Gianna DeGraba, a Penn State Wilkes-Barre sophomore from Dallas, was the recent recipient of the Irene Thomas Memorial Award. This award is sponsored by Arts at Hayfield, a non-profit, community-arts support organization housed at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, and is given to an academically accomplished student who has demonstrated a commitment to the arts.

Gianna is a Dean’s List student whose artistic interests include dance, community theater, and singing. Gianna is co-founder of Dallas High School’s first dance team. She is a student at the Joan Harris Center for the Gifted and Talented where she studies ballet, tap, and jazz. She has won numerous dance awards from “Stars on the Rise” competitions in Tannersville, PA and New Jersey.

Gianna has performed at the Little Theater of Wilkes-Barre for six years and has also been studying voice for six years with Holly Major. She is majoring in Communications and is a member of the Four Seasons Club and THON, which raises money for childhood cancer research.

Led by instructor of business, Terry Clemente, the Penn State Wilkes-Barre “Wilkes-Bears” team will be represented by sophomore Accounting major Adam Supey of Dallas, junior Business Administration major Amy Scafella of Dallas, sophomore Accounting major Justin Seliga of Nanticoke, and sophomore Business Administration major Ceili Jones of Wilkes-Barre.

The Smeal Case Competition is an undergraduate competition that challenges students’ knowledge, problem solving abilities, and teamwork skills to solve realistic business problems in a demanding twenty-four hour format. This year, sixteen teams have been chosen from a pool of forty team applications to compete at the event, and four finalists will contend for the Smeal Case Cup as well as a $5,000 shopping spree at Kohl’s.

Dr. Snyder, a member of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre faculty since 1981, has been studying Tang Soo Do for over 35 years, having first taken up martial arts while earning his PhD at Purdue University.

“I always had an interest in martial arts but never really felt like I had the time or opportunity to devote time to training until I was at Purdue,” says Snyder.

The World Tang Soo Do Association is one of the largest martial arts organizations with more than 100,000 members in 36 countries around the globe.

Promotions at this level not only require physical testing but also written examinations and a thesis. Although Dr. Snyder’s official promotion occurred last summer, the actual belting ceremony was not held until the fall at the annual Region 8 Championship, held in the Poconos. Dr. Snyder also holds an instructor certification in Tang Soo Do.

The start of the 2012 spring semester brings in new faces to the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Athletic Department. All three interns come from Misericordia University as members of the Sport Management program. Chase Thomson, Karen Sickler, and Chris Undersinger join the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Athletics staff to learn the ins and outs of Athletic Administration. Under the direction of Athletic Director Brian Stanchak, they will learn the inner workings of an intercollegiate athletic department.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre students may have had a day off from classes on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but for a group of students, faculty, and staff from Penn State northeast regional campuses, the day off became a day “on.”

On Monday, January 16th, a group of Penn State Wilkes-Barre students and staff traveled to Penn State Schuylkill for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day “ON” Community Service Event.

The national Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service was started by former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, who co-authored the King Holiday and Service Act. The federal legislation challenges Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action and volunteer service in honor of Dr. King. The federal legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 23rd, 1994.

This year’s program included a presentation by volunteer Natasha Bliss from the Invisible Children in San Diego, live music performed by Penn State students, and volunteering for three hours at a variety of locations throughout the Schuylkill County area. Penn State Wilkes-Barre students and staff volunteered at the St. John’s Church of Christ Food Pantry, located in Orwigsburg, PA.

Pictured Left To Right: Alan Slutter, St. John’s Food Pantry Volunteer, Megan Harris, Ann Marie Wempa, Suzanne Attanasio, Marika Merritt, and Karen Winters. Not Pictured: Jackie Warnick-Piatt.

Members of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Honor Society have completed their second drive for troops serving overseas.

The local honor students recently delivered nearly a thousand pounds of goods ranging from personal grooming products to microwave popcorn, instant hot chocolate, powdered drinks, stationery and envelopes and other items to Give2TheTroops in Fairfield, Connecticut. The most recent delivery was assisted by a collection drive at the Lake Lehman Elementary School under the direction of Mrs. Doreen Johnson.

Give2TheTroops, an organization dedicated to sending cards and care packages to service members deployed overseas, has supported approximately 1 million deployed U.S. Troops since December 2002. To date, with the help of patriotic friends in the U.S., Give2TheTroops has sent more than 120,000 boxes (70lbs each) and more than 40 million cards and letters.

The Penn State Wilkes-Barre honor students originally held a drive in Spring 2011 which resulted in a carload of donated goods being driven to the drop-off point which is the Fairfield police department. At that time the students learned what supplies were needed most in cold weather and the current delivery began to take shape.

Pictured Left To Right: Tim Graham, Kyle Casterline, Lee Kazokas, Caitlyn Traver, Maureen Janda, Jennifer Marsillo, Sgt. Suzanne Luzzier, and Bill Bachman.

Chancellor Dr. Charles Davis is proud to announce Dr. Albert Lozano-Nieto has accepted the Director of Academic Affairs position at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

“As a campus, we are extremely pleased to have someone of Dr. Lozano’s stature not only as a faculty member but now as a campus leader,” says Davis. “Albert is a very accomplished academic – both in the classroom and through his research. He is a focused on the success of our students and I am confident in his ability to move our campus programs forward.”

Dr. Albert Lozano-Nieto, a Professor of Engineering for 15 years at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, is equally excited about his new opportunity.

“The role of a Director of Academic Affairs is an extremely important one on any campus and I am very humbled to be chosen to lead the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Academic Affairs office,” explains Lozano. “Our campus has a very bright future ahead of it and I’m very enthusiastic about the new role I will be playing in that future.”

Born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, Dr. Lozano received his academic degrees from Polytechnic University of Catalonia. He and his wife are proud parents to two Penn State graduates.

Penn State University is committed to equal opportunity and diversity in both its employees and students.

As the 2011-12 Penn State Laureate, Linda Miller has been crisscrossing the Commonwealth sharing her enthusiasm for the humanities with a wide variety of audiences, including students, faculty, staff and friends of Penn State campuses. In her travels, Miller, a professor of English at Penn State Abington, shares her knowledge of and passion for American writers and artists of the early 20th century.

As Penn State Laureate, Miller is assigned half-time for one academic year to bring an enhanced level of social, cultural, artistic and human perspective and awareness to communities across Pennsylvania. Miller is the first laureate to be chosen from a Commonwealth campus, Penn State Abington, and the first one from the study of humanities. To date, she has visited 16 of Penn State's 24 campuses (more visits are scheduled for this spring) to give presentations, participate in English classes and share her expertise.

During a recent visit to Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Miller discussed Ernest Hemingway’s short story, “Indian Camp,” with students. Christine Berzsenyi, English professor and coordinator of the Letters, Arts and Sciences program at the campus, said Miller’s visit served as a learning experience for the entire class.

“As the instructor (of the class Miller attended), I sincerely appreciated drawing upon Dr. Miller’s research expertise and superb facilitation abilities to engage students in the close reading of Hemingway’s short story and dynamic discussion of valid interpretations supported in the story,” Berzsenyi said. “Leading us all through a surprising but well-grounded take on the story was an immersion in analytical reading and argumentation that few of us will forget. Her warmth and personable demeanor inspired faculty, staff and students alike to interact with her in a mutual exchange of intellect and emotion about the human experience. It was a delight to learn from her and just spend time with her.”

Miller is most interested in the emergence of Modernism and the intersection of literature and art. As part of her work, she examines the work of writers and artists considered part of “the Lost Generation,” including Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso and Fernand Leger. Her book, “Letters from the Lost Generation: Gerald and Sara Murphy and Friends,” explores the group dynamics of the Lost Generation to reveal how their lifelong friendships shaped their art.

