The Greater Scranton Penn State Chapter has rescheduled its annual Phil Grosz appearance, due to the impending snowstorm expected to hit our area on Friday. 

Originally scheduled for Feb. 8, the group has now announced that the new date for the event will be Friday, March 8.

Phil Grosz, owner/editor of the Blue White Illustrated, has been the guest of the Greater Scranton Penn State Chapter for the past 29 years and will return again this year for his 30th annual chat about Penn State football and to review the incoming class of Nittany Lion players. He will also conduct a question and answer session with the audience.

Each year, hundreds of Penn State football fans attend his presentation.

Mr. Grosz’s presentation begins at 7 p.m. in the campus’ Multi-Purpose Building (gymnasium). Admission is free for chapter members or $15 for non-members. Memberships will be available at the door that evening. Light refreshments will be provided.

Doors open at 6 p.m. so those attending are encouraged to arrive early, as there is no reserved seating.

For more information about the event of the greater Scranton Penn State Chapter, visit www.PSUscranton.org.

Michael Narcavage, manager of corporate development for Chesapeake Energy, has been selected as the Penn State Worthington Scranton Alumni Society’s Alumnus of the Year for 2012.

A 1995 graduate of Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in Administation of Justice, he has been active with Penn State Worthington Scranton as a member of the Alumni Society, the Greater Scranton Penn State Chapter, and as a member of the campus’ Advisory Board and several of its committees.

He is also a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association and a member of the Nittany Lion Club.

Mr. Narcavage has been a guest speaker for the campus’ Business program, taken part in the annual Alumni Speed Mentoring event to provide career advice and insight to current and graduating students, spoken to prospective students at the campus’ Fall Open House, and participated in the Society’s annual golf tournament.

In his current position, he serves as the liaison between Chesapeake Energy and the PA Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection, as well as with educational institutions, workforce development agencies and elected officials.

He has provided public education and outreach to inform the public about the advantages of natural gas exploration and is the point person for the company’s Natural Gas Vehicle project in Northeastern PA.

Earlier in his career, he was Northeast State Director for former Sen. Rick Santorum (1997 -2007), where he spoke for the senator at public events, press conferences and public hearings, and received input from constituents, following up with correspondence to agencies and individuals. He also developed grant seminars for a variety of municipal and community entities.

Prior to joining Chesapeake energy, he was the manager of Archbald Borough, where he was responsible for negotiating union contracts; managing weekly municipal meetings and special town hall and public meetings; drafting and overseeing the borough’s annual $3.6 million budget; cultivating and maintaining relationships with federal, county and state elected officials; and writing press releases and editing the borough newsletter.

Frank and Denise Marcos, parents of Penn State Worthington Scranton graduate Michael Marcos, ’10  IST, have established the Marcos Family Program Endowment in Information Sciences and Technology at the campus.

This newly endowed fund will enhance the academic and educational environment for students within the IST discipline by helping to fund support of the IST Scholars’ Series and other visiting speakers; mentoring activities; special projects and programs; and faculty and student involvement.

Funds can also be used for joint undergraduate research, as some members of Worthington Scranton’s IST faculty are involved in both IST and interdisciplinary research that involves undergraduate students; participation in, and attendance at conferences so students can travel to program conferences to share their research experiences and participate in conference activities; and the IST Future Forum, which is a recruiting event that allows students to explore career and internship opportunities; as well as corporate field trips.  

"The faculty and students express our appreciation to the Marcos family for their thoughtfulness and generosity,” said Dr. Debra Smarkusky, IST program coordinator and associate professor. “The Marcos IST Endowment will provide academic and professional opportunities that will enhance the learning and experiences for current and future IST students at Penn State Worthington Scranton."

Penn State Worthington Scranton recently honored employees for landmark years of service during the campus’ annual Staff Service Awards and Welcome Back luncheon on Jan. 4.

All campus staff and employees were invited to the event and those employees celebrating milestone anniversaries were honored for their years of service to the Worthington Scranton community. Dr. Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, chancellor, presented the awards.

Honorees were:

30 Years of Service:  Dr. David Byman, assistant professor of biology.

25  Years of Service:  Dr. Majid Chatsaz, assistant professor of engineering, who, as per university tradition, also received a Penn State rocking chair.

20 Years of Service:  Suzanne Harper, senior instructor in English; Dr. Patricia Hinchey, professor of education; Marvin McCloe, maintenance and operations; Wayne Reesey, maintenance and operations; and Verna Saleski, nursing program coordinator and senior instructor of nursing.

10 Years of Service:  Dr. Parminder Parmar, associate professor of Human Development and Family Studies.

Five Years of Service:  Mary Beth Benedict, financial aid coordinator; Andy Yakubik, University Safety; Dr. Milton Evans, instructor in nursing; James Hart, instructor in curriculum and instruction; Dr. Kelley Wagers, assistant professor of English; Taoye Zhang, assistant professor of mathematics; and Amy Gruzesky, coordinator of communications and community relations.

Tierney Lyons, MLS, a reference librarian at Penn State Worthington Scranton, co-authored an article that will be published in an upcoming issue of the peer-reviewed international library journal, The Electronic Library.

The article, Health Sciences Information Literacy in CMS Environments: Learning from our Peers, identifies practical information for librarians considering Course/Learning Management Systems (CMS) content development or reevaluation of online offerings.

In this article, Ms. Lyons and her co-investigator, Stefanie Warlick, Assistant Library Director at James Madison University, examine academic libraries with health sciences information literacy programs within CMS through a literature review and an online survey.

Trends and issues identified within the literature were utilized to develop the survey. The co-authors analyzed the collected data to determine how librarians incorporate CMS into information literacy.

Analysis focused on strategies used in development and delivery, benefits and challenges of CMS and pairing its content with traditional instruction methods.

"An overarching theme is the ease and accessibility of CMS, especially for distance learners and those with time restrictions," Lyons and Warlick explain. "However, although online tools and learning spaces are readily available and beneficial, librarians maintain in-person instruction."

The two identified a shift from primarily positive published reports by early adopters to more constructive feedback that stems from longer-term CMS experience and note that assessment practices of online library instruction need additional attention to provide a more robust approach.

The article will appear in the 2013 volume 31 of The Electronic Library and can be accessed at http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0264-0473.

The co-investigators also presented the findings of this study at the Medical Library Association conference in Minneapolis, MN and its Mid-Atlantic Chapter meeting in Chapel Hill, NC.

In addition, Ms. Lyons wrote about her experiences as an embedded librarian in the learning management system for the Nursing and Allied Health trade publication, NAHRS Newsletter. The article will appear in the January 2013 issue, http://nahrs.mlanet.org/home/newsletter.

The Electronic Library is devoted to new technology applications and implications in libraries throughout the world. It provides a vehicle for the latest research and ongoing developments in today's digital library and information environments in different countries, and offers practical advice, useful information and descriptions of specific applications around the globe.

The second annual Zumba-THON at Penn State Worthington Scranton, sponsored by the PSWS Alumni Society and the campus' Blue and White Society, was a great success -- beating last year's totals for attendance and fundraising.

Over 100 dancers participated in the event, which took place Nov. 28 in the campus gymnasium. Local Zumba instructors volunteered their time and skills to lead the dancers during the two-hour event, which raised over $1,200. Last year's event had about 100 paricipants and $1,000 was raised.

Participants paid a $5 donation at the door, with all the proceeds going to THON. Campus groups and local businesses also donated a variety of items, which were raffled off during the event.

At the end of the event, the campus' THON dancers -- Bev Martin, a liberal arts major from Susquehanna, and Jennifer Smith, DUS, from Dunmore, were announced.

Suzanne Morgan has joined Penn State Worthington Scranton’s Academic Affairs office as an administrative support assistant.

A lifetime resident of Dickson City, Ms. Morgan is a summa cum laude graduate of Lackawanna College, and has an extensive career in sales, customer service and office administration.

Prior to joining Penn State Worthington Scranton, she had worked as an administrative coordinator at The Times-Tribune.

She has also been employed by Schott Glass Technologies and Has-Mor Industries, where her primary responsibilities were international sales and related administrative functions.

Winnie Kiwalabye, founder and executive director of Mama Africa International Organization, Uganda, recently spoke to about 130 students, faculty, and staff members at Penn State Worthington Scranton.  Ms. Kiwalabye's organization fights violence and illiteracy amongst women, single mothers, and widows in rural areas of Uganda, Africa.

Mama Africa’s mission is to restore hope for the vulnerable children of Uganda by helping illiterate and low-income women in the country's rural and slum communities gain empowering life skills. The organization works with women in a personalized and welcoming environment to improve their basic life skills, teach them how to make a family sustaining wage, and achieve self-sufficiency by providing adult education programs and supportive services.

Winnie commented, “We rescue, love and care for orphaned children and empower women. We run programs and projects to meet their needs physically, academically, spiritually, and emotionally in order to prepare them for a brighter future and sustainability. We work in rural areas of Wakiso and the urban slum community of Nanyuguzi in Uganda's capital city of Kampala District.”

