REVIEW SPRING

2010

CALU

Promoting Civic EngagementThe American Democracy Projectfosters active citizenship

CALUREVIEW

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E NT

SPRING

2010

I N S I D E

Mayors share alumni tiesJoe Dochinez ’51 and Casey Durdines ’07 knowwhat it takes to be elected mayor of California, Pa.

Learning to governThe Student Government Association teachesyoung leaders to build consensus and servethe community.

A resource for researchersThe Northern Appalachian Network consolidatesscholarship about an underappreciated region.

Alumni link upSocial media give alumni new ways to makeprofessional and personal connections.

‘Beyond Baseball’Baseball fans explore the life of PittsburghPirates great Roberto Clemente at a SmithsonianInstitution traveling exhibition.

A life in the artsAn alumni couple finds satisfaction in thewestern Pennsylvania arts scene.

FEATURESDEPARTMENTS

ON THE COVER:Events sponsored by the

American Democracy Projectengage students in the

political process.See story, page 6.

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 3

CAMPUS CLIPS 16 – 17

ALUMNI CALENDAR 18 – 19

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT 22 – 23

PAYING IT FORWARD 24

SPORTS ROUNDUP 28 – 29

MILESTONES 31 – 34

4

8

14

15

20

10

The California Universityof Pennsylvania MagazineCAL U REVIEWVol. 38 - No. 2The Cal U Review is publishedquarterly by the Officeof University Relations and isdistributed free. Third classpostage paid at California.

Vulcan goes green

California Universityis proud to be one of286 schools profiledin The Princeton Review’s Guide toGreen Colleges, created in partnershipwith the U.S. Green Building Counciland launched to mark Earth Day 2010.

Cal U’s commitment to a greenerworld is reflected in:

• Bachelor’s degree programs inenvironmental studies, fisheries andwildlife biology, environmental earthscience, geology and meteorology.

• A proven record of energy efficiencyacross campus.

• Residence halls heated and cooledwith clean geothermal energy.

• Dining options that include organicand whole foods, plus locally grownproduce and meats.

• A campus arboretum with nearly500 native and non-native trees.

“To foster civic engagement” is Goal 8 of California University’s strategicplan. It calls for Cal U to nurture “a commitment to accept and performthe duties and obligations of belonging to a community, a commonwealth,a nation and the world.”

Across the University community, Cal U works to achieve this goal inmany ways.

One example is our active chapter of the American Democracy Project,a multi-campus initiative focused on higher education’s role in preparingthe next generation of informed, engaged citizens.

This organization, among others, regularly hosts guest speakers andfaculty experts who discuss timely topics, presenting a broad range of views.

Students, faculty, staff and community residents are invited to listen andlearn. Many go one step further and join the conversation. The earthquakein Haiti, the Obama presidency — whatever the topic, a lively question-and-answer session typically follows each lecture or panel presentation.

Service is another component of civic engagement. Through the Cal Ufor Life initiative, every member of the Cal U community is encouraged toact in the spirit of philanthropy.

In addition, the University supports community service throughprojects such as the Martin Luther King Day of Service and The Big Event,a nationwide effort that sends college students into their communitiesto lend a hand. Collectively, members of the campus community spendhundreds of hours giving back to their University and to their neighbors.

On campus, the Student Government Association develops leadership,another important aspect of civic life. Student government is just one ofmany leadership opportunities available to Cal U students, who sometimesare drawn to the political arena.

In fact, our University is becoming known as “Mayor U.” This editionof the Cal U Review will introduce you to a former mayor of CaliforniaBorough and the current office-holder, both proud alumni. Two currentstudents and a faculty member also are serving now as mayors of westernPennsylvania towns.

With our strategic plan in mind, Cal U will continue working to fostercivic engagement. As I hope you will see in the following pages, we alreadyhave achieved some measure of success.

With warm regards,

Angelo Armenti, Jr.PresidentCalifornia University of Pennsylvania

CHANCELLORJohn C. Cavanaugh

BOARD OF GOVERNORSKenneth M. Jarin, chairman Jamie Lutz (student)Aaron Walton, vice chair Jonathan B. MackC.R. “Chuck” Pennoni, vice chair Joseph F. McGinnRep. Matthew E. Baker Sen. Jeffrey E. PiccolaNick Barcio (student) Gov. Edward G. RendellMarie Conley Lammando Harold C. ShieldsPaul S. Dlugolecki Thomas M. SweitzerRep. Michael K. Hanna Christine J. TorettiSen. Vincent J. Hughes Mackenzie Marie Wrobel (student)Richard Kneedler Gerald L. Zahorchak

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAPresidentDr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.

Geraldine M. Jones, provost and vice president for academic affairsDr. Joyce A. Hanley, executive vice presidentDr. Lenora Angelone, vice president for student development and servicesAngela J. Burrows, vice president for university relationsDr. Charles Mance, vice president for information technologyRon Huiatt, vice president for development and alumni relationsRobert Thorn, interim vice president for administration and finance

COUNCIL OF TRUSTEESLeo Krantz, chairRobert J. Irey, vice chair Michael Napolitano ’68Ashley Baird, secretary (student trustee) Gwendolyn SimmonsPeter J. Daley II ’72, ’75 Jerry Spangler ’74James T. Davis ’73 Aaron Walton ’68Annette Ganassi The Honorable John C. Cavanaugh,Lawrence Maggi ’79 Chancellor, ex-officio

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORSRosemary Bucchianeri ’69, presidentDr. Harry Serene ’65, vice presidentDr. Lorraine Vitchoff ’74, secretaryDeanne Zelenak ’79, treasurerMichael Napolitano ’68, immediate past presidentDr. Roger M. Angelelli ’64Ryan Astor ’01 Lawrence O. Maggi ’79Mary Jo (Zosky) Barnhart ’84 Richard J. Majernik ’55Joseph Dochinez ’51 Alex D. Matthews ’84Barbara (Williams) Fetsko ’75 Dante Morelli ’02Dr. Paul Gentile ’62 Bethanne (Borsody) Natali ’91Tim Gorske ’63 Melanie (Stringhill) Patterson ’82Alan James ’62 Frederick Retsch ’62, ’66Len Keller ’61 James Stofan ’71Dr. Anthony Lazzaro ’55 Dr. Tim Susick ’76, ’78Jim Lokay ’02 Karen L. (Blevins) Webber ’70

STUDENT BOARD MEMBERSAshley Baird Chase A. LoperAshley Foyle Jason Springer

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSDr. Angelo Armenti, Jr., President Geraldine M. Jones ’71Dale Hamer ’60 Leo KrantzRon Huiatt Dr. Linda Toth ’75

STUDENT ASSOCIATION, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORSJacqueline Davis, presidentAshley Baird, treasurer Bonnie KeenerJenna Dunmire, secretary Jim Lokay ’02Bill Abbott Marc Roncone ’03Rachel Hajdu Aaron TalbottRobert Irey Dr. Donald ThompsonSam Jessee ’90 Courtney Vautier

SAI EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSDr. Lenora Angelone ’89,’92,’97 Leigh Ann LincolnDr. Nancy Pinardi ’95, ’96, ’98 Larry Sebek

FOUNDATION FOR CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIABOARD OF DIRECTORSLinda H. Serene ’64, presidentDavid L. Amati ’70, vice presidentMichele Mandell ’69, secretaryPaul Kania ’87, treasurerRoger Angelelli ’64Thomas Crumrine ’64William R. Flinn ’68Richard C. Grace ’63Dale L. Hamer ’60Annette M. Kaleita ’55Gary Kennedy ’58John Lechman ’74David H. Lee ’71

EDITORChristine Kindl

WRITERSWendy MackallBruce Wald ’85 Lindy KravecColleen C. Derda Cindy Cusic Micco

PHOTOGRAPHERSGreg Sofranko S. C. SpanglerKen Brooks Josh Stepp

J. William LincolnRobert Lippencott ’66Michael A. Perry ’63Paul I. Phillips ’69Jerry L. Spangler ’74Saundra L. Stout ’72Steven P. Stout ’85Patricia A. Tweardy ’68Ben WrightAngelo Armenti, Jr., ex-officioRon Huiatt, ex-officioRosemary Bucchianeri ’69, ex-officio

2 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

CALUREVIEW

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E NT

SPRING

2010

I N S I D E

Mayors share alumni tiesJoe Dochinez ’51 and Casey Durdines ’07 knowwhat it takes to be elected mayor of California, Pa.

Learning to governThe Student Government Association teachesyoung leaders to build consensus and servethe community.

A resource for researchersThe Northern Appalachian Network consolidatesscholarship about an underappreciated region.

Alumni link upSocial media give alumni new ways to makeprofessional and personal connections.

‘Beyond Baseball’Baseball fans explore the life of PittsburghPirates great Roberto Clemente at a SmithsonianInstitution traveling exhibition.

A life in the artsAn alumni couple finds satisfaction in thewestern Pennsylvania arts scene.

FEATURESDEPARTMENTS

ON THE COVER:Events sponsored by the

American Democracy Projectengage students in the

political process.See story, page 6.

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 3

CAMPUS CLIPS 16 – 17

ALUMNI CALENDAR 18 – 19

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT 22 – 23

PAYING IT FORWARD 24

SPORTS ROUNDUP 28 – 29

MILESTONES 31 – 34

4

8

14

15

20

10

The California Universityof Pennsylvania MagazineCAL U REVIEWVol. 38 - No. 2The Cal U Review is publishedquarterly by the Officeof University Relations and isdistributed free. Third classpostage paid at California.

Vulcan goes green

California Universityis proud to be one of286 schools profiledin The Princeton Review’s Guide toGreen Colleges, created in partnershipwith the U.S. Green Building Counciland launched to mark Earth Day 2010.

Cal U’s commitment to a greenerworld is reflected in:

• Bachelor’s degree programs inenvironmental studies, fisheries andwildlife biology, environmental earthscience, geology and meteorology.

• A proven record of energy efficiencyacross campus.

• Residence halls heated and cooledwith clean geothermal energy.

• Dining options that include organicand whole foods, plus locally grownproduce and meats.

• A campus arboretum with nearly500 native and non-native trees.

“To foster civic engagement” is Goal 8 of California University’s strategicplan. It calls for Cal U to nurture “a commitment to accept and performthe duties and obligations of belonging to a community, a commonwealth,a nation and the world.”

Across the University community, Cal U works to achieve this goal inmany ways.

One example is our active chapter of the American Democracy Project,a multi-campus initiative focused on higher education’s role in preparingthe next generation of informed, engaged citizens.

This organization, among others, regularly hosts guest speakers andfaculty experts who discuss timely topics, presenting a broad range of views.

Students, faculty, staff and community residents are invited to listen andlearn. Many go one step further and join the conversation. The earthquakein Haiti, the Obama presidency — whatever the topic, a lively question-and-answer session typically follows each lecture or panel presentation.

Service is another component of civic engagement. Through the Cal Ufor Life initiative, every member of the Cal U community is encouraged toact in the spirit of philanthropy.

In addition, the University supports community service throughprojects such as the Martin Luther King Day of Service and The Big Event,a nationwide effort that sends college students into their communitiesto lend a hand. Collectively, members of the campus community spendhundreds of hours giving back to their University and to their neighbors.

On campus, the Student Government Association develops leadership,another important aspect of civic life. Student government is just one ofmany leadership opportunities available to Cal U students, who sometimesare drawn to the political arena.

In fact, our University is becoming known as “Mayor U.” This editionof the Cal U Review will introduce you to a former mayor of CaliforniaBorough and the current office-holder, both proud alumni. Two currentstudents and a faculty member also are serving now as mayors of westernPennsylvania towns.

With our strategic plan in mind, Cal U will continue working to fostercivic engagement. As I hope you will see in the following pages, we alreadyhave achieved some measure of success.

With warm regards,

Angelo Armenti, Jr.PresidentCalifornia University of Pennsylvania

CHANCELLORJohn C. Cavanaugh

BOARD OF GOVERNORSKenneth M. Jarin, chairman Jamie Lutz (student)Aaron Walton, vice chair Jonathan B. MackC.R. “Chuck” Pennoni, vice chair Joseph F. McGinnRep. Matthew E. Baker Sen. Jeffrey E. PiccolaNick Barcio (student) Gov. Edward G. RendellMarie Conley Lammando Harold C. ShieldsPaul S. Dlugolecki Thomas M. SweitzerRep. Michael K. Hanna Christine J. TorettiSen. Vincent J. Hughes Mackenzie Marie Wrobel (student)Richard Kneedler Gerald L. Zahorchak

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAPresidentDr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.

Geraldine M. Jones, provost and vice president for academic affairsDr. Joyce A. Hanley, executive vice presidentDr. Lenora Angelone, vice president for student development and servicesAngela J. Burrows, vice president for university relationsDr. Charles Mance, vice president for information technologyRon Huiatt, vice president for development and alumni relationsRobert Thorn, interim vice president for administration and finance

COUNCIL OF TRUSTEESLeo Krantz, chairRobert J. Irey, vice chair Michael Napolitano ’68Ashley Baird, secretary (student trustee) Gwendolyn SimmonsPeter J. Daley II ’72, ’75 Jerry Spangler ’74James T. Davis ’73 Aaron Walton ’68Annette Ganassi The Honorable John C. Cavanaugh,Lawrence Maggi ’79 Chancellor, ex-officio

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORSRosemary Bucchianeri ’69, presidentDr. Harry Serene ’65, vice presidentDr. Lorraine Vitchoff ’74, secretaryDeanne Zelenak ’79, treasurerMichael Napolitano ’68, immediate past presidentDr. Roger M. Angelelli ’64Ryan Astor ’01 Lawrence O. Maggi ’79Mary Jo (Zosky) Barnhart ’84 Richard J. Majernik ’55Joseph Dochinez ’51 Alex D. Matthews ’84Barbara (Williams) Fetsko ’75 Dante Morelli ’02Dr. Paul Gentile ’62 Bethanne (Borsody) Natali ’91Tim Gorske ’63 Melanie (Stringhill) Patterson ’82Alan James ’62 Frederick Retsch ’62, ’66Len Keller ’61 James Stofan ’71Dr. Anthony Lazzaro ’55 Dr. Tim Susick ’76, ’78Jim Lokay ’02 Karen L. (Blevins) Webber ’70

STUDENT BOARD MEMBERSAshley Baird Chase A. LoperAshley Foyle Jason Springer

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSDr. Angelo Armenti, Jr., President Geraldine M. Jones ’71Dale Hamer ’60 Leo KrantzRon Huiatt Dr. Linda Toth ’75

STUDENT ASSOCIATION, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORSJacqueline Davis, presidentAshley Baird, treasurer Bonnie KeenerJenna Dunmire, secretary Jim Lokay ’02Bill Abbott Marc Roncone ’03Rachel Hajdu Aaron TalbottRobert Irey Dr. Donald ThompsonSam Jessee ’90 Courtney Vautier

SAI EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSDr. Lenora Angelone ’89,’92,’97 Leigh Ann LincolnDr. Nancy Pinardi ’95, ’96, ’98 Larry Sebek

FOUNDATION FOR CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIABOARD OF DIRECTORSLinda H. Serene ’64, presidentDavid L. Amati ’70, vice presidentMichele Mandell ’69, secretaryPaul Kania ’87, treasurerRoger Angelelli ’64Thomas Crumrine ’64William R. Flinn ’68Richard C. Grace ’63Dale L. Hamer ’60Annette M. Kaleita ’55Gary Kennedy ’58John Lechman ’74David H. Lee ’71

EDITORChristine Kindl

WRITERSWendy MackallBruce Wald ’85 Lindy KravecColleen C. Derda Cindy Cusic Micco

PHOTOGRAPHERSGreg Sofranko S. C. SpanglerKen Brooks Josh Stepp

J. William LincolnRobert Lippencott ’66Michael A. Perry ’63Paul I. Phillips ’69Jerry L. Spangler ’74Saundra L. Stout ’72Steven P. Stout ’85Patricia A. Tweardy ’68Ben WrightAngelo Armenti, Jr., ex-officioRon Huiatt, ex-officioRosemary Bucchianeri ’69, ex-officio

2 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 5

Promoting progressBoth men take pride in their efforts on behalf of their town.Dochinez oversaw expansion of water, sewer and power

lines into new areas of the 16-square-mile borough. The newborough building, the Center in the Woods, Rotary Park andTechnology Park all were constructed or expanded, and theMon Valley Expressway improved access.

“My motives were to improveour status, because we … neededchange,” says Dochinez, whowas active with the Mon ValleyProgress Council and still belongsto California’s Rotary. “Expandingwater and sewerage is still animportant goal today.”

Durdines stays involved withthe community as a volunteer

firefighter and a member of the borough’s historical societyand recreation authority.

As mayor, he initiated a Main Street Program to helpwith revitalization. A priority, he says, is ensuring publicsafety and enforcing laws and borough ordinances.

February’s record-setting snowstorm was both a challengeand learning experience, he adds.

“I work with all the (county and state) agencies to makesure that California is prepared in the event of such anemergency. We are always looking to get better.”

Different partiesAlthough their party affiliations differ, Democrat Dochinez

and Republican Durdines speak highly of one another.

“Casey is a straightforward, honest, good man,” Dochinezsays. “We communicate often about different issues, and he’sdone a good job.”

When flooding appeared likely this spring, Durdines gota call from his predecessor. The flood of 1985, among theworst in recent memory, occurred during Dochinez’s first term.

“Mayor Dochinez called me right away to exchangeideas and offer suggestions,” says Durdines, “It’s nice tohave somebody with all that experience who is willing totake the time. I look up to him as a mentor.”

For some alumni, the mayor’s job has been a steppingstoneto higher political office. Peter Daley ’72, ’76, for instance,served as California’s mayor from 1973-1981. Two years later,he took a seat in the state House, where he continues torepresent Pennsylvania’s 49th District. He remains engaged withhis alma mater as a member of Cal U’s Council of Trustees.

The relationship between “town and gown” is a concernfor every California mayor.

“I’ve always tried to present the University as an assetand tried to strengthen the bond,” says Dochinez. “I havealways looked at California and the University as home.”

Durdines’ constituents sometimes complain about trafficand noise. “The important thing to remember is that moststudents are great people who are ready and willing to giveback to the community,” he says.

“And the University presents an opportunity for ourcitizens not only to get a quality education, but also toexperience many first-rate cultural and athletic eventsclose to home.” �

By Bruce Wald ’85, Cal U information writer

They graduated from Cal U 56 yearsapart, but Joe Dochinez ’51 andCasey Durdines ’07 share a role

in the history of California Borough.Dochinez, 82, was the borough’s

mayor from 1982-2002. Durdines, 24,stepped into that office in 2006 andbegan his second term in January.

Not surprisingly, both politicians saytheir Cal U experience helped to buildtheir careers as public officials.

University mentorsCalifornia’s longest-serving mayor,

Dochinez says Emeritus PresidentGeorge Roadman ’41 and professorsDr. George Hart and Dr. Ted Nemethhad the greatest influence on hisphilosophy of life.

“They were great men, but certainlydifferent,” says Dochinez, who enrolledat Cal U after serving with the U.S.Marines Corps. “They made you sharp

and taught you to trust. They epitomizedcitizenship.”

The student body named Dochinez— a Hall of Fame football player — Cal’sMost Representative Student in 1950.He returned to his alma mater in 1961and spent the next 30 years workingon campus.

After teaching and stints as directorof student activities and assistant deanof men, he retired as an emeritus facultymember in 1991.

Dochinez entered the political arenain the 1950s, when he was elected toborough council.

“I was always interested in politics,but had no background,” he says.“I believe my overall experience at Calgave me confidence to speak my piece,and I soon had a good following.”

Durdines, who graduated with adegree in Public Administration, recallsclasses with history and political scienceprofessors Drs. Melanie Blumberg, JamesWood, Joe Heim and Mohamed Yamba.

“What they taught I found to bevery valuable in my position as mayor,”says Durdines, who also is boroughmanager for Windber, in SomersetCounty. “They gave me practicalknowledge in municipal governmentand intergovernmental relations. Eachof them also was great to talk with.”

Durdines, who received the AlumniAssociation’s Young Alumni Award in2009, says his training in StephenCovey’s 7 Habits of Highly EffectivePeople has been another political plus.

“I took this (training) after graduating,and it helped me change the way I thinkand the way I respond to situations I ampresented with,” he says.

Mayors past and presentshare alumni tiesTWO BOROUGH OFFICIALS LEARNEDLEADERSHIP AT CAL U

F O U R M O R E P E N N S Y L V A N I A M A Y O R S

RYAN BELSKI, a senior sport managementmajor, is the mayor of Rices Landing,Pa., in Greene County. He creditsDr. Roy Yarbrough, the director of SportManagement Studies Program, withhelping him to succeed. “He told meto go for whatever my dreams are,”says Belski, who is also a volunteerfirefighter in Rices Landing.

COURTNEY GELLER ’10, who graduatedthis spring with a bachelor’s degree incriminal justice, is the mayor ofDeemston, Pa., in Washington County.“The criminal justice courses I have takenfit well into many of the things I have todo, and professor (Stephen) Whiteheadhas been a big help to me in creatingthe Deemston website,” says Geller, aBeth-Center Senior Center volunteer.“And Dr. (John) Cencich has beenamazing in helping me in all areas of life.”

MARY POPOVICH ’98, assistantprofessor in Cal U’s Department of HealthScience, is the mayor of West Newton,Pa., in Westmoreland County. “Educationchanged the way I process information andhow I react to the information I receive,”she says. “My educational backgroundand volunteer service (as an emergencymedical technician) help me utilize criticalthinking and research-based informationto bring issues forward.”

ROBERT PRAH ’06, Cal U’s director ofveterans affairs and a lieutenant in thePennsylvania National Guard, was mayorof Smithton, Pa., from 2006-2009.“Cal U’s core values are aligned with theArmy’s values,” he says. “Many of thecriminal justice courses I took providedan insight on leadership and built uponthe values that I used in office and havedeveloped through the military.”

‘‘We arealways lookingto get better.

’’CASEY DURDINES '07MAYOR, CALIFORNIA, PA

Casey Durdines ’07 took office as mayor of California Borough in 2006.

(Left) With a population of about 6,000, the 16-square-mile borough of California, Pa.,hugs a bend in the Monongahela River.

Joe Dochinez ‘51 was the borough‘s mayor from 1982 to 2002.

4 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 5

Promoting progressBoth men take pride in their efforts on behalf of their town.Dochinez oversaw expansion of water, sewer and power

lines into new areas of the 16-square-mile borough. The newborough building, the Center in the Woods, Rotary Park andTechnology Park all were constructed or expanded, and theMon Valley Expressway improved access.

“My motives were to improveour status, because we … neededchange,” says Dochinez, whowas active with the Mon ValleyProgress Council and still belongsto California’s Rotary. “Expandingwater and sewerage is still animportant goal today.”

Durdines stays involved withthe community as a volunteer

firefighter and a member of the borough’s historical societyand recreation authority.

As mayor, he initiated a Main Street Program to helpwith revitalization. A priority, he says, is ensuring publicsafety and enforcing laws and borough ordinances.

February’s record-setting snowstorm was both a challengeand learning experience, he adds.

“I work with all the (county and state) agencies to makesure that California is prepared in the event of such anemergency. We are always looking to get better.”

Different partiesAlthough their party affiliations differ, Democrat Dochinez

and Republican Durdines speak highly of one another.

“Casey is a straightforward, honest, good man,” Dochinezsays. “We communicate often about different issues, and he’sdone a good job.”

When flooding appeared likely this spring, Durdines gota call from his predecessor. The flood of 1985, among theworst in recent memory, occurred during Dochinez’s first term.

“Mayor Dochinez called me right away to exchangeideas and offer suggestions,” says Durdines, “It’s nice tohave somebody with all that experience who is willing totake the time. I look up to him as a mentor.”

For some alumni, the mayor’s job has been a steppingstoneto higher political office. Peter Daley ’72, ’76, for instance,served as California’s mayor from 1973-1981. Two years later,he took a seat in the state House, where he continues torepresent Pennsylvania’s 49th District. He remains engaged withhis alma mater as a member of Cal U’s Council of Trustees.

The relationship between “town and gown” is a concernfor every California mayor.

“I’ve always tried to present the University as an assetand tried to strengthen the bond,” says Dochinez. “I havealways looked at California and the University as home.”

Durdines’ constituents sometimes complain about trafficand noise. “The important thing to remember is that moststudents are great people who are ready and willing to giveback to the community,” he says.

“And the University presents an opportunity for ourcitizens not only to get a quality education, but also toexperience many first-rate cultural and athletic eventsclose to home.” �

By Bruce Wald ’85, Cal U information writer

They graduated from Cal U 56 yearsapart, but Joe Dochinez ’51 andCasey Durdines ’07 share a role

in the history of California Borough.Dochinez, 82, was the borough’s

mayor from 1982-2002. Durdines, 24,stepped into that office in 2006 andbegan his second term in January.

Not surprisingly, both politicians saytheir Cal U experience helped to buildtheir careers as public officials.

University mentorsCalifornia’s longest-serving mayor,

Dochinez says Emeritus PresidentGeorge Roadman ’41 and professorsDr. George Hart and Dr. Ted Nemethhad the greatest influence on hisphilosophy of life.

“They were great men, but certainlydifferent,” says Dochinez, who enrolledat Cal U after serving with the U.S.Marines Corps. “They made you sharp

and taught you to trust. They epitomizedcitizenship.”

The student body named Dochinez— a Hall of Fame football player — Cal’sMost Representative Student in 1950.He returned to his alma mater in 1961and spent the next 30 years workingon campus.

After teaching and stints as directorof student activities and assistant deanof men, he retired as an emeritus facultymember in 1991.

Dochinez entered the political arenain the 1950s, when he was elected toborough council.

“I was always interested in politics,but had no background,” he says.“I believe my overall experience at Calgave me confidence to speak my piece,and I soon had a good following.”

Durdines, who graduated with adegree in Public Administration, recallsclasses with history and political scienceprofessors Drs. Melanie Blumberg, JamesWood, Joe Heim and Mohamed Yamba.

“What they taught I found to bevery valuable in my position as mayor,”says Durdines, who also is boroughmanager for Windber, in SomersetCounty. “They gave me practicalknowledge in municipal governmentand intergovernmental relations. Eachof them also was great to talk with.”

Durdines, who received the AlumniAssociation’s Young Alumni Award in2009, says his training in StephenCovey’s 7 Habits of Highly EffectivePeople has been another political plus.

“I took this (training) after graduating,and it helped me change the way I thinkand the way I respond to situations I ampresented with,” he says.

Mayors past and presentshare alumni tiesTWO BOROUGH OFFICIALS LEARNEDLEADERSHIP AT CAL U

F O U R M O R E P E N N S Y L V A N I A M A Y O R S

RYAN BELSKI, a senior sport managementmajor, is the mayor of Rices Landing,Pa., in Greene County. He creditsDr. Roy Yarbrough, the director of SportManagement Studies Program, withhelping him to succeed. “He told meto go for whatever my dreams are,”says Belski, who is also a volunteerfirefighter in Rices Landing.

COURTNEY GELLER ’10, who graduatedthis spring with a bachelor’s degree incriminal justice, is the mayor ofDeemston, Pa., in Washington County.“The criminal justice courses I have takenfit well into many of the things I have todo, and professor (Stephen) Whiteheadhas been a big help to me in creatingthe Deemston website,” says Geller, aBeth-Center Senior Center volunteer.“And Dr. (John) Cencich has beenamazing in helping me in all areas of life.”

MARY POPOVICH ’98, assistantprofessor in Cal U’s Department of HealthScience, is the mayor of West Newton,Pa., in Westmoreland County. “Educationchanged the way I process information andhow I react to the information I receive,”she says. “My educational backgroundand volunteer service (as an emergencymedical technician) help me utilize criticalthinking and research-based informationto bring issues forward.”

ROBERT PRAH ’06, Cal U’s director ofveterans affairs and a lieutenant in thePennsylvania National Guard, was mayorof Smithton, Pa., from 2006-2009.“Cal U’s core values are aligned with theArmy’s values,” he says. “Many of thecriminal justice courses I took providedan insight on leadership and built uponthe values that I used in office and havedeveloped through the military.”

‘‘We arealways lookingto get better.

’’CASEY DURDINES '07MAYOR, CALIFORNIA, PA

Casey Durdines ’07 took office as mayor of California Borough in 2006.

(Left) With a population of about 6,000, the 16-square-mile borough of California, Pa.,hugs a bend in the Monongahela River.

Joe Dochinez ‘51 was the borough‘s mayor from 1982 to 2002.

4 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

Michaelene McForrester, RN-BSN ’08, is enrolled in the new Master of Science in Nursing programat Cal U. The flexible, online format lets her plan study time around her work schedule atMagee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.

‘We,thepeople...’Professor leads Cal U initiatives that promote political engagement

When the Founding Fatherspenned the Constitution ofthe United States, they issued

a mandate for civic engagement. Inparagraph after paragraph they remindus that the right to vote and the privilegeof being represented in Congress shouldnever be taken lightly.

Today, the American DemocracyProject (ADP) rekindles the flame thatwas ignited 234 years ago. Sponsoredby the American Association of StateColleges and Universities (AASCU) incollaboration with The New York Times,the ADP is a national program that seeksto foster a greater understanding andcommitment in the civic life of ourgovernment among a network of 220public colleges and universities.

Dr. Melanie J.Blumberg, professorof political scienceand campus directorof Cal U’s ADP,champions theorganization becauseit excites studentsabout becomingactive citizens intheir community.

“Cal U wasone of the first colleges to pilot theAmerican Democracy Project back in2003,” Blumberg explains. “Since dayone, we’ve been extremely active.”

Discussion and dialogueCecilia Orphan, national project

manager for the American DemocracyProject, AASCU, says “active” doesn’tbegin to describe the ADP at CaliforniaUniversity.

“Dr. Blumberg has been an indispensiblecollaborator on the national ADP andhas shown brilliant organizing skills atCal U, institutionalizing the programand invigorating the Cal U students tobecome politically and civically engaged.”

Among other things, the ADP hasbrought prominent speakers to campus,sponsored candidate and issue forums,conducted a Debate Watch and ElectionAnalysis Forum before and after the2008 presidential elections, and madeit possible for two students to attend thenational Democratic and Republicanconventions.

Dr. Gary J. DeLorenzo, assistantprofessor of computer information systemsand a member of Cal U’s ADP AdvisoryBoard, notes another benefit: “ADPreaches across all disciplines to exposethe University community to interestingtopics that generally do not fit in ourrespective disciplines. It provides anopen dialogue and multiple viewpointson important issues, and gives us all amore well-rounded knowledge base.”

Advisory board member Dr. David G.Argent agrees. As chair of the Departmentof Biological and Environmental Sciencesand associate professor of Wildlife andFisheries Sciences, Argent was especiallyexcited when the ADP brought environ-mental activist Diane Wilson to campuslast November.

“You don’t have to be a biologistto know that clean drinking water isimportant,” he says, “but after Wilson’spresentation everyone understood therelevance of public policy and howit affects our future.”

One of the most high-profile eventssponsored by ADP was the 2007 DeliberativePolling® Initiative on the topic of riverhealth. Cal U was one of 16 colleges anduniversities selected to survey opinionsbefore and after informed discussion.

Following a model used worldwideto demonstrate what an informedpublic resembles after being exposed tounbiased expert opinions, the DeliberativePolling Initiative at Cal U spanned severalweeks and many events.

More than 800 students participated inthe online survey before any discussion.

James S. Fishkin, director of theCenter of Deliberative Democracy atStanford University, and George Mehaffy,AASCU vice president for academicleadership and change, visited campuson Deliberation Day to prompt peopleto think about issues.

Trained facilitators moderated smallgroup discussions, and policy expertsdiscussed the topic in plenary sessions.Two weeks later, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.spoke on environmental issues and hiswork as president of Waterkeeper Alliance.

Student opinion shifted significantlyafter the events.

“Our hope was to educate futurecommunity leaders about the importanceof listening to others and makinginformed judgments,” says Blumberg.“I believe we accomplished that goal.”

