Professor Rob Bridges' “Introduction to Psychology” course is a favorite of first-year Penn State New Kensington students.

Rob Bridges and Rick Harnish top of class at
Engagement Scholarship Consortium

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Two Penn State New Kensington psychology professors collaborated on a research project that earned a first-place award Sept. 30 at the 16th Annual Conference of the Engagement Scholarship Consortium at Penn State University Park.

Rob Bridges, professor of psychology, and Rick Harnish, associate professor of psychology, won the top honor in the Poster Award category. Their project, “Predicting Volunteer Motives Among Faculty and Staff,” explored how motives predicted whether an individual volunteers at a civic or a social organization. The survey data showed a significant relationship between an employee's values and volunteerism. The data was obtained from 47 faculty and staff at the New Kensington campus. They presented their findings at the “Ways to Build Institution-wide Involvement” session of the conference.

Posters were rated based on the quality of engagement scholarship content, presentation clarity, and effective use of visuals to convey content. A panel of judges reviewed a field of national and international submissions.

The Engagement Scholarship Consortium is a nonprofit educational organization whose membership comprises a mix of 33 public and private institutions. The consortium works collaboratively to build community partnerships anchored in scholarship, and designed to help build community capacity. The organization was founded in 2005 by Penn State, Ohio State University and the University of Wisconsin to share knowledge about community-based programs.

Bridges and Harnish have collaborated in the past on numerous papers and presentations. Last year, they co-authored “Compulsive Buying: The Role of Irrational Beliefs, Materialism, and Narcissism” for the Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, and “How Advisers can Promote Student Engagement Outside the Classroom” for Academic Advising. A Handbook for Advisors and Students.

K. Robert Bridges
A member of the campus faculty since 1971, Bridges teaches introductory courses on psychology. In the past 40 years, most underclassmen have experienced a Bridges psychology class. He has served as a mentor to many students by providing support and guidance about graduate school, internships and future employment. In addition, he has been integral to the establishment of the Penn State New Kensington Psychological Association and serves as its faculty adviser.

Bridges' contributions to the campus and community have been recognized throughout the years with many awards. His teaching acumen was acknowledged by the University in 2005 with the Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching. Penn State honors faculty and staff annually for academic excellence, outstanding leadership and meritorious service. The Eisenhower Award recognizes excellence in teaching and student support among tenured faculty. Milton S. Eisenhower, brother of former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, served as president of Penn State from 1950 to 1956. In addition, Bridges was honored locally with the Excellence in Teaching award by the New Kensington campus, Blue White Spotlight by the Alle-Kiski Alumni Society, and Citizens Advisory Board Advocacy by Family Services of Western Pennsylvania.

The Lower Burrell resident earned his bachelor of arts in psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, his master of arts in experimental psychology from Temple University and his doctoral degree in child development from the University of Pittsburgh.

Bridges' research interests have included work on attitudes measurement (regarding parent training), neuropsychological vulnerability to alcoholism, the cultivation effects of television viewing, the effect of attributional style on academic performance, procrastination and irrational thinking, and the effect of thinking style on hypnotizability. He is currently investigating cross-cultural influences on self-report measures of fear, assertiveness, and anxiety sensitivity.

Rick Harnish, right, associate professor of psychology, talks with Jeff Roth, assistant professor of
administration of justice, at Penn State New Kensington's 2014 State of the Campus address.

Richard Harnish
Harnish’s research focuses on the intersection between attitudes, consumer behavior, the self and affect (or emotion). He is particularly interested in how beliefs impact the products purchased. His past research has examined the effect of clothing, personality styles, and environmental cues, which individuals use to interpret another's friendliness. His current research examines individuals' friendship networks exploring the types of people who influence purchases.

Prior to joining the campus community in 2003, Harnish spent 13 years working in private industry. He served as director of market research for Blattner Brunner, a comprehensive marketing services firm with offices in Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh before taking the teaching position. He teaches lower- and upper-level psychology courses, including Basic Research Methods in Psychology.

Harnish’s students also share their professor’s passion for research. At the campus’ annual spring Research and Creative Exposition, he routinely advises 12-15 student research projects, the most of any of his colleagues. The exposition provides students with the opportunity to conduct research, draw conclusions and present their information in a public setting. Last semester, 81 students researched 53 projects, under the direction of 14 faculty members. Fifteen of Harnish’s students participated.

A Penn State alumnus, Harnish received his doctorate in Social Psychology from Michigan State University.

For more about the Psychology program at Penn State New Kensington, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/Degrees/28550.htm

Penn State New Kensington students Amanda Butler, left, and Adam Cooper, 2015-16 recipients of the Raymond Mastre Professional Advancement Trustee Scholarship, at the campus' annual Scholarship Reception in October.

Scholarship created by young alumnus benefits
Information Sciences and technology majors at campus

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. --- An increasing number of Penn State’s young alumni are establishing scholarships at University Park and Commonwealth campuses. These early to mid-2000s graduates launched successful careers and are ready to support the next group of students preparing to make their mark in the workforce.

Penn State New Kensington has such an alumnus in Ray Mastre, who graduated from the campus in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Information Sciences and Technology (IST). Mastre, director of SAP Security/GRC Consulting at PwC, endowed the $50,000 “Raymond Mastre Professional Advancement Trustee Scholarship” in 2014. The impetus behind the endowment was Mastre’s sense of “paying it forward.” His college tuition was covered by the four Druckenmiller Foundation scholarships, which he earned while caddying at Oakmont Country Club.

“Mr. (Stanley) Druckenmiller asked that I do what I can to help others in the same situation when the time is right,” said Mastre, a native of Plum Borough. “Since that conversation, I’ve had a longterm goal to establish a scholarship that will help build future leaders. It’s my hope that funds coming from this scholarship will impact students the same way the Druckenmiller Foundation impacted me.”

Since the initial endowment, Mastre’s scholarship has grown to over $100,000 through matching gifts from the PwC Charitable Foundation and donations by friends, family, colleagues and the campus Advisory board, which elected Mastre president in 2013. This year, the endowment generated more than $14,000 for talented students in the IST program.

Junior and senior IST majors are given first preference for the scholarship. The major gives students a background in the core technical areas of networking, databases, programming, and system integration. Graduates are trained in key business areas, such as project management and organization theory.

The recipients
Four seniors -- Joseph Laurina (Penn Hills High School) of Penn Hills; Amanda Butler (DuBois Area ) of Dubois; Adam Cooper (Burrell) of Lower Burrell; and Jordan Miller (Lenape Technical) of North Apollo -- earned Mastre scholarships for the 2015-16 academic year. A common denominator for the upcoming graduates is Dean’s List honors. Membership on the Dean’s List is reserved for students who achieve a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.

“Penn State New Kensington’s IST program continues to build leaders who are at the top of their class and heavily recruited throughout the business world,” Mastre said. “As IST graduates mature in their careers, it’s my hope that they will return to the campus and assist in the development of the program, either with their time or financial resources.”

Besides their high GPAs, the students share another trait: a desire for a world-class education from first-rate faculty in a top-notch program at a campus close to home. The New Kensington campus met all the conditions.

“Penn State New Kensington has a great IST program with great faculty and staff,” Laurina said. “The campus offered me the best opportunity to earn a career in IST. Everyone I encountered has been willing to help students with any situation and do their best to help students succeed.”

Complementing Laurina’s class work is an internship at HealPros, a company that helps prevent blindness by addressing the needs of diabetes management programs and diagnostic services. Laurina provides software quality assurance and technical support for a mobile retinal imaging company. He also assists with database management, IT administration, and software design.

A bachelor’s degree with a minor in Security and Risk Analysis was an inducement for Butler enrolling at the campus. A resident of DuBois, Pa., Butler attends Penn State DuBois, which offers the two-year IST associate degree but not the four-year degree. Butler, along with six other students, takes her bachelor’s coursework at the New Kensington campus via PolyCom, a telecommunications system that allows collaboration among geographically dispersed groups, such as students at other campuses, via video and voice distribution.

“The PolyCom option allows me to live at home with my family and husband, while still getting the best IST education I can,” said Butler, who expects to graduate next semester. “So I joined the Penn State New Kensington family. Without this option, I may not have moved forward with obtaining a bachelor's degree in IST.”

The technological skills Butler acquired are on display at her internship and her small computer business. She interns for Jason Long, IST program coordinator at the DuBois campus. Her responsibilities include building and managing network, domain users. She also is a part-owner of Tech Mages IT Consulting and Computer Repair, which provides computer repair, virus removals, restores, web design and other services to local businesses and individuals.

Cooper is a second-time winner of the Mastre scholarship. He expects to graduate in May and start a career in database administration or information systems security. He cites the value of his IST education as an additional reason for choosing the campus for his studies.

“The experience that I have gained while earning my degree at Penn State New Kensington far outweighs the cost of tuition,” Cooper said.

Like Butler, Cooper is using classroom knowledge in the workforce. Cooper is a part-time technician for Club Prophet Systems, which designs fully-integrated golf management software systems for the golf industry. His duties include installations and updates for websites of 1500 golf courses.

Breaking with family tradition, Miller will earn a bachelor’s degree at the campus. Two uncles, Terry Miller and Marshall Quade, and a cousin, Sam Miller, attended New Kensington for two years before completing their engineering degrees at University Park.

Echoing his fellow scholarship recipients, Miller saw other intrinsic factors in selecting the New Kensington campus as his educational home. Among them was the physical plant, which received upgrades to improve the safety and accessibility. In addition, Chancellor Kevin Snider instituted a “beautification” program for the planting of trees, plants and flowers.

“Penn State New Kensington is a beautiful campus and a valuable asset in the community,” Miller said. “I have had the great privilege and opportunity to work with some of the most kind and knowledgeable faculty and staff. When you decide to attend the New Kensington campus you become a part of the family in the sense that the staff is there to see that you do well and that you are successful in your pursuits.”