Winnie told of her tormented youth and subsequent personal drive to establish Mama Africa, an organization for battered and abused girls and young women. She also gave the crowd an insight on what it was like to live under the rule of the infamous Idi Amin Dada.

“It is important for all of us to gain perspectives of how issues that occur in our country play out in other countries and to understand how atrocities around the world impact individual people just trying to survive," said PSWS Director of Continuing Education John Drake.

 This program was a cooperative effort between the Penn State Cooperative Extension and Penn State Worthington Scranton.

After the huge success of last year's first-ever Zumba-THON, Penn State Worthington Scranton alumni and students are spearheading a repeat of the event to raise funds to aid the fight against pediatric cancer.

This year's Zumba-THON will be held on Wednesday, November 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the campus' Multipurpose Building.

For a suggested minimum donation of $5 per person, individuals of all ages may participate in or stop by the event, which is being co-sponsored by the Penn State Worthington Scranton Alumni Society and the student Blue & White Society.

The Zumba-THON will feature four Zumba instructors (one every half-hour), and local “celebrity” guest dancers from the community and campus. There also will be door prizes and raffles throughout the evening.

The event will raise funds for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, commonly referred to as THON. A highlight of the event will be the announcement of the dancers who will represent the Penn State Worthington Scranton campus at the event in State College in February.

Volunteering for the event are instructors Sandy Depoti, Racqueteers Health & Fitness Club, St. John’s Center and the Spectrum Health and Racquet Club; Michelle Kelsch, Penn State Worthington Scranton Athletics; Allan Souza, UNO Fitness, Scranton; and Mara Rudalavage.

Since its beginning in 1973, THON’s presence in the Penn State community has grown exponentially. THON now has over 15,000 student volunteers, 700 dancers, and has raised more than $78 million, benefiting The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. THON is now a year-long effort that raises funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer.

One year ago, former PSU defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested on charges of child abuse. On Monday, students at Penn State Worthington Scranton hosted an event aimed at bringing more awareness to the problem of child sexual abuse and teaching the campus community more about this problem and how to combat it.

Mary Ann LaPorta, executive director of the Children's Advocacy Center in Scranton, was guest speaker, along with Jennifer Aglialoro, trauma counseling coordinator, who spoke to over 50 students, staff and faculty on Monday, Nov. 5 -- the one-year mark of Sandusky's arrest.

Those in attendance learned how organizations like the CAC help victims of child sexual abuse and their families, and also learned how to watch for signs and what to do if they suspect someone they know are being abused.

The event was organized by the campus' Student Government Association and other student volunteers, and aimed to make PSWS students more aware of these issues, while also showing that the PSWS campus community is ONE University standing against child abuse.

Dr. Eva Tettenborn, Associate Professor of English, will present a paper at Bucknell University on November 10, 2012 during the university's Griot Institute for Africana Studies conference, "Post-Racial America? An Interdisciplinary Conversation."

Her presentation, "Frederick Douglass on a Post-Racial US: Drawing the Color Line," examines the theme of racial identity in selected speeches Douglass gave after the Civil War.

Dr. Tettenborn has been a faculty member at Penn State Worthington Scranton since 2005.  In 2009 she received the campus' Dr. Richard A. and Sally Matthews Award for Scholarly Activity, and was named a 2012 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Scholar and participated in the 2012 NEH Summer Institute “Contemporary African American Literature.”

For more information on the Griot Institute's upcoming conference, go to:  http://www.bucknell.edu/x78200.xml

Dr. Russell Casey, assistant professor of marketing at Penn State Worthington Scranton, has co-authored a paper for the International Journal of Integrated Marketing Communications.

Titled "Brand Consistency in Social Media: WVU's Eberly College Works Toward a Conceptual Framework of Integrated Marketing Communications," Dr. Casey and his co-author, Lauren Peretti, stipulate that as  social media use has skyrocketed, many colleges and universities are adding social media to their marketing strategies.

The problem with social media, according to their research, is that many traditional marketers lack the experience in social media venues such as Twitter, Facebook, etc.  

Dr. Casey and Ms. Peretti's project explored the need for brand consistency among all facets of advertising and promotion at West Virginia University, focusing on one college at the university, Eberly College. Their paper demonstrates that following the branding principles of brand consistency are important throughout all facets of media in reducing brand confusion and building brand equity.

Dr. Casey has taught at Penn State Worthington Scranton since 2007. He earned his MBA at Delaware State University and has a doctorate in business administration with a double concentration in management and marketing from Nova Southeastern University. He lives in Lake Ariel.

Students in the business, engineering and marketing degree programs at Penn State Worthington Scranton had a unique opportunity to gain industry knowledge and insight, as well as networking experience, when campus and University alumnus Robert Beard visited the campus to speak about his college, professional, and life experiences.

Mr. Beard, a native of Carbondale, is president and CEO of UGI Utilities and also serves as a member of the Utilities’ board of directors.  During his time at UGI Utilities, Bob also served as Vice President – Southern Region and Vice President – Marketing, Rates and Supply.

He joined UGI through the acquisition of PPL Gas Utilities in October, 2008. While at PPL, Mr. Beard held a number of senior leadership positions and was Vice President – Operations and Engineering at the time of the acquisition.

He is an active member of the American Gas Association and is a member of the board of directors of the Energy Association of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Beard holds a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering and a master’s degree in management from the Pennsylvania State University.

His appearance at Penn State Worthington Scranton was part of the campus’ Career and Company Showcase series, in which successful campus alumni meet with students to talk about their companies and industries, while also sharing their personal college and work experiences with students, giving them invaluable information on important career skills such as interviewing, networking, and job skills and performance.

Dr. Alan Peslak, Associate Professor of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State Worthington Scranton, has been named IST Statewide Faculty Member of the Year for 2012-13 by the University. He received the honor at the recent All Campus IST Meeting earlier this month.

The honor, which has been given annually since 2002,  is given is to a full-time faculty member from across the entire Penn State University system who has demonstrtated a very high degree of excellence and commitment to the IST/SRA programs at their campus, across the Commonwealth, and with regard to their students.

Confidential nominations are made from the statewide faculty from early July to mid-August of each year and the final decision is made by the IST Dean, IST Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, and IST Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies.

Dr. Peslak also serves as Penn State’s IST Discipline Coordinator for 14 University College campuses and was elected president of the Association for Information Technology Educational Special Interest Group in 2011.

Dr. Peslak began teaching at Worthington Scranton in August, 2001. He received his bachelor’s degree and a master’s of business administration (MBA) from the University of Scranton, and another master’s degree and his Ph.D. from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

He has published numerous refereed journal articles, appeared in refereed conference proceedings throughout the U.S., and authored and co-authored chapters in several technology-related books. He has also presented papers at  technical and professional meetings.

His research areas include information technology social, ethical, and economic issues as well as information technology pedagogy. Publications include the Communications of the ACM, Information Resources Management Journal, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Journal of Information Systems Education, Team Performance Management, Information Research, and First Monday.

He has over 25 years of diverse manufacturing and service industry experience and is on the editorial boards of numerous journals.

He resides in Peckville.

Nursing instructor Michael Evans and reference librarian Tierney Lyons will present their research titled, Digital Storytelling: Ubiquitous Learning in Multimedia Technology in the Learning Management System at the Ireland International Conference on Education via teleconferencing on October 29.  Their paper will be published in its peer-reviewed proceedings.

The pair also recently presented to over 400 of their colleagues at the Medical Library Association's Quad Chapter Meeting in Baltimore, MD, and at the Geisinger Nursing Research Conference New Healthcare: A Collaborative Approach at Wilkes University.

Their investigation focused on whether digital storytelling would facilitate discussion outside the classroom and improve student engagement by enabling learners to create multimedia reflective narratives surrounding class objectives.

The study was conducted during Penn State Worthington Scranton’s Summer 2012 introductory nursing research course. Findings from their 2011 pilot study will appear in the January 2013 issue of the refereed nursing publication, MedSurg Matters.

Data gathered indicate that digital storytelling increased the learners’ perceived reflective thinking and engagement with the lessons. Students had a generally positive experience, even though they expressed frustration with the technology. By creating a digital dialog and including librarians in these online interactions, faculty can improve student outcomes.

Mr. Evans and Ms. Lyons plan on repeating the study this spring in the same course, adding mobile computing as a new variable.  Anyone interested in learning more can contact either Mr. Evans (mme124@psu.edu) or Ms. Lyons (txl133@psu.edu).

Each year, the Greater Scranton Penn State Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association awards scholarships to students at Penn State Worthington Scranton, recognizing outstanding scholastic achievement.

The recipients of this year’s Greater Scranton Penn State Chapter’s scholarship are:  Davendra Chatterpaul, Scranton; Kasey Flyte, Springbrook Twp., and Jesse Lick, Montdale.  These students met Chapter officers at Penn State Worthington Scranton’s annual scholarship reception, held recently at St. Mary’s Center in Scranton.