Campaign consultantsA self-proclaimed workaholic,

Blumberg never tires of discussingissues and the politics that fuel them.She recently designed a survey for the“Electoral Voices” monograph, whichthe national ADP used to determinewhat various colleges and universitiesdo to encourage citizenship.

Closer to home, she utilized herexperience as a political campaignconsultant to create one of the mostinnovative organizations on campus —Cal Campaign Consultants, or CCC.

This interdisciplinary group — theonly one of its kind in the country —provides students with practicalexperience in designing and managingpolitical campaigns. Interested studentsdevelop campaign strategies, organizedebates, write news releases and mobilizevoters for both campus and local elections.

Communications and graphicdesign majors, as well as those fromtheater arts, psychology and politicalscience, all bring different skills to theorganization.

“It’s a melting-pot experience,”explains Dr. Emily M. Sweitzer, associateprofessor of justice and behavior crimeand a CCC faculty adviser.

“Students by nature areinterdisciplinary,” says fellow advisorGreg Harrison, chair of the Departmentof Art and Design. “Unfortunately,

most of theircourse work is not.The club allowsfaculty and studentsto discuss commonissues from differentpoints of view.”

Lauren G. Snyder,current presidentof CCC, is mostproud of the analysisforums sponsoredby the group.

“Recently wehosted a reality

check on the Obama presidency — ishe doing what he promised? Turnoutwas absolutely wonderful. The studentsasked thoughtful questions and reallygot involved.”

“CCC is really a wonderfulorganization,” says Blumberg. “I amso proud of the work they do. When

universities hear about this organization,they always want to know more.”

To that end, Snyder will present apaper, “Getting Students Into ThePolitical Trenches,” at the ADPconference in June.

Many CCC alumni go on to graduateprograms in politics or start careers inrelated fields. Shendy Hershfield, aDecember 2009 graduate and formerCCC president, now works as acommunity engagement productionassistant for Fox News Channel inNew York.

“A lot of students don’t realize theimportance of campaigning and howit can influence the outcome of anelection,” she says. “CCC is a greatway for students to get involved in adifferent aspect of politics.”

“The American Democracy Projecthelps to build students’ character byhelping them make more informeddecisions,” adds Dr. Mary A. O’Connor,a professor in the Department ofNursing and another member of theADP Advisory Board.

“It is an intelligent, innovativeand interesting multi-dimensionalmethod of exposing students toeverything that is happening in theworld around them.” �

By Lindy Kravec, a Peters Township-based writer

Dr. Melanie Blumberg

KDKA-TV political analyst Jon Delano (inset) serves as moderator for a panel of political experts whooffered a ‘reality check’ on the first year of the Obama administration. The American DemocracyProject has invited the panel to return after the 2010 election.

6 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 7

A Cal U faculty panel discusses the aftermath of the earthquake in Haitiat a special convocation sponsored by the American Democracy Project.

The power of

Michaelene McForrester, RN-BSN ’08, is enrolled in the new Master of Science in Nursing programat Cal U. The flexible, online format lets her plan study time around her work schedule atMagee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.

‘We,thepeople...’Professor leads Cal U initiatives that promote political engagement

When the Founding Fatherspenned the Constitution ofthe United States, they issued

a mandate for civic engagement. Inparagraph after paragraph they remindus that the right to vote and the privilegeof being represented in Congress shouldnever be taken lightly.

Today, the American DemocracyProject (ADP) rekindles the flame thatwas ignited 234 years ago. Sponsoredby the American Association of StateColleges and Universities (AASCU) incollaboration with The New York Times,the ADP is a national program that seeksto foster a greater understanding andcommitment in the civic life of ourgovernment among a network of 220public colleges and universities.

Dr. Melanie J.Blumberg, professorof political scienceand campus directorof Cal U’s ADP,champions theorganization becauseit excites studentsabout becomingactive citizens intheir community.

“Cal U wasone of the first colleges to pilot theAmerican Democracy Project back in2003,” Blumberg explains. “Since dayone, we’ve been extremely active.”

Discussion and dialogueCecilia Orphan, national project

manager for the American DemocracyProject, AASCU, says “active” doesn’tbegin to describe the ADP at CaliforniaUniversity.

“Dr. Blumberg has been an indispensiblecollaborator on the national ADP andhas shown brilliant organizing skills atCal U, institutionalizing the programand invigorating the Cal U students tobecome politically and civically engaged.”

Among other things, the ADP hasbrought prominent speakers to campus,sponsored candidate and issue forums,conducted a Debate Watch and ElectionAnalysis Forum before and after the2008 presidential elections, and madeit possible for two students to attend thenational Democratic and Republicanconventions.

Dr. Gary J. DeLorenzo, assistantprofessor of computer information systemsand a member of Cal U’s ADP AdvisoryBoard, notes another benefit: “ADPreaches across all disciplines to exposethe University community to interestingtopics that generally do not fit in ourrespective disciplines. It provides anopen dialogue and multiple viewpointson important issues, and gives us all amore well-rounded knowledge base.”

Advisory board member Dr. David G.Argent agrees. As chair of the Departmentof Biological and Environmental Sciencesand associate professor of Wildlife andFisheries Sciences, Argent was especiallyexcited when the ADP brought environ-mental activist Diane Wilson to campuslast November.

“You don’t have to be a biologistto know that clean drinking water isimportant,” he says, “but after Wilson’spresentation everyone understood therelevance of public policy and howit affects our future.”

One of the most high-profile eventssponsored by ADP was the 2007 DeliberativePolling® Initiative on the topic of riverhealth. Cal U was one of 16 colleges anduniversities selected to survey opinionsbefore and after informed discussion.

Following a model used worldwideto demonstrate what an informedpublic resembles after being exposed tounbiased expert opinions, the DeliberativePolling Initiative at Cal U spanned severalweeks and many events.

More than 800 students participated inthe online survey before any discussion.

James S. Fishkin, director of theCenter of Deliberative Democracy atStanford University, and George Mehaffy,AASCU vice president for academicleadership and change, visited campuson Deliberation Day to prompt peopleto think about issues.

Trained facilitators moderated smallgroup discussions, and policy expertsdiscussed the topic in plenary sessions.Two weeks later, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.spoke on environmental issues and hiswork as president of Waterkeeper Alliance.

Student opinion shifted significantlyafter the events.

“Our hope was to educate futurecommunity leaders about the importanceof listening to others and makinginformed judgments,” says Blumberg.“I believe we accomplished that goal.”

Campaign consultantsA self-proclaimed workaholic,

Blumberg never tires of discussingissues and the politics that fuel them.She recently designed a survey for the“Electoral Voices” monograph, whichthe national ADP used to determinewhat various colleges and universitiesdo to encourage citizenship.

Closer to home, she utilized herexperience as a political campaignconsultant to create one of the mostinnovative organizations on campus —Cal Campaign Consultants, or CCC.

This interdisciplinary group — theonly one of its kind in the country —provides students with practicalexperience in designing and managingpolitical campaigns. Interested studentsdevelop campaign strategies, organizedebates, write news releases and mobilizevoters for both campus and local elections.

Communications and graphicdesign majors, as well as those fromtheater arts, psychology and politicalscience, all bring different skills to theorganization.

“It’s a melting-pot experience,”explains Dr. Emily M. Sweitzer, associateprofessor of justice and behavior crimeand a CCC faculty adviser.

“Students by nature areinterdisciplinary,” says fellow advisorGreg Harrison, chair of the Departmentof Art and Design. “Unfortunately,

most of theircourse work is not.The club allowsfaculty and studentsto discuss commonissues from differentpoints of view.”

Lauren G. Snyder,current presidentof CCC, is mostproud of the analysisforums sponsoredby the group.

“Recently wehosted a reality

check on the Obama presidency — ishe doing what he promised? Turnoutwas absolutely wonderful. The studentsasked thoughtful questions and reallygot involved.”

“CCC is really a wonderfulorganization,” says Blumberg. “I amso proud of the work they do. When

universities hear about this organization,they always want to know more.”

To that end, Snyder will present apaper, “Getting Students Into ThePolitical Trenches,” at the ADPconference in June.

Many CCC alumni go on to graduateprograms in politics or start careers inrelated fields. Shendy Hershfield, aDecember 2009 graduate and formerCCC president, now works as acommunity engagement productionassistant for Fox News Channel inNew York.

“A lot of students don’t realize theimportance of campaigning and howit can influence the outcome of anelection,” she says. “CCC is a greatway for students to get involved in adifferent aspect of politics.”

“The American Democracy Projecthelps to build students’ character byhelping them make more informeddecisions,” adds Dr. Mary A. O’Connor,a professor in the Department ofNursing and another member of theADP Advisory Board.

“It is an intelligent, innovativeand interesting multi-dimensionalmethod of exposing students toeverything that is happening in theworld around them.” �

By Lindy Kravec, a Peters Township-based writer

Dr. Melanie Blumberg

KDKA-TV political analyst Jon Delano (inset) serves as moderator for a panel of political experts whooffered a ‘reality check’ on the first year of the Obama administration. The American DemocracyProject has invited the panel to return after the 2010 election.

6 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 7

A Cal U faculty panel discusses the aftermath of the earthquake in Haitiat a special convocation sponsored by the American Democracy Project.

The power of

Kevin Munnelly ’75 was studentgovernment vice president in the early1970s. He also served as president ofthe student body.

Like Fernandes, he says the leadershipskills he gained at Cal U have provenvaluable in his position as principal atCentral Bucks West High School, nearPhiladelphia.

“Bill Booker ’74, who was the studentgovernment president, and I werepretty much a team,” Munnelly says.“It was also great to work with JoeDochinez ’51, who was the dean ofstudent services, because he taughtus what was pragmatic in terms ofstudents’ wishes.

“You can’t accomplish everything.Some things take longer. It’s great toknow there is a process to accomplishchange.”

Tim Gorske ’62 was a member ofwhat then was called Student Congressand the Student Cabinet advisorycommittee. Now the vice president ofsales and marketing for PresidentialSteel Buildings, he also cites theleadership opportunities.

“I learned about conflict resolution,how to negotiate,” he says. “I was veryfortunate to have the Californiaexperience.”

Pinardi says current students whoare involved with SGA learn a lot aboutthe art of compromise throughcommittee work and the budget process.

“I think it’s a good experience whenthey are chairing a committee, butmaybe the students aren’t doing whatthey’re supposed to do. They have tofind a way to still get things done.”

Each spring, the 17 membersof Cabinet must consider thefunding requests of each new andexisting student group. SAI providestraining beforehand, so thatstudent leaders feel more comfortablewith the process.

“The Cabinet has to research all ofthis very carefully, because it does impactstudent fees,” Pinardi says.

After discussion, debate andstudent input, the Cabinet makes itsrecommendations to SAI, and thestudent body votes on the budget atthe annual SAI corporation meeting.

“Cal U has always given studentsthe ability to make decisions and tolead,” Fernandes says. “There is a truebelief in the students.”

Pinardi says Jackie Davis, theoutgoing SGA president, is someone

who has flourished as her leadershipresponsibilities have increased.

“She has developed into anextremely confident, proactive leaderwho is able to keep goals in viewbut also break them down intomanageable steps and effectively workwith her fellow students,” she says.

“My involvement with StudentGovernment has helped me to breakout of my shell and become moreinvolved,” Davis says.

She and others in SGA worked toorganize the The Big Event at Cal Uearlier this spring. The nationwideinitiative encourages students tovolunteer in the community on projectssuch as painting and window washing.

“The Big Event reinforces that Cal Ustudents are a positive part of thiscommunity, place a high value onservice and respect their neighbors,”Pinardi says.

Adds Davis, “It teaches us so muchabout teamwork and giving back.”

Fernandes also is giving back —to a new generation of student leaders.

“I’m trying to teach them the wayI was taught,” he says. “Cal gave allof us the opportunity to explore andsucceed and fail.

“What I got at Cal has turnedinto a career.” �

By Wendy Mackall, assistant communicationsdirector at Cal U

8 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 9

About Student GovernmentStudents are automatically members of the Student Association Inc.,

the parent organization of the Student Government Association (SGA), if theyare enrolled full time and have paid all established activities fees.

SGA includes a Senate and a House of Representatives. Sixty students —a designated number from each class — are elected as senators. House membersinclude one representative from each of the roughly 100 clubs and organizationson campus.

Seventeen members of the Senate are elected to serve on the Cabinet,which makes budget decisions for the clubs and organizations and determineswhich ones are recognized officially.

The president, vice president, financial secretary, recording secretaryand corresponding secretary, along with the staff adviser, make up theSGA executive board.

‘‘Some students

obviously

‘have it.’

’’NANCY PINARDI

OFFICE OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

AND SERVICES

Practical experiencefor young leadersStudent government builds character, encourages community service

Even as freshmen, says Dr. Nancy Pinardi, somestudents obviously “have it.”

“You can spot them at fall orientation andfreshmen events, those students who would makegreat leaders on campus,” says Pinardi, associate vicepresident in the Office of Student Development andServices at Cal U. “Other students develop into leadersthrough their experiences at the University.”

One of the ways Cal U nurtures this leadershippotential is through the Student Government Association(SGA). The organization establishes communicationbetween students and administration and faculty.It sponsors activities to enrich campus life. It alsosets funding for approximately 120 clubs andorganizations.

SGA is part of the Student Association Inc. (SAI),the nonprofit corporation owned and operated bystudents of Cal U. Both SAI and SGA provideopportunities for students to develop leadershipskills and community service interests.

“Participating in student government is a great wayto connect with students with similar interests,” Pinardisays. “It also helps them to develop the skills employerswill be looking for after graduation.”

Brian Fernandes ’99, the director of student andenrollment services at Penn State Fayette, the EberlyCampus, admits he was a “cocky freshman” when hefirst came to California.

“But Cal U built my character from ground zero,and it really started with SGA, because that helped melearn how to interact with so many people,” he says.

Almost immediately, he became involved with studentgovernment as recording secretary.

Then there was an unexpected opening in the Senate,which he filled. He ran for SGA president as a sophomoreand served two years in that position before spendinghis senior year in an advisory role while he did work forSAI and the Interfraternity Council. He also served onthe Board of Student Government Presidents for thePennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

“The reason I do what I do today was because of myexperiences at Cal U,” Fernandes says.

He met his wife, Jill ’99, when she was a senator andhe was president.

“Every positive thing in my life somehow goes backto Cal U,” says Fernandes, who currently serves as anadviser to Cal U’s recently re-launched Sigma TauGamma fraternity.

Jackie Davis, president of the Student GovernmentAssociation and the Student Association Inc. for 2009-2010.

Kevin Munnelly ’75 was studentgovernment vice president in the early1970s. He also served as president ofthe student body.

Like Fernandes, he says the leadershipskills he gained at Cal U have provenvaluable in his position as principal atCentral Bucks West High School, nearPhiladelphia.

“Bill Booker ’74, who was the studentgovernment president, and I werepretty much a team,” Munnelly says.“It was also great to work with JoeDochinez ’51, who was the dean ofstudent services, because he taughtus what was pragmatic in terms ofstudents’ wishes.

“You can’t accomplish everything.Some things take longer. It’s great toknow there is a process to accomplishchange.”

Tim Gorske ’62 was a member ofwhat then was called Student Congressand the Student Cabinet advisorycommittee. Now the vice president ofsales and marketing for PresidentialSteel Buildings, he also cites theleadership opportunities.

“I learned about conflict resolution,how to negotiate,” he says. “I was veryfortunate to have the Californiaexperience.”

Pinardi says current students whoare involved with SGA learn a lot aboutthe art of compromise throughcommittee work and the budget process.

“I think it’s a good experience whenthey are chairing a committee, butmaybe the students aren’t doing whatthey’re supposed to do. They have tofind a way to still get things done.”

Each spring, the 17 membersof Cabinet must consider thefunding requests of each new andexisting student group. SAI providestraining beforehand, so thatstudent leaders feel more comfortablewith the process.

“The Cabinet has to research all ofthis very carefully, because it does impactstudent fees,” Pinardi says.

After discussion, debate andstudent input, the Cabinet makes itsrecommendations to SAI, and thestudent body votes on the budget atthe annual SAI corporation meeting.

“Cal U has always given studentsthe ability to make decisions and tolead,” Fernandes says. “There is a truebelief in the students.”

Pinardi says Jackie Davis, theoutgoing SGA president, is someone

who has flourished as her leadershipresponsibilities have increased.

“She has developed into anextremely confident, proactive leaderwho is able to keep goals in viewbut also break them down intomanageable steps and effectively workwith her fellow students,” she says.

“My involvement with StudentGovernment has helped me to breakout of my shell and become moreinvolved,” Davis says.

She and others in SGA worked toorganize the The Big Event at Cal Uearlier this spring. The nationwideinitiative encourages students tovolunteer in the community on projectssuch as painting and window washing.

“The Big Event reinforces that Cal Ustudents are a positive part of thiscommunity, place a high value onservice and respect their neighbors,”Pinardi says.

Adds Davis, “It teaches us so muchabout teamwork and giving back.”

Fernandes also is giving back —to a new generation of student leaders.

“I’m trying to teach them the wayI was taught,” he says. “Cal gave allof us the opportunity to explore andsucceed and fail.

“What I got at Cal has turnedinto a career.” �

By Wendy Mackall, assistant communicationsdirector at Cal U

8 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 9

About Student GovernmentStudents are automatically members of the Student Association Inc.,

the parent organization of the Student Government Association (SGA), if theyare enrolled full time and have paid all established activities fees.

SGA includes a Senate and a House of Representatives. Sixty students —a designated number from each class — are elected as senators. House membersinclude one representative from each of the roughly 100 clubs and organizationson campus.

Seventeen members of the Senate are elected to serve on the Cabinet,which makes budget decisions for the clubs and organizations and determineswhich ones are recognized officially.

The president, vice president, financial secretary, recording secretaryand corresponding secretary, along with the staff adviser, make up theSGA executive board.

‘‘Some students

obviously

‘have it.’

’’NANCY PINARDI

OFFICE OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

AND SERVICES

Practical experiencefor young leadersStudent government builds character, encourages community service

Even as freshmen, says Dr. Nancy Pinardi, somestudents obviously “have it.”

“You can spot them at fall orientation andfreshmen events, those students who would makegreat leaders on campus,” says Pinardi, associate vicepresident in the Office of Student Development andServices at Cal U. “Other students develop into leadersthrough their experiences at the University.”

One of the ways Cal U nurtures this leadershippotential is through the Student Government Association(SGA). The organization establishes communicationbetween students and administration and faculty.It sponsors activities to enrich campus life. It alsosets funding for approximately 120 clubs andorganizations.

SGA is part of the Student Association Inc. (SAI),the nonprofit corporation owned and operated bystudents of Cal U. Both SAI and SGA provideopportunities for students to develop leadershipskills and community service interests.

“Participating in student government is a great wayto connect with students with similar interests,” Pinardisays. “It also helps them to develop the skills employerswill be looking for after graduation.”

Brian Fernandes ’99, the director of student andenrollment services at Penn State Fayette, the EberlyCampus, admits he was a “cocky freshman” when hefirst came to California.

“But Cal U built my character from ground zero,and it really started with SGA, because that helped melearn how to interact with so many people,” he says.

Almost immediately, he became involved with studentgovernment as recording secretary.

Then there was an unexpected opening in the Senate,which he filled. He ran for SGA president as a sophomoreand served two years in that position before spendinghis senior year in an advisory role while he did work forSAI and the Interfraternity Council. He also served onthe Board of Student Government Presidents for thePennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

“The reason I do what I do today was because of myexperiences at Cal U,” Fernandes says.

He met his wife, Jill ’99, when she was a senator andhe was president.

“Every positive thing in my life somehow goes backto Cal U,” says Fernandes, who currently serves as anadviser to Cal U’s recently re-launched Sigma TauGamma fraternity.

Jackie Davis, president of the Student GovernmentAssociation and the Student Association Inc. for 2009-2010.

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 1110 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

grant of $5,000 from the FacultyProfessional Development Committee(FDPC). These grants supportcollaborative efforts related to teachingand scholarship.

“There is so much more to the areathan the stereotypes of poverty andlack of education,” Twiss says. “Thereis a really rich history to be celebratedand embraced.”

Twiss was encouraged to studyNorthern Appalachia by Dr. WilburnHayden, an expert on African-Americansin Appalachia and a former director ofCal U’s Master of Social Work program.In 2005 she attended an AppalachianStudies conference.

“I immediately fell in love withit,” she says. “It was like being at afeast. You could go from one sessionon poetry, to another on ecology, toanother on public health. There werefiddlers in the hallway and groups ofhigh school students doing slampoetry. There were sessions on socialjustice and environmental issues.

“But most of the people were fromSouthern and Central Appalachia.Most of Pennsylvania is in the northernregion, yet people here don’t tend toidentify themselves as living inAppalachia.

“Our histories are linked. Wewouldn’t have had the United Steel-workers here without the United MineWorkers, for example. So this is anopportunity to celebrate our role inthe region.”

A ‘brown bag’ full of knowledgeIn 2007, Argent, Twiss and others

who were interested in the idea ofcollaborating on topics relevant toNorthern Appalachia met to developbroad subject categories and to identifyfaculty who might already be doingresearch in those areas. The idea behindthe network is to look at existingresearch in the context of how itrelates to the region.

Cal U faculty experts began topresent their information at informal“brown-bag” lunchtime sessions thatare open to members of the campusand the community.

Casey Conaway, a counselor forthe federally funded Upward Boundprogram for Fayette and Greene countiesat Cal U, and Laura Giachetti, assistantdirector of Upward Bound, were twoof the presenters.

“By law, Upward Bound has toserve students who meet the definitionof ‘low income,’ which is 150 percentof the poverty definition,” Conawayexplains. “In Greene and Fayettecounties, about 40 percent of house-holds are at or below 150 percent.So that tells us a lot about theeconomic circumstances of familiesin those areas.”

Other faculty presentations havebeen on topics such as access to arteducation, the types of fish found inthe Monongahela River, and archaeo-logical findings from Ten Mile Creek,a site in southwestern Pennsylvania.Future sessions are being planned onsubjects such as gas drilling in theMarcellus Shale formation.

Outside experts, student involvementIn March, the NAN invited

Dr. Shirley Stewart Burns, authorof Bringing Down the Mountain andco-editor of Coal Country, to discussthe effects of mountaintop removalmining on the communities of southernWest Virginia. Burns is a native ofWyoming County, W.Va.

“One piece that Shirley and otherstalk about is the environmentaldevastation that results from takingthese mountaintops away,” Twiss says.“Whenever you hear someone likeShirley speak, you think, ‘Maybe weshould care more about this. It’s nothappening in our state, but it’s rightnext door.’”

In April, student winners of the“Northern Appalachia is …” essay,research poster and art contest werechosen, and their work was displayedon campus during Academic ExcellenceWeek.

“We are trying to put ourselves outthere and share what we know withour students,” Conaway says of thecompetition. “We always strive tobring it back around to them.”

“We also want to encourage themto develop and interest in their regionthat may be expressed in their ownfuture research and work,” Twiss adds.

Next stepsTwiss and Argent want to develop a

more structured center, similar to onesat Indiana University of Pennsylvaniaand St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.A website is being developed for theNAN that will house faculty and studentwork. When it is launched, hopefullylater this year, it will be linked tothe nationally known and respectedAppalachian Studies Association site.

“We want to be able to put up livecontent and reports,” Argent says ofthe site. “One of the goals is to be ableto get to faculty work in three clicks(of a computer mouse). This work willbe relevant to the region and useful tomembers of the community.”

“President Armenti has articulatedhis vision about building bridges to thecommunity, and the way this learningcommunity is conceptualized and theway we’re thinking about building aninstitute is very much about thosekinds of partnerships,” Twiss says.

Information about the NAN isavailable in the business and communitysection of Cal U’s website, www.calu.edu.

Both agree that keeping thecollaborative nature of the currentnetwork is key.

“One of the core components ofgetting an FPDC grant is that it has tobe a cross-department or cross-campusproject. This has been really integratedfrom the word go,” Argent says.

Adds Twiss: “Some of theparticipation and interest has beendiscipline-specific, but a lot of it is,‘I live here. I care about this place.So how can I engage in this regionin a meaningful way?’” �

By Wendy Mackall, assistant communicationsdirector at Cal U

Network shares researchabout NorthernAppalachiaSteeped in history, the region includesmost of Pennsylvania

An informal team of faculty, staff and students at CaliforniaUniversity is sharing research related to the often-underappreciatedarea of the country known as Northern Appalachia.

The 20-plus contributors to the Northern Appalachian Network(NAN) are providing and discussing data related to the history, culture,education, economy, public policy, environment and health of theregion, which includes most of Pennsylvania and parts of New York,Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia.

The goal is to make this scholarship available to others whostudy and live within Appalachia, a culturally diverse yet geographicallyconnected region of the United States that stretches from New Yorkto Alabama.

Dr. Pamela Twiss, chair of the Department of Social Work, andDr. David Argent, chair of the Department of Biological and EnvironmentalScience, coordinate the network, which has received a learning community

Dr. Pamela Twiss and Dr. David Argent coordinate the Northern Appalachian Network.

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 1110 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

grant of $5,000 from the FacultyProfessional Development Committee(FDPC). These grants supportcollaborative efforts related to teachingand scholarship.

“There is so much more to the areathan the stereotypes of poverty andlack of education,” Twiss says. “Thereis a really rich history to be celebratedand embraced.”

Twiss was encouraged to studyNorthern Appalachia by Dr. WilburnHayden, an expert on African-Americansin Appalachia and a former director ofCal U’s Master of Social Work program.In 2005 she attended an AppalachianStudies conference.

“I immediately fell in love withit,” she says. “It was like being at afeast. You could go from one sessionon poetry, to another on ecology, toanother on public health. There werefiddlers in the hallway and groups ofhigh school students doing slampoetry. There were sessions on socialjustice and environmental issues.

“But most of the people were fromSouthern and Central Appalachia.Most of Pennsylvania is in the northernregion, yet people here don’t tend toidentify themselves as living inAppalachia.

“Our histories are linked. Wewouldn’t have had the United Steel-workers here without the United MineWorkers, for example. So this is anopportunity to celebrate our role inthe region.”

A ‘brown bag’ full of knowledgeIn 2007, Argent, Twiss and others

who were interested in the idea ofcollaborating on topics relevant toNorthern Appalachia met to developbroad subject categories and to identifyfaculty who might already be doingresearch in those areas. The idea behindthe network is to look at existingresearch in the context of how itrelates to the region.

Cal U faculty experts began topresent their information at informal“brown-bag” lunchtime sessions thatare open to members of the campusand the community.

Casey Conaway, a counselor forthe federally funded Upward Boundprogram for Fayette and Greene countiesat Cal U, and Laura Giachetti, assistantdirector of Upward Bound, were twoof the presenters.

“By law, Upward Bound has toserve students who meet the definitionof ‘low income,’ which is 150 percentof the poverty definition,” Conawayexplains. “In Greene and Fayettecounties, about 40 percent of house-holds are at or below 150 percent.So that tells us a lot about theeconomic circumstances of familiesin those areas.”

Other faculty presentations havebeen on topics such as access to arteducation, the types of fish found inthe Monongahela River, and archaeo-logical findings from Ten Mile Creek,a site in southwestern Pennsylvania.Future sessions are being planned onsubjects such as gas drilling in theMarcellus Shale formation.

Outside experts, student involvementIn March, the NAN invited

Dr. Shirley Stewart Burns, authorof Bringing Down the Mountain andco-editor of Coal Country, to discussthe effects of mountaintop removalmining on the communities of southernWest Virginia. Burns is a native ofWyoming County, W.Va.

“One piece that Shirley and otherstalk about is the environmentaldevastation that results from takingthese mountaintops away,” Twiss says.“Whenever you hear someone likeShirley speak, you think, ‘Maybe weshould care more about this. It’s nothappening in our state, but it’s rightnext door.’”

In April, student winners of the“Northern Appalachia is …” essay,research poster and art contest werechosen, and their work was displayedon campus during Academic ExcellenceWeek.

“We are trying to put ourselves outthere and share what we know withour students,” Conaway says of thecompetition. “We always strive tobring it back around to them.”

“We also want to encourage themto develop and interest in their regionthat may be expressed in their ownfuture research and work,” Twiss adds.

Next stepsTwiss and Argent want to develop a

more structured center, similar to onesat Indiana University of Pennsylvaniaand St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.A website is being developed for theNAN that will house faculty and studentwork. When it is launched, hopefullylater this year, it will be linked tothe nationally known and respectedAppalachian Studies Association site.

“We want to be able to put up livecontent and reports,” Argent says ofthe site. “One of the goals is to be ableto get to faculty work in three clicks(of a computer mouse). This work willbe relevant to the region and useful tomembers of the community.”

“President Armenti has articulatedhis vision about building bridges to thecommunity, and the way this learningcommunity is conceptualized and theway we’re thinking about building aninstitute is very much about thosekinds of partnerships,” Twiss says.

Information about the NAN isavailable in the business and communitysection of Cal U’s website, www.calu.edu.

Both agree that keeping thecollaborative nature of the currentnetwork is key.

“One of the core components ofgetting an FPDC grant is that it has tobe a cross-department or cross-campusproject. This has been really integratedfrom the word go,” Argent says.

Adds Twiss: “Some of theparticipation and interest has beendiscipline-specific, but a lot of it is,‘I live here. I care about this place.So how can I engage in this regionin a meaningful way?’” �

By Wendy Mackall, assistant communicationsdirector at Cal U

Network shares researchabout NorthernAppalachiaSteeped in history, the region includesmost of Pennsylvania

An informal team of faculty, staff and students at CaliforniaUniversity is sharing research related to the often-underappreciatedarea of the country known as Northern Appalachia.

The 20-plus contributors to the Northern Appalachian Network(NAN) are providing and discussing data related to the history, culture,education, economy, public policy, environment and health of theregion, which includes most of Pennsylvania and parts of New York,Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia.

The goal is to make this scholarship available to others whostudy and live within Appalachia, a culturally diverse yet geographicallyconnected region of the United States that stretches from New Yorkto Alabama.

Dr. Pamela Twiss, chair of the Department of Social Work, andDr. David Argent, chair of the Department of Biological and EnvironmentalScience, coordinate the network, which has received a learning community

Dr. Pamela Twiss and Dr. David Argent coordinate the Northern Appalachian Network.

Markley currently is taking all ofhis classes online, although the abilityto complete a degree over the Internetdepends on the major and what creditsmay have been transferredfrom other institutions.Not all courses areavailable online.

“I find it very edifying,and I have grown in myself-confidence becauseof it,” Markley says of hisstudies. “The professorsat Cal U are great, veryeasy-going and opento things.”

Now a seasonedlearner, Markley hasadvice for students of anyage. “You have to study,” he says.“You have to read the things they tellyou to read and not skip over them.”

Markley credits his mother withproviding him with the inspiration topursue a bachelor’s degree in his 60s.

“My mother went to Cal U,” herecalls. “She was a nurse and instructorat Washington Hospital at the time.And I thought if my mother could do it,

so could I.”Greene says some

older adults are nervousabout going back toschool. “So many peoplesay, ‘I’m too old to learn,’but you’re not.”

She hopes Markley’ssuccess story will inspirethem to try something new.

After all, she says,“anything worth havingis worth working andwaiting for.”

Adds Markley: “Listen,just because you’re not getting yourdegree now because of work or familyor whatever reason doesn’t mean youcan’t do it later.” �

By Wendy Mackall, assistant communicationsdirector at Cal U

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 13

It has taken awhile, Pastor JamesS. Markley acknowledges, but hefinally is pursuing his bachelor’s

degree.Markley, 65, is enrolled in the

60+ College Advantage Program (CAP),which enables Pennsylvania residentsages 60 and older to take collegecourses tuition-free.

Classes may be taken for personalenrichment or for a degree. All coursesoffered at Cal U are available to CAPstudents.

Terrie Greene, executive directorof Lifelong Learning at Cal U, says21 students currently are enrolled inthe program.

“For some students, it’s a lifelong

goal to finally obtain their degree,”she says. “Some enroll just for a singlecourse. They may want to learn moreabout art, music or photography.”