Miller’s days have been busy since she began her work as Laureate. Often, she finds herself moving from classroom to lunchroom to conference room, speaking on a variety of topics.

Recently, in Musser Auditorium at Penn State Great Valley, Miller presented “Ernest Hemingway in Letters, Literature, and Life.” Miller drew a full house, despite inclement weather. As she travels across the state, Miller speaks to many different areas of her expertise in the humanities. Her talks have touched on topics including “American Diarists,” “The Lost Generation on the French Riviera,” the discovery process of research, “Searching for the Lost Generation” and topics related to the life and art of Ernest Hemingway, the father of modern American prose.

Members of audiences from across the state have said they’ve learned from Miller’s shared expertise and dynamic presentation style, but the benefits of her visits have gone both ways, Miller said.

“As laureate I have discovered and rediscovered the beauty, variety and complexity of our Commonwealth. It has been a personal journey back to my family’s Pennsylvania roots but also a professional one in seeing the many ways Penn State matters across the state,” Miller said. “Visiting the Commonwealth Campuses makes me realize how absolutely important they are as centers of inquiry, ideas and hope in their own communities and, collectively, for the University.”

“Also, in making the case for the humanities,” continued Miller, “especially by using writers (like Hemingway) and artists of America’s so-called ‘Lost Generation,’ I have recognized anew the power of literature and the arts to awaken our souls as much as to quicken our thoughts. My interactions with a range of warm and enthusiastic audiences throughout the state reaffirm my belief that our mutual commitment to the humanities allows us to confront the essential questions regarding what it means to be human.”

On Monday, February 20th, Penn State Wilkes-Barre welcomed Robert Smith, Director of the Center for Ethics & Religious Affairs at Penn State, who presented “Making Ethical Decisions” to students, faculty and staff.

“Student Affairs viewed the painful events that rocked our University in the fall as an opportunity to stage learning modules that would foster reflection and broaden knowledge outside the classroom,” explains Director of Student Affairs, Kathie Flanagan-Herstek. “Obviously, one of the key questions is ethics. Bob Smith’s program, ‘Making Ethical Decisions: What Would You Do?’ was an ideal component to the series we have been hosting.”

What you do in a given situation can be very different from what someone else may do, yet you each probably believe your decision to be ethical. So why is there a difference, and who is right? “Making Ethical Decisions,” a program that began by taking a look at the process most of us use to make decisions, introduced a four-step method (R.O.A.R.), designed to help make ethically sound decisions and to make this process happen automatically.

“‘Making Ethical Decisions’ was packed with information that I think is essential to becoming a successful professional in today’s global job market,” says Lion Ambassador President and sophomore Health and Policy Administration major, David Ridner. “I believe that the current generation is under-educated on how to make ethical decisions, and may not know where to seek education on such a topic. I especially thought the R.O.A.R. process gave a concise and effective way to deal with making the best decision in everyday life as well as in the workplace.”

Bob is currently in his sixth year as the Director of the Center for Ethics & Religious Affairs, which is housed in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center/Eisenhower Chapel in State College. Bob and his family relocated to central Pennsylvania after spending 12 years in New York where he worked as a psychiatric social worker with individuals and families affected by mental illness. Bob is a graduate of Mansfield University, Elmira College, and Lock Haven University and has received additional training through Cornell University. He has been a featured speaker at regional and national conferences and is often called upon to offer advice and insight into religion and ethics in higher education.

Matthew Barkley, Tunkhannock. Auberon Bartley, Plains. Arielle Belskis, Dallas. Melissa Bennett, Jessup PA. Marcie Blair, Springville PA. Jordan Bloom, Shavertown. Cory Blowers, Honesdale PA. Eric Bogumill, MountainTop. Aaron Bomba, Bear Creek Township. Matthew Boozer, New Bethlehem PA. Jacinta Bowden, Hanover Township. Kyle Bragalone, Hazleton. Steven Brennan, Tunkhannock. Jordan Broody, Shavertown. Nikki Broody, Shavertown. Marley Bross, Shavertown. Michael Buczkowski, Glenside PA. Brandon Burke, Edwardsville. Sabrina Bush, Tunkhannock. Kevin Bzdyk, Thompson PA.

David Cantoran, Wilkes-Barre. Kyle Casterline, Shickshinny. Michael Cefalo, Exeter. Kaila Clark, New York NY. Kayla Clawson, Lancaster PA. Daniel Coates, Ashley. Tony Colemire, Nanticoke. Abigail Collins, Swoyersville. Robert Constable, Stroudsburg. Amanda Cotner, Pennsdale PA. Andrew Courtillet, Alexandria VA. Jannelle Courtney, Quakertown PA.

Sean Davis, Dallas. Vincent DePalma, West Pittston. Raymond Dearmitt, Harding. Jesse Derrick, Benton PA. Sydney Doyle, Sweet Valley.

Matthew Eckenrode, Quakertown PA. William Elko Jr, Pittston Township. Ashley Ellsworth, Harding. Meghan Flanagan, Wilkes-Barre. Kiley Foley, Dallas. Kyle Forry, Codorus PA.

Logan Godfrey, Shickshinny Lake. Anna Gorma, Bear Creek Township. Nicholas Gototweski, Dallas. Shane Grady, Sweet Valley. John Grady, Tunkhannock. Timothy Graham, Dallas.

Julie Haller, Dallas. Christina Hanley, Nanticoke. Cassandra Hehn, Sciota, PA. Eric Hillard, Emlenton PA. Ryan Hogan, Dallas. Paul Holmgren Jr, Hanover Township. Lindsey Howell, Tunkhannock.

Ashley Jackubowski, Hanover Township. Shantelle Johnson, Effort PA. Ceili Jones, Wilkes-Barre. Jonathan Kelly, Hanover Township. Tyler Kerlavage, Hanover Township. Ryan Kochanowski, Duryea. Lee Kozokas, Trucksville. Christopher Kubicki, Wyoming.

Lauren Langan, West Pittston. Bradford Lapsansky, Plains. Renea Larue, Clarks Summit. Jillian Lavelle, Wilkes-Barre. Kyle Levalley, Shickshinny. Jason Levan, Troy PA. David Levandoski, Swoyersville. Jordan Levandowski, Kingston. Katherine Lewis, Buck Hill Falls PA. Jeffery Li, Kingston. Sen Lin, Nanning Guangxi China. Frederick Lokuta, Avoca. John Lombardo, Wilkes-Barre.

Laura Mann, Middletown NY. Kristopher Marconi, Kingston. Nicholas Martin, Exeter. Kelly Mazur, Shavertown. Thomas McAndrew, Pittston. Devon McMahon, Shavertown. Chelsea McMurray, Virginia Beach VA. John Medrano, Scranton. Wyler Michael III, Blakeslee. Jesse Miller, West Wyoming. Megan Millo, Dallas. Matthew Morris, Kingston. Abby Moules, Wilkes-Barre. Molly Murphy, Shavertown. Ray Musto, Wilkes-Barre.

Marissa Nicoletti, Plains. Kasey Noss, Nanticoke. Jillian Oakland, Pempbroke MA. Colleen Paddock, Swoyersville. Ali Paris-Hasan, Dallas. Harriet Polites, Wilkes-Barre. Emma Pugh, Wilkes-Barre.

Richard Rachkowski, Harding. Brian Reese, Hughestown. Jennifer Reid, Sunbury PA. David Ridner, Stroudsburg. Brendan Rinehimer, Pocono Pines. Theodore Ritsick, Forty Fort.

