Athletics Wall of Fame Eligibility Requirements
Athletics Wall of Fame Nomination Form

Any person can nominate an individual for consideration along with supporting information. Nominees from previous inductions are automatically considered each year for a maximum of ten years.

Eligibility requirements include:
• Former student-athletes are made eligible for induction five years after completing their athletic eligibility.
• Coaches, administrators and other Penn State Wilkes-Barre employees who served the school for at least ten years and/or made significant contributions to the program. These persons will be eligible five years after leaving the school for any reason.
• Others who made truly significant contributions to the athletic program over a prolonged period of time (more than fifteen years).
• Teams, student-athletes and coaches that have won a national championship are eligible immediately the following year after the championship.
• Any coach or administrator who served the school for twenty-five years or more becomes eligible immediately upon retirement.
• Former student-athletes who participated in at least one full athletic season and graduated with an associate’s degree from Penn State Wilkes-Barre.
• Former student-athletes who participated in two full athletic seasons and also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State University.
• Former student-athletes who participated in two full athletic seasons and then went on to receive their Bachelor’s Degree from another institution.

The final selection is done after March 1st by the Wall of Fame selection committee. The athletic office will notify the person(s) selected no later than two weeks after the vote by the selection committee. Additional information can be acquired through the Athletic Department and Brian Stanchak, Director of Athletics at bds23@psu.edu.

In June of 2012, in an effort to better prepare members of the local workforce for job opportunities in the Marcellus Shale industry, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education partnered with the Shale Training & Education Center (ShaleTEC), formerly Marcellus Shale Education & Training Center (MSETC), at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. This spring, QuickStart Leadership, a ShaleTEC training, will be offered at the Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s Northern Tier location in Towanda.

Hydrogen Sulfide Awareness will be taught Friday, March 8th from 9:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. This course is designed to improve the awareness of the hazards of working in an H2S environment and provides the participant with the basic skills necessary to follow a response strategy to rescue a casualty of H2S poisoning. Cost is $125.

PEC Basic SafeGulf/SafeLand Orientation will be taught Tuesday, March 12th from 7:30a.m. - 5:30p.m. This course is designed to take the place of multiple operator orientations and give each participant a general idea of life and safety issues in the oil and gas industry: upstream, downstream, onshore, or offshore. This course meets API RP 75 and API RP T-1 requirements and provides a basic, awareness-level understanding of certain general safety information that an employee should know before entering a company facility and while performing assigned work duties. Cost is $225.

Fall Protection Competent Person will be taught Wednesday, March 27th from 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. This 8-hour course provides an overview of state-of-the-art technology for fall protection and current OSHA requirements. Topics covered include the principles of fall protection, the components of fall arrest system, the limitations of fall arrest equipment, and OSHA policies regarding fall protection. Course features a half-day field exercise demonstrating fall protection equipment. The Competent Person course is designed for managers,immediate supervisors of authorized persons or individuals working at height. This training also includes Competent Person and Competent Inspector. Cost is $250.

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’s Northern Tier Center at 570-268-7777 or PSNorthernTier@psu.edu.

Scholarships totaling $9,500 were awarded to students currently enrolled or planning to enroll in two- or four-year surveying degree programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Awards were based on academic performance, extracurricular activity participation, career goals, and adviser recommendations. Individual scholarships ranged from $1,000 to $2,500.

The 2012-2013 winners were:

1st Place: $2,500, Ryan White, Royersford

2nd Place: $1,500, Eric Bogumil, Mountaintop

4th Place: $1,500, Taylor Shepley, Shamokin, Line Mountain High School (enrolling at Penn State Wilkes-Barre)

5th – 9th Place Section: $1,000, in alphabetical order: Matt Boozer; New Bethlehem, Greg Copelli; Kersey, Jessica Helman; Julian, Alexander Wood; Jeannette

The objective of the Foundation’s program is to promote, improve, and encourage the profession and practice of land surveying in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania by providing financial assistance to individuals intending to pursue, or who are currently pursuing, an education in surveying with an ultimate goal of becoming practicing Professional Land Surveyors.

In addition to receiving the scholarships, three Penn State Wilkes-Barre students were also honored with winning the PSLS Student Paper Competition.

The 2012-2013 winners were:

1st Place: Jessica Helman, Public and Private Rights to PA Water Bodies

2nd Place: Eric Bogumil, Errors Related to GNSS Observations in Equatorial and Auroral Regions

3rd Place: David Blackman, Lancaster, How Gravity is Measured on Earth

“I am very excited to announce James Bell as our new Head Soccer Coach here at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. James brings a tremendous amount of energy and knowledge to this position, and I am confident that he will lead our soccer program to a high level of success. Having played in the PSUAC, James understands the culture of this conference and can assist our student-athletes in achieving their goals athletically and academically. In addition, James knows Northeastern Pennsylvania, which will help with recruiting this area to keep local talent at home.”