“I’m doing it for several reasons,”says Markley, who is pursuing aBachelor of Science degree in scienceand technology. “I’m interested inmaybe going into the missionaryfield, and I think a bachelor’s degreewill be helpful to me. I’m also doingit for personal satisfaction.”

Markley, a U.S. Army veteran,currently pastors four United Methodistchurches in the Washington, Pa., area.He has an associate degree in businessfrom Waynesburg College, which hecompleted after the steel mill in whichhe worked for 30 years closed. Healso graduated from the MethodistTheological School of Ohio.

‘‘Anything

worth having

is worth

working and

waiting for.

’’TERRIE GREENEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

CAL U LIFELONG LEARNING

Pastor James S. Markley meets with Terri Greene,executive director of Lifelong Learning.

SUMMER COLLEGECourses are offered at convenient times,and many are available online.

THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLYEFFECTIVE PEOPLEBusinesses andnonprofit employers canlearn and apply these FranklinCoveybusiness concepts, presented by trainerfacilitators and based on a best-sellingbook by Dr. Stephen R. Covey.

EVENING COLLEGENon-traditional studentsmay completedegree programs, or take courses forpersonal or professional development.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTWith the resources to offer customizedworkforce training, theOffice of LifelongLearning is a workforce development

solution for regional businesses. Support,assistanceandcustomizedprogramscanhelp to develop employee capabilities.

EARLY ADMIT HIGH SCHOOLStudents can get a head start on theircollege education by enrolling as anon-degree student. Contact LifelongLearning for admission requirements.

ROBOTICS CAMPOfferedJune21-25, this camp is intendedto motivate the most creative mindsand prepare students in grades 9-12to be future leaders in a high-techworld.Students learn about animatronics, 3-Drapid prototyping, mechatronics, andagile robotics in ahands-onenvironment.

SUMMER EDUCATIONALENRICHMENT FOR KIDS (SEEK)For children in grades 1 through 8, SEEKemphasizes the exploration of newideas. This summer’s classes will beheld July 12-16 and Aug. 2-6.

UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE SERVICESThis office can assist in the planningof corporate training and seminars,executive retreats, strategy meetingsandmore. The summer camp programassists with academic, sports, religious,nonprofit and youth camps and events.

For more information about any of theseprograms, including 60+CAP, call TerrieGreene in theOffice of Lifelong Learning at724-938-5840or (toll-free) 866-268-9154.

12 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

60+CAPTO QUALIFY FOR THE 60+

COLLEGE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM,A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT MUST:

•Complete an application form foradmission to the University and fillout a CAP application.

• Submit proof of age, along withthe completed application anda $25 application fee.

• Contact his/her high school foran official transcript. Transcriptsfrom all colleges and universitiesthe applicant may have attendedalso must be submitted.

Lifelong LearningIn addition to the 60+ CAP, the Office of Lifelong Learning offersa variety of educational opportunities and other support services:

EDUCATIONNEVERENDSSeniors study tuition-free with 60+CAP

Markley currently is taking all ofhis classes online, although the abilityto complete a degree over the Internetdepends on the major and what creditsmay have been transferredfrom other institutions.Not all courses areavailable online.

“I find it very edifying,and I have grown in myself-confidence becauseof it,” Markley says of hisstudies. “The professorsat Cal U are great, veryeasy-going and opento things.”

Now a seasonedlearner, Markley hasadvice for students of anyage. “You have to study,” he says.“You have to read the things they tellyou to read and not skip over them.”

Markley credits his mother withproviding him with the inspiration topursue a bachelor’s degree in his 60s.

“My mother went to Cal U,” herecalls. “She was a nurse and instructorat Washington Hospital at the time.And I thought if my mother could do it,

so could I.”Greene says some

older adults are nervousabout going back toschool. “So many peoplesay, ‘I’m too old to learn,’but you’re not.”

She hopes Markley’ssuccess story will inspirethem to try something new.

After all, she says,“anything worth havingis worth working andwaiting for.”

Adds Markley: “Listen,just because you’re not getting yourdegree now because of work or familyor whatever reason doesn’t mean youcan’t do it later.” �

By Wendy Mackall, assistant communicationsdirector at Cal U

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 13

It has taken awhile, Pastor JamesS. Markley acknowledges, but hefinally is pursuing his bachelor’s

degree.Markley, 65, is enrolled in the

60+ College Advantage Program (CAP),which enables Pennsylvania residentsages 60 and older to take collegecourses tuition-free.

Classes may be taken for personalenrichment or for a degree. All coursesoffered at Cal U are available to CAPstudents.

Terrie Greene, executive directorof Lifelong Learning at Cal U, says21 students currently are enrolled inthe program.

“For some students, it’s a lifelong

goal to finally obtain their degree,”she says. “Some enroll just for a singlecourse. They may want to learn moreabout art, music or photography.”

“I’m doing it for several reasons,”says Markley, who is pursuing aBachelor of Science degree in scienceand technology. “I’m interested inmaybe going into the missionaryfield, and I think a bachelor’s degreewill be helpful to me. I’m also doingit for personal satisfaction.”

Markley, a U.S. Army veteran,currently pastors four United Methodistchurches in the Washington, Pa., area.He has an associate degree in businessfrom Waynesburg College, which hecompleted after the steel mill in whichhe worked for 30 years closed. Healso graduated from the MethodistTheological School of Ohio.

‘‘Anything

worth having

is worth

working and

waiting for.

’’TERRIE GREENEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

CAL U LIFELONG LEARNING

Pastor James S. Markley meets with Terri Greene,executive director of Lifelong Learning.

SUMMER COLLEGECourses are offered at convenient times,and many are available online.

THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLYEFFECTIVE PEOPLEBusinesses andnonprofit employers canlearn and apply these FranklinCoveybusiness concepts, presented by trainerfacilitators and based on a best-sellingbook by Dr. Stephen R. Covey.

EVENING COLLEGENon-traditional studentsmay completedegree programs, or take courses forpersonal or professional development.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTWith the resources to offer customizedworkforce training, theOffice of LifelongLearning is a workforce development

solution for regional businesses. Support,assistanceandcustomizedprogramscanhelp to develop employee capabilities.

EARLY ADMIT HIGH SCHOOLStudents can get a head start on theircollege education by enrolling as anon-degree student. Contact LifelongLearning for admission requirements.

ROBOTICS CAMPOfferedJune21-25, this camp is intendedto motivate the most creative mindsand prepare students in grades 9-12to be future leaders in a high-techworld.Students learn about animatronics, 3-Drapid prototyping, mechatronics, andagile robotics in ahands-onenvironment.

SUMMER EDUCATIONALENRICHMENT FOR KIDS (SEEK)For children in grades 1 through 8, SEEKemphasizes the exploration of newideas. This summer’s classes will beheld July 12-16 and Aug. 2-6.

UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE SERVICESThis office can assist in the planningof corporate training and seminars,executive retreats, strategy meetingsandmore. The summer camp programassists with academic, sports, religious,nonprofit and youth camps and events.

For more information about any of theseprograms, including 60+CAP, call TerrieGreene in theOffice of Lifelong Learning at724-938-5840or (toll-free) 866-268-9154.

12 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

60+CAPTO QUALIFY FOR THE 60+

COLLEGE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM,A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT MUST:

•Complete an application form foradmission to the University and fillout a CAP application.

• Submit proof of age, along withthe completed application anda $25 application fee.

• Contact his/her high school foran official transcript. Transcriptsfrom all colleges and universitiesthe applicant may have attendedalso must be submitted.

Lifelong LearningIn addition to the 60+ CAP, the Office of Lifelong Learning offersa variety of educational opportunities and other support services:

EDUCATIONNEVERENDSSeniors study tuition-free with 60+CAP

Roberto Clemente Walker (1934-1972) remains alegendary figure in sports, in philanthropy and inthe hearts of millions of Puerto Ricans and Americans

— especially those in western Pennsylvania.With a cannon arm and lightning speed, he was an

outstanding baseball player, but the Puerto Rico native’slegend reaches beyond the diamond.

A Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition honorsthis sports hero and dedicated humanitarian.

Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente openedMay 6 in the Manderino Gallery at California University.It continues through Aug. 24 at Cal U, the only westernPennsylvania venue to host the exhibition.

Beyond Baseball was developed by the Museo de Artede Puerto Rico with the Carimar Design and Research studioand organized for travel by the Smithsonian InstitutionTraveling Exhibition Service. It is complemented by aninteractive Web site — at www.robertoclemente.si.edu —with a virtual exhibition, children’s activities,lesson plans, biographical highlights andhistoric photographs. The exhibition is madepossible by the generous support of theSmithsonian Latino Center. The exhibit iscomplemented by more than 100 objectsand photographs from The ClementeMuseum that give unique insights intoRoberto Clemente's life.

World Series starIn his 18 years with the Pittsburgh

Pirates, Clemente earned 12 consecutiveGold Glove Awards, won four batting crowns and amassed3,000 hits. He was an integral part of the Pirates’ WorldSeries victories in 1960 and 1971.

Clemente’s precise and powerful throwing arm earnedhim acclaim as “the greatest right fielder of all time” bybroadcaster Tim McCarver. He also was honored as theNational League MVP in 1966 and elected to the Hall of Fameposthumously — the first Latino American to be inducted.

While Clemente rose to stardom with his accomplishmentson the field, he never forgot his heritage and the prejudicehe had faced. He fought for the recognition of his fellowLatino baseball players; helped people in need across theUnited States and Central America; and held free baseballclinics for children in his homeland. His charitable workled to the creation of Sports City, an athletic complex inhis hometown of Carolina, Puerto Rico, designed to helpdisadvantaged youth develop athletic skills and preventillegal drug use.

Tragically, Clemente’s life ended at age 38 in a planecrash as he was flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquakevictims. In memory of Clemente, the Roberto Clemente Manof the Year Award was established to recognize baseball players“who combine outstanding skills on the field with devotedwork in the community.”

See the exhibitionCalifornia University is proud to host tours and

educational field trips that introduce the communityto SITES exhibitions.

While on campus, school groups can engagein various interdisciplinary activities related to theexhibition and tied to Pennsylvania State AcademicStandards. Curriculum materials related to the exhibitionare available upon request. Field trip groups are able tovisit the gallery outside of its normal operating hours. �

For more information or to register your group,contact Walter Czekaj, university exhibitions coordinator,at 724-938-5244 or czekaj@calu.edu. A Field TripRequest Form is available online at www.calu.edu; searchfor “SITES” or follow the links from “Information for…Business & Community” to “World-Class Affiliations.

14 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

Cal U’s Final Fridays get-togethersencourage young alumni tomeet face to face, but getting

them there doesn’t rely on real-timeconversations. The Office of AlumniRelations promotes the networkingopportunity exclusively via Facebookand other social media.

“It’s the best way to communicateabout events,” says Ryan Jerico,coordinator of student and young alumniprograms, who manages Facebook pagesfor the Alumni Association and Cal Ufor Life, the initiative that encouragesstudents’ lifelong connection withthe University.

Jerico sends out invitations, postsphotos of past events and connectsalumni through the pages.

Greg Buretz, Cal U’s social mediacoordinator, manages the Universitypresence on Facebook and Twitter.He uses both to answer questions, postphotos, link to videos on the University’sYouTube channel, conduct contestsand create new ways to interact withprospective and current students,as well as alumni.

“A significant percentage of our‘fans’ on Facebook identify themselvesas age 25 and older,” says Buretz. “Weare always looking to foster alumniinteraction, get people involved andkeep them connected with Cal U.”

A recent Cal U Pride photo contest

encouraged alumni and students tosubmit images of themselves wearingCal U gear and vote for a winner.Buretz says fan numbers and pageinteractions go up with every contest,and the number of alumni, studentsand faculty following Cal U on Twitteralso continues to rise.

Among schools in the PennsylvaniaState System of Higher Education, Cal Uranks second only to Indiana Universityfor the number of Facebook fans —nearly 5,000 at press time, Buretz says.

Alumni career counselor BridgettNobili uses social media to offergraduates one-on-one career andjob-search planning assistance. Shespreads the word about her role throughthe University’s Career Services page onFacebook and via LinkedIn, the onlinenetwork for business professionals.

Alumni use the LinkedIn group forprofessional networking and to reconnectwith former classmates. They can findjob postings, links to articles of interestand information about job fairs. Recentgraduates often use social media toobtain career advice, or to look for Cal Ucontacts at specific companies.

Three groups of Cal U alumni onLinkedIn recently were combined intoa single group maintained by Cal U,bringing the network to 600 members.The University also is working toencourage new subgroups, says RhondaGifford, director of Career Services.

Alumni can suggest subgroupsrepresenting various majors and startdiscussions with other professionalshaving Cal U connections, she notes. �

By Colleen C. Derda, a Pittsburgh-based writer

GET connected•Take the virtual tour, see recent“tweets” or learn more about Cal Uat www.calu.edu.

• Find alumni events and chapters,register for events, search for fellowgraduates, and find links to Facebook,Twitter and the Online Communityat www.calu.edu/alumni.

• Follow Cal U on Twitter @CalUofPa todiscover what’s happening on campus.

• Search for fellow graduates atwww.Facebook.com/CalUAlumni, orcheck the official University Facebookpage at www.Facebook.com/CalUofPA.

• Network with Cal U alumni by joiningthe Cal U group at www.LinkedIn.com.

Social media coordinator Greg Buretz and alumni career counselor Bridgett Nobili know thevalue of networking online.

Social media help alumni link up

CAREER SERVICES WORKS FOR ALUMNICal U is one of the few universities of its size to offer dedicated staff for alumni careercounseling and employer development services.

Bridgett Nobili provides one-on-one career and job-search planning for alumni, freeof charge. In her first six months on the job, Nobili helped more than 150 clients withresumé reviews, interview techniques, mock interviews and more. To schedule anappointment, call 724-938-4826 or e-mail nobili@calu.edu.

Employment development coordinator Sheana Malyska works with hundreds ofcompanies to add contacts to Cal U’s recruiting database and postings to the onlinejob site www.collegecentral.com/calu. To reach her, e-mail malyska@calu.edu.

‘BeyondBaseball’exploresRobertoClemente’s lifeThe Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition continues through Aug. 24

A PITTSBURGH LEGEND

Beyond Baseball: The Life ofRoberto Clemente is on displaythrough Aug. 24 on the thirdfloor of Manderino Library onthe Cal U campus.

Summer gallery hours:Monday – Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.Sunday CLOSED

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 15

Roberto Clementespent 18 yearswith thePittsburgh Pirates.

Roberto Clemente Walker (1934-1972) remains alegendary figure in sports, in philanthropy and inthe hearts of millions of Puerto Ricans and Americans

— especially those in western Pennsylvania.With a cannon arm and lightning speed, he was an

outstanding baseball player, but the Puerto Rico native’slegend reaches beyond the diamond.

A Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition honorsthis sports hero and dedicated humanitarian.

Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente openedMay 6 in the Manderino Gallery at California University.It continues through Aug. 24 at Cal U, the only westernPennsylvania venue to host the exhibition.

Beyond Baseball was developed by the Museo de Artede Puerto Rico with the Carimar Design and Research studioand organized for travel by the Smithsonian InstitutionTraveling Exhibition Service. It is complemented by aninteractive Web site — at www.robertoclemente.si.edu —with a virtual exhibition, children’s activities,lesson plans, biographical highlights andhistoric photographs. The exhibition is madepossible by the generous support of theSmithsonian Latino Center. The exhibit iscomplemented by more than 100 objectsand photographs from The ClementeMuseum that give unique insights intoRoberto Clemente's life.

World Series starIn his 18 years with the Pittsburgh

Pirates, Clemente earned 12 consecutiveGold Glove Awards, won four batting crowns and amassed3,000 hits. He was an integral part of the Pirates’ WorldSeries victories in 1960 and 1971.

Clemente’s precise and powerful throwing arm earnedhim acclaim as “the greatest right fielder of all time” bybroadcaster Tim McCarver. He also was honored as theNational League MVP in 1966 and elected to the Hall of Fameposthumously — the first Latino American to be inducted.

While Clemente rose to stardom with his accomplishmentson the field, he never forgot his heritage and the prejudicehe had faced. He fought for the recognition of his fellowLatino baseball players; helped people in need across theUnited States and Central America; and held free baseballclinics for children in his homeland. His charitable workled to the creation of Sports City, an athletic complex inhis hometown of Carolina, Puerto Rico, designed to helpdisadvantaged youth develop athletic skills and preventillegal drug use.

Tragically, Clemente’s life ended at age 38 in a planecrash as he was flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquakevictims. In memory of Clemente, the Roberto Clemente Manof the Year Award was established to recognize baseball players“who combine outstanding skills on the field with devotedwork in the community.”

See the exhibitionCalifornia University is proud to host tours and

educational field trips that introduce the communityto SITES exhibitions.

While on campus, school groups can engagein various interdisciplinary activities related to theexhibition and tied to Pennsylvania State AcademicStandards. Curriculum materials related to the exhibitionare available upon request. Field trip groups are able tovisit the gallery outside of its normal operating hours. �

For more information or to register your group,contact Walter Czekaj, university exhibitions coordinator,at 724-938-5244 or czekaj@calu.edu. A Field TripRequest Form is available online at www.calu.edu; searchfor “SITES” or follow the links from “Information for…Business & Community” to “World-Class Affiliations.

14 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

Cal U’s Final Fridays get-togethersencourage young alumni tomeet face to face, but getting

them there doesn’t rely on real-timeconversations. The Office of AlumniRelations promotes the networkingopportunity exclusively via Facebookand other social media.

“It’s the best way to communicateabout events,” says Ryan Jerico,coordinator of student and young alumniprograms, who manages Facebook pagesfor the Alumni Association and Cal Ufor Life, the initiative that encouragesstudents’ lifelong connection withthe University.

Jerico sends out invitations, postsphotos of past events and connectsalumni through the pages.

Greg Buretz, Cal U’s social mediacoordinator, manages the Universitypresence on Facebook and Twitter.He uses both to answer questions, postphotos, link to videos on the University’sYouTube channel, conduct contestsand create new ways to interact withprospective and current students,as well as alumni.

“A significant percentage of our‘fans’ on Facebook identify themselvesas age 25 and older,” says Buretz. “Weare always looking to foster alumniinteraction, get people involved andkeep them connected with Cal U.”

A recent Cal U Pride photo contest

encouraged alumni and students tosubmit images of themselves wearingCal U gear and vote for a winner.Buretz says fan numbers and pageinteractions go up with every contest,and the number of alumni, studentsand faculty following Cal U on Twitteralso continues to rise.

Among schools in the PennsylvaniaState System of Higher Education, Cal Uranks second only to Indiana Universityfor the number of Facebook fans —nearly 5,000 at press time, Buretz says.

Alumni career counselor BridgettNobili uses social media to offergraduates one-on-one career andjob-search planning assistance. Shespreads the word about her role throughthe University’s Career Services page onFacebook and via LinkedIn, the onlinenetwork for business professionals.

Alumni use the LinkedIn group forprofessional networking and to reconnectwith former classmates. They can findjob postings, links to articles of interestand information about job fairs. Recentgraduates often use social media toobtain career advice, or to look for Cal Ucontacts at specific companies.

Three groups of Cal U alumni onLinkedIn recently were combined intoa single group maintained by Cal U,bringing the network to 600 members.The University also is working toencourage new subgroups, says RhondaGifford, director of Career Services.

Alumni can suggest subgroupsrepresenting various majors and startdiscussions with other professionalshaving Cal U connections, she notes. �

By Colleen C. Derda, a Pittsburgh-based writer

GET connected•Take the virtual tour, see recent“tweets” or learn more about Cal Uat www.calu.edu.

• Find alumni events and chapters,register for events, search for fellowgraduates, and find links to Facebook,Twitter and the Online Communityat www.calu.edu/alumni.

• Follow Cal U on Twitter @CalUofPa todiscover what’s happening on campus.

• Search for fellow graduates atwww.Facebook.com/CalUAlumni, orcheck the official University Facebookpage at www.Facebook.com/CalUofPA.

• Network with Cal U alumni by joiningthe Cal U group at www.LinkedIn.com.

Social media coordinator Greg Buretz and alumni career counselor Bridgett Nobili know thevalue of networking online.

Social media help alumni link up

CAREER SERVICES WORKS FOR ALUMNICal U is one of the few universities of its size to offer dedicated staff for alumni careercounseling and employer development services.

Bridgett Nobili provides one-on-one career and job-search planning for alumni, freeof charge. In her first six months on the job, Nobili helped more than 150 clients withresumé reviews, interview techniques, mock interviews and more. To schedule anappointment, call 724-938-4826 or e-mail nobili@calu.edu.

Employment development coordinator Sheana Malyska works with hundreds ofcompanies to add contacts to Cal U’s recruiting database and postings to the onlinejob site www.collegecentral.com/calu. To reach her, e-mail malyska@calu.edu.

‘BeyondBaseball’exploresRobertoClemente’s lifeThe Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition continues through Aug. 24

A PITTSBURGH LEGEND

Beyond Baseball: The Life ofRoberto Clemente is on displaythrough Aug. 24 on the thirdfloor of Manderino Library onthe Cal U campus.

Summer gallery hours:Monday – Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.Sunday CLOSED

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 15

Roberto Clementespent 18 yearswith thePittsburgh Pirates.

CAMPUS C L I P S

Applied Sociologywins accreditation

Cal U’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology,Applied Concentration has been fullyaccredited by the national Commissionon Applied and Clinical Sociology, theonly accrediting body in the country forapplied and clinical sociology programs.

The University is one of only fourschools to have an accredited programor concentration in applied sociologyat the undergraduate level, accordingto the commission’s website.

Of Cal U’s 32 eligible programs,24 are nationally accredited. Of the22 accreditations recognized by theState System of Higher Education,18 are accredited.

Commissioners approverequest for Local ShareAccount funds

The Washington County Board ofCommissioners has voted to approve$500,000 in Local Share Accountfunding to equip a business conferencingcenter at California University.

Cal U plans to purchase and installstate-of-the-art “smart” technology in itsExecutive Conference Services Center, acomponent of the $54million ConvocationCenter now under construction on campus.

The commissioners forwardedtheir recommendation to the stateDepartment of Community and EconomicDevelopment, which is responsible fordistributing the funds.

Portal opens for highschool honor students

A new, Internet-based program atCal U is designed to give high-achievinghigh school juniors and seniors a tasteof college-level academics.

The Pre-College Honors Portal (PCHP)is open to any high school student withan SAT score of 1100 or higher and agrade-point average of A- or better.

Cal U faculty will teach the courses,and students who complete a PCHPcourse earn Cal U credits with an honorsdesignation.

The PCHP program gets under wayJune 7 with “Introduction to Music,”taught by Dr. Yugo Ikatch, and“Introduction to Forensic Science,”taught by Dr. Raymond Hsieh.

PCHP director Barbara Crofchek andassistant director Deborah Grubb ledthe former Cal U in the High Schoolprogram, which has been discontinued.

To learn more about PCHP, visitwww.calu.edu/online-honors/.

Trustees OK soccer,baseball projects

Cal U will seek $5 million in bondfinancing to create a soccer complexat the Philipsburg athletic field and tobuild a new baseball practice field atRoadman Park.

The project will create a soccercomplex — including a field with anartificial surface, lighting for nighttimeevents and a paved parking area — atthe former Philipsburg School, near themain campus. The University purchasedthe six-acre site, including the school,during the 2008-2009 academic year.

The old “booster building” will berenovated to house men’s and women’slocker rooms, a ticket kiosk, publicrestrooms and other facilities.

The project also will replace Cal U’sbaseball practice field, which wasremoved during construction of theRoadman Park Lot that opened last fall.

The Vulcans baseball team willcontinue to play its home games atConsol Energy Park, near Washington, Pa.The practice field, near the new tenniscourts, will be used for summer campsas well as varsity practices.

‘Precious’ authorvisits campus

The author whose best-selling novelsparked the hit movie Precious: Basedon the Novel by Sapphire talked withstudents and read from her work justdays before the film received twoAcademy Awards.

Sapphire spoke informally to membersof the Black Student Union and groupsof high school students from the MonValley and the greater Pittsburgh area.Then she presented “When Push Comesto Precious: The Novel, the Film, theReality” to a crowd of nearly 400 in theNatali Student Center.

The film Precious won two Oscarsat the 82nd Academy Awards, includingBest Adapted Screenplay for GeoffreyFletcher. Sapphire’s novel was re-issuedunder the title Precious to strengthenthe tie-in with the film, which wasshown in the Vulcan Theater.

Sponsored by Cal U’s Office of Multi-cultural Student Programs, the author’sappearance was the capstone event forCal U’s Black History Month celebration.

Guerilla Girlsheadline Women’sStudies Conference

The Guerrilla Girls brought theirprovocative and amusing feministmessage to campus for the fifth annualAudrey-Beth Fitch Women’s StudiesConference.

The daylong series of workshopsand panel discussions, “The Arts andActivism: Equality for All,” focused onthe visual and performing arts.

The headliners wear gorilla masksand bill themselves as “feminist maskedavengers” who use facts, humor andoutrageous visuals to comment on topicssuch as sexism, racism and corruptionin politics, art, film and pop culture.

A workshop and an interactiveperformance by Attack Theatre, an inter-active dance troupe, also celebratedWomen’s History Month.

The Women’s Studies program,in the Department of Justice, Law andSociety, plans and coordinates theannual conference and Women’sHistory Month activities.

Panel examinesimpact of hip-hop

Rap star KRS-ONE shared his viewson “Media, Film, Scholarship and theGlobal Impact of Hip-hop” during Cal U’sfifth annual Hip-hop Conference.

The weeklong event featured paneldiscussions, a student debate and theannual “4 Elements of Hip-hop Tribute”at Jozart Studios in California Borough.

KRS-ONE, also known as Krist Parker,has won 16 gold and platinum recordsfor albums such as By All Means Necessary,Criminal Minded, Edutainment and GhettoMusic: The Blueprint Of Hip-hop.

He was joined on the panel byjournalist Jeff Chang, winner of anAmerican Book Award for Can’t StopWon’t Stop: A History of the Hip-hopGeneration, filmmaker Maori KarmaelHolmes, producer of Scene Not Heard,a documentary about women in hip-hop,and Claude “Paradise” Gray, a veteranhip-hop artist and promoter, as wellas a Pittsburgh community activist.

The conference also included atalk by Brian Willis, author of Help,I’m Drowning in Debt, who discussed“Bling-Bling: Financial Swagger vs.Conspicuous Consumption in theHip-hop Generation.”

16 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

Coat collection for ChileAndrea Cencich, professor for the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures,helps students (from left) Javier Solis, Renata Silva and Codie Howard organize coats thatwere collected for the victims of Chile’s recent earthquake. Students from the Departmentof Modern Languages, International Club, Foreign Language Club and the HispanicStudent Association volunteered for the collection.

Talk-n-tieKay Dorrance, PEACE Project interim coordinator, sits among bundles of teddy bears, blanketsand books that will to be sent to the Washington Women’s Shelter. Members of various studentclubs donated the bears and assembled the bundles for children affected by domestic violence.

On DisplayPhotographer Robert Creamer visits Manderino Gallery to see ‘Transitions,’ a SmithsonianInstitution Traveling Exhibition featuring his detailed, nature-based images.

Haiti ReliefDr. David Boehm speaks at Help for Haiti:A Special Convocation. After learningmore about the earthquake-ravagednation, students organized on-campuscollections.

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 17

CAMPUS C L I P S

Applied Sociologywins accreditation

Cal U’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology,Applied Concentration has been fullyaccredited by the national Commissionon Applied and Clinical Sociology, theonly accrediting body in the country forapplied and clinical sociology programs.

The University is one of only fourschools to have an accredited programor concentration in applied sociologyat the undergraduate level, accordingto the commission’s website.

Of Cal U’s 32 eligible programs,24 are nationally accredited. Of the22 accreditations recognized by theState System of Higher Education,18 are accredited.

Commissioners approverequest for Local ShareAccount funds

The Washington County Board ofCommissioners has voted to approve$500,000 in Local Share Accountfunding to equip a business conferencingcenter at California University.

Cal U plans to purchase and installstate-of-the-art “smart” technology in itsExecutive Conference Services Center, acomponent of the $54million ConvocationCenter now under construction on campus.

The commissioners forwardedtheir recommendation to the stateDepartment of Community and EconomicDevelopment, which is responsible fordistributing the funds.

Portal opens for highschool honor students

A new, Internet-based program atCal U is designed to give high-achievinghigh school juniors and seniors a tasteof college-level academics.

The Pre-College Honors Portal (PCHP)is open to any high school student withan SAT score of 1100 or higher and agrade-point average of A- or better.

Cal U faculty will teach the courses,and students who complete a PCHPcourse earn Cal U credits with an honorsdesignation.

The PCHP program gets under wayJune 7 with “Introduction to Music,”taught by Dr. Yugo Ikatch, and“Introduction to Forensic Science,”taught by Dr. Raymond Hsieh.

PCHP director Barbara Crofchek andassistant director Deborah Grubb ledthe former Cal U in the High Schoolprogram, which has been discontinued.

To learn more about PCHP, visitwww.calu.edu/online-honors/.

Trustees OK soccer,baseball projects

Cal U will seek $5 million in bondfinancing to create a soccer complexat the Philipsburg athletic field and tobuild a new baseball practice field atRoadman Park.

The project will create a soccercomplex — including a field with anartificial surface, lighting for nighttimeevents and a paved parking area — atthe former Philipsburg School, near themain campus. The University purchasedthe six-acre site, including the school,during the 2008-2009 academic year.

The old “booster building” will berenovated to house men’s and women’slocker rooms, a ticket kiosk, publicrestrooms and other facilities.

The project also will replace Cal U’sbaseball practice field, which wasremoved during construction of theRoadman Park Lot that opened last fall.

The Vulcans baseball team willcontinue to play its home games atConsol Energy Park, near Washington, Pa.The practice field, near the new tenniscourts, will be used for summer campsas well as varsity practices.

‘Precious’ authorvisits campus

The author whose best-selling novelsparked the hit movie Precious: Basedon the Novel by Sapphire talked withstudents and read from her work justdays before the film received twoAcademy Awards.

Sapphire spoke informally to membersof the Black Student Union and groupsof high school students from the MonValley and the greater Pittsburgh area.Then she presented “When Push Comesto Precious: The Novel, the Film, theReality” to a crowd of nearly 400 in theNatali Student Center.

The film Precious won two Oscarsat the 82nd Academy Awards, includingBest Adapted Screenplay for GeoffreyFletcher. Sapphire’s novel was re-issuedunder the title Precious to strengthenthe tie-in with the film, which wasshown in the Vulcan Theater.

Sponsored by Cal U’s Office of Multi-cultural Student Programs, the author’sappearance was the capstone event forCal U’s Black History Month celebration.

Guerilla Girlsheadline Women’sStudies Conference

The Guerrilla Girls brought theirprovocative and amusing feministmessage to campus for the fifth annualAudrey-Beth Fitch Women’s StudiesConference.

The daylong series of workshopsand panel discussions, “The Arts andActivism: Equality for All,” focused onthe visual and performing arts.

The headliners wear gorilla masksand bill themselves as “feminist maskedavengers” who use facts, humor andoutrageous visuals to comment on topicssuch as sexism, racism and corruptionin politics, art, film and pop culture.

A workshop and an interactiveperformance by Attack Theatre, an inter-active dance troupe, also celebratedWomen’s History Month.

The Women’s Studies program,in the Department of Justice, Law andSociety, plans and coordinates theannual conference and Women’sHistory Month activities.

Panel examinesimpact of hip-hop

Rap star KRS-ONE shared his viewson “Media, Film, Scholarship and theGlobal Impact of Hip-hop” during Cal U’sfifth annual Hip-hop Conference.

The weeklong event featured paneldiscussions, a student debate and theannual “4 Elements of Hip-hop Tribute”at Jozart Studios in California Borough.

KRS-ONE, also known as Krist Parker,has won 16 gold and platinum recordsfor albums such as By All Means Necessary,Criminal Minded, Edutainment and GhettoMusic: The Blueprint Of Hip-hop.

