2010FAnewsletter

INSIDE THIS EDITION FALL 2010

FOR THE FUTURE 3 The Campaign: For the Future. Our students are your future.

6 Giving the World. Frank and Carin Batchelor love to travel, and they’ve found a way to share that love with Penn State Beaver students.

8 Team Effort. Many have given to make the campus’s new Wellness Center a reality, including alumnus Carl Bartuch.

9 Real Leadership. Campus faculty and staff endow a local scholarship.

10 What Goes Around. Patrick McGivern knows firsthand what a difference a Penn State Beaver scholarship can make in the life of a student. Now he’s helping the next generation of Beaver students.

FOR THE STUDENTS 4 Jasmine Green 5 Roger and Jody Garza 7 Justin Harmon

9 Pradeep Karunanidhi 10 Bryan Testa 11 Dana Sklack

2 1 David McGarry 14 Valerie Cycholl 19 Eaton Corporation PENN STATE BEAVER/CATHY BENSCOTER

ON CAMPUS 16 Continued growth. Campus enrollment is up 6 percent this fall, the fifth increase in as many years.

12 Sports news 13 Faculty, staff and campus news 20 Fall sports wrapup

ALUMNI NEWS

19 Alumni update

ON THE COVER FAX 724.773.3578

DESIGNER Cathy Benscoter

EMAIL amk6@psu.edu

PHONE 724.773.3816

AOL IM BrAdmissions

www.beaver.psu.edu

© 2010 Penn State Beaver

By Charlotte Latvala

Penn State Beaver alumni are a diverse group, nearly 10,000 strong. They come from every walk of life and are scattered throughout western Pennsylvania and across the globe.

They are engineers and teachers, business owners and journalists, IT experts and nurses.

But these professionals have one vital thing in common. “It’s the power of the Penn State degree,” Chancellor Gary B. Keefer said.

“We hear people say time and time again, ‘I wouldn’t be where I am today without Penn State Beaver.’ ” Currently, the campus has an enrollment of

about 900 undergraduates and offers six baccalaureate degree programs as well as the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors.

Beaver also offers a master’s of education in teaching and curriculum in conjunction with Penn State Harrisburg.

Keeping a Penn State education affordable for today’s college students has become a top priority for the school, Keefer said. In May 2010, Penn State Beaver hosted a kickoff event to launch the public phase of its $3 million fundraising campaign, part of Penn State University’s overall $2 billion “For the Future: The

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We want students to realize they can afford college without being burdened by excessive student loans. Paying back those loans can be a challenge for someone on a starting salary.

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FALL 2010

EDITOR Amy M. Krebs

CAMPUS GOAL: RAISE $3 MILLION TO HELP OUR STUDENTS

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No one is more important to us than our students. That’s why we’re working so hard to raise money for scholarships. Pictured are Seth Edwards, Natasha Terensky, Jasmine Green, Lucas Morack, Maria Shamsi, Matt Jones, Wendi Barnett, Pradeep Karunanidhi and Crystal Smith.

The Nittany News is a publication of the Penn State Beaver Office of Campus and Community Relations, 100 University Drive, Monaca, PA 15061.

Please direct all inquiries about this newsletter to 724.773.3816 or amk6@ psu.edu. This publication is available in alternative media upon request.

U.Ed. BR 10-16

FOR THE FUTURE “

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

18 G olf Outing Raises $22,500. Alumni and community members gathered for a day of golf to raise money for campus scholarships.

18 Alumni news

Jasmine Green talks with visitors at the kickoff event of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students at Penn State Beaver last May. Green is a senior business major and star player on the championship women’s basketball team. Read about her on PAGE 4.

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MEET OUR STUDENTS Penn State Beaver offers students a college experience with the comfort of a small campus. It also offers more than $272,000 in annual donor-generated and campus scholarship money to students, helping them make their Penn State dreams a reality.

On the next several pages, you’ll meet a sampling of our students who have benefitted from the generousity of others, and who appreciate the donors who made their Penn State experience possible.

By Abigail Pflugh

JASMINE GREEN

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Campaign for Penn State Students.” More than 70 people attended the event, which included speeches by Penn State Beaver alumni and students, as well as campus officials and the campaign chairmen.

The campaign, which will conclude in 2014, is first and foremost a way to support local students in need.

“We want them to realize they can afford college without being burdened by excessive student loans,” Keefer said.

“Paying back those loans can be a challenge for someone on a starting salary.”

With the recent economic downturn, he added, families are feeling extra financial stress when it comes to sending a child to college.

At the same time, a Penn State degree is becoming more and more valuable — and that’s not just hometown boasting.

In a recent Wall Street Journal survey of corporate recruiters who hired a total of 43,000 grads, Penn State was the top pick — in a field that included many other

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Campaign co-chairmen John Hertneky and John O’Leary attend the kickoff in May.

oger and Jody Garza do everything together.

They were in the Air Force together. They served in Korea together. Now they’re in college together.

“Penn State Beaver is close to home, and the name is recognized everywhere,” Jody said.

After being discharged from the military two years ago, Jody, a sophomore, and Roger, a junior, looked into college.

Beaver campus wasn’t the couple’s only choice, but clearly it was the right

PENN STATE BEAVER/AMANDA MOORE

choice, according to Rebecca Mulholland, Beaver’s adult and transfer admissions counselor.

Campaign CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 One reason a Penn State degree costs more these days is because of cutbacks in state funding, Patterson said. “Tuition and fundraising have to make up the difference as costs continue to rise.”

Although Penn State is an enormous institution, its resources aren’t endless.

“What many people don’t realize is that our campuses are self-sustaining; each budget is based on enrollment on a campus-by-campus basis.”

Every cent raised through the current capital campaign will stay at Beaver campus, and the majority of the funds will go toward scholarships.

The rest is earmarked for faculty support, study abroad opportunities for students, and physical improvements such as the new Wellness Center.

Raising funds at a school like Penn State Beaver presents special challenges.

The campus, which opened in 1965, is a youngster among colleges and universities.

“Our oldest alumni are just getting to the point where they can afford to give back

“I could just tell when I first met them. I knew they had something to bring to the campus,” Mulholland said.

to the school,” said Patterson. Many are contributing through the Trustee Matching Scholarship Program, a groundbreaking philanthropic model that offers alumni and friends the opportunity to become partners with Penn State, matching scholarship endowments with University funds.

Campaign co-chair and Beaver resident John O’Leary, retired senior vice president of SCA North America, encourages friends in the community to contribute to the fundraising drive. “I’m not a Penn State grad, but I realize what an asset the campus is to Beaver County,” he said. “From a community involvement standpoint, it makes sense to support the school. You can make a huge impact by giving money to a local university, and there is a great need for scholarships here.”

