January 2011Vol. 5, No. 5

IMPACT

New concentration prepares leaders in health care

Inspiring Students to Pursue Lives of Purpose

Waynesburg University

recently began offering a new

concentration in its graduate

nursing program. The 36-credit Master of

Science in Nursing with a concentration

in Nursing Informatics is designed to

prepare the nurse to assume leadership

and education positions as an Informatics

Nurse Specialist (INS) within health care

organizations, facilities and agencies.

The current job market for the INS

includes professional positions within the

informatics domain as project managers

and directors, nurse analysts, quality

improvement specialists, compliance and

security officers, Web content developers,

IT programmers and researchers, and

governmental lobbyists, among other

positions.

Graduates of this program will be

eligible to sit for national certification

by the American Nurses Credentialing

Center in the specialty practice of

Nursing Informatics, by virtue of the

Nursing Informatics coursework and 220

supervised practicum hours.

Dr. Pat Davies, assistant director

of the Accelerated Health Programs

at Waynesburg University, currently

oversees the program and has recruited

informatics experts in the field to

facilitate courses.

“We are extremely excited to be able

to provide this Nursing Informatics

concentration in an accelerated format to

our students,” Davies said.

Core courses in critical thinking,

policies and health policy, health

promotion, and evidence-based practice

provide the student with a foundation on

which to build the operational framework

for nursing informatics practice.

Nursing informatics courses emphasize

the application of cognitive, computer,

information and nursing science to the

INS domains of practice outlined in the

American Nurses Association Scope

and Standards of Practice in Nursing

Informatics (2008).

“With the mandate by the Obama

administration for fully digital electronic

health records by the year 2014, and

the current explosion in health care

information technology needs for both

the consumer and clinician, graduates of

our program will be well-positioned to

assume leadership and education roles

in response to current and anticipated

informatics positions,” Davies said.

University receives additional Vira I. Heinz scholarships

Last summer, Alyssa Lang, a junior

international studies major,

spent six weeks in one of Russia’s

most ancient cities as a result of the

Vira I. Heinz Scholarship for Women in

Global Leadership. Established in 1954,

the scholarship started as one $1,000

check given each fall to a junior woman

at an area university. Today the Vira I.

Heinz Foundation offers several $5,000

scholarships to women at 16 local and

regional colleges and universities in

Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.

Living with a Russian family who

spoke little English, Lang was forced

out of her comfort zone but quickly

recognized the importance of self-

confidence, determination and hard work.

Regardless of the struggles, Lang said her

time in Velikiy Novgorod, Russia, made a

lasting impression on her life.

“Far removed from all emotional

and spiritual support, I learned how to

encourage myself on a daily basis to

complete the tasks at hand and became

fully dependent on God for the strength

and courage to do so,” she said.

As a result, Lang had the opportunity

to discover the beauty of the Russian

culture as she developed relationships

with “intriguing Russian professors and

students.” The hospitality and openness

of the culture taught Lang to value

relationships, but also revealed the hurt

and brokenness of the Russian culture —

the result of seven decades of communism

and church oppression.

Lang was one of Waynesburg’s three

2010 recipients. This year, Waynesburg

University has been awarded five

scholarships which affords two additional

women the opportunity to experience a

journey similar to Lang’s. The quality of

applications submitted by Waynesburg

University students, new program

requirements and the recruiting efforts of

Pat Bristor, director of Student Activities

and the Vira I. Heinz Program coordinator

at Waynesburg University, led to the

additional awards. The five scholarships

offer the recipients a combined total of

$25,000 in scholarship money.

Sophomores Caitlyn Bolon, Lynae

Byler, Natalie George, Megan Peebles and

Heidi Weaver are the 2011 Waynesburg

University recipients of the Vira I.

Heinz Scholarship for Women in Global

Leadership. The scholarships will afford

these women the opportunity to travel

and study overseas through various study

abroad programs.

Bolon, a public relations and electronic

media major from Washington, Pa., will

spend her summer in London, England,

through the Center for International

Studies (CIS) Abroad. Bolon plans to study

music management, photography and

Shakespearian literature at Middlesex

University.

Byler, a nursing major from Salisbury,

Pa., will spend her summer in Udaipur,

India, through ProWorld.

George, an English and creative writing

major from Mamont, Pa., will study at the

Italian International Institute Lorenzo de’

Medici located in Florence, Italy, through

Academic Programs International.

Peebles, an interactive design and

advertising major from New Salem, Pa.,

will study in London, England, through

the Center for International Studies (CIS)

Abroad. She plans to study photography

and multimedia journalism.

