Nittany News - Spring 2012

Inside this edition

A Message from Chancellor Gary B. Keefer

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Penn State generates a passion and loyalty among its students, alumni, and supporters that’s not usually found in most colleges or universities. Hundreds of thousands of people have always been proud to say they’re a part of Penn State in some way — and rightly so.

My hope is that the pride and loyalty you feel in Penn State hasn’t changed.

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country, but it also provided comfort to those gathered that night.

Like the candlelight vigil attended by thousands of students at University Park, our campus event showcased the core values shared by our students, faculty, and staff. If there’s anything good to gather from this experience, it’s the knowledge that the awareness of child abuse has been greatly elevated, making us all realize that we must be responsible for the safety and health of children everywhere.

In the coming years, the results of the various investigations now underway will be revealed, and the courts will deal with the charges that have been brought forward. In order to serve our communities and our campuses, we need to continue to move forward and come together as Penn Staters, but we must also work to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.

Employers around the country continue to maintain the extremely high value they place on Penn State graduates who enter the work force.

At Beaver campus, we’ll continue to deliver the

high quality and challenging educational experiences our students deserve. Our core mission is education in and for our communities. That will never change.

Like many states, Pennsylvania continues to provide decreased funding for higher education. This continuing erosion of state financial support will, by necessity, lead to more of the financial burden of college falling directly on students and their families.

In turn, this challenge makes strengthening our scholarship funds even more important so that we can help students to offset tuition costs.

I’m proud to note that Beaver campus reached an important milestone in December when we surpassed the $2 million mark in our current fundraising campaign. We’ve been successful due to the assistance and generosity of campus friends and donors from all walks of life. Penn State is committed to keeping tuition increases as small as possible in these difficult times in order to continue to serve our students in the spirit of our University, which was established as the state land-grant institution.

Ongoing projects here at Beaver include the construction of our campus Wellness Center, which should be completed by the time you read this. I’ve enjoyed watching the construction of the building from my office window, and it’s clear to me it will have the “wow factor” we expect.

If you have the opportunity, please take time to visit us soon to see for yourself that our campus continues to provide the best facilities possible for our students.

During my 16 years at Penn State Beaver, I can tell you that the quality of our faculty and staff has never been better. Their excellence is second to none. Along with our employees, I remain extremely proud to represent Penn State Beaver and Penn State University, and I sincerely hope you are, too.

cover story 4 Jumping into Penn State Beaver. Area high school students learn what it’s really like to go to college when they enroll in the JumpStart program, which allows them to earn college credit while still in high school. Find out what makes the program work for students as well as the campus.

in the classroom 10 Why do people do what they do? Psychology instructor Kevin Bennett talks about turning his childhood hobby of “people watching” into a career that explores the dynamics of our everyday social and personal interactions.

19 Faculty update

focus on alumni 12 A call for help. A phone conversation with a woman in need of medical and legal aid for her father helped Attorney Julian Gray find his niche. He now owns the largest elder care law practice in western Pennsylvania. Find out why that call made a world of difference in his life but, more importantly, in the lives of his clients.

18 What are Beaver alumni doing now?

19 Alumni groups build student scholarships, help local children in need

campus news 16 First Enon Valley, then the world. Dave Anderson, Penn State Beaver’s 2011 Outstanding Alumnus, shares the story of how his parents’ emphasis on education led him from the small town of Enon Valley to traveling the globe. He also reflects on the life-changing role Beaver campus played in his career as well as the focus he and his wife, Lynne, place on giving back to their community.

8-9 Campus Update: Wellness Center, THON and more.

14 Development Update: Why your scholarship support is more important now than ever.

15 Sports Update: Men’s basketball team falls short of national title.

on the cover Western Beaver High School students answer questions during Psychology 100. Penn State Beaver psychology instructor Kevin Bennett travels to the high school three times a week to teach the class, for which the students receive both high school and Penn State credit.

Photo by Cathy Benscoter

Editor Amy M. Krebs

Fax 724.773.3578

Designer Cathy Benscoter

Email amk6@psu.edu

Phone 724.773.3816

AOL IM BrAdmissions

beaver.psu.edu

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 magazine to 724.773.3816 or amk6@ psu.edu. This publication is available in alternative media upon request.

U.Ed. BR 12-09 © 2012 Penn State Beaver

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As all of us know, the months since last November have been challenging and painful to everyone associated with Penn State. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and friends have all been affected by what’s happened.

During this time, I’ve spoken with many Penn State alumni, including those from Penn State Beaver. As you can imagine, these discussions have been difficult at times. One person spoke to me late last year and said that we’re now experiencing “Camelot lost.”

In many ways, that’s a very accurate statement. Penn State generates a passion and loyalty among its students, alumni, and supporters that’s not usually found in most colleges or universities. Hundreds of thousands of people have always been proud to say they’re a part of Penn State in some way — and rightly so.

My hope is that the pride and loyalty you feel in and for Penn State hasn’t changed.

What’s happened has shaken the very foundation of our great institution. It’s almost incomprehensible that the sexual abuse of children could take place at or around Penn State or by anyone associated with the University.

When you couple that sadness and shock with the passing of Coach Joe Paterno, a Penn State fixture in the hearts of millions, you know that Penn Staters everywhere have been deeply affected.

Our Beaver campus family of students, faculty, and staff has struggled greatly with the news from University Park. Many of us felt profound sadness, anger, and deep frustration about what’s happened. Our students brought our campus together with a candlelight vigil where several faculty and local community members shared their expertise and experiences with child abuse. It was a very moving event that helped to shed light on the prevalence of the sexual abuse of children throughout our

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Penn State Beaver Nittany News |

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Employers value Penn State grads

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Breigh-Ann Boyce, a senior at Western Beaver High School, takes notes on a lecture on perceptions during Psych 100, which is taught in her high school

by Penn State Beaver instructor Kevin Bennett.

JUMP RIGHT IN

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Photos by Cathy Benscoter

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Story by Matt Jones ‘10 Com

to gain confidence while earning college credits early, said Penn State Beaver Director of Enrollment Daniel J. Pinchot ’91 Com, ’04 M.Ed. Alex Boguszewski, a Penn State Beaver freshman majoring in Information Sciences and Technology, can attest to that. While a junior at Beaver Area High School, Boguszewski took the first course in his IST program. He followed that his senior year with a required speech class. Both of those classes were taught on campus alongside full-time college students.

“JumpStart helped me know what college was like before I got in there,” he said. “And once I got here as a freshman, I was ahead in the IST program, which really helped me.”

There are numerous reasons why dual enrollment has become so popular, Pinchot said. In addition to providing students with the chance to transition into college life, JumpStart students gain access to Penn State Beaver’s facilities, including the library and gym. And they

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Like the prisoners in the cave who never experienced the outside world, the Western Beaver classroom is full of students who had never experienced what a college class was like before enrolling in Penn State Beaver’s JumpStart program. Now, because of JumpStart, they are college students and high school students at the same time.