Andrew Sawchak, Hanover Township. Amy Scafella, Dallas. Ryan Scardigli, Orangeville PA. Chad Schraeder, Dallas. Mary Schwartz, Nanticoke. Justin Seliga, Nanticoke. Aaron Severance, Kane PA. Jeanette Shao, Tunkhannock. Bradley Sherman, Dallas. Samantha Shewan, Shavertown. Brooke Shultz, Cogan Station PA. Bruce Sobocinski, Shavertwon. Megan Soltis, Tunkhannock. Kianna Spencer, Dallas. Shad Steigerwwalt, Lehighton PA. Megan Steward, Freeland. Scott Summa, Lehman. Adam Supey, Dallas. Nicole Symons, Wilkes-Barre. Michael Szumski, Laflin.

Matthew Thomas, Sweet Valley. Michael Tomaszewski, West Wyoming. Caitlyn Traver, Mehoopany PA. Derek Uber, Milford PA. John Ulichney Jr, West Nanticoke. Justin Vincent, York PA. Michele Vowler, Bloomsburg.

Sarah Walker, Waymart PA. Daniel Walters, Nicholson PA. Terry Warren, Plains. Andrew Watkins, Plymouth. Bryce Weaver, Ephrata PA. Kyle Weaver, Dallas. Thomas Weeks, Trucksville. Randall Welsh Jr, Hunlock Creek. Annemarie Wempa, Trucksville. Ryan White, Royersford, PA. Nicole Wiesner, Exeter. Shane Wildoner, Hunlock Creek. Caitlyn Wright, Sweet Valley. Virginia Wyatt, Wyoming.

Yu Xie, Archbald PA. Zachary Yursha, Dallas. Michael Zaleskas Jr, Shavertown. Amy Linn Zdipko, Wilkes-Barre. Dale Zielinski, Jefferson Township.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Surveying Engineering students Tyler Shelly, Eric Bogumil, Alex Wood, Ryan White, Eric Hillard, and Ryan Little were honored at the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors (PSLS) Annual Conference in January with awards of general PSLS scholarships.

Scholarships in varying amounts up to $3,000 are awarded to Pennsylvania students in two- or four-year surveying degree programs based on academics, extracurricular activities, future plans, and academic advisor recommendation.

Eric Bogumil, Alex Wood, and Eric Hillard have also been honored by Penn State Wilkes-Barre with scholarship awards for the 2011-2012 school year including, respectively, the Jack & Lou Conyingham Endowned Scholarship, H. Edward Kaminski Memorial Award, Chancellor Award, Rick & Sue Barry Trustee Scholarship, and the 2011 Martin U. Dougherty Emerging Leader Award.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Surveying Engineering students Ryan White, a junior, received a third-place honor in the area of Student Papers at the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors (PSLS) Annual Conference for his paper, “Geoidal Undulation: Concepts & Creation,” in which he determined orthometric (elevation) heights from GPS observations. Ian McAllister, a senior, received a second-place honor in the area of Student Papers at the PSLS Annual Conference for his paper, “A Simulation Study in the Precision Criterion for the 2011 ALTA-ACSM Land Title Survey Standards,” co-authored with Penn State Wilkes-Barre Professor of Surveying Engineering, Dr. Charles Ghilani. Ian and Dr. Ghilani evaluated the standard criteria set forth by the American Land Title Association and how to apply them to practice.

Plans are underway for a new Career Services Center at Penn State Wilkes-Barre that will provide students with comprehensive career planning and job seeking services. A major matching gift from Wilkes-Barre alumnus Richard K. “Ric” Struthers and his wife, Sharon, has jump-started the campus’ fundraising effort to support the project.

The Struthers have pledged $1million to Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Their gift will match 50 percent of the cost to build and furnish the new Career Services Center, up to a total commitment of $500,000. The remainder of their commitment will be split with $250,000 going to create the Struthers Family Trustee Scholarship supporting students at Penn State Wilkes-Barre with need. The additional $250,000 will go into an endowment by the Struthers Family, annually supporting the operational expenses of the new Career Services Center. The facility will be named the Struthers Family Career Services Center in recognition of their commitment. Though located at the Wilkes-Barre campus, the center will also benefit students at several other Penn State campuses in eastern Pennsylvania through a new regional job and internship development position that will be created.

“A superior career services program is a key ingredient for our students and young alumni to fulfill their career aspirations,” said Ric Struthers, a native of Dallas, Pa., who was also instrumental in securing funding for the Bank of America Career Services Center at University Park. “There are many components to a successful career development office beyond résumé preparing; it includes internships, employer development, career fairs, and a variety of career planning workshops. Sharon and I are dedicated to seeing a comprehensive Career Services Center on campus this year.”

“We’re very grateful to Ric and Sharon Struthers for their remarkable generosity in providing the lead gift for this project,” said Dr. Charles Davis, Chancellor of Penn State Wilkes-Barre. “They’ve shown they understand how important these services are for our students, especially now, as our graduates are facing such a challenging job market.”

The center’s physical facilities will be located in a renovated and expanded section of the Athletics and Recreation Building. Among its features will be a state-of-the-art Career Information Center, three interview rooms, a video interview room, and a conference room. A full-time career services coordinator will serve the immediate career-related needs of students and alumni, including career counseling, résumé writing assistance, and interview preparation. A full-time administrative assistant will also staff the center.

A third new full-time position, regional job and internship development specialist, will be created to serve not just Penn State Wilkes-Barre, but also the campuses of Hazleton, Worthington Scranton, Schuylkill, and Lehigh Valley. Based at the Wilkes-Barre campus, the regional specialist will network with employers throughout the region, developing job and internship opportunities, planning employer career days, coordinating regional meetings with career services staff, and generally raising the profile of these Penn State campuses among area employers.

Anthony J. Shipula II, Director of Development for Penn State Wilkes-Barre, said that today’s competitive employment environment requires that students have access to a full suite of employment services such as these. The existing career services operation at Penn State Wilkes-Barre strives to provide the best guidance and support to students that it can with the resources available. Not only has the Wilkes-Barre campus been growing, it has also been adding to the number of associate and bachelor’s degrees it offers. “As more students at Penn State Wilkes-Barre complete their degrees on our campus,” Shipula said, “it is important that we provide them with the support services that a Penn State experience demands.”

“We’re excited that our career services operation is growing to meet the increased demand,” Davis added. “The Struthers Family Career Services Center at Penn State Wilkes-Barre will have a real, lasting impact on our students because it will better help them define and achieve their career goals.”

A variety of naming opportunities within the facility will be available to donors who wish to establish a visible and long-lasting philanthropic legacy at the Wilkes-Barre campus. Individuals or organizations interested in making a gift to the Struthers Family Career Services Center should contact Anthony Shipula at 570-675-9107 or ashipula@psu.edu.

These gifts will help Penn State Wilkes-Barre and the University to reach the goals of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students. This University-wide effort is directed toward a shared vision of Penn State as the most comprehensive, student-centered research university in America. The campaign is engaging alumni and friends as partners in achieving six key objectives: ensuring student access and opportunity, enhancing honors education, enriching the student experience, building faculty strength and capacity, fostering discovery and creativity, and sustaining the University’s tradition of quality. The campaign’s top priority is keeping a Penn State degree affordable for students and families. For the Future is the most ambitious effort of its kind in Penn State’s history, with the goal of securing $2 billion by 2014. 

Wilkes-Barre finished the season 15-13 overall and they went 12-6 in the PSUAC to be named North Division Champions. Senior forward Frank Peters led Wilkes-Barre in both points and rebounds this season. Peters scored 260 points and crashed the boards for 175 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Keith Johnson was Wilkes-Barre’s second-leading scorer, putting up 215 points this season. Johnson also led the team with 49 steals and 82 assists. Freshman Denzel Mensah was the team’s second-leading rebounder, pulling down 96 rebounds. The men’s basketball team worked hard to put together a great season.