He was joined on the panel byjournalist Jeff Chang, winner of anAmerican Book Award for Can’t StopWon’t Stop: A History of the Hip-hopGeneration, filmmaker Maori KarmaelHolmes, producer of Scene Not Heard,a documentary about women in hip-hop,and Claude “Paradise” Gray, a veteranhip-hop artist and promoter, as wellas a Pittsburgh community activist.

The conference also included atalk by Brian Willis, author of Help,I’m Drowning in Debt, who discussed“Bling-Bling: Financial Swagger vs.Conspicuous Consumption in theHip-hop Generation.”

16 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

Coat collection for ChileAndrea Cencich, professor for the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures,helps students (from left) Javier Solis, Renata Silva and Codie Howard organize coats thatwere collected for the victims of Chile’s recent earthquake. Students from the Departmentof Modern Languages, International Club, Foreign Language Club and the HispanicStudent Association volunteered for the collection.

Talk-n-tieKay Dorrance, PEACE Project interim coordinator, sits among bundles of teddy bears, blanketsand books that will to be sent to the Washington Women’s Shelter. Members of various studentclubs donated the bears and assembled the bundles for children affected by domestic violence.

On DisplayPhotographer Robert Creamer visits Manderino Gallery to see ‘Transitions,’ a SmithsonianInstitution Traveling Exhibition featuring his detailed, nature-based images.

Haiti ReliefDr. David Boehm speaks at Help for Haiti:A Special Convocation. After learningmore about the earthquake-ravagednation, students organized on-campuscollections.

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 17

alumni calendarALUMNI N E W S

JUNEPhiladelphia, Athletic Training Convention, June 24Join us for the annual athletic training reception, from 7-9 p.m. at the PhiladelphiaPublic House in Logan Square. For details, check Facebook by searching for“California University of Pennsylvania Athletic Training Alumni Society.”

Harrisburg Senators Game, June 25Spend a night at the ballpark as the Harrisburg Senators take on the ReadingPhillies on Flat-screens and Fireworks Night at the new Metro Bank Park inHarrisburg, Pa. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Game time is 7 p.m.

Before the game we will host a picnic at Metro Bank Park. Tickets are $22 foradults, $12 for children; cost includes an all-you-can-eat buffet and admissionto the game. For more information, call Leslie Fleenor at 724-938-4418.

JULYNew York City Gathering, July 8Join alumni from the New York City area for an evening of good food andconversation at Etcetera Etcetera restaurant, 352 W. 44th St., New York, N.Y.(www.etcrestaurant.com). For more information, call Leslie Fleenorat 724-938-4418.

Alumni Night at PNC Park, July 17Be sure to attend the annual Cal U Alumni Night at PNC Park inPittsburgh, Pa., where the Pirates take on the Houston Astros.Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Game time is 7:05.

Before the game, join us in the Pirates Cove for an all-you-can-eat buffet.After the game, stick around for the famous Zambelli fireworks!For more information, contact Leslie Fleenor at 724-938-4418.

AUGUSTCal U Couples Weekend, Aug. 6-7Revisit the Cal U campus and rekindle fond memories at our annualCouples Weekend.

SEPTEMBERWashington, D.C., Gathering (date to be announced)Expect to hear more about an alumni gathering in our nation’s capital.

Check your monthly Under the Towers e-newsletter for updates to these events.For more information about alumni events, contact the Office of Alumni Relations& Annual Fund at 724-938-4418 or alumni@calu.edu. Join the Alumni Association’sNEW online community at http://alumni.calu.edu.

SPEAK UP!WE’RE LISTENING. . .What do you think of the Cal UReview? The editor and staffwant to know. Is there a featureyou enjoy — or one you don’t?A topic you’d like to readmore about? To share yourthoughts, send an e-mail torevieweditor@calu.edu,or drop us a line at:Cal U Review, Box 31,California Universityof Pennsylvania,250 University Drive,California, PA15419-1394.

CAL POINTof PRIDE

Campus ModelA tabletop model in Old Main, just outsidethe President’s Conference Room, presentsthe master plan for the California Universitycampus. Designed in 2008 by MacLachlan,Cornelius & Filoni, Architects, it envisions thecampus 15 years in the future, with currentbuildings depicted in brown and plannedconstruction in white. More than 9 feet longand 8 feet wide, the model is built to a scaleof 1 inch = 30 feet. This is the second masterplan for the University. The first was developedby MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni in theearly 1990s.

Sigma Tau Gamma Golf OutingAlumni paid a visit to Legends Golf Resort during the 2010 Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity golf outing. Pictured are (back row, left to right)Joe Warwick, Dave Gustovich, Tom Stuvek, Lloyd Uphold, Kevin Jenkins, Dan Evans, Jim Sandherr, Russ Bergstedt, Jim Lopez andTom Sandherr; (second row, l-r) Art Difrancesco, John Shosky, Wayne Douglas, Chris McCrory, Scott Jetter, Jack Wardman, Jim Wardman,Joe Sprentz, John Sauritch, Walt Stockton, Vito Dentino, Homer Braden, Lee Beten and Jim Barbo; (front row, l-r) John Darnley,Mike Douglas, Chris Douglas, Rick Castle, Jeff Stivason, Jeff Janosik, Joe Karpa, Mike Napolitano, Pete Gialames, Dan Lion and Bill Sandherr.Not pictured: Wayne Cekola and John Lopez.

Red & Black AffairA vintage fashion showwas the highlight of April’sannual Red & Black AffairExtraordinaire. Presented bythe Cal U Alumni Association,this popular event has raisedmore than $78,000 forstudent scholarships overthe past four years.

At top, alumni (from left) Harriet Widdowson ’81,Nina Gray ’87, Amber Culley ’06 and Dennis T. J.Wynder ’85 relax at a Philadelphia Chapter eventheld last summer at the Manayunk Brewery inManayunk, Pa. Graduates from various decadeswere on hand to share stories of their days at Cal U.

Above, alumnus Pat Munizza ’84 (right) joins RyanMorris (center) and a guest for authentic Germanfood, drinks and live entertainment at a PittsburghChapter event held last winter at the Hofbrauhaus,on the city’s South Side.

Congratulations to Mathematics and Computer ScienceProfessor George Novak ’55, recipient of California Universityof Pennsylvania’s 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award.

alumni gatheringsGREETINGS FROM THE ALUMNI OFFICE!

Aswe continue to expand outreachefforts locally, regionally, statewide

and nationally to our 55,000 alumni,I’d like to extend a sincere “thank you”to those graduates who continue tostay connected with California.

Over the past several months wehave continued to engage and buildrelationships with alumni in existing

chapter areas, as well as attract alumni to grow new chapters.New York Regional and Tampa Regional are two suchchapters that have begun strong and are expected tocontinue growing.

Upcoming areas for new and continued growthinclude Cleveland; Columbus; Cincinnati; Washington,D.C.; and Virginia Beach, Va.

I encourage all alumni to stay connected to California,whether simply by referring a prospective student to ouralma mater or by doing something as elaborate as hostingan event in your area.

I’d also like to extend congratulations to the eightAlumni Association Awards of Distinction honorees for2009: Dr. Paul Gentile ’62, John R. Gregg Award for Loyaltyand Service; Dr. Mary Seman, C.B. Wilson DistinguishedFaculty Award; Dr. John Cencich, W.S. Jackman Awardof Distinction; Darcie Vincent, Michael Duda Award forAthletic Achievement; Joan Helsel, Pavlak/Shutsy SpecialService Award; Joe Grushecky ’71, Professional ExcellenceAward; Thea Kalcevic ’06, Young Alumni Award; andDr. Charles Gorman ’57, Meritorious Award.

These individuals will be honored during AlumniWeekend at a special awards ceremony and luncheon onSaturday, June 5.

In yet another way to stay connected with California,I encourage you to log on to our Online Communityat www.calu.edu/alumni. You can receive a permanente-mail address, update your information, add your nameto the online alumni directory, receive Under the Towers,our monthly e-newsletter, and more.

These services are available only to our alumni andsenior students. Please contact me at lombard@calu.eduwith any questions you may have. I look forward tomeeting you in our “Community!”

Please check out our calendar of upcoming events andplan to attend something in your area— or let us welcomeyou back to California. Call the alumni office, e-mail us,or stop by the Michael and Julia Kara Alumni House anytimeyou are on campus. I would be happy to show you themany changes at our alma mater, and I look forwardto sharing these exciting times with you!

Amy LombardExecutive Director, Office of Alumni Relationsand Annual Fund

18 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 19

S P R I N G 2 0 1 0

T H E C O L L E G E O F L I B E R A L A R T S

PERFECT PITCHCal U composes a new program

in Commercial Music Technology

FOCUS ON

California University of Pennsylvania

COMMERCIAL MUSIC TECHNOLOGY PREPARES STUDENTS FOR CAREERSIN THE $10.4 BILLION RECORDED MUSIC INDUSTRY

Composing a new program

3

Max Gonano, chairman of the Music Department, calls Commercial Music Technologya ‘career-building major’ that blends music and technology.

— By Lindy Kravec, a Peters Township-based writer

ax Gonano, chairman of theDepartment of Music, recallsexactly when he first started

thinking about a new music major forCal U.

“It was a week after the musicminor was approved in 2000,” he sayswith a laugh. “It just took us the bestpart of 10 years to define exactly whatwe wanted that major to be.”

When Gonano and his teamapproached President Angelo Armenti, Jr.— and subsequently the PennsylvaniaState System of Higher Education —with the proposal for a new major inCommercial Music Technology, theyknew they had the perfect pitch.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticsanticipates a 24 percent increase in jobsin commercial music technology by2016. It only made sense to trainprofessionals for these high-tech jobs inthe $10.4 billion recorded music industry.

“As soon as we realized we couldmarry the University’s technology

expertise with a career-building majorin music, we knew we had somethingtruly special,” Gonano says.

Graduates of the program willbe prepared to work as recording andbroadcast engineers, digital composersand arrangers, sound mixers, TV andaudio producers, videogame engineersand more.

The new undergraduate degreeprogram is unlike anything offered inthe State System — and much likethe very finest programs at privateuniversities, Gonano says. PresidentArmenti calls the new major “a recipe forefficiency,” because 80 percent of thecurriculum already existed on campus.

Interdisciplinary in nature, therigorous 120-credit program draws onthe expertise of six University depart-ments: Music, Communication Studies,Applied Engineering and Technology,Theatre and Dance, CommunicationDisorders, and Business.

Because of its diverse nature, theprogram targets students Gonanodescribes as “artist-techie-entrepreneurs.”

“For this major, students need tobe musicians first and foremost,” saysDr. Yugo Ikach, associate professor ofmusic. “But they also need to besmart business people and competenttechnicians. We want to arm ourgraduates with as many skills as possibleto give them an edge in the job market.”

Applicants for the Commercial MusicTechnology program must be proficienton at least one instrument and auditionfor a spot in the program. The first classof students arrives in fall 2010.

Many of the classrooms andrehearsal facilities in Gallagher Hallhave been equipped with state-of-the-art sound and recording equipment.Even the music practice rooms havebeen upgraded.

“The equipment is second tonone,” says Gonano. “Say you’re aguitarist and you want to simulate aperformance in a smoky nightclub ora prayerful cathedral. You can simulatethat exact experience — minus thesmoke and prayers.

“It’s been a fascinating journey,” headds. “And we’re so proud of the results.”

Several adjunct faculty members,working commercial music professionalswho are at the top of their game,contributed to the development of theprogram and add a real-world dimensionto this exciting new major.

Greg Rippin, for example, has beena freelance audio engineer for morethan 10 years and a teacher in the fieldfor seven. He concurs with the full-timeprofessors.

“We’ve put together a greatprogram and a great facility here atCal U,” he says. “I’m excited for theclasses to start.” �

Welcome to the spring 2010 edition ofFocus On, highlighting the Collegeof Liberal Arts.

As I contemplate the past year as dean of theCollege of Liberal Arts, the first thought that comesto mind is a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is,What are you doing for others?”

This thought strongly correlates with our facultyand staff’s professional work ethic.

I have always referred to Dr. King’s concept ofworking for the benefit of others as “selfless service.”To me, it means service to society, either on aprofessional, public or personal basis. It has been apleasure to witness the powerful value of selfless serviceoperationalized on a daily basis over this past year.

Let me share some highlights:• For the first time, California University hosted the 2010 Scholastic Art andWriting Awards of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The program was organizedby the Scholastic Board, the Department of English and the Departmentof Art and Design, which received full accreditation late last year.

• The Communication Studies Department hosted the state championship ofthe Pennsylvania Forensics Association, which returned to Cal U after 15 years.

• Several English majors presented papers at the statewide conference ofEAPSU-Jr., the English Association of Pennsylvania State Universities.

• Theatre and Dance students participated in the annual North CentralRegional Conference Auditions and Technical Interviews, and the verypopular “Summer Experience.”

• The Applied Sociology program at the Department of Justice, Law andSociety received full accreditation.

• The third annual Conference for Corporate and Homeland Security wasanother huge success.

• Faculty from the Department of Modern Languages have escorted studentson international academic field trips and hosted Modern Language Day.

• The Philosophy Department continues to engage in scholarly activitiesand student academic clubs, with activity in Italy, Scotland and Sweden.

• History and Political Science faculty have engaged in numerous activities,including the G-20 Summit, American Democracy Project events, ConstitutionDay and Black History Month, which also involved the Frederick Douglass Institute.

• The Psychology Department is supporting our communities through theChild and Family Studies Institute, and a faculty member is consulting onthe children’s television program Meet Me at the Great Tree.

• The Music Department continues its education and service by developinga new Bachelor of Science degree in Commercial Music Technology.

• The Women’s Studies and Leadership Studies programs continue to planworld-class conferences and host world-class speakers.

I could sum up this outstanding service with the statement, “This is great stuff.”Instead, I will close with a quote from the great Indian philosopher and

leader Mahatma Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself inthe service of others.”

Respectfully,

Dr. Michael L. HummelDean, College of Liberal Arts

overviewof the COLLEGE OFLIBERAL ARTS

Dean:

Dr. Michael L. Hummel

Department Chairs:

Professor Greg HarrisonArt and Design

Professor Gregory SpicerCommunication Studies

Dr. Madeline SmithEnglish

Dr. Mohamed YambaHistory and Political Science

Dr. Aref Al-KhattarJustice, Law and Society

Professor Margarita RibarModern Languages and Cultures

Professor Max GonanoMusic

Dr. Ronald HoyPhilosophy

Professor Sam LonichPsychology

Dr. Michael SlavinTheatre and Dance

Directors:

Dr. Marta McClintock-ComeauxWomen’s Studies

Dr. Kelton EdmondsFrederick Douglass Institute

Dr. Kurt KearcherComposition Program and Writing Center

Dr. Gary DeLorenzoLeadership Studies

ON THE COVERMark Rosato ’81 works with students to recorda Cal U radio spot at Big Science studios inPittsburgh. Cal U’s new Commercial MusicTechnology program prepares students towork as recording and broadcast engineers.

F R O M T H E

DEAN

2

COMMERCIAL MUSIC TECHNOLOGY PREPARES STUDENTS FOR CAREERSIN THE $10.4 BILLION RECORDED MUSIC INDUSTRY

Composing a new program

3

Max Gonano, chairman of the Music Department, calls Commercial Music Technologya ‘career-building major’ that blends music and technology.

— By Lindy Kravec, a Peters Township-based writer

ax Gonano, chairman of theDepartment of Music, recallsexactly when he first started

thinking about a new music major forCal U.

“It was a week after the musicminor was approved in 2000,” he sayswith a laugh. “It just took us the bestpart of 10 years to define exactly whatwe wanted that major to be.”

When Gonano and his teamapproached President Angelo Armenti, Jr.— and subsequently the PennsylvaniaState System of Higher Education —with the proposal for a new major inCommercial Music Technology, theyknew they had the perfect pitch.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticsanticipates a 24 percent increase in jobsin commercial music technology by2016. It only made sense to trainprofessionals for these high-tech jobs inthe $10.4 billion recorded music industry.

“As soon as we realized we couldmarry the University’s technology

expertise with a career-building majorin music, we knew we had somethingtruly special,” Gonano says.

Graduates of the program willbe prepared to work as recording andbroadcast engineers, digital composersand arrangers, sound mixers, TV andaudio producers, videogame engineersand more.

The new undergraduate degreeprogram is unlike anything offered inthe State System — and much likethe very finest programs at privateuniversities, Gonano says. PresidentArmenti calls the new major “a recipe forefficiency,” because 80 percent of thecurriculum already existed on campus.

Interdisciplinary in nature, therigorous 120-credit program draws onthe expertise of six University depart-ments: Music, Communication Studies,Applied Engineering and Technology,Theatre and Dance, CommunicationDisorders, and Business.

Because of its diverse nature, theprogram targets students Gonanodescribes as “artist-techie-entrepreneurs.”

“For this major, students need tobe musicians first and foremost,” saysDr. Yugo Ikach, associate professor ofmusic. “But they also need to besmart business people and competenttechnicians. We want to arm ourgraduates with as many skills as possibleto give them an edge in the job market.”

Applicants for the Commercial MusicTechnology program must be proficienton at least one instrument and auditionfor a spot in the program. The first classof students arrives in fall 2010.

Many of the classrooms andrehearsal facilities in Gallagher Hallhave been equipped with state-of-the-art sound and recording equipment.Even the music practice rooms havebeen upgraded.

“The equipment is second tonone,” says Gonano. “Say you’re aguitarist and you want to simulate aperformance in a smoky nightclub ora prayerful cathedral. You can simulatethat exact experience — minus thesmoke and prayers.

“It’s been a fascinating journey,” headds. “And we’re so proud of the results.”

Several adjunct faculty members,working commercial music professionalswho are at the top of their game,contributed to the development of theprogram and add a real-world dimensionto this exciting new major.

Greg Rippin, for example, has beena freelance audio engineer for morethan 10 years and a teacher in the fieldfor seven. He concurs with the full-timeprofessors.

“We’ve put together a greatprogram and a great facility here atCal U,” he says. “I’m excited for theclasses to start.” �

Welcome to the spring 2010 edition ofFocus On, highlighting the Collegeof Liberal Arts.

As I contemplate the past year as dean of theCollege of Liberal Arts, the first thought that comesto mind is a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is,What are you doing for others?”

This thought strongly correlates with our facultyand staff’s professional work ethic.

I have always referred to Dr. King’s concept ofworking for the benefit of others as “selfless service.”To me, it means service to society, either on aprofessional, public or personal basis. It has been apleasure to witness the powerful value of selfless serviceoperationalized on a daily basis over this past year.

Let me share some highlights:• For the first time, California University hosted the 2010 Scholastic Art andWriting Awards of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The program was organizedby the Scholastic Board, the Department of English and the Departmentof Art and Design, which received full accreditation late last year.

• The Communication Studies Department hosted the state championship ofthe Pennsylvania Forensics Association, which returned to Cal U after 15 years.

• Several English majors presented papers at the statewide conference ofEAPSU-Jr., the English Association of Pennsylvania State Universities.

• Theatre and Dance students participated in the annual North CentralRegional Conference Auditions and Technical Interviews, and the verypopular “Summer Experience.”

• The Applied Sociology program at the Department of Justice, Law andSociety received full accreditation.

• The third annual Conference for Corporate and Homeland Security wasanother huge success.

• Faculty from the Department of Modern Languages have escorted studentson international academic field trips and hosted Modern Language Day.

• The Philosophy Department continues to engage in scholarly activitiesand student academic clubs, with activity in Italy, Scotland and Sweden.

• History and Political Science faculty have engaged in numerous activities,including the G-20 Summit, American Democracy Project events, ConstitutionDay and Black History Month, which also involved the Frederick Douglass Institute.

• The Psychology Department is supporting our communities through theChild and Family Studies Institute, and a faculty member is consulting onthe children’s television program Meet Me at the Great Tree.

• The Music Department continues its education and service by developinga new Bachelor of Science degree in Commercial Music Technology.

• The Women’s Studies and Leadership Studies programs continue to planworld-class conferences and host world-class speakers.

I could sum up this outstanding service with the statement, “This is great stuff.”Instead, I will close with a quote from the great Indian philosopher and

leader Mahatma Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself inthe service of others.”

Respectfully,

Dr. Michael L. HummelDean, College of Liberal Arts

overviewof the COLLEGE OFLIBERAL ARTS

Dean:

Dr. Michael L. Hummel

Department Chairs:

Professor Greg HarrisonArt and Design

Professor Gregory SpicerCommunication Studies

Dr. Madeline SmithEnglish

Dr. Mohamed YambaHistory and Political Science

Dr. Aref Al-KhattarJustice, Law and Society

Professor Margarita RibarModern Languages and Cultures

Professor Max GonanoMusic

Dr. Ronald HoyPhilosophy

Professor Sam LonichPsychology

Dr. Michael SlavinTheatre and Dance

Directors:

Dr. Marta McClintock-ComeauxWomen’s Studies

Dr. Kelton EdmondsFrederick Douglass Institute

Dr. Kurt KearcherComposition Program and Writing Center

Dr. Gary DeLorenzoLeadership Studies

ON THE COVERMark Rosato ’81 works with students to recorda Cal U radio spot at Big Science studios inPittsburgh. Cal U’s new Commercial MusicTechnology program prepares students towork as recording and broadcast engineers.

F R O M T H E

DEAN

2

5

By Lindy Kravec, a Peters Township-based writer

4

School psychologistplays host on children’s TV show‘Miss Palomine’ brings educational principles to her Cal U classroom, too

With a warm smile, Miss Palomineinvites children to join her in thetelevision world of Midlandia.

They gather at the Great Tree to meetSocrates the Squirrel before setting outto learn about letters, words and othereducational concepts with the help ofother cuddly Midlandians.

Another day has begun on Meet Meat the Great Tree, an educational programfor children ages 3-6. The show finishedits run in Milwaukee, Wis., and onPittsburgh’s WPGH Fox 53 in April, butit is scheduled to begin airing soon inPhiladelphia.

Miss Palomine is the perfect alter egofor Dr. Angela Bloomquist, a Cal U assistantprofessor of psychology and a schoolpsychologist who has an extensivebackground in musical theater.

“I started when I was 9, with a smallrole in Annie Get Your Gun with thePittsburgh Civic Light Opera,” Bloomquistsays. “When I was 16, I did a show at thePittsburgh Playhouse and met some peopleassociated with Point Park (University) whonow have connections with the LincolnPark Performing Arts Center.”

Meet Me at the Great Tree is filmed atthe arts center in Midland, Pa., a venueaffiliated with the National Network ofDigital Schools.

The show reinforces concepts fromthe Little Lincoln Interactive curriculum,which uses online and offline resourcesto teach math, reading, writing, socialstudies, science and visual arts.

“They were looking for a warm,kindergarten-type personality to fill therole of Miss Palomine, and my namecame up,” Bloomquist says. “So I broughtmy curriculum vitae with me, as well asmy performance resumé, and did a littlescreen test.

“The producers offered me a positionon the team as an educational consultant,too. It was wonderful to be a part of thecreative process while developingthis project.”

Bloomquist says she was able to discussthe show with the child-development classshe taught at Cal U last fall.

“I would ask my students, ‘What do weknow about 3-to-6-year-olds, and howwould we translate that into providingeducational entertainment for them?’

“For example, we know children don’thave long attention spans, so we don’tspend too much time on a segment. Ifwe introduce a song for the letter of theday, we also present a cartoon characterassociated with it, and then someone talksabout it and draws it, so we have multiple

ways of presenting the same concept.”Bloomquist filmed 35 episodes of

the show in just five weeks last summer.She currently is acting as Miss Palominein video clips for the Little Lincolncurriculum.

She says Cal U has supportedher efforts.

“Part of my job is service and part ofmy job is scholarship,” she says. “To beencouraged to do this project is fantastic— I couldn’t ask for anything more.” �

By Wendy Mackall, assistant communicationsdirector at Cal U

Dr. Angela Bloomquist is both the host and an educational consultant for Meet Meat the Great Tree, a children’s television program.

Singingtheir hearts outLOVE OF MUSIC MOTIVATESCAL U’S VOCAL PERFORMERS

The hours are long.The rehearsals are demanding — and then there’ssummer camp.

Yet every semester, more than 100 students at Cal U jugglecoursework, homework, part-time jobs and volunteer positionsso they can participate in one or more of the vocal music groupson campus.

From the University Choir to the Jazz Singers and CaliforniaSingers to innovative spin-off groups like A Capella Stellaand Vulcanize, Cal U’s vocal ensembles perform tirelessly, bothon campus and at a variety of venues throughout westernPennsylvania.

“We just love to perform,” says Carl Halye, founder andcurrent director of Vulcanize, an all-male a capella group.

The sheer love of sharing their talent can be a powerfulmotivator. Dr. Yugo Ikach, associate professor and director ofthe University Choir, says these students come from all majorsand diverse backgrounds, but they build tremendous bondswith one another because of their common interest.

Halye, for example, is a meteorology major who wasinspired by the a capella and “rock-apella” groups at his formerhigh school.

“Six of us tried to get a harmonizing group going here in thespring of 2008, but it wasn’t until fall semester that Vulcanizereally took off,” he says. “We practice every Tuesday and Thursday.Sometimes we sing with the choir or other ensembles. Othertimes it’s just us at events.”

The enthusiasm that Halye and the other Vulcanize membersbring to each performance is typical of all the musical groupson campus.

“No one is making them show up for practice or the shows,”emphasizes Ikach. “These people really want to be here.They work so hard and so long. And they do it just because theylove it — and they want others to see how much they love it!”

Last fall semester, students participated in more than 30events, ranging from New Student Convocation and winterCommencement to holiday caroling sessions on campus andrun-out concerts at local churches and senior centers.

This spring, the concert schedule included an all-star collegeperformance at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, as well as a choir tourto Washington, D.C.

Although these groups are all about singing, there is a strongcommunity service aspect to membership.

“Music is good for people and helps to lift their spirits,” saysJenna Dunmire, a senior in the Department of CommunicationDisorders and president of the University Choir.

She adds that teamwork plays a big role in ensuring a solidperformance.

“When you’re part of a group, you no longer just want tomake sure that you sound your best, but that your group performsthe best that it can. You also do not want to disappoint youraudience, because they’re the ones who took time out of theirschedule to come and see you.”

“I always have to remind myself that these are avocationalmusicians,” says Dr. Max Gonano, chairman of the MusicDepartment. “They’re doing it for fun. Every year we are soexcited to how see the groups take shape.”

“They’re really, really a great bunch of kids,” adds Ikach.“Working with them convinces me that I have the best job inthe world.” �

Members of the California Singers Cody Foster and Dick Fleeger(above) and Dan Plumley (below) rehearse in Morgan Hall.

5

By Lindy Kravec, a Peters Township-based writer

4

School psychologistplays host on children’s TV show‘Miss Palomine’ brings educational principles to her Cal U classroom, too

With a warm smile, Miss Palomineinvites children to join her in thetelevision world of Midlandia.

They gather at the Great Tree to meetSocrates the Squirrel before setting outto learn about letters, words and othereducational concepts with the help ofother cuddly Midlandians.

Another day has begun on Meet Meat the Great Tree, an educational programfor children ages 3-6. The show finishedits run in Milwaukee, Wis., and onPittsburgh’s WPGH Fox 53 in April, butit is scheduled to begin airing soon inPhiladelphia.

Miss Palomine is the perfect alter egofor Dr. Angela Bloomquist, a Cal U assistantprofessor of psychology and a schoolpsychologist who has an extensivebackground in musical theater.

“I started when I was 9, with a smallrole in Annie Get Your Gun with thePittsburgh Civic Light Opera,” Bloomquistsays. “When I was 16, I did a show at thePittsburgh Playhouse and met some peopleassociated with Point Park (University) whonow have connections with the LincolnPark Performing Arts Center.”

Meet Me at the Great Tree is filmed atthe arts center in Midland, Pa., a venueaffiliated with the National Network ofDigital Schools.

The show reinforces concepts fromthe Little Lincoln Interactive curriculum,which uses online and offline resourcesto teach math, reading, writing, socialstudies, science and visual arts.

“They were looking for a warm,kindergarten-type personality to fill therole of Miss Palomine, and my namecame up,” Bloomquist says. “So I broughtmy curriculum vitae with me, as well asmy performance resumé, and did a littlescreen test.

“The producers offered me a positionon the team as an educational consultant,too. It was wonderful to be a part of thecreative process while developingthis project.”

Bloomquist says she was able to discussthe show with the child-development classshe taught at Cal U last fall.

“I would ask my students, ‘What do weknow about 3-to-6-year-olds, and howwould we translate that into providingeducational entertainment for them?’

“For example, we know children don’thave long attention spans, so we don’tspend too much time on a segment. Ifwe introduce a song for the letter of theday, we also present a cartoon characterassociated with it, and then someone talksabout it and draws it, so we have multiple

ways of presenting the same concept.”Bloomquist filmed 35 episodes of

the show in just five weeks last summer.She currently is acting as Miss Palominein video clips for the Little Lincolncurriculum.

She says Cal U has supportedher efforts.

“Part of my job is service and part ofmy job is scholarship,” she says. “To beencouraged to do this project is fantastic— I couldn’t ask for anything more.” �

By Wendy Mackall, assistant communicationsdirector at Cal U

Dr. Angela Bloomquist is both the host and an educational consultant for Meet Meat the Great Tree, a children’s television program.

Singingtheir hearts outLOVE OF MUSIC MOTIVATESCAL U’S VOCAL PERFORMERS

The hours are long.The rehearsals are demanding — and then there’ssummer camp.

Yet every semester, more than 100 students at Cal U jugglecoursework, homework, part-time jobs and volunteer positionsso they can participate in one or more of the vocal music groupson campus.

From the University Choir to the Jazz Singers and CaliforniaSingers to innovative spin-off groups like A Capella Stellaand Vulcanize, Cal U’s vocal ensembles perform tirelessly, bothon campus and at a variety of venues throughout westernPennsylvania.

“We just love to perform,” says Carl Halye, founder andcurrent director of Vulcanize, an all-male a capella group.

The sheer love of sharing their talent can be a powerfulmotivator. Dr. Yugo Ikach, associate professor and director ofthe University Choir, says these students come from all majorsand diverse backgrounds, but they build tremendous bondswith one another because of their common interest.

Halye, for example, is a meteorology major who wasinspired by the a capella and “rock-apella” groups at his formerhigh school.

“Six of us tried to get a harmonizing group going here in thespring of 2008, but it wasn’t until fall semester that Vulcanizereally took off,” he says. “We practice every Tuesday and Thursday.Sometimes we sing with the choir or other ensembles. Othertimes it’s just us at events.”

The enthusiasm that Halye and the other Vulcanize membersbring to each performance is typical of all the musical groupson campus.

“No one is making them show up for practice or the shows,”emphasizes Ikach. “These people really want to be here.They work so hard and so long. And they do it just because theylove it — and they want others to see how much they love it!”

Last fall semester, students participated in more than 30events, ranging from New Student Convocation and winterCommencement to holiday caroling sessions on campus andrun-out concerts at local churches and senior centers.

This spring, the concert schedule included an all-star collegeperformance at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, as well as a choir tourto Washington, D.C.

Although these groups are all about singing, there is a strongcommunity service aspect to membership.

“Music is good for people and helps to lift their spirits,” saysJenna Dunmire, a senior in the Department of CommunicationDisorders and president of the University Choir.

She adds that teamwork plays a big role in ensuring a solidperformance.

“When you’re part of a group, you no longer just want tomake sure that you sound your best, but that your group performsthe best that it can. You also do not want to disappoint youraudience, because they’re the ones who took time out of theirschedule to come and see you.”

“I always have to remind myself that these are avocationalmusicians,” says Dr. Max Gonano, chairman of the MusicDepartment. “They’re doing it for fun. Every year we are soexcited to how see the groups take shape.”

“They’re really, really a great bunch of kids,” adds Ikach.“Working with them convinces me that I have the best job inthe world.” �

Members of the California Singers Cody Foster and Dick Fleeger(above) and Dan Plumley (below) rehearse in Morgan Hall.