The JumpStart dual enrollment program allows students to take Penn State classes while in high school.

Some students come to the Beaver campus to take classes. Others stay in their high school and Penn State Beaver comes to them. But no matter where the classes are held, dual enrollment students have become an integral part of the Penn State Beaver enrollment landscape.

The Western Beaver students are enrolled in the high school’s year-long psychology and sociology class and get both high school and college credit. For 15 weeks in the spring semester, Bennett drives to Industry, Pa., three times a week to deliver Penn State’s Psychology 100.

Allowing high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college credits affords them the chance

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

n a darkened classroom at Western Beaver High School, Kevin Bennett, Penn State instructor in psychology, shows an illustration of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” to a class of juniors and seniors. The allegory tells of prisoners who have been bound in a dark cave their entire lives, able only to see shadows of the outside world. Eventually, one of the bound men escapes and sees the light of day for the first time. As the students scribble notes, they probably don’t see the irony in Bennett’s illustration: that today they’re not just hearing a lecture; they’re living it.

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Penn State Beaver instructor Kevin Bennett teaches Psychology 100 to a class of Western Beaver High School juniors and seniors.

This is not a high school version of a Penn State course. It is the same course that we teach at the Beaver campus and at Penn State University Park.

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CLASSES taken* Top 3 Rhetoric & Composition (ENG 15) 339 Effective Speech (CAS 100A) 176 Intro to Psychology (PSYCH 100) 160 Other courseS by discipline Math 65 Science 38 Social Science 30 History 21 Humanities 18 Business 6 Information Sciences & Technology 5 Communications 4 Foreign Language 3 Art 2 * Fall 09-Fall 11

jumpstart enrollment 1999-00 ������������������������������������������������� 23 2000-01 ������������������������������������������������� 19 2001-02 ������������������������������������������������� 20 2002-03 ������������������������������������������������� 22 2003-04 ������������������������������������������������� 19 2004-05 ������������������������������������������������� 22 2005-06 ������������������������������������������������� 67 2006-07 ������������������������������������������������� 97 2007-08 ����������������������������������������������� 154 2008-09 ����������������������������������������������� 234 2009-10 ����������������������������������������������� 357 2010-11 ����������������������������������������������� 317

schools that have hosted classes Ambridge Area: English and Speech Aliquippa: English and Speech New Brighton Area: English Riverside: English and Psychology Rochester Area: English South Side Area: English and Speech Western Beaver: English and Psychology

participating schools 16 + Homeschoolers

AVERAGE GRADE EARNED High school students wait in line at Beaver’s Office of Housing and Food Services during JumpStart orientation to receive their Penn State ID cards. JumpStart students have all the benefits and responsibilities of all other Penn State students.

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Penn State Beaver’s JumpStart classes soared.

In 2007-08, 154 students participated in JumpStart. During the 2009-10 academic year, the number of dual enrollment students hit a high of 357.

All Penn State Commonwealth Campuses participate in dual enrollment, but only Beaver County students have the outside grant to cover the costs. “We’re among the top campuses in enrolling dual-enrollment students, thanks in large part to this Regional Choice Initiative grant,” Pinchot said.

Other faculty members who have taught off-campus courses include Tiffany MacQuarrie ’93 Lib and Kristin Oberg, both instructors in English, and Judy Berasi, lecturer in speech communications. Many more teach classes on campus with JumpStart students enrolled.

Students in off-campus classes aren’t treated any differently than those who come to campus.

“The students are expected to meet the same high academic standards as the students who are taking the classes on campus,” Pinchot said.

Bennett brings the full Penn State experience into his classroom, creating a discussion-

jumpStart by the numbers

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get that benefit whether they take a class on campus or in their high school.

“We are delivering Penn State to them, where they live, in their back yards,” Pinchot said.

The remarkable part of the JumpStart program is that for most students tuition is free, thanks to grant money obtained by the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit.

“Dual enrollment has always been a possibility,” Pinchot said. “But when grant money became available, it really took off.”

Interest in JumpStart sparked in 2005 when Pennsylvania allotted $5 million for a dual enrollment grant. School districts could apply for the funds, and that money could be used to pay tuition and fees for college credits up to a predetermined amount.

Penn State, meanwhile, had already offered a 50 percent grant-in-aid for dual enrollment students, bringing the cost of a Penn State dual enrollment class in line with what the state would reimburse.

That made a huge difference in the number of students in the JumpStart program, Pinchot said. In 1999-00, there were just 23 students enrolled. When the dual enrollment grant came into effect for the 2005-06 academic year, that number jumped to 67 and kept growing.

Over the first three years that the state grant was in existence, the allocation continued to rise, topping out at $10 million before the nation’s economic troubles hit and state tax coffers started to dry up. The state program officially ended in 2010.

But in 2007, the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit was approved for a $9 million federal Department of Education grant to fund the Regional Choice Initiative (RCI), a program that would allow Beaver County’s 13 school districts and Ellwood City School District to offer a variety of educational choices to their students.

With the elimination of the state dual enrollment grant, RCI took on an even more prominent role.

One of the choices RCI offers is dual enrollment, and with guaranteed funding in place for five years, the number of students enrolling in

classmate and highlighted another benefit of taking college classes in high school.

“It makes it so I’m more prepared for college because I know what to expect,” she said.

Principal Steve Wellendorf ’97 Edu credited Penn State Beaver, and Pinchot in particular, with providing Western Beaver students this opportunity.

Wellendorf knows exactly how valuable that opportunity is. Before he was involved with the JumpStart program as Western Beaver’s principal, Wellendorf was a Penn State Beaver student.

With schools fully committed to the JumpStart program, Bennett aims to create a strong academic atmosphere within the high school.

But he doesn’t just teach classes at Western Beaver. Bennett also teaches a Saturday morning psychology class at Beaver campus with many dual enrollment students from all over the region.

Regardless of where he’s teaching, Bennett aims to bring a quality Penn State education to his students.

“If I can provide a learning experience where students walk away from the course with the satisfaction that they were challenged and they worked hard for their college credit, then I’m very happy,” he said.

Still, there’s one part of teaching in high schools that Bennett has had a hard time getting used to.

“Classes begin and end when the bells ring. I almost forgot about that until the first day when the bell cut me off in mid-sentence.”

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

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based, thought-provoking environment.

“My goal each semester is to come into the high school and teach a Penn State course,” Bennett said. “This is not a high school version of a Penn State course. It is the same course that we teach at the Beaver campus and at Penn State University Park.”

Marc Rose, the Western Beaver social studies teacher whose classroom Bennett teaches in, knows this first-hand. Bennett teaches three days a week just as he would on campus, while Rose supplements the material the other two days. One of the things he tries to impress upon the students is that they have to stay on task with their assignments.