The donor
The caliber of his scholarship recipients is the driving force of Mastre’s efforts to continue to grow the fund. He envisions an endowment that can support a full year’s tuition for an IST student.

“Ray is driven by the appreciation of the opportunities provided to him,” Snider said. “With each growing accomplishment, he becomes committed to making sure that he can provide similar opportunities for future Penn Staters.”

Mastre not only supports the campus and University with his money, he supports it with his time. He returns to the campus regularly to recruit and mentor students, as well as to educate and engage students through guest lecturing and mock interviewing.

In March, he was honored with an Alumni Achievement Award by the Penn State Alumni Association. The award recognizes Penn State alumni, 35 years of age and younger, for their extraordinary professional accomplishments. Mastre met and talked with information sciences and technology students on the night before the event at the Hintz Family Alumni Center. He also participated in a panel discussion, “Our Stories: the Secret to our Success,” with fellow award recipients.

“The Achievement Award honor enhances Ray’s ability to further the goals of the campus by leading our alumni and community in helping to achieve the successful implementation of our strategic plan, which complements President Barron’s six imperatives and Provost Jones’ five principles,” Snider said. “He is a consummate ambassador for the campus, and the award status will provide him opportunities to convince other alumni to get involved in strengthening educational experiences, expanding student opportunities, partnering with local communities, keeping accessibility to higher education, engaging students, and embracing diversity.”

To give to the Mastre scholarship or another campus scholarship, contact Kary Coleman, director of development at Penn State New Kensington, 724-334-6057 or kxc22@psu.edu

For more on scholarships at the campus, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Giving/endowments.htm

“Magic Realism, The Beat Goes On”
exhibit runs through Nov. 28

A reception for artist Bruce Pipman is set for 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6, in the Art Gallery at Penn State New Kensington.

The New Kensington resident's exhibit, "Magic Realism; The Beat Goes On," blends images with words. It features Pipman’s affectional art, which reflects the emotions of desire, romance and love.

Through a series of whimsical creations, such as people, places and things, the show is a metaphor for the nature of man. More than 50 pieces are on display.

The reception and exhibit are free to the public. The gallery is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays and noon to 5 p.m., weekends.

For photos of the exhibit, visit http://psnk.smugmug.com/

For more about the artist, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/46338.htm

Penn State New Kensington psychology students Serena Buday and Jon McCabe earned Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation scholarships for 2015-16.

Jamie Herstek, Serena Buday, Jon McCabe, Jill Dickun
honored by local nonprofit group

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – Although a large percentage of Penn State New Kensington students receive campus and University scholarships, many students receive competitive outside scholarships. Four psychology students recently earned Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation scholarships.

Senior Jamie Herstek of Upper Burrell, junior Serena Buday of Tarentum, sophomore Jon McCabe of Lower Burrell and senior Jill Dickun were presented the awards on campus by John Pastorek, president and CEO of the foundation. Each year, the foundation distributes more than $28,000 to area students pursuing postsecondary education.

Founded in 1983, the Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation is an independent charitable organization that helps improve the health, wellness and quality of life for those who live or work in the Alle-Kiski Valley. The foundation’s programs and services are provided to the community free of charge. The organization is not affiliated with any hospital or other nonprofits.

“I am very fortunate that the Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation is willing to give Penn State New Kensington students this wonderful opportunity,” said Herstek, who plans to attend graduate school after she graduates in May.

Herstek comes from a family of campus alumni. Her older sister, Julie, attended the campus for two years before finishing her psychology studies at the University Park campus in 2012. The middle sister, Jenna, earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from the campus in 2014. Her mother, Ruthann, administrative support assistant to the director of Academic Affairs, holds two degrees from the campus -- associate in liberal arts and a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. The family matriarch will earn her master’s degree in adult education in December.

Jamie got a jump start on her college education while a senior at Burrell High School. She participated in the campus’ dual enrollment program that offers high school students the opportunity to earn college credits. She earned six credits before enrolling in the psychology program.

“Penn State is a great university, and the New Kensington campus is perfect for me,” Jamie said. “It is close to home and offers my major.

In addition to the foundation’s scholarship, McCabe was the recipient of the Gertrude A. “Trudi” Miller Clements-Booth Trustee matching scholarship from the campus. Last year, he received the campus’ Dr. N.A. Kopelman and Freda D. Kopelman Trustee Scholarship.

McCabe is active on campus. He is a member of the Student Government Association, where he serves as the underclassmen faculty senate representative, and the Drama Club, a student group that performs shows twice a year for the campus and the local community. He has several roles in the upcoming musical comedy, “The Toxic Avenger.” The fall stage production is set for Nov. 19-21 in the campus’ Forum Theatre.

Penn State New Kensington offers both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science in psychology. The bachelor of science program prepares students for future careers in clinical, cognitive, developmental, health, industrial/organizational or social psychology. The bachelor of arts program combines the knowledge, skills and values of psychology with a thorough liberal arts foundation.

For more on the Psychology program. visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/Degrees/28550.htm

John Pastorek, left, president of the Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation, talks with, left to right, students Serena Buday and,
Jon McCabe, psychology professor Rick Harnish, and students Jamie Herstek and Jill Dickun. The students were the
2015-16 recipients of AKHF scholarships.

Collaboration between New Kensington and Greater Allegheny

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Penn State New Kensington and Penn State Greater Allegheny have been granted joint authorization to deliver the Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health (BBH) program. The new four-year major will begin in fall 2016.

The BBH program is an innovative and interdisciplinary program designed to explore health from all angles. Scholarship and teaching focuses on how biological, behavioral, psychological, sociocultural, and environmental variables interact to influence health across time scales and levels of analysis. Research topics include physiological processes; health behaviors; genetics and epigenetics; chronic disease; neuroscience; global health; psychological states and processes; environmental exposures; bioethics; health disparities; and intervention science.

The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance has identified health care and life sciences as one of five “key sectors” of the region’s economy. A report from the Pennsylvania State Data Center has also identified biology and related health-industry majors as appealing to students in this region based on labor projections.

“The Pittsburgh area is a center of activity in the healthcare industry, and students in the BBH major will be able to move into many different fields,” said Andrea Adolph, director of academic affairs at the New Kensington campus.

All courses needed for the degree will be offered at each campus, although students in the program should expect to take some courses through a combination of Web-based and face-to-face technology in addition to the traditional classroom setting.

“The program is interdisciplinary and will overlap with our offerings in sciences, psychology, and human development and family studies, giving students a variety of pathways to choose,” Adolph said. “We have a great relationship with our collaborator in this degree program, and students will have the ability to draw upon faculty from both campuses to gain the benefits of their research expertise. This is a wonderful addition to our program portfolio."

The program will be co-coordinated by Jyotsna “Josi” Kalavar, professor of human development and family studies at New Kensington, and John Peles, professor of biology at Greater Allegheny

Collaboration with Penn State campuses and other higher education institutions is trending at New Kensington. The Administration of Justice program, which was established in 2010, is a joint venture by the New Kensington, Beaver and Shenango campuses. New Kensington recently signed an articulation agreement with Butler County Community College allowing BC3 students to make a smooth progression to the campus and Penn State’s 13 other Commonwealth campuses.

With the addition of the new program, the New Kensington campus now offers nine baccalaureate degrees and five associate degrees. Students can earn bachelor of science degrees in administration of justice, business, electro-mechanical engineering technology, information sciences and technology, nursing and psychology, and bachelor of arts in communications and psychology.

For more on admission to the administration of justice degree program, call the admissions office at 724-334-LION or 888-968-PAWS.

For the Biobehavioral Health requirements and curriculum, visit http://hhd.psu.edu/Overview/careers-biobehavioral-health

Veterans Week

9 a.m-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Nov. 9-13

Administration of Justice Open House

6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Penn State New Kensington, which was recently designated a Military Friendly School, will host a series of special admissions events during Veterans Week, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, Nov. 9-13 at the campus. Highlight of the week is the Administration of Justice open house, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12.

The number of veterans deciding to start or return to college continues to rise as more military personnel fulfill their service obligations and return to civilian status. The ranks of adult learners, those classified as at least 24 years old, also are expanding as more displaced workers look for a career change or seek additional education.

To help nontraditional students navigate the many challenges associated with the higher education decision, the Admissions staff encourages veterans to make appointments for personal meetings to discuss the educational benefits available. There are numerous academic options for veterans and adults, including: selecting from more than 200 noncredit, certificate and degree programs; choosing full- or part-time status; and scheduling day or evening classes. Assistance with the application form also is available. The $50 application fee will be waived during the week. Appointments are recommended but not necessary. Walk-ins are welcome.

To make an appointment, call the Admissions Office at 724-334-LION or 888-968-PAWS.

AOJ program
The featured event of the week is the Administration of Justice (AOJ) open house. Participants can learn about the potential of the degree with guest speakers discussing the flexibility of the Administration of Justice bachelor's degree, the technological aspects of the Security and Risk Analysis minor, and hands-on internships in local communities.

Faculty in the AOJ program will talk about various aspects of the criminal justice field, the current job market, and recent research. The keynote speaker will be Jeffrey Roth, assistant professor of administration of justice. In addition, AOJ alumni, like recent graduate Craig Synan, will provide other perspectives on the program. A tour of the campus follow the presentations.

The Administration of Justice program focuses on the interrelated components of the criminal justice system -- public and private sector enforcement and investigation, legal systems, correctional treatment, and community services. Through a combination of formal classroom instruction, practical training in laboratory courses, individual study, and field experience, students will be prepared to pursue an array of career opportunities in federal, state and local law enforcement and correction agencies, court-related services, probation and parole services, and private-sector security. For more information on the Administration of Justice program, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/Degrees/43065.htm

To register for the open house, call 724-334-LION or 888-968-PAWS or visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Admissions/admevents.htm

The Adult Learner Resource Center and Lounge served
as an "office" for Army veteran Matt Knapp.

