Winter 2010

Winter 2010

P.R.O.M.I.S.E. for the Future Students encourage each other to make responsible choices, p. 8

In this Issue: A Joyful Noise, p. 10

• Out of Africa, p. 14

Vol. XXIII, No. 2 • Winter 2010 Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. President Karla Mullenax Wludyga Director of Public Relations and Communications Audrey E. Starr Publications Officer and Editor starr007@gannon.edu (814) 871-5817 advisory committee

Kimberly Cavanagh, DHSc, PA-C Britt Dyer Daehnke ’98, ’05M Caroline DiPlacido ’86 Cathy Fresch Frank Garland Mary Carol Gensheimer Ron Kerman Catherine Oakley ’05M Rick Prokop, Ph.D. Nicholas Pronko Steven Ropski, Ph.D. ’78 Rev. George Strohmeyer Richard Sukitsch

inklings

Editor, Audrey E. Starr Gannon University may be more than 2,000 miles east of Sunset Boulevard, but its campus certainly has no lack of star power these days.

On the field and on screen, Gannon studentathletes experienced more than just 15 minutes of fame this fall. Three Golden Knights football games were televised live this season; a crew of more than 50 students and coaches helped rebuild a residence with the hit ABC television show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (which aired in December); and former football standout Daniel Cudmore starred as Felix in the second installment of the popular Twilight film series, New Moon.

University buildings are in the spotlight with state-of-the-art upgrades to the Zurn Science Center, Harborview House Apartments and the A.J. Palumbo Academic Center—which also received special attention when a mural by famed local artist Joseph Plavcan was installed in August (p. 2).

Gannon students are making a name for themselves as well. Recent graduating classes from both the nursing and physician assistant programs achieved first-time qualifying exam pass rates that exceed the national average (p. 4), while more students than ever are expressing their commitment to Catholic higher education (p. 10).

An increased number of students are also encouraging their peers to make healthy, responsible decisions, from increasing alcohol awareness to combating the “Freshman 15” (p. 8).

photography

Tim Rohrbach design

Tungsten Creative Group printing

Knepper Press special thanks

Paul J. DeSante, Ph.D. Jana Hunt Gannon Magazine is published three times annually (Winter, Spring and Summer) by the Office of Public Relations and Communications at Gannon University. Letters to the editor, class notes information, comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Please note that Gannon Magazine is produced approximately three months in advance of the actual publication date.

Submissions received after production has begun will be included in a subsequent issue.

All submissions are subject to editing. class notes and address changes

Jana Hunt

Hundreds of Gannon students auditioned for a chance to be “America’s Next Great Star” when the show’s cast and crew visited campus in September.

Calling All Couples!

Are both you and your spouse Gannon/Villa Maria graduates? Were you married in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel? Did you meet at a Gannon mixer? Gannon Magazine wants to hear your story and see your pictures!

Send them to starr007@ gannon.edu and they may be published in a future issue.

The energy doesn’t fade after students leave; graduates continue to stand out from the crowd with new community service initiatives and record attendance at reunion activities. Some alumni have even achieved celebrity status of their own: Robert Phelps ’39 visited Erie to promote his new book, and Joe Luckey ’55 shared memories with National Public Radio’s StoryCorps team (p. 20).

The winter months are infamous for dreary weather, but thanks to so many dedicated and dynamic individuals, the Gannon University community shines brightly all year long.

Coordinator of Gifts and Records

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contents

features

The Gannon University Magazine Winter 2010

8 Redefining Responsibility 12 Winter Wonderland

Gannon students help each other discover their best selves with initiatives aimed at improving their bodies, minds and souls.

10 A Joyful Noise

Winter weather proves to be an asset in the Gannon academic experience.

14

Out of Africa

The spiritual song of campus is strengthened through active faith-based programs.

Faculty and students show how a compassionate spirit knows no boundaries.

Two new yoga classes offered students a way to de-stress during final exams.

Gannon’s Class of 2013 made a commitment to healthy and responsible choices when they took the P.R.O.M.I.S.E. pledge on the lawn of the Robert H. Morosky Academic Center last fall.

departments

on the cover

02 16 17 18 20 29

newsnotes alumnifocus facultyfocus sportsscan alumnotes endnotes

News, Notes and Quotables

newsnotes

ETI Honored for Historic Restoration Efforts Gannon University’s Erie Technology Incubator (ETI) was honored recently by the Erie County Historical Society with a Historic Preservation Award in the construction project category, which recognizes the restoration or substantial rehabilitation of a significant historic or architectural resource.

Formally dedicated in October 2008, the incubator is housed within the former Boys & Girls Club of Erie building. The facility, which dates to the 1890s, underwent a complete renovation after the University acquired the property. It has grown to include 11 resident companies and six affiliates.

During the ETI renovation process, the building’s original curved staircase was fully restored and floorboards from the facility’s former basketball court were incorporated into a custom-built front desk.

“Thanks to the new EMTA partnership, students can enjoy more of the shopping and restaurants that Erie has to offer while also participating in expanded community service efforts that better enhance our college experience.”

Get on the Bus!

Thanks to a new partnership between Gannon University and the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA), faculty, staff and students can now ride city buses free of charge with a valid Gannon I.D. The Gannon Knight Rider, named by a majority vote of the student body, began its campus route in the fall.

TONY DiPASQUA, Student Government Association President

Plavcan Meets Palumbo One of Erie’s more notable works of art arrived at Gannon in August when a painting by the late artist Joseph Plavcan was hung in the University’s Palumbo Academic Center. Carol J. Perry ’06M, assistant director of research and foundation relations, is Plavcan’s niece and played a key role in bringing the artwork to campus.

The large mural— approximately 7 feet tall and 23 feet long—was completed in the earlyto mid-1940s and was at one time housed at the former Erie Press Club. An oil on canvas, it depicts scenes and impressions of the life and times of Erie and the country during that time period.

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The Plavcan mural, which weighs approximately 200 lbs., took about one hour to install. Master framer Joseph Popp from the Erie Art Museum and his wife, Karen Dodson, spent four full days framing the piece.

273 Degrees Awarded During Winter Commencement President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., conferred 273 degrees during Gannon University’s Winter Commencement ceremony, held Dec. 13 in the Hammermill Center.

Of the graduates, six were awarded associate degrees, 83 received bachelor’s degrees, 183 were recognized with master’s degrees and one student was awarded a Ph.D. Six Thomas J. Loftus ’74M foreign countries were represented among degree recipients (Canada, China, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia) and 24 students graduated with honors.

Retired business executive Thomas J. Loftus ’74M served as keynote speaker. Loftus is a member of Gannon’s Board of Trustees and retired from Lord Corp. in Erie in 2001 after 44 years of service. At the time of his retirement, he served as senior vice president and general manager of the mechanical products division.

In 1997, he received the Hugh C. Lord Innovation Award from Lord Corp., and Gannon University honored Loftus in 2002 with a Distinguished Alumni Award.

Loftus received an honorary doctorate during the ceremony. He and his wife, Chris, reside in Cary, N.C.

Gannon Lauded for Green Efforts

The Gannon University Master Plan was approved in February 2009, and campus has continued to be transformed to provide faculty, staff and students with the most up-to-date facilities for an exceptional academic experience. ❯ Gannon University Field got a facelift in July when its artificial turf was replaced. It marks the first time the multipurpose facility has received an upgrade since it opened in 2000. FieldTurf conducted the installation, which took about one month. The field now features a bold new Gannon Knight logo. The new turf will provide long-term durability and increased safety for Gannon’s football, soccer, baseball, softball and lacrosse players. ❯ With a particular focus on sustainable design, technology integration and energy management, the Zurn Science Center’s $18.5 million renovation was completed in August 2009 with a variety of upgrades and enhancements, including a dramatic reconfiguration of the building’s 140,000 square feet of interior space. A formal blessing and rededication was held Nov. 12 with the Most Rev. Donald W. Trautman, S.T.D., S.S.L., Bishop of Erie, presiding. ❯ Over the summer, the lower level of Harborview House Apartments received a complete renovation to accommodate two Gannon offices: the Student Health Center and Counseling Services and the Office of Campus Police and Safety. The move provided both offices more space and a more centralized location to better serve students.

The University recently created an official logo to convey its commitment to green initiatives.

The award recognized Gannon’s initiative to improve the health and safety of campus and the community by using products certified by the Green Seal and Environmental Choice Program, which meet environmental standards for industrial and institutional cleaners based on their reduced toxicity and smog potential.

‹ In the Palumbo Academic Center, renovations to the second floor allowed several offices to take advantage of increased space and upgraded facilities. The dean’s office for the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, along with the School of Education, relocated from the first floor of the building. Additionally, a new Commuter Corner lounge and conference area officially opened in August, providing nonresident students with space to study and socialize.

See photos of Gannon’s transformed campus at www.gannon. edu/about/transformation.asp.

newsnotes

The University’s Custodial Services has gone “green.”

Supervisor Galen E. Adams recently accepted the DeSantis Enviro Certificate for Green Cleaning from DeSantis Janitor Supply Co. and Enviro-Solutions.

Campus Continues to Transform

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newsnotes

Fall Enrollment Highest in 17 Years

Academic Programs Garner Accolades

Growth in several key student demographics helped Gannon University reach a total enrollment of 4,238 last fall, the University’s highest number of students since 1992.

The Fall 2009 class included: 649 first-year students, the University’s largest freshman class since the fall of 1993; 102 transfer students, an increase of nearly 14 percent over last year and Gannon’s highest number of transfer students in more than a decade; and a current fulltime undergraduate enrollment of 2,413 students, the highest since 1996.

For the sixth straight year, the University was ranked as a Top Tier university in “America’s Best Colleges” published by U.S.News & World Report. Gannon was also listed in the publication’s Top Upand-Coming Schools category, a first-time honor. Institutions in this category are determined by a peer assessment survey of high-ranking college officials who recognize institutions that have recently made the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus or facilities.

“These national rankings are a compliment to both the high-quality students who attend and graduate from Gannon and the outstanding faculty and staff who provide an excellent education at an affordable price,” said President Garibaldi.

Grant Funding Supports Campus and Community

Gannon’s master’s degree program in community counseling was designated as a fully accredited graduate program by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The accreditation ensures that students are eligible to be nationally certified counselors once they have completed the degree requirements and passed the National Counselor Examination. It also means that graduates meet the degree requirements for licensure as professional counselors. In addition, Gannon’s community counseling program received the 2009 Pennsylvania Counseling Association Outstanding Counselor Education Program Award for excellence in counseling education.

The bachelor’s degree program in software engineering was accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET Inc. (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). With the accreditation, Gannon became the third college or university in Pennsylvania to offer an accredited bachelor’s degree program in software engineering and is one of only 19 such accredited programs nationwide.

The School of Education received approval to offer two new certification programs designed to help the University meet Pennsylvania’s Chapter 49 requirements for prospective teachers. With the approval, granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Gannon offered both Early Childhood Grades PK-4 and Middle Level Grades 4-8 certificates starting with Tricia L. Close ’08 student teaching the Fall 2009 semester. The PDE also awarded the School a “special designation,” noting that Gannon substantially meets state standards and that certain program aspects show a promising model or innovative practice.

May 2009 physician assistant and nursing graduates both achieved 98 percent pass rates on required certification examinations. Forty-one of the 42 graduates who took the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) passed it on the first attempt, while 46 of 47 Villa Maria School of Nursing students passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) on the first attempt.

• Thanks to a grant request by the Rev. Shawn J. Clerkin ’86M, theatre director and assistant professor of theatre and communication arts, ArtsErie provided $4,230 in grant funding for two of Gannon’s Schuster Theatre programs: shakeXperience, an overnight theater camp for high school students, and Shakespeare Summer Nights outdoor theater performances.

• A proposal by the Erie Community Foundation, in partnership with Hamot Medical Center and Carolynn B. Masters, Ph.D., RN, CARN, dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences, was approved for $21,697 for programs geared to help fight childhood obesity.