Bell had a very extensive playing career, which began at the intramural level and grew all the way up to the professional level. He played for high-level club teams in three different states as a youth development player, working his way up through the ranks. His most recent accomplishment was participating in the National Premier Soccer League as a member of the Pocono Snow Soccer Club team, based out of Stroudsburg, PA, for the last three years. His professional playing experience ranges from participating in the Toronto FC open tryouts, in the MLS, to training with the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL in 2007, and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds also of the USL in 2011.

Graduating from Pittston Area High School, he was a four-year letter winner and was named to the First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention lists. James was also a member of the 2006-2008 PSU Worthington Scranton soccer team, as well as the 2009-2011 men’s soccer team at Keystone College. At Worthington Scranton, he was the leading scorer his freshman year, with a total of 16 goals on the season, and was the leading point holder during his sophomore year with 13 goals and 15 assists playing the center midfield position. On the field he started every game, played nearly every minute, and helped lead his team to two consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 2005. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Sport and Recreation Management focusing on Business and Marketing from Keystone College in 2012.

All film screenings will be held at R/C Wilkes-Barre Movies 14 in Downtown Wilkes-Barre on Thursday evenings at 7pm beginning March 14th (Note: The first week, Sunrise At Campobello, will start at 7:30pm) and running through April 18th. Pre-film lecture notes and stimulating post-film discussion will accompany each screening in the series.

This film series is not only open to the public, but to educators as well. Penn State is an Act 48 approved provider. Professional educators are encouraged to confirm that this program fits their school district’s professional development plan for Act 48. Earn 5 hours toward fulfilling Act 48 requirements by attending this entire program. Educators must attend all 5 films to receive the 5 Act 48 hours.

“I have found that both my film students and students who just like movies have enjoyed and benefited from the Penn State Film Series. We were welcomed and included as active participants in the course,” explains Mrs. Marianna Oplinger, Holy Redeemer High-School Teacher. “The professor, Mr. Bachman, has made my time in the classes both enjoyable and educational. I, along with my Holy Redeemer students, will be back for the spring series. Great fun!”

Continuing Education is pleased to have Bill Bachman as the instructor for the spring 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 effects.

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.

In order to improve from last season the team, is focusing on every aspect of the mechanics of pitching, hitting, and defense. Coach McManus says, “We try not to focus on just one aspect of the game; however we realize that pitching and defense win championships.” The pitchers must be able to get their pitch counts up and pitch deep into games. The team is currently in their second week of indoor practice. Some of the training consists of running, hitting off pitch machines, and fielding mechanics. McManus always stresses that the main part of practice is to work hard and have fun.

The pitching staff looks very strong this season for the Mountain Lions. Matt Kempinksi is returning for his senior season and will provide leadership, while Ron Missal and Mike Tierney will provide depth and give the team a solid rotation 1-3. The other pitching spots are up for grabs. The defense will need to be another priority this season. “We need to minimize the amount of errors while capitalizing on the other teams’ mistakes” says Coach McManus. The leadership of the upperclassmen will be extremely helpful this season in order for the team to become successful. Matt Kempinski (P/SS-SR), Ed Moffet (C-SO), Kyle Colarusso (SO) and Mike Tierney (SO/JR) are a few of the leaders on this team.

The freshman class will be pivotal this season as they are the future of the program. Richie Portugal (OF-Delaware Valley) can run like a cheetah and has an amazing arm. Kerry Meyers (2b-State College) has one of the best left handed swings that McManus has seen in a long time. Steven Ash (IF/P/C-Tunkhannock) is probably one of most flexible athletes. He will add depth to our pitching staff, as well as the catching position. Eric Ringsdorf (1b/C-Holy Redeemer) will provide power from the left side of the plate, as well as depth at first base and catcher. Tyler Loftus (C- Pittston Area) has a nice arm and blocking mechanics behind the plate, and he too will compete for a catching position. Jon Aston (P/OF- Pittston Area) and Robert Reilly (P/OF/IF-Meyers) will also both compete for a starting pitching rotation spot. Jeremy McDonald (IF/OF- Hanover Area) will add depth to the infield and outfield. Newcomer Ross (SO- P/OF- Meyers) and veteran Nick Carey (So-P/OF-Valley West) will also compete for time on the mound.

At the end of the day, Coach McManus preaches that academics come before baseball. McManus says “If there is ever a time when one of my players needs to study for a test he will accommodate the practice around studying.”  The team is also holding pizza parties and bowling nights in order to expose themselves to the community. With the hard work from the players and coaches this team will have a successful season.
 

Sen Lin said he chose Penn State Wilkes-Barre because of the small campus, small classes, and huge opportunities. The personal attention from his teachers is great because he wants to learn as much as he can while at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. The extra opportunity he has is that he can speak his own voice and gain experiences from this school which will be helpful down the road. The personal relationships with his teachers are great for him which is another reason he enjoys this school. Sen said, “I am so proud of being a student athlete at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.”