Veterans resources
Penn State New Kensington provides additional support to suit the needs of veterans. The main resource is the Veterans Services office. Diana Hill, veteran certifying official at the campus, helps veterans with the requirements of benefit programs.

Another support feature is the Adult Learner Resource Center and Lounge. It gives vets and adult learners their own space on the campus. The lounge includes a small library of resource books, coffee maker, refrigerator, microwave, a computer and printer, white board, table and chairs for small group study and comfortable chairs for relaxation. Hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Veterans and adult learners comprise approximately 28 percent of the student population at the campus. New Kensington strives to support military veterans in reaching their academic goals while maintaining a healthy life balance. For more on Veterans Services, contact Hill at 724-334-6047or duh3@psu.edu

For more on the campus’ educational benefits for veterans, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Admissions/FinancialAid/vetsfa.htm

Military Friendly Schools
The Military Friendly Schools designation is conferred upon the higher-education institutions exhibiting leading practices in recruiting and supporting post-military students. Selected colleges are able to incorporate the most current, unique data about their school that is not captured elsewhere, giving service members and their families a well-rounded look at their education programs. More than 1,600 schools earned the 2015 Military Friendly Schools designation.

Up to 400,000 service members leave military service each year, and more than a third attend college after separation. The Guide to Military Friendly Schools is available at all military transition classes, as well as throughout U.S. military bases and communities across the globe, reaching hundreds of thousands of transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, and military transition program managers each month -- individuals who know and trust the tested Military Friendly name.

The criteria for consideration can be found at: www.militaryfriendly.com

Wanda Knight, Forum on Black Affairs president, takes notes as Art McCray, basketball coach at Penn State New Kensington, talks about preparing elementary students for college.

Forum on Black Affairs discusses diversity and
Penn State faculty and staff

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- In an effort to reach out to Penn State campuses, the Forum on Black Affairs (FOBA) held its western regional meeting at Penn State New Kensington on Oct. 23. Four Penn State campuses were represented at the meeting, which dealt with issues of diversity related to Penn State faculty and staff.

To continue to grow, the organization is striving to be more inclusive and to reach out to faculty and staff of color at other campuses. As a part of the strategy, FOBA is holding regional meetings at Penn State campuses. In April, a meeting was held in eastern Pennsylvania at Penn State Berks in Reading, Pa. In 2014, a regional meeting for the western campuses was held at Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, Pa.

The mission of FOBA, which is celebrating its 41st anniversary, is to partner with the University to encourage racial diversity, and specifically to create a climate conducive for black faculty and staff to thrive on each of the Penn State campuses. FOBA is open to all members of the Penn State community who support black aspirations at Penn State.

Following the opening remarks by Kevin Snider, chancellor of Penn State New Kensington, and Wanda Knight, president of FOBA, the group sang the inspirational song “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Written by 1900 by James Weldon Johnson, principal of Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida, the poem was performed by Johnson’s students to honor Booker T. Washington, a guest at the school. It was later put to music by Rosamond Johnson and adopted by various organizations for its power in voicing the cry for liberation and affirmation for African-American people. It has been performed by many R&B artists including, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Melba Moore.

Knight, associate professor of art education and women’s studies at the University Park campus, delivered the keynote address, “Status of Black Faculty and Staff at the Pennsylvania State University." She laid out the forum's seven strategic goals for 2015-16. FOBA will:

- enhance the recruitment, employment, retention and advancement of black people throughout the University;
- assure that black people are widely represented throughout the University;
- affect policy, programs, and people to ensure that black people are considered during all facets of the policy-making process;
- be an advocate and celebrant of the accomplishments of black people;
- be an open forum for discussion and debates;
- serve in an advisory and consultant capacity at the University level;
- strategically align with powerful partners for powerful results.

The FOBA president also discussed the challenges that black faculty, staff and administrators face at Penn State. The challenges include overcoming stagnation, increasing representation of blacks in senior leadership positions, and changing the reality of the black experience at the University.

To meet the challenges, Knight recommended increasing efforts to diversify, strengthening diversity training, increasing oversight of the strategic plan, increasing accountability of retention, and expanding the vision of scholarship.

Knight opened the floor for discussion. A variety of diversity issues were proffered by the 20 Penn State faculty and staff members at the forum. Included in the conversation were concerns about minority students entering college unprepared for the academic rigors and how Penn State can ameliorate the situation. Art McCray, men’s basketball coach at the New Kensington campus, talked about getting to students as early as elementary school.

“Some high school students I recruit aren’t ready for the structured academic programs of college,” said McCray, a former New Kensington campus student-athlete. “When I talk to fifth-graders, I  try to impress upon them that now is the time to learn how to study, so you will be ready to succeed in college when the time comes.”

McCray earned an associate degree at the campus and a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation sciences at the University Park campus. Since 2001, he has been an administrator and teacher at Summit Academy, a high school in Butler County for court-adjudicated youth. For the past four years, he has served as an assistant to the principal with the responsibility of supervising the instructional program and discipline of the school. He was named the campus basketball coach in 2013.

The event was organized by Angie Fisher, administrative support assistant in the Student Affairs office.

For more information about FOBA, visit www.foba.psu.edu

Representatives from four Penn State campuses at FOBA's western regional meeting at
Penn State New Kensington.

Curtain rises at 8 p.m. for musical comedy

Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 19-21, Forum Theatre
Tickets: $8-students; $15–general public

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – With lines, lyrics, dance steps and timing perfected, the cast of Penn State New Kensington’s musical comedy, "The Toxic Avenger," is ready for the opening of a three–day run at 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19, in the Forum Theatre.

After months of rehearsal, the campus’ Drama Club members have learned their lines, hit their marks and cultivated a stage presence. Following the first night are performances on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21. The curtain goes up at 8 p.m. each evening. The show is geared to mature audiences.

The cast features Colin Bibza as Melvin Ferd the Third and Toxie, Laura Gensamer as Sarah, and Samantha Kravits as Mayor. In addition to the main characters, the supporting cast includes Jonathan McCabe, Nathan Traini, Juliann Motosicky and Ian Callender. The play is directed by Bill Mitas, instructor in theatre at the campus.

"The cast and crew are working very hard and doing an excellent job,” said Mitas, who is directing his 13th campus production. “They are putting in a great deal of time learning the difficult music and choreography.”

Tickets are $8 for students with ID and $15 for the general public. For more information, call 724-334-6032.

The students
Three New Kensington students - Kravitz, Callender and McCabe - have pivotal roles in the production. Kravits and Callender are freshmen making their college stage debuts. Kravits plays dual roles as the corrupt mayor and Melvin’s mother. A veteran of numerous productions at Knoch High School, Kravits is equally at ease behind the scenes, where she is adept with hair, make-up and costumes. Callendar, a computer science major from Burrell High School, plays a variety of characters, including a waste management executive and police chief.

McCabe, a sophomore in the Psychology program, performs in his third campus production. He previously had roles in “Beyond Therapy” and “Into the Woods.” The Burrell High School graduate is active on campus and a member of the Student Government Association, where he serves as the underclassmen faculty senate representative. Academically, he has earned scholarships each year. This year, McCabe is the recipient of two scholarships: Gertrude A. “Trudi” Miller Clements-Booth Trustee Matching Scholarship and  Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation Scholarship. Last year, he received the campus’ Dr. N.A. Kopelman and Freda D. Kopelman Trustee Scholarship.

Juliann Motosicky, right, played Rizzo, one of the Pink Ladies,
with Alexia Kabazie, left, as Marty and Jillian Snoznik as Jan 
in the 2011 Penn State New Kensington production of “Grease.”
Motosicky returns as choreographer for "The Toxic Avenger."

The alumna
Motosicky, who  graduated from the campus in 2012 after earning a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications, is the choreographer, as well as an actor.  She choreographed the campus musicals when she was an undergraduate and is grateful for the opportunity to work again under Mitas and to work with current students.

“It's great to give back to the students and community, and to share my experiences and passion with them while on stage, and as I teach,” said Motosicky, a financial services associate for First Commonwealth Bank.

The Fawn Township resident draws on her experiences in 2011 at Walt Disney World. An internship is a requirement for the Corporate Communications program at the campus, and Motosicky secured one with the Disney College program. She spent a semester as an attractions cast member, working in the Innovations building at Epcot.

“It was such a great experience and an awesome networking opportunity,” said Motosicky, who twice won the Best Actor award at the campus’ annual Academic and Student Achievement Awards ceremony. “I was able to go on auditions and casting calls for Disney, so that was really cool. I met so many people from all around the world and still to this day I talk to most of them.”

The internship also led to some television and film work. Motosicky was in the Nickelodeon TV series, “Supah Ninjas” and a Lionsgate feature film, “Abduction.”

When she is not choreographing ”The Toxic Avenger” musical numbers, Motosicky will play several characters.

The play
Set in Tromaville, New Jersey, the comedy focuses on Melvin Ferd the Third, the town nerd who takes an involuntary dip in a vat of toxic waste after raising concerns about the dubious nature of the mayor’s waste management strategies. In an auspicious turn of events, he emerges from the vat as the Toxic Avenger, a deformed but cut Superhero, who seeks vengeance on just about every reprobate this side of Hoboken. Also known as Toxie, the new hero is a seven-foot mutant freak with superhuman strength and a heart as big as Hacketstown. Melvin’s dance card is full as he saves his hometown from the duplicitous mayor and his morally bankrupt minions, while ending global warming, and wooing the town’s librarian, the love interest of the socially inept Melvin. Sarah is the beautiful and blind librarian who sees Toxie as a hunk of virulent love.

“It is hilarious and the music is fantastic,” Mitas said. “It does contain adult language and is rated as PG by Music Theatre International."

The play is based on the 1984 film of the same name. Music and lyrics are by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, who also wrote the book for the movie. The production opened off-Broadway in 2009 and ran for 300 performances. It earned the Outer Critics Award for Best New Off-Broadway Musical.

Mitas wanted to do the show in 2013. Legal issues necessitated an almost three-year wait.