Participating Businesses
Calmar Specialties – Luzerne
Domino’s – Dallas
Dunkin’ Donuts – Dallas
Penn State Wilkes-Barre Bookstore
Pizza Perfect – Trucksville
Sheetz – Trucksville
Subway – Dallas
Thomas’ Family Market – Dallas
Weis – Dallas

Weber’s paper, “The Impact of Perceptions on the Fallout of Increasing Real Estate Values in Montgomery County: An Integrative Case Study,” is the first 3 chapters of his doctoral dissertation proposal for Capella University where he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in General Business. The paper has been approved by the Ph.D. committee but is currently still waiting on Capella’s business department approval.

“For the case study, I am replicating a previously conducted study in Philadelphia County in 2008,” explains Weber. “I am applying the questions to Montgomery County with a different survey population.”

Weber, an Instructor in Business at Penn State Wilkes-Barre since 2001, holds a B.A. from Temple University in Communications and an M.B.A. from LaSalle University in Finance. Weber is currently the Program Chair for the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Business department.

Penn State offers a Mock Interview workshop to help prepare students for the interview process to land a job they desire. On March 15th, Maura Maros of CIGNA had a mock interview with Megan Millo, of Dallas, who majors in Business Marketing/Management with plans to do a marketing internship. Megan has career aspirations to enter the gourmet food industry.

Members of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Honors Program took a trip to the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, Fl. This trip is a component of Honors 297, a course in Ocean Mammal Communications and completed the students' coursework on dolphin cognition and behavior. The students also spent time in Key West and Florida Key state parks, including Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Bahia Honda State Park. 

The Edward H. Kaminski Memorial Scholarship Award was established by Mrs. Betsy Hughes in memory of her husband who graduated from the Wilkes-Barre Campus in 1974. This award is presented to a Penn State Wilkes-Barre student athlete based on academics (over a 3.0 GPA), campus and athletic participation, and positive qualities of leadership and character.

Charles Boughton, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Athletic Director, 1970 - 1980

Charles Boughton was the first Athletic Director in the history of Penn State Wilkes-Barre, serving as Athletic Director and Physical Education instructor from 1970-1980.  While at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, he was instrumental in the addition of several sport programs including men’s basketball, cross country, and soccer.  In addition to developing the men’s basketball team, he also served as Head Coach.  Charles was recognized by Penn State Wilkes-Barre for his accomplishments in 1974 with the Hayfield Award.  Charles is remembered as a husband, father, coach, friend, and visionary. 

Jill Chocallo, Basketball and Volleyball, 2006 - 2008
Jill Chocallo was a two-sport athlete who exceled at both basketball and volleyball at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.  A founding member of the 2007-08 women’s basketball team, Jill was captain and team MVP.  Jill was also a member of the 2006 and 2007 volleyball teams in which she again earned the title MVP.  Her accolades did not stop on the court, as she was given the 2007-08 John C. Egli Female Student-Athlete Award (most prestigious PSUAC award) and the 2006-07 John Kolesar Outstanding Athlete Award.  Jill was a Dean’s List student during her years at Penn State Wilkes-Barre and graduated from University Park in 2010 with a degree in elementary education.

James Miliauskas, Golf and Tennis, 1989 – 1991

James was a two sport athlete at Penn State Wilkes-Barre where he played tennis and golf (Captain/MVP).  James finished his collegiate tennis career with a 10-2 record, and also excelled on the golf course where he was named 1989-90 and 1990-91 EPCC All-Conference and CCAC All-Tournament.  In addition, James was a member of the 1st Presidents Golf Cup Championship and graduated from University Park in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Health and Human Development in Recreation and Parks Management.

Philip Navola, Golf and Tennis, 1989 – 1991
Phil Navola was a two-sport athlete during his tenure at Penn State Wilkes-Barre from 1989-1991.  While participating in tennis, he became a CCAC State Singles Champion and received team MVP honors.  During his two years of tennis, he collected multiple CCAC/EPCC All-Conference awards.  Additionally, he was a member of the school’s golf team where he received All-Conference and All-Tournament honors and was a member of the 1st Presidents Cup Championship.  In honor of his accomplishments, he received the 1989-90 John Kolesar Outstanding Athlete Award.  Phil was selected to the 1991 Edition of Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges, and went on to continue his education at University Park where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Quantitative Business Analysis in 1993.

Baseball:                            
MVP - Ryan Goodwin
Coach's Award - Zach Yursha

Men's Basketball:                
MVP - Frank Peters
Coach's Award - Michael Buczkowski
Coach's Award - Matthew Clemons

Women's Basketball:
MVP - Michele Vowler
Coach's Award - Molly Dincher

Cross Country:         
MVP - Alex Leandri
Coach's Award - Alex Leandri

Golf:                            
MVP - Michael Wills
Coach's Award - Matthew Boozer

Men's Soccer:        
MVP - Mark Bugelholl
Coach's Award - Nikolas Decker

Women's Volleyball: 
MVP - Meghan Murtagh
Coach's Award - Kellie Yekel

“I appreciate Coach Foley’s work with our baseball program over the past three years and passion for Penn State University, but I have decided that a change of leadership is necessary at this time to accomplish what my goals are for our baseball program and Athletic Department as a whole.”

Wilkes-Barre finished 6-19 overall and 6-12 in the PSUAC this season.  A search will begin immediately to find the next Head Baseball Coach.

The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit cover letter, résumé, and name/contact information of three professional references to bds23@psu.edu or Brian D. Stanchak, Director of Athletics, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Old Route 115, PO Box PSU, Lehman, PA 18627. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its work force.

The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.  If interested, please submit cover letter, résumé, and name/contact information of three professional references to bds23@psu.edu or Brian D. Stanchak, Director of Athletics, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Old Route 115, PO Box PSU, Lehman, PA 18627.  Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its work force.

The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.  Please submit cover letter, résumé, and name/contact information of three professional references to Director of Athletics, Brian D. Stanchak, at bds23@psu.edu or Penn State Wilkes-Barre Athletics, Old Route 115, PO Box PSU, Lehman, PA 18627.  Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its work force.

The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit cover letter, résumé, and name/contact information of three professional references to Director of Athletics, Brian D. Stanchak, at bds23@psu.edu or Penn State Wilkes-Barre Athletics, Old Route 115, PO Box PSU, Lehman, PA 18627.  Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its work force.

The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.  Please submit a cover letter, resume, and name/contact info of three professional references to the Director of Athletics, Brian D. Stanchak, at bds23@psu.edu or Penn State Wilkes-Barre Athletics, Old Route 115, PO Box PSU, Lehman, PA 18627.  Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its work force.

                A native of Hazleton, PA, Kringe, 40, brings a wealth of success to Penn State Wilkes-Barre.  He served the previous 14 seasons as the top assistant at Hazleton Area High School helping the Lady Cougars build a successful program.  During his tenure on staff, the Hazleton Area girls won 8 consecutive Wyoming Valley Conference Championships from 2001-2009 and 4 District II championships.  Coach Kringe also guided his 2002 JV team to a 22-0 season which was the first undefeated team in Hazleton Area school history.  At the JV level, he compiled a 246-72 record and was the WVC JV Coach of the Year four times.  He has coached and developed many great student-athletes that have went on to play college basketball at the Division II and III levels.

                Kringe attended Bishop Hafey High School where he was an All-League performer in both cross-country and basketball.  He is the career assist and steals leader at Hafey and holds the record for the most assists in one game (17 vs Schuylkill Haven in 1988) and recorded the school’s first triple-double, also in 1989.  Kringe then went on to have a successful career at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA.  At King’s, the Monarchs earned two berths in the NCAA Division III Tournament (1991 & 1992) and won the Freedom League in the 1993-94 season.  Coach Kringe earned a bachelor’s degree in education at King’s and is currently a middle school teacher in the Hazleton Area School District.