The education that students receive at Penn State Beaver is the equivalent of the experience at Penn State University Park — with a twist.

“There is absolutely no compromise in faculty and staff, plus you have some of the advantages of a smaller campus,” Hertneky said. “There are 25 to 30 kids in a class, as opposed to 350 to 400 at University Park.

It’s a quality Penn State education right

Jody, a recipient of the Dr. Donna J. Kuga Trustee Scholarship, is president of the Beaver campus Veteran’s Club, and Roger, a Richard and Margaret Shaw Trustee Scholarship recipient, is an active club member.

Family is everything to the Garzas, who were married in Korea and have a 3-year-old son, Ryan.

“We were all each other had throughout the Air Force,” Roger said. “We relied on each other for family and friendship.”

here in Beaver County.”

Because the faculty are held to the same rigorous standards of research and publishing as their counterparts at University Park, students are able to participate in hands-on studies they might not otherwise be exposed to.

Whether students spend two or four years at the campus, memories of Penn State Beaver remain with students forever, said Patterson.

“When I talk to alums, I ask about their experience at the Beaver campus and how well-prepared they were for University Park,” she said. “Inevitably, they start talking fondly about their experiences here.

The students form tight bonds early on, and most of them maintain those friendships from their freshman and sophomore years.”

With the success of the current capital campaign, Patterson hopes a new generation of Penn State Beaver students will one day be getting in touch and trading stories of their early college days. “Our mission is simple,” she said. “It’s this: to keep Penn State Beaver affordable to any Pennsylvania resident who wants to attend.”

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large universities and Ivy League colleges.

The high rank isn’t surprising, said Diana Patterson, director of development at Penn State Beaver.

“No matter where you go in the world, the Penn State name is recognized. … The degree is really worth something — and Penn State alumni absolutely love to employ Penn State grads.”

Campaign co-chair John Hertneky ’79 Eng, a chemical engineer who attended Penn State Beaver from 1975 to 1977, has seen the magic of the blue and white over and over in various cities where he’s lived and worked. “Penn State grads are fiercely loyal,” he said. “The alumni connection is a great networking tool, and that’s so important in developing a career.”

Hertneky, who lives in Hopewell Township, is focused on assisting local families who need help with tuition. “The cost was driven home to me when my daughter enrolled as a freshman here,” he said. “When I was a student 30 years ago, the bill was something like $450 per semester. Obviously, costs have risen dramatically since then.”

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Campaign

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ROGER AND JODY GARZA

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

S

enior Jasmine Green came from New Jersey to Penn State Beaver with a love of basketball and high hopes for the future.

When Green was trying to decide which college to attend after high school, she was approached

by Beaver women’s basketball team Coach Bert DeSalvo.

“He said, ‘I need a point guard,’ and I was there,” Green said.

Green, a recipient of the Margie Byrd Walker Student Enrichment Award, has seen success in the classroom as well as on the court, and she knows that managing her time — and her sleep schedule — is necessary to achieving her goals.

When she needs extra support, she has close friends and faculty to keep her going.

“Many professors inspire me, but I wouldn’t be anywhere without Karen Barr (senior instructor in business),” Green said. “She helps me through everything.”

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When I was a student 30 years ago, the bill was something like $450 per semester. Obviously, costs have risen dramatically since then.

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World

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STORY BY AMY M. KREBS

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volved with the campus since it opened in 1965, providing financial support for numerous campus projects. Along the way they have applauded the growth of new academic programs and various campus improvements and have been active in student recruitment and retention projects.

Mr. Bachelor was a founding member of the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board and, with the exception of just a few years, has been a board member ever since. In recognition of his service and dedication to the campus, he was

PHOTOS BY CATHY BENSCOTER

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LEFT: Carin and Frank Batchelor. BELOW: Seth Edwards and Dana Sklack talk with the Batchelors about foreign study trips they took recently. E­ dwards went to Turkey with Dr. Talha Harca last spring. Sklack studied abroad in L­ ondon in fall 2009.

FALL 2010

Now the longtime owners of Batchelor’s Furniture have found a way to share their love of travel with students at Penn State Beaver.

“Carin and I spoke with the (Penn State Beaver) administration about how we could help financially,” Mr. Batchelor said. “When Chancellor Gary Keefer and Diana Patterson, the director of development, told us there was a need to support students who want to study and travel abroad, we knew we could make a difference with our gift.”

Although neither of the Batchelors attended Penn State, they’ve been in-

Senior Justin Harmon is enjoying his time at Penn State University Park, but appreciates his Penn State Beaver roots.

“Attending Penn State Beaver made for a better experience. It gave me the opportunity to make friends before entering such a big school, which made for a much smoother transition,” Harmon said.

Harmon, a Bunton-Waller Scholarship recipient, is originally from Trenton, New Jersey. Going to Penn State was just something he knew he wanted to do, but starting at a big campus was overwhelming.

That’s why Harmon chose to begin his Penn State education at Beaver.

He knew he’d eventually have to transfer to University Park, but coming from a high school with 200 students, he wanted to avoid culture shock.

While at Penn State Beaver, Harmon played basketball on the PSUAC championship team. He’s now the manager of the University’s Big 10 team. “I’m picking up some good tips just by being at practice,” he said. “It’s really improving my game.”

Harmon said Beaver campus prepared him well and enabled him to meet his goal of being accepted as a finance major in Penn State’s prestigious Smeal College of Business.

“I would recommend starting off at Penn State Beaver to anyone,” Harmon said.

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rank and Carin Batchelor love to travel. France, the United Kingdom, Italy, India, South Africa, Australia, the Caribbean. It doesn’t really matter.

They love it all.

“Our lives have been so enhanced by our travels,” Mr. Batchelor said.

“In a sense, Carin and I are always students when we travel because there’s so much to learn in every city and country we visit.”

JUSTIN HARMON

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

GIVING THE WORLD

named an Advisory Board member emeritus by the board and Penn State President Graham Spanier.

The couple’s most recent gift provides financial support for students who want to travel abroad with faculty during spring break but are unable to pay for the trip, even with support from the campus.

“With our gift, we’re hoping to provide a door to the outside world for students who otherwise might not be able to experience it,” Mr. Batchelor said.

That goal is being met. Students and faculty have traveled to destinations as diverse as Barcelona, Spain; Istanbul, Turkey; Greece; Singapore; Rome; Germany; and Trinidad and Tobago.

“For me never being out of the country or flying, it was a really big learning experience,” said senior business major Seth Edwards. Edwards traveled with Dr. Talha Harcar, associate professor of business, to Turkey over spring break in 2010.

“If we didn’t get help (financially), I probably wouldn’t have gone,” he said.

Faculty members praise the benefits of such trips. “The richness and value of a study abroad experience for students is immeasurable,” said Dr. Kay Wijekumar,

associate professor of information sciences and technology (IST), who took three IST students to Spain in spring 2010.

