Summer 2011 - Cal U Review by California University of Pennsylvania

2011

SUMMER

CREVIEW ALU

FAMILY TIES University pride spans generations

2011

SUMMER

CALU REVIEW

The California University of Pennsylvania Magazine CAL U REVIEW Vol. 39 - No. 3 The Cal U Review is published quarterly by the Office of Marketing and University Relations and is distributed free. Third class postage paid at California.

CHANCELLOR Dr. John C. Cavanaugh

FROM THE PRESIDENT

One goal of our Cal U for Life initiative is to forge lifelong relationships between California University and its alumni. We ask our graduates to stay connected with their alma mater through the years and to tell others about their own positive experiences at Cal U. Some alumni start by creating Cal U connections at home. A student’s enthusiasm for campus life might impress a brother or sister. Alumni parents, or even grandparents, may share their Vulcan pride with a younger generation. For certain families, attending Cal U becomes a family tradition. I am always happy to learn that an alumnus or alumna has recommended Cal U to a family member. Such endorsements are priceless, and we work hard to earn them. We want our alumni to believe in Cal U’s mission of building character and careers — and to feel that we offer a college experience that’s worth repeating. I am equally pleased when a first-generation college student chooses to enroll here. Students who are the first in their family to attend college quickly find that our University can be a “home away from home.” Like true family members, we go out of our way to provide all students with the caring support they need to achieve success. We welcome the parents of our students as active partners in the educational process, whether they are veterans of campus life or new to the college scene. An online Parent/Family Portal, a special Facebook page and a new Parent Leadership Council are designed to help them find their own place at Cal U. Of course, alumni will always be a valued part of our family circle, too. As a new academic year gets under way, I look forward to seeing you at campus activities, Vulcan sports events or our 2011 Homecoming festivities. Please remember that you — and your family — are always welcome here. With best wishes,

BOARD OF GOVERNORS Guido M. Pichini, chairman Marie Conley Lammando, vice chair Aaron Walton, vice chair Leonard B. Altieri III (student member) Rep. Matthew E. Baker Jennifer Branstetter (designee for Gov. Corbett) Gov. Tom Corbett Sarah C. Darling (student member) Rep. Michael K. Hanna Ronald G. Henry Sen. Vincent J. Hughes

Kenneth M. Jarin Bonnie L. Keener (student member) Jonathan B. Mack Joseph F. McGinn C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni Sen. Jeffrey E. Piccola Harold C. Shields Robert S. Taylor Ronald J. Tomalis, secretary of education Christine J. Toretti

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA President Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr. Geraldine M. Jones, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs Dr. Lenora Angelone, vice president for Student Affairs Dr. Charles B. Mance, vice president for University Technology Services Ron Huiatt, vice president for University Development and Alumni Relations Robert Thorn, interim vice president for Administration and Finance Craig Butzine, vice president for Marketing and University Relations COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES Robert J. Irey, chair Lawrence Maggi ’79, vice chair Peter J. Daley II ’72, ’75 James T. Davis ’73 Annette Ganassi Autumn Harris (student trustee) Leo Krantz

Michael Napolitano ’68 Gwendolyn Simmons Jerry Spangler ’74 Aaron Walton ’68 The Hon. John C. Cavanaugh, chancellor, ex-officio

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tim Gorske ’62, president Lorraine Vitchoff ’74, vice president Barbara (Williams) Fetsko ’75, ’83, secretary Deanne (Sovich) Zelenak ’79, treasurer Harry Serene ’65, immediate past president Roger M. Angelelli ’64 Jim Lokay ’02 Colleen (Murphy) Arnowitz ’75, ’97 Lawrence Maggi ’79 Mary Jo (Zosky) Barnhart ’84 Don Martin ’89 Rosemary (Rich) Bucchianeri ’69 Dante Morelli ’02 Joseph Dochinez ’51 Michael Napolitano ’68 Kimberly (Mahaffey) Fahey ’97, ’99 George Novak ’55 Brian Fernandes ’99, ’00 Melanie (Stringhill) Patterson ’82, ’88 Christina (Kost) Fosbrink ’01, ’03 Fred Retsch ’62, ’66 Josh Fosbrink, ’01, ’03 Dolly Rozzi ’64 Paul Gentile ’62 James Stofan ’71 Alan James ’62 Lynne (Moltz) Stout ’94 Len Keller ’61 Tim Susick ’76, ’78 Marc Keller ’94 Judy (Durko) Zilkowski ’77, ’83 Anthony Lazzaro ’55 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr., president Geraldine (Johns) Jones ’71 Ron Huiatt Leo Krantz STUDENT MEMBERS Courtney Cochran Josh Giffin

Amy (Gardner) Lombard ’01 Linda (Hootman) Serene ’64 Dr. Michael Slavin ’74

Walter Harris Cory Stoner

STUDENT ASSOCIATION, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Mutich Jenna Terchanik Kevin McEnvoy Robert Irey Walter Harris Sam Jessee ’90 Bonnie Keener Jim Lokay ’02 Michael Wagner Marc Roncone ’03 Shane Speicher Dr. Donald Thompson

Angelo Armenti, Jr. President California University of Pennsylvania

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Dr. Lenora Angelone ’89,’92,’97 Leigh Ann Lincoln

FOUNDATION FOR CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Linda H. Serene ’64, president Annette M. Kaleita ’55 Dr. David L. Amati ’70, vice president Gary Kennedy ’58 Michele M. Mandell ’69, secretary Robert Lippencott ’66 Paul Kania ’87, treasurer Lawrence Maggi ’79 Roger Angelelli ’64 Michael A. Perry ’63 William R. Booker ’74 Dr. Saundra L. Stout ’72 Thomas Crumrine ’64 Steven P. Stout ’85 Nathaniel W. Dixon Dr. Lorraine G. Vitchoff ’74 William R. Flinn ’68 Ben Wright Richard C. Grace ’63 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr., president Traci Gerber Tim Gorske ’62

2 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

Dr. Nancy Pinardi ’95, ’96, ’98 Larry Sebek

EDITOR Christine Kindl WRITERS Wendy Mackall Bruce Wald ’85 Jeff Bender PHOTOGRAPHERS Greg Sofranko

Ron Huiatt Denise L. Smith ’88, ’89

Lindy Kravec Colleen C. Derda

S. C. Spangler

ns ss

COVER STORY: Teri Naus Dunn ‘80 and her daughter, Amy, say the Cal U experience is one worth repeating. Page 4.

inSide Departments

Features

Alumni CAlendAr

18 – 19

Alumni Spotlight

20 – 21

School Colors

CAmpuS ClipS

22 – 23

Hydrants painted red and black tell visitors ‘The Class of 2011 Was Here.’

SportS roundup

28 – 29

mileStoneS

31 – 34

Puttin’ On the Ritz

A record-setting crowd attends the 18th annual President’s Gala, the University’s premier fundraising event.

Commencement 2011 FranklinCovey

LEADERSHIP

Construction Update

UNIVERSITY

California University of Pennsylvania has been named the world’s first FranklinCovey Leadership University in recognition of its efforts to incorporate leadership principles into teaching, learning and campus life. The designation by FranklinCovey was announced at The Leader in Me Global Education Summit, presented Aug. 3-4 at Cal U.

‘Tweets’ tell the story as this year’s graduating seniors step up to receive their diplomas.

Behind striking windows and glass curtain-walls, workers are putting the finishing touches on the Convocation Center.

Smart Moves

Shaka Smart ’01 reflects on the ‘March madness’ that put him and his team in the spotlight.

For more than a decade, Cal U has offered training in Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to all students, faculty and staff. A number of professors voluntarily incorporate 7 Habits principles into their teaching. And Cal U’s Character Education Institute provides Franklin Covey courses to local businesses; in return, those businesses establish endowed scholarships that benefit Cal U students. SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 3 ■

The Martik family: (front row, from left) Anna ’11, twins Maria and Vanessa, and Emily; (back row) Sarah, Deanna ’84, Greg ’82 and Ben.

Cal U pride spans generations The Martiks s the Cal U experience worth repeating? Ask our University families, and you’ll hear a resounding, “Yes!” Some Cal U families include two or even three generations of loyal alumni, along with brothers and sisters who share their Vulcan pride. “I’m not surprised to see applications that mention the fact that a parent, sibling or other family member has attended Cal U,” says Dr. William Edmonds, dean of Admissions for the University. “Cal U offers a high-quality education, and it’s a good value, too. When a family member has a great experience here, word spreads.” For three families — the Martiks, the Dunns and the Difilippos — the road to higher education leads straight to Cal U. 4 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

Greg ’82 and Deanna ’84 Martik, who live on a hill overlooking campus, delight in the growth at California University of Pennsylvania. “It has changed so much — night and day,” says Deanna Martik, who works for an insurance company. “When I started, it was Cal State, and then it became California University.” Their lives have grown, too, since the day they met in Professor George Novak’s computer class. The Martiks now have six children — Anna, Emily, Sarah, Ben and twins Maria and Vanessa — and are surely doing their part to grow the Alumni Association. Anna Martik ’11

Anna, 22, graduated summa cum laude in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and worked at the University this summer.. Emily, 20, is a communication studies major with a minor in political science. Sarah,19, is a secondary education major with concentrations in Spanish and communications, and a minor in theater. And Ben, 18, is an incoming freshman who will be studying business and economics. It’s possible that Maria and Vanessa, 14, might choose a different college. But in this family, which oozes Vulcan pride, you have to think the odds are against it. “We are huge supporters of Cal U,” Deanna Martik says. “We are always encouraging others to attend.” The family has spent a lot of time at the University over the years, starting with on-campus preschool, where all the children began their education. “President Armenti attended all the pre-K graduations,” Deanna Martik recalls. “He always said to the kids, ‘We’ll see you here when you come to college,’ and it’s been true!” Greg Martik, who played baseball at Cal State, has enjoyed attending games at the University. “I like the sports here,” he says. “You don’t have to travel to a bigger college to see good athletics.” The children have participated in a variety of other activities on campus, as well. “They each learned to swim by taking lessons in either Herron or Hamer,” Deanna Martik says, and they all have participated in various camps. For the past three years, Maria and Vanessa have appeared in A Christmas Carol, the holiday production presented by the Department of Theatre and Dance. Greg Martik says Cal U has done a great job of reaching out to the community through sporting events, camps, shows and other activities, and he has noticed something else, as well. “It’s gotten better educationally,” he says. “Ben was in the National Honor Society in high school, and many of those members are going to Cal U this fall.”

Cal U also has remained a more affordable option, says Greg Martik, who is a financial planner. “It’s close to home, and it’s a nice atmosphere,” Anna adds. “It’s definitely a win-win.” The sisters’ lists of activities at Cal U have been long. The highlights: They all have held work-study jobs, as will Ben. Anna was active with campus tours and marketing projects, including one for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Emily is in the Honors Program and edits its newsletter, and she plays clarinet in the marching band. Sarah, also in the Honors Program, was the assistant stage manager for the Theatre Department’s production of Cabaret last spring, and she worked at the theater over the summer. “We are very proud,” Deanna and Greg Martik agree. “They make it very easy to be parents. And President

MEET ThE MaRTikS See what the martik family has to say about Cal u and the scholarships that have helped their children attend the university. Visit www.calu.edu/news, click on “Cal u review” and look for “As seen in the review.”

Armenti has done a great job with his vision for the campus. I am proud of what the college has become.” “I just knew it was the right road,” Emily says. “How’s it going so far? I just want to wax ecstatic about Cal U!” continued on page 6

Working together: Parents become active partners In addition to being a mentor or coach for their student, parents can play another active role at Cal U through the Parent Program. The program gives families of current and former Cal U students three main ways to partner with the University, says Randi Minerva ’98, coordinator of Parent and Alumni Relations: • Families can work with Career Services by attending networking events or by offering internships or other jobshadowing opportunities. • Families can attend annual events such as Family Weekend, open houses and off-campus activities that introduce freshmen and their families to the University before the start of the academic year. • Parents can join the Parent Leadership Council (PLC), whose members serve as University ambassadors to enhance the Cal U experience for students and their families.

The PLC works with Cal U to welcome parents of first-year students, plan parent events and communications, encourage parent giving, thank parent donors, and host or attend University events in their area. “Similar to Cal U for Life, the Cal U Parent Program aims to build a sense of family and partnership,” Minerva says. “Through a variety of programs across many campus departments, we want to support our students’ character-building education.” Families are invited to campus Sept. 23-25 for Family Weekend, which is “a great way to showcase the University,” says Minerva. “Last year was the first time we had events all weekend instead of one day, and we had 200 more people who participated.” For a schedule of events and to register for Family Weekend, visit www.calu.edu/events/familyweekend. For more information about the Parent and Alumni Relations Program, including upcoming events, visit www.calu.edu/ families-parents, or look for “Information for … Parents & Families” at the top of the Cal U homepage, www.calu.edu.

SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 5 ■

FAMILY TIES

continued from page 5

Amy Dunn, who is studying early childhood and special education, takes a walk across the Quad with her mom, Terri Naus Dunn ‘80.

The Dunns Teri Naus Dunn ’80 revels in her memories — silly and serious — of California State College. “I remember we used to plant flowers in the urinals in Clyde Hall,” she says of the former campus building that had become a women’s dormitory. The fun times included taking weekend trips to a camp in Jumonville, Fayette County, and meeting lifelong friends Nancy Schnatterly Clements ’79 and Joy Vlanich Dunmire ’78 through the Christian Fellowship group. “They were each my roommate at one point,” Dunn says. “Nancy’s mother introduced my husband, Dennis, and me, and I was in both of their weddings. Now all three of our children are students at Cal U.” But most of all, the Chambersburg, Pa., native who now lives in Bridgeville, Pa., received “a wonderful education.” “I got a great foundation in communications, but also in business,” she says, crediting speech professors Marcella Blout, Patrick

Miller, Corine Flemmings and Robert Cowles. Dunn currently provides leadership and sales training to various clients, and she is retired from her position as vice president of marketing for Global Imaging Systems after a career as a business owner. At Cal State, Dunn was a member of the forensics team, which was coached by Blout and Miller. “They set high standards and goals of being the best you could possibly be.” To show her appreciation, Dunn established a scholarship in their honor. It is given each semester to a junior communications major. Over the years, Dunn kept in touch with Cal U. She occasionally returned to campus to speak in Miller’s classes, and she received the Professional Excellence Award, given to outstanding alumni, in 2002. Now that their daughter, Amy, attends Cal U, both Dunn and her husband have joined the Parent Leadership Council. “I can talk to parents about being a student many years ago, and also

now about having a child at Cal U,” she says. Amy spent the summer on campus, taking classes, working in the Welcome Center and giving tours to prospective students. And she is very excited to be leading a Cal U for Life session at new-student orientation. “My mom always talked about the school,” she says. “She’d bring me here for the scholarship award dinners, and we would sit with students.” Amy has a dual major, in early childhood education and special ed. She also is busy with a variety of activities at Cal U: Habitat for Humanity, Ski Club, Kappa Delta Pi, Alpha Lambda Delta, Peer Mentoring, the Council for Exceptional Children and Best Buddies. “She didn’t even apply anywhere else,” Dunn says. “We could have sent her anywhere, but this was her choice. She wanted to go to Cal U, and she loves it.”

As a Cal U Ambassador, Amy Dunn (left) takes a prospective student on a campus tour. 6 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

CALU Genevieve Difilippo ‘89 joins her grandson Jon Difilippo in Manderino Library. Jon, who plans to major in communications, will begin his freshman year at Cal U this fall.