Even though they’re in their normal high school environment, the class they’re taking is one with more independent work to be completed outside the classroom. But the students are usually well-prepared for what’s coming, Rose said, noting that those who sign up for the class do so with their own high expectations.

Marianne LeDonne, the director of RCI, said that despite the rigors of high school students taking college courses, having a high school teacher present can help ease the students into their new environment.

“It’s the real nice safety net that every parent hopes is in that class,” she said.

Safety net or not, the students come into the class with a genuine curiosity about the subject.

“So far I like it more than my other classes,” said senior Dan Kovalesky. “It’s pretty interesting. It’s pretty cool that we get to do this.”

Junior Natalie Groscost agreed with her

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Vigil, memorial bring campus together

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Cathy Benscoter

Sneak peek The $3.5 million Wellness Center addition to the campus gymnasium will be completed this spring.

Treadmills will be housed on the mezzanine, left, while other equipment and an exercise studio will fill the rest of the space.

In addition to the new construction, upgrades were made to the existing gym, the entry plaza, offices, classrooms, and restrooms.

Penn State alumnus Carl Bartuch ’75 Bus made a $100,000 gift in support of the Wellness Center project. Nicholas J. Unis, D.M.D. and Jennifer Unis Sullivan, D.M.D., J.D., made a gift of $25,000 to help fund the new Unis Dental Associates concession stand in the gym lobby.

Watch the construction project as it unfolds. Check out our Wellness Center webcam at: tinyurl.com/PSUBWebcam

Beaver students raise more than $7,100 for THON

Penn State Beaver students celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON) by raising $7,131.30 for the event held February 17-19 at Penn State University Park’s Bryce Jordan Center.

Freshman Angelique Matthews and sophomore J.J. Figas completed the 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping marathon “For the Kids,” which raised a record-breaking total of $10,686,924.83 this year.

Funds raised by THON go to support the Four Diamonds Fund, which helps pediatric cancer patients and their families pay expenses related to the illness. The Four Diamonds Fund also supports cancer research at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.

Fundraising for THON 2012 began immediately following last year’s event. Projects included personal solicitations from students, a blood drive, and “canning” outside on desig-

nated weekends at area intersections and retailers. In addition, Beaver students raised more than $500 with a date auction held Feb. 10 in the Brodhead Bistro.

“It’s a great cause and a life-changing experience,” said sophomore Lydia Moon, who chaired the 2011-12 campus THON Committee. “I hope all of the volunteers know how much of a difference they made in the lives of so many children.”

CATHY BENSCOTER

Students Amanda Palombo and Verushka Soto watch the broadcast of the Joe Paterno memorial service in the Student Union Building auditorium. instructor in administration of justice at Beaver, Penn State New Kensington, and Penn State Shenango; and Jill Marsilio-Colonna ’75 HHD, director of the Women’s Center of Beaver County. Beaver County District Attorney Anthony Berosh ’70 Lib also attended the vigil.

On January 25, the Office of Student Affairs and the Athletic Department hosted Spirit

faculty and Staff appointments Penn State Beaver announced four faculty and staff appointments in January Dr. Ana Beatriz Arêas da Luz Fontes was named assistant professor of psychology, and Tiffany L. MacQuarrie ’93 Lib was appointed instructor in English. Barbara Jean (B.J.) Bertges was named assistant athletic director and head volleyball coach, and Anthony W. Budris ’03 Lib was appointed police services supervisor.

Arêas da Luz Fontes teaches a variety of psychology courses, including those focused on her research specialties in psycholinguistics and cognition. She holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in communications from The University of Texas at El Paso. She received a postdoctoral CAPES fellowship to the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. MacQuarrie has been an adjunct instructor in English at Beaver since 2005 and teaches a variety of courses, including developmental English, rhetoric and composition, business writing, and technical writing. She also is an English specialist in the Center for Academic

Arêas da Luz Fontes

MacQuarrie

Achievement. MacQuarrie holds a master’s degree in communication and information systems from Robert Morris University, a master’s degree in student personnel from Slippery Rock University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Penn State.

In addition to coaching, Bertges’ duties include coordinating and managing programs, services, and events offered through the Athletics, Intramural, and Recreation Sports program.

She holds a master’s degree in sports management from California University of Pennsylva-

Bertges

Budris

nia and a bachelor’s degree in communication and rhetoric from the University of Pittsburgh.

Budris has been a police services officer at Beaver campus since 2009 and held the same position at Penn State Mont Alto from 2004 to 2009. He attended Beaver, received his bachelor’s degree in history from Penn State, and graduated from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Police Academy. He is currently enrolled in the master’s of education program offered at Beaver campus in conjunction with Penn State Harrisburg.

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s c a m p us new

Night in the campus gym to honor the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Prior to the men’s game, those gathered paused to honor Paterno with a tribute given

by Dan Pinchot ’91 Com, ’04 M.Ed, Beaver’s director of enrollment, which was followed by a moment of silence. Attendees were invited to sign messages of support to the Paterno family on the mat of a large framed photo.

The following afternoon, the photo was available again for signing before and after the live broadcast of “A Memorial for Joe” in the Student Union Building auditorium. The broadcast originated from the Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State University Park.

“By the end of the day on Friday, there just wasn’t any more room for signatures or messages on the mat,” said Amy Gartley ’90 Com, associate director of student affairs. “The opportunity to express their thoughts was very wellreceived by the campus and the public.”

Gartley delivered the photo to the home of Mrs. Sue Paterno in State College on February 2. A few days later the campus received a handwritten thank-you note from Mrs. Paterno.

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Four Penn State Beaver senior communication majors were honored last fall at the 72nd Annual Pennsylvania Communication Association Conference held at Westminster College in New Wilmington.

Ted Froats Jr. ’11 Com and Trey Hudspeth won second place in the Undergraduate Research Competition for their paper “Questioning Fifteen Years of Research: A Study of the Effectiveness of Listening Styles Profile 16.”

Elizabeth Hain gave a poster presentation on “Intimate Partner Violence and Self-Verification Theory,” based on a paper she coauthored with Ashley Stanfield.

The papers were written for the Communication Research Projects class taught by Dr. John Chapin, professor of communications.

Froats, who served as Chapin’s research assistant last year, and Stanfield received their baccalaureate degrees in December.

“Both papers had practical applications,” Chapin said. “Ted and Trey looked at how college students’ listening styles adapt for different contexts.

“Liz and Ashley were able to survey domestic violence victims from the local women’s center and determine the impact of abuse on self-esteem and how it may predict future relationships.

“It was great to see our students compete against their peers from other colleges and universities across the state,” Chapin added. “As more of our graduates choose to enroll in master’s degree programs, it’s important for them to see they are ready.”