“I know that students who have traveled on the IST programs come back with a whole different view of the world,” she said.

Hearing about those kinds of experiences makes the Batchelors happy to help.

“The campus offers a world-class University education to students as well as many opportunities for our community. It deserves our support,” Mr. Batchelor said.

Married for 63 years, the Batchelors recently retired from the furniture business and closed the store.

“My father, along with his two brothers, opened the store in 1896,” Mr. Batchelor said. “It was the oldest continuously operating furniture company in western Pennsylvania. We’re proud of the wonderful employees we had, and we enjoyed meeting so many fine people who came into the store.”

Although the store is closed, the Batchelors won’t be sitting still. They’re active in numerous civic and social service organizations and enjoy visiting with their sons, Frank (fondly known as Batch) and Stuart.

And as Mr. Batchelor will tell you with just a hint of a smile, “Now that we’re retired, we just might plan to do some traveling, too.”

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Faculty and staff fund scholarship

By Alex Vucelich

TEAM EFFORT

WELLNESS CENTER GETS HEALTHY DOSE OF FUNDING

| FALL 2010

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Artist’s renderings of the Wellness Center show the inside and outside of the new building. Construction should begin in Spring 2011.

It’s not only what you do in the classroom here that counts. We’re providing an overall learning environment, and students who stay in shape, both physically and mentally, tend to be better students.

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FALL 2010

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WTW ARCHITECTURE

When Pradeep Karunanidhi came to Penn State Beaver as a freshman, he never expected to be so actively involved in campus life. And he’s enjoying every minute of it.

He applied to many schools, but when he was offered the Chancellor’s Award as a freshman, he said that helped him choose Penn State Beaver.

As a business major and now president of the Student Government Association (SGA), Karunanidhi has many responsibilities, but his first priority is to do well in school.

According to Karunanidhi, who also received the John L. Walters Memorial Award, it takes a very responsible person to handle the role of SGA president. When he was first approached about the position, he admits he was hesitant.

“But being SGA president definitely supports my goal. I am required to maintain a good grade-point average,” Karunanidhi said.

As president, he is in charge of 27 SGA members who take on important roles around campus, such as starting new clubs, planning programming, improving on-campus recycling, and adding variety to the Brodhead Bistro menu.

“My goal as SGA president is to get students involved and keep students involved,” Karunanidhi said.

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There’s change on the horizon for Penn State Beaver’s gymnasium — about $2.2 million worth.

The University is adding 4,000 square feet of space to the gym to improve the facility and provide a stateof-the-art Wellness Center for campus students and Penn State alumni.

“Four years ago, Penn State President Graham Spanier identified the need for systemwide campus changes,” Penn State Beaver Chancellor Gary Keefer said. “The president noted that students come to Penn State for an outstanding education, but having facilities that help them maintain their physical health is also a key to maintaining academic excellence.”

The renovations, which include 2,600 square feet

PRADEEP KARUNANIDHI

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

By Alex Vucelich

Consider this scenario: A young woman from Beaver County can’t attend college, despite excellent grades and an outstanding reputation in her high school and community. Why? Because her parents, both of whom earn medium to low-range salaries, make too much money to allow her to qualify for government-funded financial aid.

It’s a growing trend, not only in Beaver County, but across the country.

Families earn too little to finance a college education but too much to qualify for assistance. This conundrum leads experts to predict that today’s young people will be the first American generation with a lower standard of living than their parents.

Many students who enter college are working multiple jobs while carrying a full course load, yet it’s estimated that these students will graduate with an average personal debt of more than $28,000. Although Penn State’s tuition is much lower than most private colleges and universities, the need for scholarships remains vital in order to lighten the financial load that many students and families are facing.

Two years ago, Penn State Beaver faculty and staff decided to help their students by establishing the Penn State Beaver Endowed Leadership Scholarship. Contributions are made by both full and part-time employees who are committed to investing in the lives of current and future Beaver campus students.

To date, faculty and staff have contributed almost $92,000 in cash and

pledges to the Leadership Scholarship.

“For me, it’s about putting my money where my mouth is,” said Dan Pinchot ’91 Com, ’04 M.Ed, director of enrollment at the campus. “I can’t speak about the need for scholarships without being willing to contribute personally to them.”

An initial principal of $50,000 is required to endow a scholarship at Penn State. Once that amount is met, the principal begins to generate interest, a portion of which turns into scholarships for students.

“The money is invested with all other endowments in the University,” said Diana Patterson, Beaver’s director of development. “The scholarship principal will continue to grow in perpetuity and will generate interest which, in turn, will result in increasingly larger scholarships for our students.”

“The Leadership Scholarship will be awarded to students who excel not only in the classroom but in leadership roles as well,” Pinchot said.

Patterson and Pinchot predict that the scholarship’s principal will be met within the next eighteen months, which will allow them to begin to award funds.

“Our campus Scholarship Committee spends a lot of time determining which scholarships should go to which students,” Pinchot said. “When it comes time to award the Leadership Scholarship, we’ll be able to award those funds knowing that the generosity of our campus employees helped to make the scholarship possible. It’s a win for everyone — students, families, faculty, and staff.”

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I hope my gift generates scholarships that will impact the recipients’ lives, and I hope that someday they’ll be able to give back to Penn State, too.

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IT’S BETTER TO GIVE

By Alex Vucelich

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trips. The area is very safe, and I never felt apprehensive about traveling during the day by myself.”

Sklack, who also serves as the managing editor of the Beaver campus student newspaper, The Roar, didn’t completely leave her journalism responsibilities behind.

She regularly wrote a blog about her adventures in London which appeared in The Roar and on Penn State Beaver’s website. “(Studying abroad) has made me a better person now. I learned a lot about myself, and it’s made me more confident and outgoing,” Sklack said.

“I’m so happy that I did it, and I’m proud that I was brave enough to go.”

Wellness

staff interact easily and often.

McGivern established the scholarship to give back to a place be believes gave him so much. The recipient of multiple college scholarships, McGivern knows how important the financial support is to students.

“I hope my gift generates scholarships that will impact the recipients’ lives,” he said, “and I hope that someday they’ll be able to give back to Penn State, too.”

Kristen Sutton, a Beaver campus freshman majoring in forensic science, is one of the recipients of the McGivern Scholarship.

“I appreciate what Mr. McGivern has done,” Sutton said. “It’s a very generous gift and especially helpful for someone in need.”

McGivern has made gifts to other Penn State units, too, including the Blue Band and the Penn State football program, one of his major passions in life. He hasn’t missed a home or away game since he graduated.

When the Nittany Lions play at Beaver Stadium, McGivern flies to Pittsburgh, picks up his father, and they drive to the game in Happy Valley.