Sen has currently scored 1 goal along with 2 saves for his career. The position he plays most is the side/wing. He has received an “Academic All Conference Award” for his success in his studies and on the field. He stays in shape during the off season by playing pick-up games in Forty Fort Township and working out every day. Unfortunately, Sen will be graduating in September so he won’t be able to play next season. He said he is going to miss all the fun he had with his team on the way to matches and during practice. His favorite game moment was against Penn State Schuylkill when he scored his first goal. He described it as one of the greatest moments he’s ever had. “My teammate ran with the ball all the way down from the left side of the field. I signaled him, and then he crossed the ball. I jumped up and hit the ball with my left leg. For some reason, the ball was in the net. I was so so so excited at that moment,” said Sen.

When asked about the struggles of being a student athlete, he said there are very few struggles. If there is ever a time when he needs to find time for extra studying he simply adjusts his schedule. Sen Lin looks forward to practice every day because he enjoys being outdoors and having fun with his teammates. He describes his teammates as friendly, exciting, dedicated, and responsible. While being a student athlete at Penn State Wilkes-Barre Sen has met several new friends and learned so much.

After graduation he plans on completing an internship and furthering his education by earning his master’s degree in Supply Chain Management. He says he wants to develop his skills in this field and become the “big guy” in a business someday. There is no doubt that Sen Lin has had several great experiences and memories at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. He is so proud and honored to have been a part of the Penn State community and will always be thankful for his opportunities.

The All-American is very optimistic about the future of this team. She says it’s an honor to receive these individual awards, but she is focused on next season. When asked about what she is expecting next season she replied, “We are going to the Championships next season!” She has one hundred percent confidence in her coach, and has no doubt he will push them to achieve their goals. Brathwaite will be working hard during the off-season to improve her post moves, free-throw shooting, driving to the basket, and left-handed shooting. With newcomers and returning players, next season will be very exciting for the team.

Last season the team struggled with consistency due to players being out of shape and not coming to practice daily. This season winning will be the main goal but the idea is to have fun as well. Bell wants to also teach students lessons that can be used in real-world situations. James Bell said, “At this age, like so many of us know, we are caught between being a kid and being an adult. I’m going to do my best to bridge the gap between the two.” Bell wants to learn from his players as well as have them learn from him. This spring the team will be having a mini preseason in order to get used to the new coaching style. After this school semester the team will be given summer strength and conditioning schedules.

Despite the inconsistencies last season, the team performed well most games, only losing by a goal or two. Bell is very confident that the team will be extremely competitive within the conference this season. Coach Bell believes the team may even be in the running with Penn College for the conference title. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work from the players, as well as from me to get to that point but I do believe that it is possible,” said Bell. There is no doubt that this upcoming season is something to be very optimistic about. The soccer program at Penn State Wilkes-Barre is moving in the right direction.

“When thinking about this year’s summer youth program, we wanted to make sure we focused on bringing back many of the most popular camps from previous years,” explains Director of Continuing Education, Jane Ashton. “Our instructors come back year after year to create wonderful camp experiences that children will cherish for years to come – their support affords us the opportunity to offer continued quality programing.”

This year, camps will run from July 8-12 & 15-19 with a morning session from 9 a.m. – 12 noon and an afternoon session from 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education is currently offering a limited number of scholarships for students wishing to attend the campus’ Summer Youth Programs. The scholarships, underwritten by Procter & Gamble’s Live, Learn, and Thrive Program and the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni Constituent Society, help defray the costs of attending the camps at Penn State Wilkes-Barre this summer. The scholarships will cover the cost of the camp tuition and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for those who qualify.

Procter & Gamble’s Live, Learn, and Thrive is a global initiative offering assistance in more than 60 countries worldwide with a goal of providing physical, social, and educational support for children and adolescents. Similarly, the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni Constituent Society’s mission is to assist area youth for the purpose of improving the academic and cultural experience of the campus enrollment and the University as a whole.

For detailed information and to print a camp brochure, please visit wb.psu.edu/ce/youth.

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.

Charles Ghilani, professor of engineering at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, is one of the 2013 recipients of the Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching.

The award recognizes excellence in teaching and student support among tenured faculty who have been employed full time for at least five years with undergraduate teaching as a major portion of their duties. Milton S. Eisenhower, brother of former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, served as president of Penn State from 1950 to 1956.

A faculty member since 1989, Ghilani designed the bachelor’s degree in surveying engineering. To address varied learning styles, he often holds problem-solving group sessions in lower-level courses. To help students who have trouble visualizing three-dimensional images by looking at two-dimensional drawings, he created 3D animations of difficult class topics for students to view and manipulate in Angel. For field surveying, he placed QR codes on equipment so students can use their smart phones to access short videos on equipment and software usage.

One student nominator wrote, “I cannot imagine a more thorough, prepared or intelligent professor.” Another nominator explained, “Assignments are always challenging, and although students consistently grumble about these assignments, the challenge forces every student to dig a bit deeper, try a bit harder and study a bit longer. In the end, students simply learn more.”

Open-invitation Friday breakfasts at a local restaurant for his students are also a Ghilani trademark. However, breakfast comes with two rules: no talking about class, and the students pay the tip.

“What’s important to note is that this award is initiated by student nominations,” explains Director of Academic Affairs, Dr. Albert Lozano-Nieto. “This award reflects Chuck’s commitment to educating and mentoring our students, both in and out of the classroom.”