The Difilippos For Genevieve Difilippo ’89, graduating from Cal U was a dream delayed — by a marriage, four children and more than 30 years. “All I ever wanted to be was a teacher,” the 75-year-old says. She graduated from high school in 1954 and took a few courses at California State Teachers College. But then she married John Difilippo Sr. and immediately started a family. They live in California, Pa., and have four children, all Cal U alumni: Philip ’77; Terri ’80, ’85; John Jr. ’88; and Gennifer ’93. Philip’s son Jon, the oldest grandchild, will be a freshman in 2011. Genevieve Difilippo worked at the G.C. Murphy store in California for years, until it was sold in 1985. By then her husband had been laid off from J&L Steel and was working at Cal U, in the Physical Plant Department. “I wanted to see if there was anything left in my head,” Genevieve Difilippo says of her decision to pursue a degree. “I took an evening class and got a good grade! I was so happy. I earned an associate degree in early childhood education, but I wanted to do something more.” So in 1989, at age 53, Genevieve Difilippo graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She acknowledges the challenges of being a nontraditional student. “I remember sitting in my classes and looking around. There weren’t many older than me,” she says with a smile. “But the younger ones took me under their wings. It’s a good school; I felt I had a good education.” Genevieve Difilippo did her studentteaching in the Brownsville School District. She worked as a substitute teacher in Brownsville and California Area schools before being hired as a firstgrade teacher at California Elementary

School in 1993. “I will never forget that moment,” she says. She retired in 2006. “I knew I wasn’t going to get 35 years of teaching in, so I had to make another goal. I decided I would retire when I was 70.” Like his grandmother, Jon has only ever had one career goal — to work in radio or TV broadcasting. A 2011 graduate of California Area High School, he will be a communications major at Cal U. He’s been preparing for years: Jon was the public address announcer for basketball, football and baseball games at his high school, and he plans to continue announcing at high school football and basketball games while in college. He worked on the TV broadcasts of school board meetings and was the sound technician for his high school musicals. A recent winner of a one-year, fulltuition scholarship to Cal U from the Valley Independent newspaper, he’s also in the disc jockey business, playing tunes as “Jonny D.” When he’s not behind a microphone, Jon competes as a member of the Smokin’ Guns youth sporting clays team at the California Hill Gun Club. The shooting team is coached by his dad, Philip. Recently, Jon was chosen to be one of two youth ambassadors for the national Scholastic Clay Target Program, promoting the sport, and gun safety, around the country. Yet given his family’s many ties to the school, Jon says, Cal U was an obvious choice. “It’s close, and I’m carrying on a tradition. And I know people who go there and work there. “Why go anywhere else?” ■

DiRECT COnnECTiOn: portal links families to Cal u Cal U understands that families play an important role in student success. So when Mom, Dad or other family members need information, they can visit the Parent/Family Portal, a new feature of the Cal U website. Cynthia Young Dedicated solely to the needs of parents and families, the portal provides key dates and deadlines, links to campus resources, and answers to questions about the Cal U experience, from academics to campus life. “When a child goes off to college, the family dynamic changes,” says Cynthia Young, manager of the portal. “Instead of calling all the shots, the parent moves into the role of mentor or coach. “As a coach, you may not be on the field, but you’re still in the game. We recognize that parents are still very much in the game, and we welcome their engagement.” In addition to the website, Young maintains a Facebook page where parents can interact. She answers individual questions through e-mail or by phone, and she meets parents at campus events. Young describes herself as a liaison between families and the University. “As the mom of two recent college graduates and a family services professional, I understand what college parents care about. I also know what’s important for them to know about when it comes to navigating the University,” she says. “Our partnership with parents is rooted in shared goals — the success of their sons and daughters, enjoyment of the college years, career preparation and timely graduation, and a lifelong relationship with Cal U.” To access the Parent/Family Portal, visit www.calu.edu/families-parents, or look for “Information for … Parents & Families” at the top of the Cal U homepage, www.calu.edu. To find the Facebook page for Cal U parents and families, visit facebook.com/CalUParents andFamilies.

By Wendy Mackall, assistant communications director at Cal U SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 7 ■

StudentS, Alumni ConneCt by phone Call CEnTER wORkERS PlaY a kEY ROlE in FUnDRaiSing hen alumni hear from the Cal U Call Center, they get more than a telephone solicitation. They get a chance to make a connection. Alumni who answer the phone call are not burdened with monotone, staged requests. Instead, they are greeted by current students — future alumni who are, in many ways, younger versions of themselves. One of many campus areas the Call Center serves is the University’s Annual Fund. “The Annual Fund raises money for student scholarships by asking alumni for gifts every year,” says manager Cathy Connelly ’95, ’96. Such a gift may reflect the donor’s interest by supporting a specific academic discipline or a favorite athletic team, or it might be used where the need is greatest. “While we obviously want to raise money, we make calls because we also want to build alumni participation and get them involved with the University as much as we can,” Connelly says. “Students can reach more alumni in a given day then I possibly could, and they can speak to alumni about their experiences right now, compare stories and form an instant connection.” Every student hired to work at the Call Center goes through an intensive interview process, says Brad Steadman, the center’s director. Candidates answer basic questions about their experience and why they want the job. Then Steadman asks each student to tell him a story based on random details he supplies. “I am interested in their communication skills and how they think on their feet,” he explains. “Even a phone message they leave can tell me quite a bit.” The Call Center students are excellent ambassadors for Cal U, Connelly says. “It takes a certain type of individual to talk to people of many different ages

8 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

on the phone, and to be able to handle rejection, as well. Oftentimes the student caller and the alumnus have had the same professor or the same major. It’s easier for an alumnus to say ‘yes’ to a student than to someone who has no ties to this place.” Between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, students fill the 25 stations at the Call Center, using background information and various scripts to spark conversations. In addition to supporting the Annual Fund, they also may reach out to prospective or current students regarding topics such as food service, student housing or financial aid. In all, Steadman estimates that 250,000 phone calls are made from the Call Center each year. Among the student callers is senior Tom Sobocinski, a criminal justice major. Now a shift manager, he began working at the Call Center when he was a

sophomore. His older brother, Matt ’10, also worked at the center. Sobocinski, who aspires to work for the state police, finds that most alumni are genuinely interested in hearing about the University. “You’re talking to more than 150 people a day, so you’re always enhancing your people skills,” he says. “This will definitely help me in the future, when I’m dealing with citizens or settling disputes. And I’ve also learned a lot about Cal U.” ■ By Bruce Wald ’85, information writer at Cal U

The annual Fund Cal u relies on annual support from alumni and friends of the university to fund academic programs, endowed chairs, special research projects and other initiatives. to learn more about the Annual Fund, and about other ways of giving to Cal u, visit www.calu.edu/giving.

Who’s calling? The Call Center employs students (front row, from left) Halie Gill, Samantha Mitchell, Stephanie Haney, Deana Polselli, Whitney Wilson and Kerri Franks; (back row, from left) Kevin Newlin, Matthew Pagan, Thomas Sobocinski, Brad Davoli, Tyler Negley, Andrew LeFever, Tiwanda Russell, Lora Davis and Blair Messinger.

school colors The Class of 2011 has left its mark on Cal U.

Student Rachel Fletcher paints a hydrant outside South Hall.

Student Cory Stoner applies a coat of red paint to a hydrant as part of the Leave Your Mark project for seniors.

Fire hydrants across campus are sporting red and black paint in a variety of designs, the result of the inaugural Leave Your Mark project for graduating seniors. About two dozen students took part in the project, which was organized through the Cal U for Life initiative and the Office of Alumni Relations. A team from Facilities Management cleaned and primed the hydrants before the student artists took over. The project was intended to let seniors change the look of the campus one last time before graduation, and to raise awareness of the Senior Gift Drive campaign. Organizers hope it will become a campus tradition. Leave Your Mark opened with a sign-in event, buffet supper and concert featuring the Cal U Jazz Ensemble, Cal Singers and a cappella groups Vulcanize and Acappella Stella. Student artists were assigned specific hydrants and given one week to complete their designs. Each of the hydrants has been photographed, and the images will be kept in the Kara Alumni House.

SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 9 â&#x2013;

BLACK-TIE PARTY RAISES SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS record-setting crowd of 340 University friends, alumni, faculty, staff and students had a grand time “Puttin’ On the Ritz” June 4 at the 2011 President’s Gala. The 18th annual black-tie event, held at the Omni William Penn hotel in Pittsburgh, capped off the Alumni Weekend celebration by raising funds for student scholarships. As state funding for public higher education has declined, private support has become even more important for Cal U students, said President Angelo Armenti, Jr., who hosted the event with First Lady Barbara Armenti. “We extend a very sincere ‘thank you’ to each and every one of you for joining us and helping us raise muchneeded scholarship dollars for our deserving students,” he said. The President’s Gala has raised nearly $1.4 million since its inception in 1994. Over the years, net proceeds of more than $750,000 have provided scholarships for deserving Cal U students.

Honorary chairs for the gala were Robert Lippencott ’66 and his wife, Suzanne. A retired Secret Service agent — and a former Cal U scholarship recipient himself — Lippencott is a member of the board of directors for the Foundation for California University. “We know that each of you feels the way we do about our University and our students, and that ‘paying it forward’ is a concept that all of us understand,” he told the guests. “Through your generosity, we will be able to provide much-needed support for our students.”

Award presentations The clink of crystal gave way to a warm round of applause when President Armenti introduced the faculty award winners for 2011. Dr. Christine Patti, a professor in the Administrative Program for Principals, was honored for excellence in teaching. Dr. Robert S. Whyte, of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, was recognized for his research, and Dr. Ralph Belsterling, of the Department

Honorary co-chairs Robert Lippencott ’66 and his wife, Suzanne.

First Lady Barbara Armenti and President Angelo Armenti, Jr. take a turn around the dance floor.

Faculty award winners (from left) Dr. Christine Patti (teaching), Dr. Robert Whyte (research) and Dr. Ralph Belsterling (service) with President’s Emeriti Faculty Award winner Professor Marsha L. Nolf. 10 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

of Communication Disorders, accepted the award for service. Professor Marsha L. Nolf received the President’s Emerita Faculty Award. Before her retirement in 2008, she filled numerous roles at Manderino Library — including “the goddess of information,” she quipped in a videotaped acceptance speech. The President’s Emeritus Faculty Award was presented to Dr. Donald J. Thompson, who closed a 37-year career at Cal U when he retired in 2007 as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. Gwendolyn Simmons, a longtime member of the University’s Council of Trustees, received a standing ovation after accepting the Lillian M. Bassi Core Values Award. A leader in numerous civic organizations, especially in the Mon Valley, she has been a generous University benefactor and a strong advocate for Cal U and its students.

Left, Patti and Dan Simmons of the Monongahela Valley Hospital. Above, students Lena Danka and Daeshawn Ballard. Right, Scott Bush and Dr. Emily Sweitzer.

Top hats and roses After dinner in the Omni’s Grand Ballroom, where tabletop arrangements of roses were accented with ritzy top hats and feather boas, the crowd adjourned to enjoy a dessert bar, casino games and dancing to the Benny Benack Orchestra. Guests also placed bids on more than 50 silent auction items, including vacation stays and themed gift baskets. Among the most popular items were helmets autographed by Pittsburgh Steelers players James Harrison and Ziggy Hood, and a football signed by Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward. The Pittsburgh Penguins also provided enticing auction items, including a jersey autographed by Mario Lemieux and a helmet signed by the 2010-2011 Pens. Proceeds from the silent auction added to the scholarship fund, as well. “Everyone seemed to enjoy getting dressed up and attending a fancy, fun-filled event,” said Craig Butzine, vice president for Marketing and University Relations. “But the real winners are the Cal U students who will receive scholarship dollars raised at the gala — an event they can look forward to attending themselves once they’ve established their own careers.” ■ By Christine Kindl, communications director at Cal U

Above, John Heintz (left), Leslie Curt and James Lokay celebrate a win at charity blackjack. Above right, sisters Emily and Anna Martik enjoy the fun.

gala glamour to see photos from the 18th annual president’s gala, visit www.calu.edu/news, click on “Cal u review” and look for “As seen in the review.”

At right, Dr. Michael Serene (left) and Professor George Novak take their chances in the casino room. Below, Joan and Jim Foutz hit the dance floor.

SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 11 ■

2011 PRESIDENTIAL AWARD WINNERS – ESTEEMED HONORS RECEIVED AT THE PRESIDENT’S GALA

GWENDOLYN SIMMONS Lillian M. Bassi Core Values Award

DR. CHRISTINE PATTI President’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching

DR. ROBERT S. WHYTE President’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Research

For more than five decades Gwendolyn Simmons’ kindness, coupled with her tireless commitment to community service, has exemplified California University’s core values of integrity, civility and responsibility.

Dr. Christine Patti has been a professor in the Administrative Program for Principals at California University of Pennsylvania for the past six years.

Dr. Robert S. Whyte is an associate professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences. Curator of the John F. Lewis Herbarium at Cal U, he also oversees activities at the Arboretum at California University.

Simmons currently is serving her third, six-year term as a member of California University’s Council of Trustees. A lifetime member of the NAACP, she is an ex-officio member of the board of directors for the United Way of Mon Valley, where she was the first female president. She also serves on the boards of South Western Pennsylvania Human Services, the Mon Valley YMCA, Bethel A.M.E. Church Lay Organization, the Washington Community Foundation and the Monongahela Area Revitalization Corp. She is a sponsor for the Ladies Activities for Fun (LAFF), a cultural enrichment club for teenage girls. A resident of Monongahela, Pa., Simmons is past president of the Washington County Historical Society and the Ringgold-Charleroi PTA Council. She is a former member of the board of directors for the Multicultural Arts Initiative of the Pittsburgh Foundation and for Mon Valley Community Services. She also is a past chair of the Washington County Hospital Authority. She has been depicted in “Women of a New Tribe,” an exhibition of photographs commissioned by the African Cultural Center of Greater Pittsburgh.

Award winners Dr. Christine Patti, Dr. Robert S. Whyte, Dr. Ralph Belsterling, Professor Marsha L. Nolf and Dr. Donald J. Thompson pose with Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr. at the 2011President’s Gala. 12 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

She has worked in the public school system for more than 25 years. Her administrative experience includes 19 years as an elementary principal for three Pittsburgharea school districts. Her last principal’s position was in the Mt. Lebanon School District, where her school was awarded a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon for high academic achievement. She also has experience as a middle school assistant principal and an elementary teacher in grades K-5.

For almost 25 years, the main focus of Whyte’s research has been our nation’s wetlands and lakes. He has provided Great Lakes coastal resource and wetlands managers with information necessary to maintain and re-establish native flora and the natural integrity of these coastal wetlands. He also investigates the impact of changing water levels on aquatic macrophyte communities, in particular assessing the impacts of the invasive grass Phragmites australis.

A certified online instructor and a certified Quality Matters Peer Reviewer for online courses, Patti has made numerous presentations, including a series of talks at Cal U: “Tips and Pointers for Successful Future Teachers,” “Meeting the Needs of All Learners,” “What Makes You Stand Out from the Rest as a Teacher Candidate?” and “A Principal’s Perspective.”

Whyte has received funding for his research from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Faculty Professional Development Committee at Cal U.

Patti holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Duquesne University and a Master of Education in curriculum and supervision, a Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility, and a doctorate in administration and policy studies, all from the University of Pittsburgh.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in fisheries and wildlife from Michigan State University, a Master of Environmental Science from the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Miami University of Ohio, and a Ph.D. in botany, also from Miami University.

DR. RALPH BELSTERLING President’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Service

MARSHA L. NOLF President’s Emerita Faculty Award

DR. DONALD J. THOMPSON President’s Emeritus Faculty Award

Dr. Ralph Belsterling is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Disorders, president of the Pennsylvania Speech-LanguageHearing Association and clinical director of the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Healthy Hearing program.

For more than 20 years, associate professor Marsha L. Nolf provided a wealth of information to patrons of Manderino Library.

After a distinguished 37-year career at California University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Donald J. Thompson retired as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs in January 2007.