76

Two human skeletons hang in the laboratory-classroomwhere Dr. Cassandra Kuba teaches forensic anthropology.A glass case holds a skeletal cat, and assorted skulls and

other bones are displayed on shelves or packed away in neatlylabeled boxes.

“If students think it’s going to be like the TV show Bones,they’re only partly right,” says Kuba, who originated theundergraduate program at Cal U just three years ago.

Examining bones can, indeed, provide critical evidencethat helps to solve crimes and bring the perpetrators tojustice, but few cases are neatly wrapped up within an hour.

“This can be painstaking work,” Kuba says. “Andsometimes we just don’t know all the answers.”

Students in Kuba’s classes do have something in commonwith their TV counterparts: They get to handle real bones,as well as detailed replicas, and they occasionally visit actualcrime or accident scenes where forensic expertise is needed.

They learn to use tools such as ground-penetrating radar,which senses soil anomalies and lets investigators “look throughthe soil without having to dig anything up,” Kuba explains.

This semester, for example, she and her students workedwith Pennsylvania State Police and a cadaver dog team to scana tract of state gamelands where police suspect a “cold case”homicide victim may be buried.

Students also learn to use laser surveying equipment tomap a target area. In the field, they take soil samples and

California University continues toattract wide participation in itsannual Corporate and Homeland

Security Conference.Each year, law enforcement

representatives, corporate securityprofessionals, social services administrators,and federal, state and local governmentofficials gather on campus to network anddiscuss security procedures and policies.

The 2009 conference, “SchoolSecurity: Preventing the Disaster,”featured Col. Frank Pawlowski,commissioner of the Pennsylvania StatePolice; Robert French, director of thePennsylvania Emergency ManagementAgency; and Steven Topriani, districtattorney for Washington County.

Dr. Gerald Zahorchak, secretaryof the Pennsylvania Department ofEducation, delivered the keynote address.

Cal U professors Dr. Emily Sweitzer,associate professor of justice and behavioralcrime, and Professor Sam Lonich, chairof the Psychology Department anddirector of the Child and Family StudiesInstitute at Cal U, led sessions aboutthe origins of violence in schools andaggression and suicide in adolescents.

Lonich, a registered school psychologistand accredited school suicide preventionprogram specialist, noted that suicide isthe third leading cause of death among10- to 19-year-olds.

“Statistics show that 17 percent of

high school students have seriouslyconsidered suicide. Thirteen percenthave made a plan and 9 percent haveattempted it,” he reported.

Lonich discussed suicide risk factors— including depression, negative self-evaluation, poor coping skills, and socialand interpersonal isolation and alienation— as well as local school districts’ workto provide suicide prevention trainingfor teachers and social and coping skillstraining for students.

Participants also discussed school andyouth violence policies and proceduresused by the state Education Departmentand the Washington County DistrictAttorney’s Office. Other sessions focusedon emergency planning and case studiesof school shootings.

“School security is a hot-buttontopic,” says Dr. Michael Hummel, deanof the College of Liberal Arts, past chairof the Justice, Law and Society Departmentand lead organizer of the event.

“This conference provided theopportunity to educate society onhelping to prevent these crimes.”

About 200 people attended, saysHummel, including 50 students whohad the opportunity to meet corporateCEOs, chiefs of police, securityprofessionals, government officialsand school administrators.

“Each year the conference providesa real skill-building and networkingopportunity for students,” he says. �

By Colleen C. Derda, a Pittsburgh-based writer

probe the earth for signs that something — a drug cache?a body? — may be hidden underground.

“My students get hands-on experience, which isn’t alwaysthe case in undergraduate programs,” says Kuba, who teachesintroductory and upper-level courses. “They learn aboutsearch and recovery and how to conduct lab analysis. And theydevelop a basic understanding of how forensic anthropologistsfit into the criminal justice system.”

In the classroom, though, it’s all about the bones. Studentslearn to distinguish human remains from animal bones. Theymeasure a skull at key points and use a computer program todetermine the individual’ssex and ancestry. Theyexamine specimens forsigns of trauma, and theystudy the effects of fireand decomposition onskeletal remains.

“Human bones cantell us the story of howsomeone lived andpossibly how they died.A forensic anthropologistmay be the only personwho can identify anindividual,” says Danetta Snook, a senior anthropology majorwith a concentration in forensic anthropology.

“This work is important to families who have lost a lovedone, to victims of crimes and to law enforcement.”

Through Cal U’s Institute for Forensic Science andCriminology, Kuba conducts workshops for local police andworks as a consultant. One of her first purchases for the labwas a sturdy safe used to secure evidence and maintain the“chain of custody” for legal proceedings.

Some people have difficulty working with human remains,especially those of crime victims, but Kuba says she neverregrets the career choice she made back in high school.

“I’m being granted a privilege, to get to know peoplein a way they don’t even know themselves,” she says. “I knowthat my work with their loved ones’ remains may help bringclosure for surviving family members. That in itself is reasonenough to do this.” �

By Christine Kindl, communications director for Cal U

SkullsandbonesFORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGYSTUDENTS UNCOVER THE SECRETSOF SKELETONS

Dr. Cassandra Kuba uses real and replica bones to conduct lessons inforensic anthropology.

Col. Frank Pawlowski Steven Topriani Dr. Gerald Zahorchak Robert French

Dr. Cassandra Kuba (second from left)and colleagues work with ground-penetrating radar.

CONFERENCESPEAKERS ADDRESSSCHOOL VIOLENCE2010 Homeland Security Conferencewill focus on crime in cyberspace

2010 CONFERENCE LOOKS AT INTERNET

The 2010 Corporate and Homeland Security Conference will look at security issuesin cyberspace. The Department of Justice, Law and Society will present “InternetSecurity and Cyber Crimes” on Oct. 21 in the Performance Center of the NataliStudent Center.

The conference will feature sessions with FBI professionals working with theHigh-tech Crimes Task Force and Dr. Raymond Hsieh, a Cal U assistant professorwho trains law enforcement professionals in computer forensics.

Lonich will present a session on cyber-bullying and the increased prevalenceof depression and suicidal ideation among both youth who have been bulliedand those who bully.

Internet terrorism will be the focus of a discussion led by Hummel, whose workin the area has been featured in The Homeland Security Review Journal andother publications.

For registration information and a complete list of speakers, visit www.calu.edu.

76

Two human skeletons hang in the laboratory-classroomwhere Dr. Cassandra Kuba teaches forensic anthropology.A glass case holds a skeletal cat, and assorted skulls and

other bones are displayed on shelves or packed away in neatlylabeled boxes.

“If students think it’s going to be like the TV show Bones,they’re only partly right,” says Kuba, who originated theundergraduate program at Cal U just three years ago.

Examining bones can, indeed, provide critical evidencethat helps to solve crimes and bring the perpetrators tojustice, but few cases are neatly wrapped up within an hour.

“This can be painstaking work,” Kuba says. “Andsometimes we just don’t know all the answers.”

Students in Kuba’s classes do have something in commonwith their TV counterparts: They get to handle real bones,as well as detailed replicas, and they occasionally visit actualcrime or accident scenes where forensic expertise is needed.

They learn to use tools such as ground-penetrating radar,which senses soil anomalies and lets investigators “look throughthe soil without having to dig anything up,” Kuba explains.

This semester, for example, she and her students workedwith Pennsylvania State Police and a cadaver dog team to scana tract of state gamelands where police suspect a “cold case”homicide victim may be buried.

Students also learn to use laser surveying equipment tomap a target area. In the field, they take soil samples and

California University continues toattract wide participation in itsannual Corporate and Homeland

Security Conference.Each year, law enforcement

representatives, corporate securityprofessionals, social services administrators,and federal, state and local governmentofficials gather on campus to network anddiscuss security procedures and policies.

The 2009 conference, “SchoolSecurity: Preventing the Disaster,”featured Col. Frank Pawlowski,commissioner of the Pennsylvania StatePolice; Robert French, director of thePennsylvania Emergency ManagementAgency; and Steven Topriani, districtattorney for Washington County.

Dr. Gerald Zahorchak, secretaryof the Pennsylvania Department ofEducation, delivered the keynote address.

Cal U professors Dr. Emily Sweitzer,associate professor of justice and behavioralcrime, and Professor Sam Lonich, chairof the Psychology Department anddirector of the Child and Family StudiesInstitute at Cal U, led sessions aboutthe origins of violence in schools andaggression and suicide in adolescents.

Lonich, a registered school psychologistand accredited school suicide preventionprogram specialist, noted that suicide isthe third leading cause of death among10- to 19-year-olds.

“Statistics show that 17 percent of

high school students have seriouslyconsidered suicide. Thirteen percenthave made a plan and 9 percent haveattempted it,” he reported.

Lonich discussed suicide risk factors— including depression, negative self-evaluation, poor coping skills, and socialand interpersonal isolation and alienation— as well as local school districts’ workto provide suicide prevention trainingfor teachers and social and coping skillstraining for students.

Participants also discussed school andyouth violence policies and proceduresused by the state Education Departmentand the Washington County DistrictAttorney’s Office. Other sessions focusedon emergency planning and case studiesof school shootings.

“School security is a hot-buttontopic,” says Dr. Michael Hummel, deanof the College of Liberal Arts, past chairof the Justice, Law and Society Departmentand lead organizer of the event.

“This conference provided theopportunity to educate society onhelping to prevent these crimes.”

About 200 people attended, saysHummel, including 50 students whohad the opportunity to meet corporateCEOs, chiefs of police, securityprofessionals, government officialsand school administrators.

“Each year the conference providesa real skill-building and networkingopportunity for students,” he says. �

By Colleen C. Derda, a Pittsburgh-based writer

probe the earth for signs that something — a drug cache?a body? — may be hidden underground.

“My students get hands-on experience, which isn’t alwaysthe case in undergraduate programs,” says Kuba, who teachesintroductory and upper-level courses. “They learn aboutsearch and recovery and how to conduct lab analysis. And theydevelop a basic understanding of how forensic anthropologistsfit into the criminal justice system.”

In the classroom, though, it’s all about the bones. Studentslearn to distinguish human remains from animal bones. Theymeasure a skull at key points and use a computer program todetermine the individual’ssex and ancestry. Theyexamine specimens forsigns of trauma, and theystudy the effects of fireand decomposition onskeletal remains.

“Human bones cantell us the story of howsomeone lived andpossibly how they died.A forensic anthropologistmay be the only personwho can identify anindividual,” says Danetta Snook, a senior anthropology majorwith a concentration in forensic anthropology.

“This work is important to families who have lost a lovedone, to victims of crimes and to law enforcement.”

Through Cal U’s Institute for Forensic Science andCriminology, Kuba conducts workshops for local police andworks as a consultant. One of her first purchases for the labwas a sturdy safe used to secure evidence and maintain the“chain of custody” for legal proceedings.

Some people have difficulty working with human remains,especially those of crime victims, but Kuba says she neverregrets the career choice she made back in high school.

“I’m being granted a privilege, to get to know peoplein a way they don’t even know themselves,” she says. “I knowthat my work with their loved ones’ remains may help bringclosure for surviving family members. That in itself is reasonenough to do this.” �

By Christine Kindl, communications director for Cal U

SkullsandbonesFORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGYSTUDENTS UNCOVER THE SECRETSOF SKELETONS

Dr. Cassandra Kuba uses real and replica bones to conduct lessons inforensic anthropology.

Col. Frank Pawlowski Steven Topriani Dr. Gerald Zahorchak Robert French

Dr. Cassandra Kuba (second from left)and colleagues work with ground-penetrating radar.

CONFERENCESPEAKERS ADDRESSSCHOOL VIOLENCE2010 Homeland Security Conferencewill focus on crime in cyberspace

2010 CONFERENCE LOOKS AT INTERNET

The 2010 Corporate and Homeland Security Conference will look at security issuesin cyberspace. The Department of Justice, Law and Society will present “InternetSecurity and Cyber Crimes” on Oct. 21 in the Performance Center of the NataliStudent Center.

The conference will feature sessions with FBI professionals working with theHigh-tech Crimes Task Force and Dr. Raymond Hsieh, a Cal U assistant professorwho trains law enforcement professionals in computer forensics.

Lonich will present a session on cyber-bullying and the increased prevalenceof depression and suicidal ideation among both youth who have been bulliedand those who bully.

Internet terrorism will be the focus of a discussion led by Hummel, whose workin the area has been featured in The Homeland Security Review Journal andother publications.

For registration information and a complete list of speakers, visit www.calu.edu.

California University of PennsylvaniaThe College of Liberal Arts250 University AvenuePhone: 724-938-4240Fax: 724-938-5871

E-mail: liberalarts@calu.eduwww.calu.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts

A proud member of the PennsylvaniaState System of Higher Education.

Integrity, Civility, Responsibility

Efforts to build the Cal U speechand debate team into a moreprestigious organization got a

boost recently when the Universityhosted the state championship of thePennsylvania Forensics Association.

“The state competition hasn’t evenbeen hosted in western Pennsylvania forabout 15 years,” says Dr. Gregory Spicer,chair of the Department of CommunicationStudies and the team’s adviser.

“To have it here was a pretty big deal.”Two students from Cal U competed in

the Lincoln-Douglas category, a one-on-one

policy debate. They earned third placein the President’s Division, which is forsmaller teams.

For perspective, St. Joseph’s University,a nationally known program, sent aboutfive times as many students and competedin a variety of categories, such as rhetoricalcriticism and persuasive, extemporaneousand impromptu speaking.

“Eastern Pennsylvania has a longhistory of excellent speech and debateprograms,” says Spicer.

His goal — and one that is fullysupported by the University and the

College of Liberal Arts under DeanMichael Hummel — is to create a similartradition at Cal U.

There are challenges.For one, “there aren’t that many high

school forensics programs in the area,”Spicer says. “Because our students don’thave this experience, it takes time to builda forensics program.”

For another, weekend competitionsoften require travel to other schools.“For many students, this is a non-starter,because they have to work on weekends.”

The College of Liberal Arts has set upa $500 scholarship for excellence indebate that can be awarded to adeserving student.

Despite the obstacles, Spicer says aforensics program is worth nurturing,because it will benefit students wellbeyond graduation.

“I was able to apply the skills I learnedfrom participating in forensics on a dailybasis in the workplace,” says MeganBehary ’03, a former Cal U debate teampresident who is now a graduate assistantin the Department of CommunicationStudies.

“Forensics had an impact on mycareer more than any one singular class.”

For this reason, says Spicer, “we wantCal U to be known as the only school inwestern Pennsylvania with a comprehensiveforensics program. ” �

By Wendy Mackall, assistant communicationsdirector at Cal U

Dr. Gregory Spicer (center) and members of the Vulcan Forensics Union (from left) Kayla Randall,Endicott Reindl, Meghan Gavin and Deidre Pesognelli.

DEBATERS PLAYHOST FORSTATECONTESTSpeaking skills are valued in the workplace, forensics competitors say

alumni calendarALUMNI N E W S

JUNEPhiladelphia, Athletic Training Convention, June 24Join us for the annual athletic training reception, from 7-9 p.m. at the PhiladelphiaPublic House in Logan Square. For details, check Facebook by searching for“California University of Pennsylvania Athletic Training Alumni Society.”

Harrisburg Senators Game, June 25Spend a night at the ballpark as the Harrisburg Senators take on the ReadingPhillies on Flat-screens and Fireworks Night at the new Metro Bank Park inHarrisburg, Pa. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Game time is 7 p.m.

Before the game we will host a picnic at Metro Bank Park. Tickets are $22 foradults, $12 for children; cost includes an all-you-can-eat buffet and admissionto the game. For more information, call Leslie Fleenor at 724-938-4418.

JULYNew York City Gathering, July 8Join alumni from the New York City area for an evening of good food andconversation at Etcetera Etcetera restaurant, 352 W. 44th St., New York, N.Y.(www.etcrestaurant.com). For more information, call Leslie Fleenorat 724-938-4418.

Alumni Night at PNC Park, July 17Be sure to attend the annual Cal U Alumni Night at PNC Park inPittsburgh, Pa., where the Pirates take on the Houston Astros.Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Game time is 7:05.

Before the game, join us in the Pirates Cove for an all-you-can-eat buffet.After the game, stick around for the famous Zambelli fireworks!For more information, contact Leslie Fleenor at 724-938-4418.

AUGUSTCal U Couples Weekend, Aug. 6-7Revisit the Cal U campus and rekindle fond memories at our annualCouples Weekend.

SEPTEMBERWashington, D.C., Gathering (date to be announced)Expect to hear more about an alumni gathering in our nation’s capital.

Check your monthly Under the Towers e-newsletter for updates to these events.For more information about alumni events, contact the Office of Alumni Relations& Annual Fund at 724-938-4418 or alumni@calu.edu. Join the Alumni Association’sNEW online community at http://alumni.calu.edu.

SPEAK UP!WE’RE LISTENING. . .What do you think of the Cal UReview? The editor and staffwant to know. Is there a featureyou enjoy — or one you don’t?A topic you’d like to readmore about? To share yourthoughts, send an e-mail torevieweditor@calu.edu,or drop us a line at:Cal U Review, Box 31,California Universityof Pennsylvania,250 University Drive,California, PA15419-1394.

CAL POINTof PRIDE

Campus ModelA tabletop model in Old Main, just outsidethe President’s Conference Room, presentsthe master plan for the California Universitycampus. Designed in 2008 by MacLachlan,Cornelius & Filoni, Architects, it envisions thecampus 15 years in the future, with currentbuildings depicted in brown and plannedconstruction in white. More than 9 feet longand 8 feet wide, the model is built to a scaleof 1 inch = 30 feet. This is the second masterplan for the University. The first was developedby MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni in theearly 1990s.

Sigma Tau Gamma Golf OutingAlumni paid a visit to Legends Golf Resort during the 2010 Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity golf outing. Pictured are (back row, left to right)Joe Warwick, Dave Gustovich, Tom Stuvek, Lloyd Uphold, Kevin Jenkins, Dan Evans, Jim Sandherr, Russ Bergstedt, Jim Lopez andTom Sandherr; (second row, l-r) Art Difrancesco, John Shosky, Wayne Douglas, Chris McCrory, Scott Jetter, Jack Wardman, Jim Wardman,Joe Sprentz, John Sauritch, Walt Stockton, Vito Dentino, Homer Braden, Lee Beten and Jim Barbo; (front row, l-r) John Darnley,Mike Douglas, Chris Douglas, Rick Castle, Jeff Stivason, Jeff Janosik, Joe Karpa, Mike Napolitano, Pete Gialames, Dan Lion and Bill Sandherr.Not pictured: Wayne Cekola and John Lopez.

Red & Black AffairA vintage fashion showwas the highlight of April’sannual Red & Black AffairExtraordinaire. Presented bythe Cal U Alumni Association,this popular event has raisedmore than $78,000 forstudent scholarships overthe past four years.

At top, alumni (from left) Harriet Widdowson ’81,Nina Gray ’87, Amber Culley ’06 and Dennis T. J.Wynder ’85 relax at a Philadelphia Chapter eventheld last summer at the Manayunk Brewery inManayunk, Pa. Graduates from various decadeswere on hand to share stories of their days at Cal U.

Above, alumnus Pat Munizza ’84 (right) joins RyanMorris (center) and a guest for authentic Germanfood, drinks and live entertainment at a PittsburghChapter event held last winter at the Hofbrauhaus,on the city’s South Side.

Congratulations to Mathematics and Computer ScienceProfessor George Novak ’55, recipient of California Universityof Pennsylvania’s 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award.

alumni gatheringsGREETINGS FROM THE ALUMNI OFFICE!

Aswe continue to expand outreachefforts locally, regionally, statewide

and nationally to our 55,000 alumni,I’d like to extend a sincere “thank you”to those graduates who continue tostay connected with California.

Over the past several months wehave continued to engage and buildrelationships with alumni in existing

chapter areas, as well as attract alumni to grow new chapters.New York Regional and Tampa Regional are two suchchapters that have begun strong and are expected tocontinue growing.

Upcoming areas for new and continued growthinclude Cleveland; Columbus; Cincinnati; Washington,D.C.; and Virginia Beach, Va.

I encourage all alumni to stay connected to California,whether simply by referring a prospective student to ouralma mater or by doing something as elaborate as hostingan event in your area.

I’d also like to extend congratulations to the eightAlumni Association Awards of Distinction honorees for2009: Dr. Paul Gentile ’62, John R. Gregg Award for Loyaltyand Service; Dr. Mary Seman, C.B. Wilson DistinguishedFaculty Award; Dr. John Cencich, W.S. Jackman Awardof Distinction; Darcie Vincent, Michael Duda Award forAthletic Achievement; Joan Helsel, Pavlak/Shutsy SpecialService Award; Joe Grushecky ’71, Professional ExcellenceAward; Thea Kalcevic ’06, Young Alumni Award; andDr. Charles Gorman ’57, Meritorious Award.

These individuals will be honored during AlumniWeekend at a special awards ceremony and luncheon onSaturday, June 5.

In yet another way to stay connected with California,I encourage you to log on to our Online Communityat www.calu.edu/alumni. You can receive a permanente-mail address, update your information, add your nameto the online alumni directory, receive Under the Towers,our monthly e-newsletter, and more.

These services are available only to our alumni andsenior students. Please contact me at lombard@calu.eduwith any questions you may have. I look forward tomeeting you in our “Community!”

Please check out our calendar of upcoming events andplan to attend something in your area— or let us welcomeyou back to California. Call the alumni office, e-mail us,or stop by the Michael and Julia Kara Alumni House anytimeyou are on campus. I would be happy to show you themany changes at our alma mater, and I look forwardto sharing these exciting times with you!

Amy LombardExecutive Director, Office of Alumni Relationsand Annual Fund

18 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 19

20 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 21

of California University of Pennsylvaniaand the Southwest PennsylvaniaArts Network. She also was foundingpresident of SwiftWaters Arts Network.

Upon their return, Susan and Davidworked together at the Charleroi Art& History Center, running programsand teaching art classes for childrenand adults, and connected with othercommunities of artists.

Today, Susan is a member of thePittsburgh Watercolor Society and thePittsburgh Society of Arts, amongother groups.

She also has a key leadership rolewith Associated Artists of Pittsburgh,which is celebrating its 100th yearin 2010. She serves on the board ofdirectors and is co-chairing its centennialexhibitions. She is also co-chair of theprestigious AAP Annual at theCarnegie Museum of Art this summer.

The group is the oldest artistorganization in the country to exhibiteach year at a major museum, she says,a fact that makes her particularlyproud to be involved with planningthe 100th exhibition.

“Growing up here, the Carnegiehas always been so important to me,”says Susan, speaking for many artistsin the region.

Along with her volunteer roles,Susan is the managing director ofDance Alloy Theater, and she continuespainting, drawing, printmaking andcreating her mixed-media artwork.She has exhibited pieces at theCarnegie Museum of Art, the PittsburghCenter for the Arts, the Butler Instituteof American Art in Youngstown andnumerous galleries.

Focus on photographyDavid also has shown his work in

exhibitions at the Carnegie, the WarholMuseum, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts,Gallery 707 in Pittsburgh’s CulturalDistrict and galleries throughout theregion. Photography, which onceserved as a means to create studies forprints and paintings, now is his primaryartistic pursuit.

Two photos from his MonongahelaRiver series were selected for exhibitionin the juried 99th AAP Annual at theCarnegie Museum of Art.

“Although I have studied photographysince art school (prior to attendingCalifornia), I still consider myself astudent,” David says in an artist statement.

He uses a digital camera and digitalproduction, but in a traditional photo-graphic process, in effect printingwhat he shoots. A new series focuseson duo-chromatic images that have

almost a silkscreen effect. He creditsMan Ray, Andy Warhol, Ansel Adamsand Maxfield Parrish with influencinghis artistic vision.

David has worked professionallyin the field of art since 1968. In thelate 1970s he decided to obtain abachelor’s degree and enrolled at Calusing veteran’s benefits. He alsocontinued working as a mechanic ina local coal mine for a few years.

“I would work in the mines duringthe night shift, then go to classes inthe day,” he says, looking back. “I didit because art was my passion.”

The education paid off in professionalwork and a fine arts background for hiscreative work. Clients that have usedhis design and Web work over the yearshave included Microsoft, Classmates,Boeing, Disney, Warner Brothers,Mossimo and other corporations.

Both David and Susan say they areenjoying a life led by their personalartistic pursuits. They also say theytake great satisfaction from sharing artwith others through instruction andinvolvement with art organizations. �

By Colleen C. Derda, a Pittsburgh-based writer

LEARNMOREAssociated Artists of Pittsburghcounts a number of Cal Ualumni as members. For moreinformation on the organizationand a list of 70+ exhibitions showcasingmembers’ art during AAP’s 100th year,visit aapgh.org.

Susan S. Sparks ’80 is exploringhow to represent visually the

“textures of sound.”The western Pennsylvania artist

uses aluminum tape and India inkand a drawing/etching process tocreate her current series, “Art of Noise,”now numbering more than 40 pieces.

Each work varies according to therhythms of music she selects for thecreative process. The sound andpatterns of rain on a windshield alsoinspired a recent piece.

“This series draws upon my daysas a printmaker,” she says.

Susan describes each result as across between an etching plate and apiece of metal repoussé, or raisedpattern, work. She creates her “Art ofNoise” pieces and paints in a studioshe shares with her husband andfellow artist, C. David Sparks ’81.

The couple met in the late 1970s,when they were nontraditionalstudents at Cal U, then CaliforniaState College. Both had returned tothe classroom to pursue fine arts,

with David, a Vietnam veteran,studying during the day and workingin a coal mine at night.

Sharing time in the classroomand Cal’s art studios, the two becamegood friends. In the early 1980s theyeven shared a two-person exhibitionon campus called, tellingly, “TwoHeads Are Better than One.” Theexhibition in the old student unionfeatured David’s pottery and print-making and Susan’s paintings andworks on paper.

Even when David moved to theWest Coast after graduating, theykept in touch. Susan stayed in westernPennsylvania, volunteering in Cal’sart department and working withlocal arts and charitable organizations.Five years later they joined forcesagain after Susan agreed to try outanother California.

West Coast sojournThe couple married and for about

15 years lived in California andWashington states. David developed

his expertise in computer graphics,Web page design, illustration anddigital photography, at one pointserving as director of technologyat the Art Institute of Seattle andlaunching its digital photographyprogram.

Susan worked as a corporatecreative officer, art director, graphicdesigner and illustrator. Togetherthey built Sparks Design on thestrength of their combined skills,and they continued to pursueindividual artistic projects.

They returned to westernPennsylvania in 2003.

“We made the decision to returnover a bottle of wine,” says Susan,who had come back for a few weeksto care for her mother and cleanthe family home. Both soon startedto imagine themselves living wherehousing was more affordable andartistic pursuits readily available.

“We realized that the taxes forone year on a 3,000-square-foothouse on 2/3 acre overlooking theMonongahela River were less thanone month’s mortgage on thehouse in Seattle,” she says.

So they moved back, rehabbedthe house in Dunlevy, Pa., andbecame involved again in artisticgroups in the region. Before movingout West, the former Susan Smithserved on the boards of the CreativeArts Council of the Mon Valley andthe Arts Council of WashingtonCounty. She was a founding memberof the former Alumni Arts Association

Alumni pair sharesa life in the artsCouple returns to the region to create, teachand work with arts organizations

After living on the West Coast, Davidand Susan Sparks returned to westernPennsylvania, where both are active inlocal arts organizations.

Susan Sparks uses aluminum tape, India ink and adrawing/etching process to create her current series,“Art of Noise,” now numbering more than 40 pieces.

Photography has become the primary medium for David Sparks, a professional artistsince 1968. ‘I still consider myself a student,’ he says.

20 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 21

of California University of Pennsylvaniaand the Southwest PennsylvaniaArts Network. She also was foundingpresident of SwiftWaters Arts Network.

Upon their return, Susan and Davidworked together at the Charleroi Art& History Center, running programsand teaching art classes for childrenand adults, and connected with othercommunities of artists.

Today, Susan is a member of thePittsburgh Watercolor Society and thePittsburgh Society of Arts, amongother groups.

She also has a key leadership rolewith Associated Artists of Pittsburgh,which is celebrating its 100th yearin 2010. She serves on the board ofdirectors and is co-chairing its centennialexhibitions. She is also co-chair of theprestigious AAP Annual at theCarnegie Museum of Art this summer.

The group is the oldest artistorganization in the country to exhibiteach year at a major museum, she says,a fact that makes her particularlyproud to be involved with planningthe 100th exhibition.

“Growing up here, the Carnegiehas always been so important to me,”says Susan, speaking for many artistsin the region.

Along with her volunteer roles,Susan is the managing director ofDance Alloy Theater, and she continuespainting, drawing, printmaking andcreating her mixed-media artwork.She has exhibited pieces at theCarnegie Museum of Art, the PittsburghCenter for the Arts, the Butler Instituteof American Art in Youngstown andnumerous galleries.

Focus on photographyDavid also has shown his work in

exhibitions at the Carnegie, the WarholMuseum, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts,Gallery 707 in Pittsburgh’s CulturalDistrict and galleries throughout theregion. Photography, which onceserved as a means to create studies forprints and paintings, now is his primaryartistic pursuit.

Two photos from his MonongahelaRiver series were selected for exhibitionin the juried 99th AAP Annual at theCarnegie Museum of Art.

“Although I have studied photographysince art school (prior to attendingCalifornia), I still consider myself astudent,” David says in an artist statement.

He uses a digital camera and digitalproduction, but in a traditional photo-graphic process, in effect printingwhat he shoots. A new series focuseson duo-chromatic images that have

almost a silkscreen effect. He creditsMan Ray, Andy Warhol, Ansel Adamsand Maxfield Parrish with influencinghis artistic vision.

David has worked professionallyin the field of art since 1968. In thelate 1970s he decided to obtain abachelor’s degree and enrolled at Calusing veteran’s benefits. He alsocontinued working as a mechanic ina local coal mine for a few years.

“I would work in the mines duringthe night shift, then go to classes inthe day,” he says, looking back. “I didit because art was my passion.”

The education paid off in professionalwork and a fine arts background for hiscreative work. Clients that have usedhis design and Web work over the yearshave included Microsoft, Classmates,Boeing, Disney, Warner Brothers,Mossimo and other corporations.

Both David and Susan say they areenjoying a life led by their personalartistic pursuits. They also say theytake great satisfaction from sharing artwith others through instruction andinvolvement with art organizations. �

By Colleen C. Derda, a Pittsburgh-based writer

LEARNMOREAssociated Artists of Pittsburghcounts a number of Cal Ualumni as members. For moreinformation on the organizationand a list of 70+ exhibitions showcasingmembers’ art during AAP’s 100th year,visit aapgh.org.

Susan S. Sparks ’80 is exploringhow to represent visually the

“textures of sound.”The western Pennsylvania artist

uses aluminum tape and India inkand a drawing/etching process tocreate her current series, “Art of Noise,”now numbering more than 40 pieces.

Each work varies according to therhythms of music she selects for thecreative process. The sound andpatterns of rain on a windshield alsoinspired a recent piece.

“This series draws upon my daysas a printmaker,” she says.

Susan describes each result as across between an etching plate and apiece of metal repoussé, or raisedpattern, work. She creates her “Art ofNoise” pieces and paints in a studioshe shares with her husband andfellow artist, C. David Sparks ’81.

The couple met in the late 1970s,when they were nontraditionalstudents at Cal U, then CaliforniaState College. Both had returned tothe classroom to pursue fine arts,

with David, a Vietnam veteran,studying during the day and workingin a coal mine at night.

Sharing time in the classroomand Cal’s art studios, the two becamegood friends. In the early 1980s theyeven shared a two-person exhibitionon campus called, tellingly, “TwoHeads Are Better than One.” Theexhibition in the old student unionfeatured David’s pottery and print-making and Susan’s paintings andworks on paper.

Even when David moved to theWest Coast after graduating, theykept in touch. Susan stayed in westernPennsylvania, volunteering in Cal’sart department and working withlocal arts and charitable organizations.Five years later they joined forcesagain after Susan agreed to try outanother California.