Ghilani, along with the 33 other University-wide employees receiving 2013 Faculty/Staff awards, will be honored at a ceremony Monday, March 25th at the Nittany Lion Inn.

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

In the second game of the double-header, the Mountain Lions (0-2 PSUAC) combined for three hits, including one each from Meyers, Ash, and Rob Reilly. However, the Mountain Lions were unable to register a run in this game. Steve Ash pitched two innings while allowing five runs, one walk, and one strikeout. Penn State Greater Allegheny won the second game with a score of 10-0. The Mountain Lions’ next matchup is Thursday, March 28 at Penn State York.

On Friday, April 26th, join Chancellor Dr. Charles Davis and the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education department for their Executive Management Series, co-sponsored by The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni Society, and The Diamond City Partnership. The Executive Management Series is held at the Best Western Genetti Hotel and Conference Center in Wilkes-Barre, beginning at 7:45 a.m.

An Hour with Joe Amato is an inspiring story about succeeding in today’s business world, about entrepreneurial spirit, and about Mr. Amato’s vision and marketing strategies for the newly purchased complex in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Amato, a 5-time National Hot Rod Association Drag racing World Champion, is successful not only on the track but also in business. He began his off-the-track career in the automotive part business before moving into real estate. Join us for insight as to how this entrepreneur turned his life into the success that it is today.

Few drivers in the 50+ year history of the National Hot Rod Association can truly be classified as legends of the sport. But without question, one of the icons of the quarter-mile is Joe Amato. With a stunning 52 national event victories in 99 professional final round appearances, a legacy of five World Championships including an unprecedented three series titles in a row, and making headlines across the country in ’96 with the sport’s first 4.5 second pass, Amato’s name and ever-smiling visage will forever be a part of straight-line racing. It was Joe himself who stopped his meteoric career after two eye surgeries prompted his doctors to advise immediate retirement from drag racing. After giving up the driver’s seat of his top fuel dragster, Joe continued to own and operate Amato Racing, filling the seat of the race car with 2 different rookie top fuel drivers. For the 2000 through 2005 racing seasons, Joe gave the chance of a lifetime, as the pilot of his dragster, to two young men, both great drivers. But after the 2005 season, Joe felt it was time to move on from the professional racing circuit, and concentrate his energies in a new direction. His new passion was a familiar one. Through the early beginnings and successive expansions of his automotive parts and accessories distributor business, Keystone Automotive, Joe was involved in the commercial real estate world. Though no longer involved in Keystone Automotive, Joe now owns and operates multiple commercial properties, through Joe Amato Properties, comprising of over 366,000 sq. ft. of rental space, some prime pieces of vacant land destined for further commercial development. He is also involved in local housing developments, Saddle Ridge and Stone Bridge. Joe’s most recent property acquisition is located in downtown Wilkes Barre, in the heart of the city. This property, now known as City Centre, is comprised of over 80,000 sq feet of commercial space, a large part of which is occupied by RC Theatres, who operates Movies 14, a state-of-the-art theatre complex. All of Joe’s endeavors are a challenge in their own unique way, and the new things that lie ahead for this project provide the excitement that helps to drive Joe to continue to expand his ventures in our local real estate.

Cost is $15.00 per person. New this spring is the option to purchase a table of eight for $100, a $20 savings from the individual rate. 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' advance notice 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.

Jonathan U. Dougherty, PhD, Penn State alumnus and Penn State Wilkes-Barre Advisory Board member, will address graduates at the Penn State Wilkes-Barre commencement ceremony Saturday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. in the campus’ Athletic and Recreation Building.

A native of Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, Dr. Dougherty earned his Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University in 1999. He continued his academic career at Penn State earning his Doctor of Philosophy in Architectural Engineering in 2006. Dr. Dougherty is Director of the Corporate Knowledge Center for James G. Davis Construction Corporation in Rockville, Maryland, where he leads the corporate education and knowledge management initiatives of the firm.

Prior to joining Davis Construction, Dr. Dougherty taught in Penn State’s Department of Architectural Engineering for six years. An award-winning teacher, Dr. Dougherty also served as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Building Construction at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and is a sought-after lecturer at many universities and campuses, including Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Dr. Dougherty’s research pursuits include the creation and analysis of online knowledge communities to support student/practitioner collaboration in engineering courses, and his work has been published in the Journal of Architectural Engineering and several conference proceedings.

Dr. Dougherty is a champion of students and lifelong learning, as evidenced by his service to The Pennsylvania State University and the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. As an alumni leader, he is an active member of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Campus Advisory Board, a Board Member for the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society, and founding Board Member and current President of the Penn State Alumni Society of Architectural Engineers. An advocate of students, Dr. Dougherty serves as chair of the Student-Focused Environment Committee and frequently facilitates student focus groups for the Wilkes-Barre campus, is a practitioner juror for Penn State’s AE Senior Thesis presentations, and mentors fourth-year engineering students. His industry service includes being a Trustee for the Francis L. Greenfield Laborer’s Joint Training Fund of Washington, D.C., serving on the Montgomery College Construction Industry Advisory Committee, working on the Industry Recruiting Taskforce of the Associated General Contractors of America, and serving on both the Membership and the Student Competition Committees for the Architectural Engineering Institute.