He specializes in audiological assessments, hearing aids and hearing conservation. Belsterling has worked extensively with the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes initiative, which aims to improve access and health care for Special Olympics athletes. A Special Olympics international volunteer and health care trainer, he has participated in the USA National Games in Ames, Iowa; the Healthy Athlete Global Health Conference in Miami, Fla.; and the World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho. As clinical director of the Special Olympics Healthy Hearing program in Pennsylvania, Belsterling coordinates these events with audiologists and college students from around the state, including Cal U. He also provides audiometric screenings as part of his audiology diagnostics classes, testing the hearing of hundreds of school-age children in southwestern Pennsylvania each year. Belsterling received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in speech pathology from California State College, his master’s degree in audiology from Clarion University, and his doctorate in audiology from the University of Florida.

PUTTIN’ ON THE 2011 President’s Gala

Nolf served as the library’s public services coordinator until her retirement in June 2008. In that role she supervised and coordinated activities in the library’s public services area, including the circulation and reference desks, bibliographic instruction and interlibrary loans. She developed information literacy programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and through the First- Year Seminar program provided library instruction to more than 3,000 library patrons every academic year. A member of the University Honors Program Board of Advisors, Nolf also taught a three-hour honors course, Information Literacy, each semester. She was chair of the Library Department from May 2003 to May 2008, and she is the founder of the Manderino Library Book Club. She was granted emerita status in July 2008. Nolf now serves on the board of directors for the Greene County Library System, the Flenniken Public Library and Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Waynesburg (Pa.) University and a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

RITZ

His tenure at Cal U spanned five decades, and he served under three university presidents — Drs. George H. Roadman, John P. Watkins and Angelo Armenti, Jr. A former geologist, Thompson began his career at Cal U by teaching in the Department of Geography and Earth Science. He served as interim dean of the College of Science and Technology, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and interim dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research. He then held various interim posts within the Office of Academic Affairs before being named provost in 2004. Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Monmouth (Ill.) College, a master’s degree in earth science from Indiana University Bloomington, and a Ph.D. in earth science from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. For his numerous accomplishments as a scholar, educator and administrator, Cal U awarded Thompson the degree of Doctor of Public Service, honoris causa, in December 2006. He was granted emeritus status in May 2007.

FACULTY THANKS To see the 2011 President’s Gala faculty award winners accept their awards, visit www.calu.edu/news, click on “Cal U Review” and look for “As seen in the Review.”

SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 13 ■

Sweet ‘tweets’ at Commencement 2011 Students use social media to share their thoughts on graduation day tudents in caps and gowns tapped messages into their smart phones, using Twitter to connect with friends and family as they waited for California University’s 172nd Commencement to begin.

Four years of college education have all come down to this. Let’s do this!

New graduate Amanda L. Martinak celebrates after receiving her diploma.

Today Is Our Day. Congratulations Class Of 2011! At rehearsal, the soon-to-be graduates had received a card urging them to share their thoughts about Commencement in 140-character “tweets” on the popular social media site. As the students assembled under gray skies at Roadman Park, members of the campus community followed their messages, with the keyword #calucomm, through Twitter or the Cal U website. University staff joined the conversation, too.

Getting in number order. The day is here! On May 7, graduating seniors filed into Adamson Stadium, where Commencement was held for the second consecutive year. Skies were gray, but even a brief drizzle couldn’t dampen the spirits of the families and friends in the bleachers.

Heather Slattery, 23, a human resources and business major, is congratulated by her mom, Rebecca.

Dry the seats? Check! We’re ready for you, #Classof2011! And the processional begins… #chills Before students received their diplomas, graduating senior Taylor Williams, chair of the Senior Gift Drive Committee, presented a check for more than $6,700 to University President Angelo Armenti, Jr. This was the second year for the Senior Gift Drive, a Cal U for Life initiative. In recognition of the generosity of seniors and their families, President Armenti and First Lady Barbara Armenti contributed $1 for each student donor and $2 for each family who contributed to the drive. So far, the Senior Gift Drive has raised more than $14,000 for an endowed scholarship. See More excerpts from the Spring 2011 Commencement addresses are reprinted on pages 16-17. to see the ceremonies in their entirety, visit www.calu.edu and search for “Commencement videos.” or visit www.calu.edu/news select “Cal u review” and look for “As seen in the review.”

14 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

Corey James give a thumbs-up before receiving his bachelor’s degree in athletic training.

President Armenti honors the moms in the crowd! Happy Mother’s Day weekend! Three distinguished alumni shared their thoughts with graduates in a more traditional format. On May 6, banking industry executive Daryl Zupan ’77 addressed nearly 300 master’s degree candidates who received their academic hoods and their diplomas in Hamer Hall. On May 7, Provost Geraldine Jones introduced Charles S. Pryor ’73, who offered remarks after he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. Raymond Milchovich ’71, a leader in the energy industry, delivered the Commencement address to undergraduates. Then, one by one, the students stepped up to receive their diplomas, shake President Armenti’s hand and walk off the stage as Cal U alumni. In all, nearly 1,200 students were eligible to receive master’s, bachelor’s or associate degrees.

I don’t know how they do it with all those names. #calucomm I know they’d hate me for messing it up. When President Armenti handed me my degree package he said, “Oh wow, 2 degrees? Nice job!” “I invite you to return often and to keep in touch,” the President told the University’s newest alumni. “Be sure to let us know about your life after you leave here. “Please know that Cal U is extremely proud of you and your accomplishments.”

Wyndorah_08 Has officially graduated. I am an alumna of CalU of PA! Yay! I am legit!!! I graduated!! Now the sun comes out! Oh, well. Great grad pics :)

Graduating senior Taylor Williams presents a gift from the Class of 2011 to President Angelo Armenti, Jr.

Twin grads shared their Cal U experience The Keefe sisters have a lot in common. Identical twins Kristin and Kaylee both graduated May 7 with bachelor’s degrees in social work. Both are working at Kennywood amusement park in West Mifflin, Pa., while they prepare to take their civil service tests. Both attended the same university before transferring to Cal U after their first semesters — although Kristin did start her college career as a nursing major and came to Cal U as a liberal arts major. “We had separate friends because we started out in different majors,” Kaylee says. “A lot of people didn’t know we were twins. So I would have people waving at me, but had no idea who they were.” “We’re pretty close,” Kristin says. “It’s just us. We’re the only siblings. We argue a lot, but at the same time, we are always together. It feels like I’m arguing with myself sometimes.” “It was a lot easier to go to school with a sibling because you always had someone you knew,” Kaylee says. “We could look out for each other. “And we could share books!”

Christina Tolfa, who received a degree in communication disorders, adjusts her cap.

SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 15 ■

The ‘dot-edu’ within you Daryl Zupan ’77 is president and CEO of the largest and oldest company financing property and casualty premiums in North America under three brands. The company’s U.S. brand, AFCO, and its Canadian brand, CAFO, recently were joined by an affiliate, Prime Rate Premium Finance Co. Zupan is a member of the senior leadership team at the companies’ parent, BB&T Corp., one of the largest financial services holding companies in the United States. He addressed master’s degree candidates May 6.

do have a couple of observations that I hope will prove useful to you. … The first is that calu.edu is a valuable address to remember. … The second is that just as “dot-com” changed the world, using the “dot-edu” within you can change how you deal with what greets you along life’s path. This is what I mean by “edu”: E stands for education. … Long before it came to mean teaching someone something, the word “educate” meant to lead out from inside, or to coax out what was intrinsic within a person. … Each of you faces the challenge of coaxing the best out of your students, or your clients, or your employees. And you will achieve this by continuing to draw the best out of yourselves. … D stands for determination, a quality that has served me well in my life. … One semester I was in an automobile

‘it’s up to you’ Charles Pryor ’73 was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, on May 7. The vice president of business development for L.R. Kimball, he is responsible for business development and cross-divisional sales for the firm’s architecture and engineering, civil and environmental, transportation, and communications technology divisions. At Cal U he earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts while playing baseball for the Vulcans, winning three varsity letters and serving as team captain in 1973.

16 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

accident, which hurt my GPA. But I had become determined to succeed, and I got right back into working long and hard for excellence. … That is what building character is all about: You start with something that you value or admire and want for yourself, and then you work hard at it, using the resources around you. Then there’s U, which stands for the unexpected. … I have lost count of the number of unexpected situations that confronted me … but there is one that stands out as the most memorable. As events earlier this week have reminded you, this year marks the 10th anniversary of 9/11. … When the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center, my employees in New York … were located just four blocks away. … Nothing had prepared us for this event. …

Over the following six weeks, I managed a team working remotely in borrowed office space, or from their homes, all of us sharing information and learning together as we went along. Effectively, the New York office was partially up and running within 48 hours and operating satisfactorily by the following Monday. … Nothing had prepared me, or any of them, for this situation. But the values that are promoted right here at Cal U certainly came into play that day, and in the weeks that followed. And I know these same values will underpin your actions when you face the unexpected, as inevitably you will. Don’t forget that address: calu.edu. It has served you well up to this point and will continue to do so far into the future.

and confident adults. And Lou Lignelli, a public servant of the highest quality and my very good friend, never said no when I asked for help for Cal U or anything else, for that matter. … So don’t forget the people who have helped you along the way — the administrators and professors, the gameday crew, the coaches and custodians. They are all a part of your success. Give back to this institution. Give back in service and financial support. … I promise you it will make you feel good and it is the right thing to do. Words cannot express my appreciation to the President, the First Lady and the Council of Trustees for this honorary degree. … I accept it in the name and spirit of all who have helped me stand before you today. … As you leave here today to begin your journey, opportunities will present themselves to you. What you do with those opportunities will be up to you.

hen I first stepped foot on to this campus in the summer of 1969, there was a very unpopular war raging in Southeast Asia, the economy was flat and the unemployment rate was especially high. Sound familiar? But the country survived and flourished and will do so again because of you, the new leaders for the 21st century. The only thing I had going for me that year was a pretty impressive batting average — and a not-so-impressive grade-point average. But Hall of Fame coach Mitch Bailey found a way to get me into college. … He said, ‘Charlie, here is an opportunity. What you do with it is up to you.’ People helping people — that’s what we do here. (For instance) Hall of Fame coach Charles Gismondi … was my wife’s professor and mentor in her chosen profession … helping children with speech impairments become productive

‘This is your life’ Raymond Milchovich ’71 retired last year as chief executive of Foster Wheeler AG, a 116-yearold global engineering and construction firm. Before joining Foster Wheeler, Milchovich worked for Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel and Wisconsin Steel Corp. He then spent more than 20 years with Kaiser Aluminum Corp., where he progressed from operations management to chairman of the board and chief executive officer. He delivered the undergraduate Commencement address May 7.

Dr. John Cencich, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, vests graduate student Khaldun Ahmad in his academic hood.

ver 40 years, I’ve lived and worked in eight locations, for four companies. I traveled to the four corners of the world more than once, and I believe I’ve learned a great deal. … I’ve reduced that learning into four key themes, but before I start, I want to warn you that this is not rocket science, because I don’t believe success in life is rocket science. I’ve said a number of times, ‘This isn’t complicated; it’s just really, really hard work.’ Theme No. 1: Have a plan. Set objectives. Hold yourself accountable and take ownership. This is not a dress rehearsal; this is your life. And before you know it, you’re going to be like me, looking back over the last 40 years. … What I would suggest is that you set objectives, enjoy your successes and learn from your failures, and always be in the process of renewing yourself. Second, be yourself. You win or you lose in life playing your own game. … The sooner you get comfortable with who you are, the values by which you’ll live your life, the values by which you’ll treat others … the sooner you’ll begin to realize your full potential in your adult life. Third, embrace and confront failure. I will guarantee you, you’re going to suffer setbacks, you’re going to suffer adversity, you’re going to have a series of failures. We all have. I think the key is to enjoy our successes, but more importantly, learn from our failures and improve ourselves every day of our lives. Finally, at the risk of sounding like a dinosaur in today’s electronic-communication age, form relationships, get to know people, treat people the way you would want to be treated. … I would suggest that it is impossible to live your life, to have a successful career, without doing so. … I believe that southwestern Pennsylvania is a unique part of this world. It’s populated by honest, hardworking, caring people. … Use that edge to your advantage. Start tomorrow. Don’t waste a day. And begin building the life that you’ve always imagined.

Commencement ceremonies at Adamson Stadium.

Delivering balloons and a handful of confetti, Dr. Michael Slavin, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, congratulates graduate Kristin Ross, a theatre major.

Theatre major Cat Hoefler waits for Commencement ceremonies to begin.

SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 17 ■

ALUMNI N E W S GREETINGS FROM THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & ANNUAL FUND!

our University has continued to thrive and expand over the past several years under President Armenti’s vision, and the Alumni Office has grown, too. Traditionally, alumni outreach focused solely on our graduates. Recently, however, we’ve recognized that our students, parents, families and friends also have a great desire to forge a lifelong relationship with California University. With that in mind, we have created new opportunities for involvement through the Alumni Office. We strive to remain connected and earn the loyalty of our entire Cal U community from the moment our prospective students and their families set foot on campus, through their student years to Commencement, and on throughout their lives. We offer many opportunities for engagement. In addition to our Alumni Association board of directors, geographic chapters and affinity group societies, we have added a Senior Gift Drive Committee for students, a Young Alumni Advisory Council and a Parent Leadership Council, all under the umbrella of Alumni Relations. The aim of each of these groups is to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships that ultimately lead to helping our students attend college without an undue financial burden. But don’t take my word for it! Instead, please take a moment to read these comments from parents:

Thank you!

“As a parent of (a student in) the newest graduating class of 2011at Cal U, I found it important to give back to the university that gave so much to my son over the last four years. Joe not only gained the knowledge in the classroom that has prepared him for a career, he was surrounded by a staff and faculty that nurtured his ability to grow as a person. As a parent that means a lot — so much so that Joe’s sister has chosen Cal U as her college choice, and she will be an incoming freshman in the fall of 2012. I could not be more excited. “ — SHARON A. DENARDO

“My husband and I decided to support the 2011 Senior Gift Drive in honor of our daughter, Danielle, Class of 2011. Cal U impressed us from our first walk on campus, when Danielle was an incoming freshman, until today. We had the pleasure of attending the football games to not only hear and watch our daughter perform with the outstanding band, but to become Vulcan football fans and to also witness firsthand the pride and bond between sports and the arts. It was gratifying to see President Armenti at each of the games, a dedication and faithfulness that were not missed by us, or our daughter. Congratulations on your successful drive!” — RENEE AND DAVE STOCKEY

The next time a student calls you to give you an update about Cal U, or to ask for your support of the Annual Fund, please consider making your gift for the future of our University. See you on campus this fall at Homecoming, on Oct. 22!

Amy Lombard Executive Director, Alumni Relations & Annual Fund

alumni events

the 2010-2011 Annual Fund drive wrapped up June 30. on behalf of Cal u students, thank you to all the generous alumni who donated this year. each year the Cal u Annual Fund works to raise much-needed scholarship dollars for Cal u students in need. When your phone rings, please answer our call. Cal u Call Center students will be conducting our annual thank-a-thon, simply calling to say “thank you!”

For the most up-to-date information, read ‘Under the Towers,’ the official e-newsletter from the Office of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund. To sign up, log on to www.calu.edu/alumni.

18 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

Above, Armand ‘74 and Dickey Balsano hosted this alumni gathering in Atlanta, Ga.

Left, President Angelo Armenti, Jr. meets guests at an alumni gathering in Tampa, Fla.