Each year, Penn State Worthington Scranton hosts a reception to honor scholarship donors and recipients and provide the recipients and their families an opportunity to meet the donors of the scholarships that they have received.

Each year, the Penn State Worthington Scranton Alumni Society and the Penn State Wayne/Pike Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association sponsor scholarships that are awarded to students attending the University.

The Wayne/Pike Penn State Chapter has an endowed scholarship to recognize academically talented students who are incoming freshmen from high schools in Wayne and Pike counties who are enrolled at Penn State Worthington Scranton.

This year’s recipients are Jonathan Connelly, Dingman’s Ferry, and Timothy Granata, Lake Ariel.

The Penn State Worthington Scranton Alumni Society, comprised of former campus students and graduates, awards its scholarship to full-time campus students who are enrolled in any of Penn State’s degree programs.

This year’s recipient is Andrew Salva, Mayfield.

The recipients met officers from these organizations at Penn State Worthington Scranton’s annual scholarship reception, held recently at St. Mary’s Center in Scranton.

Each year, Penn State Worthington Scranton hosts a reception to honor scholarship donors and recipients and provide the recipients and their families an opportunity to meet the donors of the scholarships that they have received.

Dr. Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, chancellor at Penn State Worthington Scranton, is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Marianne Gable as administrative support coordinator/assistant to the chancellor.

In her new role, she will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the campus’ executive office and assisting the chancellor; providing customer service to the campus’ faculty, staff and visitors; managing executive travel and expenses; managing and coordinating staff meetings; and overseeing the word processing department.

A graduate of Scranton Central High School and Lackawanna College’s Customer Service Certificate Program, she is also a certified phlebotomy technician and member of the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT).

Prior to joining Penn State Worthington Scranton, Mrs. Gable worked at Cinram for over 24 years in a variety of capacities, including six years as executive assistant to the president, secretary to the senior director of WAMO, facilities management secretary, and purchasing secretary.

Mrs. Gable is a volunteer with the Lackawanna River Corridor Association, and when she can she is an usher for the Scranton Cultural Center.

In her spare time she enjoys gardening, cooking, reading, theatre and spending time with family and friends.  She resides in Taylor with her husband and two daughters.

Penn State Worthington Scranton honored its scholarship donors, and recognized the students who received those scholarships on October 4 at a special evening reception at St. Mary’s Center, Scranton.

The annual reception is a Penn State Worthington Scranton tradition, which allows donors the opportunity to personally award their scholarship to the recipient(s) and meet the students and their families.

“I’d like to thank our donors, who make these campus scholarships possible, and congratulate our students here tonight who are the recipients of these scholarships, said Dr. Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, PSWS chancellor.

She also recognized the accomplishments of the students. “You have all worked very hard and made many sacrifices to build a better future for yourselves, and I am delighted that you have chosen Penn State Worthington Scranton as the place to begin the next phase of the journey that will shape your future.”

Donors and recipients were formally acknowledged during the evening’s festivities by Maria Russoniello, director of development at Penn State Worthington Scranton, and Paul Perrone, campus scholarship committee chair and an instructor of English at PSWS.

Scholarships at the campus come from a variety of funding sources, which include private, corporate, and University-sponsored scholarships. Below are the scholarships that were awarded and their recipients.

Scholarships in Perpetuity

John and Patricia Atkins Scholarship: Jacqueline Cook.

Herbert T. Axford Memorial Scholarship: Keri Rogatis and Amanda Smith.

Sharon Baldassari Kornfeld Memorial Scholarship: Elisabeth Cohen.

Margaret Briggs Memorial Scholarship:  Kaylee Banfield, Omar Fernandes, and Earl Sohns.

Violet and Richard Byron Scholarship:  Richard Rogalewicz.

CINRAM Scholarship:  Thipphachanh Phommachanh

Alfred P. (Fred) Ciotti Memorial Scholarship:  Bethany Grace and Adam Martin.

Janet A. Cottone Memorial Scholarship in Nursing: Megan Davis, Amber Gurke, Allison Macias, Allison Miller, Richard Rogalewicz and Bonita Urzen, Jessup.

Harry Dickstein Memorial Scholarship:  Timothy Granata and Mitchell McDonnell.

David M. and Aleen F. Epstein Scholarship:  Kyle Walsh.

Eureka Scholarship:  Katherine Liotta and Angeline Wauran.

James D. and Margaret S. Gallagher Honors Scholarship:  Ian Kopack.

James P. and Catherine M. Gilligan Memorial Scholarship:  Brian Hughes, Ashley Kocher, and George Yakubinsin.

Greater Scranton Jaycees Scholarship:  Marissa Conway.

Greater Scranton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association:  Davendra Chatterpaul, Kasey Flyte, and Jesse Lick.

Hahnemann/Community Medical Center Nursing Alumni Trustee Scholarship:  Ashley Bortel, Lauren Reddon, and D. Laurie Siclari.

Elmer and Louise Hawk College Assistance Grants:  Tyler Richter.

Marie D. and John T. Howe Memorial Scholarship:  Kathryn Lescinski.

Frank and Jean Hubbard Scholarship:  Amanda Cardillo, Patrick Garvey, Danielle Kubelus, Thomas Kubelus, Alexandra Paradise, Rachel Sposito, and Elizabeth Zawicki.

Grace Keen Scholarship:  D. Laurie Siclari.

Keystone Sanitary Landfill Scholarship:  Bryan Holod, Jeffrey Kline, and Rebecca Nagurney.

Anita and George Lesho Scholarship:  Craig Tallarico.

Anne E. Lohmann Memorial Scholarship:  Alison Eroh and Meghan Srour.

Albert J. and Catherine Magnotta Memorial Scholarship:  Patrick Garvey and Marc Rogato.

Lester and Helen Male Memorial Scholarship:  Heidi Yanoski.

Dorothy Schnerr Minelli Memorial Scholarship:  Bryan Burns.

Gino and Jean Cavalieri Mori Scholarship:  Diana Kloss.

Primo and Vittoria Ciuferri Mori/Paul Robeson Memorial Scholarship:  Rachael Okafor.

Eugene C. (Jake) Mullen Memorial Scholarship:  Courtney McDonald.

Jacquelyn Nichols Memorial Scholarship:  Tyler Patchoski.

Winifred and Gerald Payne Memorial Scholarship:  Issac Dean.

The Rice-Butler Family Scholarship:  Connor Moffitt.

Joan B. and Clayton A. Richmond Memorial Scholarship:  Bhavin Patel.

Nicholas and Diane Scandale Scholarship:  Scott Cowan.

Schautz Family Scholarship:  John McVeigh, Gary Palmasani, and Diana Stude.

Scranton Chapter of UNICO:  Marc Rogato.

The Times-Shamrock Scholarship:  David Haas.

James T. Skibinski Memorial Scholarship:  Meet Parikh.

William S. (Billy) Soose Scholarship:  Francesca Rizzo.

Betty and Armond Strutin Memorial Scholarship:  Sarah Snyder and Mark Walter.

Christopher Sturchio Memorial Scholarship:  Amanda Gower.

Warren and Agnes Thomas Memorial Scholarship:  Meghan Srour.

Thomson Scholarship:  Vincent DiNoto.

David and Joyce Mack Tressler Scholarship:  Kyle Pangonis.

United Gilsonite Laboratories Scholarship:  Rachel Ameigh and Emily Enkulenko.

Wells Fargo Bank Scholarship:  Michael Bohenek.

Wayne-Pike Penn State Chapter Scholarship:  Jonathan Connelly and Timothy Granata.

Dr. Stephen J. and Essie Weissberger Scholarship in Memory of Harry and Leah Weissberger and Sam and Irene Zilenchick:  John Argonish.

H. Leigh Woehling Memorial Scholarship:  Christine Byrd.

WFWB Trustee Scholarship:  Joanne Huddy and Lynn Salvati.

Worthington Scranton Alumni Society Scholarship:  Andrew Salva.

Worthington Scranton Lion Ambassadors Scholarship:  Krishna Patel.

Joseph, Sr. and Catherine Zaydon Memorial Scholarship with their children, Dr. Joseph, Jemille and John:  Megan Dailey, Allison Macias, and Colin Striefsky.

Edna and Thomas F. Zenty Trustee Scholarship:  Toni Marie Slack-Miller.

Penn State Worthington Scranton Annual Named Scholarships

Al and Patti Cappelloni Scholarship:  Kirsten Stevens.

The Darlene Ann Dunay Annual Scholarship:  Katherine DiBello.

Albert, Sr. and Mary Alunni Fagnani Annual Memorial Scholarship/Stanley and Mary Sislo Annual Memorial Scholarship:  Shane Gallis, Christopher Krouchick, Kelsey Stewart, and Marlynn Wauran.

M&T Bank Scholarship:  David Ecker.