West Coast sojournThe couple married and for about

15 years lived in California andWashington states. David developed

his expertise in computer graphics,Web page design, illustration anddigital photography, at one pointserving as director of technologyat the Art Institute of Seattle andlaunching its digital photographyprogram.

Susan worked as a corporatecreative officer, art director, graphicdesigner and illustrator. Togetherthey built Sparks Design on thestrength of their combined skills,and they continued to pursueindividual artistic projects.

They returned to westernPennsylvania in 2003.

“We made the decision to returnover a bottle of wine,” says Susan,who had come back for a few weeksto care for her mother and cleanthe family home. Both soon startedto imagine themselves living wherehousing was more affordable andartistic pursuits readily available.

“We realized that the taxes forone year on a 3,000-square-foothouse on 2/3 acre overlooking theMonongahela River were less thanone month’s mortgage on thehouse in Seattle,” she says.

So they moved back, rehabbedthe house in Dunlevy, Pa., andbecame involved again in artisticgroups in the region. Before movingout West, the former Susan Smithserved on the boards of the CreativeArts Council of the Mon Valley andthe Arts Council of WashingtonCounty. She was a founding memberof the former Alumni Arts Association

Alumni pair sharesa life in the artsCouple returns to the region to create, teachand work with arts organizations

After living on the West Coast, Davidand Susan Sparks returned to westernPennsylvania, where both are active inlocal arts organizations.

Susan Sparks uses aluminum tape, India ink and adrawing/etching process to create her current series,“Art of Noise,” now numbering more than 40 pieces.

Photography has become the primary medium for David Sparks, a professional artistsince 1968. ‘I still consider myself a student,’ he says.

ALUMNI S P O T L I G H T

An education in energy A career shaped on a potter’s wheel

22 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

Matt Pitzarella ’02 is working on a gold mine,so to speak, called the Marcellus Shale.

As public affairs director for Range Resources –Appalachia, he informs people about the enormoussource of natural gas contained in the shale that stretchesinto Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York.And he talks about what his company is doing to extract it.

“Because it’s so new, it’s all about education,” saysPitzarella, who took the job in 2008. He offers facts andfigures about providing the nation with natural gas,pumping billions of dollars into Pennsylvania’s economyand creating thousands of jobs.

He and his staff are reaching out to educate everyonewilling to listen — the media, policymakers, regulators,small-business owners and landowners who own therights to the properties where companies want to drill.

Pitzarella learned to be a communicator at Cal U.He started out in radio and TV broadcasting, but soonswitched majors.

“I fell in love with public relations,” he says, and evenhelped to establish the Public Relations Student Societyof America on campus.

By the time he graduated, Pitzarella had completedthree internships. His final placement, at Burson-Marsteller, led to a full-time job at the internationalpublic relations and communications firm. From therehe moved on to jobs at Duquesne Light, as well asColumbia Gas and its parent corporation, NiSource.

Now he is the voice of Range Resources. “Naturalgas is not new to Pennsylvania,” he says. “Pennsylvaniahas more natural gas than Saudi Arabia has oil.”

Yet some residents are wary, in part because of theAppalachian region’s industrial past. “We are not thesecond coming of the coal industry of a hundred yearsago,” he tells them. “This is a new day.”

The results for landowners can be transformative,Pitzarella says. In some cases, leasing bonuses androyalties can mean the difference between losing thefamily farm and becoming wealthy.

“To help preserve those farms is very rewarding,”says Pitzarella, who lives in Mt. Lebanon with his wife,Samantha, and their daughters, Giada, 3, and Carmina,1.

“I’ve had people hugging and kissing me becausewe’ve changed their lives.” �

Potter Chris Lemmon ’99 knows thefeel of cool, wet clay on her hands

and the heat from a wood-burning kilnon her face.

It’s all part of her workday inDubuque, Iowa, where she is a full-timepotter, instructor and freelance artist.

A painting class at Cal U got Lemmonstarted on her artistic journey. More artclasses followed, but the ceramics classwas the end-all.

“I fell in love with it,” says theartist. “That did it.”

She credits Professor Laura DeFazioas an inspiring mentor and also hashigh praise for retired professorRaymond Dunlevy.

Now, she says, she is doing whatshe was meant to do.

“After graduation in 1999, I tooka life-changing journey from theMonongahela River to the MississippiRiver. I came to Dubuque solely toapprentice with master potter (andall-around genius) Ken Bichell and to

help him start Mississippi Mud Studios,”she writes on the studio’s website,mississippimudstudios.com.

“Within my first year apprenticingwith Ken, I taught classes, helped builda kiln, (and) learned a multitude ofincredible techniques.”

Lemmon’s dedication to her artis paying off. She now is invited tojuried shows such as the Iowa ArtsFestival, the Cambridge Pottery Festivalin Wisconsin and Riverssance Festivalof Fine Art in Davenport, Iowa. Shehas been invited to exhibit at thesixth annual Venus Envy Quad Citiesall-female artists’ exhibit and to be amember of the Twenty Dirty Hands(twentydirtyhands.com) potters’ groupin Menominee, Ill.

Recently Lemmon answered acall for entries and was selectedto design the prestigious AthenaBusiness Women’s Award 2010 tohonor women in the Illinois QuadCity business community. Each award

winner received a ceramic plate designedby Lemmon and decorated with aninfinity swirl. The Athena logo — awoman with a flame — is positionedon the plate so her flame ignites theend of the swirl.

Living in the swirl of the potter’swheel near the flame of the kiln is whatLemmon is all about. Her reaction isthe same as when she took those firstart classes:

“I love it,” she says. �

By Cindy Cusic Micco, a Pittsburgh-based writer

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 23

Debra D’Andrea Ferraro Walter ’87created a unique way to keep her

priorities straight. Then she turned itinto a business.

The English major known as “Skipper”during her Cal U days establishedPriority Bracelet to help women createindividualized pieces of jewelry thatcontains reminders of what is importantin their lives.

“In our fast-paced society, it’s easyto lose sight of what’s really important,”Walter writes on her business’s website,PriorityBracelet.com. “So much of lifeis spent focused on the task at hand —rushing to the kids’ activities, preparingthe next meal, meeting a deadline atwork, returning the missed phone calls …”

Walter knows. She also teaches writingat two colleges in eastern Pennsylvania,while keeping up with all the “to do”lists that come with being marriedwith four children.

Priority Bracelet holds workshopsencouraging women to set prioritiesand create a bracelet with charms that

remind them of those concerns or goalsthroughout the day, says Walter.

The charms are made from sterlingsilver, pewter and Swarovski crystal.Once the pieces are chosen, PriorityBracelet assembles them into a one-of-a-kind jewelry item.

“It’s very enlightening and reallyeye-opening for women,” Walter says ofthe workshops. “People also can designand order a bracelet on the website.”

Among the charms on her bracelet,Walter has an initial for each of herchildren, the word “patience,” a globe toremind her of the children she sponsorsin Haiti and a book to encourage herto keep working on her novel.

There’s also a plate with a slice ofapple pie a la mode and a fork, to remindher to show her appreciation for her“wonderful husband” by taking thetime to peel some apples, roll out acrust and bake his favorite dessert.

The bracelet itself is a reminder ofhow much she has had to learn aboutstarting and running a business.

The English, journalism andadvertising classes she took at Cal Uall helped her with starting this venture,she says, especially because she writesher own marketing materials.

“It has been an education in itself,”says Walter. “I’m growing so much asa person. This is my Ph.D.” �

Abusiness built on priorities

ALUMNI S P O T L I G H T

An education in energy A career shaped on a potter’s wheel

22 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

Matt Pitzarella ’02 is working on a gold mine,so to speak, called the Marcellus Shale.

As public affairs director for Range Resources –Appalachia, he informs people about the enormoussource of natural gas contained in the shale that stretchesinto Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York.And he talks about what his company is doing to extract it.

“Because it’s so new, it’s all about education,” saysPitzarella, who took the job in 2008. He offers facts andfigures about providing the nation with natural gas,pumping billions of dollars into Pennsylvania’s economyand creating thousands of jobs.

He and his staff are reaching out to educate everyonewilling to listen — the media, policymakers, regulators,small-business owners and landowners who own therights to the properties where companies want to drill.

Pitzarella learned to be a communicator at Cal U.He started out in radio and TV broadcasting, but soonswitched majors.

“I fell in love with public relations,” he says, and evenhelped to establish the Public Relations Student Societyof America on campus.

By the time he graduated, Pitzarella had completedthree internships. His final placement, at Burson-Marsteller, led to a full-time job at the internationalpublic relations and communications firm. From therehe moved on to jobs at Duquesne Light, as well asColumbia Gas and its parent corporation, NiSource.

Now he is the voice of Range Resources. “Naturalgas is not new to Pennsylvania,” he says. “Pennsylvaniahas more natural gas than Saudi Arabia has oil.”

Yet some residents are wary, in part because of theAppalachian region’s industrial past. “We are not thesecond coming of the coal industry of a hundred yearsago,” he tells them. “This is a new day.”

The results for landowners can be transformative,Pitzarella says. In some cases, leasing bonuses androyalties can mean the difference between losing thefamily farm and becoming wealthy.

“To help preserve those farms is very rewarding,”says Pitzarella, who lives in Mt. Lebanon with his wife,Samantha, and their daughters, Giada, 3, and Carmina,1.

“I’ve had people hugging and kissing me becausewe’ve changed their lives.” �

Potter Chris Lemmon ’99 knows thefeel of cool, wet clay on her hands

and the heat from a wood-burning kilnon her face.

It’s all part of her workday inDubuque, Iowa, where she is a full-timepotter, instructor and freelance artist.

A painting class at Cal U got Lemmonstarted on her artistic journey. More artclasses followed, but the ceramics classwas the end-all.

“I fell in love with it,” says theartist. “That did it.”

She credits Professor Laura DeFazioas an inspiring mentor and also hashigh praise for retired professorRaymond Dunlevy.

Now, she says, she is doing whatshe was meant to do.

“After graduation in 1999, I tooka life-changing journey from theMonongahela River to the MississippiRiver. I came to Dubuque solely toapprentice with master potter (andall-around genius) Ken Bichell and to

help him start Mississippi Mud Studios,”she writes on the studio’s website,mississippimudstudios.com.

“Within my first year apprenticingwith Ken, I taught classes, helped builda kiln, (and) learned a multitude ofincredible techniques.”

Lemmon’s dedication to her artis paying off. She now is invited tojuried shows such as the Iowa ArtsFestival, the Cambridge Pottery Festivalin Wisconsin and Riverssance Festivalof Fine Art in Davenport, Iowa. Shehas been invited to exhibit at thesixth annual Venus Envy Quad Citiesall-female artists’ exhibit and to be amember of the Twenty Dirty Hands(twentydirtyhands.com) potters’ groupin Menominee, Ill.

Recently Lemmon answered acall for entries and was selectedto design the prestigious AthenaBusiness Women’s Award 2010 tohonor women in the Illinois QuadCity business community. Each award

winner received a ceramic plate designedby Lemmon and decorated with aninfinity swirl. The Athena logo — awoman with a flame — is positionedon the plate so her flame ignites theend of the swirl.

Living in the swirl of the potter’swheel near the flame of the kiln is whatLemmon is all about. Her reaction isthe same as when she took those firstart classes:

“I love it,” she says. �

By Cindy Cusic Micco, a Pittsburgh-based writer

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 23

Debra D’Andrea Ferraro Walter ’87created a unique way to keep her

priorities straight. Then she turned itinto a business.

The English major known as “Skipper”during her Cal U days establishedPriority Bracelet to help women createindividualized pieces of jewelry thatcontains reminders of what is importantin their lives.

“In our fast-paced society, it’s easyto lose sight of what’s really important,”Walter writes on her business’s website,PriorityBracelet.com. “So much of lifeis spent focused on the task at hand —rushing to the kids’ activities, preparingthe next meal, meeting a deadline atwork, returning the missed phone calls …”

Walter knows. She also teaches writingat two colleges in eastern Pennsylvania,while keeping up with all the “to do”lists that come with being marriedwith four children.

Priority Bracelet holds workshopsencouraging women to set prioritiesand create a bracelet with charms that

remind them of those concerns or goalsthroughout the day, says Walter.

The charms are made from sterlingsilver, pewter and Swarovski crystal.Once the pieces are chosen, PriorityBracelet assembles them into a one-of-a-kind jewelry item.

“It’s very enlightening and reallyeye-opening for women,” Walter says ofthe workshops. “People also can designand order a bracelet on the website.”

Among the charms on her bracelet,Walter has an initial for each of herchildren, the word “patience,” a globe toremind her of the children she sponsorsin Haiti and a book to encourage herto keep working on her novel.

There’s also a plate with a slice ofapple pie a la mode and a fork, to remindher to show her appreciation for her“wonderful husband” by taking thetime to peel some apples, roll out acrust and bake his favorite dessert.

The bracelet itself is a reminder ofhow much she has had to learn aboutstarting and running a business.

The English, journalism andadvertising classes she took at Cal Uall helped her with starting this venture,she says, especially because she writesher own marketing materials.

“It has been an education in itself,”says Walter. “I’m growing so much asa person. This is my Ph.D.” �

Abusiness built on priorities

During her undergraduate daysas a member of the Sigma Kappasorority, Joy Helsel ’83, ’86

talked the talk in terms of philanthropy,service and community work. Nowshe’s walking the walk.

Cal U’s director of fraternity/sorority life and special publications,Helsel has established the Joy M. HelselSocial Fraternity/Sorority Scholarship.It is awarded annually to juniors orseniors who are in good standingwith a social fraternity or sororityrecognized by the University.

“Obviously, I spend a lot of timewith fraternity and sorority members,and I see that many of them arestruggling financially,” she says.“I strongly believe that membershipsignificantly enhances a student’scollege experience, but even that isan added expense.”

Helsel’s parents, Dr. Jay ’59 andJoan Helsel, are longtime universitybenefactors. Their example of generosity,coupled with Helsel’s own Greekexperience, fueled her desire to payit forward.

“The example set by my parentswas definitely a motivating factor, aswas my involvement through SigmaKappa in philanthropy and giving back

to the community,” she says. “So itwas only natural, once I got to thepoint that I could give back to thisdegree, that I would do somethingfor Greek students.”

Like her parents, Helsel hopes toturn dreams of a college educationinto reality for needy students.

The first recipient of Helsel’sscholarship is Kylie Pearson, presidentof Delta Zeta sorority. A junior who isstudying early childhood education,Pearson works during the academicyear as an assistant supervisor at TheVillage, a child care program at Centerin the Woods, just over a mile fromcampus.

In the summertime, she works threejobs in her hometown of Warren, Pa.

“The scholarship has helped metremendously, and Joy has been sucha help to me,” Pearson says. “Duringfinals week, she sent me cards ofencouragement, hoping I would dowell. She’s a life-saver, and it meansa lot knowing someone truly caresabout you.”

Helsel, who has worked at Cal Ufor more than 20 years, believes staffgiving is important, and that studentsshould be their first priority.

“Absolutely, I think that if staffmembers are in a financial positionto give anything to our students, theyshould, because we would not be herewithout them,” she says. �

By Bruce Wald ’85, Cal U information writer

24 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 25

ScholarshipgivesGreeks a liftA STAFF MEMBER’S GIFT IS INSPIRED BY HER OWN PARENTS’ GENEROSITY

Joy Helsel (left) and scholarship recipient Kylie Pearson peek out the window at the Delta Zetasorority house.

PAYING IT F O R W A R D

Help our studentsAny member of the Cal Ucommunity may participatein The Campaign to BuildCharacter and Careers. Thecapital campaign has set agoal of raising $35 million to supportstudent scholarships and enhanceacademic offerings. For details,visit www.calu.edu/giving, or call theOffice of University Developmentand Alumni Relations at 724-938-5759.

During her undergraduate daysas a member of the Sigma Kappasorority, Joy Helsel ’83, ’86

talked the talk in terms of philanthropy,service and community work. Nowshe’s walking the walk.

Cal U’s director of fraternity/sorority life and special publications,Helsel has established the Joy M. HelselSocial Fraternity/Sorority Scholarship.It is awarded annually to juniors orseniors who are in good standingwith a social fraternity or sororityrecognized by the University.

“Obviously, I spend a lot of timewith fraternity and sorority members,and I see that many of them arestruggling financially,” she says.“I strongly believe that membershipsignificantly enhances a student’scollege experience, but even that isan added expense.”

Helsel’s parents, Dr. Jay ’59 andJoan Helsel, are longtime universitybenefactors. Their example of generosity,coupled with Helsel’s own Greekexperience, fueled her desire to payit forward.

“The example set by my parentswas definitely a motivating factor, aswas my involvement through SigmaKappa in philanthropy and giving back

to the community,” she says. “So itwas only natural, once I got to thepoint that I could give back to thisdegree, that I would do somethingfor Greek students.”

Like her parents, Helsel hopes toturn dreams of a college educationinto reality for needy students.

The first recipient of Helsel’sscholarship is Kylie Pearson, presidentof Delta Zeta sorority. A junior who isstudying early childhood education,Pearson works during the academicyear as an assistant supervisor at TheVillage, a child care program at Centerin the Woods, just over a mile fromcampus.

In the summertime, she works threejobs in her hometown of Warren, Pa.

“The scholarship has helped metremendously, and Joy has been sucha help to me,” Pearson says. “Duringfinals week, she sent me cards ofencouragement, hoping I would dowell. She’s a life-saver, and it meansa lot knowing someone truly caresabout you.”

Helsel, who has worked at Cal Ufor more than 20 years, believes staffgiving is important, and that studentsshould be their first priority.

“Absolutely, I think that if staffmembers are in a financial positionto give anything to our students, theyshould, because we would not be herewithout them,” she says. �

By Bruce Wald ’85, Cal U information writer

24 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 25

ScholarshipgivesGreeks a liftA STAFF MEMBER’S GIFT IS INSPIRED BY HER OWN PARENTS’ GENEROSITY

Joy Helsel (left) and scholarship recipient Kylie Pearson peek out the window at the Delta Zetasorority house.

PAYING IT F O R W A R D

Help our studentsAny member of the Cal Ucommunity may participatein The Campaign to BuildCharacter and Careers. Thecapital campaign has set agoal of raising $35 million to supportstudent scholarships and enhanceacademic offerings. For details,visit www.calu.edu/giving, or call theOffice of University Developmentand Alumni Relations at 724-938-5759.

Ex-athlete plans‘super-sized’ celebrations

“It was basically a two-block party. Besides the vendorsand sponsors for food and entertainment, there are so manythings that go into one event that it’s hard to describe,”she says.

“For instance, with the media party you had to getpermits for the beach — but then there were rules to followbecause sea turtles nest during that time of the year. It canbe overwhelming.”

For a sponsor party for more than 2,000 guests, Fiedlerhad the singing duo Hall and Oates perform on a barge in theocean. At the 2007 Super Bowl, she helped to arrange a freepublic concert for more than 12,000 fans.

“I met everybody from (football legend) Bart Starr to(the rock band) Styx,” Fiedler says. “We handled a lot of thehospitality and got to deal with a lot of team owners andexecutives, the (NFL) commissioner (Roger Goodell) andhis people.

“I ran what I called the Fun Department.”Super Sunday is the culmination of a whirlwind week

of activities that takes years of planning, explains Fiedler.In fact, the 2013 New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committeewas formed a year ago.

When she is not planning Super Bowl events for thousands,Fiedler does contract work for various charities. She was involvedwith the 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball FinalFour in Tampa and has planned events for Sony-Ericcson.

“This is an event town,” says Fiedler who lives in Hollywood,Fla. “South Florida has bid to host the Super Bowl in 2014,and having been through it before is a big advantage.”

Vulcan athleteBefore handling events leading up to championship

sports contests, Fiedler made her mark as a Vulcan athlete.The four-year starter and two-time all-conference left

fielder knocked in the game-winning run in Cal’s 2-11998 NCAA title game victory over Barry University(Fla.). Including a 1996 redshirt season, Fiedler waspart of five consecutive Pennsylvania State AthleticConference and PSAC-West championshipteams, including teams that wonthree NCAA Regional crowns andconsecutive national titles.

Ten years later, Fiedler’s 203career games played still ranks 12thin PSAC history.

After earning her undergraduatedegree in psychology from Cal U,Fiedler coached at Barry for five years,where she served with former Cal team-mate and pitching ace Danielle Penner’98, the 1998 national player of the year.

Her master’s degree program in sport managementconcluded with the Super Bowl internship, giving her careera new direction.

Despite making a home in the Florida sun, Fiedler returnsregularly to Pittsburgh and Cal U’s Alumni Softball Weekend,held in conjunction with Homecoming. Last January, team-mates Jill Witt and Sarah Cassin ’97 visited Fiedler and tookin the Steelers’ 30-24 win at Miami.

“We all stay in touch, and when we get together we don’tmiss a beat,” says Fiedler. “Winning those championshipswill always be very special and something we share and takegreat pride in.

“I had a great time at Cal and wouldn’t trade that for theworld,” she adds. “I liked the small town because you kneweverybody.”

Rick Bertagnolli, Cal U’s head softball coach since 1994,is hardly surprised at Fiedler’s success.

“All those ladies had tremendous work ethics,” he says,recalling the championship teams. “Nikki and her teammateshave carried that work ethic into the work world, and itshows. They are all good people.”

Fiedler doesn’t discount the possibility of returningsomeday to a dugout or the first- or third-base coaching box.

“I loved coaching and live across from a huge ballparkthat hosts some of the biggest tournaments in the country,”she says. “You never know with coaching, but I don’t playanymore because it hurts too much. I prefer to watch.”

If the Super Bowl returns to South Florida, Fiedler willbe ready.

“It’s hard to describe everything that goes into it, butit’s really something to be a part of,” she says. �

There’s more to a Super Bowl than just a football game,and Nikki Fiedler ’00 knows what it takes to keep theparty going.

A starter on Cal U’s 1997 and 1998 NCAA national championshipsoftball teams, Fiedler has found her niche in the Sunshine State,where she is the event manager for the South Florida Super Bowl HostCommittee, a nonprofit organization.

After an internship with the Super Bowl host committee in 2005,Fiedler was hired as event coordinator for the 2007 Super Bowl andpromoted to manager for the 2010 event. Both big games were playedat Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Fla.

The host committee acts as the liaison between the National FootballLeague and the local community. Fiedler’s multi-faceted job is seeing that“super celebration events” take place without a hitch and provide plentyof good times for a multitude of guests.

“Everything’s top of the line. It’s an immense amount of work, butdefinitely fun,” Fiedler says. “From New Year’s on, we probably worked19-20 hour days, but you knew that going in. I’m from Pittsburgh,so I am a big football fan, which helps.”

One of the many events Fiedler handled was a party on the SouthBeach sand for more than 3,000 credentialed media members.

Super Bowl event planner played for Cal U’sNCAA championship softball team

By Bruce Wald ’85, Cal U information writer

Nikki Fiedler ‘00 gets a hug from TD, the MiamiDolphins mascot.

At Cal U, Nikki Fielder was a startingoutfielder and key player on theVulcans’ NCAA National Championshipsoftball teams.

26 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 27

Ex-athlete plans‘super-sized’ celebrations

“It was basically a two-block party. Besides the vendorsand sponsors for food and entertainment, there are so manythings that go into one event that it’s hard to describe,”she says.

“For instance, with the media party you had to getpermits for the beach — but then there were rules to followbecause sea turtles nest during that time of the year. It canbe overwhelming.”

For a sponsor party for more than 2,000 guests, Fiedlerhad the singing duo Hall and Oates perform on a barge in theocean. At the 2007 Super Bowl, she helped to arrange a freepublic concert for more than 12,000 fans.

“I met everybody from (football legend) Bart Starr to(the rock band) Styx,” Fiedler says. “We handled a lot of thehospitality and got to deal with a lot of team owners andexecutives, the (NFL) commissioner (Roger Goodell) andhis people.

“I ran what I called the Fun Department.”Super Sunday is the culmination of a whirlwind week

of activities that takes years of planning, explains Fiedler.In fact, the 2013 New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committeewas formed a year ago.

When she is not planning Super Bowl events for thousands,Fiedler does contract work for various charities. She was involvedwith the 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball FinalFour in Tampa and has planned events for Sony-Ericcson.

“This is an event town,” says Fiedler who lives in Hollywood,Fla. “South Florida has bid to host the Super Bowl in 2014,and having been through it before is a big advantage.”

Vulcan athleteBefore handling events leading up to championship

sports contests, Fiedler made her mark as a Vulcan athlete.The four-year starter and two-time all-conference left

fielder knocked in the game-winning run in Cal’s 2-11998 NCAA title game victory over Barry University(Fla.). Including a 1996 redshirt season, Fiedler waspart of five consecutive Pennsylvania State AthleticConference and PSAC-West championshipteams, including teams that wonthree NCAA Regional crowns andconsecutive national titles.

Ten years later, Fiedler’s 203career games played still ranks 12thin PSAC history.

After earning her undergraduatedegree in psychology from Cal U,Fiedler coached at Barry for five years,where she served with former Cal team-mate and pitching ace Danielle Penner’98, the 1998 national player of the year.

Her master’s degree program in sport managementconcluded with the Super Bowl internship, giving her careera new direction.

Despite making a home in the Florida sun, Fiedler returnsregularly to Pittsburgh and Cal U’s Alumni Softball Weekend,held in conjunction with Homecoming. Last January, team-mates Jill Witt and Sarah Cassin ’97 visited Fiedler and tookin the Steelers’ 30-24 win at Miami.

“We all stay in touch, and when we get together we don’tmiss a beat,” says Fiedler. “Winning those championshipswill always be very special and something we share and takegreat pride in.

“I had a great time at Cal and wouldn’t trade that for theworld,” she adds. “I liked the small town because you kneweverybody.”

Rick Bertagnolli, Cal U’s head softball coach since 1994,is hardly surprised at Fiedler’s success.

“All those ladies had tremendous work ethics,” he says,recalling the championship teams. “Nikki and her teammateshave carried that work ethic into the work world, and itshows. They are all good people.”

Fiedler doesn’t discount the possibility of returningsomeday to a dugout or the first- or third-base coaching box.

“I loved coaching and live across from a huge ballparkthat hosts some of the biggest tournaments in the country,”she says. “You never know with coaching, but I don’t playanymore because it hurts too much. I prefer to watch.”

If the Super Bowl returns to South Florida, Fiedler willbe ready.

“It’s hard to describe everything that goes into it, butit’s really something to be a part of,” she says. �

There’s more to a Super Bowl than just a football game,and Nikki Fiedler ’00 knows what it takes to keep theparty going.

A starter on Cal U’s 1997 and 1998 NCAA national championshipsoftball teams, Fiedler has found her niche in the Sunshine State,where she is the event manager for the South Florida Super Bowl HostCommittee, a nonprofit organization.

After an internship with the Super Bowl host committee in 2005,Fiedler was hired as event coordinator for the 2007 Super Bowl andpromoted to manager for the 2010 event. Both big games were playedat Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Fla.

The host committee acts as the liaison between the National FootballLeague and the local community. Fiedler’s multi-faceted job is seeing that“super celebration events” take place without a hitch and provide plentyof good times for a multitude of guests.

“Everything’s top of the line. It’s an immense amount of work, butdefinitely fun,” Fiedler says. “From New Year’s on, we probably worked19-20 hour days, but you knew that going in. I’m from Pittsburgh,so I am a big football fan, which helps.”

One of the many events Fiedler handled was a party on the SouthBeach sand for more than 3,000 credentialed media members.

Super Bowl event planner played for Cal U’sNCAA championship softball team

By Bruce Wald ’85, Cal U information writer

Nikki Fiedler ‘00 gets a hug from TD, the MiamiDolphins mascot.

At Cal U, Nikki Fielder was a startingoutfielder and key player on theVulcans’ NCAA National Championshipsoftball teams.

26 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010 SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 27

28 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

SPORTS R O U N D U P

VULCAN PRIDEThe 2009-2010 winter sports season closed with tournament

play by both men’s and women’s teams and individual honors

for a number of Vulcan players.

WOMEN’S SWIMMINGCoached by veteran Ed Denny, the women’s swimming

team finished 19th at the 2010 NCAA Division II SwimmingNational Championships.

Sophomore Melissa Gates became the sixth Cal U swimmerto earn individual NCAA All-American honors, with a fourth-place showing and a school-record time of 23.22 secondsin the 50-yard freestyle.

Gates and graduate student Ester Bosch both earnedAll-America Honorable Mention in the 100-yardfreestyle.

The pair teamed with senior Rachel Kurta andfreshman Caitlin Sirkoch to attain All-AmericaHonorable Mention in the 200-yard medley relay.They finished in 11th place with a school-recordtime of 1 minute, 35.33 seconds.

Earlier at the national meet, Gates, Bosch,Kurta and freshman Georgia Emert madeup the 800-yard freestyle relay. Finishingeighth, they set school and PSACrecords with a time of 7 minutes,38.33 seconds, becoming onlythe second All-American relayteam in Cal U history.

HOCKEYThe Cal U men’s hockey team, a club

sport under the direction of head coachJustin Berger, compiled a school-best 29-1overall record and advanced to the AmericanCollegiate Hockey Association Division IIInational quarterfinals before suffering itsonly setback of the season.

Berger, general manager Jamison Roth,scoring leader Ryan Jones and solid defense-man Nick Posa all received post-season honorsfrom the College Hockey East as Cal U cruisedto a fourth consecutive league title.

Cal II, led by co-coaches Matt Ward andBrandon Patterson, won the College Hockey

Association and South Division regularseason championships, advancing to thetournament finals before losing in overtime.Cal II finished 13-6 overall.

After winning the Delaware ValleyCollegiate Hockey Conference Division II titlein 2008-2009, the team’s first year, Cal U’swomen’s hockey team moved up to theconference’s Division I level this season.

The team, under coach Dave Yanko,finished second in the regular season andknocked off top-ranked Delaware in thesemifinals before losing on a late goal inthe tournament finals.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELDJunior Brice Myers became the first two-time indoor All-American in school history

by finishing fourth in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track andField Championships. He broke his own school record with a time of 7.98 seconds.

Myers also won the PSAC title in the 60-meter hurdles. Senior Frank Ehrensbergerfinished fourth in the PSAC 400-meter dash and fifth in the 200-meter race.

Headlining the women’s team at the conference meet was the 4 x 400-meter relayteam of graduate student Clare McSweeney and sophomores Shakeria Love, SandyEstep and Jerica Snedden. The quartet finished third with a school-record time of3 minutes, 56.04 seconds.

Freshman Farah Raphael finished second in the demanding pentathlon, settinga school record with 3,371 points.

Head coach for Cal U’s track and field team is two-time Olympic gold medalistRoger Kingdom.

The women’s swimming team finishes 19th at the NCAA Division IINational Championships.

Travis Williams helps the men’s basketball teamwin 18 games.

Defensemen Nick Posaand the men’s hockey teamadvance to the nationalquarterfinals.

Brice Myers races to the PSAC championship and placesfourth nationally in the 60-meter hurdles.

Brooque Williams ends the season as Cal U’s all-time leading scorerand the PSAC career-steals champion.

Forward Kayla Smith grabs a single-season school record 381 rebounds.

Student-athlete Bruna Carvalhohelps Cal U swimming rankamong the nation’s elite.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALLThe women’s basketball team concluded an extraordinary decade

by making its 10th consecutive appearance in the PennsylvaniaState Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship game and its ninthstraight NCAA Division II Tournament appearance, both schooland conference records.

Led by first-year head coach Mark Swasey, the Vulcans compiled a24-8 overall record with an 11-3 PSAC-West mark. The team advancedto the NCAA Atlantic Regional semifinals after winning two of threegames at the PSAC tourney.

All-American senior BrooqueWilliams and junior Kayla Smithdominated all season.

One of just six players in PSAChistory to score more than 2,000points and 1,000 rebounds,Williams finished as Cal U’s career-leading scorer with 2,205 pointsand a PSAC-record 424 steals. Sheaveraged more than 23 points pergame, with a school-record 744single-season points.

Smith was among the nation’sleading rebounders all season. Shefinished with a school-record 381rebounds, fifth highest in PSACsingle-season history. She has25 double-doubles in 32 games.