FOCUS ON C O L L E G E O F E D U C AT I O N A N D H U M A N S E R V I C E S

Optimizing educatiOn Researchers explore online teaching and learning

California University of Pennsylvania

overview

of the COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES Dean:

Dr. Kevin A. Koury Associate Dean:

Dr. Daniel Engstrom Department Chairs:

Ms. Christine S. Crawford Academic Development Services

Dr. Barbara Bonfanti ’69 Communication Disorders

Dr. Jacqueline Walsh ’94 Counselor Education and Services

Dr. Kevin Lordon Educational Administration and Leadership

Dr. Caryl Sheffield ’73 Early, Middle, Special Education

Mr. Jeffrey Hatton Exercise Science and Sport Studies

Dr. Tom West Health Science

Dr. Keith Hepner ’76 Secondary Education

Dr. Pamela Twiss Social Work

Directors:

Ms. JoAnn Rodriquez-Naesar ’75 Student Support Services

Mr. Gary Seelye Upward Bound Program

Dr. Michael Brna Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program

Greetings, As we begin the 2011-2012 academic year, I welcome you to this edition of Focus On, featuring the College of Education and Human Services. Exciting stories in this publication highlight just a few of the great things happening in the College. The ubiquity of technology applications at Cal U is evident in the most recent addition to the professional golf management (PGM) program. A highly sophisticated simulator for analysis of the golf swing is in place at the PGM facility in Gallagher Hall. This equipment is able to record a clear picture of the exact instant a golf ball is struck, so golf pros can offer swing and impact analysis. Research continues in the College, with two groups conducting research on teaching. • One project is part of a nationwide examination of the simSchool software package. With support from a federal grant, Cal U is partnering with EdMedia and the University of North Texas to use and evaluate simSchool software in their teaching. • Another project concerns questions about online teaching and the effect of different types of feedback available in the online teaching environment. More specifically, the research intends to answer questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of feedback in forms other than written notes. Dr. Mary Hart, director for the gerontology program, traveled to Cuba with a group of educators to study the services provided to the aging population there. She has incorporated the knowledge gained from that experience into the gerontology curriculum at Cal U. Within the College we continue our work to maintain accreditation from NCATE, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. We are preparing our reports to numerous learned societies for program re-accreditation. These reports are due on March 15, 2012, and our NCATE “site visit” occurs two years after that. Accreditation assures students and their potential employers that our programs meet recognized quality standards. We are proud that all programs in the College that are seeking national accreditation have earned it. In this edition we also showcase faculty members who are engaged in important or unique professional activities. Their hard work and accomplishments bring recognition to Cal U. Welcome to another academic year at Cal U and the College of Education and Human Services.

F R O M

T H E

Dean

Dr. Daniel Engstrom Student Teaching

Sincerely,

Dr. John Kallis Technology Education

Kevin A. Koury, Ed.D. Dean, College of Education and Human Services

aging studies cross disciplines gerOntOlOgy certificate prepares students in many fields tO wOrk with a grOwing pOpulatiOn Of seniOrs hen Cal U’s gerontology program moved from the Department of Social Work to the Department of Health Science in 2004, program director Dr. Mary Hart saw an opportunity to redesign the curriculum. “The move presented an excellent opportunity to tailor the program so our students are better prepared to work with a growing aging population,” Hart says. One addition to the program is an 18-credit Aging Specialist Certificate, designed both for people who are working with older adults and for undergraduate students in a variety of majors who might benefit from learning about seniors and programs to assist them. “The aging population will continue to increase until 2050 due to the aging of the baby boomers, the first of whom turned 65 this year,” Hart says. “Just about every discipline will have to reach out to the elders at some point, and this certificate gives our students a competitive edge when they are searching for employment or graduate schools.” According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging, the United States had 40.2 million residents over the age of 65 in 2010. That number will nearly double, to 72.1 million, by 2030. Many students at Cal U are noticing this trend and trying to position themselves as specialists on aging within their field of study. “It is amazing to see the breadth of students who go through this certificate program,” says Hart. “I have students who are studying physical therapy, social work, business and even history.” Gerontology classes are designed to teach students about issues related to aging and care for older adults. Many students — especially those with an eye on health and health-related careers — have told Hart that these courses helped them with graduate school admissions. They believe the certificate sets them apart from other candidates and shows they are serious about their careers and the future of health-related professions.

Dr. Mary Hart, director of the gerontology program, works with an aging population that is growing worldwide.

The United States is not the only nation struggling with questions about how to provide care for its aging population, Hart says. She believes that many countries will face similar issues as the number of seniors grows. To better understand how other countries care for their elders, Hart traveled to Cuba in December with a group from the National Council on the Aging. Although poverty is a concern among Cubans, their life expectancy rivals that of U.S. residents. “I believe it is because they have very basic, but free, health care provided by their government,” Hart says. “Every neighborhood has its own clinic with a physician and nursing staff. Whether you are an older adult or a pregnant mother, you receive good basic health care in Cuba.” Hart frequently incorporates issues related to elder care in different cultures into her courses. She hopes to use what she learned in Cuba in some of her classes. This knowledge may be needed as employment opportunities for students in gerontology increase domestically and in foreign countries. “The increasing aging population isn’t just a reality in Pennsylvania or the

United States,” Hart says. “Aging is a global phenomenon, and students who receive an Aging Specialist Certificate will be better positioned to work with older adults in any field.” ■ By Jeff Bender, PR and Web writer at Cal U

Dr. Mary Hart (left) met with older adults in Cuba, where she traveled with a group from the National Council on the Aging. 3

Dr. Holly Diehl (left) and Dr. Deborah Farrer are among the faculty involved in research projects within the College of Education and Human Services.

Researchers explore online teaching and learning ONE gROUp lOOks AT fEEdbACk mEChANisms, ANOThER AT A ClAssROOm simUlATiON fOR TEAChERs

he online teaching and learning environment has become an integral part of higher education. Beginning this fall, faculty in the College of Education and Human Services will conduct two research projects within this promising educational realm.

Look or listen? One project will examine how professors provide feedback to their students online. “Even traditional face-to-face courses may have online components,” says Dr. Kevin Koury, dean of the College. “This type of teaching is both timeand labor-intensive. We are looking at feedback mechanisms and asking how we can make them more efficient for the instructors and more effective for our students.” Over the summer, faculty members in the research group practiced using software to attach written notes and brief audio recordings to electronic files.

Beginning with their fall 2011 classes, they will utilize both written and audio formats to provide feedback on student work submitted through Desire2Learn (D2L), the online learning management system used across campus. Researchers later will survey students to determine whether they prefer written notes or comments delivered in the instructor’s voice. A separate survey will ask professors in the group to compare the efficiency and effectiveness of written vs. recorded messages. “In the online environment, especially, students expect immediate feedback,” says Dr. Deborah Farrer, who teaches both traditional and online courses. “We are exploring what we can do to make that feedback more personalized and pertinent.” Sometimes, she explains, an electronic memo or “sticky note” conveys the instructor’s words, but not the intended tone. On the other hand, a lengthy

commentary can be tedious for a teacher to write and a student to read. “One element of quality feedback is that you make it personal,” says Dr. Holly Diehl, another project participant. “That’s harder to do in an online environment.” Dr. Joseph Zisk, director of the Master of Arts Teaching program, has shared his instructional technology background with the group. The researchers are working with software such as Adobe Acrobat Professional, which can attach audio comments to PDF files, and Jing, a free program that lets users capture “screen shots” and add narration. Data will be collected in the upcoming fall, spring and summer semesters, then analyzed by the group. “Online teaching is exciting, but it’s time-consuming,” says Farrer. “Still, I enjoy it. I get to know my online students better than I thought I would. And it’s forced me to step outside my own comfort zone and make my classes more interactive and engaging.”

Classroom simulation Diehl also is involved in research aimed at recruiting and retaining prospective teachers by helping them become more competent and confident educators. She and other Cal U faculty will take part in a national Next Generation Learning Challenges project that explores simSchool software as a tool for preparing pre-service teachers. The project is funded by a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation EDUCAUSE grant and supported by the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE) and the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE). “The simSchool program is like a flight-simulator for pre-service teachers,” explains Diehl, who works closely with student-teachers. “It lets them experience situations they might face in an actual classroom.” The program is reminiscent of the popular SimCity computer game, where players’ actions have immediate consequences. In the virtual simSchool classroom, every illustrated “student” has a unique learning style and pattern of behavior. As a teacher-in-training assigns tasks, tries various teaching strategies and practices classroom management skills, the “students” respond as they might in real life. The goal is to help prospective teachers build confidence by letting them practice their craft in a realistic but safe environment. The virtual students’ statements, actions and even body language make it plain when a lesson is engaging — or when the class is slipping out of control. “Ultimately, the program helps participants learn to think like a teacher and manage a classroom,” the software company says. Different simSchool modules present various scenarios, challenges and puzzles. For example, pre-service teachers might try to identify a special-needs child, create a sequence of learning activities for a single student, or test out a lesson plan on the entire virtual class.

At Cal U, at least two faculty members will integrate the program into existing undergraduate courses and report back to SITE. “I’m very excited about this software,” says Diehl. “It has powerful implications. It will allow us to teach our pre-service teachers from common models, and it can give them a range of experiences they might not encounter in an actual classroom.” She stresses that simSchool will not replace actual classroom observations, field experiences or student-teaching. “This is all supportive and supplemental. This will help us to better prepare preservice teachers, so they can get more from those face-to-face experiences.” The research group at Cal U will collect data from professors, students and the simSchool program itself through July 2012, “almost like a case study,” Diehl says. In return for its participation, the University will receive site licenses for the software and access to teaching resources. “Our voice will be heard in developing this teaching tool,” Diehl says. “I’m excited because this is cuttingedge education. It brings a new level of engagement and interaction into the classroom.” ■

TEAM MEMBERS The faculty researchers exploring Online Teaching Feedback Mechanisms are: Dr. Kevin Koury, dean of the College of Education and Human Services; Dr. Holly Diehl, Dr. Deborah Farrer and Dr. Diane Nettles, of the Department of Early, Middle and Special Education; Dr. Chris Harman, of the Department of Health Science; and Dr. Joseph Zisk, of the Department of Secondary Education. Faculty members involved in the Next Generation Learning Challenges (simSchool) research are: Dr. Kevin Koury, dean of the College of Education and Human Services; Dr. Holly Diehl, Dr. Jason Kight, Dr. Diane Nettles and Dr. Clover Wright, of the Department of Early, Middle and Special Education; and Dr. Connie Monroe, of the Department of Secondary Education. INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW All research projects at Cal U are reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), a standing committee responsible for ensuring that the rights and welfare of human research participants are protected. All research proposals must be approved by the IRB before any data are collected.

By Christine Kindl, communications director at Cal U

simSchool software lets pre-service teachers practice classroom management techniques and teaching strategies. 5

Justin Barroner (left), director of the professional golf management program, stresses the importance of proper body position as he works with student Drew Herchko on the golf simulator recently installed in Gallagher Hall.

simulator gives golfers, and students, a competitive edge VERsATilE, high-TECh TOOl Adds dEpTh TO pROfEssiONAl gOlf mANAgEmENT pROgRAm

s Justin Barroner steps up to Pebble Beach Golf Links’ first tee, he takes in the beauty of one of the most picturesque courses in the United States. But Barroner, director of Cal U’s professional golf management (PGM) program, isn’t standing on the manicured turfgrass at the famed course in California. Instead, he’s planting his feet on the artificial turf of a new aboutGolf PGA Tour Simulator inside the PGM office in Gallagher Hall. The technologically advanced simulator is improving the swings of students in the PGM program. It’s also giving them a competitive advantage after graduation. “We have noticed that when students go out on an internship, they are not getting to use all the types of equipment available to professionals,” says Barroner. “A lot of facilities can’t afford every tool on the market, and a lot of golf professionals are resistant to change, but the consumers are demanding it.” Barroner believes the traditional approach to golf lessons is dying. Customers no longer want to pay

multiple teaching devices, PGM students gain valuable experience using all of the tools at once as they give a golf lesson. Few other universities have comparable technology, Barroner says. “When our students go out to get jobs, they have used all of the different features our simulator has to offer, but others competing for the same job may have exposure to only one or two components,” he adds. “No matter which of the tools a golf facility possesses, our students will have had experience using that tool to give lessons. All of a sudden, it separates our students from other golf professionals.” Putting the latest golf technology in students’ hands has brought success to the PGM program, which currently has a 100 percent placement rate for employment after graduation. Recent graduates have been hired at Brandon Dunes Golf Resort in Brandon, Ore., one of the top-ranked courses in the country, and at Troon Golf, one of the largest golf management companies in the world. In addition, an increasing number of PGM graduates are landing jobs at U.S. Open- and PGA Tour-caliber facilities. “Our outcomes in placing students in internships and full-time employment continue to get stronger,” Barroner says. “Because of our great students, available equipment and overall program growth, we are more confident than ever in presenting our students to the top facilities in the United States.” ■

$100 or more for a professional to watch their swing and suggest ways to correct mistakes. They want an instructor who knows how to use sophisticated equipment that can help to improve their game. Installed in June, the simulator at Cal U combines many analysis tools into one machine. “Before the new simulator, our students could only give a lesson on By Jeff Bender, PR and Web writer at Cal U one piece of equipment at a time,” says Barroner. “A person now makes one golf swing into the simulator, and we can receive 2-D and 3-D feedback, force-plate readings that measure weight transfer in a swing, and data showing us ball flight, club head speed, spin of the Merrilyn Gibbs (left), head coach of the women’s golf team, golf ball and much joins internship coordinator and assistant golf professional more.” Vanessa McKinnon and program director Justin Barroner at Because the the PGM facility in Gallagher Hall. simulator incorporates

Among our Accomplishments … faculty in the College of Education and human services continue to earn recognition for their scholarship and service

GARY SEELYE, director of the TRIO Upward Bound program at Cal U, received the 2011 Pennsylvania Outstanding Service Award from the Mid-Eastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MEAEOPP). The award was presented at the regional association’s annual conference in Morgantown, W.Va. MEAEOPP’s mission is to help low-income, first-generation and traditionally under-represented students overcome economic, physical, academic and social barriers to higher education. DR. JONI ROH was a mentor for the Virtual Vikings, a First Lego League (FLL) robotics team in Morgantown, W.Va. For the second year running, the team took first place for research presentations at the FLL competition at Wheeling-Jesuit University. The league supports STEM education by introducing students ages 9-14 to real-world engineering challenges. The Virtual Vikings explored the use of sensors and LED lights in helmets to detect if physical contact received by individuals warrants further evaluation for possible concussions. JUSTIN BARRONER, director of the professional golf management (PGM) program, and Vanessa MacKinnon, PGM internship coordinator, accompanied more than 40 students to the 2011 PGA of America Merchandise Show and Conference in Orlando, Fla. The conference gives PGM students the chance to take part in industry-specific product training, educational seminars and networking events. They also can interview for internships or full-time employment. DR. WILLIAM BIDDINGTON continues to serve Cal U as chair of the University Curriculum Committee and as the NCAA faculty athletic representative for the University. A professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies, he teaches in Exercise Science and Health Promotion programs through Global Online. Biddington is a member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society Hall of Fame and served as a commissioner for CAATE, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, from 2008-2011.

DR. HOLLY DIEHL and her student-teachers in the Department of Early, Middle and Special Education learned about ways that elementary students use technology in the classroom. Third-, fourth- and fifth-graders from Crellin Elementary School in Garrett County, Md., visited Diehl’s teaching practicum, where they explained how they use the latest Web 2.0 and mobile learning devices to enhance and demonstrate their learning. After the presentation, the children toured the Cal U campus. During a stop at the President’s Office, they discussed their favorite Web applications with President Armenti. DR. CHARLES CROWLEY was elected as diversity committee chair for the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), and he was appointed as site visitor for accrediting sport management programs by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). Crowley also participated on two panels at NASSM’s international conference at the University of Western Ontario. The first examined diversity in sports, and the other explained COSMA regulations to college and university officials seeking accreditation. IN ADDITION, the Library of Congress – Teaching with Primary Sources program, directed by Dr. Michael Brna, continues to work in the community. … The Department of Academic Services provides academic support to all University students under the direction of a new chair, Christine Crawford. … Dr. Mary Seman is the College’s liaison to Intermediate Unit 1, where some exciting initiatives are being developed. … Regis Lazor, associate professor of special education, has retired after 39 years on the job. ... Dr. Robert Skwarecki, an associate professor in the Department of Communication Disorders, chairs the University’s Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects. … Dr. Jodi Dusi, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Science, recently completed her doctoral degree at Duquesne University.