“The royalties for the production were not released until June of this year,” Mitas said. “I inquired bout royalties two years ago, and we were put on an ‘early release notice list,' so we could be apply as soon as they were available.”

The director
Mitas, who holds a master’s degree in entertainment technology from Carnegie Mellon University, joined the campus faculty in 2009. Last year, he was honored with an Excellence in Teaching award at the campus’ annual Academic and Student Achievement ceremony. The award recognizes campus faculty contributions in teaching. The principal criterion is excellent classroom performance, but excellence in other activities such as advising, supervision of learning outside the classroom and course development are also considered.

The Lower Burrell resident retired in June as professor of entertainment design/industrial design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where he taught for 26 years. He has worked in the design field for the past 39 years. In addition to directing, Mitas is an accomplished set designer, technical director, and actor, as well as graphic designer and sculptor.

The stage manager
Wati Kumwenda, a sophomore in the Biomedical Engineering Technology program, helps Mitas behind the scenes as stage manager. A native of the Republic of Malawi in southeast Africa, the versatile Kumwanda has worked on two previous campus productions as assistant director (“Beyond Therapy”) and lead actor as Little Red Riding Hood in “Into the Woods.”

As an international student enrolled at the campus, Kumwenda is active in extracurricular activities. She is a member of the Multicultural club, and read a Maya Angelou poem in February at the campus’ Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Last year, she attended the Robert D. Lynch Student Leadership Development Institute in Lancaster, Pa. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education Inc., the conference is designed to address topics essential to developing leadership skills for African-Americans, Latino-Americans, and other multicultural college students. The event gives students an opportunity to participate in workshops that examine cross-cultural communication, interpersonal relations, inclusive environments, and cultural awareness. Kumwenda was particularly impressed by the workshop that emphasized being different.

“As people of color in a predominantly white society, college campuses in particular, we often struggle to embrace the fact that we are different,” Kumwenda said. “Sometimes we fail to handle certain prejudices that are fueled by commonplace stereotypes. As an African student, I face the added pressure of coming from a culturally different background. This conference helped me realize that I am not alone, and it’s important to take things in strides; what might seem like an offensive comment might actually just be misplaced curiosity. It is important for us to teach our counterparts -- those who are willing to learn -- to shatter preconceived or misinformed ideas about minorities.”

The Toxic Avenger

William R. Mitas: director
Beth Minda: vocals coach
Juliann Motosicky: choreography
Rob Stull: orchestra
Wati Kumwenda: stage manager
Mathew Mlynarski: costumes

Cast

Colin Bibza
Melvin Ferd the III/Toxie

Laura Gensamer
Sarah, Judy, Little Girl (Rescued Cat)

Samantha Kravits
Mayor; Ma

Jonathan McCabe
White Dude/ Folk Singer/Bozo/CoCo/Thug/Lamas/CSI Guy/Hooker

Nathan Traini
Black Dude/Sluggo/Professor Ken/Shinequa/Jazmin/Lorenzo/FRed the Local Guy/Mickey/Concerned and Unconcerned Citizen

Juliann Motosicky
Old Lady(Edna Ferbert)/Diane/Nun/Juan/Waste Management Executive/Little Old Lady

Ian Challender
Destiny/Doctor//Hip Dude//Waste Management Exec/Toxie Junior/Sal the Cop/ Chief of Police

Sign up for PSUAlert and receive information on campus closings and delays on your mobile devices.

Subscribing to free service provides timely information

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- With temperatures dropping and the chances for snow rising, students can get official word of Penn State New Kensington's closing or class delays via text messages, and the information is also posted on the campus' website.

In the event of snow, severe storms or other emergencies, cellphone users who subscribe to PSUAlert, Penn State's text message alert system, will receive a text message when incidents occur that may impact the campus community. Subscription to PSUAlert is free, although individual cellphone carriers may charge for text messaging. To subscribe to PSUAlert, visit http://psualert.psu.edu/ and follow the instructions at the bottom of the page under the PSUAlert heading.

Weather and emergency information is also available under the "Announcements" section on the campus homepage. When there is breaking news, an alert icon will appear in the headlines box along with general information on the nature of the emergency. Clicking on the icon provides detailed information.

The decision to cancel or delay classes will be made as early as possible, usually by 6 a.m. for day classes and 4 p.m. for evening classes. If a two-hour delay is announced, classes will start at 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes will last 45 minutes; Tuesday and Thursday classes will last an hour and five minutes. After a decision on the status of the campus is made, a text message is automatically sent to members.

Information is available on television stations (KDKA-TV Channel 2, WTAE-TV Channel 4 and WPXI-TV Channel 11). In addition to these multiple formats, cancellation and delay information for students and faculty/staff can also be accessed by phone on a pre-recorded message: students, 724-334-6006; and faculty/staff, 724-334-6005.

For the delayed class schedule, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Information/weather.htm

For more about PSUAlert, visit http://news.psu.edu/PSUAlert-FAQs

Campus open Nov. 23-25,
closed Nov. 26-27

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- No classes are scheduled at Penn State New Kensington Monday through Friday, Nov. 23 to 27, during the Thanksgiving break.

The campus will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 23 to 25; campus will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26 and 27. Classes will resume Monday, Nov. 30.

The fall semester ends Dec. 11, and final exams run from Dec. 14 to 18. Commencement is set for 10 a.m., Dec. 19, in the Athletics Center. The spring 2015 semester begins Jan. 11. Spring break is March 7-11, and finals end on May 6. Spring commencement is May 7.

For commencement information, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/graduation.htm.

Sophomore electro-mechanical engineering technology major Lynsie Headley was a keynote speaker Oct. 15 at Penn State New Kensington's annual Scholarship Reception at Hill Crest Country Club.

Lynsie Headley commends campus’
commitment to students;
Doc Muller gives his reasons for giving

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- More than 140 students and donors were recognized for their outstanding achievements Oct. 15, at Penn State New Kensington’s Fall Scholarship Reception at Hill Crest Country Club in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania.

Lynsie Headly, a sophomore electro-mechanical engineering technology major from Ford City, and Robert “Doc” Muller, associate professor of engineering at the campus, were the keynote speakers. The reception gives students who receive scholarships and benefactors who establish scholarships a chance to meet face to face. Students attending the reception were able to deliver personal thanks to their donors, who, in turn, were able to see the personification of their philanthropic endeavors.

Campus scholarships are awarded to eligible students on the basis of academic promise, leadership qualities, community service and financial need. This year, the campus awarded $538,000 in scholarships to campus students for the fall semester. Nearly 250 students received an average of $2,000 per award.

The scholarships are supported by private donations, $304,000, and University funds, $234,000. Based on a multitude of factors, including academic achievement, financial need and diversity, the scholarships were distributed to deserving students from cities and towns from across the commonwealth and the country.

The recipient
Headley earned an Alle-Kiski Society Endowed Scholarship, which funds yearly awards to campus undergraduates. Vera Spina Greenwald, president of the society, sat with Headley and the other society recipients at the reception. Greenwald is a 2003 Penn State graduate and former campus student.

“Lynsie is a fantastic student, and I am thrilled she received the AKS scholarship,” Greenwald said. “It makes me so proud to be able to give back to these students. Helping the students of Penn State New Kensington is the primary focus of the Alle-Kiski Society and it makes me feel exceptionally proud of our group of directors who give so much of themselves to help students.”

The society awarded a record $5,500 to four campus students. In addition to Headley, Alissa Dolensky of Lower Burrell, Adis Juklo of Pittsburgh and Carley Carnahan of Lower Burrell were chosen for the scholarships based on their academic status (sophomore, junior or senior), cumulative GPAs (3.0 minimum), county of residency (Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler or Westmoreland) and an essay question ("Why do you feel alumni are willing to give back to the New Kensington campus, and how do you feel you will give back after graduation?"). In their essays, they portrayed the New Kensington campus as a positive learning experience that would encourage them to stay connected to the campus after graduation.

“The New Kensington campus shows a sense of unity, pride, and community,” Headley wrote in her essay. “Staff and students work like a well-oiled machine to create an experience that helps students thrive. Students have the ability to get involved while still working on classes and getting help when needed. Without that kind of support system, some would not succeed during their time at college or enjoy their time as much.”

When she is not on campus, Headley has a paid internship at Siemens in the Westmoreland County Business and Research Park. Under the supervision of Manuel Vega, an engineering manager, she works on modeling and drafting to make drives.

“I model some of the products that will be used to make the drives as well as do the drafting for the assembly of the drives,” Headley said. “I like that I can see the drives while they are in the process of building them. So if I have any questions or need to look at something, I have access to the answers, which I love.”

Headley worked 40 hours a week during the summer, but scaled it back to 10 hours after the start of fall classes. Her work schedule complements her class schedule.

“Siemens is really flexible with my school schedule,” Headley said. “My supervisor gives me the opportunity to create my own office hours based off of my schedule.”

The Lenape Technical School graduate merited her position through the campus’ GREAT (Growing Regional Excellence through Experience, Academics and Training) program. In its fifth year, the initiative matches promising engineering and Information Sciences and Technology (IST) students with local internship opportunities. The GREAT program is a partnership between the New Kensington campus, the Penn State Electro-Optics Center and industries within the greater Pittsburgh region.

“A major advantage of having an internship is that I get to tie what I am learning in my classes to the ‘real world',” Headley said. “Another advantage is having a job that I like to do because it is in my major, and not have to worry about needing a job that has little to do with what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Unlike many other programs, GREAT provides qualified engineering students with the opportunity to build professional skills and experiences starting as soon as their first year at the campus. The advantages of freshmen internships are numerous. This year, a record 15 freshmen were accepted into GREAT.

Outside the classroom, Headley is an orientation leader and chair of the Campus Activities Board. In the community, she is a volunteer at Burrell Township Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the township’s Historical Society. She will earn her bachelor’s degree at the New Kensington campus and will keep her internship at Siemen’s for four years.

