, Bridgeport, W.Va.—Mining Technology
Zhan Hongyuan, Lemont Furnace, Pa.—Business
Timothy A. Hoyle, Waynesburg, Pa.—Science (Pre-major)
Ryan C. Jeffries, Uniontown, Pa.—Nursing
Samantha E. Lenhart, Smock, Pa.—Education
Ashley M. Ludwig, Dunbar, Pa.—Nursing
Kathleen N. Maas, Connellsville, Pa.—Human Development and Family Studies
Lexie J. Matthews, Hopwood, Pa.—Business
Ian P. McCombs, Carmichaels, Pa.—Education (Pre-major)
Melissa L. McFadden, New Salem, Pa.—Nursing
Brandon D. Mitchell, Masontown, Pa.—Human Development and Family Studies
Brooke A. Mollick, New Castle, Pa.—Business
Anthony M. Montalbano, Champion, Pa.—Engineering (Pre-major)
Kara L. Moore, White, Pa.—Nursing
Morgan E. Najewicz, Connellsville, Pa.—Building Engineering Technology
Frank E. Panepinto, Washington, Pa.—Mining Technology
John A. Peck, Fort Hill, Pa.—University College (Pre-major)
Wendy L. Pennington, Uniontown, Pa.—Administration of Justice
Ashley R. Pennington, Uniontown, Pa.—University College (Pre-major)
Brooke L. Puskar, Dawson, Pa.—Letters, Arts, and Sciences
Leanne Reagan, Connellsville, Pa.—Nursing
Amanda L. Redmond, Scottdale, Pa.—Human Development and Family Studies
Jarod D. Rine, Waynesburg, Pa.—Mining Technology
Zachary J. Risha, Uniontown, Pa.—Education (Pre-major)
Zachary D. Rockwell, Uniontown, Pa.—Electrical Engineering Technology
Aaron M. Sabatula, Smock, Pa.—Business
Kyle P. Salitrik, Uniontown, Pa.—Engineering (Pre-major)
Audrey J. Sheperd, Smock, Pa.—Science (Pre-major)
Katie M. Smaniotto, Smithfield, Pa.—Human Development and Family Studies
Jamie L. Ulery, Connellsville, Pa.—Education (Pre-major)
Lindsay E. Walt, Ruffs Dale, Pa.—Business
Noelle A. Winkler, McClellandtown, Pa.—Division of Undergraduate Studies
Jane E. Witt, Connellsville, Pa.—Nondegree
Kelsey R. Workman, Lemont Furnace, Pa.—Science (Pre-major)
Michaeline D. Yates, Smithfield, Pa.—Earth and Mineral Science

Penn State Fayette Chancellor Francis K. Achampong (back row, left) congratulated student inductees into the Pi Sigma Phi Honor Society March 24, including: (front row, from left) Audrey J. Sheperd, Michaeline D. Yates, Lauren J. Danko, Amanda L. Diehl, Leanne Reagan, Ashley R. Pennington, Amanda L. Redmond; back row, from left: Melissa L.  McFadden, Robert L. Edwards, Brooke L. Puskar, Timothy D. Beilstein, Nicole M. Garrety, Anthony M. Montalbano, Zack J. Risha, Hannah M. Bodnar, Kyle P. Salitrik, Wendy L. Pennington, Ian P. McCombs, Lindsay E. Walt, Morgan E. Najewicz, John A. Peck, Jane E. Witt and Chris D. Clinger. (Photo by Susan Brimo-Cox)

Matt Roloff, who is best known as a star of The Learning Channel’s “Little People, Big World,” will share his inspirational story March 31 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. The free event is open to the public and will take place noon at the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center on Campus. While the event is free, reservations are required by calling 724-430-4271.

Roloff has been diagnosed with diastrophic dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism that caused him to undergo several surgeries as a child. Throughout the procedures, Roloff showed a great zest for life and resilience that he later applied to his professional life. Roloff operates a successful family farm in Oregon; has authored two books; was a top salesman for a Fortune 500 technology company; co-founded Coalition for Dwarf Advocacy; has served as national president of Little People of America; and owns Direct Access Solutions, a manufacturing company specializing in mobility equipment designed for little people.

Roloff and his family—including his wife Amy and their children Molly, Jacob, and fraternal twins Jeremy and Zachary—welcomed viewers into their family through “Little People, Big World.” Tens of millions of people around the world have tuned in to follow the lives of the Roloffs.  Each week viewers would watch as the Roloffs put their unique spin on doing everyday tasks such as going grocery shopping, participating in sports and working on their farm.

Since the series finale of “Little People, Big World” aired December 2010, Roloff has been traveling the country to share his story to inspire people to overcome life’s challenges and to live their dreams.