Cal U seeks NCATE reaccreditation

al U graduates who are certified teachers in Pennsylvania enjoy the benefit of having earned their degree at a university accredited by NCATE, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. NCATE accreditation assures that all programs, including those in the content area of the certification, meet national standards. The University earned its initial NCATE accreditation in 1954, making this the longest-standing accreditation at Cal U. Renewing NCATE accreditation is a two-step process that continues over a seven-year cycle. College personnel currently are composing the Special Program Area reports, due this spring, that lead to national recognition for Cal U’s specific programs. Two years after that, they will seek NCATE accreditation for the University and the “Unit,” which encompasses

departments and programs, both undergraduate and graduate, in all three of Cal U’s Colleges — the College of Education and Human Services, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Eberly College of Science and Technology. The ad hoc NCATE Executive Committee will assist in preparing and submitting the Special Program Area and NCATE reports. Members and their roles are: Dr. Kevin Koury, chair; Dr. Daniel Engstrom, coordinator; Dr. Connie Monroe, databased decisions and operations; Dr. Holly Diehl, collaboration with schools; Dr. Laura Hummel, clinical field experiences; and Dr. Silvia Braidic, advanced programs. Since Cal U received its most recent NCATE accreditation, Engstrom has been regularly establishing, revising and continuing program components based on data collected from key assessment instruments. Faculty members meet once a year on TEAM Day to review the data

California University of Pennsylvania The College of Education and Human Services 250 University Avenue, California, PA 15419-1394 Phone: 724-938-4125 Fax: 724-938-4346 www.calu.edu A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Integrity, Civility, Responsibility

and to make recommendations for Unit or program modifications. The continuous nature of the data-based operations and program adjustments enables the TEAM Day activities to provide continuous improvement in both the Unit and the programs offered at Cal U. Continuous review also is mandated by the numerous changes arising from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. For example, there are new certification requirements in all programs because of the Elementary and Secondary Schools Act, also known as “No Child Left Behind” — federal legislation administered by the commonwealth through its Education Department. Compliance with federal and commonwealth directives requires both the College’s governance and executive committees to pursue continuous improvement, as well. ■

VULCAN HUDDLE 2011

alumni calendar SEPTEMBER Young Alumni happy hour and business card exchange — Sept. 16 Catch up with Erin Wall ’06 and other recent graduates from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bossa Nova in Pittsburgh. Bring your business card and do some networking!

‘Cal Gals’ alumni gathering — Sept. 22 Retired schoolteachers from the area get together for lunch at 11:30 a.m. in the Kara Alumni House. The ‘Cal Gals’ meet twice a year to socialize and reminisce as they raise scholarship funds for Cal U education majors.

OCTOBER Cal U Army ROTC Reunion — Oct. 7 Cal U ROTC alumni from all commissioning classes muster for dinner at 6 p.m. in the Kara Alumni House. Professors of military science, senior

military instructors and their special guests also may attend. For details, contact Robert Prah in the Office of Veterans Affairs at 724-938-4076 or prah@calu.edu.

CAL U HOMECOMING: “Around the World” – Oct. 18-22 There’s no place in the world quite like California, so join us for an array of alumni activities culminating in the 2011 Homecoming celebration and parade.

Cal U celebrates its football tradition each week, whether the Vulcans are at home or on the road. Join the Vulcan Huddle for music, prizes and Vulcan football — it’s fun for all ages! At home, the Vulcan Huddle is located at the Roadman Park pavilions; on the road, look for the Vulcan Huddle in or near the opposing team’s stadium lot. For details, contact the Office of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund at alumni@calu.edu or 724-938-4418. Home Games Away Games

Oct. 18 Take your seat and enjoy a Cal U tradition — a concert by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra! A pre symphony reception at 6:45 p.m. in the Kara Alumni House supports the Alumni Scholarship Annual Fund. At 8 p.m., the PSO makes its 17th annual appearance in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre.

room for a special reception honoring these class years at 7:30 p.m.

SEPT. 1 vs. ST. CLOUD STATE Vulcan Huddle at 5 p.m., kickoff at 7 p.m.

Oct. 22 The Alumni Association Board of Directors meets at 9 a.m. in the Kara Alumni House.

SEPT. 10 vs. C.W. POST Vulcan Huddle at 1:30 p.m., kickoff at 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 21 Members of the Class of 1962 meet for lunch at noon in the Kara Alumni House and plan for next summer’s Pioneer Dinner.

1980s graduates hold their Decade Celebration and Reunion Breakfast at 10 a.m. in the Sycamore Bistro, inside Herron Hall. The festivities highlight the Class of 1986.

SEPT. 17 vs. EAST STROUDSBURG Vulcan Huddle at 4 p.m., kickoff at 6 p.m.

The annual Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet, honoring alumni sports standouts, begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Performance Center, inside the Natali Student Center.

The President’s Circle Brunch begins at 10 a.m. in the Grand Hall, inside Old Main.

SEPT. 24 vs. CLARION (Family Day) Vulcan Huddle at 1:30 p.m., kickoff at 3:30 p.m.

The Young Alumni Advisory Council meets at 6 p.m. in the first-floor conference room at the Kara Alumni House. The Industrial Arts/Tech Ed Society holds its eighth annual meeting at 7 p.m. in the Booker Great Room at the Kara Alumni House.

Family activities continue from 10 a.m. to noon on campus. The annual Homecoming Parade steps off at noon, led by grand marshals Tim Gorske ’62 and Fritz Retsch ’62. See the floats, enjoy the bands and cheer on our alumni and students. The Vulcan Huddle Tailgate starts at 1:30 p.m. in Roadman Park, with a special section and giveaways for 1980s graduates and alumni from 2000-2011.

Join graduates from 2000-2011 for a Young Alumni Decade Reunion celebration at Lagerheads, in Coal Center, Pa. Head upstairs to the second-floor party

The Vulcan football team faces Mercyhurst; kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. in Adamson Stadium.

Cal U vs. IUP Pittsburgh Party — Oct. 29 Calling all Vulcan football fans: Let’s pack the room and cheer our team on to victory while mingling with fans from IUP. Join us for the 1 p.m. kickoff at a

North Shore venue in Pittsburgh. (Check the alumni website or your e-mail for up-to-date information on the location.) We want Vulcan fans to outnumber fans of the Crimson Hawks as we watch the big game!

NOVEMBER TEEAP conference — Nov. 3 Cal U alumni reconnect at the annual Technology & Engineering Education Association of Pennsylvania

(TEEAP) conference in Harrisburg, Pa. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Appalachian Brewing Company, 50 N. Cameron St.

SAVE THE DATE! Alumni Weekend — June 1-2, 2012 Make plans to attend the 2012 Alumni Weekend. Festivities include the Pioneer Reunion Dinner,

honoring the Classes of 1962 and 1987, and the 19th annual President’s Gala. The Alumni Association Board of Directors holds its annual election meeting this weekend, as well.

To register for any of these events, or for more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@calu.edu or 724-938-4418. Look for more information on these events and activities on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/CalUalumni), or follow @CalUofPA on Twitter.

OCT. 1 vs. LOCK HAVEN Vulcan Huddle at 5:30 p.m., kickoff at 7:30 p.m. OCT. 8 vs. GANNON Vulcan Huddle at 1:30 p.m., kickoff at 3:30 p.m. OCT. 15 vs. SLIPPERY ROCK Vulcan Huddle at noon, kickoff at 2 p.m. OCT. 22 vs. MERCYHURST (Homecoming) Vulcan Huddle at 1:30 p.m., featuring Young Alumni reunion (Classes of 2006-2011), 1980s reunion, and African American Alumni Society gathering; kickoff at 3:30 p.m. OCT. 29 vs. IUP Vulcan Huddle 11 a.m., or join us on Pittsburgh’s North Shore; kickoff at 1 p.m. NOV. 5 vs. EDINBORO Vulcan Huddle at 1:30 p.m., kickoff at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 12 vs. Cheyney or PSAC Championship Watch for details! SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 19 ■

ALUMNI S P O T L I G H T

Security specialist makes time to mentor ark Camillo ’76 travels the globe as a law enforcement and security professional. He is currently senior vice president of strategic planning for Contemporary Services Corp. (CSC), the world’s largest event security firm, and president of Apex Security Group, an affiliated executive security company. A special agent with the U.S. Secret Service for more than 20 years, Camillo protected four U.S. presidents during three White House assignments, including a stint as head of the White House Security Branch. He also held positions with Lockheed Martin Corp., directing public safety and homeland security initiatives. Camillo’s emergency preparedness and security expertise has led him to key roles with major events. For example, he led security for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics, where he oversaw 2,500 personnel and managed budgets totalling more than $60 million. His current role points to his

national reputation for professional excellence. And he credits his education degree from Cal U’s industrial arts program with providing the platform to launch his career. “I learned how to organize and deliver information as a teacher,” says Camillo, a Pittsburgh native who now lives near Washington, D.C. He says he translated the teaching, technical and graphic skills he learned at Cal U into his first position with the Secret Service Philadelphia Field Office, where in 1982 he began working on counterfeit currency and other criminal investigations. Today Camillo supports national and international security projects for CSC and serves industry and professional groups. He’s a part of Cal U’s Homeland Security Advisory Board and a registered Career Coach at Cal U. The Career Coach program matches Cal U students with alumni or friends of the University, one-to-one, with

Mark Camillo ‘76 at the 2002 Olympics.

the goal of advancing the student’s professional development. “Everyone should have a passion, and mine is now to mentor and coach young professionals,” he says. To learn more about Cal U’s Career Coach program, visit www.calu.edu and search for “Career Coach.”

DiRECTOR REViTalizing wEST OVERTOn MUSEUMS elly Linn ’83, ’86 arrived at West Overton Museums with a powerful proposal. The new director recommended closing and restructuring the historic site in Scottdale, Pa. The village, which spans 40 acres, includes 18 significant buildings constructed between 1801 and 1867. “The exhibitions were dated, and the

Kelly Linn ‘83, ‘86 at West Overton.

20 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

museums had drifted from the original intent of sharing the history of the region and people who lived there,” says Linn. She plans to add exhibits and collections never before seen to explain West Overton’s 19th-century evolution from an agriculture-based settlement to a self-sufficient industrial village with roles in the region’s coal and coke booms. Linn has a master’s degree in social science and cultural resource management and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and archeology, both from Cal U, plus 27 years of experience to help make the vision a reality. She most recently oversaw the restoration of the Fort Pitt Block House, a National Historic Landmark in Pittsburgh’s Point State Park. Her background also includes preparing preservation assessments and reports. Linn, 49, already is at work at West

Overton, which is closed during the renovation. The distillery building, she says, can interpret not only whiskey-making but also why the location first held a grist mill, and how technology used after the Whiskey Rebellion created a new regional industry. The house museum and outbuildings throughout the West Overton property can better tell the story of the Overholt and Frick families and local workers. And volunteers can help. “Who wouldn’t want to crawl through a dusty attic or outbuilding and see what we have hidden?” Linn asks. “This place will be a beehive of activity for a year.” Cal U alumni who are interested helping onsite or with online research from home should contact Kelly Linn at West Overton Museums, 724-887-7910. ■ By Colleen C. Durda, a Pittsburgh-based writer

2 0 1 1 A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N A WA R D Dr. Stanley A. Komacek ’80 John R. Gregg Award for Loyalty and Service

Dr. Kate Mitchem The C. B. Wilson Distinguished Faculty Award

Margaret Lappan Green ’70 The W. S. Jackman Award of Distinction

Dave Robey ’77 The Michael Duda Award for Athletic Achievement

Dr. Emily Sweitzer ’92, ’93 The Pavlak/Shutsy Special Service Award

Fred Gladney ’71 The Professional Excellence Award

Oliver Comstock ’08 The Young Alumni Award

Adele Lynn ’74 Meritorious Award

DISTINCTION HONOREES

A member of the Cal U faculty since 1987, Komacek is a professor of technology education who currently serves as associate provost and interim associate vice president for academic affairs. Before joining the Provost’s Office, he was chair of the Department of Applied Engineering and Technology for 13 years. Komacek has made more than 100 conference presentations and authored 44 publications, including four textbooks. His research projects include the Robotics Technology Workforce Leadership Project and the Governor’s Institute for Technology Education. Komacek’s long history with the University includes pitching and playing first base for the Vulcan baseball team, which won the 1979 PSAC championship. A professor of special education, Mitchem is the inaugural recipient of the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust Endowed Chair in Education at Cal U. She is a past chair of the Department of Special Education (now the Department of Early, Middle and Special Education) and coordinator of the autism conference held regularly at the University. Mitchem’s research interests include the use of software to support learners in school and in higher education. She is past president of the West Virginia Council for Exceptional Children, co-editor of Rural Special Education Quarterly and the recipient of several grants from the U.S. Department of Education. A registered dental hygienist, Green has been active for more than 40 years as a clinician, educator, researcher, advocate and administrator in an array of settings. A past president of the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA), she is recognized nationally for her leadership in establishing dental hygienists as key players in promoting good oral health, and she has traveled internationally to help position the ADHA as an international public health resource. An adjunct professor at Old Dominion University in Virginia, Green has contributed to a number of scientific and professional journals, lectured across the country, presented papers at national and international symposiums, and received numerous awards Vulcan football fans remember Robey as a standout defensive end and tackle. A two-time allconference and all-NAIA District 18 selection, he appeared in the 1975 edition of Best College Football Players in America. He attended National Football League training camps with both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Colts, and he played with the Pittsburgh Colts semi-pro team and the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. Robey was inducted into Cal U’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. Today he is the western regional vice president for Passport Health Communications, which provides business and payment software and solutions for health care providers. An associate professor of justice and behavioral crime, Sweitzer is chair of the Department of Justice, Law and Society and director of the department’s Justice Studies program. She has completed post-baccalaureate training in forensic science and law, and has trained with the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. Before coming to Cal U she worked as a family therapist, school psychologist and assistant school principal. Widely published, Sweitzer consults with several school districts on violence prevention, bullying and positive social development. She serves as secretary of the International Society for the Exploration of Teaching and Learning, an editorial board member for Scientific Journals International, and regional editor of Maxwell Scientific International. Gladney is a business executive with nearly 40 years of general management, operations and sales leadership experience. He is the owner of Trinity Consulting, a sales and management consulting firm. An entrepreneur, he was founder and CEO of CWG, a software development firm, and has been at the helm of a number of successful real estate and Internet marketing ventures. Earlier in his career Gladney was a corporate executive in the information technology sector, working at IBM and Compaq Computer, now part of Hewlett Packard. He also was a member of the leadership team at Isearch.com and senior vice president of Pittsburgh-based Development Dimensions International. For the past year Comstock has been an account executive at RJE Business Interiors, an Indianapolis-based company that sells office furniture. A specialist at working within a budget and delivering innovative solutions to everyday problems, he joined RJE after working as director of sales at Funke Fine Arts of Cincinnati, Ohio. Comstock landed the job at Funke even before he graduated from Cal U, and he achieved a 17.5 percent increase in sales during his final fiscal year at the company. While a student at Cal U, Comstock also was owner of the Karma Café hookah lounge and Internet sales manager at Cerra Automotive. Lynn is the founder and owner of The Adele Lynn Leadership Group (formerly Lynn Learning Labs), an international consulting and training firm whose clients include many Fortune 500 names. Her business in North America focuses on helping organizations forge trusting relationships and improve productivity and quality through improvements in emotional intelligence and workplace trust. The author of six books published in nine languages, Lynn lectures at universities throughout the United States and is a frequent guest on radio and TV talk shows. She also has developed A Different Kind of Smart — Applying Emotional Intelligence at Work, a training and certification program for trainers and coaches. SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 21 ■

CAMPUS C L I P S Pulling rank

new chair leads Council of Trustees Robert J. Irey has been elected chair of the California University Council of Trustees. A member of the council since 2003, Irey succeeds Leo Krantz, who stepped down June 1 after completing two terms as chair. Irey opened his first meeting as chair by thanking Krantz “for his outstanding work here at the University and at the state level with PACT,” the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees. Krantz will continue as a Cal U Trustee and as president of PACT. The former CEO of CLI Corp., Irey is now a business development manager with Glacial Energy Corp., a national retail energy marketer selling electricity and natural gas to commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in states where deregulation has been legislated.