                “Kevin Kringe’s successful playing and coaching experience in the area makes him a tremendous asset to our women’s basketball program.  His enthusiasm and passion for developing student-athletes on and off the court stood out to me during the interview process and I am confident that he will lead our women’s basketball team to a high level of success next season and for the foreseeable future,” said Director of Athletics, Brian D. Stanchak.

                Coach Kringe resides in Drums, PA with his wife Marsha, a basketball and softball standout also at Kings College, and their three children Jillian (8), Lacie (7), and Nate (3).

Coach McManus began his coaching career at Riverside High School (Taylor, PA) in 2005, where he led the Junior High baseball team to a Lackawanna Scholastic Baseball League Championship the same year, and a Division 3 Championship in 2007.  In 2009, he was promoted to Head Baseball Coach for the Junior Varsity program.  His coaching experience expands beyond the high school level as he served as the Head Coach for Old Forge Jr. Legion baseball team in 2008, and the Senior Legion program from 2009-2011.  He led the Senior Legion team to a playoff appearance in 2010. 

Coach McManus is employed by RCN Corporation, where he is a Development and Quality Specialist.  He currently resides in Larksville, PA with his wife and two children. 

Coach Eury’s experience extends off the soccer field as he coached football at Lake Lehman Junior High School in 2009 and was a Golden Gloves boxer while in high school in Pittsburgh, PA. 

Coach Eury is a graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, and Accounting.  While at Clarion, Coach Eury was a four year member of the Division II football team and boxed for one year.  He resides in Shavertown with wife Donna and children Jackie, David, Nick, and Jake.

Karen Sickler was named at Athletic Operations Assistant at Texas A&M-International University (Laredo, TX).  "Working as an Athletic Department Intern at Penn State-Wilkes-Barre was great!  Under the supervision of Brian D. Stanchak, Director of Athletics, I developed valuable skills and gained hands-on experience working within intercollegiate athletics.  The time I spent at Penn State Wilkes-Barre successfully prepared me to continue my work experience in athletic administration."

Chase Thomson will be serving as Assistant Sports Information Director at SUNY-Potsdam (Potsdam, NY).  Chase said about his experience as an Intern in the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Athletic Department, "My internship at Penn State Wilkes-Barre allowed me to grow as an individual through several culminating experiences. These experiences in the areas sport marketing, sports information, and athletic administration molded me into an asset to any Athletic Department in my pursuit of a career in the sports field."

Congratulations again to both Karen and Chase!

On Friday, July 13, 2012, the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni Constituent Society sponsored its 17th Annual “Masters” Golf Tournament at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountaintop, PA. The tournament raised $6,000, which will support a variety of programs for Penn State Wilkes-Barre students including the Alumni Speaker Series, an Academic Excellence Award, and other student initiatives.

“I want to extend my sincere thanks to all the golfers, volunteers and sponsors who made our 17th annual golf tournament another success,” says Scott Finlon, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni Association President. “The money we raised allows us to contribute directly to student scholarships and student-related services and activities. My hope is that next year we have as successful of a turnout.”

Despite overcast skies, the championship flight of Jason Correll, Mark Breslin and Josh Potts won the “Captain and Crew” style tournament and each received a Penn State Wilkes-Barre “Masters” blazer complete with 24k gold-plated Penn State buttons.

Golfers also had the chance to win several hole-in-one prizes while on the course, including a grand prize of a car donated by Ken Pollock Chevrolet. Other contests during the day included closest to the pin, longest drive for men and women, and double your money by “holding the green.” Various other prizes, including gift certificates donated by local businesses, were raffled.

Beginning Thursday, September 6th, 2012 running through March 21, 2013, Penn State Wilkes-Barre will offer a Civil Engineering Professional Engineering Exam Review. Sessions will be taught each Thursday from 6-9pm with no class on November 22nd and December 27th. This session will be delivered via Polycom video conferencing technology from the Penn State Berks campus and be taught by Tom Schreffler, PE. Cost for the review is $1,025, which includes handouts.

“The examination review being offered by our Continuing Education department is a logical step in the process of becoming a licensed engineer,” said Dr. Albert Lozano, Director of Academic Affairs. “Preparation for the exam can be daunting, but a review such as this helps to take some of the stress out of the entire process.”

This review program is designed for the practicing engineer who plans to take the Professional Engineer Examination to become registered as a professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Review sessions include three phases of engineering covered by the examination. The program reviews pertinent engineering and scientific concepts. Development of program solving skills is emphasized, and questions from past examinations are carefully examined. Topics will include: highways and surveying, hydraulics, sanitary, structures, engineering economics, and soils.

All film screening will be held at R/C Wilkes-Barre Movies 14 in Downtown Wilkes-Barre on Thursday evenings at 7pm beginning October 4th and running through November 1st. Pre-film lecture notes and stimulating post-film discussion will accompany each screening in the series.

Continuing Education is pleased to have Bill Bachman as the instructor for the fall movie series. Bill has taught a variety of communications course offerings on the Wilkes-Barre campus since 1986. He currently teaches basic public speaking, public speech writing, mass media and society, propaganda and persuasion, and media affects. The film series started as a 1-credit academic course on the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus by Bachman 10 years ago.

Students in this course will become familiar with the SAT Reasoning Test, critical reading, writing, math skills, advantages and disadvantages of guessing, ways to reduce the time needed to answer questions, and the scoring of the SATs. Students will also gain experience by taking an official off-record SAT test.

New this year, in addition to classroom-taught sessions, Penn State Wilkes-Barre will be offering an online self-directed SAT Preparation course. Once registered, students can prepare for any SAT test that is offered within the next five months. Tuition includes exclusive web-based materials to help master test content. From interactive lessons, comprehensive lesson content, knowledge-measuring quizzes, and timed tests, students can prepare for the test anytime/anywhere at their own convenience.

In 2012-13, the Nittany Lions will compete as an independent and play 23 games against NCAA Division I opponents from all five conferences – Atlantic Hockey, CCHA, ECAC Hockey, Hockey East, and WCHA – and fellow independent Alabama Huntsville. Penn State will also face off against three NCAA Division III foes, while playing eight exhibition games.

The Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni Constituent Society is currently taking game ticket reservations. Tickets are available for $10 each. The deadline to reserve tickets is September 21st.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Karen Brace-Hodle in the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni and Development Office at 570-675-9228 or klb14@psu.edu.

The trip costs $120 per person and includes bus transportation, ticket to the football game, and a tailgate before and after the game, where a raffle will be held. This year only 40 tickets are available and several seats have already been reserved.

If you have your own football tickets, limited seating is available for those who would like to join the bus ride and tailgating activities at a cost of $55 per person.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Karen Brace-Hodle in the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni and Development Office at 570-675-9228 or klb14@psu.edu. Payment is required at the time of reservation.

Jane Adonizio is the executive producer and on-air host for Fox 56. Jane, a University of Pittsburgh journalism graduate, has served on many greater Wilkes-Barre area boards and is a Leadership Wilkes-Barre ’98 graduate. Jane and her husband Paul have three children.

Carmen F. Abrosino is the chief executive officer of Wyoming Valley Alcohol & Drug Services. Carmen is a graduate of King’s College with a B.A. in English and is also a Wilkes University graduate with an M.H.A. in Health Care Administration. Serving on many local Luzerne and Lackawanna County boards, Carmen is an award-winning author and former Pennsylvania National Guard.

Frank W. Nocito, Esq., is a Penn State Nittany Lion grad and an attorney at Nocito Law office. Frank received his Business Administration degree from the University Park campus. From State College, Frank continued on to Syracuse University where he earned his J.D.