Students were encouraged to work in teams to complete 20 math problems within a 60-minute time period. “It’s a hard test. We make it a hard test because you (the students) are the brightest in Fayette County and the surrounding areas,” said Meredith as he addressed the students before the exam.

Due to the inclement weather that was predicted for the area, Ringgold and Yough did not attend the March 11 activities, but participated in testing on March 14 when the winners were announced. This year, an all-girl team from Yough, won first place. Two teams representing Ringgold took home second and third place.

From left: Tenth graders Christian Bean and Rachel Diamond, and ninth grader Nicole Bell, from Uniontown Area High School discuss a possible solution to a Pi Day test question.

From left: Kylie Kikta  and Liz Gerda, both tenth grade students at Belle Vernon Area High School, work with their team to solve math problems on the Pi Day exam.

Meeink’s violent childhood in south Philadelphia fueled his hatred at an early age. At 14 he shaved his head and, by 16, he was one of the most notorious skinhead gang leaders on the East Coast. By the age of 18, Meeink found himself in an Illinois prison. It was during his time behind bars when Meeink began befriending men he had thought he hated. Once he was released, Meeink tried to rejoin his skinhead faction, but found he was unable to hate the friends he made while in prison. Meeink then decided to redirect his energy and partner with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers to create a hate prevention program called Harmony through Hockey. The program promotes racial harmony through team building and athletic competition.

Currently, Meeink travels the country speaking out against hate. He has appeared in a film directed by Jessee Dylan with Desmond Tutu titled “Reconciliation,” was involved with the independent film “The Experiment” starring Adrien Brody and Forrest Whitaker, and appeared in a music video with Jamey Johnson called “High Cost of Living.”

Anyone considering college will have an opportunity to learn how to prepare for an exciting career with any of Penn State Fayette’s six baccalaureate degrees, 10 associate degrees or the first two years of more than 160 Penn state majors. Current high school students are encouraged to bring their parents or guardians. Prospective students who apply to Penn State Fayette during the open house will have the $50 application fee waived. Students must bring their high school transcript and SAT or ACT score to qualify for the waiver.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 724-430-4130 or online at www.fayette.psu.edu.

The third annual Blues and White Gala scholarship fundraiser is scheduled for April 2 at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa in Farmington, Pa. In its two-year history, the gala has raised nearly $60,000 to fund scholarships for students attending Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.

Lori Omatick, director for development at the Fayette campus and gala chair, commented that, “The work we are doing here is so very important because 90 percent of Penn State Fayette students qualify for financial aid. The generosity of supporters of this event helps to provide a quality education to those who otherwise may not be able to afford it.”

The event’s mistress of ceremonies will be Sally Wiggin, WTAE-TV news anchor and co-host for Pittsburgh Steelers pre-game shows. One of the evening’s highlights will be the recognition of the annual “Friend of Penn State Fayette.” This year’s honoree is The Eberly Foundation.

The feature activities of the Blues and White Gala are the silent and live auctions, which helped raise the nearly $60,000 over the first two years of the event. This year sports fans will again be interested in several of the auction packages. Items at this year’s auction include: four Pittsburgh Steelers luxury box tickets to the Cleveland or Cincinnati (auction winner’s choice) 2011 home game with pre-game sideline passes; a Brett Keisel autographed Steelers jersey; a Rashard Mendenhall autographed football helmet; a Paul Martin autographed Penguins jersey; a round of golf at Nemacolin Woodlands’ Mystic Rock golf course, complete with a golf lesson for four; a weekend package for two at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa; four tickets to a 2011-2012 Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre performance, with a backstage tour plus two tickets to “Balanchine Legends” next month and a signed pair of pointe shoes; four tickets to Penn State University versus Indiana State football game at University Park on Sept. 3; Joe Paterno autographed football and “JoePa” cardboard standup; fine art from local artists, including a landscape by well-known artist and Penn State Fayette faculty member David DiPietro; and much more.

Of course, the gala will feature dining and dancing. Musical entertainment will be by the band Finesse. This “super-band” has been performing in the tri-state area for 15 years. Gala attendees will enjoy the band’s unique sound with its dynamic horn and rhythm section and powerful vocals.

The Blues and White Gala was the initiative of the late Penn State Fayette Chancellor Emmanuel I. Osagie, who died unexpectedly in March 2010. The funds raised from the 2009 and 2010 galas have awarded scholarships to more than 30 Penn State Fayette students.

Key sponsors of this year’s gala to-date include: W. Gerald and Carolyn Eberly Blaney, Mr. and Mrs. Brian W. Boyle/Uniontown Country Club, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa, 84 Lumber Company, Centra Bank, Alpha Natural Resources, BAE Systems, and Percy Road Housing/University Commons.