• Former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins will be visiting campus in April as the annual English Awards Night speaker thanks to a $1,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. The funds were requested by Erie County Poet Laureate Berwyn Moore, professor of English.

• Johnson Olanrewaju, Ph.D., PI, assistant professor of environmental science and engineering, in collaboration with TM Industrial Supply Inc. in Erie, was awarded $53,201 by The Ben Franklin Technology Center’s Translational Research Energy Program for syngas (hydrogen) production from glycerin. Olanrewaju’s project is designed to build and test a lab-scale plasma arc gasification reactor, operating at a high temperature and atmospheric pressure to gasify glycerin in order to produce hydrogen.

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Better Serving Those Who Have Served U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, along with student veterans and officials from participating universities, expressed support for the 21st Century G.I. Bill during a press conference held at Gannon in September. The legislation provides up to four academic years of educational benefits to members of the military who have served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001.

In addition, veterans are able to use the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program, in which the federal government will match any voluntary additional contributions to veterans from institutions whose tuition exceeds the maximum educational assistance provided under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

“Gannon is honored to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program,” said President Garibaldi. “The University initially agreed to accept 100 students into the program, but we ultimately decided to provide this opportunity to all of our qualified service members and their families. This commitment by Gannon can eventually translate into an investment of more than $200 million in student-veterans’ education.”

Yellow Ribbon Program

As one of approximately 1,100 private institutions offering additional scholarships matched by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Gannon is currently home to 40 students receiving a variety of veterans’ benefits. Twenty-five of these studentveterans are benefiting from the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, and 14 of those 25 are receiving the maximum aid amount.

Possibilities are Endless for Gannon Students Gannon’s Epsilon Upsilon chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity was honored for outstanding performance with the Raymond L. Orians Chapter Excellence Award, which recognizes chapters that are among the best on their campuses and are Pi Kappa Alpha’s most competitive chapters.

History major William Chapnick was chosen to participate in a week-long

seminar on “Islam and Civil Society” at Princeton Theological Seminary. The seminar allowed Muslim and non-Muslim young adults to explore the relationship of Islam to civil society by engaging together in study, reflection, discussion and pragmatic solution-seeking.

Hannah Kirby, a senior mechanical engineering major, was chosen as the first-ever local recipient of the ATHENA PowerLink Young Professional Award. She was nominated for the award, which honors an outstanding college student in the community, by Karinna M. Vernaza, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering.

Senior software engineering major Brian Wilhelm received

Gannon University’s literary art magazine Totem received its 14th consecutive first place award with special merit designation in the American Scholastic Press Association’s annual magazine competition. Students Sara Hopson and Ashley Kent served as the publication’s coeditors. Berwyn Moore, associate professor of English, served as adviser.

Gannon unveiled its latest e-marketing concept in October with the launch of Edge, a new student-produced edge.gannon.edu online magazine. The online destination is a cutting-edge, informational medium written by students for current and prospective students. The site includes original copy, photos, videos and interactive content across a wide range of topics, such as academics, faith and athletics.

Hannah Kirby and Karinna M. Vernaza, Ph.D.

newsnotes

Shane Lavin participated in a prestigious 10-week, researchbased internship administered by the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.

Lavin is a senior pre-medical/ biology major and worked at the Cardiovascular Research Center, where his research consisted of two projects involving zebrafish stem cells.

the Roswell “Buddy” Messing Award, given to Zeta Beta Tau fraternity’s most outstanding undergraduate brother who most fully embodies the principles of the fraternity. Wilhelm serves as president of Gannon’s Zeta Xi chapter.

05

University Faculty and Staff Go Beyond Five Gannon biology students, mentored by two Gannon faculty, received honors at the Regional Science Consortium’s 5th Annual Research Symposium.

Senior Meaghan Ropski received the award for best student oral presentation for work performed with senior Brian Wojtkielewicz on invasive dreissenid mussels that they conducted with Gregory M. Andraso, Ph.D., associate professor of biology. Senior Tom Russo received the award for best student poster presentation for work conducted with fellow seniors Sean Fouse and Krista Mershimer on antibiotic resistant bacteria in water, quagga mussels and fish from Lake Erie. They were mentored

by Andraso and Troy A. Skwor, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology.

Parris J. Baker, Ph.D. ’92, director of

Gannon’s social work program, is the 2009 recipient of the Minority Achiever Award from Talk Magazine (formerly Minority Opinion Magazine) for his outstanding contributions to higher education.

Charles A. Bennett,

assistant professor of finance and director of Gannon’s Center for Economic Education, recently collaborated with 4LTR Press on a new text to be used in intermediate Charles Bennett macroeconomics courses. He was also approved to serve another two-year term on the board of directors of Advantage Credit Counseling Service Inc. and Consumer Credit Counseling Service.

Kimberly A. Cavanagh, MPAS, PA-C, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, was awarded a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in June 2009. Her primary research focus was the development of a schoolbased asthma education program for children with asthma.

Chris Dubbs, grants writer, was

interviewed by National Public Radio for 06

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its story on the 50th anniversary of the space flight of monkeys Able and Baker, the first living beings the U.S. launched into space and recovered alive. Animals in Space, a 2007 book coauthored by Dubbs, is recognized as the definitive book on the subject of animal space flights.

Tania S. Flink, assistant professor of sport and exercise science, successfully defended her Ph.D. in exercise science with a dissertation titled “Timekeeping in Synchronization-Continuation Tapping Tasks: Tapping Speed, Body Segment and Age.” She received the degree from Arizona State University in August 2009.

Julie A. Hartmann, PT, M.Ed., GCS, instructor and academic

Orthopedics and includes work carried out by chemistry graduate Lindsey K. Roach ’06. The research in the second paper, “Relaxin’s Involvement in Extracellular Matrix Homeostasis: Two Diverse Lines of Evidence,” was published in Annals of the New York Academy of Science and describes two projects studying the peptide hormone relaxin. In addition, Konieczko and senior biology major Matt Ruston recently received a national Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society research grant to help support an ongoing research project that examines the effect of growth of keratinocytes in the presence or absence of relaxin and estrogen hormones.

Sara A. Lichtenwalter, Ph.D.,

assistant professor of social work and field placement coordinator of clinical education coordinator for the social work for Gannon’s doctor of physical program, was honored by Erie therapy program, was recently Homes for Children and Adults named co-chair for the Erie (EHCA). Lichtenwalter and the Sara Lichtenwalter County Chapter of the Twilight University received Community Wish Foundation, a national Recognition Awards for an in-depth analysis nonprofit organization that grants wishes of EHCA’s Project First Step/Doula, which for the elderly. Hartmann is assisted as coserves low-income women with disabilities chair by Brad K. Gleason ’90. and high-risk pregnancies. Lichtenwalter’s work was made possible by community-based Elisa M. Konieczko, Ph.D. ’84, associate research funding from Gannon’s Office of professor of biology and director of the biotechnology program at Gannon, had two Service-Learning. Social work graduate Molly peer-reviewed professional research projects R. Ciscell ’09 also assisted Lichtenwalter with her research. published, both of which describe research projects conducted in collaborations with doctors at Hamot Medical Center in Erie.

The first, “Fate of Mu Receptors During Rat Skeletogenesis,” was published in

Scott E. Miller, J.D., CPA, DBA ’93, assistant

professor of accounting and associate director of the Dahlkemper School of Business Administration, had a paper, “Governance

New Faces Join Gannon University Gannon welcomed Kathleen T. Patterson, RN, Ph.D., newly named director of the University’s Villa Maria School of Nursing, to campus this fall. Patterson has 17 years of experience as a nurse educator and came to Gannon from the Venango campus of Clarion University, where she served as director of the School of Nursing and Allied Health.

Stephen J. Large, Psy.D., is the new director of Student Counseling Services. He completed his bachelor’s degree in psychology at John Carroll University in 2002 and received a doctorate in clinical psychology from Wright State University in 2007. Prior to coming to Gannon, he served as a psychology intern at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and as a staff psychologist at the University of Dayton.

President’s Article Published in Anthology Mechanisms as Moderators of Agency Costs in a Pre-SOX Environment,” accepted for publication in the Journal for Business and Economics Scott Miller Research. The paper also won a best paper award at the 2009 Applied Business Research Conference in Waikiki, Hawaii. Miller’s paper investigates the effectiveness of governance mechanisms on agency costs of manufacturing firms on the NYSE. In addition, Miller recently completed Leadership Erie’s Executive Skills Development Program.

Berwyn Moore, associate professor of

English, was named the inaugural poet laureate for Erie County. Moore received a $10,000 grant to fund a project of her choosing; she has begun compiling an anthology of poems and art by Erie County residents. Her many honors include a second-place award in a national poetry contest sponsored by The Pinch, a prestigious literary journal published by the University of Memphis.

Berwyn Moore Dawna T. Mughal, Ph.D., RD, LDN,

Anne M. O’Neill, director of the

advertising communications and sports management and marketing programs, was recently invited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to chair a sports management program review at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa. Duane “Rick” Prokop, Ph.D., assistant

professor of marketing and associate director of the Dahlkemper School of Business Administration, accepted a two-year appointment to the position of chairman of the Erie City Mission board of directors.

Michele M. Roth-Kauffman, J.D., MPAS, PA-C, professor and chairperson of

Gannon’s physician assistant program, had an article published in the July 2009 edition of Clinician Reviews. The article is a peer-reviewed publication on endometriosis intended to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

A book by Anjali Sahay, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science and director of Gannon’s international studies program, has been published and is now available at several major retailers. The 262-page book, Indian Diaspora in the United States, offers a new perspective on “brain drain.”

Keith Taylor, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, gave a presentation at the No Name Facility Planning Conference in Niagara Falls, N.Y., last summer regarding the University’s approach to master planning.

Gannon’s director of athletic media relations, Daniel R. Teliski ’97, was named the 2008 Men’s Sports Information Director of the Year for the Southern Division

of the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA). In addition, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) declared the 2008-09 Gannon basketball game day program and its cover “Best in the Nation” among NCAA Division II institutions. The 2008 Gannon football game day program was tabbed third in the nation while the 2008-09 Gannon women’s basketball media guide was rated fifth in the country.

Linda L. Wagner ’81, ’84M, vice president

for finance and administration, served as a member of the delegation that made the case for Erie in the National Civic League’s All-America City awards competition last fall. She was also recently named to the board of directors for both the Mercy Center for Women and the Erie Center on Health and Aging.

Karla Mullenax Wludyga, director of public relations and communications and special assistant to the president, was named to the Board of Trustees for the Flagship Niagara League, which encourages citizen participation and operation of the Flagship Niagara and its homeport, Erie Maritime Museum.

She was also recently named a member of the Erie Regional Advisory Board of EconomicsPennsylvania, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging an understanding of economic concepts through education.

newsnotes

associate professor of nutrition and human performance and director of the medical technology program at Gannon, recently presented a paper at the 2nd Asia Pacific Regional Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities. Her paper, “Vitamin D for Health of Aging Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities,” highlighted the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency as a global health problem.

A scholarly chapter written by President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., was selected for inclusion in a new book, Black American Males in Higher Education: Diminishing Proportions. Garibaldi’s article, “The Educational Status of African American Males in the 21st Century,” is one of 14 chapters in Volume 6. He wrote an opinion/editorial column based on the chapter that has been published in: Diverse: Issues in Higher Education; The Josephite Harvest; the Erie Times-News and Talk Magazine.

Game Day Programs 07

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Redefining Responsibility New Year’s resolutions last, on average, about one week; that’s when a quarter of people abandon them. By July, less than half of the population remains committed to these goals.

Nonetheless, personal improvement—exercising, eliminating unhealthy substances, strengthening spirituality—ranks high on resolution lists each Jan. 1. With programs designed to curb underage drinking and reward increased physical activity, Gannon University faculty, staff and students are embracing initiatives that look beyond the obvious to create an environment of holistic development for body, mind and soul.

When the P.R.O.M.I.S.E. initiative started in 1999, assembling 400 members of the Gannon community into the shape of the University’s initials on a hot August day seemed like an accomplishment in itself. Today, the initiative—which stands for Promoting Responsible Ongoing Management In Social Environments—boasts $11,000 in average annual grant funding, more than 25 active student leaders and nearly 4,000 signed student promises to act responsibly and make healthy decisions.