The Mary Lee Fitzgerald Scholarship:  Levi Schmidt.

The Kato Family Scholarship:  Tia Bird and Shan Mohamed.

Eugene W. and Bonnie Long Annual Scholarship for Veterans:  Christopher Hunt.

James and Margaret Rizzo Memorial Scholarship:  Nicholas Joseph.

Charles A. and Lola D. Sileo Memorial Scholarship:  Devin McGregor.

The Sheridan Family Scholarship:  Anna Mason and Shannon Thomas.

Sorgi Family Scholarship:  Nathanial Carter.

James W. and Noel M. Thomas Family Scholarship:  Jerome Palauskas.

Other gifts in support of scholarships

Ray Alberigi Scholarship:  Nico Fargione.

Louis J. Borini Memorial Scholarship: Anthony Possanza.

The Blue and White Society Scholarship:  Victoria Pettinato.

Century Club of Scranton Nursing Scholarship:  Jordyn Kelly.

2012 Class Gift Scholarship:  Rachel Ameigh.

Dunmore Lions Club Scholarship:  Theresa McAndrew and George Yakubinsin.

The Gelb Foundation Scholarship:  Mollie Fenwick.

Keith Grover Memorial Scholarship:  Greg Leister.

Kerber Family Scholarship in memory:  Anthony Possanza.

Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Scholarship:  Paul Propert.

Jack Jones Memorial Scholarship:  Alison Eroh.

Erich Kurash Memorial Scholarship:  Ashley Krajewski.

Jaclyn Mazur Memorial Scholarship:  April Staretz.

Women in IST Scholarship:  Alicia Ceccacci.

Worthington Scranton Jazz Band/Chorale Scholarship:  Derek Batz and Angela Capone.

Barnes & Noble Presidential Scholarship:  Jorge Bonilla, Scott Cowan, Ethan Lawrence, and Evan Wylam.

Internal Commonwealth Scholarship:  Michael Bohenek, Jorge Bonilla, Deanna Brown, Zachary Carling, Davendra Chatterpaul, Marissa Conway, Jonathan Connelly, Jeffrey Curran, Mollie Fenwick, Kasey Flyte, Ian Kopack, Ethan Lawrence, Kathryn Lescinski, Jesse Lick, Shan Mohamed, Gary Palmasani, Meet Parikh, Levi Schmidt, Mark Walter. and Evan Wylam.

Bayard D. and Ethel M. Kunkle Scholarship:  Akhmet Ashimou, Amanda Gower, Sarah Hammond, Brittany Krukowski, and Sara Puksta.

Penn State Alumni Association Trustee Scholarship for Worthington Scranton:  Nevin Balliet and Marianna Suslin.

Penn State Worthington Scranton Scholarship:  Heather Konrad, Mitchell McDonnell, Ali Mirzaaghakhan, and Meet Parikh.

Penn State Worthington Scranton Trustee Scholarship:  Katherine Liotta and Amy Smith.

Esther Bauer, former Auschwitz concentration camp prisoner and holocaust survivor, travels the country recounting her story of imprisonment, survival and liberation to students as often as she can, so that they will “learn what happened and see to it that it never happens again.”

Her bounding energy and joy for life is infectious and leaves audiences filled with respect, awe and appreciation for the indestructability of the human spirit.

On Wednesday, October 17 at 7 p.m. at Penn State Worthington Scranton, she will recount her experiences as a Holocaust survivor, well as her message of hope and determination to “live each day, have fun and be a human being.”

Born in Hamburg, Germany in 1924, she found herself, along with her parents, both doctors, deported to a ghetto in Czechoslovakia where they became prisoners. Her father died six weeks later. After two years there, she married, and eventually found herself, her mother and new husband in Auschwitz, where her husband was murdered and her mother eventually died. 

Esther survived and experienced exhilaration at being liberated.  In her lecture, she will recount all of her experiences as well as her message of hope and appreciation for life.

The lecture will be held in The View Café in the campus’ Study Learning Center. It is free and open to the public.

Mr. Keating's presentation, titled "The First 25 Years" will give an overview of his company from its creation, through the years to the present day, as it became a successful local business that produces cigars that are extremely popular and well-known regionally, and sold throughout the country as well.

Avanti, located in Scranton, produces Parodi, DeNobili, Avanti, Petri, and several other regionally recognized brand names for the Toscano-style cigar market, as well as flavored cigars. All told, the company manufactures and distributes over 30 million, 100% U.S. tobacco cigars annually. In fact, Avanti still produces more all-tobacco cigars than any other U.S. company.

Mr. Keating's presentation will be Wednesday, October 10 at noon in the campus' Sherbine Lounge inside the Study Learning Center.

The PSWS UNICO Italian Heritage Series was made possible thanks to a permanent endowment established by the Scranton Chapter of UNICO National. The endowment specifically funds a three-tiered program in Italian Studies, Heritage and Culture at Worthington Scranton that focuses on academics, co-curricular and out-of-classroom experiences, as well as community outreach.

The program is designed to complement the campus’ existing cultural offerings in Spanish, French, German and Chinese, while expanding learning opportunities for students and community members interested in furthering their knowledge of Italian culture and heritage.

“This endowment from UNICO allows the campus to expand upon this existing interest by creating additional opportunities for cultural enrichment, particularly for those interested in further exploring Italian history, heritage and culture,” said Dr. Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, PSWS chancellor. “UNICO’s generosity will allow us to make Italian studies an integral part of our campus’ curriculum in perpetuity.”

Penn State Worthington Scranton has supported the educational and cultural Scranton Reads program for several years, hosting speakers, panel discussions, and through the volunteer efforts of Dr. Kelley Wagers, assistant professor of English at the campus.

This year, the campus will host a lecture on herbal medicine by local nurse and holistic nurse practioner Mary Elaine Southard on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 12:15 p.m. in the SLC’s Sherbine Lounge. The discussion will encompass the subject of herbal medicine in the context of its presence in this year’s Scranton Reads book selection, Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya.

Then, on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m., Dr. Beatriz Rivera-Barnes, associate professor of Spanish and author of many scholarly essays on Minor/Minority literature and ecocriticism, as well as several fictional novels and short stories, will participate in a panel discussion of Latin American Literature hosted by Marywood University.

She will be one of several local scholars, writers and religious leaders taking part in the discussion, which will be in Marywood’s Comerford Theater, in the Natural Health and Sciences Center.

Dr. Rivera-Barnes has been a faculty member at Penn State Worthington Scranton for over nine years and was the recipient of the 2007 International Latino Book Award for her novel, Do Not Pass Go, for which she was also a finalist for the 2007 Paterson Fiction prize.

Scranton Reads is an annual regional effort that organizes activities around a single work of literature in order to promote reading among people of all ages. If you would like more information on these events or the Scranton Reads program, you can contact Dr. Wagers (kjw14@psu.edu) or visit www.scrantonreads.org.

Dr. Philip Mosley, professor of English and comparative literature, has been invited to judge the 18th annual, national full-length poetry book competition held by Bright Hill Literary Center in Treadwell, New York.

Dr. Mosley, who read from his own work at Bright Hill in April 2012, will choose a winner and four runners-up from a shortlist of 20 to 25 unpublished volumes and will introduce the winner at Bright Hill in 2013.

He is the author of several literature translations, including Bruges-la-Morte by Georges Rodenbach; The Intelligence of Flowers, along with a related piece, Scents by Maurice Maeterlinck; October Long Sunday by Guy Vaes; Tea Masters, Teahouses by Werner Lambersy; and Francois Jacqmin’s The Book of the Snow.

Dr. Mosley is also known locally for his work as editor of Anthracite! An Anthology of Pennsylvania Coal Region Plays, a collection of six plays about the coal mining industry and the injustices and hardships of regional mining life.

Bright Hill is an independent not-for-profit corporation founded in 1992. It is dedicated to increasing audiences' appreciation of the writing arts and oral traditions that comprise American literature, and encouraging and furthering the tradition of oral poetry and writing.

It offers literary programs to people of all ages, serving residents of New York’s Catskill Mountain region, greater New York, and throughout the U.S.

Diabetes is a disease that affects over 27 million Americans. The Step Out Walk is an annual event organized by the American Diabetes Association, which funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes, delivers services to communities across the country and provides information about the disease to the general public.

This year's walk will take place on Sunday, October 28 in downtown Scranton.

Anyone interested in participating can do so by going to www.diabetes.org and clicking on Step Out Walk and registering. You can then search by zip code -- 18512, click on NEPA walk, then join the Penn State Nursing team by entering your information.

If you are unable to participate in this year’s event, but still want to help a worthwhile cause, you can donate money to the Penn State Nursing Team. To do that, simply drop off your donation with either Mary Runco or Michael Evans in the campus’ Nursing Suite, in the lower level of the library building.

Last year Worthington Scranton’s SNA raised over $1,000 for the cause and are hoping to do even better this year. They are asking that the campus community help them in their efforts.