Justice professor ‘Connecting Cops & kids’ Dr. Emily M. Sweitzer, chair of the Department of Justice, Law, and Society, has been invited to serve as a master trainer for a national program, “One on One, Connecting Cops & Kids.” The Fred Rogers Co., named for the star of television’s long-running children’s program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, was awarded a national grant to sponsor the program through the U.S. Department of Justice. Sweitzer, an associate professor of justice and behavioral crime, explained that a law enforcement officer and a child development specialist team-teach this program to members of law enforcement agencies. The goal is to help police identify with children and understand their developmental perspective with regard to policing and community agencies. Sweitzer was asked to be a part of 22 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

Dr. Michael Hummel (right) pins a gold bar to the uniform of his son, Joseph Hummel, signifying the younger man’s new rank of second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Joseph Hummel was one of six ROTC cadets commissioned at a ceremony in Steele Hall this spring. The elder Hummel, a retired Army officer and director of Cal U’s Linda and Harry Serene Leadership Institute, was the keynote speaker at the event. Also commissioned as second lieutenants were Cal U cadets Zachary Drysdale, Konrad Kearcher, Nicholas Messina and David Schott Jr., and cadet James Cooper, who attends the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.

the program because of her background and experience in both psychology and criminal justice.

Research described in naSa report The work of faculty member Jeff Sumey, student Nathan Wright and other Cal U researchers is included in the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Wallops Flight Facility and Marine Science Consortium Research Collaboration Annual Report 2011. Their work at the NASA research facility, on Virginia’s eastern shore, focuses on kite-based imaging. The Aerial Data Collector And Reporter (ADCAR) project is designed to show that using kites and commercially available components, rather than more expensive unmanned aerial sensors, can reduce the cost of collecting data from the air. Sumey and Wright worked closely with scientists at the facility to develop and test a kite-based aerial data collection system. Testing was scheduled for April through June, according to the report, with documentation and demonstrations planned for July and August. Sumey is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Engineering and

Technology at Cal U. Wright is a senior in the Computer Engineering Technology program. Others involved in the project include Dr. Thomas R. Mueller, an associate professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, and Cal U student Frederick L. Smith, a geographical information systems (GIS) major.

Say it in Spanish Health care professionals from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System and the Cal U faculty attended “Survival Spanish for Nursing,” a workshop offered at Cal U’s Southpointe Center. Andrea Cencich, an instructor in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, presented the workshop with the assistance of three students from the department. Participants learned about the culture of the Hispanic/Latino community as it relates to medicine, and they practiced techniques that health care workers who are not fluent in Spanish can use to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients and their families. In addition to workshops, Cal U is serving the needs of a diverse community with certificate programs in Spanish for business and for law enforcement. For more information, visit www.calu.edu/academics/ programs and click on “certificates.”

Award Winners Among those at the Faculty Merit Award presentation were (from left) Dr. Ali Sezer, Dr. Margo Wilson, President Angelo Armenti, Jr., Dr. Carol Bocetti, Provost Geraldine Jones, Dr. John Confer and Dr. Craig Smith. Dr. Cheryl Hettman (inset) also received an award.

Four accept Faculty Merit awards Four Cal U professors have joined the list of Faculty Merit Award winners. Presented annually by the subcommittees of the Faculty Professional Development Committee (FPDC), the awards recognize Cal U professors who are engaged in exceptional research, committed to teaching, using grants and contracts, devoted to service or exploring cutting-edge technology. This year’s winners are Dr. John Confer, assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, for research; Dr. Cheryl Hettman, chair of the Department of Nursing, for service and service-learning; Dr. Margo Wilson, associate professor in the English Department, for technology; and Dr. Carol Bocetti, associate professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, for teaching and learning. In addition to a plaque, each recipient

received a $1,000 award and was recognized at Commencement. The monetary awards can be used for professional activity such as travel, supplies, equipment, books or periodicals, publications, or professional memberships. Dr. David Argent, of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, received the Robert A. Vargo Lifetime Achievement Award. He will have a graduate assistant for the coming year and funds to travel to a professional event held in the United States. “There are many good things going on within the University,” said President Angelo Armenti, Jr., “and I believe the FPDC is the jewel in the crown of California University’s excellence.” Co-chairs of the FPCD for 2010-2011 were Dr. Ali Sezer and Dr. Craig Smith. Dr. Kurt Kearcher is coordinator of the Faculty Center.

Final Field Day Kiley Turner, who is studying early childhood education, holds a baby fox for children to pet at the final Family Field Day presented by Cal U and made possible by a grant from PNC Grow Up Great with Science. During the past two years, a series of Family Field Day workshops have given young children hands-on experiences outdoors and introduced them to basic principles of science. The final event, with an ‘Animals’ theme, involved more than 400 families, 60 Head Start teachers and more than 100 Cal U students. Joining the University as partners in the project were The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette County, Ohiopyle State Park and the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children.

Parking plan marks milestones Cal U’s managed parking plan is nearing its first anniversary, and Chris Johnston ’90, director of the Office of Parking and Transportation, reports considerable success during the 2010-2011 academic year. “The overall change in culture has reduced traffic on campus, increased pedestrian safety, and significantly increased the transportation options for students, staff and faculty,” he says. Johnston cites these milestones: • More than 3,550 parking permits were sold and 100 temporary permits issued. • The Vulcan Flyer shuttle averaged 931 passenger-rides per day when classes were in session, for a total of 152,450 passenger-rides during the academic year. • The Vulcan Flyers ran on time, arriving within 10 minutes during peak hours 97 percent of the time, and within 15 minutes during off-peak hours 98 percent of the time. “Because of this level of service, people have come to rely on the Vulcan Flyers to get them from places such as Vulcan Village to the main campus,” Johnston says. • All buses have been equipped with Wi-Fi and AM/FM radio, and the Nextbus system has been deployed so riders can track the shuttle’s arrival online or on a smart phone. The parking system accommodated more than 285 special events, and campus guests have made good use of the Vulcan Garage. The average number of daily visitors exceeds 400; the average rate paid is $3.80. Beginning this fall, Johnston says, all Campus Loop and Vulcan Flyer shuttles will be equipped with bike racks, and more bicycle parking will be available on campus. A new shelter will be installed at Third and Hickory streets, and the Mid-Mon Valley Transit Authority will expand its Valley 2 run to offer more frequent shopping opportunities in Belle Vernon. SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 23 ■

PAYING IT F O R W A R D

SChool diStriCt SCholArShip honorS ‘SpeCiAl people’ rmand and Edna Molinaro were fixtures in the tiny village of Star Junction, Pa. The couple owned and operated Armand’s Corner Grocery Store, located at Old Route 51 and Main Street, from 1942 to 1967, when the couple retired to Florida. Armand Molinaro, who immigrated to the United States from Lenola, Italy, on July 3, 1920, also was the “community shoemaker” in Star Junction, which is near Perryopolis. He opened Armand’s, a shoe-repair store on Third Street in California, Pa., around 1950.

Family photos show (above) Edna and Armand Molinaro at their store and (below) their daughters Joanna Molinaro White Thomas (left) and the late Norma Molinaro Fleming.

24 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

In memory of the couple — Armand died in 1995, and Edna in 2009 — their family has established the Armand and Edna Molinaro Family Scholarship Fund. The award will be given to students from Star Junction or the Frazier School District who will be majoring in education at California University of Pennsylvania. The scholarship was established by the Molinaros’ son-in-law Fred Fleming ’54 and daughter Joanna Molinaro White Thomas. The couple’s other daughter, Norma Molinaro Fleming, passed away in 2002. “Edna and Armand were special people,” says Fred Fleming, who studied history and social studies at Cal U. “They would be tickled to know this scholarship has been established.” Although they believed in education, neither Armand nor Edna Molinaro made it past eighth grade. “They were self-taught,” Fred Fleming says. “Armand was a hard-working provider for his family, and he took special pride in his American citizenship. Edna would read a book a week.” Yet both daughters attended postsecondary schools, and many in theirfamily chose careers in education. Norma Fleming enjoyed a successful teaching career in the Broward County (Fla.) Public Schools. Fred Fleming also was a teacher, and so are three of the Molinaros’ grandchildren — Norma Rae, Scott and Carrie. Joanna, too, pursued a post-secondary education, attending business school before moving to West Palm Beach, Fla. “Education is something Armand and Edna really admired,” recalls Fred Fleming, who also worked for the Broward County Public Schools. “They would be delighted to pay it forward.” Cal U alumna Kelly Lombard ’01, ’06 is the principal of Frazier High School. She says scholarships like this one are vitally important to students in her district. “Scholarships are definitely appreciated and needed with the rising costs of post-secondary education and the state of our local economy,” she says.

Edna and Armand Molinaro

“We do our best to prepare all Frazier students for the opportunity to attend post-secondary education if they so desire. Fifty-seven percent of our graduating class will be attending either a two-year or four-year college or university this fall. However, the majority of these students will require financial aid to finance their education. “Scholarships definitely help the students and their families manage the financial burden to further one’s education.” Fred Fleming says his in-laws would have been gratified to help students from Frazier. The school district, and especially Star Junction, hold a special place in the hearts of the entire family. Five years before Edna Molinaro died, the family had a reunion, of sorts, back in Star Junction. “So many people showed up and remembered the store, and a lot of their kids are in school now,” Fred Fleming recalls. “The scholarship awardees won’t know Edna or Armand, but they can know it came from people who valued education.” For more information about establishing a school district scholarship, call the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations at 724-938-5775. Additional information about scholarships, planned giving opportunities and Cal U’s capital campaign, The Campaign to Build Character and Careers, is online at www.calu.edu/giving. ■ By Wendy Mackall, assistant communications director at Cal U

CONSTRUCTION

UPDATE A

s construction enters its final phase, the Convocation Center is becoming a real presence on campus. The Cal U community is looking forward to the start of basketball season, when the facility is slated to open its doors. A grand opening event will follow. Through the building’s striking windows and glass curtain-walls, passersby can glimpse workers putting the finishing touches on the building’s interior. Walls are being painted and floors given a final finish before the last kitchen equipment and athletic gear is moved in. High-tech video, audio and digital equipment is ready to be installed, with an eye toward broadcasting

athletic and entertainment events, as well as servicing the state-of-the-art executive conference center housed in the building’s wings. “It has been amazing to watch this Convocation Center take shape,” says University President Angelo Armenti, Jr. “This is going to be a magnificent facility — a source of pride for everyone at Cal U.”

SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 25 ■

Virginia Commonwealth University coach Shaka Smart celebrates the win over Florida State in the 2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball national semifinals round.

Smart moves Alumnus Shaka Smart ’01 looks back at his Cinderella season hen “March madness” coached him thorough his freshman gripped the nation last spring, year at Kenyon College in Ohio. When a Cal U alumnus suddenly Smart’s playing days as a starting point found himself in the media spotlight. guard were done, Brown fulfilled a Fans waved signs promise and hired Smart as reading “Shaka the a graduate assistant coach World” as Shaka Smart for the Vulcans. ’01 coached Virginia “He was always mature his teams play Commonwealth beyond his years, very like he did. University’s men’s meticulous and concerned they are all basketball team to the about details,” Brown says. about ‘we,’ NCAA Division I “Shaka is talented, and an not ‘me.’ National Final Four. achiever who embraces The Rams, who play opportunity. in the Colonial Athletic “His teams play like he CAl u Conference, eliminated did. They are all about men’S bASketbAll CoACh five prominent basketball ‘we,’ not ‘me.’” bill broWn programs to become this Scholastic standout year’s “Cinderella story” during one Smart was raised by a single mother of the country’s most popular sporting in Madison, Wis., who named him after events. a famed Zulu warrior. His surname VCU’s improbable run may have proved accurate, too: He was accepted stunned the basketball world, but the at Ivy League powerhouses Harvard, young coach’s rapid rise to stardom Yale and Brown, but he chose to attend hardly surprised longtime Cal U men’s Kenyon and graduated magna cum basketball coach Bill Brown. laude with a degree in history. Before he came to Cal U in the summer While working with Coach Brown, of 1996, Brown recruited Smart and

26 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

Smart calls plays on the sidelines.

Smart earned a master’s degree in social science from Cal U. He might have stayed on with the Vulcans as a parttime coach, but an opportunity came his way at Dayton (Ohio) University, a Division I school.

“I really did not want to leave Cal, but Coach Brown said I had a chance to be a Division I head coach — but I had to get in at that level,” Smart says. “That was the push I needed.” Brown jokes that the push was almost physical. “I could not be that selfish to keep him, but I practically had to push him out the door because of his loyalty.” After Dayton, Smart’s obvious passion for the game and affinity for coaching took him to assistant coaches’ jobs at Akron, Clemson and Florida universities. In 2009, VCU’s offer of a head coaching position convinced him to leave two-time national champion Billy Donovan’s staff in Florida. Smart credits his early days on the Cal U sidelines with setting him on the right path. “When you start coaching, your first several years are really formative,” he says. “I can’t think of a better place than Cal and a better person than Coach Brown to learn under. “At Cal U, I was a graduate assistant coach, but I was involved with coaching, scouting and recruiting. We only had one full-time assistant, so I was included in everything. I tried to be like a sponge and just soak it all in.“ Moving to Cal U from Division III Kenyon, a small liberal arts college, was an adjustment, Smart recalls, but Brown served as a mentor. “He’s the best, and truly one of the most significant figures in my life. I think I speak for a lot of his former players when I say that. And to be reunited with him at Cal was special. He taught me so much about basketball and life. ” The warm, family atmosphere at Cal U also helped with his transition. Athletic academic adviser Dr. A.P. McGrew, now an emeritus professor, took Smart under his wing, and President Angelo Armenti, Jr. always showed support for him and the Vulcans. “That set the tone for me,” Smart says, “because when the president of a university, with all that’s on his plate, takes the time to talk to a graduate assistant and express an interest, it makes you feel part of something much bigger than yourself.”