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“Initially, the intent was to be an anti-drug and alcohol initiative for students,” said Julie M. Srnka ’80, assistant director of student development programs.

“It eventually evolved from that to encompass making healthy decisions in general and living the University mission of respect for God, themselves, others and the environment.”

P.R.O.M.I.S.E. is a unique Gannon hallmark, Srnka added, noting that the program has been featured at several conferences, and interest from other institutions runs high.

Grants from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) are used to fund parts of the initiative, as well as a social norms marketing campaign that addresses students’ misperceptions about alcohol use among college students and informs parents of University drug and alcohol policies. The PLCB requirement to use grant funding for programs aimed at long-term environmental changes blends well with Gannon’s goals.

“Rather than sponsoring a one-time event, like a speaker or a drunk-driving simulation, the PLCB requires that we use the funding to try to change the campus environment and affect its future atmosphere. It worked out perfectly for Gannon because that’s exactly what we are trying to do,” Srnka explained.

Freshmen lacrosse teammates (L to R) Natalie Bonnepart, Megan Clumpus and Jessica Fugate relax before the P.R.O.M.I.S.E. photo shoot.

Gannon students have gotten the message. Prior to hosting a party, all Greek social organizations at Gannon must register the event with the Office of Student Organizations and Leadership Development (SOLD), and all guests must sign in at the door and show proof of age before receiving a wristband to drink alcoholic beverages.

“We want incoming students to look at the general student population of Gannon and feel that the social norm is that most students are making responsible decisions, they’re upholding Gannon’s mission, they’re participating in healthy social options and they’re being positive representatives of the University,” Srnka said.

In fact, students are actively involved in ensuring that positive social options are widely available. For example, students can enjoy games, music and prizes at OcSOBERfest or celebrate St. Patrick’s Day safely at Get Rec’d. Senior Anna Monahan, an advertising communications major, is a member of KnightL.I.F.E. (Lifestyle Information for Everyone) and the Activities Programming Board, two student-led groups that sponsor special events on campus throughout the year.

“Gannon events are personal and designed to accommodate any student on campus. We really focus on the interests of the students and coordinate our events and programs around that so everyone can participate and enjoy themselves,” Monahan said.

Students are taking care of themselves in other ways too, said Michelle B. Wagner ’90, assistant director of Gannon’s Carneval Athletic Pavilion. After joining the University last fall, she was impressed by the support the University’s recreational lineup received.

“I was amazed at the student participation in intramural competitions; they are so motivated and committed. Students have also been very vocal in wanting more group exercise opportunities, and we have been able to meet that demand with two new yoga classes. Those filled up tremendously fast; people were signing up before I even finished publicizing class information,” Wagner said.

Supporting the Soul As a caring institution rooted in the Catholic tradition, Gannon University believes that through giving back to others we better ourselves. So far during the 2009-10 Academic Year:

• More than 340 volunteers collected 8,277 pounds of non-perishable food items during the 33rd annual Golden Harvest Food Drive, which benefits Erie’s Second Harvest Food Bank. The amount represents a nearly 15 percent increase from food collected during the 2008 drive.

• Gannon teamed up with the Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania for two blood drives that yielded 163 units of blood from 186 donors. Last year, the generosity of University faculty, staff and students saved more than 1,000 lives by hosting some of the largest blood drives in Erie County, the Blood Bank reported.

• Gannon’s Center for Social Concerns and the Social Concerns Club cosponsored Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in November to help combat hunger while raising money for local social service agencies. Organizers raised more than $1,700, an improvement over last year’s $1,500, from Box City. Funds were divided among four local service agencies.

• Gannon hosted the Sisters of St. Joseph’s 21st annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the first time in 2009. The dinner, which previously took place at Erie’s Marketplace Grill, served approximately 750 meals (including about 350 home deliveries).

The move provided a larger space for volunteers and diners while still offering a convenient, downtown location for attendees.

GU basketball players helped with the S.S.J. Thanksgiving Dinner

Students collected donations during Box City

Students are also interested in new fitness challenge programs and the possibility of renovations to the University’s recreation center as part of Gannon’s Master Plan.

“Wellness can be so very many things,” she noted. “One person may not appear as physically fit, but if they’re happy with themselves and their life, it’s possible they are healthier than the person who exercises several hours a day but has too much stress. I think that’s what’s so great about programs like P.R.O.M.I.S.E.; they teach students how to achieve balance.”

Busy students like Monahan agree.

“To me, being a healthy student has always been about priorities.

It’s about creating a balance between work and play,” Monahan said. “After all, college is a gateway to the future, and I believe it’s very important to make those healthy, responsible decisions now that will serve you beneficially later.”

The Gannon community gave back with the Golden Harvest Food Drive

09

AJJoyful Noise It livens up the seventh inning stretch, soothes infants into a peaceful sleep and announces a president’s arrival; even birthday parties wouldn’t be the same without it. Music has a unique ability to inspire emotion and preserve tradition, and as members of Gannon University’s Chapel Choir realize, it can unite communities in faith and strengthen their spiritual bond.

With a modest start in the early 1980s, the Chapel Choir has been helping the University community worship for nearly 30 years. But in 2009, the group saw its participation more than triple. It now boasts 40 singers and a dozen musicians, including a pianist,

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violinist, flutists, several guitarists and even a French horn player. Sophomore mathematics major Patrick Chounet chose the choir as one of his first campus activities.

“I decided to get involved in Chapel Choir for several reasons. Coming to college, I wanted to join many clubs so that I could meet a lot of people, and the choir helped me do that. But I also feel that God gave me my voice, and I wanted to find a way to use it to praise Him,” Chounet explained.

One of fewer than a dozen diocesan universities in the nation, Gannon honors its Catholic tradition openly and often. The University admitted 10 new seminarians in Fall 2009 to join the nine returning students, thus welcoming its largest seminarian class in recent school history. The Catholic House, an upperclassman livinglearning community that fosters holistic development in the Catholic faith, reached full capacity with 12 residents.

A new faith-sharing group, LETTERS,

is helping fraternity and sorority members strengthen their connections with fellow Greeks while sharing in Christian fellowship.

“Students have shown that programs where they can see how they are making a difference are very important. It gives them the direct experience of being in relationship with people in need and they sense themselves in a new way, as gifted and important to the larger community,” said Deacon Stephen J. Washek ’90, ’05M, director of Campus Ministry. “That is our Mission: to holistically develop our students so that they can be leaders in society, their church and the world.”

Stephanie Laino, a senior majoring in elementary and early childhood education, wanted a way to continue expressing her faith through song.

“I felt that joining the choir was an easy way for me to continue practicing my love of singing. I have been a cantor at my home church since I was 11 years old,” said Laino, who also serves as a choir commissioner charged with recruiting new members. “Cantoring at Mass has also helped increase my

Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful song.

Courtesy of Gannon Archives

Psalm 100: 1-2

Mass on the Grass 2009 Gannon Chapel Choir singing at the inauguration of President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., in 2002.

Gannon Chapel Choir 1985 Courtesy of Gannon Archives

confidence in front of large groups of people, in turn making me more comfortable during class presentations or student teaching.”

Participating in Gannon’s choir provides double duty for senior Kelly Miele: it connects her with her classmates through teamwork and enhances her studies by serving as a healthy form of stress relief. A fouryear choir member, she is an English and secondary education major at Gannon.

“I think more students have seen choir members having fun together, and they can tell we are a very inclusive group. Those who have an interest in singing or playing an instrument often want to share their gift of music with others, Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit 2009

so they recognize that choir gives them this opportunity to get involved and practice something they are passionate about,” Miele said.

Like Laino, junior Cassandra Wasson had always been active in her church’s music ministry but was unsure how to continue that participation as a college student— until several friends invited her to join the Chapel Choir last year. Today, the pre-med major is a choir commissioner.

“I feel the choir brings life to Mass and helps college students get more excited about their spirituality,” she said. “It has also allowed me to broaden my horizons and get to know people outside my major.

I have made friends who force me to think outside my comfort zone and allow me to see things from a different perspective.”

Not only a fixture at University Mass, the group is available to enhance a variety of campus functions. They sing hymns at

monthly Gathering in Praise ecumenical worship services, lift spirits at the annual Relay for Life cancer awareness and fundraising event and spread Christmas cheer with carols in A.J.’s Way. “There are so many great things about being a member of Gannon’s Chapel Choir. The sense of community is wonderful, and I see my fellow choir members as a sort of family. We have fun together and it is such a joy to make music with each other,” Miele said. “I have had many people come to me after Mass and compliment me on the nice job our choir has done, and that makes this a very fulfilling ministry. It is so rewarding to be part of something that not only enriches my life, but also impacts the lives of others.”

Gannon University strives to be a community where faith is vitally present and dynamic. Log on to www.gannon. edu/mission to find out more.

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Gannon University is home to many distinctive features: a caring faithbased atmosphere, a close-knit campus in the heart of downtown Erie and a wide range of outstanding academic programs. And for part of the year, another unique element can be added to that list: snow!

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“I absolutely love winter. There may be a lot of snow in Erie, but it’s much more fun to embrace the weather rather than sulk about it,” said Christine M. Cedzo ’92, assistant professor of mathematics.

She also advises one of Gannon’s newest student organizations, Ski Club.

Students have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the white stuff. As of 2007, Erie was listed as the 13th snowiest place in the U.S., averaging 88 inches each season. By the end of winter in 2009, the city had received 145.8 inches of snow, falling short of the alltime precipitation record set in 2001 by 3.3 inches.

In addition to organizations like Ski Club, the Activities Programming Board (APB), a student-led group that hosts events for all Gannon students, sponsored an excursion to Peek’n Peak Resort and Spa in Clymer, N.Y., for a day of skiing, snowboarding and tubing. The group also organized a snowman-building contest on Friendship Green.

“We wanted to do something that would capitalize on the winter weather and also help students get outside, get together and get involved. We hope it becomes an annual event,” said APB member Ashley Frego, a junior biology major.

Such events offer students more than an opportunity to bundle up and face the elements, Cedzo said; they impart valuable life lessons.

“I agreed to advise Ski Club because I thought it would be a great opportunity for Gannon students. It has taken a lot of work to organize their first trip, and the officers are learning so much about organizational skills and patience as they work through the necessary processes to make it happen,” Cedzo explained.

Likewise, faculty don’t shy away from including adverse weather conditions in their class curriculums. Students have learned about lighting and composition by taking snowy-day photographs, while those in science courses examine the environment in cold weather conditions.

“I have a wildlife management lab that spends a day in the field to learn how to take proper and complete scientific field notes, rain or shine,” said Steven J. Ropski, Ph.D. ’78, professor of biology and director of the science program. “Weather doesn’t stop us!”

From Sunshine to Snow Belt Virgin Islands Students Choose Gannon Gannon University welcomed 10 new students from the U.S. Virgin Islands in the fall, a record number of enrollees from that locale. Frigid temperatures didn’t discourage these students; in fact, several of them were drawn to Gannon because of the region’s winter weather.

Ludence Romney Jr., a freshman software engineering major from the St. Thomas area, said he is adapting well to the climate change and checks the weather forecast every morning to help him wear appropriate attire.

Also from the St. Thomas Kevin Greaux area, communication arts major Kevin Greaux has enjoyed experiencing his first round of winter precipitation.

“I chose Gannon because it was far from home and would offer me new experiences, like living in a snowy area for the first time,” he explained.

“Weather has definitely been one of the biggest adjustments for me, but so far I love it. I built my first snowman, had a snowball fight on Friendship Green and even walked on Lake Erie when it froze. I’m patiently waiting for more snow!”

Weather didn’t stop senior Shaundra Curtis, a sport and exercise science and pre-physical therapy major, from leaving her native Bahamas for college life in the states.

“The weather has been a big change for me because in my hometown, we only experience two seasons: spring and summer. But I love that in Erie I get to watch the leaves change colors and can engage in snow sports.