In 2012, Dr. Dougherty received the Hayfield Award for Excellence in Service to the Campus from Penn State Wilkes-Barre. He was honored as an Architectural Engineering Centennial Fellow by Penn State in 2010 and received the PSEAS Distinguished Service Award in 2013. Most recently, Dr. Dougherty was named to Engineering News-Record’s 2013 Top 20 Under 40 in the Mid-Atlantic, which celebrates the excellence of young design and constructional professionals in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

An avid Penn State football fan, member of the Nittany Lion Club, and Life Member of the Penn State Alumni Association, Dr. Dougherty resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland. You can connect with him on twitter @JUDougherty.

Dr. Charles Davis, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Chancellor, and the Pennsylvania State University are pleased to announce local Evan Pugh Senior Award honoree and Penn State Wilkes-Barre student, Megan Millo.

The Evan Pugh scholars are those juniors and seniors who are in the upper 0.5 percent of their respective classes at the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given. Candidates are eligible if they have been full-time undergraduate students for at least four semesters prior to selection. The seniors this year have cumulative grade-point averages of 3.98 and above.

Millo, a Penn State Wilkes-Barre senior, will be graduating in May with a Bachelor’s in Business.

“We are exceptionally proud of Megan’s accomplishments – she is an outstanding student who has made wonderful contributions to our campus, in academics, her clubs service, and her work in the greater Wilkes-Barre community,” explains Dr. Davis. “Megan truly exemplifies the spirit of Penn State Wilkes-Barre in the NEPA community.”

Millo was also the 2012 recipient of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award. The Walker Award recognizes undergraduate students enrolled at the Commonwealth locations whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership, and citizenship have been directed into programs and services that have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well-being of their campus and, hence, to the reputation of the University as a whole.

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

When Harriet Polites graduates in May, she isn’t going to be experiencing the same anxiety that many of her fellow graduates will be going through — the anxiety of the job search.

“I attended the IST Career Fair at University Park in January, after receiving help from Jill [Laing, Career Services Coordinator] and Melody [Goodwin, Career Counselor] on my résumé and practicing my interviewing skills,” explains Polites. “The extra time I took to work with them paid off. I received quite a bit of interest at the career fair and was doing an average of 3 phone interviews a week. I ended up bouncing company names and job opportunities off of my peers and teachers and turned down quite a few offers based on feedback I got.”

Polites then began the interview process once again, this time with Hewlett-Packard.

“HP has been attending the IST Career Fair for a few years now and they told me they like to hire Penn State grads because they keep getting quality employees out of Penn State,” says Polites. “The team I will be working with has four Penn State grads, me included.”

Polites has been hired as a Technology Consultant for SharePoint, which deals mostly with business solutions.

“It’s a little bit of a mixed bag,” shares Polites. “I’ll be working with a little bit of everything in their Herndon, VA office.”

After receiving her associate’s degree from Penn College of Technology in automotive technology, Harriet decided to pursue her bachelor’s in information sciences & technology.

“I was very focused coming into Penn State Wilkes-Barre,” says Polites. “Frouke [de Quillettes, Senior Instructor in IST] knew I had a goal of completing my degree in three years. She kept me on track from day 1 and helped me to realize that in order to achieve my goal I had to be personally invested, because the program is one where you get out of it what you put into it.”

Polites has completed two internships during her time at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, one with Custom Computers in Kingston and the other with the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Information Technology department, and is a big advocate of internships.

“Internships are low-risk situations where you have an opportunity to stand out, to differentiate yourself,” explains Polites. “They give you the chance to find your niche, find out what challenges you, and learn on the fly. The classroom is pure theory but with an internship you get to put what you learn into practice. And it demonstrates to future employers that not only are you able to work but you have a willingness to work.”

Penn State Wilkes-Barre is the only Penn State campus and Pennsylvania institution to offer an accredited bachelor’s degree in Surveying Engineering. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Surveying Engineering graduates enjoy a 100% employment rate in surveying engineering firms locally and across the country. The Surveying Engineering Open House is an opportunity to learn about the different types of surveying and the dual degree option with Civil Engineering as well as observe and participate in surveying technology demonstrations, meet surveying students, alumni and faculty, and tour the campus.

In preparation for the Surveying Engineering Open House, several members of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Surveying Society took the spring break opportunity to visit high schools from which they graduated in order to educate students on the field of Surveying Engineering.

“We tried to keep our Powerpoint presentations to 20-25 minutes,” explains Matt Boozer, a junior Surveying Engineering student who led the effort. “We didn’t want to keep the students in the classroom for too long – we wanted them to be able to have hands-on experience with what surveyors do.”

Five local high schools, Red Bank Valley, North East Bradford, Pittston Area, Mountainview, and Lake Lehman, participated in the surveying presentations.