March brilliance At 34, Smart was the 10th youngest coach in Division I when he was hired

VCU coach Shaka Smart celebrates winning the Southwest Regional Final in the 2011 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. VCU photos/Scott K. Brown

at VCU in 2009. He promptly guided the Rams to a 27-10 overall record and the College Basketball Invitational Championship. This year, VCU defeated perennial powers Southern California, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State and top-seed Kansas before falling to Butler in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament. With each VCU victory, the media attention on the team and its coach increased. Smart was featured on CBS Evening News and seemingly every U.S. newspaper with a sports section. “It was definitely a blur through the month of March, because so much went on, “ Smart says, looking back. “We played in so many different locations, but our guys did a phenomenal job of being in the moment. It was pretty easy for us as coaches to follow suit.” Every collegiate basketball coach dreams of reaching the Final Four, Smart adds. “People always tell you it’s way more about the journey than it is about the destination,” he says. “That journey we went on during the course of three weeks was just a special time — something very few coaches get the opportunity to experience. You can’t script when something like this will happen. I am most proud of the togetherness we showed and the way we went about it.” Shortly after the magical season ended for the Rams, Smart signed an eight-year contract with VCU. He says

Smart ‘embraces opportunity.’

he hopes to coach for a long time — and he believes his education helps him to succeed on the court. “I think I am using my degrees now, because as a coach you’re a lot of things rolled into one. First and foremost you’re a teacher, and I’ve always wanted to help young people.” Brown, who watched the Final Four from a front-row seat in Houston, said Smart’s former teammates admit he was always a little sharper than the rest. At coaching conventions Smart is easy to spot, Brown says, because he’s the one wearing a suit. “He stands out in a crowd because he is always representing, always a professional, and he makes people better. I am proud, because he’s always been grounded and never forgotten where he came from or the people he’s known along the way. “Shaka is the epitome of a Vulcan. He would be successful in anything he wants to do.” ■ By Bruce Wald ’85, information writer at Cal U SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 27 ■

SPORTS R O U N D U P

ThREE naTiOnal aPPEaRanCES TOP OFF SPRing SEaSOn the Vulcans capped off the 2011 spring sports season with appearances at three nCAA national championships, competing against the division ii best in women’s tennis and golf, and men’s track and field. impressive finishes by the Vulcan softball, baseball and men’s golf teams also made the season one to remember. Annabel Pieschi

Tennis

Golf

After winning its fifth consecutive PSAC and NCAA Division II Atlantic Region titles, the women’s tennis team advanced to the national quarterfinals for the fourth time in five years. The team finished the season with a 22-8 overall record and a No. 12 ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Top 50. Junior Annabel Pieschi, the 2011 PSAC Athlete of the Year, led the Vulcans with 28 victories in singles competition and teamed with sophomore Jade Pondicas to win 25 doubles matches. Both received all-conference honors, along with junior Franziska Steinhardt. Head coach Pablo Montana (187-57) was named PSAC-West Coach of the Year for the fifth time in eight seasons.

Reaching two program-best milestones, the women’s golf team ended its season with a second-place finish at the NCAA Division II Super Regional One contest and a seventh-place showing at the NCAA D-II National Championship Tournament. Individually, junior Dianne Luke finished the season tied for sixth in the nation — her third consecutive finish

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Dianne Luke

in the top 25 — and was named a first-team All-American. Sophomore Maria Lopez, who finished in a tie for 36th, was Cal U’s next-best finisher. This fall, Cal U will shoot for its fourth straight PSAC team championship under the direction of coach MerriLyn Gibbs, who was named PSAC Coach of the Year for the 2010-2011 season. The men's golf team, under the direction of fourth-year head coach Peter Coughlin, finished in 10th place at the NCAA Atlantic/East Region Championships for the second consecutive year. The best individual performances came from junior Paul Babashanian (tied for 28th) and sophomore Justin Newbauer (43rd). Before the post-season, the Vulcans chalked up strong third-place finishes at the Concord (W.Va.) and Carnegie Mellon invitationals.

Jillian Russell

Softball For the 21st time in 22 years, the Vulcan softball team competed in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The team finished its season with a 29-14 overall record and won the division crown with a 12-2 mark. This was the team’s 14th PSAC-West title under head coach Rick Bertagnolli. Junior shortstop Jillian Russell repeated as PSAC-West Player of the Year. Named a third-team All-American, she tied the single-season school home run mark with 14. Second baseman Shelby Lia was named the PSAC-West Freshman of the Year. Bertagnolli was awarded Coach of the Year honors for the third consecutive season. He has won the title 11 times in all.

at the PSAC finals. Another standout on the men’s team, senior Matt Kroetch, became only the fourth Vulcan ever to win the PSAC championship in the 10,000-meter run. On the women’s side, freshman Monique Sims led Cal U at the conference meet by finishing second in the 100-meter race and third in the 200-meter. She received PSAC Freshman of the Year honors for both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Sophomore high-jumper Amber Saunders and the 4x400-meter team of Shakeria Love, Sandy Estep, Jerica Snedden and Katurrah Hayman-Alston achieved third-place finishes at the PSAC contest.

Brice Meyers Randy Sturgill

Dixon Trophy

Track and field Trailing the national winner by just a one-hundredth of a second, junior Brice Myers finished second in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships. His time of 14.03 seconds was a personal best. Myers’ performance made him Cal U’s first five-time All-American. In addition to a previous All-American finish in the 110-meter hurdles, he holds three previous national finishes in the 60-meter indoor hurdles. Also competing at Nationals for the second consecutive season was junior Alex Smith, who earned a berth by placing second in the 800-meter run

while tying for the league lead with 10 victories. He finished the season with a 10-2 record and two saves in 14 appearances (12 starts). Joining him on the all-conference first team was sophomore infielder/ pitcher Sean Welsh, who batted .320 with 10 stolen bases and had a 2.95 earned-run average on the mound.

Baseball The Vulcan baseball team ended its season with a 30-18 overall record as head coach Mike Conte led the team to its 11th PSAC playoff appearance during his 15-year tenure. Junior pitcher Randy Sturgill was named PSAC-West Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season. He broke the single-season school records for wins and strikeouts in 2011, while also establishing a new all-time school record for wins. Sturgill led the conference with 84.2 innings pitched and 107 strikeouts,

Cal U finished the year at No. 3 in the PSAC Dixon Trophy standings, with 147.5 points. Last year’s winner, Shippensburg, earned the trophy this year for a league-record seventh time, with a record-setting 166 points. Following Shippensburg in the standings was IUP, with 150.5 points. Kutztown placed fourth with 146.5 points, and Slippery Rock (145.5) rounded out the top five. The Dixon Trophy has been awarded annually since the 1995-1996 academic year to a PSAC institution whose athletic program earns the best overall finish in the conference championships and/or regular-season play. The final standings are based on a school’s best 12 finishes, in six men’s and six women’s sports. Cal U won the title in 2008-2009 and finished second last year. This is the fourth consecutive year that the program has placed among the top three. By Bruce Wald ’85, information writer at Cal U

SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 29 ■

N G

E STATE PLANNING STARTS

NOW WHETHER YOU’RE YOUNG OR YOUNG AT HEART, MAKE YOUR WISHES KNOWN state planning might be the last thing on the minds of recent college graduates and those who are new to their careers, but it may be one of the best things to “start while it’s simple,” as the saying goes. The first step in most plans can be as easy as checking a box when you apply for or renew your driver’s license. In Pennsylvania, drivers are asked to make a potentially important decision about their organ donor status. Making your decision now, and making your wishes known, could help to ease an emotional moment at an unforeseen time, perhaps in the face of tragedy. Organ donor status is not the only estate planning decision to be considered. If there are benefit programs at work, employees need to make decisions about life insurance, pension or 401(k) beneficiaries. At any age, there also can be property and other rights to be planned for and relationships to be honored. Beyond family, a relationship with Cal U is one that might be honored by naming the Foundation for California University of Pennsylvania as a beneficiary. Think of estate planning as an opportunity to state your personal values or intentions, and then to plan actions based on those wishes. In a time of need, a completed estate plan can help to ease the burden of uncertainty about your wishes and give comfort to others by providing guidance and a plan for them to follow. The basic tools of estate planning are the same at every age, although some are more important at different ages and stages of life. They include:

30 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

Your will: Spelling out what should be done with your assets, and who should do it, is better than leaving those decisions to the courts. Especially if you have minor children, use this document to name a trusted friend or relative to assume ongoing responsibilities as a guardian. You also might designate a separate, named trustee to have custody of your children’s assets. Durable financial power of attorney: Through this planning tool you can designate a person to handle your financial or legal affairs if, for any reason, you are incapable of conducting them yourself. Medical power of attorney: With this document you can appoint a person to make decisions about your medical care should you be unable to communicate. Living will: Sometimes referred to as an advance medical directive, a living will specifies your decision about the use of “heroic measures” to sustain your life should you become incapacitated or fall into a chronically degenerative medical condition. For details about these and other estate planning tools, visit www.calu.edu/giving; choose “Legacy & Planned Giving” from the menu at the left, then look for “Estate Planning Essentials.” You can reach these resources directly by scanning the QR code on this page. For more information, contact Gordon Core, director of planned giving, at 724-938-5985 or core@calu.edu. ■

CAL U M I L E S T O N E S Corporate philanthropy In May 2011, the Washington County Community Foundation honored the Peacock Keller law firm with its inaugural Excellence Award for Corporate Philanthropy at the foundation’s annual Legacy Celebration. The award recognizes the law firm’s tradition of exemplary giving and community service. The foundation also announced that the award would be named the Charles C. Charles C. Keller ‘47 (left) Keller Excellence Award for Corporate Philanthropy in honor of Peacock Keller senior counsel and Cal U alumnus Charles C. Keller ’47. A founding partner of the firm, Keller is well known for his long-standing dedication to community service both at home and abroad. Dr. Carol Mitchell ’72, founder

60s Carl F. Lander Jr. ’61 is a printer,

historian, artist and the author of Builders of a Country 1706-1806. The book is illustrated with woodcuts, steel and copper engravings, and line art from his private collection of books and artwork dating from 1844-1927. At Cal U, Carl was on the staff of the Industrial Arts Leader newspaper, and its editor in 1960. He also was a founder of the Lambda Omega chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. Carl and his wife, Ruth Ann ’96, live in West Newton, Pa. Stephen Marek ’64 is retired.

He and his wife, Natalie, live in Coventry, Conn. Ronald Galley ’65 is retired.

and president of Verland, based in Sewickley, Pa., was among the first class to be welcomed into the American Network of Community Options and Resources Foundation Legacy Leaders Circle. Twenty-six people were recognized for their contributions to ANCOR. Verland is a provider of services for individuals with intellectual and physical challenges. Dr. Kathleen R. Kelley ’72,

superintendent of the Williamsport Area School District, has been named the 2011 Penn-

He lives in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Walter DeForest ’65 is retired

and living with his wife, Kathleen, in Lago Vista, Texas. Janice Revetta Mahalko ’68 is

retired from Intermediate Unit 1. She and her husband, Nicholas, live in Charleroi, Pa.

70s Dr. Dawn Fredrickson Wilson ’70 is

the executive director of professional development for Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Fla. Dawn was a Sigma Kappa member and Homecoming queen at Cal U. She is married to U.S. Navy Cmdr. Dennis Wilson ’69, and they live in Green Cove Springs, Fla. Stephen Duncan ’72 is a retired educator. He and his wife, Deborah Jakubik ’72, live in Newtown, Pa.

sylvania Superintendent of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. She has been an administrator since 1978 and superintendent at Williamsport since 2006. In 2009, former Gov. Edward G. Rendell named Williamsport as one of the top 50 school districts in the state for its improvements over a six-year period. She authorized the district to develop a differentiated super-vision model, which received a Blue Ribbon Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Pam Lutfy ’73, of Dingman

Township, was a candidate for Pike County, Pa., commissioner. Pam has been a member of the Delaware Valley School District board of directors for 13 years. She is also on the board of the education service agency Colonial Intermediate Unit 20. She is a Pike-Monroe legislative regional coordinator for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and a Federal Relations Network member of the National School Boards Association. Pam is founder and executive director of The Sunshine Station Early Learning Center and former co-owner of the Tom Quick Inn along with her husband, Richard. Henry Heer ’73 lives in Green Cove

J.R. Watkin ’74, who retired in

2009 as a biology teacher after 35 years in the Southern Huntingdon School District, received his recreational pilot’s license on May 21. Earning this license had been a goal for J.R. since the ’70s. Pictured are a Federal Aviation Administration official, J.R. Watkin and Hugo Bartel, a certified flight instructor. The Cessna 150 that J.R. flies is in the background. He is married to Kim, whom he credits for supporting this goal. Rick Creehan ’76 has been named

president of Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, W.Va. Since 2005, he had served as executive vice president at Adrian College in Michigan. He also was the athletic director and baseball coach at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., and athletic director at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. Patti Bartus Young ’77 and her

Springs, Fla.

husband, Alan, live in Troy, N.C.

Connie Williams Evans ’74 was

80s

honored as district educator of the year by the New Philadelphia (Ohio) Board of Education. She and her husband, Scott, live in Lebanon, Ohio, where he is an attorney.

Susan-Helene Syrko ’80 lives in

Woodbridge, Va. She works for The Home Depot. Jeff Zigray ’80 was a candidate

for Kingwood (W.Va.) City Council.

Fantasy camper

Paul Stacklin ’82 is a teacher

Dr. Roger Angelelli ’64 participated in the 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates

with the Tyndale Education Group. He lives in Tangerang, Indonesia, with his wife, Susylianti Soedjarwo. At Cal U he was circulation manager of the Cal Times and drew a cartoon, “Paul’s Case,” that appeared in each edition.

Fantasy Camp. His team — with Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski as first-base coach and former pitcher and Pirates announcer Steve Blass as manager — finished second at the camp, which is held early each year in Bradenton, Fla. The fantasy camp participants reunited in June for a game to benefit the construction of a Miracle League baseball field, for children with special needs, in Upper St. Clair, Pa. On the morning of June 4, the team played at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Roger played catcher for three innings and got one hit. That night, the players were featured during pre-game ceremonies at the PiratesPhillies game, which drew the largest attendance in the history of the stadium. While at Cal U, Roger was a catcher for the baseball team and a member of the 1962 and 1963 NAIA District 30 championship squads. He serves on the board of directors for the Foundation for California University, and he is a past president of the Alumni Association. He is married to Lynn ’65.

Chris Warkala ’82 is manager

of apartments and houses for graduate students and faculty at Princeton University. He also is on the board of trustees for Habitat for Humanity in Trenton, N.J. His wife, Sharon Benedetti Warkala ’82, also works at Princeton University as assistant manager of the Facilities Contracts Department. Sherrie Smithwick-Ward ’83

lives in Glendale, Ariz., with her husband, Peter. At Cal U, she participated in basketball and track. SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 31 ■

CALU M I L E S T O N E S Dr. John K. Folmar ’76, ’83, an

Kathleen Tinker Hopkins ’88

emeritus faculty member at Cal U, recently spoke at the annual meeting of the Washington County History and Landmarks Foundation.

works for Reynoldsburg City Schools. She and her husband, Steve, live in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. At Cal U, she was in the marching, pep and concert bands. She also was a member of Theta Phi Alpha.

Brian L. Crawford ’84 has been

selected as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts at West Liberty University, in Wheeling, W.Va. Dan Harvey ’85 is the co-owner

of Grandville Hollow Pottery in Julian, Pa., with his wife, Lori. The business produces personalized stoneware for gift shops nationwide and in two Canadian provinces. Amy Jaquette Williams ’86

is director of social services at Hempfield Manor, near Greensburg, Pa. She and her husband, Rodney, live in Greensburg.

Pa., was seeking the Democratic nomination for an at-large seat for the township commissioners in East Bethlehem, Pa. She is the executive director of a skilled nursing and rehabilitation transitional care unit at a specialty hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa.

90s for Carmax. He and his wife, Teodora Napenas, live in Aberdeen, Md. Heather Rushmore Koren ’94

is director of curriculum, assistive technologies, at SmartEd Services. She and her husband, Chris, live in Avon Lake, Ohio. At Cal U she was a member of the marching band, concert band and dance team. She was on the soccer team in 1990. Patrick Collins ’94, a master

as chief of staff to State Sen. Tim Solobay. She and her husband, Bob, reside in Rices Landing, Pa.

sergeant in the Air Force Reserve, has graduated from the U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Academy at Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex in Montgomery, Ala. He has served in the military for 21 years and is regularly assigned to the 911th Force Support Squadron, Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station.

Tony Trapuzzano ’87 has joined

Louis Simeonidis ’95 is vice

Benefit Concepts as regional sales manager covering the mid-Atlantic region.

president of business development for Applico. He lives in New York

New Jersey notables Two Cal U graduates have been using their skills in the Warren Hills Regional School District in New Jersey. Dr. William A. Caldwell ’67, of Blairstown, N.J., was the interim superintendent of the district until June 2011. And Kevin Call ’95, ’05, of Phillipsburg, N.J., was honored by the district’s board of education as the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award recipient for the 2011-2012 school year. Kevin is head athletic trainer for the district.