The gala begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour and dinner at 6:30 p.m. R.S.V.P.s for the Blues and White Gala are being taken through March 25. For more information, to receive an invitation or make reservations, call 724-430-4190.

Galen’s presentation “Women in Jazz” will educate the audience about the five pillars of jazz, which include melody, harmony, rhythm, syncopation and improvisation, and how each element impacts jazz.

Galen grew-up in Montclair, N.J., and at the age of 10 received his first flute. He studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., and graduated from Rutgers University in Brunswick, N.J.  He holds a master’s degree in fine arts and education. He is best known for his smooth, rich sound.

Galen has performed around the world for more than 30 years. He is a well known and admired arranger, composer, director and educator, and he has performed with several widely known recording artists, including jazz pianist Billy Taylor, soul singer Freda Payne (who is best known for the song “Band of Gold”) and jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger Jimmy Heath.

Anyone interested in fast-tracking a new career can learn about two-year degree options and the career opportunities they offer at a special open house at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus on Thursday, March 17. The “Think Two-year, Think Penn State” open house is designed to answer the questions of individuals who are looking to pursue a college education or looking to change careers but who envision a fast timetable to reach their goals. The open house will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. in Penn State Fayette’s Cultural Center in the Williams Building.

“Many potential college students fail to realize that a two-year degree can offer a fast track into many career fields,” explains Apryl Kadish, a Penn State Fayette admissions counselor. “Two-year degree programs allow students to quickly earn their degrees, begin their careers, and then, if they wish, continue their education once they are employed in their field or industry.”

Two-year degree programs that will be featured at the open house include Building Engineering Technology, Business Administration, Electrical Engineering Technology, Human Development and Family Studies, Information Sciences and Technology, Letters, Arts and Sciences, Mining Technology, Nursing, and Physical Therapist Assistant.

Penn State Fayette faculty and admissions and student aid counselors will be available to answer questions. The $50 application fee will be waived for perspective students who apply to Penn State at the event. Bring your official high school and college transcripts for an immediate admissions decision. To register for the event, call 724-430-4130.

“With 13 Moliere plays in my portfolio, I realized that I had been writing material faster than theaters could produce it, and that the best way to introduce this work to the world would be to create a play in which some of Moliere’s funniest speeches could be explored,” said Mooney.

The performance centers on Moliere, who is left without a cast of performers due to food poisoning. Instead of refunding the theatre patrons’ money, he decides to perform a “greatest hits” show. He highlights some of his favorite speeches from “Tartuffe”, “Don Juan”, “The Doctor in Spite of Himself”, “The Precious Young Maidens”, “The Misanthrope” and “The School for Wives.”

Mooney has presented “Moliere than Thou” to high school, college, festival and conference audiences throughout the country.

For more information about Mooney and “Moliere than Thou,” visit www.timmooneyrep.com.

Students who are interested in submitting a FAFSA application during the workshop should bring copies of their 2010 financial documents including federal tax returns, W-2 forms and untaxed income statements, as well as amounts of their current assets. Students who are considered “dependents” should attend the workshop with a parent or guardian. For more information or to register for the FAFSA workshop, call 724-430-4131.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will offer a special performance on Sunday, March 27, at 7 p.m. in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. The event will provide the audience with an evening of relaxing Gershwin favorites and music from Alexander Glazounov.

The performance is a mixed repertoire of two ballet works, including:

• “A Gershwin Fantasy” — This performance will transport the audience back to the Jazz Age when George and Ira Gershwin provided the soundtrack for the lives of Americans during the 1920s and 30s.
• “Raymonda Variations” — This ballet was originally created by ballet master George Balanchine and will feature Alexander Glazounov’s original score, as well as the choreography of Marius Peptipa, the “father of classical ballet.”

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Executive Director Harris N. Ferris says, “We are thrilled to be returning to Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus for the third consecutive year.  Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre believes that dance is an art form that can uplift, enrich and inspire, through performances, educational programs and classical ballet training. As one of the country’s top-ranked ballet companies, we aspire to expand our scope and reach, by growing audiences and establishing permanent venues beyond the Pittsburgh cultural district. This year, we are very excited to partner with Columbia Gas, whose generous support has enabled us to continue this mission in the Fayette County region.”

“Penn State Fayette is pleased to provide the venue for such a cultural event and, in turn, serve the community. Local residents and youngsters may not have an opportunity to travel to Pittsburgh to see the ballet, so having this event here, where it is close to home, makes it accessible. Individuals and families who have attended Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre performances here in the past have been pleased with the experience. We anticipate this performance also will be well attended,” explains Joe Segilia, director of Outreach and Continuing Education at Penn State Fayette.

A reception will immediately follow the performance to give the audience an opportunity to meet and talk with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers.