In December, the Penn State Beaver Student Government Association (SGA) held a candlelight vigil on campus for students, faculty, staff, and the public to raise awareness of sexual abuse following accusations made in November against Jerry Sandusky, former Penn State assistant football coach.

The campus and public came together again in January to honor the memory of Joe Paterno, 85, former head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who died January 22 after battling lung cancer. Paterno spent 61 years with the Penn State football team, serving as head coach for 46 seasons.

The candlelight vigil was held the evening of December 1 beside the Brodhead Cultural Center pond. Despite frigid temperatures, more than 50 campus and community members attended to recognize and offer support for victims of sexual and domestic abuse everywhere.

Blue ribbons were given to every attendee to wear since blue is the color chosen to symbolize sexual abuse. Speakers were Dr. John Chapin, professor of communications; LaVarr McBride,

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Communications students honored for research

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Kevin Bennett and his wife, Natalie, run with their chocolate Labrador, Clarence, at Misty Pines Dog Park near Sewickley. Clarence loves carrying sticks. “The other day he picked up a huge one. He hit my legs so many times it left bruises,” Natalie said.

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Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Faculty spotlight: Kevin Bennett

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people person A

s a child, Kevin Bennett, instructor in psychology, was captivated by three things: drums, sports and the fascinating hobby of people-watching.

Although peoples’ behavior enthralled Bennett, becoming a psychologist was not at the forefront of his youthful-minded ambitions.

“I wanted to be a hockey player and, for a day, I wanted to be a welder,” Bennett said.

Story by Julie Leeper, Senior Com

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As a child, Bennett did his fair share of moving around. He was born in Houston, Texas, and, at six months old, his family moved to Knoxville, Tenn. After living there for about five years, they moved again to Greensburg, Pa., where Bennett attended first through sixth grade. From there, he and his family moved to suburban Detroit, where the rest of his family currently lives.

Due to his diverse and ever-evolving interests, Bennett’s parents consistently advised him to follow his heart as he decided what to do with his life.

Bennett carried this advice with him as he entered college, where he transformed his lifelong interest in observing people into a more formal and structured goal.

He decided to investigate human behavior from a psychological perspective.

In 1996, Bennett graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan. In 2000, he earned his master’s degree in experimental psychology from the University of New Mexico and was hired as an instructor for social psychology and statistics classes.

In 2004, a psychology faculty position opened at Penn State Beaver, and he jumped at the opportunity. The campus location was perfect for him because of its proximity to his childhood home of Greensburg. The Penn State name was an added bonus.

Bennett, who lives in Mount Lebanon with his wife, Natalie, and their chocolate Labrador puppy, Clarence, says he likes the small campus and tight-knit atmosphere at Penn State Beaver.

In the classroom, his knowledge of psychol-

Bennett teaches a psychology class in Beaver’s General Classroom Building. ogy is evident, and he makes sure his students understand why the subject matter is significant.

“Psychology is the basic fundamental of how human beings function and interact with each other. [Understanding] it is essential to the college experience and life,” Bennett said.

Senior Natalie Sell, one of his current students, agrees.

As an applied psychology major, she likes Bennett’s teaching style because he consistently relates the subject matter to reality.

“He makes learning fun and keeps our attention by providing case study examples to reinforce the material,” Sell said.

In addition to teaching, Bennett conducts research focused on social relationships.

His most recent study examined how per-

sonality traits are distributed in relation to where students sit within a classroom.

Based on five general personality traits — neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness — ­ he researched the relationship among students’ personality factors, where they choose to sit in the classroom and their grades.

Although he found the distribution of grades throughout the classroom to be insignificant, he observed that students who consider themselves to be open tend to do better on exams and students who sit in the front of the classroom tend to have either open or conscientious personalities.

In January, Bennett presented his findings at the 35th annual National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology conference in St. Pete Beach, Fla. Ultimately, he hopes to uncover conclusive correlations between personality factors and grades to improve students’ learning experience.

He plans to expand upon these findings with continued research.

“My greatest accomplishments are still ahead of me,” he said confidently.

While Bennett’s professional focus is in the field of psychology, he still remains true to his childhood passions of playing the drums and hockey.

Outside of the classroom, Bennett plays hockey weekly. He serves as an offensive defenseman in the Adult Hockey League at the Iceoplex at Southpointe.

As for drumming, Bennett is sticking to playing just for fun and sharing his love for music with his nephew.

He never did get around to welding.

staff retirements

Photos by Cathy Benscoter

Two staff members with a combined total of almost 50 years of service retired December 31.

Ron Schwartz, police services supervisor, joined the campus in 1983, and Mary Ann Guy began working in the Office of Housing and Food Services in 1992.

Schwartz was responsible for the overall operation, management, and administration of campus law enforcement and safety services.

Beaver’s full-time police force works 24 hours a day year-round.

Prior to working at Beaver, Schwartz was an Allegheny County police officer and sergeant for 12 years.

Guy was known for her skills in assisting with the set-up, coordination, and implementation of special and catered events at locations throughout campus. She worked in the Brodhead Bistro, which is the campus dining commons, as well as its service areas, and was responsible for cleaning as well as ensuring the ongoing stock of serving utensils, dishes, and cookware.

“I began working with Ron and Mary Ann on a variety of events and campus projects as soon as they arrived, “ said Amy M. Krebs ’78 Lib, director of campus and community relations.

“They were absolutely devoted to their jobs and the safety and well-being of our campus, especially our students, and they were invaluable throughout the course of many special events. We miss them, but we wish them all the best in this exciting new phase of their lives.”

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By Matt Jones ’10 Com

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Cathy Benscoter

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things, said Deborah Slayton, the law firm’s administrator. “You never know what’s going to be next,” she said.

Slayton met Gray about five years ago at the Pittsburgh firm where he was a partner. When Gray announced he was leaving to start his own practice, Slayton went with him. She said the two work well together for many reasons.

“He has a very creative mind. He’s very intelligent. He makes decisions very quickly and is open to suggestions from anyone within the firm,” she said.

Gray doesn’t limit himself to legal work. He also co-writes a monthly column for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about common legal issues concerning elder law.

With all of his success, however, Gray hasn’t forgotten the solid foundation Penn State Beaver gave him.

The campus enabled him to start his college experience without being overwhelmed by the size of University Park, he said.

“It was a good experience to be able to go for two years at Beaver and then go to State College for two years,” he said. “I would recommend that to anybody.”

Gray’s Penn State pride has spilled over and affected his 11- and 7-year-old sons, who are staunch Nittany Lions fans. Gray and his wife, Laura, a graduate of Grove City College, have talked about where their boys will one day go to college. They agree that the boys should be allowed to choose where they want to go.

“But I’m only paying for it if they go to Penn State,” he said with a laugh.