Doc Mueller, left and Linda Muller are the benefactors of the Doc and Linda Mueller Trustee Scholarship at
Penn State New Kensington. Doc was the guest speaker at the annual reception.

The benefactors
Mueller and his wife, Linda, recently established the Doc and Linda Mueller Trustee Scholarship at the campus. The $50,000 endowment is a need-based scholarship, and new and current students are eligible to receive the annual awards. First preference will be given to students in the four-year Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology (EMET) program.

“Our motivation was that scholarships allowed me to attend college,” said Doc Mueller, who was born and raised on a small farm in Kansas. “It is an appropriate way to repay the opportunities that were given to me because I had a degree.”

Mueller joined the campus faculty in 1998 and teaches upper-level courses in electro-mechanical engineering and lower-level courses in computer engineering technology. The EMET degree program emphasizes all fields of engineering technology related to typical, highly-automated manufacturing, production, or assembly plant processes. He holds a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and earned a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University in Kansas.

Prior to Penn State New Kensington, Mueller spent more than 30 years in the private industry working with industrial control systems. A registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania, he is a consultant regarding industrial automation and serves as an expert witness in product liability and wrongful-death lawsuits. He served for 21 years in the military and retired as a colonel from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Linda is founder and president of a personal care home in Butler, Pa. The 40-bed facility serves disabled veterans. Her association with the campus goes back to her student days. After becoming a registered nurse, she enrolled in the new bachelor’s degree in nursing program. She was a member of Penn State New Kensington’s first class of nursing graduates.

The Freeport residents are longtime Penn State donors and have advocated for other campus scholarships and programs. Doc received a teaching award in 2010. In keeping with his support of engineering students, he donated the award money to the Bernard and Geraldine Guss Endowed Scholarship. Bernie Guss, professor emeritus of engineering, established the scholarship in 2001 for local students majoring in engineering technology at the campus. The Gusses were on hand with their recipients, Bethany Weilblinger and Ryan Koscianski.

Giving
Alumni and friends can contribute to the campus by establishing an endowment or by contributing to already established campus endowments or funds. Gifts can be in the form of a one-time gift in cash or securities or a pledged commitment to be paid over a specified number of years. Gifts can also be created through bequests or in the form of a deferred gift designed to provide a life income for the donor or his or her dependents.

For photos of the reception, visit http://psnk.smugmug.com/

For more on giving to the campus, call Kary Coleman, director of development and alumni relations, 724-334-6057 or visit  Giving Online

Penn State New Kensington
Endowed Scholarships and Recipients

Elizabeth S. Blissell Scholarship: Aaron Holness, Danielle Richardson, Branna Wyant

Charles H. Booth Family Scholarship: Ryan Breen, Jacob Lutz

Bozzone Family Foundation Scholarship: Nicholas Sabolovic, Steven Troy, Samantha Kravits, Kayly Lazaroff

Roger H. and Barbara L. Claypoole Endowed Scholarship: Mathew Kish

Thelma M. Clausner Scholarship: Mathew Kish, Ashley Worlds, Justin Leone, Victor Valco, Nathaniel Coup, Samantha Kovach, Brandon Obryan

Dr. Saul and Emma Fleegler Family Scholarship: Ashley Worlds

Francis C. Frary Scholarship: Jared Burk

Ganassi Family Scholarship: Austin Porter

Penn State New Kensington Campus General Scholarship: Laura Gensamer, Christian Kamenic

Bernard and Geraldine Guss Endowed Scholarship: Bethany Weiblinger, Ryan Koscianski

Elbert S. Howarth Endowed Scholarship: Brandon Obryan

Hazel L. Hug Scholarship for Penn State New Kensington: Mackenzie Degreen, Zayne Aniszewski, Austin Porter, Ryan Kieffer, Zachary Crowe, Justin Leone

The Hyman Family Foundation Scholarship: Vanessa Sacco, Ryan Koscianski

Jerome-Little Endowed Scholarship: Samantha Kovach

Moore Family Scholarship: Yuke Luo, Huating Lang

New Kensington Advisory Board Trustee Scholarship: Benjamin Lesko

Laura Lee “Lolly” Benner-Booth Trustee Matching Scholarship: Aubrae Latta, Sohee Jin

Charles H. Booth, Jr. Trustee Scholarship: Kelsey Simon, Michael Esposito, Samuel Longwell, Bree Dudek

Dr. David H. Clements, Jr. and Gertrude “Trudi” Clements Booth Family Trustee Scholarship: Carley Carnahan

New Kensington Campus Endowment Fund: Jared Burk, Christian Kamenic, Hauting Lang, Brittany Hydock, Ariel Festa, Evan West, Laura Gensamer

New Kensington Faculty and Staff Scholarship: Jacob Lutz, Justin Dumm

William and Claudia Harbaugh Trustee Scholarship: Dakota Testa, Victoria Mikula

Patrick Kopnicky and Mardelle Sacco Kopnicky Trustee Scholarship: Richard Hines, Samantha Simon

Raymond Mastre Professional Advancement Trustee Scholarship: Jordan Miller, Amanda Butler, Adam Cooper, Joseph Laurina

Gertrude A. “Trudi” Miller-Clements-Booth Trustee Matching Scholarship: Jonathan McCabe

Dr. James Ramage and Lynn Ramage Trustee Scholarship: Nathan Piluso

Rotarian Trustee Scholarship at Penn State New Kensington: Chad Bagerstock, Lisa Werner

The R.P. Simmons Family Trustee Scholarship: Bernard Rottschaefer, Dakota McLaughlin, Alexaner Heyer, Nicholas Blume, Hannah Albright

Trustee Scholarship Fund for Penn State New Kensington: Garrett Provident, Adam Steffey

Lora Lee Phillips Memorial Award: Yuke Luo

PNC Financial Corporation Endowed Scholarship: Huating Lang

Alle-Kiski Society Endowed Scholarship: Adis Juklo, Lynsie Headley, Carley Carnahan, Alissa Dolensky

Penn State New Kensington Advisory Board Endowed Scholarship: Evan Shaffer

Joseph A. and Mary M. Quarato Nursing Program Award: Aleria Palmiere

Honorable L. Alexander Sculco Scholarship: Kayly Lazaroff

Ruth and Harry Stein Scholarship: Evan Shaffer, Danielle Richardson

Technical Employees of Alcoa Metallurgical Award Fund: Ariel Festa

John H. Yeamans Family Endowed Scholarship Fund: Danielle Richardson

Dr. N.A. Kopelman and Freda D. Kopelman Trustee Scholarship: Elliott Bayer, Casey Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Legnine

Gregory and Xenia Kotyk Memorial Trustee Family Scholarship: Bryan Bissell, Alexander Welsh

Shaffer Family Trustee Scholarship: Nicholas Dimaria, Lindsey Geist, Channing Nolan

G.E. Marquette Medical Systems, Inc. Scholarship: Nathaniel French

Dr. Karl and Mrs. Jennifer Salatka Family Trustee Scholarship: Alexandria Jones, Riaz Khatri, Shawn Shannon

Doc and Linda Mueller Trustee Scholarship: Lawrence Russo, Cody Shoemaker

Eric Sean Link Memorial Scholarship: Carol Theis

Penn State Alumni Association Trustee Scholarship for Penn State New Kensington: Francis Udavcak

Gene Bella Memorial Scholarship Award: Travis Forrai, Michael Frenak

More than 50 alumni and friends attended the gala celebrating the Alle-Kiski Society reaching the $100,000 level for its scholarship endowment.

Alumni group thanks donors at gala

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- A jug of wine, a loaf of bread and a 100 thou.

With apologies to the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, the Alle-Kiski Society of the Penn State Alumni Association celebrated a major milestone -- surpassing the $100,000 level of its scholarship endowment -- with sandwiches and vino May 20 at the Wooden Door Winery in Lower Burrell.

"The $100,000 Gala" was the theme of the celebration of achievement, and the event provided an opportunity to honor former donors and recognize past scholarship winners via an informal and entertaining evening of catered food and refreshments. More than 50 alumni and friends attended the soiree.

The society surpassed the coveted mark at its monthly meeting two days earlier. The alumni group, which is based at Penn State New Kensington, presented the campus a $10,000 check for the scholarship fund. The endowment now stands at $109,000, more than double its number of $51,000 five years ago.

Among the special guests at the festivities were: Charlene Gaus, regional director of volunteer services for the Penn State Alumni Association; former chancellor Larry Pollock and his wife, Sudee; Jim and Lynn Ramage; and Chancellor Kevin Snider and his wife, Sarah. Gaus serves as the PSAA contact for society presidents and alumni relations directors. She praised the Alle-Kiski Society as one of the most successful societies in the commonwealth.

The Pollocks routinely support the society’s activities, including the annual Alumni Golf Scramble, which funds the scholarship endowment. The Washington Township couple recently fulfilled a $10,000 pledge to the campus’ general scholarship fund. A fountain at the main entrance to the Administrative Building honors Pollock’s 35-year legacy as chancellor and director of student affairs.

The Ramages not only donated to the society’s scholarship, they established their own endowed scholarship, “Dr. James Ramage and Lynn Ramage Trustee Scholarship.” The Ford City residents desired to support students who are pursuing a degree in the STEM fields. As per the donor's wishes, first preference is given to students who enroll in the math course, Calculus with Analytic Geometry I, a required course for the science, technology, engineering and math majors. The Ramages' connection to the campus has spanned more than 20 years, beginning in the 1990s when Jim served on the campus Advisory Board.

Snider, who succeeded Pollock in 2008, spoke of the importance of the student scholarships. He noted that private support allows the University to further its efforts to keep a Penn State degree affordable for students and families. To commemorate the gala, Snider presented Tom Oberlin with a framed certificate of appreciation that will be displayed at a prominent location on campus.