Heidi Weaver, a human services major

from Denver, Pa., will study in Udaipur,

India, through ProWorld.

As their departure dates approach, all

five women agree that the experience

to travel abroad will offer a number

of exciting experiences resulting in an

unforgettable journey.

Scholarship recipients were required to

complete an application, submit academic

and personal letters of reference and a

proposal for their intended plans. The

proposal included a budget for the trip

including the cost of airfare, housing,

meals and classes, among other items.

Applicants were also required to explain

how the trip related to their academic

areas of study and future plans.

The Vira I. Heinz Scholarship is

overseen by The Heinz Endowments and

administered through the University

of Pittsburgh’s Center for International

Studies. The program requires the

recipients to attend two weekend retreats,

one before traveling and one upon return,

as well as a community engagement

experience with an international focus

after traveling. A paper is also required to

integrate leadership training, the study

abroad experience and community service.

For the first time in Vira I. Heinz Scholarship history, Waynesburg University has been awarded two additional scholarships due to the University’s quality of applicants and program efforts.

Through the Vira I. Heinz

scholarship, Alyssa Lang

(pictured with fellow SUNY

College of Brockport Study

Abroad Russian Program

student) was able to take in

Russia’s historic landmarks

as she studied the Russian

language, art and history.

IMPACT

NEWS & NOTES• Melany Chrash, assistant professor

of nursing at Waynesburg University,

and Dr. Kathy Stolfer, assistant

professor of nursing at Waynesburg

University, recently presented at the

American Association of Colleges

of Nursing’s Annual Conference,

“Reform and Innovation: The Charge

for Baccalaureate Nursing Education.”

The conference was held in Orlando,

Fla., in November. The co-authored

paper was one of approximately 50

papers chosen from more than 300

submissions. Chrash and Stolfer

conducted a podium presentation on

the topic, “Clinical Teaching Strategies

for Clinical Prevention and Population

Health: Reforming Community

Health Nursing Education,”

highlighting cutting edge changes

made to the newly developed senior

level nursing course at Waynesburg

University. The course, titled Clinical

Prevention and Population Health,

is focused on creative approaches for

clinical experiences as a result of the

recent revisions of The Essentials

of Baccalaureate Education for

Professional Nursing Practice.

• Waynesburg University’s Performing

Arts Series will host Chestnut Brass,

a Grammy-winning musical group

formed as a street band in Philadelphia

in 1977, Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

The performance will take place in the

Goodwin Performing Arts Center on

the campus of Waynesburg University.

Admission is $5 and the public is

cordially invited to attend.

• The work of Waynesburg University

art faculty members Susan Keresztury,

David Lesako, Yoko Sekino-Bove and

Susan Phillips will be on display in

the Benedum Fine Arts Gallery from

January 31 through February 18. An

opening reception will be held January

30 from 3 to 5 p.m. The exhibit will

encompass a variety of artwork, and

various pieces will be available for

purchase.

• Waynesburg University will

host Amena Brown, poet, speaker

and journalist, Tuesday, Feb. 1,

in celebration of Black History

Month. Brown will speak during the

University’s chapel service at 11 a.m.

in Alumni Hall. She will also take part

in Waynesburg University’s Open Mic

Night at 7:30 p.m. in the Goodwin

Performing Arts Center. The event

is co-

sponsored

by the Black

Student

Union.

Admission

is free and

the public

is cordially

invited to

attend.

Annual Conducting Symposium reaches new heights

Valuable connection brings Penguins’ vice president to campus

In October, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) student chapter attended a Public Relations Society of America event in Pittsburgh — an event that would prove to be beneficial to a different group of Waynesburg

University students in the months that followed. Following the keynote given by Tom McMillan, vice president of

communication for the Pittsburgh Penguins, students were given the opportunity to network and learn more about the respective career fields they planned to pursue. Sarah Spicuzza, a senior communication major at Waynesburg University, took full advantage of the networking opportunities offered by the conference.

Spicuzza spoke with McMillan and quickly learned of his willingness to come to Waynesburg University to speak. Excited by the opportunity, Spicuzza took action.

“After seeing him speak at a PRSA event in Pittsburgh, I knew our students would benefit from his enthusiasm and learn from his successes through the Pittsburgh Penguins’ ups and downs,” Spicuzza said. “Given the nature of the business, I knew he would provide a window into many different facets of communication, which would in turn benefit our students entering a variety of fields in the near future.”

As a result of the connection, McMillan stepped foot on Waynesburg University’s campus in early December to share the ins and outs of his job, including his involvement with the 2011 NHL Winter Classic. Although the game’s outcome was far different than any Pittsburgh Penguins’ fan had hoped, Waynesburg University students benefited from McMillan’s stories and experiences related to the planning phases.