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How one question changed Julian Gray’s life

focused at Beaver as well as University Park.

Outside of the classroom, Gray had, and still has, a passion for skating and hockey. He took power skating as one of his physical education credits at University Park and still plays in an adult league. He’s even built a hockey rink in his backyard, assembling the walls and floor of the rink, then filling it with his garden hose.

Ed Kovacik ’91 Bus, who was Gray’s friend at Beaver and roommate at University Park, described Gray as one of the fun parts of college.

Kovacik said Gray could recite numerous comedy skits verbatim. “We coined the term comedic memory,” he said.

But even when he and his friends were having a good time, Gray’s determination and passion shone through.

“It’s no surprise that Julian turned out to be a lawyer, and a good one,” Kovacik said.

Gray’s focus on achievement grew naturally out of his upbringing. His father, Herbert, was a successful physician who attended medical school in Belgium, learned French in the process, and emphasized the importance of education to his children. Gray’s mother, Gertrude, who speaks four languages fluently, also understood the need for a strong education.

As they grew up, Gray and his three siblings always knew they were meant to achieve professionally. By the time he graduated from Penn State, he already had law school on his mind.

He received his law degree from Duquesne University in 1994.

Even though he has a busy, successful law practice, Gray is always working to improve

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a phone call, a farm, and a trip to the library

Laura, Matthew (center) and Jacob Gray pose on the field at the Blue-White game in 2009.

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Julian Gray sits in front of a photo of the Nittany Lion Inn in the Penn State conference room at his Moon Township law office.

t only took one phone call to change Julian Gray’s life.

Less than three months after graduating from law school, Gray ’91 Lib, a Penn State Beaver alumnus, received a call at the Pittsburgh law firm where he worked.

The woman’s father was ill and needed longterm medical care. Unable to work, take care of her father and maintain the family farm, she turned to Gray for help.

“The ink was barely dry on my diploma,” Gray said. “My comment was simply, ‘I don’t know the answer to your legal question, but what I learned in the last three years of law school is where the law library is. So give me a week, and I’m going to research it for you.’ And so that’s what I did.”

The woman’s father got the care he needed.

The farm was saved.

And Gray discovered the world of elder law, a niche market that encompasses everything from drafting wills and helping the elderly receive proper medical care to assisting young people with disabilities.

In 2008, Gray left the Pittsburgh law firm where he was a partner and established Julian Gray Associates. With offices in Moon Township and Pittsburgh’s South Hills, it’s the largest elder care law practice in western Pennsylvania.

“God had a plan, because that (call) became the genesis of the entire law firm,” said Gray, sitting in the Penn State Conference Room at his Moon Township office.

The room earned its name because of three giant pictures of Penn State University Park that adorn the walls. Gray discovered the pictures during a trip to State College for the Blue-White Game in 2009. During the festivities, he met an artist whose work included a number of photographs of University Park. For Gray, the photographs represent something more than just beautiful scenery. They’re a reminder of his time at Penn State.

Gray graduated from Center Area High School in 1987 and enrolled in engineering at Penn State Beaver. But it wasn’t long before he realized engineering wasn’t for him and changed his major. Two years later he moved on to University Park.

One of Gray’s friends at Beaver, Todd Shuba ’91 Sci, described Gray as a student who was always driven to succeed. Shuba said Gray kept himself well-grounded and academically

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diana patterson development update

Your gift can give a student the world As we continue to evolve into a technology-dependent society, access to higher education has become even more important for high school graduates and adults who are seeking to enter or reposition themselves in the workplace. While unemployment remains high, I continue to hear of positions remaining open because people don’t have the skills needed to fill those jobs.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a Penn State degree, you’re keenly aware of the difference it has made in your career as well as your personal life. Today, more than ever, scholarships play a key role in providing access to higher education for individuals who might otherwise be unable to attend college.

If you’ve never considered what your contribution to Penn State Beaver scholarships and awards could do, I’d like to share some facts and possibilities with you. l Students attending Penn State Beaver come from homes with average family incomes that are significantly lower than the state average. l A gift of any size could assist a student with the purchase of required books and/or software. l An annual award commitment of $1,000 or more could be the amount needed to enable a student to attend Penn State Beaver. l An endowed scholarship will assist students with tuition costs in perpetuity. l A study abroad award could enable a student to participate in a course-specific travel abroad program during spring break. l A student with high academic achievement could be challenged and/or encouraged by

a merit award.

The cost of a Penn State education continues to increase, due in large part to a significant decrease in state support for the University. In addition, direct state and federal aid for students is on the decline. But your financial support of scholarships or annual awards at Penn State Beaver will let you experience the joy of changing someone’s life.

We need your assistance now more than ever. Please help us make a Penn State education affordable for our students of all ages.

Remember: When you make a gift, you make a difference.

If you’d like to know more about scholarships and award opportunities for Beaver campus students, I’ll be happy to meet with you anytime. Please contact me at dlp25@psu.edu or 724-773-3558.

On behalf of our students, thank you.

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Tom Parrish Gift Planning Officer Office of Gift Planning 888-800-9170 tlp15@psu.edu

14 GP ad_Beaver_half_B&W_will.indd 1

son successful, capping off a four-year run with an 86-34 record.

“I have been asked by many different people what happened at the end of the season,” said Williams, who is in his seventh year leading the men.

“I have to chuckle when that question is asked because people around campus now have a championship-or-bust mindset. That’s something that hasn’t been associated with Penn State Beaver basketball before.”

New volleyball coach named

Women’s basketball falls in PSUAC

Wrestlers hit the mats at Beaver

Barbara Jean “BJ” Bertges, who was recently hired as the new assistant athletic director, was also named as the new coach of the women’s volleyball team.

Bertges replaces Dan Smith, Beaver campus instructor in business, who resigned from his coaching position.

Bertges is a former collegiate volleyball player from the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg with experience as a setter, weak-side hitter, and outside hitter.

She is also a former professional women’s football player with the Pittsburgh Passion, having played on the 2007 championship team.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to coach at this level,” Bertges told The Roar, the campus newspaper. “I have high expectations for the returning players and even higher expectations for myself.”

The Penn State Beaver women’s basketball team found itself in unfamiliar territory; for the first time in four years, the team wasn’t the top seed in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC).

The Lady Lions, under the new leadership of Coach Tim Moore, amassed a 14-9 regular season record (11-3 PSUAC) and easily defeated Penn State Hazleton 57-49 in the first round of the PSUAC tournament.

But faced with Penn State Brandywine — the team that last year ripped the cup from Beaver after a three-year reign ­— the Beaver Lady Lions just couldn’t muster a win. The team started strong with five three-pointers in the first seven minutes of play and ended the first half with a 32-26 lead.

But Brandywine came back with a strong defense and started the second half with an 11-4 run to take the lead and the game. Beaver ended its season with a 63-49 loss.