For more information, contact Mike Evans, PSWS nursing instructor at mme124@psu.edu.

On Friday, Aug. 24, Penn State Worthington Scranton held its 19th convocation ceremony and freshman orientation.

Faculty, staff, student leaders and volunteers, and administrators helped to welcome the incoming Class of 2016 as they began their college careers.

Over 220 students attended the convocation and orientation activities, which were deemed a huge success by organizers.

Students were welcomed by Dr. Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, Chancellor, Dr. W. Charles Patrick, Chief Academic Officer and Dr. Debra Smarkusky, Associate Professor in Information Sciences and Technology and the 2012 recipient of the PSWS Advisory Board Award for Teaching.  A PSWS alumna, Dr. Smarkusky was the convocation speaker and had plenty of advice for the new undergrads.

“Your academic career will be challenging, sometimes frustrating, but most importantly rewarding, and full of new experiences,” said Dr. Smarkusky, known as ‘Dr. Deb’ to her students.

“If you are passionate about something, you will not only be happy, but you will be successful,” she assured them. “Find your passion, select a major that allows you to follow that passion, and you are ready to start your academic career. You are here to build the academic foundation to jumpstart your career.”

Sharing what she learned when she was an undergraduate, Dr. Smarkusky challenged this year’s freshmen students to go outside of their comfort zones and offered some invaluable tips and insights aimed at helping them succeed.

“Pick courses in areas that you currently know nothing about, but sound interesting or may provide opportunities for future advancement or transfer in job locations.”

“Get to know your professors; attend class; communicate; earn a good grade; manage your time; and apply for scholarships,” she advised, adding that just as important to students’ success is getting involved in co-curricular activities.

“To truly experience all that Penn State has to offer, you need to get involved,” she stressed, urging students to attend interesting presentations on campus, to join clubs and groups, and/or volunteer.  “These activities communicate to an employer that you are responsible, show up to work when scheduled, and that you can juggle more than one task at a time.”

Echoing those sentiments was Student Government Association President Julia “Jewels” Greenlaw, who shared her personal experiences in getting involved in campus clubs and activities at the campus and how it enriched her college experience – helping her to make friends and in learning leadership and out-of-classroom skills.

After the convocation ceremony, students heard from orientation leaders who briefed them on all aspects of college life at Penn State Worthington Scranton -- from academics to financial aid to the various campus groups, clubs and athletic teams they can get involved with.

Students were then treated to a barbecue where they could mix and mingle with fellow freshmen, as well as current students, faculty and staff before meeting with their academic program advisors.

On Monday, the newly minted freshmen attended their first college classes as Penn State Worthington Scranton students.

The campus bookstore is also open to the public, so local residents interested in supporting the cause can visit the bookstore during normal business hours to purchase shirts and support the cause as well. 

The front of the BLUE OUT shirt features the child abuse awareness blue ribbon logo and the words “2012 Blue Out – Stop Child Abuse!”  On the back is, "We are…One Team, One School, One Heart, One Promise” and also lists the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) website.

Worthington Scranton is one of many campuses across the University's Commonwealth Campus system selling the shirts, which are for Penn State's BLUE OUT football game against Temple on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Beaver Stadium.

Cost of the shirt is $15, with $7 of each sale benefitting the (PCAR).  For more information on PCAR, visit  www.pcar.org.

PSWS bookstore hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, from August 27 through 30, the bookstore will have extended hours from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Annette Blasi-Strubeck, RN, MSN, CCRN, joins the PSWS faculty as an Instructor of Nursing. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing and two master’s degrees in Health Service Administration and Nursing Administration from Marywood University. She is a licensed registered nurse for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

She has over 25 years experience as an intensive care unit nurse and while working in the Intensive Care Unit at Moses Taylor Hospital, she participated in the development and implementation of the hospital’s Rapid Response Team (RRT).

Ms. Blasi-Strubeck is also an ACLS instructor and has been a clinical instructor at PSWS since 2009 and is a member of the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau - International Honor Society of Nursing and Alpha Epsilon Lambda Honor Society.

Carol Reed has been hired as an instructor of mathematics. She received her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics/Secondary Education Certification from Albright College and her master’s in mathematics from Lehigh University. She has experience teaching algebra and calculus at Lehigh Carbon Community College and previously was the assistant varsity field hockey coach for the Eastern Lancaster County School District.

Ms. Reed has published Writing to Enhance Mathematical Understanding in the 2005-2006 Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of Mathematics Yearbook and has attended several mathematics workshops and presented at five mathematics annual conferences. She holds several professional and academic memberships.

When Patricia Masters, a nursing student at Penn State Worthington Scranton, decided to hold a fundraiser to benefit victims of child sexual abuse as her final class project for her Social Problems 005 class, she wasn’t exactly sure what the end result would be.

On August 7 she found out.

Her Happy Hour Fundraiser at Kildare’s in downtown Scranton that evening raised nearly $2,000 for The Children’s Advocacy Center, which provides a full range of services to children who are victims of abuse, and a lot of awareness for the Center and its cause. Organizers estimated the attendance that night as over 150 individuals.

Students, faculty, and the general public paid $20 to attend, half of which was donated by Kildare’s to the Center, and raffle tickets were sold.  A total of 28 gift baskets were up for grabs, a testament to the hard work Ms. Masters, and some of her fellow classmates did prior to the event to get local businesses and vendors to donate items so that additional funds could be raised.

Maripat O’Donnell, instructor for the Social Problems 005 class, praised Ms. Masters’ efforts and all the hard work she put into the fundraiser.  “Patricia really worked very hard on this and I’m glad to see it’s turned out so well,” she said on the evening of the event, as friends and supporters started filing into Kildare’s for the event.

Mary Ann LaPorta, executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center, said that local Penn State Worthington Scranton alumni have historically been supportive of the CAC’s efforts and mission, but with this particular effort, she found it even more philosophically important that the iniative for this fundraiser came through a student at the campus.

“What she was able to pull off, in a relatively short timeframe, was incredible,” Ms. LaPorta said. “We were all energized and inspired by the level of commitment that Patricia had; and even more impressive was that she made the connection between the curriculum of the course she was studying and the tragedy of child abuse, and took it upon herself to do something about it.”

Final class projects are a pretty standard assignment for many college students and typically take the form of research papers, video projects, models, or a compilation of graphs and charts outlining the outcomes of student theories and research the student studied or conducted over the course of a semester.

However, sometimes a student thinks of project that not only takes on a life of its own, but also becomes something more than just another class project.

That is exactly what happened with the final class project idea Patricia Masters came up with.

Ms. Masters, a Penn State Worthington Scranton nursing student taking Social Problems 005, came up with the idea of doing a fundraiser that would actually help a regional social service agency.

She met with her instructor, Maripat O’Donnell, and discussed the idea: hold a fundraiser that would be fun, social, get students and the community involved, and could be done in the few weeks’ time she had left before the semester ended and her final project was due.

Her project is now a reality and on August 7, the work that Ms. Masters and a handful of other Worthington Scranton students has done, will come to fruition during a two-hour Happy Hour Fundraiser at Kildare’s in Scranton, benefitting The Children’s Advocacy Center, which provides a full range of services to children who are victims of abuse.

On August 7, from 7 to 9 p.m., Kildare’s will host the fundraiser featuring free drinks and appetizers for a fee of $20 being charged at the door, along with music provided free of charge by local disc jockey Deb Wilson. There will also be donated raffle prizes from area businesses and organizations for a 50-50 raffle, as well as special basket raffles.

Half of all the proceeds collected at the door, as well as all the money received from the baskets and the 50/50 raffles, will be donated to the Children's Advocacy Center.

“I wanted to do something unique and different for my final project; something that would really help others,” Ms. Masters said.  “The Children’s Advocacy Center does wonderful work in our community and is a very deserving organization.  Also, with the recent events that have taken place over the past few months at Penn State, as a Penn State Worthington Scranton student, I wanted to do something positive for children -- to show everyone what Penn State and Penn State students are really all about.”

Along with fellow classmates Nicole Klimash, Eric Kuhn, and Craig Pezak, Ms. Masters has been visiting area businesses to collect donations, raffle prizes, and post flyers in order to get the word out about this student-organized event.

“Patricia has been working endlessly on this task,” said her instructor Maripat O’Donnell, “and hopefully we’ll have a great turnout the night of the event.”

The event, which is completely student-initiated and student-organized, is open to the public. Anyone interested in attending, or helping out by donating raffle/gift items is asked to contact Patricia Masters via email at pem144@psu.edu.

Dr. W. Charles Patrick has been named the new Chief Academic Officer and professor of engineering at Penn State Worthington Scranton. 

He came to PSWS from Morehead State University in northeast Kentucky, where he was the Assistant Vice President of the University College.  In that role, he managed general education, assessment, accreditation, testing, professional development, first year programs, academic advising and retention for MSU.  He also directed the accreditation reaffirmation at MSU from 2008-2011.  He is a graduate of WV Institute of Technology, WV University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Virginia Tech, where he got his PhD in engineering.  Prior to his position at MSU, Dr. Patrick spent three years on the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh.    