I am enrolled in the Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding class this semester and really enjoy the experience,” she said.

Like Curtis points out, a new season is always just around the corner. As 19th-century poet John Ruskin wrote, “Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”

Students start a snowball fight on Friendship Green in 1997.

Courtesy of Gannon Archives

No matter the season, Gannon offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular experiences for every student.

Call 1-800-GANNON-U (1-800-426-6668) to start your journey today.

13

Out of

Africa

In the age of the Internet and iPhones, the world around us is just a login or text message away, quickly connecting people by common threads and mutual interests. For several Gannon faculty and students, sharing a connection with the continent of Africa is just the beginning; they also share a spirit of compassion that truly reflects the University’s mission.

Caring can take many forms, from educational initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life to medical technologies designed to prevent the spread of disease. Troy A. Skwor, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, spent six weeks last summer volunteering with the Keiskamma Trust, a community organization striving to meet the challenges of widespread poverty and HIV/AIDS in rural South Africa.

“It’s a miraculous place, seeing people give their whole selves—some moving from around the world to volunteer and work there—to try and make a difference. If that doesn’t get you motivated, I don’t know what does,” Skwor said.

The South African Education Ministry reported in 2010 that the national school pass rate had dropped for a sixth consecutive year, declining to 60.6 percent. One way Skwor helped was by assessing the Trust’s educational programs and teaching and tutoring students in science and math.

“It was so important to show them the purpose behind education. In such a rural area where unemployment is around 90 percent, it’s hard for them to understand what having an education means or what it can do for their lives, and I wanted to give them an incentive and show them what careers are Sociology professor Dorothy J.N. Kalanzi, available,” Skwor explained.

Ph.D. (third from left), participates With a doctoral degree in Okwanjula, a traditional African in medical microbiology introduction ceremony. and immunology and a dissertation centered on tuberculosis, Skwor was also aptly suited to help with the diverse activities associated with the village clinic, a facility funded by sales of patients’ artwork. The clinic treats 112 rural villages—about 200,000 people—in the southeastern corner of the Pedii district in South Africa.

“A lot of them—even the nurses—contract TB multiple times throughout their lives. It is the number one killer of HIV patients in the area and worldwide, and they have a lot of questions. I sat in on a tuberculosis social worker meeting and helped dispel some of the myths about the disease and discussed preventive methods,” he said.

Dorothy J.N. Kalanzi, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, recognized the need for further instruction and aid in Africa—not only as an educator, but also as a Uganda native. She conducted 14

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two studies to track antiretroviral use among HIV patients in subSaharan Africa, studying who was taking the medication as prescribed, reasons some were not able to adhere to the regimen and how their lives were changed.

“I did my research initially in 2007 for my dissertation; I had a questionnaire, and I interviewed them one-on-one. Then I returned Dr. Skwor with South African last summer to follow up,” Kalanzi students. said. “It really touched me. Most of the people who were on these drugs were very poor and would tell me, ‘The doctor says I have to take this medication with food, but I have no money to buy food.’ There were cultural, economic and biological factors hindering them from taking the medication, but when they talked about their lives, they had really improved.”

In addition to statistical research, the area needs greater access to modern technology. Johnson Olanrewaju, Ph.D., assistant professor of environmental science and engineering and Sreela Sasi, Ph.D., associate professor of computer and information science, worked in collaboration with Christian Hospitals Overseas Secure Equipment Needs (CHOSEN) to design a new steam sterilizer that can help sterilize surgical and medical equipment without the use of electricity as a heating source. Electricity is often not available or is unreliable in many third-world countries, and the pair volunteered their time to help engineer the device, which uses biomass heat sources like firewood.

“This project was close to our hearts because as Nigerian and Indian natives, we’re familiar with this need,” Olanrewaju said.

“I witnessed the rationing of electricity, and have lived that life.

Those experiences can never leave you. Knowledge is something I feel passionate about, and when you have passion for something, there is no mountain that you cannot conquer.”

Even graduate student Mobolaji Omotosho has found a way to better his homeland by sharing his education and professional experience. Currently in his second year as a doctor of physical therapy student at Gannon, he hopes to return to Nigeria to start his own physical therapy practice.

“One of the things I always preach to my students is not to compartmentalize; be multidisciplinary,” Olanrewaju said.

“Everything is related to everything else, and we have far more similarities than we do differences. If you look at the big picture, we’re all linked somehow.”

History Alive!

The history, people and current events of Africa were brought to life for current and prospective students during a day-long History Alive! event held in October.

Organized by Jeffrey H. Bloodworth, Ph.D., assistant professor of history, and Kathleen M. Chriest ’08M, adjunct lecturer in the English department, the program introduced attendees to Gannon’s history department through a series of roundtable discussions, presentations and cultural entertainment.

Graduate student Felix Lohitai, a Sudan native and president of the Sudanese Community in Erie, used experiences from his life to engage students at the event.

Currently in the second semester of Gannon’s master of public administration program, Lohitai volunteers several days a week at the Quality of Life Learning Center, helping local refugees with interpreting, casework, job searching and after-school programs.

“For the History Alive! event, I brought refugee families from Sudan and Nepal to campus to share their experiences with students and I also shared my own story. My first impression of the University was a wonderful one because this event introduced me to other students and allowed me to work with two great professors,” Lohitai said.

Want to know more about the next interactive admissions event? Contact the Office of Admissions at 1-800-GANNON-U (1-800-426-6668).

Troy A. Skwor, Ph.D., was able to photograph native wildlife during his recent trip to South Africa.

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alumnifocus

What does it take to own and at Yale University (Hospital of St. manage a successful business?

Raphael) in New Haven, Conn.

Determination, a little bit of luck, and a Gannon University degree—at After five years of training and serving a year as chief resident least for alumnus Ernst Olof of general surgery, he continued Gunnar Bergqvist, M.D. ’88 and on to Duke University School of his wife, Amy Sitterle-Bergqvist ’87. Medicine to complete his training in microvascular reconstructive plastic “Gannon has a fabulous science program that can rival any university surgery and hand surgery. This included three more years of study and is certainly responsible for with a six-month fellowship at the helping me get where I am today,” Christine M. Kleinert Institute Gunnar said. “Gannon is a small in Louisville, Ky. Today, he is and intimate place where professors the board-certified founder and know you by name; their goals are owner of Plastic Surgery Center of your goals. You really can dream big Pennsylvania in Erie. at a small university.”

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, he learned about Gannon through a trusted source: his older sister, Christina Bergqvist ’86. Christina came to Erie as a high school exchange student, attending Harbor Creek High School before enrolling at Gannon.

In addition to traveling to the U.S. for academics, Gunnar spent several years touring the country as he continued his studies in medicine.

He worked as a research scientist at Likoff Cardiovascular Institute in Philadelphia before graduating from The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He then went on to complete a general surgery residency

&

Gunnar Bergqvist, M.D. ’88 Amy Sitterle-Bergqvist ’87

Featured Alum

Gunnar didn’t need to journey far to meet his future wife, Amy: the two met while both were Gannon students. Amy, an Erie native who earned a bachelor of arts degree from Gannon, gathered travel time of her own while pursuing goals in the world of figure skating.

Our family includes two children, Trevor (15) and Emma (12).

Times have changed in the Nash Library. Back then, we actually did research by looking up information in all the hardcopy books and periodicals; everything is electronic now.

A favorite professor was Austin O’Toole, Ph.D. ’57, who also married us 20 years ago.

I double-dog dare you to sleep in the snow. One of Gunnar’s Gannon classmates lost this bet after the Swedish native snoozed off in a snowdrift. winter 2010

“They were all passionate about their subjects and very helpful,” Amy noted.

The blend of Gannon’s downtown, urban location with a small, caring campus atmosphere was also influential.

“Learning never stops. It’s important to be persistent in your goals.”

In the summertime, we enjoy visiting Gunnar’s home country at our family summer home on the Swedish west coast island of Syd-Koster.

gannon magazine

Achieving such success can be traced back to their Gannon roots, the couple said. Favorite professors (like Robert H. Allshouse, Ph.D., Frank F. Angotti, Ph.D., Michael L. Bucholtz, Ph.D., Mary Anne Frew ’74 and James J. McGivern, Ph.D.) helped the pair enjoy coursework and prepare for the future.

“My parents saw Erie as a safe city that gave them the confidence to send me abroad. Since my days at Gannon, the University has only improved its “After I graduated, I decided to take facilities and outreach to students all advantage of my youth and go on over the world,” Gunnar said. “My a world skating tour. Gunnar and advice to students would be this: I kept in contact while he finished learning never stops. Don’t be afraid his senior year, and once I returned, to put in the time, because shortcuts we both moved to Philadelphia and don’t work. It’s important to be married,” she said. Amy helps operate persistent in your goals.”

5 Minutes, 5 Questions

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Plastic Surgery Center of Pennsylvania, where she takes care of the business aspects of the practice while raising the couple’s two busy children.

facultyfocus

Featured Faculty

by Melanie L. Cherry

“It’s a really fascinating field,” said Gannon’s computer and information science department chair and associate professor. “There’s always something new. It’s dynamic, even if you stay in one focus. It’s mind-boggling.”

Vitolo said her career aspirations began at a young age while she was growing up in Jeannette, Pa. She discovered a biography of renowned chemist Marie Curie and was inspired.

undecided, she said the field of industrial engineering suited her analytical and mathematical brain.

“Industrial engineering hit the economic side, it hit the mathematic side, it hit the programming side,” she explained. “It was the perfect fit for me, for exactly the way I was thinking at the time.”

“I read it one summer when I was a child and thought, ‘I want to be a scientist.’

I guess practicality kicked in, and I chose engineering,” she said.

After graduating with her doctorate in 1985, Vitolo taught computer science at Slippery Rock University and Pennsylvania State University – University Park before coming to Gannon in 1999.

Vitolo said that she preferred the engineering field to the field of science because of a hands-on thinking approach.

Though she began her college career at the University of Pittsburgh relatively

“I like the people here, I like the people I work with,” she said. “I find this department to be very collaborative, and we’re in sync with each other. It’s like a family.”

Education Ph.D. in Information Science, 1985 University of Pittsburgh B.S.E. in Industrial Engineering, 1978 University of Pittsburgh

Volunteer Work Vitolo crochets for Project Linus, a charity organization that collects blankets for seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise needy children.

Favorite Quote “Because dreams need doing,” from the National Academy of Engineering.

“If you dream it, you can build it as an engineer,” Vitolo said.

“I love making other people enthusiastic about what I’m passionate about.”

Vitolo said her favorite part of teaching occurs when students lose their inhibitions about learning and work with her in discovering the material.

“I love making other people enthusiastic about what I’m passionate about,” she said. “They can do it. This is totally within their capabilities.”

Outside of Gannon, Vitolo belongs to a number of professional engineering and science societies. She has been a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science since 1978.

She served as Gannon chapter faculty

Cherry is a junior journalism communications major and intern in the Communications office.

adviser for the Society of Women Engineers from 1999-2004. She was chair of the Erie chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers until December 2009 and received its Outstanding Member of the Year award in 2003. She also worked on a Scholars of Excellence in Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS) Scholarship Program (awarded through the National Science Foundation), which received $600,000 in grant funding for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) scholarships.

“My proudest professional accomplishment is being where I am today, having experienced mistakes and being as successful as I am today,” she said. “I’m a very satisfied person.”

Theresa M.Vitolo, Ph.D.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines information science as the collection, classification, storage, retrieval and dissemination of recorded knowledge. To some, this field may sound complicated, confusing or even boring. Theresa M. Vitolo, Ph.D., on the other hand, can’t get enough of it.

17

Athletic Accomplishments

sportsscan

BY DAN TELISKI ’97, director of athletic media relations

Gannon University’s fall athletic teams had fine showings in the classroom and in competition during their second season as a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Three of the four programs that compete in the PSAC and produce win-loss records had winning records, while seven out of nine fall programs participated in postseason play. Sixteen student-athletes were named to all-conference teams, and six landed spots on all-region squads.