The Penn State Beaver wrestling team finished its inaugural season in February with a 5-10 record, 2-4 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC).

Beaver’s most recent loss came in the PSUAC-United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) combined tournament Feb. 12 at Penn State University Park. The Apprentice School from Virginia finished in first place, while Penn College of Technology was the highest placing Penn State campus, finishing third. Penn State Beaver finished ninth out of 10 teams.

Coach Jeff Winkle told The Roar that the season was anything but a losss.

“For a new program starting out, the season was a success,” Winkle said, adding that he’s already begun recruiting.

“There is significant local talent in western Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley and West Virginia area.”

3/1/12 11:28 AM

SPRING 2012

Diana Patterson Director of Development Penn State Beaver 724-773-3558 dlp25@psu.edu

quickly evaporated, and Beaver ended the half trailing St. Joseph 40-38.

The Fighting Saints stormed back in the second half, outscoring Beaver 48-30. St. Joseph out-rebounded Beaver 65-42. The Lions were led by All-American Nick Miller, who scored 17 points and had seven assists.

Beaver ended the season with a 78-73 win over Eastern Maine Community College in the consolation bracket.

Coach Marcess Williams called the sea-

s s p o rt news

To learn more about these opportunities, please contact:

CATHY BENSCOTER

Junior Nick Miller, 14, handles the ball against Waynesburg University in an early-season game.

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SPRING 2012

You’ve worked a lifetime to create financial security for yourself and your family. Now you can share that legacy with Penn State through your will or living trust. Whether you choose to direct your support to scholarships or research, or faculty and program support, your bequest will be an enduring expression of your passions and values. Our Gift Planning team can work with you and your attorney to ensure that your intentions are fulfilled and that your estate receives the full tax benefits of your gift.

Despite earning its most wins on record, the Penn State Beaver men’s basketball team fell short in both the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) championships.

The Nittany Lions ended their regular season with a 21-4 record (16-1 PSUAC), the best ever for Beaver. The team’s only conference loss came early in the season at home to Penn State DuBois, the eventual winner of the PSUAC tournament.

After a first-round bye, No. 1 ranked Beaver came up short against No. 4 Penn State Wilkes Barre, 86-83, in a semifinal matchup in February. Beaver had won the PSUAC championship the last three years.

Despite the loss, Beaver, which placed third in the USCAA last year, still had a chance to take home the coveted national championship in March. As the No. 2 seed in the USCAA this year, Beaver again had a first-round bye.

In its 86-66 loss, Beaver came out strong in its second-round game against No. 7 College of St. Joseph from Vermont. The Lions started with a 5-0 run and, nearly halfway through the first half, they had a 22-12 lead. But that lead

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Blue and White forever…

Season fails to bring championship

15

Cathy Benscoter

Dave Anderson shares life lessons with students in a business class a few hours before receiving the Penn State Beaver Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award.

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Anderson received the award at the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board and the Beaver Alumni Society’s annual dinner meeting on Jan. 25. The society gives the award to alumni who distinguish themselves through career and community involvement.

While Anderson now finds himself shoring up oil and gas exploration contracts with foreign governments, he is at heart a firstgeneration college student who grew up in the tiny Lawrence County borough of Enon Valley, current population 387.

“If you know Enon Valley, you know there’s nothing there. No traffic lights. No stores. No anything,” he said, smiling.

Anderson’s parents worked hard to ensure he and his three younger siblings could attend college. He was the first of the four Anderson children to attend the Beaver campus and go on to Penn State University Park to earn his undergraduate degree.

“It was always assumed I would go to college,” he said. “When I was growing up, it was the end of the steel industry. Probably 50 percent of the people in the area were employed in the steel industry, and those jobs were drying up. That was probably the number one reason behind my drive to go to college.”

Because he liked numbers and the likelihood of a steady job seemed promising, Anderson

Story by Rachael Conway David

The annual Penn State Beaver Outstanding Alumnus Award recognizes campus alumni who have distinguished themselves through career achievement, community involvement, and/or involvement with Penn State Beaver. Awardees must have attended Beaver and graduated from Penn State.

The award will be presented at the January 2013 dinner meeting of the Penn State Beaver Alumni Society and the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board. The recipient must be present at the dinner.

To nominate someone, visit http:// beaver.psu.edu/alumnusaward, or contact Diana Patterson, director of development, at dlp25@psu.edu or 724-7733558.

sional experiences with Assistant Professor of Business Dr. W. Timothy Few’s Leadership and Motivation class.

Matthew Tabit, a senior psychology major, said listening to the story of Anderson’s professional journey from accounting major to auditor to global negotiator was inspirational.

“What he said is confirmation that the limits to my career are predicated on me getting out

SPRING 2012

SPRING 2012

J

ust before accepting Penn State Beaver’s 2011 Outstanding Alumnus award in January, Dave Anderson ’79 Bus laughed when he recalled the last time he gave a speech at the Center Township campus.

“It seems like yesterday that I had to stand in front of my Speech 101 class and give an impromptu speech,” said Anderson, 54. “I was scared to death of public speaking back then, and frankly, I still am. I think I still have nightmares over that experience.”

The dinner crowd laughed, too. Anderson, who now seals deals for one of the world’s largest gas and oil exploration companies, was doing just fine.

Nominations sought

there and being visible and going out and giving new things a try and always being on the lookout for a strength you may not know you have,” he said.

Tabit, a 33-year-old student who installs flooring for a living while attending Penn State Beaver full time, said Anderson’s example of graduating with an accounting degree yet not really doing much accounting is proof that who you are and what you put into a job is as important, if not more so, than the degree you earn.

“He really exemplified the notion that it is not so much about what you learned specifically in college, but it’s about the attitude you carry with you to work every day,” Tabit said. “He really is someone who embodies the spirit of that self-motivated kind of go-getter.”

When reflecting upon his career, Anderson is quick to point out his humble beginnings and happily gives credit where he believes it is due.

“I owe a debt of gratitude to Penn State and, in particular, Penn State Beaver. Attending Penn State Beaver and graduating from Penn State had a profound impact upon my life. My Penn State education has served me well. I’ve had a wonderful and enriching career that has allowed me to provide a very comfortable life for my family,” he said.

“I passionately believe in Penn State Beaver’s mission to provide quality, affordable education to the young people in Beaver County and western Pennsylvania.”

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16

a whole world of experience

Kevin R. Cooke/Graule Studios

Anderson’s mother, Ruth, and wife, Lynne, accompanied him to the Advisory Board dinner, where he received the award.

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Outstanding Alumnus of the Year: Dave Anderson

studied accounting. He held a job at McDonald’s while commuting about an hour roundtrip to Beaver.