Tickets for the ballet are $20 for adults, $15 for students ages 13-18, and $10 for children 12 and under. To purchase tickets for the performance, contact Penn State Fayette at 724-430-4211.

Tony Steratore, president of Steratore Sanitary Supplies and an NFL official, will be the second speaker of the spring 2011 “CEO Conversations” series at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus March 16. The free event is open to the public and will be held in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the campus’ Community Center from noon to 1 p.m.

Tony Steratore and his brother Gene founded Steratore Sanitary Supplies in 1988. Based in Eighty Four, Pa., the company is a full-service distributor of janitorial supplies, chemicals and equipment. In addition to their product line, Steratore Sanitary Supplies assists clients in staying up-to-date about new products and industry trends through on-site training, inventory management and other techniques.

Tony Steratore has been officiating since 1980 for high school, college, and national and international professional sports, including the NFL Europe’s World Bowl 1999. In 2000 he became a back judge for the National Football League and worked Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Fla. Gene Steratore also is an official in the National Football League. The Steratore brothers are following in their father’s footsteps, Gene Steratore Sr., who served as a back judge for 33 years in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic and Big East conferences. His schedule permitting, Gene Steratore will also be a featured guest at CEO Conversations March 16.

CEO Conversations is an initiative of the late Dr. Emmanuel I. Osagie, chancellor of Penn State Fayette from 2007 to March 2010. The program is designed to give students the opportunity to hear from and talk with key individuals in the local, regional, and national business communities about business, entrepreneurship and leadership.

CEO Conversations debuted in fall 2007 with local businessman, philanthropist, and former Fayette County Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III as the guest speaker. Guest speakers have also included Attorney General Tom Corbett; Fayette County Judge Nancy Vernon; Sheetz Inc. Chairman Stephen Sheetz; American Eagle Outfitters CEO James O’Donnell; Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack; Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl; Allegheny Construction Group Owner and President Laura Deklewa; Pittsburgh Penguins CEO Ken Sawyer; First Lady of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Marjorie Rendell; Principal/chairman emeritus of Burt Hill John Kosar; Chairman of Westinghouse Electric Company Steve Tritch; Philips Healthcare CEO Don Spence; President/CEO of Highmark, Inc. Dr. Kenneth R. Melani; President/CEO of Whitney, Bradley & Brown William C. McMullen; President/CEO of MSA William M. Lambert; President/CEO of Heinz North America Scott O’ Hara; President/Founder/CEO of ProTech Compliance Curtis Aiken; President of Hefren-Tilloston Kim Tilloston Fleming, CFA; and President/CEO of YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Eric Mann.

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will offer ballet master classes at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus on Saturday, March 12, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. The classes are open to all dancers ages 6 to 18, and will be held in the Auxiliary Gym in the campus’ Community Center.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre instructors for the master classes are principal dancer Erin Halloran and soloist Christine Schwaner.

Classes are divided into three age groups:

• The beginner class (ages 6–9) will meet from 3 to 4 p.m.
• The intermediate class (ages 10–13) will receive instruction from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
• The advanced class (ages 14-18) will meet from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Tuition for each class is $15 per student. A special package, which includes master class tuition and a ticket to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s performance of “A Gershwin Fantasy” and “Raymonda Variations” on March 27 at 7 p.m. at Penn State Fayette, is $25.

For additional information or to register, students are encouraged to see their dance instructor or contact Penn State Fayette at 724-430-4211.

Planning is underway for the April 2nd Blues and White Gala, an event designed to generate scholarship funding for students attending Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. This is the third year for the fundraiser, which has raised nearly $60,000 for student scholarships in its first two years. Involved in the planning are (from left) Gala Planning Committee member Janet Kowalczyk, Auction Committee Co-chair and Centra Bank Vice President of Executive Banking Sally Bryan Dobek, and  Committee Chair and Penn State Fayette Director of Development Lori Omatick. The gala will be held at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and will feature musical entertainers Finesse, with Sally Wiggin as emcee. Items for the silent and live auctions will include sports memorabilia, travel and recreation packages, fine art and crafts items, and more. To receive an invitation, call 724-430-4190. (Photo by Susan Brimo-Cox.)

The exhibit was originally displayed at the Frank L. Melega Art Museum in Brownsville and features the work of photographers Susan Brimo-Cox, John Brothers, Ed Cope, Robert Esquivel, Jim Ference, Caroline Moore, Josh Stepp, Vanna Weaver and the late Charlie Rosendale. The exhibit will officially open with a special reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 3. The public is invited to attend the reception and meet the photographers.

“The exhibit was a success at the Melega Art Museum, and I am thrilled to bring this exhibit to Penn State Fayette and share it with the community,” explains Bobby Salitrik, exhibit curator. “It is important to offer the public an opportunity to see some of the outstanding work that is done by our local press photographers, some who perform their work under difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions. When we see images in the newspaper we often take them for granted, but the impact these images have—how they capture and freeze moments in time—is how we and people long into the future will view a news event or a slice of our daily life.”