Football The football team ended

the 2009 season with four consecutive victories, finishing 6-5 after knocking off 19th-ranked Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 10-7 in overtime during the season finale. It was the program’s first-ever victory against a nationally ranked team and propelled the Golden Knights to their first winning season since 2003.

Jon Richardson Four football players were named to the 2009 All-PSAC Western Division teams, including senior Jon Richardson, who earned all-conference honors for the third consecutive season and landed on the first team for the first time. The Warren, Ohio, native ranked second among PSAC players in points per game (8.7) and third in rushing yards per game (85.7).

Richardson concluded an unbelievable collegiate career as Gannon’s all time leader in all-purpose yards (3,891) and points (222). He ranks third all time at Gannon in rushing yards (2,790) and third in 100yard rushing games (12).

Volleyball The Gannon

volleyball team finished 2210 and was selected to play in its first NCAA Division II Tournament since 1995. The 22 18

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wins marked the program’s highest victory total since the 1995 squad went 25-7. In addition, the Lady Knights qualified for the conference tournament for the first time since 2003.

Morgan Reineke and Kara Cullen were named to the 2009 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region teams. Reineke was named to the first team while Cullen earned honorable mention accolades.

Reineke was previously named PSAC Western Division Freshman of the Year.

The true freshman ranked second among PSAC players in kills per game and was Gannon’s leader in kills (386), reaching double digits in kills 23 times.

Four Lady Knights were named to the All-PSAC Western Division team, while head coach Matt Darling was named PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year.

Darling received the league’s top coaching honor after turning the Gannon volleyball program from a six-win team three years ago to an NCAA Division II Tournament participant this season.

Women’s Soccer

The women’s soccer program produced one of the best seasons in school history, advancing to the

2009-10 Volleyball Team

NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time. The Lady Knights finished 10-81 overall after tying Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the first round of the national tournament.

Laura Piazza and Amanda Sharbaugh were named to the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Women’s Soccer All-Atlantic Region teams.

Piazza was named to the first team for the second consecutive season and earned all-region accolades for the fourth time in her career. Sharbaugh received all-region honorable-mention accolades as a true freshman in 2008 before being named to the second team this season.

Sharbaugh, a sophomore midfielder, posted the third-highest single-season total of all time at Gannon in assists, fourth in points and fifth in goals. The Sarver, Pa., native is second all time at Gannon in goals (25) and points (62) despite playing only 38 career matches. She ranks fifth in school history with 12 career assists.

Tenyka Francique Piazza, Sharbaugh and Tenyka Francique were named to the 2009 All-PSAC Western Division teams. In addition, Francique was named PSAC Western Division Freshman of the Year. Francique’s 12 goals and 28 points this year equal the third-highest single-season total all time at Gannon in both categories.

Men’s Soccer The men’s soccer team

posted a 6-10-2 overall record and 3-5 PSAC mark during its second season in the conference. Dan Howell and Jonathan Garrick-Whiley were named to the 2009 NSCAA All-Atlantic Region third team.

Howell concluded an incredible collegiate career, finishing sixth all time at Gannon in assists (29), eighth in goals (37) and eighth in points (103). A 2009 All-PSAC selection, he ranked sixth among PSAC players in points per match (0.60) and goals per

match (1.47). The Erie native earned allconference and all-region accolades every season at Gannon.

Division II Eastern Championships and finished sixth at the CWPA Southern Division Championships.

Howell, Garrick-Whiley, Afrim Latifi and Sean Washek were named to the 2009 AllPSAC Western Division first team. Washek was also named PSAC Western Division Freshman of the Year. The true freshman played in every match, starting 17.

Greg Naranjo was named to the 2009 All-CWPA South Division second team.

He was one of seven players named to the second team and one of only two nonDivision I players named to either the first or second team. The junior produced the seventh-highest single-season assist total and 11th-highest single-season goal total in school history. He ranks seventh all time at Gannon in career goals (102), seventh in career assists (62) and 13th in career steals (68).

Men’s Water Polo The men’s

athletefocus

water polo team completed its season with a 13-12 record, marking the program’s third consecutive winning season and sixth straight season under head coach Don Sherman. The Golden Knights have recorded six winning seasons during their nineyear history. Gannon finished second in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern DivisionWestern Region with a 6-2 conference mark.

The Golden Knights Greg Naranjo placed second at the

Frank McGrath

Women’s & Men’s Golf The women’s golf team posted top-three finishes in all five events it played during the fall season. The Lady Knights won the seven-team Gannon Invitational at Lake Shore Country Club and placed second at the Mercyhurst Invitational. Sophomore Kelly Nickerson was

Gannon’s top female golfer, averaging 85.4 strokes in eight rounds.

The men’s golf team finished fourth at the Mercyhurst Invitational and third at the Gannon Invitational. Junior Drew Deimel was Gannon’s best male golfer, averaging 75 strokes in 10 rounds.

Women’s & Men’s Cross Country Both Gannon cross country

teams concluded their seasons with top-20 finishes at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional hosted by Mansfield University.

Rosie Cooper was Gannon’s top female runner, finishing 71st with a time of 25 minutes and 57 seconds. C.J. Kennett was Gannon’s top male runner, placing 79th with a time of 35 minutes and 2 seconds.

The women’s team opened the season with a third-place finish at the Westminster College Invitational and a fourth-place finish at the Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Invitational. The successful campaign also included a team championship at the “Race in the Park,” where Gannon defeated local rival Mercyhurst and three other teams.

By Landis E. Erwin

If the whole is truly the sum of its parts, then much of the credit for Gannon University’s status as a premier educational institution goes to hardworking students like Niall “Frank” McGrath.

With roles as a star heavyweight wrestler, a lauded member of the ROTC program and president of one of Gannon’s six social fraternities, the senior business management major from Hammonton, N.J., understands the value of solid teamwork.

“McGrath is dedicated to everything he does and sacrifices to make himself, his team and his fraternity better,” said Don Henry, director of the Carneval Athletic Pavilion and head wrestling coach. “He is a team leader. We can always count on him to come through with whatever we need.”

Off the mat, McGrath is a senior level U.S. Army cadet, ranked in the top 23 percent of the 2009 National

“My main focus is the training and preparation of younger members of ROTC for their duties in the U.S. Army. I enjoy the opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience through handson labs and exercises and help prepare the next generation of cadets,” he said.

McGrath’s penchant for leadership is evident in his favorite Gannon wrestling memory, when the success of an entire dual meet at Erie’s War on the Shore tournament came down to one of his matches. McGrath was tied 2-2 going into the third period when he flipped his opponent onto his back, pinned him and secured a win for the team.

“How will you ever know who you are if you never test your own limits? Life is too short to hold back, so live with no regrets,” he said.

Erwin is a sophomore journalism communications major and intern in the Communications office.

sportsscan

The business management major started the 2009-10 wrestling season as the number one option in the heavyweight class, entering the year ninth all time at Gannon with 21 career pins. A 2008 PSAC ScholarAthlete, McGrath recorded the second-most victories on the team and a team-high 14 pins. He garnered a secondplace finish in the NCAA Division II East Regional heavyweight finals and earned All-America honors at the NCAA Division II National Championships, finishing fifth in the heavyweight division.

Order of Merit List and in the top 8 percent in the Reserve Duty Order of Merit List. Following graduation, he plans to serve with the Pennsylvania National Guard.

19

Gannon University Alumni

alumnotes Alumnus Interviewed by NPR

’50s DANIEL H. BAKER ’56 has held 18 patents over the years, including ways for Popsicle makers to reduce scrap waste, how to power an 11,950 lb. wind turbine and methods of cooling the suits of spacewalking astronauts.

’60s JOSEPH E. REGNER JR. ’64 retired April 1, 2009 from the banking industry after 40 years and maintains a position on the advisory board of directors for Citizens Bank of Florida. He passed the state real estate exam in July and is a sales associate for C. Brenner Inc., a commercial real estate broker in Winter Park, Fla. DEACON RONALD F. FRONZAGLIA ’65, ’71M was appointed as deacon assistant at St. Francis Xavier Parish in McKean, Pa. SISTER MARY FRANCIS BECKER, S.S.J. ’66VMC SISTER COLETTE PALMER, S.S.J. ’66VMC SISTER MARTHA HOWICK, S.S.J. ’68VMC SISTER ANN MARIE JOINT, S.S.J. ’69VMC celebrated their Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years of religious service.

FRANCIS J. LUNGER ’68 joined the Chicagobased private equity firm, Linden LLC, as an operating partner. He most recently served as chief executive officer of Millipore Corp.

ROBERT D. BOORUM ’69, ’74M and his wife, Nancy, were honorees for the 24th Annual

Joe Luckey ’55 (right), a member of Gannon’s physical plant staff for more than 50 years, helped record the oral history of Erie and the University when he was interviewed for National Public Radio’s StoryCorps, a national initiative to document everyday history and the unique stories of Americans. Gannon provided free housing for the project’s three-person crew, which spent several days in Erie collecting stories from local residents.

Shillelagh Golf Tournament benefiting the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute.

2008. He is a senior business advisor at Buffalo State College Small Business Development Center.

JAMES E. CLAPPER ’69 was honored

by Westfield Insurance for his contributions to the community and his clients over the past 40 years.

Jim insures more than 500 farms and small businesses along the Interstate 79 corridor. He began his career as a claims adjuster for Travelers Insurance Co. in 1969, becoming an agent in 1979.

GREGORY F. PASHKE ’69 contributed a chapter on “Defining the Role of the Generalist” to T.A.S.K. (The Trusted Advisor’s Survival Kit), a Lexis-Nexis reference publication for the financial, business and media fields.

WILLIAM E. GRIESHOBER ’69 was selected as the 2009 New York State Star by the Association of Small Business Development Centers for outstanding performance throughout

GU Grad and Author Hosts Book Signing Alumnus Robert H. Phelps ’39 (left) returned to Erie in July for a special book signing event for his memoir, God and the Editor: My Search for Meaning at The New York Times. Phelps served as the Times’ Washington news editor from 1965-1974. An autographed volume is available in the University’s Nash Library. Jack H. Sims, vice president for University Advancement, also attended the event to present Phelps with a gift bag in honor of his 92nd birthday.

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’70s BARRY GROSSMAN ’70M was elected Erie County (Pa.) Executive.

GEORGE J. PALOTAS ’70 published a book, Days of Daisies and Barbed Wire: A Cancer Crusade.

DENNIS C. CUNEO, ESQ. ’71 is a senior advisor to Casesa Shapiro Group. He is an attorney with the Arent Fox LLC law firm in Washington, D.C., and leads his own consulting firm, DC Strategic Advisors LLC. JOHN M. HARVEY ’73 is mentioned in the book Greatest American College Athletes for the number of saves he made as the goalie for Gannon University’s first soccer team in 1968. He currently works for Equifax in Georgia.

ANNE (DEWEY) MCCALLION ’74 is chief financial officer of PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

LAUREN (CUMO) STEELE ’75VMC completed Layers of the English Language Advanced Training to be used in conjunction with Orton-Gillingham (O-G) Multisensory

Structured Language Instruction. She is a certified O-G instructor presently affiliated with the Valley of Erie, Scottish Rite Masonic Learning Center for Dyslexic Children.

DENNIS M. MCGEE ’76M is president and owner of Dennis M. McGee and Associates LLC in Lemoyne, Pa., a company specializing in Department of Transportation compliance, accident reconstruction and private investigation.

DAVID C. SLOMSKI ’76 was named Marquette Savings Bank’s vice president of business banking.

ANNIE LAURIE I. MEYERS ’77 was promoted to professor at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pa., where she teaches in the paralegal and business programs. Meyers is a past recipient of The Christiensen Excellence in Teaching Award.

MARY I. POWER MUSATTO ’77 JAMES A. STEBER ’77, ’87 were awarded a certificate by Leadership Erie for completing the 2007-09 Executive Skills Development Program.

MICHAEL D. ADAMS ’79 was awarded the 2009 Forest Stewardship Landowner of the Year award by the State of Florida’s Division of Forestry for his land management of the 94 acres he owns, the Saturiwa Conservation Area. He was also recognized by the St. Johns County Timber Growers’ Association as the 1995 Tree Farmer of the Year.