McGivern’s advice to graduating college students?

“Whatever your passion is, don’t let anyone tell you not to follow it,” McGivern said. “Don’t worry about the money. If you’re determined enough, it will come.”

of space for weight lifting and cardio machines as well as a 500 square foot aerobics room, are scheduled to begin next spring with completion expected early in 2012. WTW Architecture, a Pittsburgh-based firm, designed the project.

“The campus led the way in project funding by providing more than $1 million,” said Luke Taiclet ’82 ’83 Lib, ’85 M.Ed, director of finance and business.

“Other funds came from a variety of sources, including $300,000 over three years from the Student Facility Fee.” The largest personal gift for the project came from Carl Bartuch ’75 Bus who contributed $100,000 to the project last fall.

Bartuch, who attended Beaver campus and graduated from Penn State University Park, owns High Tech Finishing, the world’s lead-

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY

Scholarship money helped Patrick McGivern pay for his Penn State education. Now the Beaver campus alumnus is helping today’s students the same way.

Because Beaver campus is close to home, he was able to commute his freshman year.

It didn’t take long for Testa to realize commuting wasn’t for him.

“I commuted my entire first year and really didn’t get involved in campus events or interaction with other students,” said

Testa, a two-year recipient of the Aliquippa Wolves Club Trustee Scholarship.

Now that he’s a resident, Testa said he feels more a part of the campus and recently participated in a flag football game on campus. “It’s definitely more fun living on campus,” Testa said. “You get the full college experience.”

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FALL 2010

McGivern

ing supplier of high quality metal plating finishes for high-end business and luxury aircraft interiors.

He also owns Kegg’s Candies, a Houston-based manufacturer of gourmet chocolates, and Bartuch Holdings, Ltd., an acquisition investment vehicle.

Although he now lives in Houston, Bartuch hasn’t forgotten about Beaver campus.

“After visiting the campus and talking with Dr. Keefer about student recruitment and retention, I realized that Beaver could stay competitive with a new Wellness Center,” he said. “It’s going to be beautiful, and I know it’s a project that will have a lasting, tangible result for the campus community.

“You go there (Penn State) when you’re young and still trying to figure out life, and when you leave you have memories and experiences that help guide you the rest of the way through your life,” Bartuch reflected. “I just wanted to give a little back because of all Beaver campus has given me.”

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nce a commuter student and now a resident, Bryan Testa feels that on-campus living offers a more exciting college experience.

After Testa graduated from Hopewell Area High School, he knew that Penn State Beaver was the best place for him to start his degree in secondary education.

enior Dana Sklack’s desire for knowledge took her halfway across the world.

Sklack, a communications major and threetime recipient of the Harvey R. Kelly Jr. and Dr. Emma S. Rocco Arts and Communications Scholarship, always had the dream of going to Europe.

“I’ve always had a desire to travel. I even had the idea of going to boarding school as a teenager in order to get to Europe,” Sklack said.

Boarding school didn’t happen, but Penn State’s Study Abroad program did. Sklack took classes at City University in London and spent her free time exploring England.

“I walked everywhere and explored everything,” Sklack said. “I took a lot of day

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BRYAN TESTA

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Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Patrick McGivern ’90 Eng, ’00 M.Eng is the perfect example of a dedicated Penn State alumnus.

With support from his employer, Lockheed Martin, McGivern has donated more than $250,000 to Penn State, including $100,000 to establish the Audrey J. McGivern Trustee Endowed Scholarship at Penn State Beaver to honor his mother. He’s also a member of Penn State’s prestigious Mount Nittany Society which is comprised of donors who have given $250,000 or more to the University.

Raised in Hopewell Township, McGivern watched his father, Brian, struggle in the troubled local steel industry.

Brian worked at the former J&L Steel Company, now LTV Steel.

“As I grew up, I saw the insecurity of the steel mills, and

I decided I wanted something different for my future,” McGivern said.

After graduating, McGivern moved to eastern Pennsylvania to work at GE Aerospace which became Lockheed Martin. Now living in King of Prussia, he’s an aerospace engineer at the company working on top-level government projects.

He credits his mother with his success. “She was an inspiration through all the personal sacrifices she made,” he said.

“She encouraged our education and always took us to the Aliquippa Library. A grade of A minus was never good enough for her.”

McGivern attended Beaver campus for two years and graduated from Penn State University Park. He’s emphatic about the benefits of Beaver’s small campus environment, where students, faculty, and

DANA SKLACK

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DAVID McGARRY

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riginally from Poland, Ohio, David McGarry moved to Las Vegas for a new experience.

Amidst the glitz and glamour, McGarry did every kind of construction work imaginable, including tiling the floors of casinos such as the Bellagio.

“The money was good in Vegas, but the work was hard. Manual labor is rough.You get really sick of it after awhile,” McGarry told The Roar last spring.

The lure of playing college basketball brought him back close to home and led him on his current track to finishing his college degree.

McGarry said he knew where to go to attain a highly recognized degree. “It’s the name, Penn State. When I go back west everyone will know that name and know I have a great degree.”

When he made the decision to get a

psychology degree, Penn State Beaver was the obvious choice, he said.

“My brother had a great experience at Penn State, and everyone in Vegas knows that name. I knew it would be the best college for me,” McGarry said.

Once McGarry, a two-year recipient of the Dr. Donna J. Kuga Trustee Scholarship, was accepted, he packed his bags and moved to Monaca.

As an adult student, McGarry has the distinction of being the oldest starting forward on the men’s basketball team, helping lead his team to back-to-back Penn State University Athletic Conference championships.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Las Vegas,” McGarry said. “I know the education I’m getting from Penn State Beaver is worth the wait.”

David McGarry, 33, takes a shot in the 2010 PSUAC Championship game against Penn College.

Beaver won the conference championship for the second year in a row.

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athletes from southwestern Pennsylvania.”

Beaver’s current varsity sports are men’s baseball, basketball, and soccer and women’s basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball.

COMMUNITY SERVICE The Penn State Beaver Lady Lions basketball team has been busy with community service this year.

In addition to several environmental efforts last spring, the team has concentrated on helping women in need.

In August, the women participated in the “Run for Life 5K” and raised $240 for the Women’s Center of Beaver County.

The Labor Day holiday didn’t deter the team as they continued outreach efforts by

volunteering at Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, a residential facility in Baden.

Girls Hope is a non-profit, nondenominational organization designed to help girls who are victims of neglect or poverty, yet capable of academic achievement.

The Lady Lions kept busy all day by sweeping, mopping, dusting, polishing, and scrubbing the facility.

“It’s important for our program to be involved with the community and give back,” said Head Coach Bert DeSalvo.

“Our student-athletes are fortunate to have the opportunity to earn a college degree, and they understand that not everyone has the advantages they have.