The exhibit will be open for public viewing 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Admission to the tournament is $7 per day for persons 14 years of age or older. Children and Penn State Fayette students are admitted free. Advance tickets are not needed; tickets can be purchased at the door. All 44 games of the tournament will take place at Penn State Fayette and will be played in either the Main Arena or the Maltho Gym.

Penn State Fayette’s women’s team will face Briarcliffe College from Bethpage, N.Y, at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2. The men’s team will follow at 7:30 p.m. against Southern Maine Community College from South Portland, Maine.

At some point today, those with valid subscriptions to PSUTXT who elected to receive Penn State Fayette alerts will receive a message that clearly indicates it is part of a test and that there is no emergency.

Those who receive the test message today do not need to take any action. Anyone who initiated a subscription to PSUTXT but does not receive the test message today should log into the PSUTXT system by going to http://live.psu.edu/psutxt online.

Once logged in, they should update their cell phone information, and then click on "Services" to have a new validation code sent. Once subscribers receive the validation code, they need to enter it on the registration page on the website 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://live.psu.edu/psutxt online. For more information, e-mail AMountz@psu.edu.

Since the organization of the Fayette campus THON team 14 years ago, the team has raised a total of $654,430.17 for the Four Diamonds Fund charity. In 1977, THON began partnering with the Four Diamonds Fund that was founded by Charles and Irma Millard in the memory of their son Chris, who died from pediatric cancer.

Penn State Fayette Chancellor Francis K. Achampong, was pleased when he heard the news of the Fayette THON Team’s incredible accomplishment. “The sheer dedication and commitment of the Fayette THON team to fighting pediatric cancer and their incredible investment of time and effort in this great cause ought to serve as an inspiration to all of us to give our best in everything we do.”

Student dancers, student volunteers, faculty, staff, alumni and family members from throughout the University system packed the Bryce Jordan Center for the concluding THON event Feb. 18–20. Penn State Fayette was represented by 55 students and six dancers, who participated in the exhausting 46 hours of dancing.

Penn State Fayette THON Team advisor Chad Long says, “The parents and family of the Fayette THON Team should be so proud. Our students are making a real difference in the lives of so many families fighting cancer. As a Fayette County native I’m extremely honored to live in a community that is so generous.”

Among Penn State’s 19 Commonwealth Campuses, the Fayette THON Team has been the No. 1 fundraising campus 11 of the past 14 years; the team placed second in 2005, 2006 and this year, coming in a few thousand dollars behind Penn State Altoona.

THON is a yearlong fundraising event contributing to The Four Diamonds Fund, which is striving to beat childhood cancer by helping children, and their families, treated at Penn State Children’s Hospital through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research. Each February, the fundraising concludes in the no sitting or sleeping, 46-hour dance marathon called THON (short for Dance Marathon). This combined effort has become one of Penn State’s most unifying traditions.

A family with a child being treated for pediatric cancer at Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey is automatically eligible for support. The Four Diamonds Fund has helped more than 2,000 families since 1972. Approximately, 100 new families receive support each year. The Fund assists with the cost of treatment that insurance does not cover, as well as expenses that may upset the welfare of the child, such as car repairs, rent or household utilities.

The 2011 Penn State Fayette THON TEAM included: THON Chair John Marcolini Jr., Advertising Captain Stephanie Sluk, Campus Programming Captain Karen Leatherberry, Community Programming Captain Brittany Washington, Financial Captain Anthony Polvinale, Moral Captain Corey Spaw and Public Relation Captain and dancer Donya Leichliter; dancers Tiffany Blocker, Erika Doppelheuer, Jordyn Hartsek John Peck and Autumn Ruse; team members Ashley Baker, Katie Baluch, Chantelle Bellavance, Jenna Brewer, Nicholas Brink, Jacob Buckel, Braden Delmar, Kiley Detar, Stephen Dzambo, Caitlin Fike, Malina Foley, Nicole Garrety, Brett Greene, Cody Gibson, Athena Han, Sallee Herbert, Heather Hunchuck, Kelly Huston, Cecelia Imler, Becky Johnson, Kayla Johnson, Jamie Kelley, Tiffany Lehman, Sammy Lenhart, Brent Lint, Emily Marchewka, Nicole McKenzie, Samantha Molton, Amanda Murray, Anisha Nayak, Jen Naymick, Nick Nicholson, Cody Palmer, Alexis Polito, Beth Porterfield, Alison Reagan, Brittany Remington, Zak Risha, Shirley Rojas Acosta, Angela Simmons, Meagan Slates, Sydney Sterling, Holly Stowinsky, Brittney Stremp, Amanda Tringes, Alicia Williams and Allen Wontroba.