’80s WILLIAM G. JACKSON ’81, ’88M is president and chief professional officer of the United Way of Erie County (Pa.) after serving as interim president since Oct. 1, 2009. He has been with the United Way for 13 years.

CYNTHIA J. MARTIN ’82 is vice president of brand and program for Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways Inc. She has been involved professionally with Girl Scouting since 1985.

GLORIA (PITONYAK) FULGENZIO ’83 received the 2009 Creative Spark Award for media buying from the Advertising

JOHN A. MCKELLOP III ’83 was recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for his continued support and assistance to the organization’s law enforcement program. He is a wildlife conservation

officer with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

MARK S. THOMPSON ’83 is school board president for the Wicomico County Board of Education in Salisbury, Md., where he serves as director of the eastside Salvation Army.

National Alumni Association President, Dana Kennedy Fallon, Esq. ’91 In October, I once again found myself back on campus for Alumni Homecoming & Reunion Weekend. Students celebrated with the traditional parade and football game (for those of us of a certain age, it would have been the traditional soccer game), while alumni reunited with friends and rediscovered campus.

When I started at Gannon in 1986, there was no football team, let alone a stadium or a student recreation center. There was shopping—not studying—in the Carlisle Building (now the Palumbo Academic Center) and the Morosky Academic Center was just another downtown office building. Indeed, the University’s campus and academic programs have changed dramatically since I was a student, and Gannon is continuing to grow. But the future growth of Gannon is not wholly dependent on the number of buildings on campus; it grows in stature and reputation thanks to the successful graduates who call Gannon home.

As alumni, we should take a direct and active interest in today’s Gannon students who are continuing the University’s legacy of academic excellence in Catholic higher education. Your Alumni Association took up this very issue at the last meeting of the board of directors in October, and members in attendance unanimously agreed to enter into a formal agreement with the University to establish an endowed scholarship that will be awarded to the children of Gannon and Villa Maria College alumni. The Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship will continue the legacy of Gannon and will ensure the next generation of students receive the benefit of a Gannon education. This scholarship is a gift that we can pass on to our children and helps fellow alumni support their children’s dreams of obtaining a college degree.

When you are making your next contribution to Gannon, I urge you to consider designating that contribution for the Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship. Information about making your important contribution can be found online at www.gannonalumni.org.

Thank you in advance for so generously helping our next generation of Gannon students.

If you have questions about the Alumni Association or how to connect with fellow alumni or students, please contact me at dana.gannonu@gmail.com.

alumnotes

STANLEY S. WALKIEWICZ ’82, ’05M opened his own business, All That Glitters, in Erie. He previously spent 20 years in the criminal justice field.

Walkiewicz also teaches criminal justice courses at Gannon University and works as an independent landscaper.

Federation of NWPA. She is media director at Engel and O’Neill Advertising and Public Relations in Erie, Pa.

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CLIFFORD R. DAVIS JR. ’84 received his certification in long-term care designation.

He is a financial consultant with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in Watertown, N.Y., and holds chartered life underwriter and chartered financial consultant designations.

MICHAEL L. KOPAS ’84 was inducted into the Punxsutawney Sports Hall of Fame.

A 1979 graduate of Punxsutawney High School and basketball standout, he was the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,211 points and is currently second in the school’s single-season scoring record. Kopas is a 25-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police.

alumcal

TINA (CICCHETTI) DONIKOWSKI ’85 was promoted to vice president of propulsion systems and services at GE Transportation.

She is a graduate of GE’s Operations Management Leadership Program and has been with the company for 32 years.

Alumni Pregame Basketball Reception Feb. 24 @ 4:30 p.m.

Waldron Campus Center, Baldauf Lounge (1st Floor)

National Alumni Board Meeting March 13 @ 8:30 a.m.

Old Main Boardroom

Alex Clemente Fund for Performing and Related Arts presents “An American Scrapbook” March 19 @ 8 p.m.

Schuster Theatre

23rd Annual Erie Golf Outing May 27 @ 11 a.m.

Lake Shore Country Club

For more information or to register for any events, contact Tracy Stolz at stolz005@ gannon.edu or 1-877-GU-ALUMS (1-877482-5867), ext. 1. Visit the online alumni community at www.gannonalumni.org for additional updates.

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2010 Gannon University Alumni Directory Work is under way to compile the 2010 Gannon University Alumni Directory, and your help is needed! Harris Connect LLC, a trusted partner of Gannon University, will be contacting alumni to update the University’s records and produce a useful, valuable resource for all graduates.

The Office of Alumni Services sincerely appreciates your assistance!

STEPHEN L. MURRAY ’85 is current commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), a position he has held for 13 years. He started his career with PSAC in 1993 as the first fulltime sports information director.

HAROLD Q. “BUTCH” WARNER ’85 was named head coach of Atlantic Cape Community College’s men’s basketball team in Mays Landing, N.J. MICHAEL J. CAMPBELL ’86 was appointed president, chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors for SensorLogic in Addison, Texas.

MARCIA (KARPINSKI) RAUBENSTRAUCH ’86VMC was featured in an article in the Ridgway [Pa.] Record that summarized her career as a teacher, which has spanned 26 years. She is a fifth grade teacher at Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School.

JOSEPH E. SINNOTT ’88 was reelected to a second four-year term as mayor of the City of Erie (Pa.).

SHERRY J. WALLER ’88, ’03 was promoted to assistant vice president and credit analyst for Marquette Savings Bank.

’90s MARIE (POSWAY) HARRINGTON ’90 was named Erie (Pa.) postmaster. She has been with the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years, beginning as a mail processing clerk.

DEACON CHARLES E. ADAMCZYK ’91 LORIANNE FELTZ-UPPERMAN ’91 NINA (SCHANCK) FERRARO ’93, ’97M

STEPHANIE (BURKELL) FLANAGAN ’94 DAVID GONZALEZ ’94, ’97M were awarded certificates by Leadership Erie for completing the 2007-09 Executive Skills Development Program.

C. TODD GODLEWSKI ’93 was named coach of the Eastern Collegiate Baseball League’s Glenville (N.Y.) Pirates. He previously coached the Vermont P.N.A. Eagles.

ERIC G. LAPRICE, M.S. ’94, ’97C, ’99M was selected as the National Environmental Policy Act Planner for the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest in Sedona, Ariz. He also won Best of Show in photography at the 2009 Cortez Cultural Center’s Fall Art Show with the photograph, “La Plata Moonrise.”

GARRET A. TADDA ’94 is financial literacy and community outreach coordinator at Erie Federal Credit Union.

CHAD R. BRZEZINSKI, CPA ’95 was recognized by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants in its “40 Under 40: Members to Watch for 2009-10.” He is a senior accountant and supervisor at Black, Bashor & Porsch in Sharon, Pa., and is also the president-elect of the institute’s northwestern chapter.

ALLISON M. COUNASSE ’95 joined ArtsErie as a program associate for marketing.

ZANE E. BLOOM JR. ’96 is a regional sales manager in the Sharon, Pa., area with VWR Education, a science-supply company.

CHARLES E. ROHRBACH, D.O. ’96 received a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree

Football Alumni Reunite

from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is the 2009 recipient of the Millcreek Community Hospital Internal Medicine Award for dedication and commitment to osteopathic medical care in Erie, Pa. Rohrbach is an internal medicine resident at the hospital.

KEVIN CONBOY ’97 is an account executive with Roche Diagnostics in Canastota, N.Y. CHRISTY (SCHENK) KUNKLE ’97 is competing in her first Ironman competition in Cozumel, Mexico.

JUSTIN T. SHAFFER ’97 is a director with Quest Diagnostics in Sacramento, Calif., and is responsible for the west coast area.

SCOTT R. JABLONSKI, ESQ. ’99 is an attorney in the Miami Beach, Fla., area, specializing in international business. He is also a singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist and performed at The Brewerie at Union Station during a recent Erie, Pa., visit.

JON W. OHNEZEIT ’99 AARON PRISUTA ’99 began a joint business venture as owners/operators/ instructors at MuGoeh Martial Arts Center for the hearing impaired. Prisuta was also honored by Franklin Township, Pa., with a lifetime achievement award for service and commitment to the community.

BRYAN J. LEFAUVE ’00 was promoted to senior vice president of integrated marketing for SKM Group Inc., a marketing communications agency in the Buffalo, N.Y. area.

a son, Avery Matthew (born Sept. 26, 2009) to Kristen (Wright) Best, CPA ’98 and her husband, Matthew. a son, Daniel Charles (born Nov. 20, 2009) to David W. ’93 and Julia (Dembinski) Burton ’94. Daniel joins older brothers Casey (1) and Andrew (6). a daughter, Sarah Love (born Sept. 30, 2009) to Rev. Robert M. ’00 and Tina Joy (Hanks) Giannamore ’00. Sarah joins older sisters Faith, Isabelle, Grace and Adeline Joy. a son, Jacob Kristopher (born June 20, 2009) to Kristen (Wiant) Glass ’00 and her husband, Dan. Jacob joins older brother Jonah Daniel (2).

a daughter, Emma Rose (born Oct. 27, 2009) to Mark J. ’03M and Deanna (Leskovec) Macioce ’00, ’01M. Emma joins older brother Nathan Scott (1). a daughter, Kara Marie (born June 16, 2009) to Christopher J. Masson ’00 and his wife, Brandi. Kara joins older sister Kaitlynn Mackenzie (2). a daughter, Michaela Belle (born Jan. 6, 2009) to

Catherine (Engman) Oakley ’05M and her husband,

Gregory. a son, Quintin Scott (born Nov. 26, 2008) to Scott M. Tryon ’02 and Nicole M. Sarno-Tryon ’01.

a son, Aidan Alexander (born April 16, 2009) to Robert V., J.D. ’00 and Karolina (Medeksza) Glentzer, Pharm.D. ’00. Aidan joins older sister Alina (4). a son, Logan Patrick (born Nov. 29, 2009) to Jennifer Mailey Greevy ’95, ’05M and her husband, Fasy. a daughter, Lillian Catherine (born May 31, 2009) to Nicole (Kuss) Halladay ’02 and her husband, Jeffrey.

Morgan Allegra (born Aug. 28, 2009), daughter of Kristen (Ballant) Stimmell ’99, ’03M and her husband, Christopher. Morgan joins big sister Meredyth Rian (2).

alumnotes

’00s

births

Members of the 1949 and 1989 Gannon football teams, Golden Knight Athletics Boosters and football parents gathered on Sept. 12 for a Football Alumni Reunion and Tailgate prior to the day’s game versus Cheyney University (in which the Knights were victorious, winning 30-9). The two teams were recognized with a halftime ceremony in honor of their 60th and 20th anniversaries, respectively. Gannon’s football program began in 1949, continued for a second season and then, after an absence of 39 years, the Golden Knights took to the field once again in 1989.

23

ERIK G. KINCADE ’01 began a five-year term as superintendent of the Fairview (Pa.) School District in September 2009.

He served as the district’s director of curriculum development, instruction and assessment for three years prior to this appointment.

Amber D. Ashley ’01 married Michael Hornburg on Sept. 19, 2009.

marriages

Krystin K. Benkowski ’08 married Alan Smaka on Sept. 26, 2009.

Edwin R. Bindseil ’50 and his wife, Dolores, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 29, 2009.

TODD J. PROPER ’01, ’06M is a program manager for Community Resources for Independence in Erie, Pa.

Michael R. Brown ’00, ’03M married Michalee Anne Polito on Nov. 22, 2008.

Mary Ann DiCiero ’03 married Shawn Winters on Dec. 27, 2008.

Erin M. Duddleston ’02, ’03M married Gerald Lawrence on June 13, 2009.

Dana M. Fink ’07 married Michael N. Hepler on June 20, 2009.

Robert P. Guelcher ’57 and his wife, Grace, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 27, 2009.

Shauna L. Heinsler ’02 married Charles D. Jackson ’09 on Aug. 22, 2009.