Richard K. Struthers, also a Penn State alumnus, is the President & CEO of Ashford Point Enterprises in Wilmington, Delaware. A Business Administration graduate, Ric and his wife Sharon have been generous supporters of the Career Services Center at both University Park and the to be built location at the Wilkes-Barre campus. Ric was recognized in 1998 as a Penn State Alumni Fellow and in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumnus. He currently serves on the Corporate Boards of Dover Downs Gaming and Dover Downs Motorsports.

During this program, audience members will experience the historical retelling of the Lattimer Massacre of 1897, which occurred near Hazleton, PA, through a radio drama and music. The radio drama is the result of nearly four years of research Bachman has completed on the event, which pitted coal company owners, the sheriff of Luzerne County and striking miners against each other, with deadly consequences. At the event, Pennsylvania musician and historian Van Wagner will perform his original song “Lattimer Massacre.” After the presentation, Bachman will lead a discussion on the Lattimer Massacre as it relates to the audience's views of our civil liberties, human rights, the justice system and the treatment of immigrant laborers in the U.S. today.

“The Lattimer Massacre was produced as an old-time radio program so that audience members can create their own vivid scenery and settings as we share the story of this tragic coal mining incident. It’s audience participation in the retelling of what happened on that fateful day,” says Bachman. Lattimer was one of the most violent labor strikes in the United States, taking place with deadly outcomes on September 10, 1897.

“Through the use of old-time radio as the communications medium to tell the story, an audience can travel back in time to the days leading up to what happened at Lattimer and the trial that followed,” explains Bachman. “I hope that audiences will be entertained by the production, and equally as important, educated in the process.”

Bachman is recognized for his work in media with historic themes and is the recipient of multiple national Telly Awards for the documentaries “Historic Wyalusing,” and “Round and Round,” a feature dealing with the art of hand-carved antique carousels and the locations in which they currently reside. He is also the recipient of the Hayfield Award for Creative Excellence for the 2007 historic documentary film on the life of the colonial child, Frances Slocum, who was captured by Delaware Indians in the fall of 1778. Bachman has also served as a Commonwealth Speaker with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

In addition to Bachman, six other Penn State Wilkes-Barre faculty and staff members will be participating in the radio play.  This program has been made possible by a grant from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

Chancellor Dr. Charles Davis and Director of Student Affairs Kathie Flanagan-Herstek are pleased to announce the addition of a new staff member to Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Jill Laing joins the Penn State Wilkes-Barre staff as the newly appointed Career Services Coordinator. Jill will be serving the immediate career-related needs of students and alumni, including career counseling, résumé-writing assistance, and interview preparation in the soon-to-be-built Struthers Family Career Services Center.

Ric and Sharon Struthers have pledged $1 million to Penn State Wilkes-Barre to build and furnish the new Career Services Center. The center’s physical facilities will be located in a renovated and expanded section of the Athletics and Recreation Building. Among its features will be a state-of-the-art Career Information Center, three interview rooms, a video interview room, and a conference room.

“I would say the part of this job that I am the most excited about, outside of my interaction with the students, will be seeing the new career services center coming together,” said Laing. “I’m excited to be a part of this new chapter in Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s history.”

Laing, originally a Florida native and a graduate of both Teachers College and Florida State University, currently lives with her husband and son in Kingston and is very much looking forward to becoming part of the local community, both on and off campus.

“Penn State, as a whole, provides students with such wonderful opportunities, and I’m looking forward to becoming more involved with the students through the campus life,” explains Laing. “I’ll also be participating this year in Leadership Wilkes-Barre, which I’m thrilled about. The better I get to know the local community, the more prepared I can be to help meet the students’ needs.”

Penn State University is committed to equal opportunity and diversity in both its employees and students.

“The Engineering Open House is not your traditional campus tour. Students arrive in the morning and are split into groups for company visits,” explains Director of Academic Affairs and Professor of Engineering, Dr. Albert Lozano-Nieto. “The companies selected for visits showcase what different types of engineers do in the real world and how their degree is put to use.”

Students will select one from among the following five local engineering firms to visit during this year’s Engineering Open House: Architectural and Engineering Group, Borton-Lawson Engineering, Frontier Communications, Quad 3 Group, and Martin & Rogers (which will be conducted on campus). In addition, students interested in surveying will be able to see an on-campus surveying demonstration.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre provides access to a world-renowned university in a smaller, more personal setting. Dedicated staff and teachers have helped students of all ages since the campus’ inception in 1916 and continue to provide excellent education and support. Penn State Wilkes-Barre boasts seven Bachelor’s degrees, including one engineering and one engineering technology degree, and four Associate’s degrees, including one engineering technology degree. In addition, students are able to start one of over 160 degrees at Penn State Wilkes-Barre and complete it at another campus.

The schedule for the Engineering Open House, held primarily in the Bell Center For Technology, is as follows:

Registration and Welcome: 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Company Visits and Demonstration: 9:15 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Lunch: 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Afternoon Programs: 11:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.

James Reino, For the Future: the Campaign for Penn State Students chair at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, is responsible for bringing the local PSU hockey fans a chance to watch their team. When Jim heard of the PSU program going Division I and the new Pegula Ice Arena being built at University Park not being available until the 2013-2014 season, Jim immediately thought that it would be great exposure for Penn State if it would be possible to schedule one of their upcoming season’s games at the local Mohegan Sun Arena. Because of his close relationship with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins CEO Jeff Barrett and Vice President of Corporate Sales Rob Belza, Jim was able to secure their interest and support for making this event happen. In addition, Jim brought Joe Battista, Associate Athletic Director, Penn State Ice Arena & Hockey Development and members of the Penn State Hockey Program together with the Penguins leadership, and the rest as they say is history! Jim also envisions this event helping the fundraising efforts in support of the campuses’ For the Future campaign efforts, including raffling off of hockey and sports memorabilia both from Penn State and the Penguins; proceeds will benefit the Margaret Reino Endowed Scholarship at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

“When Jim approached us about the event, the Alumni Constituent Society knew immediately they needed to be a part of this historic night,” explains Karen Brace-Hodle, External Relations Assistant at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. “The best part of this being held at Mohegan Sun Arena is the opportunity for us to partner with our Alumni and friends from Hazleton, Worthington Scranton, and Schuylkill. Our hope, much like Jim’s and the Penguins organization, is that we can make this an annual event for our local Penn Staters.”

While the alumni organizations will not have a reception gathering the night of the hockey game, they will have tables at the event with raffles, free swag, and an opportunity to connect with other alumni and friends.

Initially, according to Chris Sipsky, Director of Group Sales for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the team hoped to have 3,000 people in attendance, however, indications are that the attendance will surpass that number. Both Jim and the WB/Scranton Penguins hope this is the first of many future Penn State Hockey games at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

In 2012-13, the Nittany Lions will compete as an independent and play 23 games against NCAA Division I opponents from all five conferences – Atlantic Hockey, CCHA, ECAC Hockey, Hockey East, and WCHA – and fellow independent Alabama Huntsville. Penn State will also face off against three NCAA Division III foes, while playing eight exhibition games. 

Artist Zoja Forsberg, a Swedish immigrant and Marywood University graduate, is now displaying her work at Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s Friedman Art Gallery.

Zoja has gained artistic experience working as an interior designer for Leung Hemmler Camayd Architects, taking extra screening printing courses at Peters Valley Craft Education Center, and now in addition to working as an interior designer, she encompasses herself in the art of mixed media collages.

When Zoja works with media collages, she uses paint, screen prints, fibers, and a variety of found objects. Her philosophy is to start with an open mind and no particular design; instead she lets the natural colors of materials lead her to perceive a design. In her own artist statement, Zoja explains, “Her curiosity to see what happens when rules are broken often leads to new techniques.”