For more information about THON, visit www.THON.org.

April 18, 2007, marked the 11th annual National Day of Silence, a day observed by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community to protest harassment and discrimination caused by sexual orientation. This also was the day Davies’ Volkswagen Beetle, which displayed a rainbow decal, was vandalized with homophobic graffiti spray painted on the window and hood. Instead of letting the incident deter her, Davies decided to take her car on a 58-day road trip. Her goal was to capture people’s reactions to her car on film and turn it into a documentary titled “Fagbug.”

Davies’ presentation will include a viewing of the documentary and the telling of the story of her transformation from hate crime victim to hate crime activist. People will also have the opportunity to see the “Fagbug” automobile at the campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Prospective students will have an opportunity to experience life at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus by attending “Lion for a Day” on Feb. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon. Current high school students, recent high school graduates and adults are invited to experience college by touring the campus, attending mock classes and socializing with current Penn State Fayette students. Student aid and admissions staff, as well as faculty, will be available to answer questions.

Anyone considering college will have an opportunity to learn how to prepare for an exciting career with any of Penn State Fayette’s seven baccalaureate degrees, 10 associate degrees or the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors. High school students are invited to bring their parents or guardians. Any prospective student who applies for Penn State Fayette during the open house will have the $50 application fee waived. Students must bring their high school transcript and SAT or ACT score to qualify for the waiver.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 724-430-4130 or online at www.fayette.psu.edu.

Macauley, the director of Mechanical Engineering at Encon Group, based in Kensington, Md., designed an environmentally sealed chamber to house a historical American flag at the Star-Spangled Banner exhibit in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. He was also instrumental in the creation of the HVAC system for a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Walkersville, Md. He has more than 12 years of engineering, design and project management experience. His background includes evaluation, design and specification of mechanical systems in new and redesigned commercial, educational and institutional facilities. Macauley is a member of several professional organizations including the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering.

Prospective students must bring their 2010 tax return or most recent 2010 pay stub in order to complete a FAFSA application. For more information or to register for the FAFSA workshop, call 724-430-4130.

Eric Mann, president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, launches the spring 2011 series “CEO Conversations” at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus Feb. 16. This free event is open to the public and will be held in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in Penn State Fayette campus’ Community Center from noon to 1 p.m.

In March 2003, Mann came to Pittsburgh to become president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. Under Mann’s leadership, YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh focused on health and wellness, offering the highest quality of social services, assisting with the needs of underserved communities and advancing literacy among adults and children.

“I’m very committed to continuing the great YMCA tradition in Pittsburgh, and to maximizing the generous contributions made to our recent capital campaign,” says Mann. “We will continue focusing on children and families, but will also expand our Health & Wellness programs for which the Y is known. The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh is committed to serving the entire Pittsburgh community.”

Mann began his YMCA career as youth director for the Market Street YMCA in Asheville, N.C. He stayed with the organization holding various positions at YMCAs across the country, including Cincinnati, Los Angeles, New Haven, Conn., and Charlotte, N.C. Mann holds a number of national YMCA of the USA board positions, including serving on the Y’s National Diversity Steering Committee and the Association of Professional Directors. He is active in many community and civic organizations.

Mann earned a bachelor of science degree in recreation, with a minor in psychology, from North Carolina’s Mars Hill College.

CEO Conversations is an initiative of the late Dr. Emmanuel I. Osagie, chancellor of Penn State Fayette from 2007 to March 2010. The program is designed to give students the opportunity to hear from and talk with key individuals in the local, regional, and national business communities about business, entrepreneurship and leadership, but the events are free and open to the public.

CEO Conversations debuted in fall 2007 with local businessman, philanthropist, and former Fayette County Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III as the guest speaker. Guest speakers have also included Attorney General Tom Corbett; Fayette County Judge Nancy Vernon; Sheetz Inc. Chairman Stephen Sheetz; American Eagle Outfitters CEO James O’Donnell; Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack; Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl; Allegheny Construction Group Owner and President Laura Deklewa; Pittsburgh Penguins CEO Ken Sawyer; First Lady of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Marjorie Rendell; Principal/chairman emeritus of Burt Hill John Kosar; Chairman of Westinghouse Electric Company Steve Tritch; Philips Healthcare CEO Don Spence; President/CEO of Highmark, Inc. Dr. Kenneth R. Melani; President/CEO of Whitney, Bradley & Brown William C. McMullen; President/CEO of MSA William M. Lambert; President/CEO of Heinz North America Scott O’ Hara; President/Founder/CEO of ProTech Compliance Curtis Aiken; and President of Hefren-Tilloston Kim Tilloston Fleming, CFA.