Tom Oberlin, president of the Alle-Kiski Society, welcomed the guests, and recapped the endowment’s five-year growth spurt. He credited Roger Williams, the retiring president of the Penn State Alumni Association, as the impetus for the dramatic increase. In 2010, Williams challenged all Penn State alumni societies to increase their scholarship endowments by 50 percent by 2014, the end of the “For the Future” campaign. The Alle-Kiski alumni group took up the gauntlet and fulfilled its $26,000 pledge a year ahead of schedule, increasing its scholarship from $51,000 to $77,000. In the following year, using the proceeds from the alumni golf tournament and bowl-a-thon, the society donated $15,000 more to the endowment. By the end of the campaign, the principal had risen by 78 percent.

A $7,000 donation by Tony Moret, owner of Moret Construction Co., took the endowment to the precipice at $99,000. The society’s latest check breached the barrier.

Penn State New Kensington Chancellor Kevin Snider, center, and former
chancellor Larry Pollock, right, present Alle-Kiski Society president Tim Oberlin
with a certificate of appreciation. 

Scholarship endowment
The “Alle-Kiski Society Endowed Scholarship” was established in 1992 and fully endowed at $15,000 six years later. Former society president Bill Salem founded the Alumni Golf Scramble in 2000 to nourish the scholarship fund. Proceeds from the tournament were earmarked exclusively for the endowment. Endowed gifts are held by the University in perpetuity. The initial gift is invested, and only a portion of the average annual investment return is spent. The remaining income is added to the principal as protection against inflation.

As the scholarship fund grew, so did the amount of the annual awards. A total of $1,300 in scholarships went to the first campus recipients -- Kelly Doyle, Tara Murrell and Nicholas Wichowski. This past year, the society awarded $4,400 in scholarships to Nathan Piluso, Nathan Schartner, Justine Rojeski and Jay Eiler. For the upcoming academic year, the amount awarded jumps to $5,500. The new recipients will be chosen in August by the society’s Scholarship committee. Since 1998, the society has awarded $48,000 to 55 campus students.

Funding campus projects
The endowment is not the only beneficiary of the society’s largesse. The society engages in various projects throughout the year, including interacting with current students through networking activities. Social events include a reception for student award winners, a Penn State TV football party, and a basketball pizza social.

During the For the Future campaign, the alumni organization made a $10,000 gift to campus athletics for equipment for the cardiovascular fitness room. The society also sponsors an annual reception for more than 100 campus students and their families for their accomplishments at the annual Academic and Student Achievement Awards ceremony.

Fundraising events include the bowlathon in the spring and a golf outing in the summer. While proceeds from the golf tournament go directly to the scholarship endowment, proceeds from the bowlathon are used for both the endowment and special projects. The spring bowlathon raised $6,600. Last year’s golf scramble raised $7,800.

Alumni golf tournament coming up
The march to a $200,000 endowment begins 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 14, with the Alumni Golf Scramble. The shotgun-start tournament at the Links at Spring Church in Apollo is open to alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends of Penn State. The entry fee is $110 and includes green fee and cart, lunch, dinner, prizes and refreshments on course. A foursome may sign up, or individuals may sign up and be assigned to a short-handed team.

Various golf packages are available, including foursomes, tee sponsorships and "dinner only." Tee sponsorships are available for $100. Registration and sponsorship forms are online, http://nk.psu.edu/Information/News/46218.htm#NEWS46218

For more about the Alle-Kiski Society, visit http://nk.psu.edu/Information/News/46218.htm#NEWS46218

AKS Scholarship Recipients
1998-2015

1998: Kelly Doyle, Tara Murrell, Nicholas Wichowski
1999: Jillian Savko, Edward Lee, George Madalay
2000: Holly Bell, Karen Bridge, Kimberly Lowers, Theresa Smith, Toni Vokes
2001: Wendy Jarmul, Nicole Palucacos, Joseph Caliguri, James Dykes
2002: Ray Mastre, Matthew Marziale, Charlotte Caldwell, Dana Tolatta
2003: Pat Olstein, Kenneth Kocon, Charlene Barker, Shawn Vause
2004: Jeffrey Arvay, Krista Goch, Jamie Conrad, Crystal Gilliland, Kelly Mitchell
2005: Shirley Betush, Melissa Franklin, Danica Myers
2006: Jeffery Mangone, Marie Rosenberger, Julie Arvay
2007: Kristin Clyde, Danica Myers
2008: Julie Arvay
2009: Katie Shoemaker
2010: Melissa Gemballa, Ericka Watson, Jaclyn Burkett
2011: Gretchen Toy, Shanna Williams, Vanessa Peck, Justin Tinnemeyer, Corey Zell
2012: Lauren Richards, Brandi Ritenour
2013: Joshua Swinehart, Jennifer Phillips, Caitlyn Cody
2014: Nathan Piluso, Nathan Schartner, Justine Rojeski, Jay Eiler

Spreadsheet program organizes data

Excel II: 2 - 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 7, 14, 21

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – Following last month’s successful introductory Excel course, Penn State New Kensington offers an advanced version, Excel II, from 2 to 5 p.m. on three consecutive Mondays, Dec. 7, 14 and 21, in the computer classroom on the lower level of the Conference Center.

Excel is an electronic spreadsheet application that organizes data into rows and columns and performs mathematical calculations. The class, taught by Skip Laratonda, a Microsoft certified trainer, costs $130 and does not carry college credit.

Throughout the year, Continuing Education offers numerous courses that are often part of a certificate program or are designed to meet the needs of specific skill development. Although a majority of the classes are held at the New Kensington campus in Upper Burrell, some classes are offered at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry. The alliance is a cooperative venture that offers education and training programs in the greater Pittsburgh region.

To register for the course, contact Beth Nury, 724-334-6010 or bxn10@psu.edu

For more on continuing education at the campus, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/CE

Proceeds will help children with cancer

6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, Conference Center

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – Refill the dauber and cover the free spaces as the Penn State New Kensington students are stepping up their THON fundraising activities with the third annual Basket Bingo Bash at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, in the Conference Center of the campus.

Local residents, along with the campus community, are invited to show off their bingo acumen and vie for an assortment of baskets filled with a variety of goodies. Admission is $10 for students and $15 for the general public, and includes two bingo cards of three games each. Additional bingo cards are available for $3. Holiday snacks and refreshments will be sold throughout the evening. Participants must be at least 18-years old. All proceeds benefit the campus THON campaign.

For tickets to the events or more info on THON, contact Lauren Blum, assistant to the director of student affairs, at 724-334-6063 or ldb14@psu.edu

THON
The campus THON committee, co-chaired by junior business management majors Shannon Josefoski and Shawna Fluhme, is sponsoring the event to raise funds for the University-wide THON that benefits the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. The fund’s goal is to support pediatric cancer patients, families and researchers. THON, formally known as the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, culminates with a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping marathon from Feb. 19 to 21, at the University Park campus. Over the next three months, students from all Penn State campuses will be raising money for what is believed to be the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.

A year ago, Penn State New Kensington students raised $28,000, fourth best in campus history. The campus record is $52,000, set in 2011 under the leadership of THON chair Kelly Sieja. In the past five years, the New Kensington THON committee has collected nearly $200,000, Since 2002, campus students have raised $300,000. Fundraising activities will continue through February as campus students will be hosting various events and canning outside businesses in the region to raise money.

For more on THON, visit www.thon.org

Dennis Marsili discusses new book, “Little Chicago:
A History of Organized Crime in New Kensington, Pa.”

6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 9, Forum Theatre

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The city of New Kensington is famous for its aluminum roots. It's infamous for its organized crime roots.

Dennis Marsili, a retired New Kensington police officer, shines a light on the “dark” side of the city with a talk about the city’s mob connections at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 9, in the Forum Theatre at Penn State New Kensington.

The focal point of the presentation is Marsili’s new book, “Little Chicago: A History of Organized Crime in New Kensington, Pa.” Recently published, the book provides a primer on local mobsters during their three-decade reign in New Kensington during the 40s, 50s and 60s.

A native of Vandergrift, Marsili delves into the city’s involvement with the Mannerino family, headed by brothers Kelly and Sam Mannerino. Long a part of the local lore, the story of the Mannerinos has never been definitively addressed. Marsili believes his book can provide a better perspective on the New Kensington-Mannerino connection. Marsili grew up a few miles from the home of Kelly Mannerino.

A product of Kiski Area High School, Marsili earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He served as program coordinator of the Criminal Justice Training Center at his alma mater.

“Little Chicago” is the second book by Marsili, who retired in 2011 after 29 years as a police office, including 26 years on the New Kensington police force. His first was a novel, “Excessive Forces: A Pittsburgh Police Thriller,” that came out in 2012.

The latest book was released Nov. 8 at the Alle-Kiski Valley Historical Society’s Heritage Museum in Tarentum. More than 350 people attended the affair and many more were turned away because of lack of space.

Due to the expected large crowd at the New Kensington campus event, reservations are encouraged. Copies of the book can be purchased at the event, and Marsili will be on-hand to sign the books.

To reserves a spot, call the Continuing Education office at 724-334-6010.

Dennis Marsili's newest book,  “Little Chicago: A History of Organized Crime in New Kensington, Pa.,”
was released Nov. 8 at the Alle-Kiski Valley Historical Society’s Heritage Museum in Tarentum.

Annual fall stage production runs
Nov. 19 to 21 in Forum Theatre

“The stage is a magic circle where only the most real things happen,
a neutral territory outside the jurisdiction of Fate where stars may be crossed
with impunity. A truer and more real place does not exist in all the universe.”
? P.S. Baber, 'Cassie Draws the Universe'

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – The cast is off book and waiting in the wings when the curtain rises at 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19, in the Forum Theatre for the opening of Penn State New Kensington’s stage production of "The Toxic Avenger." After three months of rehearsal, the campus Drama Club members are primed for a three-day run of the award-winning play that is directed by Bill Mitas, instructor in theater arts.

Following the first night are performances on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21. The curtain goes up at 8 p.m. each evening. The show is geared to mature audiences.