MEN’S BASKETBALLThe Vulcans and 14th-year head coach

Bill Brown produced an 18-11 overall record,the program’s 24th consecutive winning season.

Sophomore forward Kelsey Williams receivedall-conference honors after he averaged 12.3points, a team-high 5.6 rebounds and oneblock per game. Williams shot 55.5 percentfrom the floor, a percentage that ranked sixthin the conference.

Junior guard and dean’s list student ChadTipton was one of 10 student-athletes fromfive PSAC schools selected to participate in afour-day event exploring careers in sports.The NCAA Career in Sports Forum was heldMay 11-14 in Indianapolis, Ind.

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 29

28 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

SPORTS R O U N D U P

VULCAN PRIDEThe 2009-2010 winter sports season closed with tournament

play by both men’s and women’s teams and individual honors

for a number of Vulcan players.

WOMEN’S SWIMMINGCoached by veteran Ed Denny, the women’s swimming

team finished 19th at the 2010 NCAA Division II SwimmingNational Championships.

Sophomore Melissa Gates became the sixth Cal U swimmerto earn individual NCAA All-American honors, with a fourth-place showing and a school-record time of 23.22 secondsin the 50-yard freestyle.

Gates and graduate student Ester Bosch both earnedAll-America Honorable Mention in the 100-yardfreestyle.

The pair teamed with senior Rachel Kurta andfreshman Caitlin Sirkoch to attain All-AmericaHonorable Mention in the 200-yard medley relay.They finished in 11th place with a school-recordtime of 1 minute, 35.33 seconds.

Earlier at the national meet, Gates, Bosch,Kurta and freshman Georgia Emert madeup the 800-yard freestyle relay. Finishingeighth, they set school and PSACrecords with a time of 7 minutes,38.33 seconds, becoming onlythe second All-American relayteam in Cal U history.

HOCKEYThe Cal U men’s hockey team, a club

sport under the direction of head coachJustin Berger, compiled a school-best 29-1overall record and advanced to the AmericanCollegiate Hockey Association Division IIInational quarterfinals before suffering itsonly setback of the season.

Berger, general manager Jamison Roth,scoring leader Ryan Jones and solid defense-man Nick Posa all received post-season honorsfrom the College Hockey East as Cal U cruisedto a fourth consecutive league title.

Cal II, led by co-coaches Matt Ward andBrandon Patterson, won the College Hockey

Association and South Division regularseason championships, advancing to thetournament finals before losing in overtime.Cal II finished 13-6 overall.

After winning the Delaware ValleyCollegiate Hockey Conference Division II titlein 2008-2009, the team’s first year, Cal U’swomen’s hockey team moved up to theconference’s Division I level this season.

The team, under coach Dave Yanko,finished second in the regular season andknocked off top-ranked Delaware in thesemifinals before losing on a late goal inthe tournament finals.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELDJunior Brice Myers became the first two-time indoor All-American in school history

by finishing fourth in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track andField Championships. He broke his own school record with a time of 7.98 seconds.

Myers also won the PSAC title in the 60-meter hurdles. Senior Frank Ehrensbergerfinished fourth in the PSAC 400-meter dash and fifth in the 200-meter race.

Headlining the women’s team at the conference meet was the 4 x 400-meter relayteam of graduate student Clare McSweeney and sophomores Shakeria Love, SandyEstep and Jerica Snedden. The quartet finished third with a school-record time of3 minutes, 56.04 seconds.

Freshman Farah Raphael finished second in the demanding pentathlon, settinga school record with 3,371 points.

Head coach for Cal U’s track and field team is two-time Olympic gold medalistRoger Kingdom.

The women’s swimming team finishes 19th at the NCAA Division IINational Championships.

Travis Williams helps the men’s basketball teamwin 18 games.

Defensemen Nick Posaand the men’s hockey teamadvance to the nationalquarterfinals.

Brice Myers races to the PSAC championship and placesfourth nationally in the 60-meter hurdles.

Brooque Williams ends the season as Cal U’s all-time leading scorerand the PSAC career-steals champion.

Forward Kayla Smith grabs a single-season school record 381 rebounds.

Student-athlete Bruna Carvalhohelps Cal U swimming rankamong the nation’s elite.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALLThe women’s basketball team concluded an extraordinary decade

by making its 10th consecutive appearance in the PennsylvaniaState Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship game and its ninthstraight NCAA Division II Tournament appearance, both schooland conference records.

Led by first-year head coach Mark Swasey, the Vulcans compiled a24-8 overall record with an 11-3 PSAC-West mark. The team advancedto the NCAA Atlantic Regional semifinals after winning two of threegames at the PSAC tourney.

All-American senior BrooqueWilliams and junior Kayla Smithdominated all season.

One of just six players in PSAChistory to score more than 2,000points and 1,000 rebounds,Williams finished as Cal U’s career-leading scorer with 2,205 pointsand a PSAC-record 424 steals. Sheaveraged more than 23 points pergame, with a school-record 744single-season points.

Smith was among the nation’sleading rebounders all season. Shefinished with a school-record 381rebounds, fifth highest in PSACsingle-season history. She has25 double-doubles in 32 games.

MEN’S BASKETBALLThe Vulcans and 14th-year head coach

Bill Brown produced an 18-11 overall record,the program’s 24th consecutive winning season.

Sophomore forward Kelsey Williams receivedall-conference honors after he averaged 12.3points, a team-high 5.6 rebounds and oneblock per game. Williams shot 55.5 percentfrom the floor, a percentage that ranked sixthin the conference.

Junior guard and dean’s list student ChadTipton was one of 10 student-athletes fromfive PSAC schools selected to participate in afour-day event exploring careers in sports.The NCAA Career in Sports Forum was heldMay 11-14 in Indianapolis, Ind.

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 29

PLANNED GIVING

Bequests: The Estate Building Blocks

Cal U alumni, parents, faculty and friends are

active in estate planning and gift planning.

This is clear from the increasing number of

individuals who notify the University each year as Cal U

is added to their wills, living trusts, insurance and an

array of other available beneficiary choices.

Yet year after year the most favored form of planned

gift is still the bequest in a will. Naming the University to

receive a specific amount, or a percentage of the estate —

even after a long list of family obligations — remains

the simplest and most effective planned gift to help to

preserve and enhance educational opportunity at

California University of Pennsylvania.

30sJames A “Jim” Zell ’39 is anassistant coach to a team in theyouth basketball program atSt. Peters United Methodist Churchin Wellington, Fla. Jim has lived inWellington for 31 years.

40sDr. George A. Tjiattas ’49 ispresident of the PennsylvaniaAssembly of Retirement CommunityResidents (PARCR), which represents26 retirement communities insouthcentral Pennsylvania. He isa retired superintendent of theChambersburg Area SchoolDistrict. He and his wife live inMechanicsburg, Pa.

50sProfessor emeritus Mitchell M.Bailey Sr. ’53, a biology and botanyprofessor at Cal U for 47 years, diedDec. 7, 2009, at the age of 80. Whileattending California State Teacher’sCollege, he was a member of thefootball, baseball, basketball andtennis teams. Mitchell was selectedas an All-American in footballduring his junior year. He also wasa football and baseball coach atCal U. He received the Cal UAlumni Association’s Michael DudaAward for Athletic Achievement in1989, was inducted into CaliforniaUniversity’s Athletic Hall of Famein 1996, and was elected to theMid Mon Valley All Sports Hall ofFame in 2005. The playing field atAdamson Stadium was named theHepner-Bailey Field in 2006, theyear he retired.

60sJames Seanor ’60 is retired andliving with his wife, GeorgannSterrett, in Summerfield, Fla.

Triumph Learning, a publisher oftest-preparation materials, hashonored Len Keller ’61 for his 45years of service as an educationalsales consultant. Len was once ateacher in Pennsylvania, and heserves on the Alumni Board atCal U. In 2009, he was awardedCal U’s Medallion of Distinction,which is presented to alumni whohave distinguished themselves andbrought credit to the Universitythrough their professional andpersonal achievements.

Kathryn Dzyak Upton ’63 is amedical technologist for VeniceRegional Medical Center. She livesin Venice, Fla.

Larry Morris ’63 is retired and livingwith his wife, Joanna, in Reno, Nev.

Joseph P. Shott ’66 retired inAugust 2009 as professor ofbusiness management atWestmoreland County CommunityCollege after 38½ years.

Gary Piker ’67 is a retired teacher.He and his wife, Louise, live inMadison, Ohio.

70sRaymond J. Milchovich ’71 willrelinquish his role as chief executiveofficer of Foster Wheeler AG,effective June 1, 2010. He willremain with the company andserve as non-executive chairmanof the board and consultant to thecompany through October 2011.

Rick Smereczniak ’71 works inhuman resources for Bayer. Heand his wife, Mary, live in BelleVernon, Pa.

David Ruffing ’71 is retiredand living with his wife, ElaineAmbrose Ruffing ’71, in Medina,Ohio.

Vivian Shimko Sierchio ’74 is ajustice analyst for the governmentof Pinellas County, Fla. She andher husband, Pete, live inClearwater, Fla.

William Clendaniel ’74 isretiring as interim principal of T.C.Williams High School in Alexandria,Va. The veteran educator retiredonce — in 2008, as principal ofLangley High School in FairfaxCounty, Va. — but was calledback into service while a searchwas conducted at T.C. Williamsfollowing the unexpected resignationof that school’s principal.

Norman C. Pattison ’74 is a certifiedconsulting forester, certified bythe Society of American Foresters.He is the founder and owner ofPennsylvania Lumber & VeneerCo. and Penns Woods Forestryand Environmental Services. Hehas served on numerous publicboards and commissions, includingsolid waste authorities and countyplanning commissions, and wasappointed by the U.S. Congressto the advisory committee toestablish a management plan forthe Allegheny Wild and ScenicRiver. Norman is an avid runnerwho has participated in the BostonMarathon to raise funds for HarvardUniversity’s Massachusetts Eyeand Ear Infirmary. He lives inTitusville, Pa.

Ronald Mesner ’74, of Somerset,Pa., retired after 35 years inelementary education. He resideswith his wife, Debra, and theirtwo sons, Christopher andMatthew.

Jack Taylor ’71 ’75 is an associateprofessor emeritus in the EthnicStudies Department at BowlingGreen State University in Ohio.In a recent article in the ToledoBlade newspaper, Taylor creditedbasketball, which he played atCal U, with giving him theopportunity to attend college.

Kathy Cipriani Lockhart ’77 isa retired teacher from GreenvilleCounty Schools. She and herhusband, Don, live in Greenville,Ohio.

Patricia Teamor Wiggs ’78 isan educator with the CharltonCounty Board of Education. Sheand her husband, Earl, live inFolkston, Ga.

Jacqueline Dellaria McKenna ’78is an operations director forPreferred Primary Care Physicians.She and her husband, John,live in Rices Landing, Pa.

80sAnthony Merante ’81 is the newassistant superintendent of in thePeters Township School District, inWashington County, Pa. Merantehad been the principal of the PetersTownship Middle School prior toaccepting the new position.

Terry Lynn Kuzman ’83 is ageneral manager for ContinentalAirlines. She and her husband,Kevin, live in Durango, Colo.

Dr. Deborah Van Maele ’77 ’83,a Hampton Middle School teacher,is the first recipient of the InspiringTeachers Inspiring Writers award.She is being recognized for herdedication to adolescent literacy.Deborah has been with theHampton Township (Pa.) SchoolDistrict for over 25 years.

Fred J. Barch ’84 is principal ofPine Jog Elementary School inPalm Beach County, Fla. Hisschool was named a 2009 Palm

IN PRINTC.J. Henderson ’73, of New York City, hasseen his 70th book reach stores. The firstbook of his latest series introduces PiersKnight, a curator at the Brooklyn Museumwho has a habit of stumbling into super-natural situations. In Brooklyn Knight, thediscovery of a previously unknown city couldrelease a terrible force into this dimension.Henderson’s work has been translated into12 languages. He also has written short stories,comics and non-fiction pieces. For moreabout his work, visit www.cjhenderson.com.

Sheila Myers ’93, recently published her firstnovel, Detective Jake: The Search for Truth,the first book of a planned series. Unlikeothers in this genre, the author says, thisseries not only will follow the detectives asthey solve homicide cases but will showwhat life is like behind the badge. Formore information, visit www.detective-jake.com/books/books.htm.

Sandra L. Huska who was on staffat Cal U as the director of grants and laterthe director of continuous improvement,has written Legs in the Attic, a novel set“at a Pennsylvania college on the Mon River.”Based on Huska’s own background, thebooks weaves historical, political, religiousand environmental facts into a believabletale of ordinary people who rise to a newlevel of understanding about themselvesand their creator. For more information,visit www.legsintheattic.com.

Bequests are wonderful commitments to the future ofCalifornia University. Creation of a bequest makes it possiblefor virtually anyone to:

• Specify and assure security for family and loved ones.• Retain lifelong control of assets.• Provide for the use of a gift to Cal U after one’s lifetime.• Give to Cal U when the resources become available.• Enjoy satisfaction in the certainty of helping future Cal U

students someday.

Individuals with plans or ambitions to establish anenduring legacy at California University will find bequestsa convenient and flexible way to achieve their charitableand personal goals.

California University is pleased to provide assistance anddetailed information to individuals and their professionaladvisers so they can establish a bequest in a will. This isparticularly important when a bequest is designated to benamed for a special person or applied to a particular purposeat the University.

Among many resources available to individuals are informativeweb pages found at www.calu.edu. Click “Giving” and thenlook for “Legacy & Planned Giving” in the left menu.

For more information, contact Gordon Core, director ofplanned giving, by telephone at 724-938-5985 or by e-mailat core@calu.edu.

CALU M I L E S T O N E S

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 3130 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

PLANNED GIVING

Bequests: The Estate Building Blocks

Cal U alumni, parents, faculty and friends are

active in estate planning and gift planning.

This is clear from the increasing number of

individuals who notify the University each year as Cal U

is added to their wills, living trusts, insurance and an

array of other available beneficiary choices.

Yet year after year the most favored form of planned

gift is still the bequest in a will. Naming the University to

receive a specific amount, or a percentage of the estate —

even after a long list of family obligations — remains

the simplest and most effective planned gift to help to

preserve and enhance educational opportunity at

California University of Pennsylvania.

30sJames A “Jim” Zell ’39 is anassistant coach to a team in theyouth basketball program atSt. Peters United Methodist Churchin Wellington, Fla. Jim has lived inWellington for 31 years.

40sDr. George A. Tjiattas ’49 ispresident of the PennsylvaniaAssembly of Retirement CommunityResidents (PARCR), which represents26 retirement communities insouthcentral Pennsylvania. He isa retired superintendent of theChambersburg Area SchoolDistrict. He and his wife live inMechanicsburg, Pa.

50sProfessor emeritus Mitchell M.Bailey Sr. ’53, a biology and botanyprofessor at Cal U for 47 years, diedDec. 7, 2009, at the age of 80. Whileattending California State Teacher’sCollege, he was a member of thefootball, baseball, basketball andtennis teams. Mitchell was selectedas an All-American in footballduring his junior year. He also wasa football and baseball coach atCal U. He received the Cal UAlumni Association’s Michael DudaAward for Athletic Achievement in1989, was inducted into CaliforniaUniversity’s Athletic Hall of Famein 1996, and was elected to theMid Mon Valley All Sports Hall ofFame in 2005. The playing field atAdamson Stadium was named theHepner-Bailey Field in 2006, theyear he retired.

60sJames Seanor ’60 is retired andliving with his wife, GeorgannSterrett, in Summerfield, Fla.

Triumph Learning, a publisher oftest-preparation materials, hashonored Len Keller ’61 for his 45years of service as an educationalsales consultant. Len was once ateacher in Pennsylvania, and heserves on the Alumni Board atCal U. In 2009, he was awardedCal U’s Medallion of Distinction,which is presented to alumni whohave distinguished themselves andbrought credit to the Universitythrough their professional andpersonal achievements.

Kathryn Dzyak Upton ’63 is amedical technologist for VeniceRegional Medical Center. She livesin Venice, Fla.

Larry Morris ’63 is retired and livingwith his wife, Joanna, in Reno, Nev.

Joseph P. Shott ’66 retired inAugust 2009 as professor ofbusiness management atWestmoreland County CommunityCollege after 38½ years.

Gary Piker ’67 is a retired teacher.He and his wife, Louise, live inMadison, Ohio.

70sRaymond J. Milchovich ’71 willrelinquish his role as chief executiveofficer of Foster Wheeler AG,effective June 1, 2010. He willremain with the company andserve as non-executive chairmanof the board and consultant to thecompany through October 2011.

Rick Smereczniak ’71 works inhuman resources for Bayer. Heand his wife, Mary, live in BelleVernon, Pa.

David Ruffing ’71 is retiredand living with his wife, ElaineAmbrose Ruffing ’71, in Medina,Ohio.

Vivian Shimko Sierchio ’74 is ajustice analyst for the governmentof Pinellas County, Fla. She andher husband, Pete, live inClearwater, Fla.

William Clendaniel ’74 isretiring as interim principal of T.C.Williams High School in Alexandria,Va. The veteran educator retiredonce — in 2008, as principal ofLangley High School in FairfaxCounty, Va. — but was calledback into service while a searchwas conducted at T.C. Williamsfollowing the unexpected resignationof that school’s principal.

Norman C. Pattison ’74 is a certifiedconsulting forester, certified bythe Society of American Foresters.He is the founder and owner ofPennsylvania Lumber & VeneerCo. and Penns Woods Forestryand Environmental Services. Hehas served on numerous publicboards and commissions, includingsolid waste authorities and countyplanning commissions, and wasappointed by the U.S. Congressto the advisory committee toestablish a management plan forthe Allegheny Wild and ScenicRiver. Norman is an avid runnerwho has participated in the BostonMarathon to raise funds for HarvardUniversity’s Massachusetts Eyeand Ear Infirmary. He lives inTitusville, Pa.

Ronald Mesner ’74, of Somerset,Pa., retired after 35 years inelementary education. He resideswith his wife, Debra, and theirtwo sons, Christopher andMatthew.

Jack Taylor ’71 ’75 is an associateprofessor emeritus in the EthnicStudies Department at BowlingGreen State University in Ohio.In a recent article in the ToledoBlade newspaper, Taylor creditedbasketball, which he played atCal U, with giving him theopportunity to attend college.

Kathy Cipriani Lockhart ’77 isa retired teacher from GreenvilleCounty Schools. She and herhusband, Don, live in Greenville,Ohio.

Patricia Teamor Wiggs ’78 isan educator with the CharltonCounty Board of Education. Sheand her husband, Earl, live inFolkston, Ga.

Jacqueline Dellaria McKenna ’78is an operations director forPreferred Primary Care Physicians.She and her husband, John,live in Rices Landing, Pa.

80sAnthony Merante ’81 is the newassistant superintendent of in thePeters Township School District, inWashington County, Pa. Merantehad been the principal of the PetersTownship Middle School prior toaccepting the new position.

Terry Lynn Kuzman ’83 is ageneral manager for ContinentalAirlines. She and her husband,Kevin, live in Durango, Colo.

Dr. Deborah Van Maele ’77 ’83,a Hampton Middle School teacher,is the first recipient of the InspiringTeachers Inspiring Writers award.She is being recognized for herdedication to adolescent literacy.Deborah has been with theHampton Township (Pa.) SchoolDistrict for over 25 years.

Fred J. Barch ’84 is principal ofPine Jog Elementary School inPalm Beach County, Fla. Hisschool was named a 2009 Palm

IN PRINTC.J. Henderson ’73, of New York City, hasseen his 70th book reach stores. The firstbook of his latest series introduces PiersKnight, a curator at the Brooklyn Museumwho has a habit of stumbling into super-natural situations. In Brooklyn Knight, thediscovery of a previously unknown city couldrelease a terrible force into this dimension.Henderson’s work has been translated into12 languages. He also has written short stories,comics and non-fiction pieces. For moreabout his work, visit www.cjhenderson.com.

Sheila Myers ’93, recently published her firstnovel, Detective Jake: The Search for Truth,the first book of a planned series. Unlikeothers in this genre, the author says, thisseries not only will follow the detectives asthey solve homicide cases but will showwhat life is like behind the badge. Formore information, visit www.detective-jake.com/books/books.htm.

Sandra L. Huska who was on staffat Cal U as the director of grants and laterthe director of continuous improvement,has written Legs in the Attic, a novel set“at a Pennsylvania college on the Mon River.”Based on Huska’s own background, thebooks weaves historical, political, religiousand environmental facts into a believabletale of ordinary people who rise to a newlevel of understanding about themselvesand their creator. For more information,visit www.legsintheattic.com.

Bequests are wonderful commitments to the future ofCalifornia University. Creation of a bequest makes it possiblefor virtually anyone to:

• Specify and assure security for family and loved ones.• Retain lifelong control of assets.• Provide for the use of a gift to Cal U after one’s lifetime.• Give to Cal U when the resources become available.• Enjoy satisfaction in the certainty of helping future Cal U

students someday.

Individuals with plans or ambitions to establish anenduring legacy at California University will find bequestsa convenient and flexible way to achieve their charitableand personal goals.

California University is pleased to provide assistance anddetailed information to individuals and their professionaladvisers so they can establish a bequest in a will. This isparticularly important when a bequest is designated to benamed for a special person or applied to a particular purposeat the University.

Among many resources available to individuals are informativeweb pages found at www.calu.edu. Click “Giving” and thenlook for “Legacy & Planned Giving” in the left menu.

For more information, contact Gordon Core, director ofplanned giving, by telephone at 724-938-5985 or by e-mailat core@calu.edu.

CALU M I L E S T O N E S

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 3130 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

Beach County Green School ofExcellence. The school is certifiedby the Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design (LEED),which is the nationally acceptedbenchmark for the design,construction and operation of“green” buildings.

Tim Vogt ’85 and his wife, Lisa,live in Bethesda, Md.

Carol L. Alisesky ’85, a retiredspecial education teacher andpersonal care aide, has beenrecognized by Cambridge Who’sWho for demonstrating dedication,leadership and excellence inspecial education.

John Russell ’86 lives inPhiladelphia, Pa.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Johnson ’88,national director of evangelismand new church planning forAmerican Baptist Churches USA,recently spoke at ClarksvilleChristian Church in Clarksville, Pa.,where he began his professionalfull-time ministerial career in1985. Johnson also serves atMt. Vernon Baptist Church ofHurricane, W.Va., where he isoverseeing a multimillion-dollarexpansion of the church’s facilities.He is a native of West Newton, Pa.He and his wife, Karen, have twochildren, Jonae and Judson. Theylive in Charleston, W.Va.

Carol Smitley Williams ’89graduated summa cum laudefrom West Virginia University inDecember 2009 with a Master ofScience in Vocational Rehabilitation.She accepted a position with thePennsylvania Department of Laborand Industry in Altoona, Pa.

90sRobert Rendar ’90 lives inGreensburg, Pa.

Thomas Leturgey ’90 serves asring announcer for the KeystoneState Wrestling Alliance (KSWA)in Pittsburgh, Pa. The KSWA,Pittsburgh’s professional wrestlingorganization, is celebrating its10th anniversary in 2010. He retiredfrom active in-ring competitionin 2009. He and his son, Taylor,live in Pittsburgh.

Mike Pugliano ’91 is a studentliving in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Deborah Campbell Zentkovich’91 lives in Battle Creek, Mich.

Tim Ammon ’92 is a steel workerfor AK Steel. He and his wife, Tracy,live in Butler, Pa.

Virginia Leary-Sinclair ’72 ’92is a social worker for the Allegheny

County Health Department. Sheand her husband, William Sinclair,live in Glenshaw, Pa.

Michael Andresky ’79 ’92recently invited friends to attend a“surprise” 60th birthday party hethrew for himself at Lagerheads inCoal Center, Pa. Instead of bringinggifts, friends were asked to make adonation to The Foundation forCalifornia University of Pennsylvaniato benefit the College of LiberalArts. Michael received his degreefrom the College of Liberal Arts,where his wife, Judy, worksas an administrative assistant.

Mary Beth Burkley ’90 ’92, andhusband Daniel have a daughter,Emma Monica. She was bornAug. 14, 2008.

Cathleen Augustine ’93 managesUniontown Dress for Success, anonprofit organization that helpswomen in need find jobs andkeep them. There are 85 branchesaround the world, and eachaffiliate is an independent,volunteer-driven organization.

Darin Hayduk ’88 ’93 is a principal,education coordinator and teacherfor the Act 1 Education Center.He lives in Negley, Ohio.

Amy Warner Volpe ’94 is atelecommunications engineerwith American Eagle Outfitters.She and her husband, Joseph,live in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dennis Haines ’94 is a generalmanager for the PennsylvaniaLiquor Control Board. He livesin Belle Vernon, Pa.

Christy Shaw ’95 and daughterTaylor live in Charleston, W.Va.Christy works for Wells FargoInsurance Services as an adjusterfor workers’ compensation claimsin West Virginia, Ohio and Georgia.

The Grappler Memorial FundCommittee at Penn-Trafford HighSchool has donated a wrestlingmat in memory of RobertBurmeister ’96, who was killedin a car crash three years ago.Robert worked with youngwrestlers at Penn-Trafford andnamed his construction companyGrappler Construction to honorhis love of the sport.

Tracey Todd Palcic ’97 is a mentalhealth therapist for SPHS, South-western Pennsylvania HumanServices Inc. She and her husband,Peter, live in Fayette City, Pa.

Sunnie Hall ’98 is an informationtechnology consultant for Sapient.She lives in Carmichaels, Pa.

Chad Hensler ’98 is a third-gradeteacher in the Gateway School

District in Monroeville, Pa. He andhis wife, Elizabeth, live in Trafford, Pa.

Michelle Sesco ’98 is workingin the wardrobe department forJersey Boys on Broadway inManhattan, N.Y.

Kris Mintmier Hoover ’99 andher husband, Andy, live in RoaringSpring, Pa.

00sKelly Canistra Reshenberg ’00is a prevention specialist with theFayette County Drug and AlcoholCommission Inc. She and herhusband, Bill ’93, live inUniontown, Pa.

Kelly Andrachick Startare ’00and her husband, Anthony, are athome in Belle Vernon, Pa.

Shannon Thomas ’00 works as aspecial effects designer for theWeta Workshop special effectscompany in New Zealand.Shannon’s projects includedAvatar and The Lovely Bones.

Amy Murphy Bissett ’00 lives inWashington, Pa.

Autumn Koerbel ’02 is a technicalwriter for Tactronics. She lives inPittsburgh, Pa.

Wanda Miller ’02 lives inSomerset, Pa.

Soccer player Nicholas Addlery’02 joined the Club DeportivoAguila, of the Salvadoran PremierLeague, after his season in theUnited Soccer League with thePuerto Rico Islanders ended.

Raquel Byrne Grimes ’02 is a retailmanager for Pacific Sunwear. Sheand her husband, Travis, live inColumbus, Ohio.

Alissa Craig Fickert ’02 is a travelassociate for AAA Travel. She and herhusband, Ian, live in Lansdale, Pa.

Bethany Modracek Smith ’03 is apediatric Medicaid gap coordinatorand freelance photographer. Sheand her husband, Christopher, livein Olathe, Kan.

Chad Ewing ’03 works as aninformation technology managerand in sales for Air Turbine PropellerCo. He and his wife, Kelly, live inWampum, Pa.

Brianna Vanata ’03 of Greensboro,Pa., has been hired as a full-timeassistant district attorney inGreene County, Pa. She and herhusband, John, have a son, JohnBenjamin.

Jesse Clark ’04 works in marketingfor Pro Finishes PLUS and lives inManassas Park, Va.

Phil Arena ’04 lives in Mantua, N.J.

John Staniszewski ’04 is a printingpress assistant for RR Donnelley,Hoechstetter Plant. He lives inPittsburgh, Pa.

Jennifer “Jenni” Morrison ’02 ’04has been hired as the full-timeathletic director at Defiance College,Ohio. In addition to her academiccareer at Cal U, Morrison was partof the coaching staff that helpedto guide the Vulcans to the NCAADivision II national championshipin 2004.

Nikolas Larrow-Roberts ’04 ’05 isan instructional specialist at Cal Uand an adjunct professor atStrayer University. He and his wife,Ashley ’08, live in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Joseph Rosi ’05 is a teacher withFairfax County Public Schools. Helives in Arlington, Va.

Kimberlie Peterson Pace ’05 livesin Boca Raton, Fla.

Tim Steinmetz ’05 is living inCalifornia. He has appeared as anextra in numerous movies andTV shows, including DesperateHousewives, House and Funny People.

Douglas Szokoly ’02 ’05 is thenew assistant principal at Mt.Lebanon High School, nearPittsburgh, Pa.

William Smalls ’06 is a schoolcounselor in the School Districtof Philadelphia. He lives inPhiladelphia, Pa.

Kender Surin ’06 is serving withthe U.S. Navy. He and his wife,Rachelle, live in Hemet, Calif.

Deborah Tewell Negley ’06 isa registered nurse. She and herhusband, Ciricus “Butch” Negley,live in Waynesburg, Pa.

Michael Hennessey ’06 is aservices coordinator for Tri-CountyPatriots for Independent Living.He lives in Bentleyville, Pa.

Jamal Tullis ’06 is a clientservice representative forFederated Investors Inc. Heand his wife, Marquita, live inCranberry Township, Pa.

Abe Freedman ’06 is completingspecialized undergraduate pilottraining for the U.S. Air Force inColumbus, Miss. After earning hiswings, he will fly the KC-135 forthe 171st Air Refueling Wing inPittsburgh, Pa.

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 3332 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

Ashley Gardner Goodman ’07works in sales. She and her husband,Mike, live in New Stanton, Pa.

Jeffrey McWilliams ’07 is ateacher in the Connellsville AreaSchool District. He and his wife,Vicki, live in Dunbar, Pa.

Jonathan Bennett ’07 is a clerk forthe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.He lives in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Kimberly Kelly Humbert ’07 is anelementary Spanish teacher in theBelle Vernon Area School District.She and her husband, Matthew’07 ’08, live in Finleyville, Pa.

Nichole Mosley ’07 is a projectcoordinator at The Johns HopkinsHospital in Baltimore, Md. Shelives in Owings Mills, Md.

Sheri Pettit ’07 is a teacher livingin Pittsburgh, Pa.

Nigel Wright ’07 took the top prizein the 2009 Summer University ofCarinthia, which was held in Villach,Austria. The university, in its thirdyear, invites students from all overthe world to develop creativesolutions to problems faced bybusinesses in Austria. Wright’steam developed a model for virtualtele-communications providerPadmo to gain domestic marketshare.

Jamie Bogol ’08 is a student livingin East Millsboro, Pa.

Nadine Hawk ’08 is a dataprocessing coordinator for DeSalesUniversity in Center Valley, Pa.She lives in Bethlehem, Pa.

Lisa Vittone Hnatik ’08 is a homehealth nurse for Celtic HealthCare. She and her husband, Frank,live in Monongahela, Pa.

Michele Spencer Anderson ’09and Kevin Anderson live inWashington, Pa. Michele is a first-grade teacher in the WashingtonSchool District.

Lauren Houston ’09 is an activityassistant for HRC Manor Care.She lives in Venetia, Pa.

Ian Moffitt ’09 is a Web developerfor the Student Association Inc. Helives in Belle Vernon, Pa.

Kimberly Schaum ’09 is a servicecoordinator for SeniorCare Network.She lives in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Stephanie Cooke ’09 is a speechtherapist for Lincoln IntermediateUnit No. 12. She lives in Dover, Pa.

MARRIAGESDaniel Schomer ’Keith Vesely ’84and Julie Bouffard were marriedOct. 24, 2009. Keith works at theDepartment of Defense. Julieworks at the U.S. Census Bureau.They live in Bowie, Md.

Jenna Persio ’99 and JasonRadecke were married Sept. 5,2009, at Holy Name RomanCatholic Church in Ebensburg, Pa.Jenna is a speech pathologist atUnion Memorial Hospital inBaltimore, Md. Jason is a fourth-year surgical resident at UnionMemorial Hospital. They live inBaltimore.