In addition, we hope to inspire others by showing we care about the community.”

Y F A C U LT T E U P DA

earth and mineral sciences, and Claudia Tanaskovic, instructor in chemistry.

The funds were used in conjunction with campus funds to purchase an infrared spectrophotometer for use in research and development as well as quality control applications in the pharmaceutical, food, chemical, environmental, and life science fields.

——— Dr. Kay Wijekumar, associate professor of information sciences and technology (IST), established a monthly luncheon series featuring campus IST alumni.

October’s presentation featured Amber McConahy ’09 IST who is currently enrolled in a master’s degree program at Carnegie Mellon University and working as an assistant for several professors. McConahy discussed the importance of programming skills and dedication to the field as well as the competitive nature of the information technology marketplace.

——— The 2010 Penn State Beaver Faculty Speaker Series continued in spring and fall semesters.

In March, Dr. Juliette Storr, assistant professor of communications, spoke on the topic of “Caribbean Journalism in the 21st Century: Globalization, Regional Integration, and National Identity.”

Dr. Cassandra Miller-Butterworth, assistant professor of biology, presented “Illuminating the Darkness: The Upside Down World of Bat Research” in April. Dr. Clare Conry-Murray, assistant professor of psychology, opened the fall semester Faculty Speakers Series in September with a presentation entitled “Boys Get the Apples, and Girls Get the Oranges: Children’s Judgments of Gender Equity.”

In October, Dr. Kay Wijekumar, associate professor of information sciences CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

FALL 2010

FALL 2010

S S P O RT NEWS

Dr. Kristen Olson, associate professor of English, presented a paper, “Mirroring in Measure for Measure,” at the Shakespeare Association of America’s annual convention in Chicago.

The conference is the largest annual international gathering of Shakespeare scholars. In addition, Olson was the dramaturg for the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s (PICT) spring production of Shakespeare’s “Othello” and participated in a PICT panel discussion on the topic, “Othello for a 21st Century Audience.”

——— Dr. Carol Schafer, associate professor of theatre, integrative arts, and women’s studies, implemented the production of Panorama, the campus’ new journal of the arts which features writing, poetry, and art contributed by students, faculty, and staff.

In addition, Schafer directed Penn State Beaver Theatre in two productions with students from her Theatre Production class. The spring production was “The Frog Prince,” which was attended by hundreds of pre-school, kindergarten, and elementary school students. The fall semester production was “Smooth-Talkers,” “Empathy,” and “Home Sweet Home,” three short plays written by campus students.

In June, President Graham Spanier and Vice Provost for Educational Equity W. Terrell Jones appointed Schafer to the Penn State Commission for Women, effective through June 2013.

——— Last spring, three Penn State Beaver faculty members received a $6,000 grant from the College Equipment Grants Program Committee of the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh (SSP). The grant was one of ten awarded by the SSP. Award recipients were Dr. Michael Hay, associate professor of chemistry; Dr. Matthew Grunstra, assistant professor of

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12

The athletics department will add wrestling as its eighth varsity sport next fall.

“This is another positive step as we move our athletic program forward,” Athletic Director Andy Kirschner ’08 M.Ed said. “In the past three years, we’ve experienced major growth in our varsity and intramural sports, and we’ve joined the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. We’re also looking forward to the new wellness facility on campus.”

“The addition of wrestling will provide more opportunities for student-athletes to continue their careers while attending Beaver campus,” Chancellor Gary B. Keefer said. “We believe men’s wrestling will generate significant interest among

Two articles by Dr. John Chapin, associate professor of communications, were accepted for publication.

“The role of medical myth in domestic violence screening: Third-person perception in the ED” will be published in the Emergency Medical Journal. He was co-author of the article, “Yes, we can! Improving medical screening for intimate partner violence through self-efficacy,” which will be published in the Journal of Injury and Violence Research.

Chapin completed a four-year term on Penn State’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity (CORED) and served on the Academic Issues Team which plans and hosts an annual workshop, “What’s Diversity Got to Do with It?,” for promotion and tenure.

In October, he was featured in a Penn State Live article entitled “Online posts fuel bullying, domestic violence, say Penn State experts.”

Chapin continues to promote violence prevention education and works frequently with Crisis Center North, a counseling and outreach center in Pittsburgh that provides free services for domestic abuse victims.

——— Dr. Zhongyuan Che, associate professor of mathematics, was co-author of “On k-pairable regular graphs,” an article published in the journal, Discrete Mathematics. The article was written in collaboration with Dr. Zhibo Chen, professor of mathematics, Penn State Greater Allegheny.

——— Dr. JoAnn Chirico, senior instructor in sociology, wrote an article, “Demystifying the Nation Globe Conundrum: A Preliminary Sketch” which appeared in the journal, Perspectives on Global Development and Technology.

———

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Wrestling will be eighth varsity sport

Faculty publish papers, receive honors

13

Faculty update CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

| FALL 2010

use it to learn something new,” she said.

When Cycholl arrived at freshman orientation at Beaver campus, she became apprehensive about IST because it’s a male-dominated major. But the late Dr. Pat Clemson, instructor in IST, encouraged her to stay in the major.

“Once Dr. Clemson encouraged me to do it, I never looked back. She was wonderful. I don’t know if I would have been an IST major without her,” she said.

Now, Cycholl credits her major as helping to open doors to other opportunities.

At the beginning of August, Dr. Kay

Wijekumar, associate professor of IST, offered Cycholl the chance to assist her with research on the Intelligent Tutor System. The computer-based program, which Wijekumar and her colleagues developed, is designed to improve reading comprehension in school-age children.

Cycholl recently assisted Wijekumar in administering pre-tests used to develop a baseline assessment of students.

The findings will help determine if the computerized tutoring system is working.

“So far the system has proven to be helpful,” Cycholl said. “This will really impact the younger generation.”

VALERIE CYCHOLL

W

hen junior Valerie Cycholl made the choice to attend Penn State Beaver, she didn’t expect to become involved in research that could change the way students learn.

Cycholl, an Ambridge Wolves Club Trustee Scholarship recipient, is in her fifth semester as an Information Sciences and Technology (IST) major. It was a major that Cycholl almost avoided.

Before her senior year of high school, Cycholl decided she wanted a new experience in college and chose IST. “I had the opportunity to go to school, so I wanted to take that opportunity and

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Pierce

Geary

Firestine

Slifkey

Inc. in New York City and a recruitment coordinator, project coordinator, and research associate for the UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. She was also a clinical assessor for the University of Pittsburgh and a law clerk at several Pittsburgh firms.

Firestine is currently a law intern at the National Center for Juvenile Justice. She is working on a doctorate in applied developmental psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, where she graduated with a master's degree in counseling and bachelor's degrees in psychology and fine arts.