“Preparing for the presentation made me realize that I wish I had heard more about college and career opportunities while I was still in high school,” explains junior Surveying Engineering student Matt Sharr. “If they got nothing else out of the presentation, at least they know there are surveying careers out there.”

Students interested in attending the Surveying Engineering Open House can register online at http://wb.psu.edu/Admissions/admevents, by calling 570-675-9238 or by emailing wbadmissions@psu.edu.

In the second game, Penn State Fayette got out to a four-run lead after the first inning. The Mountain Lions (2-3-1 PSUAC and overall) fought their way back into the game by cutting the lead to 5-4 after the fourth inning. In the 7th inning, Fayette scored one more run, and then Wilkes-Barre tied the game by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning. The game ended in a tie at 6-6 due to lack of daylight. Meyers had four hits, one run, and two RBIs for the Mountain Lions. Ronald Missal had three hits, one run, and two RBIs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre's next double-header is Saturday, April 6th at Penn State Beaver.

In the second game of the double-header Penn State Wilkes-Barre (3-6 PSUAC and overall) was able to hold on and win after scoring nine runs in the first four innings. Wilkes-Barre won with a final score of 9-6. Kerry Meyers had two hits, two runs, and one RBI for Wilkes-Barre, while Eric Ringsdorf had two hits and two runs as the designated hitter. Rob Reilly pitched all seven innings and had three strikeouts, three walks, and six earned runs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre plays their next double-header at home vs. Penn State Mont Alto. 

The second game of the double-header was much closer. Penn State Wilkes-Barre (2-5 PSUAC and overall) was down 5-4 going into the 6th inning but Penn State Beaver scored two more runs, which cancelled out any chances of a comeback for Wilkes-Barre. The final score of the second game was 7-5. Ronald Missal had two hits and one run for Wilkes-Barre, while Michael Tierney had three hits and two RBIs. Missal was on the mound for three innings and had three strikeouts, three hits, and three earned runs allowed. Penn State Wilkes-Barre plays against Penn State Hazleton on April 7.

In the second game of the double-header, Penn State Wilkes-Barre (3-8-1 PSUAC and overall) was not able to bounce back as they fell to Penn State Mont Alto 17-1. Kyle Colarusso had one hit and one run, while Steven Ash and Ed Moffett had one hit each. Nick Carey pitched one and a third innings while only allowing two hits and four earned runs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre will next play at Penn State Schuylkill this Friday in a double-header beginning at 1pm.

In the second game of the double-header, Penn State Wilkes-Barre (3-8-1 PSUAC and 3-9-1 overall) was able to score more runs but fell short of a victory with a score of 5-11. Jeremy McDonnell had two hits, two runs, and one RBI for the Mountain Lions. Steve Ash started the second game and allowed six hits and six earned runs in one and two-thirds innings. Penn State Wilkes-Barre will next play at Penn State York this Tuesday in a double-header beginning at 2pm.

In the second game of the double-header, Penn State Wilkes-Barre (3-12-1 PSUAC and 3-14-1 overall) was unable to bounce back and fell short of a victory with a score of 2-9. Tyler Loftus had one hit, one run, and one RBI for the Mountain Lions. Jonathan Aston started the second game at pitcher and allowed ten hits and six earned runs in five innings. Penn State Wilkes-Barre will next play at home against Penn College this Saturday in a double-header beginning at 2pm.

In the second game of the double-header, Penn State Wilkes-Barre (3-14-1 PSUAC and 3-16-1 overall) was unable to bounce back and fell short of a victory with a score of 0-10. Kerry Meyers and Tyler Loftus each had two hits for the Mountain Lions. Starting pitcher Steve Ash allowed ten hits and eight earned runs in four innings for Wilkes-Barre. 

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 by Student Affairs to a Penn State Wilkes-Barre student athlete, based on academics (with over a 3.0 GPA), campus and athletic participation, and qualities of leadership and character.

Baseball
MVP: Kerry Meyers
Coaches Award: Matthew Kempinski

Men’s Cross Country
MVP: Chris Monahan
Coaches Award: Lee Kozokas

Women’s Cross Country
MVP: Alex Leandri
Coaches Award: Emily Pszeniczny

Golf
MVP: Matthew Boozer
Coaches Award: Mark Wasickanin

Soccer
MVP: David Cavalieri
Coaches Award Winner: Keith Moran

Volleyball
MVP: Abby Collins
Coaches Award: Sarah Konopki and Chelsea Wertz

Men’s Basketball
MVP: Denzel Mensah
Coaches Award: Marquis Middleton

Women’s Basketball
MVP: Tiaira Brathwaite
Coaches Award: Katie Beach

Dr. Charles Davis, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Chancellor, and the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Student Government Association are pleased to announce the 2012-2013 student recipients of The John R. Murphy Award for Excellence in Leadership & Service, The Martin U. Dougherty Emerging Leader Award, The Eric A. & Josephine Walker Award, and the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Who’s Who in American Colleges & Universities.