Tracey Svitek ’03and MichaelRamsey ’03 weremarried July 4,2009. For theirhoneymoon, the

couple attended the annualRocklahoma music festival in Pryor,Okla. They reside in Front Royal, Va.

Amy PrimmSmith ’04 andBen Wentzel weremarried June 27,2009, at HolyCross Church in

Youngwood, Pa. Amy is a speechtherapist for WestmorelandIntermediate Unit and Ben is thedirector of business developmentfor the Westmoreland CountyIndustrial Development Corp.in Greensburg, Pa. Attendantsincluded Mindy Primm Smith ’01and Kelly Hankinson Guerreri ’03’05. The couple resides inGreensburg, Pa.

Genevieve Lawton ’04 and RobertKegley were married Oct. 24,2009, at Sandy Key Beach, Fla.Following a Caribbean cruise, theyare living in Houston, Pa.

Jonny Gido, ’04, and AmberDongilli were married November 28,2009, at St. Sebastian Church inBelle Vernon, Pa. The bride isnow attending the University ofPittsburgh, main campus. Jonnyis employed as a coordinator atFollet Textbook in California. Thecouple resides in Belle Vernon, Pa.

Erica Colborn ’06 and AaronLoveall were married August 9,2009, in a candlelit ceremony atFells United Methodist Church inRostraver Township, Pa. The coupletook a honeymoon trip to St. Luciaand currently reside in Elizabeth,Pa. Erica is a pharmaceutical salesrepresentative for Sciele Pharma Inc.

Adam Wilfong ’04 ’06 andCortney Watt were marriedOctober 17, 2009, at Holy FamilyChurch in Latrobe, Pa. The couplehoneymooned in Aruba. Adam is aguidance counselor at Shanksville-Stonycreek School District inSomerset County, Pa., and hiswife is an executive assistant fora Pro-Adjuster Chiropractic Clinic.They live in Latrobe, Pa.

Jeffrey Lacey ’07 and Ashley RuthCollett were married Oct. 10, 2009,at Whyel Chapel in Hopwood, Pa.Jeffrey is a producer for KDKA Radioand CBS Radio. His wife is a middleschool math tutor for McGuffeySchool District. Following a honey-moon in Maui, Hawaii, they live inWashington, Pa.

Sheila Ann Hunnell ’07 andMark Matras ’06 were marriedOct. 3, 2009, in ImmaculateConception Church in Washington,Pa. Sheila is a pre-sales accountmanager at Pepsi Bottling Groupin Youngwood, Pa. Mark is adevelopment coordinator at theUniversity of Pittsburgh atGreensburg. The newlyweds tooka honeymoon trip to Aruba andnow live in Greensburg, Pa.

Jordan Scott Rehar ’07 and AmyEllen Bimeal were married Sept. 6,2009, at Green Gables Restaurantin Jennerstown, Pa. Jordan is afield biologist for Bat ConservationInternational. His wife is a titlecurative attorney at PC LawAssociates of Pittsburgh, Pa.They live in Pittsburgh.

Kathryn E. Schmidt ’08 andZachery S. Pitts ’08 were marriedOctober 3, 2009, at Happy ValleyBaptist Church in Somerset, Pa.Both the bride and groom arestudents at Cal U. The newlywedslive in Boswell, Pa.

Michelle Georgiana ’05 ’08 andJoshua Dvorchak ’05 were marriedJuly 18, 2009, in St. Therese RomanCatholic Church, Uniontown, Pa.Michelle is a guidance counselorin the Ringgold School District.Joshua is a technical supportengineer with Ariba Inc. The couplehoneymooned in Punta Cana,Dominican Republic. They live inSouth Park, Pa.

Crystal Turkovich ‘09 andCharles Cameron ‘06 weremarried at Transfiguration Churchin Monongahela, Pa. Crystal is akindergarten teacher, and Charlesis a territory manager with GBG,Inc. They honeymooned in St.Lucia and live in Jefferson Hills, Pa.

ENGAGEMENTSKary Lynn Coleman ’00 ofGreensburg, Pa., and RaymondPaul Hazen of Monongahela, Pa.,are engaged. Kary is director ofmedia relations and communica-tions at Seton Hill University andis a part-time faculty member inthe communications departmentsat Seton Hill and Penn StateUniversity – The Eberly Campus.Her fiance works for ConsolEnergy. They are planning aMay 2010, wedding.

Jason Swinchock ’02 and LauraPienkowski are engaged. Jason is aquality assurance/human resourcesmanager for Ritchey Metals inCanonsburg, Pa., and presidentof E-Nertia Global Systems inWashington, Pa. His fiancee worksin human resources for UPMCMercy in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Andrew Spring’04 of PointMarion, Pa., andEmily Crowe ’04of Uniontown, Pa.,

are engaged to be married. Emilyis a high school English teacherat Salisbury-Elk Lick Jr./Sr. HighSchool. Andrew, after furtheringhis education with a culinary artsdegree from WestmorelandCounty Community College, worksin the food service department atWest Virginia University. Emily wasa member of the Honors Programand string ensemble at Cal U, andAndrew was a member of theUniversity’s marching, concert andjazz bands, as well as a foundingmember of the pool club. They areplanning an Oct. 2010 wedding.

Christopher R. Dallas ’04 andAshley C. Heckman, both ofQuakertown, Pa., are engaged tobe married. Christopher is atechnology education teacher atHolicong Middle School in CentralBucks School District. His fianceeis an elementary teacher in theSouderton School District.

Justin Stoddard ’05 andStephanie Morris are engaged.Justin earned a bachelor’s degreein business administration. Thecouple is planning a May 2011,wedding.

Beth Lynn Urcho ’04 ’06 and KellyBryan Post, both of Bentleyville,Pa., are engaged to be married.JoBeth is a seventh-grade languagearts teacher at Monessen MiddleSchool in Monessen, Pa. Her fianceis a residential companion at LifeSteps in Washington, Pa. They areplanning a July 2010, wedding.

MILESTONES continued from page 31

Beach County Green School ofExcellence. The school is certifiedby the Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design (LEED),which is the nationally acceptedbenchmark for the design,construction and operation of“green” buildings.

Tim Vogt ’85 and his wife, Lisa,live in Bethesda, Md.

Carol L. Alisesky ’85, a retiredspecial education teacher andpersonal care aide, has beenrecognized by Cambridge Who’sWho for demonstrating dedication,leadership and excellence inspecial education.

John Russell ’86 lives inPhiladelphia, Pa.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Johnson ’88,national director of evangelismand new church planning forAmerican Baptist Churches USA,recently spoke at ClarksvilleChristian Church in Clarksville, Pa.,where he began his professionalfull-time ministerial career in1985. Johnson also serves atMt. Vernon Baptist Church ofHurricane, W.Va., where he isoverseeing a multimillion-dollarexpansion of the church’s facilities.He is a native of West Newton, Pa.He and his wife, Karen, have twochildren, Jonae and Judson. Theylive in Charleston, W.Va.

Carol Smitley Williams ’89graduated summa cum laudefrom West Virginia University inDecember 2009 with a Master ofScience in Vocational Rehabilitation.She accepted a position with thePennsylvania Department of Laborand Industry in Altoona, Pa.

90sRobert Rendar ’90 lives inGreensburg, Pa.

Thomas Leturgey ’90 serves asring announcer for the KeystoneState Wrestling Alliance (KSWA)in Pittsburgh, Pa. The KSWA,Pittsburgh’s professional wrestlingorganization, is celebrating its10th anniversary in 2010. He retiredfrom active in-ring competitionin 2009. He and his son, Taylor,live in Pittsburgh.

Mike Pugliano ’91 is a studentliving in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Deborah Campbell Zentkovich’91 lives in Battle Creek, Mich.

Tim Ammon ’92 is a steel workerfor AK Steel. He and his wife, Tracy,live in Butler, Pa.

Virginia Leary-Sinclair ’72 ’92is a social worker for the Allegheny

County Health Department. Sheand her husband, William Sinclair,live in Glenshaw, Pa.

Michael Andresky ’79 ’92recently invited friends to attend a“surprise” 60th birthday party hethrew for himself at Lagerheads inCoal Center, Pa. Instead of bringinggifts, friends were asked to make adonation to The Foundation forCalifornia University of Pennsylvaniato benefit the College of LiberalArts. Michael received his degreefrom the College of Liberal Arts,where his wife, Judy, worksas an administrative assistant.

Mary Beth Burkley ’90 ’92, andhusband Daniel have a daughter,Emma Monica. She was bornAug. 14, 2008.

Cathleen Augustine ’93 managesUniontown Dress for Success, anonprofit organization that helpswomen in need find jobs andkeep them. There are 85 branchesaround the world, and eachaffiliate is an independent,volunteer-driven organization.

Darin Hayduk ’88 ’93 is a principal,education coordinator and teacherfor the Act 1 Education Center.He lives in Negley, Ohio.

Amy Warner Volpe ’94 is atelecommunications engineerwith American Eagle Outfitters.She and her husband, Joseph,live in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dennis Haines ’94 is a generalmanager for the PennsylvaniaLiquor Control Board. He livesin Belle Vernon, Pa.

Christy Shaw ’95 and daughterTaylor live in Charleston, W.Va.Christy works for Wells FargoInsurance Services as an adjusterfor workers’ compensation claimsin West Virginia, Ohio and Georgia.

The Grappler Memorial FundCommittee at Penn-Trafford HighSchool has donated a wrestlingmat in memory of RobertBurmeister ’96, who was killedin a car crash three years ago.Robert worked with youngwrestlers at Penn-Trafford andnamed his construction companyGrappler Construction to honorhis love of the sport.

Tracey Todd Palcic ’97 is a mentalhealth therapist for SPHS, South-western Pennsylvania HumanServices Inc. She and her husband,Peter, live in Fayette City, Pa.

Sunnie Hall ’98 is an informationtechnology consultant for Sapient.She lives in Carmichaels, Pa.

Chad Hensler ’98 is a third-gradeteacher in the Gateway School

District in Monroeville, Pa. He andhis wife, Elizabeth, live in Trafford, Pa.

Michelle Sesco ’98 is workingin the wardrobe department forJersey Boys on Broadway inManhattan, N.Y.

Kris Mintmier Hoover ’99 andher husband, Andy, live in RoaringSpring, Pa.

00sKelly Canistra Reshenberg ’00is a prevention specialist with theFayette County Drug and AlcoholCommission Inc. She and herhusband, Bill ’93, live inUniontown, Pa.

Kelly Andrachick Startare ’00and her husband, Anthony, are athome in Belle Vernon, Pa.

Shannon Thomas ’00 works as aspecial effects designer for theWeta Workshop special effectscompany in New Zealand.Shannon’s projects includedAvatar and The Lovely Bones.

Amy Murphy Bissett ’00 lives inWashington, Pa.

Autumn Koerbel ’02 is a technicalwriter for Tactronics. She lives inPittsburgh, Pa.

Wanda Miller ’02 lives inSomerset, Pa.

Soccer player Nicholas Addlery’02 joined the Club DeportivoAguila, of the Salvadoran PremierLeague, after his season in theUnited Soccer League with thePuerto Rico Islanders ended.

Raquel Byrne Grimes ’02 is a retailmanager for Pacific Sunwear. Sheand her husband, Travis, live inColumbus, Ohio.

Alissa Craig Fickert ’02 is a travelassociate for AAA Travel. She and herhusband, Ian, live in Lansdale, Pa.

Bethany Modracek Smith ’03 is apediatric Medicaid gap coordinatorand freelance photographer. Sheand her husband, Christopher, livein Olathe, Kan.

Chad Ewing ’03 works as aninformation technology managerand in sales for Air Turbine PropellerCo. He and his wife, Kelly, live inWampum, Pa.

Brianna Vanata ’03 of Greensboro,Pa., has been hired as a full-timeassistant district attorney inGreene County, Pa. She and herhusband, John, have a son, JohnBenjamin.

Jesse Clark ’04 works in marketingfor Pro Finishes PLUS and lives inManassas Park, Va.

Phil Arena ’04 lives in Mantua, N.J.

John Staniszewski ’04 is a printingpress assistant for RR Donnelley,Hoechstetter Plant. He lives inPittsburgh, Pa.

Jennifer “Jenni” Morrison ’02 ’04has been hired as the full-timeathletic director at Defiance College,Ohio. In addition to her academiccareer at Cal U, Morrison was partof the coaching staff that helpedto guide the Vulcans to the NCAADivision II national championshipin 2004.

Nikolas Larrow-Roberts ’04 ’05 isan instructional specialist at Cal Uand an adjunct professor atStrayer University. He and his wife,Ashley ’08, live in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Joseph Rosi ’05 is a teacher withFairfax County Public Schools. Helives in Arlington, Va.

Kimberlie Peterson Pace ’05 livesin Boca Raton, Fla.

Tim Steinmetz ’05 is living inCalifornia. He has appeared as anextra in numerous movies andTV shows, including DesperateHousewives, House and Funny People.

Douglas Szokoly ’02 ’05 is thenew assistant principal at Mt.Lebanon High School, nearPittsburgh, Pa.

William Smalls ’06 is a schoolcounselor in the School Districtof Philadelphia. He lives inPhiladelphia, Pa.

Kender Surin ’06 is serving withthe U.S. Navy. He and his wife,Rachelle, live in Hemet, Calif.

Deborah Tewell Negley ’06 isa registered nurse. She and herhusband, Ciricus “Butch” Negley,live in Waynesburg, Pa.

Michael Hennessey ’06 is aservices coordinator for Tri-CountyPatriots for Independent Living.He lives in Bentleyville, Pa.

Jamal Tullis ’06 is a clientservice representative forFederated Investors Inc. Heand his wife, Marquita, live inCranberry Township, Pa.

Abe Freedman ’06 is completingspecialized undergraduate pilottraining for the U.S. Air Force inColumbus, Miss. After earning hiswings, he will fly the KC-135 forthe 171st Air Refueling Wing inPittsburgh, Pa.

SPRING 2010 � CAL U REVIEW 3332 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

Ashley Gardner Goodman ’07works in sales. She and her husband,Mike, live in New Stanton, Pa.

Jeffrey McWilliams ’07 is ateacher in the Connellsville AreaSchool District. He and his wife,Vicki, live in Dunbar, Pa.

Jonathan Bennett ’07 is a clerk forthe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.He lives in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Kimberly Kelly Humbert ’07 is anelementary Spanish teacher in theBelle Vernon Area School District.She and her husband, Matthew’07 ’08, live in Finleyville, Pa.

Nichole Mosley ’07 is a projectcoordinator at The Johns HopkinsHospital in Baltimore, Md. Shelives in Owings Mills, Md.

Sheri Pettit ’07 is a teacher livingin Pittsburgh, Pa.

Nigel Wright ’07 took the top prizein the 2009 Summer University ofCarinthia, which was held in Villach,Austria. The university, in its thirdyear, invites students from all overthe world to develop creativesolutions to problems faced bybusinesses in Austria. Wright’steam developed a model for virtualtele-communications providerPadmo to gain domestic marketshare.

Jamie Bogol ’08 is a student livingin East Millsboro, Pa.

Nadine Hawk ’08 is a dataprocessing coordinator for DeSalesUniversity in Center Valley, Pa.She lives in Bethlehem, Pa.

Lisa Vittone Hnatik ’08 is a homehealth nurse for Celtic HealthCare. She and her husband, Frank,live in Monongahela, Pa.

Michele Spencer Anderson ’09and Kevin Anderson live inWashington, Pa. Michele is a first-grade teacher in the WashingtonSchool District.

Lauren Houston ’09 is an activityassistant for HRC Manor Care.She lives in Venetia, Pa.

Ian Moffitt ’09 is a Web developerfor the Student Association Inc. Helives in Belle Vernon, Pa.

Kimberly Schaum ’09 is a servicecoordinator for SeniorCare Network.She lives in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Stephanie Cooke ’09 is a speechtherapist for Lincoln IntermediateUnit No. 12. She lives in Dover, Pa.

MARRIAGESDaniel Schomer ’Keith Vesely ’84and Julie Bouffard were marriedOct. 24, 2009. Keith works at theDepartment of Defense. Julieworks at the U.S. Census Bureau.They live in Bowie, Md.

Jenna Persio ’99 and JasonRadecke were married Sept. 5,2009, at Holy Name RomanCatholic Church in Ebensburg, Pa.Jenna is a speech pathologist atUnion Memorial Hospital inBaltimore, Md. Jason is a fourth-year surgical resident at UnionMemorial Hospital. They live inBaltimore.

Tracey Svitek ’03and MichaelRamsey ’03 weremarried July 4,2009. For theirhoneymoon, the

couple attended the annualRocklahoma music festival in Pryor,Okla. They reside in Front Royal, Va.

Amy PrimmSmith ’04 andBen Wentzel weremarried June 27,2009, at HolyCross Church in

Youngwood, Pa. Amy is a speechtherapist for WestmorelandIntermediate Unit and Ben is thedirector of business developmentfor the Westmoreland CountyIndustrial Development Corp.in Greensburg, Pa. Attendantsincluded Mindy Primm Smith ’01and Kelly Hankinson Guerreri ’03’05. The couple resides inGreensburg, Pa.

Genevieve Lawton ’04 and RobertKegley were married Oct. 24,2009, at Sandy Key Beach, Fla.Following a Caribbean cruise, theyare living in Houston, Pa.

Jonny Gido, ’04, and AmberDongilli were married November 28,2009, at St. Sebastian Church inBelle Vernon, Pa. The bride isnow attending the University ofPittsburgh, main campus. Jonnyis employed as a coordinator atFollet Textbook in California. Thecouple resides in Belle Vernon, Pa.

Erica Colborn ’06 and AaronLoveall were married August 9,2009, in a candlelit ceremony atFells United Methodist Church inRostraver Township, Pa. The coupletook a honeymoon trip to St. Luciaand currently reside in Elizabeth,Pa. Erica is a pharmaceutical salesrepresentative for Sciele Pharma Inc.

Adam Wilfong ’04 ’06 andCortney Watt were marriedOctober 17, 2009, at Holy FamilyChurch in Latrobe, Pa. The couplehoneymooned in Aruba. Adam is aguidance counselor at Shanksville-Stonycreek School District inSomerset County, Pa., and hiswife is an executive assistant fora Pro-Adjuster Chiropractic Clinic.They live in Latrobe, Pa.

Jeffrey Lacey ’07 and Ashley RuthCollett were married Oct. 10, 2009,at Whyel Chapel in Hopwood, Pa.Jeffrey is a producer for KDKA Radioand CBS Radio. His wife is a middleschool math tutor for McGuffeySchool District. Following a honey-moon in Maui, Hawaii, they live inWashington, Pa.

Sheila Ann Hunnell ’07 andMark Matras ’06 were marriedOct. 3, 2009, in ImmaculateConception Church in Washington,Pa. Sheila is a pre-sales accountmanager at Pepsi Bottling Groupin Youngwood, Pa. Mark is adevelopment coordinator at theUniversity of Pittsburgh atGreensburg. The newlyweds tooka honeymoon trip to Aruba andnow live in Greensburg, Pa.

Jordan Scott Rehar ’07 and AmyEllen Bimeal were married Sept. 6,2009, at Green Gables Restaurantin Jennerstown, Pa. Jordan is afield biologist for Bat ConservationInternational. His wife is a titlecurative attorney at PC LawAssociates of Pittsburgh, Pa.They live in Pittsburgh.

Kathryn E. Schmidt ’08 andZachery S. Pitts ’08 were marriedOctober 3, 2009, at Happy ValleyBaptist Church in Somerset, Pa.Both the bride and groom arestudents at Cal U. The newlywedslive in Boswell, Pa.

Michelle Georgiana ’05 ’08 andJoshua Dvorchak ’05 were marriedJuly 18, 2009, in St. Therese RomanCatholic Church, Uniontown, Pa.Michelle is a guidance counselorin the Ringgold School District.Joshua is a technical supportengineer with Ariba Inc. The couplehoneymooned in Punta Cana,Dominican Republic. They live inSouth Park, Pa.

Crystal Turkovich ‘09 andCharles Cameron ‘06 weremarried at Transfiguration Churchin Monongahela, Pa. Crystal is akindergarten teacher, and Charlesis a territory manager with GBG,Inc. They honeymooned in St.Lucia and live in Jefferson Hills, Pa.

ENGAGEMENTSKary Lynn Coleman ’00 ofGreensburg, Pa., and RaymondPaul Hazen of Monongahela, Pa.,are engaged. Kary is director ofmedia relations and communica-tions at Seton Hill University andis a part-time faculty member inthe communications departmentsat Seton Hill and Penn StateUniversity – The Eberly Campus.Her fiance works for ConsolEnergy. They are planning aMay 2010, wedding.

Jason Swinchock ’02 and LauraPienkowski are engaged. Jason is aquality assurance/human resourcesmanager for Ritchey Metals inCanonsburg, Pa., and presidentof E-Nertia Global Systems inWashington, Pa. His fiancee worksin human resources for UPMCMercy in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Andrew Spring’04 of PointMarion, Pa., andEmily Crowe ’04of Uniontown, Pa.,

are engaged to be married. Emilyis a high school English teacherat Salisbury-Elk Lick Jr./Sr. HighSchool. Andrew, after furtheringhis education with a culinary artsdegree from WestmorelandCounty Community College, worksin the food service department atWest Virginia University. Emily wasa member of the Honors Programand string ensemble at Cal U, andAndrew was a member of theUniversity’s marching, concert andjazz bands, as well as a foundingmember of the pool club. They areplanning an Oct. 2010 wedding.

Christopher R. Dallas ’04 andAshley C. Heckman, both ofQuakertown, Pa., are engaged tobe married. Christopher is atechnology education teacher atHolicong Middle School in CentralBucks School District. His fianceeis an elementary teacher in theSouderton School District.

Justin Stoddard ’05 andStephanie Morris are engaged.Justin earned a bachelor’s degreein business administration. Thecouple is planning a May 2011,wedding.

Beth Lynn Urcho ’04 ’06 and KellyBryan Post, both of Bentleyville,Pa., are engaged to be married.JoBeth is a seventh-grade languagearts teacher at Monessen MiddleSchool in Monessen, Pa. Her fianceis a residential companion at LifeSteps in Washington, Pa. They areplanning a July 2010, wedding.

MILESTONES continued from page 31

MILESTONES continued from page 33

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

34 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

� JUST THE

FAXNAME MAIDEN NAME CLASS YEAR

ADDRESS

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

OCCUPATION EMPLOYER

SPOUSE’S NAME SPOUSE’S CLASS (IF CAL U GRAD)

Information will be published as space and deadlines allow. Please indicate on another sheet what activities or sports you participated in while you were a student.We welcome photographs. Please do not send computer printouts or low resolution digital photos, as they will not reproduce well in this magazine.

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

Faith Reilly ’06and Jeremy Miller’06 haveannounced theirengagement. Faithworks for Gaming

Laboratories International inLakewood, N.J. Jeremy is anassociate environmental scientistat Groundwater and EnvironmentalServices Inc. of Neptune, N.J.They are planning a fall 2010wedding.

Erin Brown ’07 and DonaldBywaters ’07 are engaged. Thebride works for Consol Energy Inc.in Canonsburg, Pa. The groomworks for The Washington Hospitalat Wilfred R. Cameron WellnessCenter in South Strabane Township,Pa. They are planning a Sept. 2010wedding.

Jessica Shirk ’07 and MatthewTague ’07 are engaged to bemarried on Sept. 5, 2010. Jessicais a graphic designer for OmniPrepaid, and Matthew is a teacherwith the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Jacob Lewis ’08 and JenniferShaffer, both of Brookville, Pa.,are engaged to be married. Jacobis a technology teacher atBrookville Area High School. Thecouple is planning an Oct. 2010,wedding.

Kristin Littzi ’09 and AndrewFlavell are engaged. Kristin worksfor Geisinger Sports Medicine andis the athletic trainer at MeyersHigh School in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Her fiance also is employed byGeisinger Sports Medicine and isthe athletic trainer at Lake-LehmanHigh School, Lehman Township,Pa. They are planning a July 2010,wedding in Palm Bay, Fla.

Leah Michelle Perecko ’09and Marc William Berry areengaged. Leah is a speech-languagepathologist and her fiance is asecondary English teacher, both withFrederick County Schools, Maryland.The couple is planning a Julywedding at Transfiguration CatholicChurch in Monongahela, Pa.

Katherine Chappel ’09 and JamesGosney are engaged to be marriedin July 2011. Katie is attendinggraduate school at Cal U. Herfiance is a drafter for ClevelandPrice Inc.

ANNIVERSARIESKaren Primm ’86 and DavidPrimm ’90 of Smithton, Pa.,celebrated their 35th weddinganniversary on Nov. 9, 2009.Karen is director of the InternshipCenter at Cal U, and David isan engineer at Flowserve inBridgeville, Pa. They celebratedwith their daughters, MindyPrimm Smith ’01 and AmyPrimm Wentzel ’04, son-in-lawBen Wentzel and granddaughterAddison Smith (Class of 2023!).

BIRTHSKristen and Mark Lesako ’93announce the birth of theirdaughter, Isabella Elena, onAug. 4, 2009. Mark is assistanttrainer for the Washington andJefferson College Department ofAthletics. His wife is an elementaryschool Spanish teacher in theChartiers Valley School District,where she also is a varsity girls’basketball coach.

Steven Meredith’94 ’97 andhis fiancee, KeriGoddard, welcomedtheir daughter,Sophie Ann

Meredith, on Sept. 2, 2009.

Kim Wolf Wilson’99 and herhusband, Robert,welcomed their son,Collin Conrad, onNov. 20, 2009.

Henry Jaskulski ’02 and his wife,Melanie ’02, are the proud parentsof a baby girl, Joselyn Henslie,born October 9, 2009.

Stephanie MarieChabora ’09 andEthan Chaboraannounce the birthof their daughter,Adeleine Ruth, on

Sept. 5, 2009. The family lives inChampaign, Ill.

Sarah Paterni ’09and her husband,Stephen Rosswog,announce the birthof their son,Nicholas Maxwell,

on Dec. 29, 2009.

IN MEMORIUMRoger Dale Allen Sr.*Kenneth E. Ansell ’77Janigan "Peanut" Brogdon Jr. ’80Robert Raymond Crowl ’60Audrey L. Ducoeur ’47Theressa Baker Hall,

music department staffGeorge F. Harris ’50Dean Edward Holmes ’54Janet MacKenzie Kittel ’42Josephine A. Kudaroski Kelton ’76Jean C. Kenton ’45Lois Anderson Bugaile Lynn ’45James Alexander McConnell*Ginny Rose Morris ’79Abraham L. Nasim ’74Adele Hasson Nassif ’97James Norton*Jeanette R. Zelina Duricic Parks,

food services staffAnn C. Randour ’74Isabel M. Rankin ’44Karen A. Partches Savona ’67 ’83Lorraine Seigel ’72George Leo Sharkady ’71Rose Crookham Snelbaker ’97Martha Totin ’80Leslie A. Tujague*Anthony N. Vukich ’75Gretchen Weslager ’60Marjorie Grace Williams ’44

*No class year provided or on file

MILESTONES continued from page 33

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

34 CAL U REVIEW � SPRING 2010

� JUST THE

FAXNAME MAIDEN NAME CLASS YEAR

ADDRESS

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

OCCUPATION EMPLOYER

SPOUSE’S NAME SPOUSE’S CLASS (IF CAL U GRAD)

Information will be published as space and deadlines allow. Please indicate on another sheet what activities or sports you participated in while you were a student.We welcome photographs. Please do not send computer printouts or low resolution digital photos, as they will not reproduce well in this magazine.

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

Faith Reilly ’06and Jeremy Miller’06 haveannounced theirengagement. Faithworks for Gaming

Laboratories International inLakewood, N.J. Jeremy is anassociate environmental scientistat Groundwater and EnvironmentalServices Inc. of Neptune, N.J.They are planning a fall 2010wedding.

Erin Brown ’07 and DonaldBywaters ’07 are engaged. Thebride works for Consol Energy Inc.in Canonsburg, Pa. The groomworks for The Washington Hospitalat Wilfred R. Cameron WellnessCenter in South Strabane Township,Pa. They are planning a Sept. 2010wedding.

Jessica Shirk ’07 and MatthewTague ’07 are engaged to bemarried on Sept. 5, 2010. Jessicais a graphic designer for OmniPrepaid, and Matthew is a teacherwith the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Jacob Lewis ’08 and JenniferShaffer, both of Brookville, Pa.,are engaged to be married. Jacobis a technology teacher atBrookville Area High School. Thecouple is planning an Oct. 2010,wedding.

Kristin Littzi ’09 and AndrewFlavell are engaged. Kristin worksfor Geisinger Sports Medicine andis the athletic trainer at MeyersHigh School in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Her fiance also is employed byGeisinger Sports Medicine and isthe athletic trainer at Lake-LehmanHigh School, Lehman Township,Pa. They are planning a July 2010,wedding in Palm Bay, Fla.

Leah Michelle Perecko ’09and Marc William Berry areengaged. Leah is a speech-languagepathologist and her fiance is asecondary English teacher, both withFrederick County Schools, Maryland.The couple is planning a Julywedding at Transfiguration CatholicChurch in Monongahela, Pa.

Katherine Chappel ’09 and JamesGosney are engaged to be marriedin July 2011. Katie is attendinggraduate school at Cal U. Herfiance is a drafter for ClevelandPrice Inc.

ANNIVERSARIESKaren Primm ’86 and DavidPrimm ’90 of Smithton, Pa.,celebrated their 35th weddinganniversary on Nov. 9, 2009.Karen is director of the InternshipCenter at Cal U, and David isan engineer at Flowserve inBridgeville, Pa. They celebratedwith their daughters, MindyPrimm Smith ’01 and AmyPrimm Wentzel ’04, son-in-lawBen Wentzel and granddaughterAddison Smith (Class of 2023!).

BIRTHSKristen and Mark Lesako ’93announce the birth of theirdaughter, Isabella Elena, onAug. 4, 2009. Mark is assistanttrainer for the Washington andJefferson College Department ofAthletics. His wife is an elementaryschool Spanish teacher in theChartiers Valley School District,where she also is a varsity girls’basketball coach.

Steven Meredith’94 ’97 andhis fiancee, KeriGoddard, welcomedtheir daughter,Sophie Ann

Meredith, on Sept. 2, 2009.

Kim Wolf Wilson’99 and herhusband, Robert,welcomed their son,Collin Conrad, onNov. 20, 2009.

Henry Jaskulski ’02 and his wife,Melanie ’02, are the proud parentsof a baby girl, Joselyn Henslie,born October 9, 2009.

Stephanie MarieChabora ’09 andEthan Chaboraannounce the birthof their daughter,Adeleine Ruth, on

Sept. 5, 2009. The family lives inChampaign, Ill.

Sarah Paterni ’09and her husband,Stephen Rosswog,announce the birthof their son,Nicholas Maxwell,

on Dec. 29, 2009.

IN MEMORIUMRoger Dale Allen Sr.*Kenneth E. Ansell ’77Janigan "Peanut" Brogdon Jr. ’80Robert Raymond Crowl ’60Audrey L. Ducoeur ’47Theressa Baker Hall,

music department staffGeorge F. Harris ’50Dean Edward Holmes ’54Janet MacKenzie Kittel ’42Josephine A. Kudaroski Kelton ’76Jean C. Kenton ’45Lois Anderson Bugaile Lynn ’45James Alexander McConnell*Ginny Rose Morris ’79Abraham L. Nasim ’74Adele Hasson Nassif ’97James Norton*Jeanette R. Zelina Duricic Parks,

food services staffAnn C. Randour ’74Isabel M. Rankin ’44Karen A. Partches Savona ’67 ’83Lorraine Seigel ’72George Leo Sharkady ’71Rose Crookham Snelbaker ’97Martha Totin ’80Leslie A. Tujague*Anthony N. Vukich ’75Gretchen Weslager ’60Marjorie Grace Williams ’44

*No class year provided or on file

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RING

2010

Dr. Kimberly Woznack (left), an associate professor in theDepartment of Chemistry and Physics, works with chemistrymajor Erika Verner, a rising junior with an interest in medicine,to test acid levels in orange juice and various sports drinks.