Anderson’s experience exemplifies the University’s successful “2 + 2” program, in which students attend local branch campuses and complete their baccalaureate degrees at University Park or another Penn State location.

“For me, the Beaver campus was a great transition from a small town to a major university,” Anderson said. “I could work and go to school.”

After moving to University Park, Anderson completed his degree in 1979. He soon went to work as an auditor in Ohio. That’s where he met his wife, Lynne, who was an accountant at the same company.

A few years later, he was transferred to Houston, and that’s where they settled to raise their two girls.

The couple has always made it a point to care for and be involved in the Houston community.

“Before we had kids, we were involved in different programs for kids that didn’t have families … as juvenile court volunteers,” Anderson said.

He and his wife are active in their church and are long-time supporters of a Houston non-profit that provides basic services to people in need.

About 17 years ago, the Andersons were heavily involved in an initiative that aimed to help homeless families stay together. Anderson was a member of the core group that moved the program from concept to fruition.

“It was rewarding because there were definitely families that, had it not been for that program, would have been sleeping in their cars,” he said. Nearly 70 percent of the people who went through the program were self-sufficient a year later.

“The success rate was phenomenal.”

Anderson has found personal success as the manager of international commercial development at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.

There, the onetime accounting major who worked at McDonald’s, negotiates with foreign governments, analyzes industry rules and regulations, and does commercial analysis for the company’s international interests.

“I’ve been blessed,” Anderson said. “I’ve never had periods where I didn’t want to get out of bed and go to work.”

A few hours before receiving his award at Penn State Beaver, Anderson shared his profes-

17

alumni update

Send your news to beaver.psu.edu/alumniupdate

1970s

John A. Hertneky ’79 Eng is an independent contractor at Bayer MaterialScience and a lecturer in engineering at Penn State Beaver.

He is also co-chair of the campus’s “For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students.”

The campus, which has a goal of raising $3 million by 2014, reached the $2 million mark in December.

Susan Orochena ’79 Lib is a loan consultant for the Private Banking Group at First Savings Mortgage in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. She and her husband have three sons and live in Potomac, Md.

1980s

Thomas Day ’88 Bus is chief executive officer of West Point Products, a manufacturer of replacement toner cartridges and other imaging supplies. The company employs more than 550 people in facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Tom lives in Washington, Pa., where the company is headquartered.

Kathleen Floro ’82 Bus is a financial consultant with Siemens USA in Warrendale, Pa. Don Herr ’87 Bus is director of finance at Marriott International, Orlando, Fla.

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2000s

Angela Adams ’08 Lib is a staffing consultant at Randstad, which provides human resource services solutions.

Tina (Mancini) Altman ’05 HHD is a K-4 teacher for PA Cyber and lives with her husband in Center Township.

Mia Aquino ’08 Com is the social media editor at The Huffington Post based in New York City. Previously she was a researcher on the CNN National Desk in Atlanta, Georgia.

She lives in Weehawken, N.J. Chris Bowyer ’09 Com has been accepted as a Combat Systems Officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Cynthia Brown ’09 Lib is a substance abuse therapist at Gateway Rehabilitation Center’s halfway houses, Moffet House and Rutter House.

Brooks Canavesi ’02 IST was Penn State Beaver’s commencement speaker in December.

He is the director of interactive media and sales at OpenArc, LLC; chief executive officer at On Deck Systems; and co-founder of Frontline Initiative, Inc. Casey Fenton ’07 Com is a communications

2010s

Alexander Dawson ’11 Bus works for the Marketing Management Development Program, Business Development, for Actuant Corporation in Menomonee Falls, Wis. He lives in Milwaukee.

Seth Edwards ’11 Bus is a vendor assignment associate at Service Link, Greater Pittsburgh area.

Jennifer Hain ’10 Com is staffing manager for A-Line Staffing Solutions, Pittsburgh.

Jason Magnotte ’11 Bus is an ACMT Mac Genius at Apple, Inc., Greater Pittsburgh area.

Stephanie Shearer ’10 Lib is an administrative assistant for Wraparound Services, Pittsburgh.

Justin Vorbach ’11 Bus, an admissions counselor and Lion Ambassadors adviser at Penn State New Kensington, received first place in the 2012 Student Keystone Press Award Cartoon/Graphic Illustration category for a cover illustration, photo, and editorial cartoon that appeared in last spring’s editions of The Roar, Penn State Beaver’s newspaper.

Penn State Beaver Fall Faculty Speakers Series.

LaVarr McBride, instructor in administration of justice, served on a panel as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

He also teaches administration of justice courses at Penn State New Kensington and Penn State Shenango and is the program coordinator and internship supervisor. In February, McBride presented “How to Avoid the Harms of Social Media” for the Rotary Club of Beaver and also delivered the program as part of the Penn State Beaver Spring Faculty Speakers Series. In addition, McBride was a speaker at a candlelight vigil for victims of sexual and domestic abuse held on campus in December.

Dr. Robert Szymczak, associate professor of history, received the Swastek Award given by the Editorial Board of the Polish American Studies journal in recognition of the best article that appeared in the publication in the past year. He was honored at a January awards ceremony hosted by the Polish Consulate in Chicago. Szymczak’s article “Cold War Crusader: Arthur Bliss Lane and the Private Committee to Investigate the Katyn Massacre, 1949-1952” appeared in the journal, Vol. LXVII, No. 2 (Autumn 2010), pp. 5-33.

alumni society and chapter news Last fall, Penn State Beaver’s alumni groups provided help for campus students and hope for local children.

Penn State Beaver Alumni Society The Penn State Beaver Alumni Society raised $21,500 through its Eleventh Annual Golf Outing in September. Proceeds benefitted the society’s endowed scholarship for Beaver campus students. More than 100 golfers participated in the outing at Seven Oaks Country Club in Beaver.

“This event continues to be an outstanding example of what our alumni and our campus friends can do to help our students,” said Diana Patterson, Beaver campus director of development.

“Everyone knows that while they’re having a great time, they’re also helping us provide scholarships for students who might not oth-

erwise be at Penn State Beaver.”

Over the years, the Alumni Society has raised more than $160,000 through the golf outings. In addition to providing scholarships, the group had also given a portion of the proceeds to purchase new campus signs.

The Alumni Society’s Twelfth Annual Golf Outing is set for Monday, Sept. 10 at Seven Oaks. Interested participants and sponsors may contact Patterson at dlp25@psu.edu or 724-773-3558.

Beaver Valley Area Chapter of the Alumni Association The holidays were brighter for area children as a result of the Eighteenth Annual Holiday Gift Drive conducted by the Beaver Valley Area Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association in partnership with Beaver County Children and Youth Services (CYS).

The chapter set a record by providing gifts for

129 children who are CYS clients.

Every fall the public is invited to purchase gifts for CYS clients or make cash donations so that Alumni Chapter members can do so.