In addition, she is a juris doctor from the Duquesne University School of Law. ——— Stephanie A. DeMaro ‘95 HHD was named regional job and internship developer for six Penn State campuses: Beaver, DuBois, Fayette, Greater Allegheny, New Kensington, and Shenango. Her office is housed at Beaver.

She was an educational adviser, program assistant, counselor, and liaison for the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) of Southwestern Pennsylvania, a federal TRIO program funded by the U.S.

DeMaro

Garner

Department of Education. In addition, she was director of the Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh Education Services Department, assistant director of admissions at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and a family support consultant for the Head Start Family Child Care Center Partnership Program of the Allegheny County Intermediate Unit. DeMaro, who is enrolled in the Master’s of Education Program at the University of Pittsburgh, holds a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from Penn State.

——— Erica F. Garner was appointed educational advisor for the EOC of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The EOC assists low-income, potential first-generation adult students, age 19 or older, in gaining access to postsecondary education and training. Garner has been a counselor for the Student Support Services TRIO program for two years.

Previously, she was coordinator for diversity outreach and engagement for the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology and an admissions and minority recruitment counselor at Penn State University Park. In addition, she was a development and education outreach assistant for the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, an assistant seminar coordinator for Education Technology Services at University Park, and the volunteer membership coorCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

FALL 2010

Penn State Beaver suffered a loss this summer when Dr. Patrice Clemson, an instructor in information sciences and technology, died July 6 of a heart attack.

Clemson Clemson had battled cancer for more than a year, and according to an email sent out to students, she was optimistic about her progress. But Clemson became ill in early July and did not recover.

Born on Aug. 16, 1951, in Bethlehem, Pa., Clemson was married with two children.

Outside of the classroom, she enjoyed playing the piano and singing. She participated in the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and the choir of the First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood.

Clemson joined the Penn State Beaver faculty in 2000. She held a Ph.D. from

the School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s in library science from the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, and a bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College. She also did graduate course work at Penn State’s Institute of Public Administration.

Senior IST student Eugene Meidinger said he took several classes with Clemson, and he learned a great deal from them.

“She expected a lot of independence and initiative from students. I’ve found much of what she taught to be relevant in the real world,” Meidinger said. “Her death was very sad. They’ll have a hard time filling her position.”

Dr. Donna Kuga, director of academic affairs, said the courses Clemson was scheduled to teach this fall are being covered by other faculty members.

A search is underway, and a permanent replacement is expected to be hired.

“Pat was very proud to be a member of the faculty here at Penn State Beaver, and her contributions to the campus and the students will be sadly missed,” Kuga said.

This fall seven new faculty and staff members were appointed.

——— Dr. Mari B. Pierce, assistant professor of criminal justice, is teaching in the new Administration of Justice baccalaureate degree program offered for the first time this fall and delivered jointly by Penn State Beaver, Penn State New Kensington, and Penn State Shenango.

Previously, Pierce was an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Western Oregon University.

She also served as instructor of record for the Department of Criminology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and the Department of Criminal Justice, New Mexico State University.

In addition, Pierce was a social service specialist in child welfare, Department of Human Services, Salem, Oregon.; a youth care counselor for the Families and Youth, Inc. Girls’ Group Home, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and an evaluation program coordinator and guidance counselor for Homestead Youth and Family Services, Pendleton, Oregon.

Pierce holds a doctorate in criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in criminal justice from New Mexico State University and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Whitman College.

——— Kathy Firestine is an instructor in psychology at Penn State Beaver, Penn State Greater Allegheny, and Penn State New Kensington. In addition to teaching, she also manages and supervises the regional internship program.

Previously, Firestine taught at Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Carlow University, and Point Park University.

She was a consultant for the National Development and Research Institutes,

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By Claire Kraynak

Campus hires new faculty and staff

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

and technology, presented “Technologies for Learning: Improving Reading Comprehension with Web-based Tutoring Tools.”

The Faculty Speakers Series is coordinated by Dr. Peter Deutsch, associate professor of physics.

——— Penn State Beaver hosted the 26th Annual Beaver County Spelling Championship in March. The event was cosponsored by the Beaver County Times.

Chancellor Gary Keefer provided welcoming remarks, and the competition’s head judge was Dr. Angela Fishman, instructor in mathematics and coordinator of the campus’ Center for Academic Achievement.

Other campus judges were Carleen Dinello, senior instructor in reading and English and assistant director of academic affairs, and Beaver alumnus Bill Vidonic ’90 Com who, at the time, was a staff writer for The Times.

Stacy Koutoulakis, lecturer in English, pronounced all words given to the students.

Instructor passes away

15

Fall enrollment up 6 percent Penn State Beaver’s fall enrollment of 906 students increased by six percent from last year. “This is the fifth consecutive year that Penn State Beaver enrollments have increased,” said Dan Pinchot ’91 Com, ’04 M.Ed, director of enrollment. “This is a result of more high school graduates choosing to start their Penn State education at a small campus, as well as local adults choosing to earn one of our four-year degrees.”

Pinchot said in addition to the overall increase in enrollment, fall 2010 also represents the fifth consecutive year that minority enrollment increased.

Penn State Beaver has 123 minority students enrolled, representing 13.6 percent of the student body, compared to 108 for fall 2009.

This fall, overall Penn State enrollment is 95,833 students. Penn State was named

S C A M P UT E U P DA

recently in a Wall Street Journal study as corporate recruiters' top choice for the most prepared and academically well-rounded graduates.

BEST OF THE VALLEY

In May, Penn State Beaver received the first place gold medal in the Best of the Valley Readers’ Choice Awards chosen by readers of The Times.

“We’re honored that The Times’ readers continue to recognize the quality education and experiences offered to our students at Beaver campus,” said Amy M. Krebs ’78 Lib, director of campus and community relations.

STUDENTS HONORED In April, junior Justin Vorbach, a business major, received the prestigious Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award which is recognized as the University’s high-

est student honor. Jacquelyn Matotek, a senior applied psychology major, was the Walker Award finalist.

The annual award recognizes students’ highest achievements in and out of the classroom at every Penn State location.

More than 300 campus faculty, staff, students, and members of the public attended a free presentation in October by journalist and human rights advocate E. Benjamin Skinner.

Skinner, the author of “A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern Day Slavery,” has gone undercover many times to infiltrate trafficking networks, slave quarries, urban child markets, and illegal brothels.

In the process, he became the first person in history to observe the sale of humans on four continents.

Penn State Beaver Nittany News |

S C A M P US NEW

In September, Penn State Beaver was the first stop for Penn State Laureate Robin Becker as she began her tour of twelve campuses. The Penn State laureate is a full-time University faculty member in the humanities or fine arts who is assigned halftime for one academic year to bring an enhanced level of social, cultural, artistic and human perspective and awareness to a broad array of audiences. Becker, professor of English and women’s studies in the College of the Liberal Arts, read selections from several of her awardwinning books of poetry.