Local radio personality John “Jack” McMullen, who died in 2005, will have his storytelling legacy continued as the Jack McMullen Memorial Radio Production Contest is launched this spring at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus. McMullen was a radio personality, news director, disc jockey and play-by-play announcer for nearly 50 years on local radio stations.

McMullen’s son, John McMullen II of Oakland, Calif., proposed the contest as a learning experience for Penn State Fayette students. “My father was a great raconteur—which is a fancy name for a story teller—about his childhood and life in Fayette County. His 50 years on the radio and his contributions to the Oral History Project of the Coal and Coke Heritage Center located at Penn State Fayette made this contest seem like a natural. And I wanted folks to remember my pop,” he explained.

“I was in the first class at the Fayette campus, growing up in Fayette County in the ‘60s and ‘70s. I wish I had kept an oral record of those exciting times,” he continued. “When we read personal history it brings the past to life in the small stories rather than the big headlines of battles and elections. For example, Samuel Pepys’ diary gives us a great account of daily life in 1660 London. I’m hoping that this contest can help preserve for the future some personal accounts of what life is like in this corner of the republic in these tumultuous days.”

To participate in the contest, students need to write and produce an 8-15 minute audio segment about life in Fayette County. The model for entries is Ira Glass’ “This American Life,” which is broadcast on National Public Radio.

The contest is open to full and part-time Penn State Fayette students. The deadline to register to participate is February 15. Final submissions are due by April 1, and winners will be announced in early May.

The prize for First Place is $250, and the winner will be interviewed by and have their submission broadcast on WMBS in Uniontown and University Park student radio station WKPS “The Lion.” Second and third prizes are $100 and $50 respectively, based on the number of contestants and qualified submissions. The family of Jack McMullen is funding the contest.

Judges for the contest include a number of other well-known individuals:

• Fred C. Adams, attorney and Fayette County Court of Common Pleas judge, retired;
• Robert Eberly Jr., attorney, retired from the Navy General Counsel’s Office, author, and son of the late Robert Eberly, for whom the campus is named;
• Boshra Gheopreal, WKPS program director;
• Evelyn Hovanec, professor emeritus of English and American studies at Penn State Fayette, author, and co-founder of the Oral History Project; and
• Brian Mroziak, WMBS station manager.

Dr. F. Russell Filburn, senior instructor in arts and humanities, is the contest coordinator. Bobby Salitrik, an instructional materials designer at the campus, is providing production and technological support and instruction to contestants.

Penn State Fayette students interested in participating in the contest should call 724 430-4252 or e-mail frf1@psu.edu. Penn State Fayette has established a webpage for more information: target="_self">www.fayette.psu.edu/Academics/32090.htm.

To complete a FAFSA application, students need to bring their 2010 tax return or most recent 2010 pay stub. “At the workshop, there will be a lot of information that can help students—and their parents—get a better understanding of student aid and various opportunities available to them,” explains Rick Van Buren, Penn State Fayette’s student aid coordinator. Students interested in applying to Penn State Fayette will be able to talk to admissions counselors who will be able to assist with the Penn State application process.

For more information or to register for the FAFSA workshop, call 724-430-4130.

The upcoming “Lion for a Day” event at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus will give prospective Penn State students a taste of the college experience Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to noon. Current high school students, recent high school graduates and adults are encouraged to participate in the event. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the campus, attend mock classes and socialize with current Penn State Fayette students. Admissions and Student Aid staff, as well as members of the faculty, will be on hand to answer questions.

Anyone considering college will have a special opportunity learn how they can prepare for an exciting career with any of Penn State Fayette’s seven baccalaureate degrees, 10 associate degrees or the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors. Parents or guardians of high school students are invited to participate as well. Prospective students who attend will receive a free T-shirt.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 724-430-4130 or online at www.fayette.psu.edu.

With a commitment of $200,000, The Eberly Foundation of Uniontown has endowed a fund to provide the leadership of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus with a permanent source of support. Chancellor Francis K. Achampong said, “The Eberly Foundation Excellence Fund will be a stable resource that gives our campus the freedom to seize new opportunities and meet unexpected challenges.”

The Eberly Foundation made the pledge in support of For the Future, The Campaign for Penn State Students, Penn State University’s current fundraising initiative. Carolyn Blaney, president of The Eberly Foundation, said, “The foremost goal of the The Eberly Foundation is student support, and this pledge will help to further that goal.”

Support from The Eberly Foundation Excellence Fund may be used for a broad range of campus needs, including cultural events that bring together the student body and the community; short-term emergency funds for students whose families have been affected by deaths, job losses, and other changes that impact their financial circumstances; state-of-the-art technology and software that enable Penn State Fayette students to gain hands-on experience with the tools of their future professions; and academic innovations, such as service learning or faculty/student research partnerships, that require seed funds to secure results and obtain additional funding.