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Robert Williams ’00 is a teacher

revenue manager at Hei Hotels & Resorts in Orlando, Fla.

at River Rock Academy. He and his wife, Crystal, live in Dover, Pa. Eric Fields ’03 lives in Duquesne, Pa. Alicia Kramer Kiss ’03 is an

executive assistant at Thermo Fisher Scientific. She and her husband, Mike, live in Imperial, Pa.

Leisa Conklin ’89 of Vestaburg,

Reynaldo Viray ’90 works in sales

Sharon Willison ’78, ’86 serves

Jennifer L. Tabish ’97 is the

manager at Mercom Corp. He lives in Pawleys Island, S.C. He played football at Cal U.

manager at Dupont Circle Physicians Group. He lives in Washington, D.C. Franklin High School in Virginia, has been chosen for the United High School Wall of Fame in Salem, Ohio. At Cal U, he was a four-year letter winner in football and and was selected most valuable player as a receiver in 1986. In 1987, he received the Andy Kuzemka Memorial Award for outstanding sportsmanship and play. He and his wife, Pam, are the parents of daughters Heather, 20, and Colby Lou, 10.

00s

Kenneth Huether ’89 is a logistics

Frank LaScala ’86 is an office

David Lease ’86, a teacher at

City. At Cal U he played rugby and was a member of Delta Sigma Phi.

Karyn Ruggero Bender ’97 and Derek Bender ’95 traveled to

Spain in May with daughters Abby and Rylee. They are pictured at the Royal Palace in Madrid. Keith Boback ’98 is a funeral

Jaclyn Page Clement ’04 is a 2011

director at CunninghamParker-Johnson Funeral Home. He lives in Charleston, W.Va.

graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She was president of the Class of 2011. Jaclyn is an associate veterinarian at Bedford Animal Hospital, a mixed animal practice in Bedford, Va. She will practice small-animal and equine medicine and focus on becoming certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. She and her husband, Mark ’03, live in Christiansburg, Va. Mark is a local area network administrator for Belvac, in Lynchburg, Va.

Sonja Greathouse Simpson ’98

and her husband, Demon, live in Pickerington, Ohio. At Cal U, she was a member of the choir. Robert Kieffer ’98 lives in

McKeesport, Pa. Chris L. Santo ’98 has two

children, Josie, 6, and Jesse, 3, and lives in Phoenix, Ariz. He is an Oracle Financials Programmer at the Central Arizona Project, and adjunct faculty in mathematics at Glendale Community College. John Cupp ’99 was seeking the

Democratic nomination for district attorney in Fayette County, Pa. He is in private practice with his wife, Emilie, and serves as Fayette County solicitor. Michael Pappas ’99, a technology

education teacher at Belle Vernon (Pa.) Area High School, has met the standard for National Board Certification set by the board of directors of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. A voluntary assessment program designed to develop, recognize and retain accomplished teachers, National Board Certification is achieved through a performancebased assessment. Brian Fernandes ’99 is director of

student enrollment services at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. At Cal U he was Student Government president and a member of Sigma Tau Gamma. He is married to Jill Fernandes ’99, ’01, the director of financial aid at Cal U.

Brenda Spitek ’04 lives in

California, Pa. David Demko ’04 is the assistant

to the executive director for Scenic Pittsburgh, a project of the Pennsylvania Resources Council. Mike Dawida, who teaches courses in law and public policy at Cal U, is the executive director of Scenic Pittsburgh. The new project is affiliated with Scenic America, a national nonprofit group that seeks to preserve and enhance the visual character of America’s communities and countryside. David has 25 years of experience in engineering research and software and network development for business, including positions at the U.S. Department of Defense, PNC Bank, and Electronic Data Systems. He and his wife live in Pittsburgh, Pa. Brian Fanning Jr. ’04 is head

athletic trainer at Rutgers University in Newark, N.J. He lives in Hackettstown, N.J. Megan Ardary Albright ’05

is a human resources generalist for Eaton Corp. She lives in Ridgeland, Miss., with her husband, Bernie ’05.

Keith Fordyce ’06 was a candidate for

Dunbar Township (Pa.) supervisor.

at Wild Adventures Theme Park. She lives in Valdosta, Ga.

Down the aisle

Brandie DePaoli Taylor ’06 is an

Zachary Herbert ’08 is a teacher.

Holly Ciaffoni ’08, ’10 and Sean Gillis ’06 were married Oct. 23, 2010,

epidemiology fellow at Michigan State University. She and her husband, Mark, live in Lansing, Mich.

He lives in Richmond, Va., with his wife, Sarah.

Natalie Block ’06 was recently

promoted within the accounting staff at Malin Bergquist, in Pittsburgh, Pa. She is an auditor with the firm’s employee benefit plan consulting group. She also works on single audits and prepares income tax returns for estates, gifts and trusts. Alain Tamo ’06 is the owner of

Laptop Etc. on Penn Avenue in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pa. His wife, Kazanda, operates the adjacent Kazanda’s Café. Alain, who is from the central African nation of Cameroon, is also president of the Cameroon Community of Pittsburgh and founded the organization Africaquest as a way to keep Africans in Pittsburgh connected to their heritage.

Kevin McCabe ’08 is a quarterback

for the Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League. Matthew Buchak ’08 is an assistant

at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Brownsville, Pa. Both are employed by Intermediate Unit 1. Sean, a special education teacher, is pursuing his certification in the principal’s program at Cal U. Holly is a social worker serving the Brownsville and Frazier school districts. Marisa Gillis, the groom’s sister, is the secretary for the Department of Academic Affairs/Provost’s Office and Lisa Gillis, the groom’s mother, is the secretary in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences.

principal in the North Allegheny School District, near Pittsburgh, Pa. A teacher at North Allegheny High School from 2009-2011, he previously taught in the Monessen School District, Intermediate Unit 1, and the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Hawaii. Matthew also served in Iraq from 2004-2005. Gary Butler ’08 is a linebacker for

the Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League. Spec. Bradley Rager ’08, who serves

in the U.S. Army, has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Ga. The wedding party included 13 Cal U alumni. From left (front row), Josh Lozecki and Tara Ciaffoni; (back row) Ian Finn ’04, Brian Preston ’04, Ed Miller ’06, Wesley Shumar ’09, Jason Desiderio ’05, Gary Amos ’05, Kyle Smith, Sean and Holly Gillis, Marisa Gillis ’10, Jamie Santori, Sheila Mitchell, Jody Mebane ’07, Christy Scherer ’07, Christina Silvestros ’08 and Kay Durance ’10.

Tara Curry ’07 lives in Jefferson

Hills, Pa. Mary Stein ’07 is an athletic trainer

at Cabrini College. She lives in Philadelphia, Pa. Regina Lee Butler ’08 was an

Nancy Naill Frishkorn ’11 is the sole

ANNIVERSARY

for Fayette County Community Action. She lives in Uniontown, Pa., with her husband, Colby.

artist-in-residence for two weeks in May 2011 at Mesa Verde National Park in Cortez, Colo. During her residency, she drew inspiration for her writing from the geographical and cultural history of the ancient Pueblo people, as well as her natural surroundings. At Mesa Verde she lived in a hogan, a traditional Pueblo dwelling.

Alexandria Cuppett ’07 is a pricing

Stephen Hermann ’09, a catcher

Mindi D’Auria Fisher ’07 is an

athletic trainer at Chestnut Hill College. She lives in Horsham, Pa., with her husband, Joe. At Cal U she was a member of the Athletic Training Club and Sigma Alpha Pi. She also was a Peer Mentor. Kristen Radovich Brooks ’07 works

Eric Fergus ’07 is a human

from Trafford, Pa., was drafted by the Washington (Pa.) Wild Things, a baseball team in the Frontier League.

resources supervisor for CONSOL Energy. He lives in Washington, Pa.

10s

coordinator for Thermo Fisher Scientific. She lives in Carmichaels, Pa.

Jeanine Amprim Gregory ’77, ’78,

’07 is superintendent of the South Park Area School District, near Pittsburgh, Pa. She had worked as assistant superintendent of the district since 2005. Previously, she was a reading specialist for 20 years at Bellmar Junior High School in the Belle Vernon (Pa.) Area School District, and a federal programs coordinator for seven years. Lynette Hill ’08 is the food and

beverage operations supervisor

Richard Menkel ’10 is a storeroom

clerk at The Washington Hospital. He and his wife, Donna, live in Washington, Pa. Krista DiTommaso ’10 works at

Industrial Scientific in Pittsburgh, Pa, which sells gas detection monitors. She will be translating French for the company, which does business internationally. Krista is pursuing her Master of Science in Business Administration at Cal U.

proprietor of All Natural Hoof Care. She and her husband, Duane, live in Aliquippa, Pa. At Cal U, she was a member of the Forensics Union.

Janice Whisenhunt Zimmer ’89 and Gerry Zimmer ’90 observed

their 20th wedding anniversary on Oct. 13, 2010. They celebrated with a 12-day trip to Scotland. Janice is pursuing a career in photography and is president of the York County Camera Club. While at Cal U, she was a member of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. Gerry has worked as an information technology specialist for the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, Md., since July 1990. They live in Red Lion, Pa., and spend their free time enjoying motorcycling and Renaissance fairs, and spoiling their cats.

WEDDINGS Bryan John Koprowski ’01 and

Ryah Everhart Hedrick, both of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., were married Dec. 4, 2010, at Second Reformed

United Church of Christ in Lexington, N.C. Bryan is an athletic trainer at Fayetteville (N.C.) State University. His wife is a social worker at Wake Med Health and Hospitals in Raleigh, N.C. Lacey A. Care ’07 and Jeremy

Criswell planned to be married June 28, 2011, at the Chautauqua Institution. Lacey teaches family and consumer sciences at Warren (Pa.) Area High School. Jeremy is a science teacher at Beaty-Warren Middle School. Megan Brewer, of Fairchance, Pa.,

and Richard Franks, of Hopwood, Pa., were married Oct. 16, 2010, at Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Uniontown, Pa. Megan is a kindergarten teacher at R.W. Clark Elementary School in the Laurel Highlands School District. Richard is the contract administrator at URS Corp. in Morgantown, W.Va. They are living in Hopwood. Megan completed her K-12 principal’s certification at Cal U in August 2011. Lauren Shamitko ’10 and Ian Moffitt ’09 were married July 30,

2011, in Penn Hills, Pa., with a reception at the Willow Room in SUMMER 2011 CAL U REVIEW 33 ■

MILESTONES

continued from page 33

Adding to the archives Luanne Peroni ’60 recently gave

three annual catalogues — dated 1901, 1902 and 1905 — from Southwestern State Normal School to the archives in the Louis L. Manderino Library at Cal U. These items belonged to her grandfather, Joseph M. Nicholl, who graduated in 1897. “We are delighted when alumni offer to donate items, such as these catalogues or other Cal U memorabilia and photographs, back to the school archives,” says Daniel Zyglowicz, who works in the Archives and Special Collections Department at the library. Luanne reports that, in addition to her and her grandfather, eight family members and spouses are graduates of Cal U: Flora Nicholl (graduation year unknown); Val Nicholl ’57, Donald Peroni ’62, Linda Baker Burger ’64, Yvonne Antonovich ’69, Neal Baker ’72, Jane Nicholl ’90 and Drew Peroni ’97.

✃ JUST THE

FAX

Belle Vernon, Pa. For their honeymoon, the couple visited Walt Disney World. Ian is a front-end Web interface developer for BarkleyREI of Pittsburgh, Pa. Lauren plans tobecome a registered nurse.

ENGAGEMENTS Steve Roszak ’08 and Jessica

Greene are engaged. Steve is an elementary school teacher for the Jefferson-Morgan School District. Jessica is a senior accountant for the Pennsylania Land and Gas segments for Alpha Natural Resources. They are planning an October 2011 wedding. Renee Dockter ’09 and Edward M. Russman ’09 are engaged.

Renee works for Development Dimensions International in Bridgeville, Pa. Edward works for Cigna Health in Pittsburgh, Pa. They are planning a wedding in October 2011. Robert Stimmell ’11 and Savannah

Martelli are engaged. Robert works at The Academy in Pittsburgh, Pa. Savannah has a nursing degree from Community College of Allegheny County and is attending Cal U to earn her bachelor’s

degree in nursing. They are planning a February 2012, wedding in Belle Vernon, Pa., with a reception at the Willow Room. Emily Sasko ’07, ’10 and Joshua

Dennis are engaged. Emily is a resource teacher with ASSET Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pa. Joshua is a bulk customer representative with Pepsi Beverages Co. in Youngwood, Pa. They were planning a summer 2011 wedding.

BIRTH Melissa Bedwell Rosic

‘02 and her husband, Aaron, are proud to announce the birth of their first child, Evan Charles, born April 22, 2011. Melissa works for Mason Dixon Energy in Bridgeport, W.Va. The family lives in Grant Town, W.Va.

MAIDEN NAME

CLASS YEAR

ADDRESS

PHONE

E-MAIL

OCCUPATION

EMPLOYER

SPOUSE’S NAME

SPOUSE’S CLASS (IF CAL U GRAD)

Irene C. Adams ’79 Ewing R. ‘Gus’ Bell ’63 Theodore Berlinsky, Cal U maintenance department Caroline M. Penic Bookshar,* member of the Act 101 Advisory Board at Cal U Anthony Calabro ’61 Dolores Flynn Conaway ’51 David H. Cooper Jr. ’81 Berlie E. Dishong Sr. ’48 W. Frank Gill ’49 Earl G. Gilpin,* retired custodian at Cal U Judy G. Hogan Hopson-Faust ’03 Marlene Davis Juriga ’72 Lori Marlene Confer Martin ’77 Lawrence E. Matty, retired Cal U police officer Marie McVay* Claude G. Myers ’65 Olga Kobasa Nescott ’36 Ed Pencoske ’74 Metro Petrosky Jr. ’63 Gary R. Rable ’73 Richard L. Smith ’57 Robert S. Stahl ’36 Vincent J. Vitori ’89 *No class year provided or on file

Send your Milestones news or address changes by fax to 724-938-5932, by mail to Alumni Relations, P.O. Box 668, California, PA 15419, or by e-mail to alumni@calu.edu. Questions? Call 724-938-4418.

NAME

IN MEMORIAM

MAY WE LIST YOUR E-MAIL ON OUR WEB SITE?

Information will be published as space and deadlines allow. Please indicate on another sheet what activities or sports you participated in while you were a student. We welcome high-resolution electronic photographs. Please e-mail images to revieweditor@calu.edu; put the words “Milestones photo” on the subject line of your e-mail, and be sure to tell us your name, year of graduation and the identity of everyone in the picture. Please do not send computer printouts or low-resolution digital photos, as they will not reproduce well in this magazine.

CAREER SERVICES The Career Services Office at Cal U can help alumni with job searches and companies with recruiting. Best of all, the services are free! • Cal U graduates who are interested in one-on-one career and job-search planning may call alumni career counselor Bridgett Nobili at 724-938-4826 or e-mail nobili@calu.edu. • Anyone who can identify job opportunities that might be suitable for Cal U students or alumni may contact employer development coordinator Sheana Malyszka at malyszka@ calu.edu.

Stay connected to the Cal U Alumni Association’s online community! Your personal ID number is on this magazine’s mailing label. 34 CAL U REVIEW SUMMER 2011 ■

CAL U PRIDE Shop the best selection of Vulcans apparel and gifts at the Cal U Student Bookstore.

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2011

SUMMER

CALU REVIEW

California University of Pennsylvania Building Character. Building Careers. 250 University Avenue California, PA 15419-1394 www.calu.edu A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

TAKING NATURE’S TEMPERATURE Dr. David Argent, chair of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, works with student Chris Warden on a research project at the Bear Run Nature Preserve in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. Argent and students are checking for temperature changes in the water of Bear Run Creek as they re-create an earlier study of native Pennsylvania brook trout conducted by Dr. William Kimmel.