The 2012-13 John R. Murphy Award for Excellence in Leadership & Service was awarded to graduating senior and Buck Hill Falls native, Katharine Lewis. Rick Barry, a former Penn State Wilkes-Barre student and Walker Award recipient, made this endowed award possible to honor former Director of Student Affairs, John R. Murphy, who served Penn State Wilkes-Barre from 1967 to 2004. The award was established to recognize a graduating senior whose outstanding qualities of leadership, service, scholarship, citizenship, and character have been directed into programs and service on campus and/or the community that have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well being of the Wilkes-Barre campus and the reputation of the University as a whole. Kate has served as the Student Government Association president for the past year, will be graduating with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Administration of Justice, and plans on attending law school.

The 2012-13 Martin U. Dougherty Emerging Leader Award was awarded to Middletown, New York native, Laura Mann. The Dougherty family established this award in remembrance of their husband/father, Martin, who served on the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Campus Advisory Board. Martin’s firm, The Architectural & Engineering Group, Inc., designed the Carriage Room in the campus’ Student Commons, which won the 2003 “Pride of Place” Award from the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce. Martin’s son, Dr. Jonathan U. Dougherty will be the Penn State Wilkes-Barre 2013 Commencement Speaker. This award recognizes a student of junior status at our campus who has at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and has demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, citizenship, service and character. Laura is an Administration of Justice major who serves as the campus’ THON chair.

The 2012-13 Eric A. & Josephine Walker Award was awarded to graduating senior and Honesdale native, Cory Blowers. The purpose of this award is to recognize the Commonwealth Campus student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship have been directed into programs and services that have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well being of their campus and, hence, to the reputation of the University as a whole. The award is made annually, at or near the end of the spring term, to a full-time undergraduate student who is completing two full years of freshman-sophomore study at a Commonwealth Campus. Cory has served on the campus Student Government Association and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Administration of Justice.

Each year members of the campus are asked to nominate students for the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities Award. The criteria for this award is based on scholarship, participation and leadership in academic and co-curricular activities, citizenship and service to Penn State Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding community and potential for future achievement. The 2012-13 Penn State Wilkes-Barre recipients are: Cory Blowers [Honesdale], William Elko [Pittston Twp], Katharine Lewis [Buck Hill Falls], John Lombardo [Wilkes-Barre], Ryan McDermott [Stroudsburg], Amy Novak [Exeter], Jillian O’Connell [Dallas], Isaura Olivares [West Hazleton], and AnnMarie Wempa [Trucksville].

Introduction to Business Management Certificate: Michael J. Hannon [Avoca], Dorothy Ann Daniels [Nanticoke] & Christine Rhines [Kingston]

Associate in Business Administration: Marcie Ann Blair [Springville] & Garry R. Musselman, Jr. [Dallas]

Associate in Electrical Engineering Technology: Ernesto Torres [Hazleton]

Associate in Information Sciences and Technology: Caridad Perez [Kunkletown] & Alexander T. Poplawski [Wilkes-Barre]

Associate in Letters, Arts, and Sciences: Megan L. Amico [Falls], Kenneth Bond [Dallas], Robert P. Dick [Forty Fort], Brittany L. Roberts [Wyoming] & Jenna N. Woychick [Shavertown]

Associate in Surveying Engineering Technology: Andrew T. Barnes [Harvey’s Lake], Nicholas R. Frushon [Wyoming], David C. George [Hunlock Creek], Joseph V. Marchakitus [Hunlock Creek], James C. Meyer III [Sarver], Jesse W. Miller [West Wyoming] & Jason S. Solon [Dunmore]

Bachelor of Arts in Administration of Justice: Joseph Keiser [Roaring Brook Twp], Thomas J. Rogan, Jr. [Wilkes-Barre] & Megan E. Walsh [MountainTop]

Bachelor of Arts in English: Lawrence G. Berti [West Pittston], Sabrina M. Bush [Tunkhannock], Michael R. Calore [Wilkes-Barre], Julie Haller [Dallas], Jessica A. Koch [Forty Fort], Christopher J. Mozeleski [Dallas], Kevin Shewan [Shavertown], Jennifer L. Shubilla [Wilkes-Barre] & Edward A. Vargas Adame [Hazleton]

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism: Michael G. Verbickas [Dunmore]

Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice: Cory R. Blowers [Honesdale], Jacinta A. Bowden [Hanover Twp], Kayla A. Clawson [Lancaster], Abigail P. Collins [Swoyersville], Savannah David [Kingston], Raeford A. Decker [Pocono Summit], Ashley Ferretti [Exeter], Renee A. Fumanti [Old Forge], Frank J. Gawel [Old Forge], Paul Jaskulski [Dickson City], Michael Klucitas [Sarasota, Florida], Laura A. Kremser [Berwick], Katharine A. Lewis [Buck Hill Falls], Nicole Medrano [Selinsgrove], Nicholas R. Mosher [Wilkes-Barre], Molly B. Murphy [Shavertown], Shelby A. Murren [Berwick], Jason Oliver [Nanticoke], Corena S. Prato [Hanover Twp], Ryan P. Richards [Wyoming], Matthew P. Schuback [Old Forge], Amanda L. Semon [Freeland], Kevin A. Space [Eynon], Roger P. Sporre [Little Meadows] & Amy Linn Zdipko [Wilkes-Barre]