Lisa Marie Herrmann ’09M married Ryan Kristopher Bradley on Aug. 2, 2008.

Jayme L. Jones ’05 married Keith Nies on Aug. 1, 2009.

Frank V. Kneidinger ’60 and his wife, Charlotte, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Jan. 24, 2009.

Korina Rose Koehler ’95 married Sean Patrick Haley on Dec. 13, 2008.

Jamie Rose Laird ’03, ’04M married Robert J. Borsa on June 28, 2008.

Heather C. Loomis ’03 married Phillip S. Gnacinski ’03, ’07M on July 10, 2009.

Keary K. Wagle ’07 married Luke Pieczynski on Aug. 8, 2009.

Sarah M. Merring ’08M married Nick Kral on July 11, 2009.

Vincent B. Proy, M.D. ’03 married Gina Marie Testa on June 2, 2007.

William J. Quirk ’59 and his wife, Patricia, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 20, 2009.

Bridget M. Rager ’02 married Brian Philip on July 25, 2009.

winter 2010

DAVID W. FOLEY ’02M was named assistant superintendent for PineRichland School District in Gibsonia, Pa. He had served as principal of Hillview Intermediate Center in the Grove City School District since 2003.

Shauna HEINSLER ’02M is currently employed with Cleveland Plant and Flower Co.

Kimberly Renee Varela ’08 married William Thomas Ward ’07 on May 16, 2009.

Alicia Jean Viglione ’06 married Mark Eugene Peterson ’06 on July 18, 2009.

SARAH M. KLINGE ’03 is a resident physician training in emergency medicine and family practice in Philadelphia.

Jennifer L. Wilhelm ’99 married Drew Mutschler on Aug. 7, 2009.

Are both you and your spouse Gannon/Villa Maria graduates? Were you married in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel?

Did you meet at a Gannon mixer? Gannon Magazine wants to hear your story and see your pictures!

Send them to starr007@ gannon.edu and they may be published in a future issue.

gannon magazine

TANIA BOGATOVA, MBA ’02M is an associate researcher with KeyStone Research Corp. in Erie, Pa.

BRIAN K. YORKGITIS, D.O. ’02 earned a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in May. He is continuing his medical training at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Darin M. Sutton ’88 married Christine Bond on Aug. 22, 2009.

Calling All Couples!

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MICHAEL A. VALENTE, D.O. ’01 is a chief resident in surgery at Summa Health System, Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio. He has also been awarded a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Grant Medical Center/Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio for 2010-11.

Caroline (Rutkowski) ’86 and David DiPlacido ’84

DANA M. MUHAR ’03, ’04M is an occupational therapist at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh.

MICHAEL J. RACZKOWSKI, D.C. ’03 is among a select group of doctors chosen to work with the U.S. freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling teams, providing chiropractic, nutrition and wellness programs to prepare them for national and international events. He is the owner of Steel City Family Chiropractic and works with Maximized Living Doctors, the designated chiropractic team for the Olympic governing body for the U.S. wrestling teams.

AUDREY A. COLETTA ’04C joined Wattsburg Area Elementary Center as elementary principal.

Alumni and Friends Return to Campus More than 500 alumni returned to campus in October to celebrate Alumni Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, the largest turnout for the event to date. In addition to reunion activities, six individuals were honored as Distinguished Alumni for their professional accomplishments, support of Gannon University and for being excellent role models for current students.

College of Engineering and Business Dante C. Parrini ’86 (York, Pa.) is executive vice president and chief operating officer of Glatfelter, a $1.3 billion NYSE-listed global producer of specialty papers and engineered products.

Born and raised in Erie, Parrini attended Cathedral Prep before obtaining a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 1986 from Gannon.

He also holds an executive Master of Business Administration degree from the University of New Hampshire and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences Robert W. McGee, Ph.D., Esq. ’69 (Sunny Isles Beach, Fla.) graduated from Gannon with a degree in social sciences. In addition to his Gannon degree, McGee has 12 doctorates from various universities in the U.S. and western and eastern Europe in fields ranging from accounting to international trade. Currently, he is director of the Center for Accounting, Auditing and Tax Studies in the School of Accounting for Florida International University.

Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences Eric Klann, Ph.D. ’84 (New York City) e t Da e graduated cum laude from Gannon with a h t Save 24, 2010 bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Following 22graduation, he earned his Ph.D. in Oct. ni m biochemistry from the Medical College u l A ming of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth o c e Hom eunion University in 1989. He is currently a & R kend full professor at New York University

Wee

in the Center for Neural Science, with a joint appointment in the Department of Biology.

Thomas E. Dever, Ph.D. Distinguish ed Alumni 2 ’84 (Bethesda, 009 Md.) graduated summa cum laude from Gannon with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He then earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dever is currently a senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health and is the head of the section on protein biosynthesis in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Young Alumni Award Kary J. Schroyer, D.O. ’93 (Hermitage, Pa.) received a chemistry degree from Gannon before graduating from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1997.

Schroyer currently serves as the chief of staff at UPMC Horizon Hospital in Farrell, Pa. He is also a partner in New Wilmington Family Medicine and serves as director of the Family Medicine Residency Program. Schroyer is an active member of the U.S. Army Reserve, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel and drilling with the 309th Medical Unit in Erie.

Msgr. Wilfrid J. Nash Principles of Christian Conduct Award Evelyn (Prenatt) Madonia ’59VMC (Mulberry, Fla.) graduated from Villa Maria College with a bachelor’s degree in English. In 1958, Evelyn and her husband, Batista Madonia Sr., founded Madonia Produce Exchange in Erie, packing and shipping locally grown tomatoes. The company incorporated in 1985 as East Coast Growers and Packers and now operates with several hundred employees at multiple locations. Madonia currently serves as executive vice president of the company.

African-American Alumni Reception

Heritage Society Luncheon All-Alumni Dinner

alumnotes

Class of 1959 50th Reunion

Homecoming Parade

Young Alumni Bar Crawl

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ANGELA L. LEASURE ’04M is an advertising manager with Rent-A-Center, Inc. in Plano, Texas.

SEAN R. MENZ ’04 works as a mechanical engineer at Lockheed Martin in Philadelphia.

ANGELA M. PENQUITE ’04 received a Career Professional Teacher Certificate from the State of Missouri in May 2009. She teaches kindergarten at Saint Pius X. SANDRA A. RANCK ’04M was elected as second vice president for the Ohio Nurses Association for the next two years. She has served on the state bylaws committee for four years and on the local level as district president for 12 years. Ranck is a nursing faculty member at ATS Institute of Technology in Highland Heights, Ohio.

ERIN Q. SEKERAK ’04 was named interim assistant director of campus life at Clarion (Pa.) University and is in charge of the University Activities Board.

CAYLA P. VEACH ’04 was named assistant coach of women’s lacrosse at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, N.C. NICOLE M. CARROLL, D.O. ’05 graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in May. She is completing a family practice residency at Clarion (Pa.) Hospital.

ASHLEY L. EMMERT ’05, ’06M is an emergency medicine physician assistant at DuBois (Pa.) Regional Medical Center. jayme Jones ’05 is a teacher at Fort LeBoeuf Middle School in Waterford, Pa.

Lunchtime Lecture Series Brings Speakers to Campus The Alumni Lunchtime Lecture Series returned for the fall semester with three speakers who engaged and excited a combined audience of nearly 75 alumni and friends. The popular series is in its fourth year.

David B. Barker, Ph.D., director of the sociology and organizational learning and leadership development programs, presented a lecture on stress and coping on Sept. 17, 2009. His presentation helped attendees recognize stressors in their lives and determine which of five coping strategies would best help them deal with stress in a positive manner.

“Vacation with a Vision: Gannon’s Service Trip Program,” a talk given by Arlene F. Montevecchio, MTS, director of the Center for Social Concerns, was the October lecture. Montevecchio explained how the University’s service trips reflect Gannon’s mission and offer students and others an opportunity to give back.

John D. Mangus ’56 presented the final lunchtime lecture on Nov. 19. He serves on the Independent Committee for the James Webb Space Telescope Standing Review Board and spoke on the topic, “The Impact of Optics on the New Cosmology and Religion.” Mangus worked for 32 years in space flight optical systems engineering at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The Alumni Lunchtime Lecture Series will continue in Fall 2010 with three lecture presentations. Have a suggestion for a future speaker or topic? Contact the Office of Alumni Services at 1-877-GU-ALUMS (1-877482-5867) or gannonalumni@gannon. edu. All lectures can also be viewed on Gannon’s YouTube page (www. gannon.edu/youtube).

Arlene F. Montevecchio, MTS

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TODD R. LAPE ’05C is principal of the Mars Area (Pa.) Centennial School. Previously, Todd was principal of Hasson Heights Elementary School in Oil City, Pa., for three years and taught fifth grade there for 10 years prior to that.

LINDA (MIENTKIEWICZ) LOREI ’05M, ’07C joined Wattsburg Area Middle School as principal.

CHRISTOPHER L. MOORE, D.O. ’05 received a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in May. He will be completing a family medicine residency at Clarion (Pa.) Hospital.

DAVID M. SPINELLI JR. ’05 participated in Erie, Pa.’s first Mixed Martial Arts event in July 2009. He earned a unanimous decision win over his opponent.

1st LT. CARMEN R. TOSCANO ’05 returned from an overseas deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is an infantry officer with the 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

AMY E. ANTCZAK ’06, ’07M completed the Duke University Physician Assistant Surgical Residency Program in 2008.

HOLLIE K. DEAN ’06 received a master’s degree in community counseling from Edinboro University in 2008. She teaches undergraduate courses in the counseling department of Carlow University in Pittsburgh.

JENNIFER L. KEIL ’06 is a registered nurse at Saint Vincent Health Center in Erie, Pa. JANEEN M. PERETIN ’06M was appointed vice principal at Baldwin High School in Pittsburgh. She has been a math teacher at the school for six years.

ELLIOT S. SPAEDER ’06 was appointed manager of the fire protection division of William T. Spaeder Co. in Erie, Pa. JODIE L. STYERS ’06 received a master’s degree in pure mathematics from West Virginia University in 2008. She teaches undergraduate mathematics at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.

TRISH N. WADDELL ’06, ’07M is a physician assistant in the emergency department at Butler (Pa.) Memorial Hospital.

JOHN W. EVANKOVICH III ’07 received a medical student research fellowship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to pursue research between his second and third years of medical school at the University of Pittsburgh. He works in the surgery and transplantation departments.

Alumni Join Board of Trustees Gannon University’s Board of Trustees recently approved four new members. Approved for three-year terms were: • Dana Kennedy Fallon, Esq. ’91 of Arlington, Va., graduated from Gannon with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and in 1993 earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from Kent State University. In 1999, she earned a juris doctor degree from George Mason University. She is the assistant director of alumni services at George Mason University School of Law and also serves as president of Gannon University’s National Alumni Association.

• James A. Scozzie, Ph.D. ’65 of Painesville, Ohio, graduated from Gannon with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and earned a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1968, followed by a doctoral degree in 1970. He recently retired after serving as senior vice president of BioEnterprise Corp. in Cleveland. He is a past president of Gannon University’s National Alumni Association.

• Susan M. Nedza, M.D. ’80 of Hinsdale, Ill., graduated from Gannon with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She earned a doctor of medicine degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in 1984 and a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University in 2000. She is vice president of clinical quality and patient safety at the American Medical Association and is an adjunct associate professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.

• Christopher B. Snyder ’81 of Erie, Pa., graduated from Gannon with a bachelor’s degree in communication arts and earned a master’s degree from the University of Santa Monica. He is cofounder and chief executive officer of Spectrum Direct.

Dana Kennedy Fallon

James A. Scozzie

CARRIE M. MCKELVEY ’07 is an X-ray technologist at Meadville (Pa.) Medical Center.

JODIE E. PERRY ’07M is an assistant principal at Seneca Valley Senior High School in Harmony, Pa. MARK T. UPTON ’07 received the College of Medicine Academic Excellence Scholarship for his academic performance after his second year of medical school at the University of Toledo College of Medicine in Ohio.