Because of this ability to wonder, Zoja received the awards for Member of Zeta Omicron Honorary Art Fraternity at Marywood College in 1987, and was First Prize Scholarship Winner of Kappa Pi from the International Art Fraternity in 1988.

In 2008, she received First Place Award-NEPA Regional Art at Marywood University along with the One Man Show Exhibit Award-NEPA Region Art at the AFA Gallery.

Zoja has featured her artwork at a variety of locations including Marywood University exhibits, the University Art Museum in Binghamton, NY, Skylake Gallary in Fleetville, PA, and now in our own Abram Nesbitt, III Academic Commons.

Zoja Forsberg’s artwork will be on display during regular gallery hours which can be found here: http://wb.psu.edu/Information/31757.htm.

Matt Boozer finished fourth overall in the PSUAC and Will Fulton finished seventh overall, both collecting medals for the Wilkes-Barre golf team.

“I believe a superior career services program is a key ingredient in allowing our students and young alumni to fulfill their career aspirations,” explains presenting donor, Richard K. Struthers ’77. “I have seen, at University Park, what a first-class Career Services Center can do to prepare our students for that next chapter. As a proud alumnus of the Wilkes-Barre campus, I am dedicated to seeing a comprehensive Career Services Center on campus.”

The $1 million Struthers Family Career Services Center at Penn State Wilkes-Barre will significantly enhance the ability to serve students from the five Penn State campuses (Lehigh Valley, Hazleton, Schuylkill, Worthington Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre) located in Eastern Pennsylvania. The 2,330 square feet center will have all the necessary resources to help students tackle today’s highly competitive job market, including: a dedicated career services reception area, a state-of-the-art Career Information Center for students, two offices for the principal career service administrators, three interview rooms, a video interview room and a conference room. This new building will be adjacent to the Athletics and Recreation Building located on the East side of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus.

“A new Career Services Center at Penn State Wilkes-Barre will have a real, lasting impact on the students at the Wilkes-Barre campus and those of other campuses in the region,” says Dr. Charles Davis, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Chancellor. “This center will help students define and achieve their career goals. Today’s job market is not very forgiving of disadvantages and with this center, we hope our students will have every possible advantage.”

To ensure that students and alumni can receive the full benefit of a comprehensive Career Services Center, Penn State Wilkes-Barre has created three full-time positions dedicated to providing these crucial services: an on-campus career services coordinator, a regional job and internship development specialist, and a staff assistant.

The career services coordinator, Jill Laing, will serve the immediate career-related needs of students and alumni, including career counseling, mentor programs, resume writing assistance, interview preparation, and job searching.

The Eastern region job and internship developer, a to-be-filled position, will add the important proactive element that distinguishes a truly effective career services operation. Operating on behalf of all five campuses, the regional specialist will develop job and internship opportunities; establish and maintain strong working relationships with potential employers; participate in regional networking activities to develop resources and raise the profile of Penn State; attend professional association meetings in addition to company site visits across the region; and assist in planning employer career days.

Those speaking at the groundbreaking included:
Dr. Charles Davis, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Chancellor
Richard K. Struthers, Presenting Donor
James V. Reino, Campus Chair, For the Future: The Campaign For Penn State Students
Dale DiSanto, Executive Director of Development for Commonwealth Campuses
Cory Blowers, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Student Government Association Treasurer ’13

Shovelers for the groundbreaking event included:
Dr. Charles Davis, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Chancellor
Richard K. ’77 & Sharon Struthers, Presenting Donors
Dale DiSanto, Executive Director of Development for Commonwealth Campuses
Anthony J. Shipula II, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Director of Development
James V. Reino, Campus Chair, For the Future: The Campaign For Penn State Students
Jill Laing, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Career Services Coordinator
Katharine Lewis, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Student Government Association President

Penn State Wilkes-Barre provides a world-renowned university in a smaller, personal setting. Dedicated staff and teachers have helped students of all ages since the campus’ inception in 1916 and continue to provide excellent education and support. Penn State Wilkes-Barre boasts seven Bachelor’s degrees and four Associate’s degrees and the ability to start one of over 160 degrees at Penn State Wilkes-Barre and continue at another campus.

During the opening session of the day, students were welcomed to campus by Chancellor Charles Davis. Dr. Tom Seybert then explained the engineering options at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, as well as the 2+2 programs in engineering.

The next portion of the day involved the students participating in on-site visits to see and explore practical applications of engineering at one of four companies of their choice. These companies included Architectural and Engineering Group in Plains, Borton/Lawson in Wilkes-Barre, Frontier in Dallas, and Quad 3 in Wilkes-Barre. Two on-campus choices were also available, a workshop by Martin Rogers Associates of Wilkes-Barre and a Surveying Engineering demonstration with Surveying professors Dr. Charles Ghilani and Dr. Frank Derby.

Upon returning to campus, the students had the opportunity to rotate through four presentations given by Penn State Wilkes-Barre faculty on the topic of the campus’ engineering courses. These topics included Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Surveying Engineering/Geographic Information Systems.

“Our goal in holding the Engineeingr Open House is to provide high-school students with the information necessary for them to make clearer decisions on their future career choices, and in the process show them their options at Penn State Wilkes-Barre,” explains Director of Academic Affairs Dr. Albert Lozano. “We have found that students receive more value from visiting companies’ work settings rather than sitting in on traditional lectures. We are happy to be able to work with these companies in providing students with the best possible resources to explore the engineering field.”

On Saturday, September 29th, a team of Penn State Wilkes-Barre engineering students and professors successfully launched a high-altitude balloon 94,625 ft. into the overcast stratosphere.

Vice President of the Engineering Club David Cantoran described the experience as astonishing.

“I believe more people should experience it [the balloon launch],” said Cantoran. “Overall, I would call the launch extremely successful and I enjoyed being part of Dr. Lozano’s team.”

Dr. Albert Lozano-Nieto, Director of Academic Affairs and Professor of Engineering, funded by a grant supported by the Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium, works with students to design, implement, track and recover high altitude balloons. The first launch occurred in the fall of 2010 and Lozano was eager to gather more data.

“Unfortunately, jet-stream conditions last fall, along with the 10th anniversary of 9/11, grounded the project last year,” explains Lozano. “This year I had an incredibly eager group of students participating.”

Once the balloon was launched and started traveling through the atmosphere, the group was able to observe the currents of wind which carried the balloon. The balloon was not visible due to overcast conditions but was able to be tracked in real-time by its GPS coordinates. Once the balloon burst, the group began tracking the descent, watching as it seemed to hover above a large lake just several hundred yards above ground level.

Although predicted to land approximately 50 miles away in Waymart, the balloon fell short near Scranton in a private resident’s oak tree. Dr. Lozano is currently requesting permission from the landowner to let him hire a tree climber to extract the balloon cargo.

“For this project to be successful there was a great deal of preparation all around that went into the launch,” explains student Brendan Rinehimer. “I was given the responsibility of familiarizing myself with the hardware components as well as the software involved with tracking the balloon and interpreting the data. I began testing the command module to ensure that the unit was functioning properly and transmitting valid data.”

Another student participant, Erin Hartmann, observed, “I had heard a little bit about high altitude balloon launches before and the whole process seemed pretty simple: launch a balloon in the air. What I didn't know is that is actually quite complex. You need to call in to say that you are doing it, you need to have the appropriate amount of gas in the balloon, you need to predict where it will land, you need to follow it on GPS, and the list goes on.”

Although the launches are research to Dr. Lozano, his hope is that the students walk away with much more than the literal lesson.

“In order for the launch to be successful, the students are required to work together in a team and rely on each other in ways that can’t be taught in a classroom,” says Lozano.

From all accounts, the technique is working. Engineering student Nick Patel gives his summation of the launch as, “The balloon launch gave me a sense of how engineers work as a team with all the technology available today to apply their knowledge on real life projects.”