Before moving into administrative roles, Dr. Patrick was a university faculty member for 26 years.  He taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including online courses.  He received the MSU Distinguished Teacher Award in 2001 and was named the Outstanding Technology Professor in 2005 by the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering, as well as being recognized in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2006. 

Dr. Patrick is a graduate of the MSU President’s Leadership Academy in 2007, when he was also named a Kentucky Colonel.  In 2008, he received the Exemplary Service Award from the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering.  At MSU, he served in the Faculty Senate for 10 years, holding many leadership positions including Senate Chairperson in 1996-97. 

In his professional career, Dr. Patrick has published 32 refereed articles in professional journals and proceedings. He also has over 50 presentations at professional conferences and meetings. In 2004, he authored a project management textbook, which was published by Prentice Hall.  He helped write and administer several research grants from the National Science Foundation and the Eisenhower Math and Science project. 

As a licensed professional engineer (PE), Dr. Patrick is an active engineering consultant, including many “not for profit” civic projects.  He and his wife Martha have been married for more than 30 years and together, they’ve raised three children - Kyle, Evan, and Anne.

Jonathan Tobin is the new Coordinator, Career Development and Placement (Career Counselor) at Penn State Worthington Scranton.

He has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, having most recently been a graduate admissions counselor at Marywood University. He also served as the associate director of the Career Development Center at Shippensburg University for eight years and was an admissions director and counselor at Central Pennsylvania College.

In his new role at Worthington Scranton, Mr. Tobin will assist current students in career exploration, solidifying career and life goals, and obtaining the experiences and skills they need to provide for a smooth transition into the workforce after graduation. He will also work to develop and enhance relationships between students, faculty, employers and Penn State alumni.

In addition, he will also be responsible for career counseling services; educational programming in regards to career searches and exploration; preparing students for the job application and interview process; and job recruitment activities such as internships, job/internship postings and contacts, job search techniques, career fairs, and on-campus interview programs.

Mr. Tobin holds a master's degree in counseling with a concentration in student personnel from Shippensburg University and a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University.

He is also the owner and operator of That Shake Place in Jefferson Township. 

Michelle K. Schutt has been hired as the campus’ director of student services where she will supervise financial aid, counseling, student activities, career services and student health.

She received her bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University in English Education, a master’s in English Education from Emporia State University, and a master’s in Social Responsibility from St. Cloud State University.  Ms. Schutt is in the process of completing her doctorate in College and University Leadership from Colorado State University.

Prior to joining Penn State Worthington Scranton, Ms. Schutt had previously worked at the University of Wyoming, where she served as the assistant director of residence life since 2007. 

In that role, her responsibilities included overseeing the academic progress and retention of first-year students; collaborating with academic and student affairs to encourage student success and retention; and conducted training for programs for student support staff, faculty and students.

Her professional experience covers many aspects of student services, including: hiring and training; judicial affairs; conference services; student programming; new student orientation; budget oversight; and emergency response and crisis management.

Ms. Schutt has relocated to the area with her husband Clay and their three children. She and her family enjoy spending time outdoors, reading, and theatre.

FORE the Glory of Old State!  Local Penn State alumni will hold their 24^th Annual Penn State Worthington Scranton Alumni Society/James D. Gallagher Golf Tournament at the Country Club of Scranton on Monday, June 18.

The tournament will include a hearty lunch, free cocktail hour, filet mignon dinner, large PSU picnic blanket, free golfer raffle and giveaways, special event holes, and a great round of golf at one of the area’s premier golf courses.

Cost per golfer is $185 and everyone is welcome to attend – alumni, fans, and friends!

Golf sponsors are also needed and are critical to this fundraising effort, with proceeds going to the Alumni Society’s pledge for Worthington Scranton student scholarships and special projects that enhance the learning environment at Penn State Worthington Scranton.

The Nittany Lion also will be in attendance and available for photos and visiting with golfers on the course.

For more information, call the Penn State Worthington Scranton Alumni Office 963-2537.

Golfer registration and sponsorships must be received in advance. Forms are available at www.psualum.com/affiliate/wsas. Deadline for sponsorship, which includes on-course signage, is June 8.

Gary Edstrom, head coach for Penn State Worthington Scranton’s women’s and men’s cross country teams, and an academic advisor in the campus’ Division of Undergraduate Studies, has been named Cross Country Coach of the Year for the fifth time by the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC).

Coach Edstrom was honored for his achievement at a special ceremony at the PSUAC’s annual Spring Awards Luncheon earlier this month at University Park.

An active runner, he has a running career spanning nearly 40 years, and has covered distances from the half-mile to the half-marathon. He has also coached teams in all age groups from youth soccer to military sports programs.

In 2007, his women’s cross country team at Worthington Scranton won its first PSUAC state title – the first ever for the campus, and then brought home four more consecutive PSUAC championships in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. The team also competed in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championship meets in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, finishing in the top five each year; with second place finishes in 2009 and 2010.

Three of his women runners have earned USCAA All-American honors and eight earned spots on the USCAA All-Academic Cross Country Team.

The men’s teams have earned “at-large” bids to nationals by placing second in the conference for the past four years. Several of those runners have earned spots on the USCAA All-Academic Team and one made the 2011-12 PSUAC All-Conference team.

A member of Penn State Worthington Scranton’s staff since 2000, Coach Edstrom has received the PSUAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year award four previous times; in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.  He was also the Worthington Scranton recipient for Penn Stater of the Quarter in 2005; and the K. Bruce Sherbine Penn State Proud Award in 2009.

“It’s always an honor to be selected for such an award, but I give all the credit to the student athletes that I have the pleasure of coaching,” Coach Edstrom said. “They are out there day after day putting in the miles and working hard to improve their performances.  I couldn’t have accomplished any of this without their dedication and hard work.”

Coach Edstrom earned an associate’s degree in Letters, Arts, and Sciences from Penn State; his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Bloomsburg University; a master’s degree in adult education from Penn State and a master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion from California University of Pennsylvania. He is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT) and holds certifications in First Aid, CPR and AED.

He resides in Taylor with his wife Susan and daughters Kelsey and Aubrey.

An increase in enrollments in general music courses at Penn State Worthington Scranton over the past few years, coupled with the growth of the campus’ Chorale and Jazz and Concert bands, created a need for a music and technology teaching and rehearsal room.

However, due to regular semester space requirements, the room also had to continue to serve as a standard classroom in support of all subject areas.

The task for devising such a space fell to the campus’ Information Technology Services department.

The result was a multi-functional music and technology classroom, that is regularly used by the campus’ musical performing groups; as a classroom for a new and unique music technology course, in which music instruction is combined with computer programming classes; as well as a general classroom space that is used on a daily basis by a number of faculty from different disciplines.

This past month, Ryan Moskalczak, information technology specialist, and Griff Lewis, instructional designer, of Worthington Scranton’s ITS department, presented this project at the TechPros 2012 Conference, held at Penn State’s Berks Campus.

The TechPros conference is dedicated to front line and backroom technical employees at Penn State’s campuses and aims to improve and create development and networking opportunities for campus information technology professionals. 

It serves as a platform to share solutions and showcase best practices so that all Penn State campuses can benefit and improve information technology services across the University.

Dr. Éva Tettenborn, associate professor of English and program coordinator of American Studies at Penn State Worthington Scranton, has been selected as a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Scholar and will participate in the 2012 NEH Summer Institute “Contemporary African American Literature.”

Dr. Tettenborn was selected as an NEH Summer Scholar from a national applicant pool to attend one of 20 seminars and institutes supported by the NEH. 

The three-week program will be held at Penn State’s main campus in State College and will be directed by Dr. Lovalerie King, director of the Africana Research Center at Penn State.

The institute will feature lectures and seminars conducted by renowned scholars of African American literature.  The approximately 419 NEH Summer Scholars who participate in these programs of study will teach over 73,000 American students the following year.  

The Endowment is a federal agency that, each summer, supports these enrichment opportunities at colleges, universities, and cultural institutions, so that faculty can work in collaboration and study with experts in humanities disciplines.

Topics for the 20 seminars and institutes offered for college and university teachers this summer include Oscar Wilde and His Circle; French history and National Identity Since 1990; Health and Disease in the Middle Ages; World War I in the Middle East; Jane Austen and Her Contemporaries; Tudor Books and Readers; Commemoration, Empire, and the City of Rome; Liberty, Equality, and Justice in Domestic and Global Contexts; Leonardo da Vinci; Mesoamerica and the Southwest; Visual Culture of the American Civil War; American Maritime History; Roman Comedy in Performance; Contemporary African-American Literature; Knowledge Networks in the Medieval Muslim-Christian-Jewish Mediterranean; Consciousness from Buddhist and Contemporary Philosophical Perspectives; Experimental Philosophy; Asian-American Art, Research, and Teaching; The Etruscan and Early Roman City.