In addition to his involvement with the Winter Classic, McMillan has witnessed many changes in the organization including the team’s bankruptcy, several attempted sales and the 2004-2005 NHL lockout. In addition, McMillan observed Mario Lemieux’s purchase of the team and his comeback as a player, the drafting of Sidney Crosby, the 2009 Stanley Cup victory and, most recently, the opening of the new CONSOL Energy Center.

As a result of the progression of his varied career, McMillan was able to offer students some down-to-earth advice.

“What you think you want to do is probably not what you’ll end up doing,” he said. “My experiences as a writer and a host prepared me for this job, and I can say that I feel like I’ve never worked a day in my life.”

As if guided by the melodies of

the pied piper, band directors

will come together from beyond

the tri-state area for Waynesburg

University’s fifth annual Conducting

Symposium.

Celebrated musicians Dr. Jack Stamp

and Dr. Linda R. Moorhouse will share

their talents with visiting band directors

through four lecture sessions covering a

variety of musical topics including score

reading, expressive gesturing, rehearsal

techniques and other conducting

methods.

The University’s Symphonic

Band and selected local high school

musicians will form the Clinic Band

and lend themselves to the direction

of Symposium participants. Two

conducting sessions will be provided

and the visiting clinicians will evaluate

conducting skills, make subjective

recommendations and offer opportunities

for participants to polish their skills.

Dr. Ronda DePriest, assistant professor

of instrumental music and director of the

Waynesburg University music program,

implemented the Symposium in 2007

and has seen the program grow each year.

“I am excited that so many colleagues

and students have found this event to

be very beneficial,” DePriest said. “I

have worked in other capacities with

Dr. Moorhouse, and the students and

conductors are in for a treat. In addition,

Dr. Stamp is allowing us to prepare

one of his new compositions titled,

‘Miniature Overture,’ so I feel especially

honored to glean from his expertise.”

An alumnus of Indiana University

of Pennsylvania, Stamp has returned

to his stomping grounds and now

serves as professor of music, director

of band studies and chair of the music

department. He conducts the Wind

Ensemble and teaches courses in

graduate conducting. After receiving

additional degrees from East Carolina

University and Michigan State

University, he taught for several years

in the North Carolina public schools

and served as the conductor of the Duke

University Wind Symphony.

Stamp has directed winners of national

band championships and his musical

expertise has been recognized through

the earning of many prominent awards

including the Indiana University of

Pennsylvania’s “Distinguished Alumni

Award” and the Orpheus Award from the

Zeta Tau Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha for

service to music.

Stamp will join forces with Moorhouse

from the University of Illinois to

amplify the event’s offerings. Moorhouse

earned a bachelor’s degree in music

education from the University of Florida,

a master’s degree in music education

from Louisiana State University, and

a doctorate degree in musical arts in

instrumental conducting from the

University of Washington.

Moorhouse served Louisiana State

University for more than 20 years and

was awarded a number of university

awards as a result of her commitment

and talent. In addition, Moorhouse is

a recipient of The John Philip Sousa

Foundation’s Sudler “Order of Merit”

and Phi Beta Mu’s “Outstanding

Bandmaster Award” for Louisiana.

With their 77-69 win over Thiel on Jan.

6, the Waynesburg University women’s

basketball team won its 10th game of the

year and guaranteed the program’s best

win total in a season since going 14-13 in

2005-06. As of Jan. 12, the Yellow Jackets

were 10-3 on the season. The program,

under the guidance of third-year head coach

Sam Jones, has also seen some individual

milestones surpassed by senior forward

Elisha Jones.

Jones reached the

1,000-point plateau

during a road PAC

game at Grove City

on Dec. 11. The

fourth-year standout

also landed 500

rebounds during her

team’s victory over

Thiel on Jan. 6.

Under the guidance of first-year head

coach Mark Christner, the Waynesburg

men’s basketball team has also taken

a big step forward from their 2009-10

performance. After winning just two games

last season, the Yellow Jackets were 5-9

as of Jan. 12. The Jackets have also ended

losing streaks to several PAC opponents.

First big test for wrestlingOn Saturday, Jan. 15, the Waynesburg

wrestling team hosted its first annual

wrestling tournament. In all, seven teams

participated in the event, with the Jackets

taking home the team title. With third-year

head coach Ron Headlee leading the charge,

the Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 8-2-1

record over their first 11 dual matches of

the season.

Waynesburg basketball making great strides