“Off book” is a theatrical term for the point during rehearsal when the actors have memorized their lines and no longer need the script. The “wings” are the sides of the stage, out of view of the audience, where the performers get ready for their entrances.

The cast features Colin Bibza as Melvin Ferd the Third and Toxie, Laura Gensamer as Sarah and Samantha Kravits as the Mayor. In addition to the main characters, the supporting cast includes Jonathan McCabe, Nathan Traini, Juliann Motosicky and Ian Callender.

Tickets are $8 for students with ID and $15 for the general public. For more information, call 724-334-6032.

For more about the play and a cast list, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/46348.htm

Lauren Blum, assistant to the director of student affairs at Penn State New Kensington, was named a "We Are" recipient Oct. 28 by the University publication Penn State Today.

Lauren Blum provides “educational fun” for students

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – Penn State New Kensington’s Lauren Blum, assistant to the director of student affairs, was recognized Oct. 28 in “We Are,” a weekly feature of the daily email publication, Penn State Today.

“We Are” is a University-wide initiative that was launched in February to provide students, faculty and staff with a platform to give kudos to fellow Penn Staters for work that goes above and beyond their job duties or responsibilities.

Blum is the ninth staff member from the New Kensington campus to receive the honor in the past nine months. Previously, Nancy Miller, co-director of continuing education, Corinne Coulson, enrollment specialist, Kevin Churik, information technology generalist, Jennifer Marino, assistant director for financial aid, Danielle DeStefano, assistant director of enrollment management, Susan Dale, administrative support assistant in the Office of Academic Affairs, Nancy Burns, staff assistant VI for the Office of Enrollment Management, and Karen Harlan, multimedia specialist, were accorded the prestigious honor. All were nominated by campus colleagues for personifying Penn State’s commitment of service to the community.

Kevin Snider, chancellor of the New Kensington campus, praised the recipients for shining the Penn State spotlight on New Kensington. He encouraged the campus community to recommend other colleagues for the honor.

“We need to get the word out about what a great campus and community we are,” Snider said. “It's a great way to continue to get our fantastic community recognized outside the campus.”

A “We Are” candidate could be a staff member taking extra steps to make sure a project is completed, a student organizing a charitable event, an administrator doing something special for employees, or a faculty member taking additional time to advise students.

To nominate a “We Are” candidate from the campus community, visit http://news.psu.edu/WeAre

To view “We Are” stories, visit http://news.psu.edu/story/359184/2015/06/01/we-are-thankful-these-penn-staters

Lauren Blum
Blum was named student life coordinator in 2011 and assumed her current position in 2013. Working out of the Student Life office, Blum is responsible for student leadership development and student activities. Her duties include providing administrative support to student clubs and organizations, coordinating cultural programs and events, and advising the Student Government Association.

A native of Beaver Falls, Blum is a graduate of Lock Haven University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Recreation Management. She earned a master's degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2012.

Her nominator wrote: "Lauren is one of the main driving forces behind the creation of community and the encouragement of educational fun at Penn State New Kensington. She works countless hours providing a fulfilling student activities line-up and somehow still finds time to organize productive Staff Senate meetings.

Student Affairs, under the guidance of director Theresa Bonk, is responsible for providing students with services and developmental opportunities that will supplement their academic experience and enhance their personal growth. Blum is at the center of all student-sponsored events.

She heads the campus’ Penn State in Pittsburgh program, which provides opportunities for students from four campuses in western Pennsylvania to experience the best of what the city of Pittsburgh has to offer. Beginning its third year, the program brings together students from the campuses of Beaver, Fayette, Greater Allegheny and New Kensington for a series of events highlighting the city’s educational, cultural, athletic and shopping benefits. During the fall semester, campus students boarded the Gateway Clipper for a boat cruise, rode the Phantom Revenge and other thrill rides at a Kennywood night, attended a playoff-bound Pittsburgh Pirates game, tested their creativity at a Warhol Museum workshop, and dined at Conflict Kitchen. More than 300 students attended the Pirates game, making it the most attended event in the history of the Penn State in Pittsburgh program. About 120 students went to the first Pirates game in 2013.

The spring semester will feature a tour of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens on Saturday, January 30, and a visit to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Museum of Art on Friday, April 1. The cost of the ticket includes transportation from the campus.

During spring break last semester, Blum, along with Elaine Zarichnak, campus nurse, accompanied ten students to Puerto Rico for a hybrid community service project that combined helping environmental communities and underserved communities. The group performed a variety of functions, including rehabilitating a mangrove and assisting with literacy initiatives throughout San Juan, the commonwealth’s capital.

In addition to her work responsibilities, Blum serves as president of the Staff Senate, the voice for campus staff. The senate strives to enhance the day-to-day work environment for campus personnel and promotes a sense of community and respect across campus.

For information on the Penn State in Pittsburgh program, contact Blum at 724-334-6063 or ldb14@psu.edu or visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/StudentLife/45535.htm

Painting of former Pittsburgh Steelers Franco Harris, Frenchy Fuqua and Rocky Bleier by Larry Klukaszewski.

Annual multimedia showcase

Artists’ Reception: 6-9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, Art Gallery

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Artwork by members of the East Suburban Artists League (ESAL) will be on display from Dec. 1 through Dec. 29 in the art gallery at Penn State New Kensington.

The annual multimedia show features more than 80 paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, intarsia, quilts and paper crafts. Many are for sale at prices ranging from $50 to $1,200. An artists' reception is slated for 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, in the gallery. The reception and exhibit are free to the public.

ESAL is a nonprofit organization that fosters arts and crafts, and provides inspiration and encouragement to art practitioners and patrons in the eastern suburbs. The league was founded 1965 in the home of Pittsburgh-area artist Mary Ann Clarke. Members hail from the greater Pittsburgh region. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at Christ’s Lutheran Church in Murrysville.

Larry Klukaszewski, a sports artist, and Dave Milanak, an art teacher at Kiski Area High School, are coordinating the exhibit. Klukaszewski previously exhibited at the campus in 2009. Painting in acrylic, and drawing in graphite and charcoal, Klukaszewski’s body of work is heavily influenced by Pittsburgh sports, especially the Steelers football team. He painted a football commemorating Super Bowl XL and presented it to former Steelers' president, Dan Rooney. The Steelers' fifth Super Bowl victory, 21-10 over the Seattle Seahawks, was Rooney's first as the head of the Steelers organization. The ball is on display at the Coca-Cola Great Hall at Heinz Field. The 45-year-old Klukaszewski, an elementary school teacher at Kiski Area, works out of his studio, Larry Klu Sports Art, in Lower Burrell.

The art gallery and the ESAL exhibit will be open through the holiday break except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

For information on the ESAL, contact Klukaszewski at larryklu@yahoo.com or Milanak at davidmilanak@yahoo.com

For photos of the exhibit (beginning Dec. 2), visit http://psnk.smugmug.com

Event raises awareness of
private giving’s impact on University, students

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Penn State New Kensington, in conjunction with other Penn State campuses, is participating in a University-wide philanthropy initiative on Tuesday, Dec. 1.  Members of the Penn State community are invited to make a gift to the campus as part of Penn State’s participation in “Giving Tuesday,” a global day of giving celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving by nonprofit organizations and their supporters.

This is the second consecutive year that Penn State is participating in the giving holiday, and the University hopes to garner a broad base of support for this year’s effort.

“These are challenging fiscal times for Penn State and for the New Kensington campus,” said Chancellor Kevin Snider. “Higher education is not supported at the same percentage as it was when many of us were in school. Our ability to continue being accessible is going to depend on scholarships, fellowships, paid internships and other programs designed to help struggling students through the burden of paying for higher education.“

Alumni and friends are encouraged to support the campus by giving online. By designating Penn State New Kensington, a donor's gift benefits the Future Fund at the campus. The Future Fund holds unrestricted gifts that are essential to the continued success of the campus. These funds provide flexible resources to address the campus’ most pressing needs and to create opportunities. This money is applied to areas with the greatest need, like student aid and academic initiatives.

The day of philanthropy is a part of the campus’ five-year strategic plan, which features seven paths to the future:
-- strengthening educational experiences and enhancing the quality of academic programs;
-- transforming education by exploring how technology and pedagogies can expand opportunity and discovery;
-- helping to build local communities;
-- developing resources to keep higher education accessible;
-- becoming the leader in student-centered education;
-- advancing an eco-friendly and healthy campus environment;
-- embracing diversity and preparing students for a global environment.

Sustainability, poverty initiatives and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programming are the key ingredients in the campus plan, and the campus is engaging the community in these critical areas. The three key initiatives cut across several of the strategic goals and highlight the campus’ intent to become an even more important leader in the community.

“The day is about students and the community,” Snider said. “Our donors aren’t just making the dream of a Penn State degree a reality for students; they are also investing in the future of the Alle-Kiski Valley and Western Pennsylvania.”

For more information on the event or to give online, visit http://www.givingtuesday.org/

Penn State New Kensington's husband-and-wife biologists, Bill Hamilton and Deborah Sillman, walk the campus nature trail and observe the flora and fauna. The trail was constructed in 1985 by Hamilton's students.

Half-mile loop serves as
environmental education resources

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The Penn State New Kensington nature trail turned 30 in October, and it’s showing its age. And that is fine with campus faculty members Bill Hamilton, assistant professor of biology, and Deborah Sillman, senior instructor in biology, the husband-and-wife team who supervise the trail and its virtual sidekick.

“Over the past 30 years we have watched wave after wave of successional changes in the forests along the nature trail. Gypsy moths and lightning strikes killed many of the tall oak trees in 1990s, while age and non-optimal conditions killed the black pines,” Hamilton said. “Fast growing yellow poplars and white ash trees grew into these open spaces, but now the ash borer is killing off the ash trees and wind storms are breaking up the fragile poplars."