The two also presented to their colleagues and peers at a faculty seminar held at Penn State Worthington Scranton.

The pair's research focused on whether the use of asynchronous discussion boards as an adjuntive teaching strategy to traditional classroom lecture in an undergraduate nursing research course leads to differences in student satisfaction and reflective thinking.

Their research was conducted at Worthington Scranton during the 2011 Fall semester in the Nursing 200w course, which was taught by Dr. Milton Evans.

Throughout the study, students were expected to respond to faculty posted discussion questions regarding nursing research, as well as responding to two of their peers' postings with a "thought extending" posting. Results of the study showed that this blended learning teaching modality increased reflective thinking and student satisfaction among the students.

While the study did not produce statistically significant results, due to the small sample size, it did prove that utilizing interdisciplinary teaching in a blended learning format through asynchronous discussion boards on ANGEL can be an effective teaching tool. It also showed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among librarians and course specific disciplines to enhance student outcomes. 

Mr. Evans and Ms. Lyons plan on repeating the study again this summer in the same course.

Anyone interested in learning more about the study can contact either Mr. Evans or Ms. Lyons via email; mme124@psu.edu for Mr. Evans; or Tierney@psu.edu for Ms. Lyons.

Penn State Worthington Scranton held its 44^th Commencement on Friday, May 4 during a ceremony in the campus’ Multi-Purpose Building. 

Penn State Worthington Scranton Chancellor Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, Ph.D. presided, and Frank Marcos, Penn State Worthington Scranton advisory board member and retired vice chairman of Deloitte Tax LLP in New York City, delivered the commencement address. 

Mr. Marcos was introduced by PSWS Advisory Board Chair Maryla Scranton. Kathy Zielinski, campus alumni society president, offered the alumni charge to the new group of Penn State Worthington Scranton alumni.

Dr. Margret Hatch, program coordinator for the campus’ science program and an associate professor of biology, served as faculty marshal for the ceremony.

“On behalf of our entire campus community, I want to express how honored we are to be here tonight to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments and hard work of these graduating students,” said Dr. Krogh-Jespersen. 

“We wish these students, now Penn State University alumni, all the best as they leave here to pursue their future endeavors, and we take great pride and pleasure in knowing that we have provided them the tools they need to meet the career and academic challenges that await them.”

Penn State Worthington Scranton granted baccalaureate degrees in American Studies; Business;  English; Human Development and Family Studies; Information Sciences and Technology; Letters, Arts and Sciences; Nursing; Media Studies; and Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering.

Associate degrees were awarded in:  Building Engineering Technology; Business Administration; Human Development and Family Studies; Information Sciences and Technology; Letters, Arts and Sciences; and Nursing.

Several students graduated with honors of distinction. 

Graduating with Highest Distinction:  Donna M. Pettite, Newfoundland.

Graduating with high distinction: Alyssa A. Eisenbach, Elmhurst Twp.; Diana K. Kloss, Clifton Twp.; Jacklyn S. Smith, Scott Twp.; and Shahub Tossi, Clarks Summit.

Graduating with distinction:  Cheryl A. Evans, Scranton; Brian J. Hughes, Peckville; Nicole L. Kargul, Lake Ariel; Colin Kearney, Dunmore; Kimberly A. Kwitkoski, Waymart; Preston E. Propert, Susquehanna; Jennifer C. Smedley, Carbondale; and April A. Staretz, Simpson. 

The following Penn State Worthington Scranton 2012 graduates, by Penn State college and degree earned are:

Bachelor of Arts, American Studies:  Larissa L. Fallon, Kingsley; Joseph R. Moss, Scranton; and Christopher R. Wallick, Taylor.

Associate in Engineering Technology, Building Engineering Technology:  John Alexander III, Olyphant; Alex H. Brady, Clarks Summit; and Robert F. Purcell, Clarks Summit.

Associate in Science, Business Administration:  Cheryl A. Evans, Scranton; Kimberly A. Kwitkoski, Waymart; Nicholas C. Reuther Jr., Roaring Brook Twp.; Kristen A. Tiger, Olyphant; and Lisa M. Torch, Throop.

Bachelor of Science, Business:  Masi Abdul Latif, Scranton; Robert P. Altemier, Lake Ariel; Cameron G. Canning, Newfoundland; Breeann M. Connellis, Milford; Amy O. Decker, Peckville; Angelo J. Deprimo, Dunmore; Joel Galdieri, Scranton; Jeffrey J. Grizzanti, Greenfield Twp.; Timothy E. Gronski, Jonestown; Casey J. Judge, Taylor; Samantha L. Kenney, Scranton; Brenton A. Ledoux, Tobyhanna; Stacey R. Madden, Lake Ariel; Raymond T. McGarry, Pittston; Lindsey M. Mellow, Jessup; Elijah G. Miller, Harvey’s Lake; Oluyomi A. Ojo, Scranton; Michael J. Orr, Dunmore; Melissa L. Ortins, Pittston;  Cynthia J. Parker, Middletown; Patrick J. Perry, Alexandria, VA; Casey D. Pethick, Newfoundland; Kelsey M. Prestosh, Gouldsboro; Stephen P. Quigley, Dunmore; Anthony Sacco, Scranton; Siobhan E. Sadusky, Bear Creek Twp.; Kathleen M. Shoener, Scranton; Franceska J. Sweeney, Madison Twp.; Shahub Tossi, Clarks Summit; Marc P. Vanston, Jessup; and Joshua B. Wysocki, Olyphant.

Bachelor of Arts, English:  Nicole E. Navoczynski, Scranton;

Associate in Science, Human Development and Family Studies:  Megan A. Derenick, Taylor; and Kelly M. Diaz, Elmhurst Twp.

Bachelor of Science, Human Development and Family Studies:  Michael A. Cipilewski, Waymart; Jacquelin L. Dougherty, Carbondale; Alison C. Durante, Lake Ariel; Melissa M. Dutcher, Scranton; Arielle L. Fallas, Archbald; Bradley C. Howell, Old Forge; Heather Hudak, Jessup; Dana M. Kaspar, Moscow; Rebecca A. Kinsey, Dunmore; Patrick M. Mischello, Old Forge; Stephanie M. Silfee, Scranton; Brandi M. Smith, Madison Twp.; Trudy L. Stranko, Springbrook; Brittany N. Vennero, Throop; and Tessa E. Werner, Clarks Summit.

Associate in Science, Information Sciences and Technology:  Casey Dugan, Honesdale; and Gregory A. Santarelli Jr., Jessup.

Bachelor of Science, Information Sciences and Technology:  Edward K. Dunsinger, Honesdale; Matthew Esolen, Archbald; Derek J. Gaughan, Nicholson; John M. Hreha III, Archbald; Andrew M. Nichols, New Milford; Christopher C. Proch, Gouldsboro; Preston E. Propert, Susquehanna; Chad M. Smith, Cresco; and Melanie A. Wheeler, Spring Brook Twp.

Associate in Arts, Letters, Arts and Sciences:  Sean Casey, Archbald; Alyssa M. Cianfichi, Roaring Brook Twp.; Brianna J. Ellefsen, Dickson City; Donald W. Holdridge Jr., South Abington Twp.; Marie J. Lavelle, Moosic; and Anjelica R. Sandy, Scranton.

Bachelor of Arts, Letters, Arts and Sciences:  Ashley A. Beichler, Dalton; Amber E. Clifford, Throop; Lindsay M. Dwyer, Newfoundland; Patrick Q. Finnerty, Scranton; Deanna E. Kilmer, Scott Twp.; Jennifer J. Kimes, Scranton; Brittni L. Lipinski, Scranton; Nina A. Scavo, Old Forge; Victoria A. Semon, Plains; Shawn M. Thomas, Scranton; Paul A. Tumavitch, Old Forge; and Nadine H. Yedesko, Dupont.