In addition to gifts purchased by donors, cash contributions totaled more than $1,000 and allowed the chapter to meet the gift needs and requests of every child on its list.

“This project’s success is due to the generosity of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members who work together to make the holidays brighter for these children,” said Roseann Simoni ’75 Lib, chair of the 2011 gift drive and a member of the Alumni Chapter board of directors.

For information about how to participate in this year’s Holiday Gift Drive for Children, contact Amy M. Krebs ’78 Lib, director of campus and community relations, at amk6@ psu.edu or 724-773-3816.

SPRING 2012

SPRING 2012

certification from Gannon University. Steve is a member of the Beaver County Board and Finance Team for Young Life, an interdenominational Christian outreach program for junior and senior high school students in Beaver County. He and his wife, Dana, live in Ohioville.

event in Europe and provides a platform for panel discussions and the presentation of peerreviewed academic research.

Neelam Dwivedi, instructor in information sciences and technology (IST), opened the Penn State Beaver Spring Faculty Speakers Series in February with “Sustaining the Innovative Edge,” a presentation featuring non-IST research she has conducted in areas of creativity and how to find career fulfillment.

Dr. W. Timothy Few, assistant professor of business, is the author of “Integrating competitor identification and organisational identity: a new framework of competitor sensemaking,” which was published in the International Journal of Business Environment, Vol. 4, No. 4, 2011.

Dr. Angela Fishman, instructor in mathematics, was the co-coordinator of a meeting of the Beaver County Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Advocacy Coalition in November. The evening’s topic was “Proven Strategies to Compete in Regional and International Science Fairs.”

Beth Fleeson ’04 Lib, lecturer in English, presented “Nonviolent Communication: Campus Application” in November as part of the

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The Penn State Beaver Alumni Society is sponsoring a free Homecoming tailgate Oct. 6 before the Nittany Lions face the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium (game time to be announced).

The tailgate will begin three hours before kick-off and will be held at the North Beaver Pavilion, near the softball fields, at the corner of University Drive and Park Avenue.

There’s no cost, but please RSVP to Mona DeLisio at mad25@psu.edu or 724-773-3817.

Cathy Benscoter, lecturer in communications and campus marketing and web specialist, received a Gold CUPPIE Award from the Association of Communicators in Education (CUPRAP) for her article “An Eye for News,” which was published in the spring 2011 edition of the Penn State Beaver Nittany News.

Benscoter received the top award in the feature article category. CUPRAP is composed of more than 400 members from institutions across the Northeast.

Dr. John Chapin, professor of communications, is the coauthor of “Who’s listening to victims?” which has been accepted for publication by the International Journal of Listening.

Chapin’s coauthors are Ted Froats Jr. ’11 Com, who graduated in December, and Trey Hudspeth, a senior communications major. In addition, Chapin was a speaker at a candlelight vigil for victims of sexual and domestic abuse held on campus in December.

Abhijit Dutt, instructor in information sciences and technology, has been selected as an associate editor of the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS), which will be held June 10-13 in Barcelona, Spain. ECIS is considered the premier information systems

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

Penn State Beaver Nittany News

1990s

Jill Ciciarelli ’97 Lib is the owner of First Comes Health (www.FirstComesHealth.com).

She is a holistic health coach and is boardcertified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She also teaches Italian to private clients in the Pittsburgh area. Jill and her husband, Brian Richards, live in downtown Pittsburgh.

Jennifer Davis ’93 Lib received the 20102011 Penn State Outstanding Political Science Young Alumni Award. She is vice president for finance and administration at the University of Delaware and a director of the WSFS Corporation, a Delaware-based bank. She lives with her husband and their two children in Newark, Del. Tiffany L. MacQuarrie ’93 Lib was appointed instructor in English at Penn State Beaver in January. She has taught as an adjunct instructor in English since 2005.

Steve Wellendorf ’97 Edu is principal at Western Beaver High School, Industry. He holds a master’s degree in education from Westminster College and a superintendent’s

Homecoming Tailgate

assistant at AISI-Steel Recycling Institute, Greater Pittsburgh area.

Justin Frear ’08 Lib is a state youth referee administrator for PA West Soccer/USSF and intramural events assistant at Penn State University Park. He is also self-employed as a soccer referee.

Ashley Fueller ’08 Com is an editor for Elite Video Productions, Dallas, Texas, and also works part-time at Lenicam Video Productions. She and her partner, Maura Fueller, were married in May 2009 and have a daughter, Ann Claire, 4. They live in Richardson, Texas.

Jeremy Lindner ’01 Bus is the director of Housing and Food Services at Penn State Beaver. His wife, Aubre (Acheson) Lindner ’10 M.Edu, is a teacher for the Hopewell School District. They live with their daughters, Tessa, 5, and Libby, 2, in Chippewa Township.

Michael Mancini ’07 Bus is a B2B sales consultant at Staples Business Advantage, Greater Pittsburgh Area.

Eric D. McIntosh ’05 Bus is human resources director for UPMC’s International and Commercial Services Division and UPMC Cancer Centers.

Nicole Wilson ’02 Bus is an account executive at FedEx Corporation.

faculty update

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Office of Campus and Community Relations Ross Administration Building, Suite 201 100 University Drive Monaca, PA 15061-2764

Spring break Navajo Nation

KYUNG KIM

Robin Schreck tutors a child at the Boys and Girls Club where she and Penn State Beaver students worked over spring break

Eight students traveled with faculty and staff to Tuba City, Arizona, where they lived and worked with the Navajo Nation.

The group, led by Dr. JoAnn Chirico, senior instructor in sociology; Dr. Irene Wolf, senior instructor in philosophy, and Robin Schreck, student activities and residence life coordinator, tutored classes in the local boarding school, served Meals on Wheels for the Senior Center, worked at the Boys and Girls Club, and cleaned Navajo residents’ homes.

Students were Alex Angleton, James Barum, Candace Emanuel,Vivian Kleijnjans, Kyung Kim, Christine Walzak, Sheng Wei, and Josh Williams.

Vivian Kleijnjans, above, enjoys her spot overlooking the Grand Canyon. At right, students Jonathan Clise, left, Valerie Cycholl, Sean Dickey, David Rorick and Edward Knotek, right, pause during their visit to Neues Palais in Potsdam, Germany.

Kay wijekumar

Robin Schreck

Berlin, Germany Dr. Kay Wijekumar, associate professor of information sciences and technology, took seven students to Berlin where they gave a presentation at the International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS) Conference, 2012 Information Systems, which was attended by 125 technology professionals from around the world. The presentation was delivered as part of Wijekumar’s capstone course, Information Sciences and Technology Integration and Problem Solving.

Students were Jonathan Clise,Valerie Cycholl, Sean Dickey, Roger Garza, Edward Knotek, David Rorick, and Jay Watt.