“The Eberly Foundation Excellence Fund can enrich the experience of students and enhance Penn State Fayette’s ability to serve the larger community,” said Achampong. “We are extremely grateful to The Eberly Foundation for its past generous support of Penn State Fayette and for this most recent pledge, which provides us with flexibility in meeting the campus’ most immediate needs. This gift is a strong and welcome endorsement of our campus campaign objectives and our continuing commitment to the people of southwestern Pennsylvania.”

For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students is directed toward a shared vision of Penn State as the most comprehensive, student-centered research university in America. The University is engaging Penn State’s alumni and friends as partners in achieving six key objectives: ensuring student access and opportunity, enhancing honors education, enriching the student experience, building faculty strength and capacity, fostering discovery and creativity, and sustaining the University’s tradition of quality. The campaign’s top priority is keeping a Penn State degree affordable for students and families. The For the Future campaign is the most ambitious effort of its kind in Penn State’s history, with the goal of securing $2 billion by 2014. Penn State Fayette is pursuing a campus goal of $8 million and the objective of ensuring an extraordinary educational experience in response to the changing needs of students and the region.

Lexie Matthews, Washington County, a junior at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus majoring in business management and marketing was among 25 who were awarded scholarships by the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation during the 95th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. The students were recognized before the show's Junior Livestock Auction and Sale of Champions on Jan. 11.

The foundation awards scholarships to young people who are registered in a post-secondary educational institution and who have exhibited livestock at the Farm Show. To be chosen, students must exhibit leadership qualities and excellent academic performance, according to the foundation.

The Farm Show Scholarship Foundation has awarded nearly $900,000 in scholarship money to 344 students since its founding in 1993.

This year’s feature event is a two-hour performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by The National Players on Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 7-9 p.m. in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center. The National Players, from the Olney Theatre Center in Maryland, is the country’s longest-running classical touring company. The performance is free, but reservations are required by calling 724-430-4271.

The festival week also includes two Shakespeare workshops and a performance. All are free and open to the public (for large groups, please call 724-430-4271 to make reservations).

• “Actors’ Journey Through Shakespeare”—a demonstration presented by cast members of the National Players acting company on Monday, Jan. 24, from 12:15-2 p.m. in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center.
• “Shakespeare’s Lovers and Fighters”—a performance highlighting Shakespeare’s most famous fights and romances will be presented by Shakespeare-in-the-Schools on Thursday, Jan. 27, from noon-1 p.m. in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center.
• “Taking Shakespeare from Page to Stage”—a demonstration focused on The Two Gentlemen of Verona presented by Shakespeare-in-the-Schools on Friday, Jan. 28, from noon-1:30 p.m. in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center.

Rounding out the week are special Shakespeare-related exhibits in the Penn State Fayette Library available for public viewing, including “Shakespeare’s Stratford,” a guest exhibit of photographs taken by Dennis Brestensky; “Shakespeare and Popular Culture” artifacts from the collection of Jeffrey Martin, a retired English teacher from Albert Gallatin Senior High School; and unique and imaginative projects created by students from past Introduction to Shakespeare classes at the Fayette Campus. Library hours to view the special exhibits during the Shakespeare Festival are: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Founded by former Penn State Fayette English professor Dr. Dennis Brestensky in 1972, the Shakespeare Festival is a cultural tradition at Penn State Fayette that is popular with local school groups and community members, many of which return year-after-year for more Shakespeare.

Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the academic and social opportunities that Penn State Fayette offers. Penn State Fayette admission counselors and student aid staff will be available throughout the day to answer questions.

Prospective students who apply to Penn State Fayette during the event qualify for a $50 application fee waiver. Individuals should bring their high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores to qualify for the waiver. Participants are encouraged to dress according to the weather conditions and wear comfortable shoes due to the length of the tour.

For more information and to register for the extended-hours tours, call the Admissions Office at 724-430-4130 or visit the website at www.fayette.psu.edu/admissions. Parents are welcome to participate.

“King’s Dream” is a live ensemble performance and multimedia presentation that pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The show includes images, singers and songs that capture the spirit of the civil rights movement and tells the story of the life and teachings of Dr. King and others who participated in the movement. Through the performance, the story of the turbulent 1960s will be told, from the challenges of Vietnam War and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to the final signing of the Civil Rights Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

On the actual Martin Luther King Day holiday, Monday, Jan. 17, Penn State Fayette students (who have a day off from classes) will gather to have a “Day On” to perform community engagement with fellow students from the Penn State Beaver, Dubois, Greater Allegheny, New Kensington and Shenango campuses.

The Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at Penn State Fayette is sponsored in part by the campus’ Coalition for Equity and the International and Intercultural Programs Office.