Associate in Science, Nursing:  Jill Balko, Scranton; Nicholas J. Barni, Tunkhannock; Gina L. Bonham, Edwardsville; Melissa S. Borys, Carbondale; Leslie L. Buckingham, Avoca; John A. Bukowski, Throop; Maria L. Capwell, Jefferson Twp.; Jacqueline A. Cook, Drexel Hill; Marcus J. Cruz, Scranton; Christina A. Dennis, Dunmore; Thomas F. Doherty, Dunmore; Rachel M. Dubois, Scranton; Alyssa A. Eisenbach, Elmhurst Twp.; Jennifer M. Erdmann, Scott Twp.;  Josue C. Etienne, Philadelphia; Bryana M. Ettinger, Dickson City; Shelly-Ann N. Fagan, Archbald; Allyson K. Favuzza, Madison Twp.; Phailinh Gaylets, Taylor; Althea N. Gonzalez, Scranton; James J. Graham III, Lake Ariel; Jennifer Haney, Dingman’s Ferry; Jessica L. Herb, Harvey’s Lake; Michele J. Herbert, Hop Bottom; Brian J. Hughes, Peckville; Kimberly E. Hunadi, Palmerton; Amy L. Juice, Scranton; William C. Kane, Scranton; Nicole L. Kargul, Lake Ariel; Colin Kearney, Dunmore; Wendy C. Kelly, Newfoundland; Alexa A. Kerecman, Throop; Diana K. Kloss, Clifton Twp.; Kathleen Y. Knott, Jessup; Lindsay M. Kokindo, Dickson City; Christopher P. Lewis, Eynon; Kimberly C. Maddage, Archbald; Brikele Mallick, Carbondale; Amber L. Martin, Moscow; Laura A. Merrill, Olyphant; Tina M. Nagle, Wapwallopen; Nicole A. Nahlen, Dunmore; Nicole M. Negvesky, Tunkhannock; Samantha A. Nelson, Dickson City; Jane A. Osborn, Springville; Diana J. Perciballi, Scranton; Carly A. Porterfield, Scranton; Janine C. Price, Scranton; Meagan D. Prime, Old Forge; Anthony J. Pusateri, Clarks Summit; Kelly A. Reesey, Dunmore; Richard J. Robinson III, Scranton; Autumn S. Rogers, Jessup; Leah N. Roman, Moosic; Melisa S. Seferyn, Shickshinny; Sarahjean D. Seymour, Scranton; Jennifer M. Sheare, Scranton; Tara L. Shoemaker, Dickson City; Dlaurie A. Siclari, Lake Ariel; Erin E. Sillner, Scranton; Jennifer C. Smedley, Carbondale; Kenneth D. Smith, Honesdale; Jennifer N. Soderman, Wilkes-Barre; April A. Staretz, Simpson; Amanda K. To, Pittston; Debra Voytek, Scranton; Justin J. Ware, Clifton; and Dawn M. Warnken, Wyoming.

Bachelor of Science, Nursing:  Kathleen T. Barrett, Henryville; April L. Ciesielski, Lake Ariel; Debra L. Desanto, Dunmore; Michael D. Fowler Jr., Scranton; Jill N. Gordon, Schuylkill Haven; Daniel Harmuth, Lake Ariel; Deanna L. Jurbala, Scranton; Hollyanne M. Kupinski, Clarks Summit; Jill Lennon, Dickson City; Todd J. Lucke, Clarks Summit; Kelsey A. Madden, Lake Ariel; Judith A. Mercatilli, Archbald; Danielle A. Ogden, Dunmore; Donna M. Pettite, Newfoundland; Arthur J. Price II, Scranton; Donna M. Rovinsky, Mayfield; Jerome D. Scott Jr., Scranton; John F. Sharp, Dupont; Rhonda F. Sheehan, Eynon; Jacklyn S. Smith, Scott Twp.; Irida Suarez, Gouldsboro; Eric A. Taylor, Pittston; Bianca Warner, Scranton; Tracy Whitman, Scranton; Judith A. Williams, Albrightsville; and Igor V. Yarosh, Honesdale.

Bachelor of Arts, Media Studies:  Nicole K. Thomas, Moosic.

Bachelor of Science, Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering:  Patrick J. Cunningham, Peckville.

Renowned poet, author and educator Maria Mazziotti Gillan, visited Penn State Worthington Scranton recently to share some of her works as part of the UNICO Italian Heritage Series at Penn State Worthington Scranton.

Ms. Mazziotti Gillan is the founder and executive director of the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College in Paterson, NJ and the editor of the Paterson Literary Review. She is also the director of the creative writing program and a professor of poetry at Binghamton University-SUNY.

She has published 14 books of poetry and her work has appeared in Prairie Schooner, New Letters, The New York Times, Poetry Ireland, Connecticut Review, The Los Angeles Review, The Christian Science Monitor, LIPS, and Rattle, as well as numerous other journals and anthologies.

Her poems have been read by Garrison Keillor on The Writer’s Almanac, and she has been interviewed and read her poems on National Public Radio’s (NPR) All Things Considered, The Brian Lehrer Show, The Poet and the Poem, and The Leonard Lopate Show, as well as In Honor of National Poetry Month, The Charles Osgood Show on CBS-Radio, Pacifica Radio, and the Voice of America.

She has been featured on several PBS-TV (Public Broadcasting System) programs and her books have been chosen as Editor’s Choice by Booklist, New York Public Library Book List, and one of the American Library Association’s Outstanding Books for Lifelong Learners.

Her poems are included on state and national tests in North Carolina, Tennessee, Minnesota, Texas and Italy.

In addition to her recent appearance at Penn State Worthington Scranton, she has read her poems numerous times at universities, festivals and poetry centers throughout the USA and in Italy, France, Yugoslavia, Finland, Wales and Ireland. The Maria Mazziotti Gillan Collection of her papers is housed at the Binghamton University Libraries.

The program that hosted Ms. Mazziotti Gillan was made possible thanks to a permanent endowment established by the Scranton Chapter of UNICO National. The endowment funds a three-tiered program in Italian Studies, Heritage and Culture at Worthington Scranton that focuses on academics, co-curricular and out-of-classroom experiences, as well as community outreach.

UNICO National is an Italian American, membership-based service organization that works to increase the prestige of the Italian American community through its activities and volunteer efforts in the community and for various charities, as well as scholarship awards, fundraising efforts and holiday observances.

Penn State Worthington Scranton and the Scranton Chapter of UNICO National have enjoyed a very positive relationship for the past several years by virtue of an endowed scholarship the group created in 2002. This fund has been of tremendous assistance in helping local students pursue a Penn State education close to home.

Bill O’Brien, the newly named head football coach at Penn State University, will be the featured speaker at the Greater Scranton Penn State Chapter's annual Penn State Night dinner event on May 10.  This event will feature Coach O’Brien, as well as the presentation of the Chapter's Penn State Alumni Association’s 2012 Alumnus of the Year Award to Clarks Summit resident and longtime educator and coach, Nick Donato. 

This will be the first local appearance of the former NFL coach and first-year head coach at Penn State, since he was appointed in January.  Coach O’Brien is expected to draw an overflow crowd as he will share his vision about the future of the storied Penn State football program in the post-Paterno era. 

The 2012 Alumnus of the Year, Nick Donato, worked for 35 years in the North Pocono school district as a teacher and guidance counselor.  Mr. Donato coached high school football locally for over 25 years, leading the North Pocono program for 16 years and winning six championships.  Mr. Donato has been an active member of the Abington community and is currently the head football coach at Scranton Prep.  

Penn State Night is the highlight of the year for the Greater Scranton Chapter of the Alumni Association.  The chapter, with over 250 members, is a not-for-profit organization that links local alumni and friends of Penn State through community activities, chapter events and fundraising projects.  The chapter supports the mission of Penn State by striving to improve the well-being and health of our community through service and support of the Worthington Scranton campus.

In addition to Coach O’Brien’s appearance and the Alumnus of the Year presentation, the Chapter will  award several scholarships to area Penn State students and present the  Men’s and Women’s Student Athlete of the Year Awards to two Worthington Scranton standouts.

This year’s dinner will be held at Genetti's Manor in Dickson City at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10. Tickets are available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis, and must be purchased in advance.

For tickets and more information, call Penn State Worthington Scranton's Athletic Department at 963-2616 or 963-2611 or email Theodore.zayac@scranton.edu or EJameselliott@aolcom.

Dr. Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, chancellor at Penn State Worthington Scranton, is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Caressa Gearhart as Advising Center manager.

In her new position, Ms. Gearhart will supervise and assess advising program operations and advising projects, as well as be responsible for administration of the First-Year Testing, Consulting and Advising Program, and the campus’ Division of Undergraduate Studies and Provisional enrollment and programs.

In her new role, she will also coordinate academic advising training and development for faculty and professional advisors; create and disseminate academic information to other University units, advisors, and students; and provide academic advising to students. She will also coordinate research and assessment within the campus; recommend policy/procedure modifications; develop and implement advising technology; and assist with strategic planning and recruitment and retention activities.

Ms. Gearhart received her bachelor’s degree in English from Penn State University and a master’s degree in English, Rhetoric and Composition from West Virginia University, where she had also served as a graduate teaching assistant.

Prior to joining Penn State Worthington Scranton, she was Learning Commons Coordinator at Mount Aloysius College, Cresson; and an academic counselor and tutoring coordinator in the Academic Success Center of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where she had also been an adjunct English faculty member and a coordinator in its Office of Student Affairs.

She is a Pennsylvania Association of Developmental Educators board member, and has served as private university representative, membership committee chair; the College Reading and Learning Association; the Association of Tutoring Professionals; the National Academic Advising Association; the National Orientation Directors Association; the Southeastern Modern Language Association; and the Modern Language Association.

She lives in Mount Pocono with her husband, Ken and their four children, Kailey, Oliviah, Berkeley, and Bauer.