JOSEPH A. BRADLEY ’08C was named director of special education for Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School.

BENJAMIN I. KIGHTLINGER ’08 received both the McGraw-Hill/Lange Achievement Award for being one of the top two students completing the first year of medical school curriculum and the College of Medicine Academic Excellence

Susan M. Nedza

Scholarship for demonstrating superior academic excellence in medical school at the University of Toledo College of Medicine in Ohio.

Sarah Merring ’08 is a teacher at Elizabeth (Pa.) Forward Middle School.

JOHN D. PICHETTE ’08 was selected for the General Electric Work Study Program.

DR. JEREMIAH S. ROSENKRANS ’08DPT joined Integrated Healthcare Associates as head of its physical therapy department.

JESSICA L. STOVER ’08M is a first grade teacher at Main Street Elementary School in Titusville, Pa. AIRMAN 1ST CLASS NATESHA L. CHAMPION ’09 completed basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

KYLE J. GOLDCAMP ’09 is a forward for the Erie BayHawks, an NBA D-league team.

Christopher B. Snyder

ZACHARY J. HAIGIS ’09 was elected as a commissioner for North Huntington, Pa. He serves on the township’s Republican committee and as a Circleville volunteer firefighter.

KIRSTEN L. HOGG ’09DPT is employed by Centers for Rehab Services in Pittsburgh.

BRENDAN C. SMITH ’09C is assistant principal at Slippery Rock (Pa.) High School. He has taught in the school district for 14 years, 13 teaching seventh grade social studies.

MICHELLE D. WILLIAMS ’09M is a faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh and is a physician assistant at the Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center in Sewickley, Pa. 2nd LT. BRIAN A. YODER JR. ’09 is on his first assignment at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, which will be followed by service in military intelligence at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

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in memoriam

Alumni Gregory L. Abbey ’76 Constance P. Anderson ’67M Steven R. Arblaster II ’05M Theodore H. Bachmaier ’50 Robert H. Bierasinski ’90 Sister Kathleen Blair, S.S.J. ’65VMC Donald J. Boetger ’57 Paul G. Burke ’59 Tracy (Loper) Calabrese ’85 Louis P. Cassano ’66 Joseph M. Cirino ’73 Gene Clemente ’59, ’77M John L. Conlon Jr. ’50 Marjorie E. Conroe ’40VMC Howard J. Corbin ’62 Gleb Demjanenko ’56 Theodore A. DiSantis, D.D.S. ’58 Deacon Dalhart T. Dobbs, Ed.D. ’71M Wilma J. Duck ’71 Richard H. Dunn ’58 Paul J. Dylewski Sr. ’58 Gary R. Ebner ’81 Leora J. (Fry) Ennis ’81VMC Stephen G. Fensel ’74 Ruth A. Fisher ’66VMC Timothy J. Forquer ’64 James M. Garrigan, CPA ’76M Robert F. Garvey ’53 Linda L. Gilson ’85 Hubert J. Golden ’58 Mary Ann Haile ’66VMC Vern W. Hemme ’51 William H. Hervey ’50 Grace (Cardot) Seyboldt Heyl ’59VMC Richard D. Higham ’63 Robert Joseph Hill ’86 Sister Maureen Huet ’57 Kenneth J. Johnson ’48 Alexander J. Kalicki ’64

Deborah A. Stull Kaminski ’83 Joseph J. Kapsar Jr. ’72 Fathy A. Kashmiry ’58 Laura M. (Dibble) LeSuer ’93 Lt. Col. Shelley Bliss Mayer ’70 Richard J. McGlinchey ’72 William A. McGraw ’48 Alexander Miczo, Ph.D. ’66 James Edward Moffatt ’60 Clayton D. Moore ’49 Peter E. O’Neill Jr. ’62 Rev. Noah J. Oxley Jr. ’75 Ruth Pascarella ’74 Bonnie A. Przychodzien ’83 Bernard “Bernie” J. Repasky ’75 William E. Reuscher ’54 John C. Rimp ’57 James J. Sartini, Esq. ’88 Mark S. Schwab, CPA ’77 Josephine C. Sharkins ’83M Charles Albert Sheets Jr. ’76 Paul E. Snyder ’53 Mary Ann (Flanagan) Specter ’48VMC George E. Steins ’59 Andrew “Andy” J. Stelmack Jr. ’80 Georgeanna Sweet ’50VMC Bernard P. Szumigala, Jr. ’73 Genevieve T. Taccone ’56VMC Sister Mary Theno, S.S.J. ’55VMC Matilda A. Torok ’44VMC John R. Trocki ’00 Anthony R. Uonelli, D.O. ’57 Frank Carl Urraro ’54 James D. Vincent ’70 Lucille C. Warus ’67VMC Robert E. White ’52 John Roger Williams ’67

William Anthony Rowane, D.O. ’48, of Erie, Pa., passed away July 21, 2009 at the age of 86.

He attended St. Patrick Grade School, Cathedral Prep, Gannon College and Kansas City College of Medicine and Bioscience. A 1985 Distinguished Alumnus of Gannon University, Rowane developed the first intensive care unit and cardiac rehabilitation center in the osteopathic profession at Erie’s Metro Health Center and at one time was the only certified osteopathic internal medicine specialist in the city. He was preceded in death by a son, Shawn T. Rowane. Survivors include his wife, Joyce Elise (Herbstritt) Rowane, children Annalise Rowane ’93, Christopher M. Rowane ’83, ’88M, Dr. Joseph E. Rowane ’86, Dr. Michael P. Rowane ’83, Paul F. Rowane and Dr. William A. Rowane II ’83 and 17 grandchildren.

Parents & Friends James R. Adamus Truman O. Andrews II Irene Bachmaier Tina Marie Basile Christine “Tina” F. Braden Charles J. Braeger Patricia Bujalski Betty L. Burger Lee D. Carr Arthur H. Cook Dorothy H. DeMarco Mary Lou Denny Margaret D. Dever Christopher “C.J.” T. DiLoreto Brandi L. Estelow Deborah Finegan Bradley H. Foulk, Esq. Carl F. Geigle, M.D. Theresa Golden Deborah A. Grise Sarah E. Holwager

Kenneth W. Honard Warren H. Jones Fred R. Kienast Jr. Diane K. Kloecker Edward P. Mascharka Raymond “Ray” L. McGarvey, Ph.D. Mary Messina Michael R. Mikolajczak Elizabeth F. Parmenter Joseph T. Pochatko Most Rev. Louis Puscas Viola F. Rutkowski Estelle Rose Sauk Anne M. Spath Philip J. Stahon Janet R. Steinmetz Stephens Kimberly A. Stubna Kyle W. Stunkard Sidney Titus Kathy K. Zellefrow Jane L. Zimmerman Palmer E. Ziroli

Alumna Returns as Executive on Campus Anne (Weiser) Cooney ’91 spoke to faculty, staff, students and friends during a day-long visit in November as the latest Executive on Campus speaker. The program brings high-level executives to campus as guest lecturers and positive role models.

Cooney worked full-time as a machinist apprentice at GE Transportation and raised her three children while attending Gannon University part-time in the evenings, ultimately earning a bachelor’s degree in industrial management. In 2005, she received a master of business administration degree from Emory University, graduating with honors. Cooney worked for GE at many of its locations across the U.S. for a total of 21 years and is currently president of the drive technologies division for Siemens Industry Inc. “I have always enjoyed studying math and science, and my chosen career path has allowed me to apply those skills on a daily basis. While my Gannon professors taught me a lot about engineering and business, they also prepared me to excel professionally and personally in my graduate work and in executive management,” said Cooney, who spoke to electrical and mechanical engineering students during her visit.

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gannon magazine

winter 2010

A Word from the President

endnotes

Believe in the possibilities

is more than a motto; it is Gannon’s inspiration and guide. of the United States (p. 4). And, for the first time, Gannon was also ranked as a Top Up-and-Coming School. Only nine institutions in the northern region were selected for this category.

Gannon also received national honors again in the fall. U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” ranked Gannon for the sixth consecutive year as a Top Tier Master’s University in the northern section

Enriching the lives of others through service remains a priority on campus.

During the 2008-09 Academic Year, Gannon students, faculty and staff volunteered 77,487 hours of service, a 6.8 percent increase from the previous year, to the local, national and global community at 309 sites. Nearly 1,000 students participated in GIVE (Gannon’s Invitation to Volunteer Everywhere) Day by volunteering their time at more than 40 sites throughout the community. And, for the first time, Gannon University alumni participated in GIVE Day and worked alongside students, faculty and staff in Erie and a number of other cities across the country, including Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Chicago. You can see pictures from that nationwide event on the back cover of this magazine. Additionally,

In addition to the meaningful contributions of students, faculty and staff, many Gannon and Villa alumni have also assisted the University and the community over the last year. For example, some 2,887 alumni made an average gift of $64 to the Annual Fund for Academic Excellence to support student scholarships, undergraduate and graduate research, classroom technology, faculty recruitment and retention and library resources. Those funds are a critical component of each year’s budget and they supplement the federal, state and University scholarships and grants awarded to students each year. Some of the funds from last year’s successful Gannon Stimulus Initiative came from Annual Fund gifts, and many students were able to return to Gannon because of that generosity. So please join these alumni and make a gift to the 2009-10 Annual Fund today. More than 90 percent of Gannon students rely on some type of financial aid, and your gift to the Annual Fund will help make the dream of a Gannon education possible for many deserving students. No gift is too small or too large.

As we begin this new decade, let us reinforce the importance of “Believing in the possibilities” of a Gannon education so that many future alumni will lead just as you have. Thank you for your loyal support of Gannon.

endnotes

At the January Faculty and Staff Community Meeting, I told our colleagues that “Believe in the possibilities” is more than a motto; it is Gannon’s inspiration and guide. Over the last year and a half, that optimistic message has been the impetus to our attainment of many goals despite a global recession, intense competition for students and difficult economic challenges for our students and their families. For example, through focused and collaborative efforts, Gannon’s enrollment for Fall 2009 was 4,238 students, which was the University’s highest total enrollment since 1992 and included the largest freshman class since 1993 (p. 4). The first-year class was also academically strong, with an average high school grade point average of 3.40; 26 valedictorians and 11 salutatorians; an average SAT score of 1024; and more than 24 percent were National Honor Society members.

Additionally, 52 freshmen, with an average SAT of 1210, were selected to enroll in Gannon’s challenging Honors Program. The diversity of the 649 first-year students was demonstrated both by where the students came from – 18 states, the Virgin Islands and nine countries – as well as by the largest number (87) of students of color in several years.

During this school year, renovations of facilities identified in the Gannon University Master Plan have either been completed or are continuing. As an example, the $18.5 million renovation of the Zurn Science Center, the largest campus renovation in Gannon’s history, was finished in the fall (p. 3). The Zurn Science Center is now a state-of-the-art facility that will prepare current and future Gannon students for high-tech careers and graduate school. Other facilities projects underway include several changes to the Palumbo Academic Center (p. 3), where a new Student Success Center will be completed on the first floor this spring. We will tell you more about this dynamic Student Success Center in an upcoming issue of Gannon Magazine.

this was the first year Gannon hosted the Sisters of Saint Joseph’s 21st Annual Thanksgiving Dinner (p. 9). Nearly 750 people were able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal because of the generosity of the Sisters and their volunteers, who included Gannon students, faculty and staff.

President, Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. 29

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Give Day2009

Alumni Join Students to Give Back Although the University’s GIVE (Gannon’s Invitation to Volunteer Everywhere) Day has drawn hundreds of volunteers over the years, alumni and friends joined the service event for the first time in 2009. Nearly 1,000 students, faculty and staff volunteered at more than 40 sites throughout the Erie community, while 70 Gannon alumni contributed an additional 250 hours of community service with efforts in Erie and eight other cities across the country. More than 50 different service projects were completed during the day, ranging from beach debris cleanup and food pantry distribution to landscaping and graffiti removal. Save the Date GIVE Day 2010 - Sept. 25