In addition to students, approximately 35 scholarship donors also attended the dinner. Students were given the opportunity to mingle with their donors during dinner and be able to personally thank them.

“I cannot tell you how many times I have heard alumni reflect on how their college education and subsequent success would not have been possible without the support and influence of caring individuals that made their education and direction in life a reality,” Anthony Shipula, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Director of Development stated in his remarks. “To our scholarship and award donors: you are making dreams come true.”

Amy Scafella, a senior business major and Struthers Family Trustee Scholarship recipient addressed the group on behalf of all the scholarship awardees. As the program guest speaker, Richard K. Struthers ’77, Penn State Wilkes-Barre donor and Advisory Board member, addressed the group on the importance of following your dreams in higher education at Penn State. Earlier in the day, Ric & Sharon Struthers broke ground on the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus for the Struthers Family Career Services Center, slated to begin construction in the upcoming weeks.

For a full list of scholarships awarded and their recipients, please visit http://wb.psu.edu/Documents/Giving/PSUschBK_horz_r4.pdf.

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza regional entertainment facilities are undergoing changes. At the forum, you will hear about the facility upgrades and the economic impacts of these changes. Our keynote speakers will provide examples of the economic impact of the various programs/events hosted at these facilities and will discuss the impact on local businesses.

Rob Crain is the President/General Manager for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Prior to obtaining this position, Rob’s achievements are many. Graduating from Springfield College with a double major in Sports Management and a concentration in Marketing with Business Management, he began his career as a group sales representative with the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays. Shortly after, he was promoted to Corporate Sales Executive, while he continued to manage the promotional team, the game day staff, and on-field emcee for the Devil Rays. Taking these experiences with him, he set out to work for the Omaha Royals in Nebraska where he eventually became Assistant General Manager and succeeded in setting sales records and won several awards for advertising.

Rebecca L. Bonnevier is the General Manager of the Mohegan Sun Arena, a 10,000 seat entertainment venue, hosting about 135 events annually, including numerous A-List Concerts, family shows, motor sports events, tradeshows, and exhibitions. It is also the home of the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. Rebecca is one of few women managers in the entertainment industry, and is employed by SMG, a professional company that manages over 200 sports and recreational facilities throughout the world. In addition to managing over 300 part-time and full-time employees at the arena, she is responsible for overseeing the booking and marketing of the facility, as well as its administrative, operational and financial aspects. She is a current board member of Dress for Success Luzerne County, and a current member of Circle 200, a forum for senior-level executive women in NEPA.

Cost is $15.00 per person. Payment in full must accompany your registration form. E-mail, fax, or telephone registration must be accompanied by your credit card information. Five business days will be required to cancel a registration and not incur the registration fee. Substitutions for registered participants will be accepted.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education is part of Penn State Outreach, the largest unified outreach organization in American higher education, serving more than 5 million people each year, delivering more than 2,000 programs to people in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, all 50 states and 80 countries worldwide.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Sandy Race in the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education office at sxr50@psu.edu or 570-675-9253.

        Cross Country – Lee Kozokas
        Golf – Matthew Boozer, Jeff Heath
        Soccer – Paul Ascenzi, David Cantoran, Sen Lin

Once the women’s race was complete, the men’s race featured six Penn State Wilkes-Barre runners, including 2012 PSUAC Individual Champion Chris Monahan.  Monahan finished 27th overall out of the 182 runners competing in the men’s race. Monahan had a time of 29:44 on the 8K course.

At the banquet on Thursday night, Lee Kozokas was recognized for his achievements in the classroom as he was named to the USCAA All-Academic Team.

The Penn State Wilkes-Barre Administration of Justice department, teaming up with Dallas Township Police and the Luzerne County Police Association, hosted a training session on campus on November 8th discussing the topic of officer safety and survival. Tim Reid, a former FBI agent affiliated with the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division training program, was the featured instructor.

Reid began his career in the Little Falls, NJ Police Department. Working his way up, he joined the New Jersey State Police and then in 1985 he entered the FBI where he investigated bank robberies, kidnappings, extortion, and fugitives. Tim continued in the FBI moving in different directions until 2011 when he retired. He is still affiliated with the FBI as a research consultant and presents the Law Enforcement Officers Killed & Assaulted program to officers around the country.

Seventy-six Northeast Pennsylvania law enforcement agents attended this Law Enforcement Officers Killed & Assaulted program. The law enforcement agents came from six different counties, one as far away as Harrisburg, to be more informed and to earn Penn State Continuing Education credits.

The four-hour presentation was geared to the safety and survival of agents in dangerous circumstances. The program provided cognitive training to analyze a situation and be able to react in the safest manner possible.

Not only were current officers able to go through this training, but also Penn State Wilkes-Barre Administration of Justice seniors, in order to see firsthand the experiences law enforcement agents go through on a regular basis.

Administration of Justice Instructor Marshall Davis gave his thoughts on the importance of this training session: “This presentation could not have come at a better time. Just this morning officers in Wyoming County were forced to shoot a man in order to protect themselves. Our officers need to know what to do and not to do during situations like this. We are happy that we could host this event for our surrounding counties.”

The first course, Real Estate Fundamentals, will be taught on Tuesdays running February 5th through April 9th from 6:00-9:00p.m. Real Estate Fundamentals will be the foundation for the study of real estate in Pennsylvania, covering language, principals, and laws that govern the business.

The second course, Real Estate Practices, will be taught on Thursdays running February 7th through April 11th from 6:00-9:00p.m. Real Estate Practice will be an introduction to all facets of the real estate business with emphasis on the role of a real estate agent in residential brokerage.

The registration fee for each course is $280 per person. One textbook is used for both courses and the cost is included in the course price. Courses are approved by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission and are required to sit for the Real Estate Salesperson’s Examination. The registration deadline is January 25, 2013.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education is part of Penn State Outreach, the largest unified outreach organization in American higher education, serving more than 5 million people each year, delivering more than 2,000 programs to people in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, all 50 states and 80 countries worldwide.

For more information, please contact Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education at 570-675-9253 or wbce@outreach.psu.edu.

The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit cover letter, resume, and name/contact info of three professional references to Director of Athletics, Brian D. Stanchak, at bds23@psu.edu or Penn State Wilkes-Barre Athletics, Old Route 115, PO Box PSU, Lehman, PA 18627. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its work force.

The first course, Applications in AutoCAD—Level 1, will be taught on Mondays and Wednesdays, running March 11th through March 20th from 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. The instructor, Craig Miller, will provide you with the tools necessary to comprehend the commands available within AutoCAD. This will cover the display commands, CAD tools, basic draw commands, layers, CAD construction techniques, crosshatching, grips, introduction to layouts and plotting basics.

The second course, SolidWorks Essentials, will be taught on Tuesdays and Thursdays, running April 30th through May 9th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The instructor, Craig Miller, will provide you with the tools necessary to comprehend the SolidWorks Desgin and Modeling environment. This will cover understanding the user interface, sketching, relations, reference geometry, solids creation methods, adding features, 2D drawing development, dimensioning and annotating drawings, working with assemblies, and documentation.

The registration fee for each course is $799 per person. Both courses are being offered in conjunction with the requirements of ACT 25 of 2010 that mandates professional engineers, land surveyors, and geologists licensed in Pennsylvania to complete 24 professional development hours (PDHs) of continuing education in each two-year renewal cycle as a condition of license renewal.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education is part of Penn State Outreach, the largest unified outreach organization in American higher education, serving more than 5 million people each year, delivering more than 2,000 programs to people in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, all 50 states and 80 countries worldwide.

For more information, please contact Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education at 570-675-9253 or wbce@outreach.psu.edu.