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science: Dominic A. Borzell [Falls]

Bachelor of Science in Business: Michael J. Ackley [Sayre], Eric C. Agomuo [Stroudsburg],
Catherine M. Beach [West Hazleton], Kelsey M. Blaskiewicz [Wyoming], Matthew J. Clemons [Canonsburg], Melissa L. Cuesta [Wilkes-Barre], Gregory C. Davis [Dallas], Travis L. Dunlap [Annville], Lindsey G. Howell [Tunkhannock], William P. Langan [West Pittston], Jordan M. Levandowski [Kingston], Sen Lin [Nanning, China], Nicholas R. Martin [Exeter], John W. Michaels [Grampin], Megan A. Millo [Dallas], Kailey N. Peters [Wyoming], Scott D. Summa [Lehman] & Gregory T. Uber, Jr. [Milford]

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice: Joseph Bufalino, Jr. [West Pittston]

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology: Robert B. Bisson, Jr. [Bethlehem], Kyle A. Bragalone [Hazleton], Jeff J. Broody [Hanover Twp], Aaron J. Grisham [Shickshinny], Jason P. Hady [MountainTop], James D. Joyce [Wilkes-Barre], Wyrgy Pamphile [Tobyhanna], Kurt A. Powell [Wilkes-Barre] & Brandon M. Yusinski [Scranton]

Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology: David S. Bartos [Harvey’s Lake], Timothy J. Clark [Meshoppen], Timothy B. Graham [Dallas], Tyler J. Kerlavage [Hanover Twp], Latroya C. Knight [Hanover Twp], Dipen R. Patel [Scranton], Harriet E. Polites [Wilkes-Barre], Nachiket Y. Raval [Gandhinager, India], Brian Reese [Hughstown], Chad M. Schraeder [Dallas] & Brandon Yachna [Dupont]

Bachelor of Science in Surveying Engineering: Angel Asencio [Lancaster], Brennan D. Coates [Leraysville], Matthew B. Eckenrode [Quakertown], Nathanael E. Fiscus [Atglen], Jessica L. Helman [Julian], Matthew D. Kempenski [Hunlock Creek], Ian G. McAllister [Springbrook Twp], Stephen J. Nealon [Hanover Twp], Michael C. Schubert [Shavertown], Bryce T. Weaver [Ephrata] & Ryan M. White [Royersford]

Men’s Basketball: Jacob Bronder, Greg Cooper, William Dankwah, Travis Dunlap, Drew Walker
Women’s Basketball: Tiaira Brathwaite
Baseball: Matthew Kempinski, Jeremy McDonnell, Ed Moffett, Taylor Shepley, Michael Tierney

On Friday, July 12th, 2013 the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni Constituent Society will host its 18th Annual Penn State “Masters” Golf Tournament at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountain Top, PA.

The proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni Society’s Scholarship Fund, the Alumni Speaker Series, THON, Academic Excellence Awards, and other initiatives, which help the students of Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Last year’s tournament hosted more than 100 golfers and the tees and greens were sponsored by various community businesses and friends of the campus, raising more than $6000 for student programs at the campus.

This year’s winning flight in the “Captain and Crew” style tournament will receive Penn State Wilkes-Barre “Masters” navy blazers complete with 24k gold-plated Penn State buttons. Golfers also have a chance to win several hole-in-one prizes while on the course including a grand prize of a car donated by the Ken Pollock Auto Group. Other contests during the day include 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 will be raffled.

The day’s festivities get underway at 11:30 a.m. with registration and lunch and the tournament begins at 1 p.m. with a “shotgun start.” An awards banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. where tournament and prize winners will be announced.

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

Celeste Baine, a biomedical engineer, and award winning author of over 20 books on engineering education and careers, will be presenting information on engineering disciplines via a live Skype broadcast from her home in Oregon. Each student in the program will receive a copy of Baine’s Is There an Engineer Inside You?: A Comprehensive Guide to Career Decisions in Engineering.

Jill Laing, Career Services Coordinator at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, will help the students to discover career guidance resources and learn how you can explore career opportunities in the fields of science, engineering, math, and technology.

Created at Penn State in 1994, the WISE Institute represents an innovative approach to cross-disciplinary interaction among engineers, humanists, scientists, and social scientists to promote the representation and diversity of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The primary mission of the Wise Institute is to facilitate the entry and success of women in STEM fields in an environment promoting gender equity by: coordinating efforts throughout Penn State; creating opportunities for women of diverse backgrounds to thrive in STEM fields; mentoring individuals; and promoting institutional and cultural change.

For more information or to register, please contact Continuing Education at 570-675-9253 or email us at wbce@outreach.psu.edu.

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.

In addition to classroom taught sessions, Penn State Wilkes-Barre offers an online self-directed SAT Preparation. 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.

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