Advisory Board, students honor faculty and staff Seven Penn State Beaver faculty and staff members were honored for their campus contributions in and out of the classroom at the annual Spring Awards Banquet. Awards were made by the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board and campus students.

The Advisory Board Awards were sponsored by Eaton Corporation, which provided $500 per recipient.

Dr. Juliette Storr, assistant professor of communications, received the Advisory Board Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, and Dr. Talha Harcar, associate professor of business, received the Advisory Board Faculty Excellence in Research Award.

Dan Smith, instructor in business, was the recipient of the Advisory Board

Faculty Excellence in Service Award, and Larissa Ciuca, student personal and career counselor, was given the Advisory Board Staff Excellence Award.

Dee Mooney, staff assistant, Office of Academic Affairs, received the Advisory Board Staff Service Award.

Campus students nominated and voted for the advisor awards.

Mona DeLisio, external relations assistant, Office of Development, received the Outstanding Organization Advisor Award for her work and mentorship with the Blue and White Society student service group.

Abhijit Dutt, instructor in information sciences and technology, received the Outstanding Academic Advisor Award.

Rizzo and Gartley received the only two individual staff awards given by the University to student affairs staff members working at campuses other than University Park.

The awards were given in recognition of Rizzo’s and Gartley’s service to Beaver campus and the University over a period of years as well as their support of Beaver students and their involvement in University-wide activities and groups.

In addition, Gartley was appointed to serve on the Beaver County Drug and Alcohol Planning Council.

The appointment was made by Beaver County Commissioners Tony Amadio, chairman, Joe Spanik, and Charles A. Camp.

The Council is administered by Beaver County Behavioral Health which has been designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to administer, plan, and fund drug and alcohol abuse prevention and treatment services in the area.

FALL 2010

FALL 2010

LAUREATE VISITS CAMPUS

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of Catholic Campus Ministry at Beaver and also will conduct ministry outreach at Robert Morris University.

His duties include providing catechetical programs, monitoring the Newman Club, assisting with students’ spiritual welfare, arranging student retreats and service opportunities, and collaborating with local parishes in outreach projects.

Slifkey was associate director of the Department for Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, a pastoral associate at Holy Spirit Parish, and a campus ministry intern at Duquesne University.

He holds a master’s degree in professional leadership from Carlow College and a master’s degree in pastoral ministry and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Duquesne University.

PENN STATE BEAVER/CATHY BENSCOTER

Dr. Chris Rizzo, director of student affairs, and Amy Gartley ’90 Lib, associate director of student affairs, received awards at the Penn State Student Affairs Development Day held last spring at Penn State University Park.

Rizzo received the John W. Beatty Outstanding Chief Student Affairs Officer Award, and Gartley received the Achievement Award.

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

16

dinator for the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education.

Garner holds a master’s degree in business administration, management, and organizational leadership from Point Park University and a bachelor’s degree in integrative arts, multimedia and business communications from Penn State.

——— Christopher Geary was hired earlier this year as a technical service employee in the Office of Housing and Food Services.

——— Christina R. Hemminger (not pictured) was recently hired as the sixth fulltime police officer on campus.

Hemminger was employed by Alutiiq LLC, a contractor for the Department of

Homeland Security, as an engineer technician in ballistics for the National Firearms and Tactical Training Unit, Altoona.

Prior positions included serving as a police officer for the Duncansville Borough Police Department and a deputy sheriff for the Blair County Sheriff Department. In addition, she worked in Maryland as a security manager for Macy’s East and an internal investigator for Nordstrom Inc. Hemminger holds an associate degree in criminology from Mount Aloysius College, is a graduate of the Municipal Police Academy at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Criminal Justice Training Center, and holds additional licensed certification from Penn State University Park.

——— Gary M. Slifkey was named director

Rizzo

Student Affairs staff honored

HUMAN RIGHTS SPEAKER

New faculty and staff hired for fall semester CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Gartley

17

Annual golf outing raises $22,500

In September, the Penn State Beaver Alumni Society’s Tenth Annual Golf Outing raised $22,500, a new record for the organization.

A total of 113 players participated in the event held at The Club at Shadow Lakes, Aliquippa.

“Last year we broke our record by raising $18,000, which was $3,000 more than we netted in 2008,” said Diana Patterson, director of development at Penn State Beaver. The funds go into the Penn State Beaver Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship.

“This year is even better. We couldn’t have done it without a very dedicated Golf Outing Committee and great support from the campus staff, too,” Patterson said.

As the scholarship’s principal grows, more funds will be generated to increase the size and number of awards given to Beaver campus students.

“Our Alumni Society is determined to help our students as much as possible,” Patterson said. “The golf outing is their major event of the year, and they’ve been very successful, exceeding their goal annually. We’re already planning next year’s event, so stay tuned.”

For information about the Alumni Society or the golf outing, contact Amy M. Krebs ‘78 Lib, director of campus and community relations, at amk6@psu.edu or at 724773-3816.

I A L U M NS NEW

DANA SKLACK

| FALL 2010

cash donations to purchase gifts, for 125 children who were CYS clients. Over the last decade, the annual gift drive has collected and purchased gifts for more than 1,000 children.

The Alumni Society was honored for its Ninth Annual Golf Outing in September 2009 which netted a record profit of $18,500 designated for the group’s endowed scholarship at Beaver campus.

More than 100 players participated in the outing held at Seven Oaks Country Club in Brighton Township.

Don Veri ’72 Bus and Norman J. Kraus, Jr. ’77 Com accepted the awards on behalf of the Alumni Chapter and the Alumni Society, respectively.

Veri, a member of the Alumni Chapter Board of Directors, the Alumni Society Golf Outing Committee, and a former Alumni Society Board member, owns Hopewell Realty, Hopewell Township.

Kraus is president elect of the Beaver Alumni Society Board of Directors, Penn State Alumni Council representative, and a member of the Alumni Society Golf Outing Committee. He is the CBA Northeast Sales Manager for Hachette Book Group USA. For information about the Alumni Chapter or Society, contact Amy M. Krebs ’78 Lib, director of campus and community relations, at amk6@psu.edu or 724-773-3816.

New job? New baby? New you?

Submit your news online at beaver.psu.edu/alumniupdate

EATON CORPORATION

J

ohn Dorman, director of Materials Management for the Americas Region, Eaton Corporation, and a member of the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board, believes in supporting Beaver campus students.

So he was very happy when Beaver juniors Eric Brink, Eric Yankovic, and Cole Plese were hired as engineering interns at Eaton Corporation last summer.