“The new spaces, though, where the poplar and ash once stood are full of slow growing oak seedlings. You can get a glimpse of the oak forest that in a hundred years will dominate this whole ridgetop. You need a decade by decade perspective to see the wonder of the changes going on along this trail.”

The brainchild of Hamilton’s biology students, the trail serves as environmental education resources for the campus community and local school districts. A spring semester field trip in 1985 to Wallop’s Island in Virginia was the catalyst. Observing the ecological succession of the trails they walked piqued the student’s interest.

“We stopped at and walked several trails on our drive down to Wallops Island, including the Trail of Change in Pokomoke that really captured the imaginations of the students,” Hamilton said. “After coming home, they realized that we had great examples of ecological change and succession right in the woods here on campus.”

During the fall semester, Hamilton and the students scouted out a location and found a crude path in the southwest section of campus, which is located behind the far goal on the soccer field. Bob Arbuckle, the campus executive officer, helped the group secure funding for construction materials from the Student Government Association.

“We spent a number of Saturday afternoons out in the woods clearing the path,” said Hamilton. “It took about two months to carve out the half-mile loop.”

The trail meanders through a forest on a ridge before heading down to a ravine. White ash, red and white oak, and yellow poplar trees stand sentry on the ridge, while American beech and red maples guard the stream that cut the ravine.

“You can hike the loop of the trail just to feel the peace and quiet and restfulness of the place,” Hamilton said. “It also can be hiked with the intent of identifying trees, wildflowers and mammals.”

The Alcoa Foundation invested in the refurbishing of the trail in 2007. New signs and a system of tree markers were installed. In addition, more trails were added to the original pathway. Former campus student Chris Hone, a graduate of the School of Forestry at Penn State, located and identified 25 species of trees along the trail. Hone’s work was condensed into an arboretum guide.

Envisioning the benefits of an electronic version of the trail, the Alcoa Foundation made a second investment in the campus for building of a virtual trail. The virtual version went online in 2002, and continues to be a popular destination for school districts. It is a practical alternative to a field trip.

“The Virtual Nature Trail still draws almost 3,000 visitors a month,” Hamilton said. “It has over 100 species pages describing the plants and animals that can be found along the trail.”

To view the virtual trail and the arboretum guide, visit http://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/

 
Nature trail and pavilion in April 2009.                                         Nature trail and pavilion, August 2014

Succession
Succession is the change in the species structure over a period of time, which can be tens or thousands of years. The process can take up to 20 years after a wildfire or over a million years after a mass extinction.

A good example of succession can be found at the trail’s entrance, which features mowed grass and a roped-off plot of unmowed grass.

“The 'grass' under your feet consists of dozens of different plant species in a complex ecosystem only an inch or two tall,” Hamilton said. “The plants that are growing in the succession plot are quite different in appearance and in species composition from the mowed sections.”

Periodic mowing is a powerful selection force for plants that are able to rebound from the cutting of their above ground biomass. Removal of the controlling force of mowing allows the process of succession to proceed. The roped-off plot has not been mowed since 2000.

The trail gets a facelift every spring through the efforts a group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. Logs are cut, brush is removed, and general maintenance is performed. A fresh trail, as well as a pizza party, are the rewards for the volunteers.

Hamilton is already putting a call out for sprucing up the trail in 2016.

“The trail right now is in rough shape,” Hamilton said. “Lots of trees have come down and there is a huge need for an extensive spring cleanup. Watch your emails for an April date.”

To volunteer for the cleanup, contact Hamilton at hw7@psu.edu

 
Succession plot at the entrance of the nature trail hasn't been mowed since 2000.
Visitors can compare the unmowed area to the mowed area underfoot.

Blogging
In addition to maintaining the trail, Hamilton and Sillman write about the birds, insects, mammals and flowers that herald the arrival of the seasons. On their blog site, "Ecologist's Notebook: Reflections on the Natural World of Western Pennsylvania," they report on their observations around their Apollo house and on local nature trails, as well as the campus trail.

Their primary observation venues are the Roaring Run Trail and the Rock Furnace Trail in Apollo. The 5-mile long Roaring Run Trail follows the Kiski River and terminates at the village of Edmon. The 1.5-mile Rock Furnace Trail follows Roaring Run from its confluence with the Kiski River to Brownstown Road in Apollo. The trails are maintained by the Roaring Run Watershed Association.

They posted the first observations of winter Nov. 19. “Tiger in a Tree” is about Hamilton finding a great horned owl, also called a tiger owl, in his black locust tree during daylight. The owl, a huge female, was hungry and looking for a mate. She turned her head from side to side (owls have excellent, binocular vision but are not able to move their eyes about in the eye sockets) as she scanned the yards below for mice, moles, squirrels, or anything else that might be moving around.

“Once prey is spotted (and they are not picky about the types or sizes of prey species, they will take almost anything from tiny birds to skunks to even small cats and dogs), they swoop down and use their powerful talons to kill the animal,” Hamilton wrote in the blog. “Great Horned Owls have also been known to hop along on the ground scaring up and grabbing small rodents. Small prey is swallowed whole, and bones and fur are later regurgitated in a pellet.”

To view their blogs, visit http://sites.psu.edu/ecologistsnotebook/2015/11/19/signs-of-winter-1-tiger-in-a-tree/

Bill Hamilton  and Deborah Sillman supervise the campus nature trial and the
virtual nature trail.

Bill Hamilton
Hamilton joined the New Kensington faculty in 1983 after earning an undergraduate degree at Texas Tech University, a master’s in forest ecology at Ohio State, and a doctorate in soil ecology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University.

He teaches a broad range of biology courses, including Principles of Biology, Population Biology and Ecology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Anatomy, and Physiology. He has an active research agenda that focuses upon the historical ecology of western Pennsylvania. He is the co-coordinator of the campus’ International Travel and Honors programs.

Hamilton has been recognized by the campus and University for the quality of his teaching. He was the recipient of the campus’ Excellence in Teaching Award in 1996, the Commonwealth College’s Excellence in Academic Integration Award in 2002, and Penn State’s George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2003. The Atherton award, named after Penn State’s seventh president, who served from 1882 until 1907, is presented each year to six full-time faculty members University wide who have devoted substantial effort to and developed a record of excellence in undergraduate teaching.

Deborah Sillman
Sillman, who also is the instructional development specialist at the campus, holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Carleton College and a master’s degree in entomology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. After eight years as an adjunct at the campus, Sillman was promoted to full-time faculty in 2000. She teaches the laboratory component of a variety of courses, including Basic Concepts and Biodiversity, Populations and Communities, Molecules and Cells, and Mammalian Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory. Her research interests include the development of web resources on the ecology of western Pennsylvania and the use of technology in enhancing teaching and learning.

As instructional development specialist, Sillman develops training programs, delivers workshops, writes documentation and coordinates a number of campus programs, which promote the use of technology in teaching and learning. The programs include Digital Commons, Student Orientation to Electronic Resources, Student Personal Response System (“Clickers”), and Angel, a course management system. Sillman has the distinction of receiving the campus’ Excellence in Teaching award as a full-time and a part-time faculty member.

Bill Hamilton, assistant professor of biology at the campus, with students Brittany Miller, right,
and Kaely Brilhart, prepare to plant a honey locust tree along Industrial Boulevard in the
city of New Kensington.

Tree planting in New Kensington
Hamilton not only writes about the environment, he actively participates in renewing it. He was joined in the spring by biology students and Science Club members for the tree-planting project in the city of New Kensington. Sixteen trees, featuring a mixture of plane trees, hawthorns, oaks and ginkgo, were planted at six sites in the city: Valley Heights Park, Parnassus Park, Post Office parking lot, the memorial across from the Peoples Library, Industrial Blvd, and the corner of 5th Avenue and 9th Street.

Hamilton and his students did a similar project in 2014. Twelve trees, a Kentucky coffee bean and 11 honey locusts, were planted along Industrial Boulevard, which is located in the southeast section of the city.

The tree-planting program was sponsored by the New Kensington Shade Tree Commission and supported by a grant from Tree Vitalize, a program funded by the Department Natural Resources. Jane Glenn of the Shade Tree Commission organized the event, and Brian Wolyniack, an urban forester with the Penn State Extension Office, was on hand to demonstrate tree-planting techniques and supervise the work.

Glenn, a Lower Burrell resident, has campus connections. She is the administrative executive of three campus endowments -- Elizabeth S. Blissell Scholarship, Hazel L. Hug Scholarship and Thelma M. Clausner Scholarship -- that provide annual support to 15 campus students. For the 2015-16 academic year, Aaron Holness, Danielle Richardson and Brianna Wyant earned Blissell scholarships; Mackenzie Degreen, Zayne Aniszewski, Austin Porter, Ryan Kieffer, Zachary Crowe and Justin Leone received Hug scholarships; and Mathew Kish, Ashley Worlds, Justin Leone, Victor Valco, Nathaniel Coup, Samantha Kovach and Brandon Obryan merited Clausner scholarships.

Alcoa Foundation
Community service has been the cornerstone of Alcoa Foundation's mission for more than 50 years. Company employees from around the globe heed the call to service and devote their time and talents on a regular basis to serving their individual communities, working with local nonprofit or non-governmental organizations.

Alcoa and Penn State New Kensington have a long history of collaboration. In 1963, the company donated land to Penn State, and three years later, the present Upper Burrell campus opened on the 35-acre parcel. Since then, Alcoa and Penn State have worked together on numerous initiatives, such as scholarships, the virtual nature trail, "green chemistry" and service projects that have benefited the campus and the community. In July 2009, Alcoa was the recipient of the campus' inaugural "Corporate Partner of the Year" award.

Six years ago, the foundation invested $70,000 to enhance the campus’ STEM learning in elementary and secondary schools program. The initiative is designed to increase the number of grade-school students, especially females, minorities and the underrepresented, in the STEM fields and to create the local workforce needed for the future economic prosperity of the region. Penn State students and faculty provide on- and off-campus program support and serve as instructors and tutors for students.