“It’s important for Eaton to stay engaged with the community to help guide education and the training of students to make them better equipped to work for us and other companies,” Dorman said.

The students appreciate the realworld experience they gained at Eaton.

“I enjoyed my internship there because I did a lot of different things from day to day,” Brink said. “I did a lot of work in solid modeling, Excel optimizations, and inventory, as well as a lot of hands-on things with different circuit breakers, including modifying and testing them.”

Dorman said he and the entire Eaton Corporation appreciate the opportunity to become involved with Beaver campus by supporting student scholarships as well as other campus activities.

Earlier this year, Eaton made a $2,500 gift to fund faculty and staff excellence awards.

“We enjoy helping students learn and grow academically,” Dorman said.

“If everyone is helping everyone, it all works out.”

FALL 2010

The Beaver Valley Area Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association and the Penn State Beaver Alumni Society were honored at the Alumni Association’s Volunteer Awards Dinner in October.

The Alumni Chapter received the Outstanding Service Project Award, and the Alumni Society received the Scholarship and Fundraising Award.

In addition, each group received $500 to continue campus and community outreach efforts.

The Alumni Chapter was recognized for its 2009 Annual Holiday Gift Drive for Beaver County Children and Youth Services (CYS).

The chapter solicited gifts, as well as

I A LU M N E U P DAT

Inc., Pittsburgh, PA. Brian McMasters ’07 IST is a senior telecommunications analyst for UPMC Passavant.

Jason Medlin ‘05 IST is working for Heritage Valley Health System as an information systems technician as well as coordinator of the Information Systems Internship Program.

Stephen Miller ’03 IST is the manager of information systems for Bruce & Merrilees Electric Company, New Castle.

Andrew M. Poillucci ’01 Eng is an engineer for Curtiss Wright EMD. Matthew S. Politylo ’07 Com graduated in May with a master’s degree in acting for film from the New York Film Academy in New York City. In June, he hosted a red carpet pre-show for the Daytime Emmy Awards in Las Vegas for Soap Opera Network, an online magazine.

Erik D. Savini ’05 IST is a senior project coordinator (IT Department) for ANH Refractories Company.

Shawntaye Scott ’03 IST received the Distinguished Toastmaster Award from Toastmasters District 13, which covers western Pennsylvania and parts of Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia. The honor, given in June, is the highest awarded to an individual by Toastmasters International.

Leigh Ann (Paich) Sobzack ’94 Bus is a certified public accountant with Lally and Company, LLC in Pittsburgh.

Bill Vidonic ’90 Com, previously a staff writer for The Times, is now a staff writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Johnathan Whitt ’04 IST is a regional technology advisor for FedEx Services.

Cheryl Yevak ’88 Bus is a manager of information technology support for FedEx Services.

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18

Alumni Chapter and Alumni Society honored

Kevin Barron ’83 Lib is the director of volunteer management for the Penn State Alumni Association.

Jacqueline Bercik ’96 AgSci is the business team lead in pricing and promotions, Heinz North American Special Services.

Deric Bolland ’09 IST is an associate implementation delivery engineer with EMC Corporation.

Brooks Canavesi ’02 IST is CEO of On Deck Systems, a company that provides web and software development for a national client base. He is co-founder of the Hero Program, which supports terminally ill children and their families. In addition, Canavesi is the CIO of TEAMDYNAMIX, a company that develops products to power and balance life for individuals and athletes on and off the field.

Joe Carpenter '09 Com and Amanda Brobeck '08 Com were married in New Orleans on August 6, 2010. Carpenter is currently serving in the United States Air Force. The couple will be living in North Carolina.

Laura Domsic ’06 Bus is a claims adjustor with Erie Insurance.

Michael Hamilton ’98 Lib is an attorney with Dell, Moser, Lane, and Loughney in Pittsburgh.

Kelly Herron ’07 Bus is the marketing coordinator for Healthesystems, Tampa, Florida.

James Janicki, P.E. ’86 Eng was the keynote speaker at Penn State Beaver’s spring commencement. He is vice president and general manager of Clinical Diagnostics for Life Technologies, Inc., Carlsbad California.

Kimberly Kockler ’87 Lib is vice president of government affairs for Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Robert A. McClune ’01 Com is a senior business analyst, Strategic Financial Planning and Analysis, for Giant Eagle,

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Don Veri ‘72 Bus tees off during the 2010 Alumni Society Golf Outing.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

19

Office of Campus and Community Relations Ross Administration Building, Suite 201 100 University Drive Monaca, PA 15061

Challenging season for fall teams

By Noelle Miloszewski

sophomore Tyler Blake said.

Head Coach Dan Grant agreed, and added that the year as a whole was a valuable learning experience for both the players and the coaches.

That experience will help the team next season, he said.

S S P O RT E U P DAT

What started off as a fivegame losing streak ended in a shot for a playoff spot for Penn State Beaver’s women’s volleyball team.

Going into the season, the group lacked the communication and teamwork necessary to win. However, with time, the women began to work as a team and started to win games.

“When we first started off, we weren’t familiar with each other’s playing styles,” said sophomore co-captain Kellie Karasack.

“We didn’t know who could pick up what or where people were the strongest.

It’s been a learning experience that we have all adapted to fairly well,” she said.

After coming together and working as a unit, the team felt confident going into the first round of the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) playoffs.

The outcome, however, was a 3-0 loss to the No. 3 ranked Penn College Lady Wildcats.

The team ended its season with an overall record of 11-16 and was 10-7 in the PSUAC.

MEN’S SOCCER The men’s soccer team also fell in the first round of the PSUAC playoffs, suffer-

WOMEN’S SOCCER

PENN STATE BEAVER/AMANDA MOORE

Sophomore Kaitlynne Anzur kicks the ball during a soccer match. Though the team won no games during its inaugural season, it reached its goal of establishing a women’s soccer program at Penn State Beaver.

ing a 2-1 loss to Penn State Hazleton.

The team had a respectable season, finishing 6-4 in conference and 6-10 overall.

But team members felt they had the potential to do much better.

“We had a lot of injuries to overcome, and it got in our way. We didn’t play many teams with a full, healthy squad,”

Grant was hired as the men’s coach, but took on a dual role when the women’s coach left shortly before the start of the team’s inaugural season.

However, in very little time, Grant pulled the team together.

“Only five players showed up on the first day of practice,” Grant said, admitting he was unsure of whether or not a women’s team would emerge.

Eventually, enough players joined and the team completed a full season.

Despite finishing 0-14, Grant felt that the team’s goal was met.

“The goal was to build a team, and we’ve achieved that. This is a fantastic group of women who have really come together,” Grant said.

Athletic Director Andy Kirschner agreed with Grant.

“I don’t think a team’s success is measured by wins or losses,” Kirschner said.

“They played hard every game and did not give up. That’s what matters.”