Penn State New Kensington's Brussels tapestry, “The Story of Joseph and Potiphar's Wife,” will be auctioned at Sotheby's on Oct. 17.

Sotheby’s to auction campus’
17th century tapestry

“The Story of Joseph and Potiphar's Wife”
10 a.m, Saturday, Oct. 17

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. — Carole King made millions on her “Tapestry” album. Penn State New Kensington hopes to make thousands on its tapestry artwork.

The campus has teamed with Sotheby’s to auction a 17th century Brussels tapestry called “The Story of Joseph and Potiphar's Wife,” at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, in New York.

Sotheby’s is one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art. The 271-year-old auction house estimated the 11-foot-by-10-foot piece's worth at between $12,000 and $18,000. New Kensington is believed to be the first Penn State campus to consign an item to Sotheby’s.

"We offered this piece up for auction with mixed emotions,” said Kevin Snider, chancellor of the campus. “We're sad that it is leaving our campus, but delighted that this piece will likely end up in the hands of people who will make sure it is adequately preserved and appreciated for years to come.”

The campus came into possession of the tapestry in 1968 as a part of the Roy A. Hunt collection. Hunt was president of Alcoa from 1928 until he retired in 1951. He remained with Alcoa as chairman of the executive committee until 1963. He died in 1966 at the age of 85. Two years later, Hunt’s four sons donated the tapestry, as well as other art objects and furnishings, from their parents' Pittsburgh home. In addition to the Brussels tapestry, the gift included furniture, rugs, and a 116-piece collection of rare 19th century French Langeais china.

The tapestry and collection was the first exhibit in the new campus Art Gallery, which was dedicated on Sept. 13, 1968, two years after the campus moved from the city of New Kensington to its present location in Upper Burrell. During the ensuing years, the tapestry moved to various locations around the campus. Its most recent home was outside the office of the theatre instructor on the wall of the Information Technology building. It was removed several years ago during a repainting project and stored in a long-forgotten location.

A year ago, Snider set up the campus art committee, which was tasked with enhancing student learning and improving campus aesthetics through visual art. Chaired by Tina Sluss, Art Gallery director and administrative support assistant for development, the committee inventoried all art works at the campus. Sluss and Bud Gibbons, professor emeritus of visual arts at the campus and former Art Gallery director, serendipitously found the discarded tapestry under the stage of the Forum Theatre. Also hibernating with the tapestry was an antique library table and several paintings. Despite the dank conditions, the tapestry was in good shape. The colors were vibrant and the edges only slightly frayed.

“We knew the tapestry was worth getting appraised,” said Sluss, who curates the gallery’s monthly art exhibits. “Michael Malley from East End Gallery in Pittsburgh conducted the appraisal and then forwarded the information to Sotheby’s.”

Photos of the tapestry were also sent to Sotheby’s. The venerable auction house researched the piece and found it to be a valuable textile art from the Renaissance period. It calculated the worth and recommended an auction. The campus was now a player in art world.

Sluss took the tapestry to New York, Sotheby’s headquarters. She was met by handlers and receiving specialists who gave the “Joe,” as the tapestry has come to be known, the white glove treatment.

“Sotheby’s was very welcoming and professional,” Sluss said. “It was a cultural experience for me. There were so many beautiful antiques and furnishings being received that day.”

The auction house examined the piece in more detail and delved into its history and meaning. The center of the tapestry is surrounded by a border of 25 colorful illustrations. The narrative is presented in a counter-clockwise arrangement. In the left foreground are two men, with Potiphar on the right, negotiating Joseph's sale into slavery. Potiphar's wife looks on in the right foreground. In the right background, Joseph flees the lustful embrace of Potiphar's wife, leaving behind his cloak. In the center background, Potiphar's wife presents Joseph's cloak to Potiphar, accusing Joseph of trying to seduce her. In the left background, Joseph is escorted to a castle-like prison.

Tapestries were essential during the Middle Ages and Renaissance because of their functionality and portability. The woven pieces were learning tools, used for storytelling and moral lessons. Wall art provided warmth in the winter, as well as decoration. It also muffled sounds in drafty castles. In addition, noblemen could roll them up and easily transport them between residences.

Alumni and friends are welcomed to bid on “The Story of Joseph and Potiphar's Wife” online. The campus tapestry is Lot 601. It will be auctioned as a part of the European Decorative Art collection. Proceeds from the sale will fund cultural arts activities.

“The sale of this piece will go to support our efforts to preserve and expand our campus' legacy in the arts,’ Snider said. “What a great way for art to give back to art."

For more about Sotheby’s bidding process, visit http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/watch-live.html

To view the tapestry, visit
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2015/collections-european-decorative-arts-n09408/lot.601.html

The Brussels tapestry lies on the floor of the Forum Theatre stage prior to transporting it to Sotheby's in New York.

The lower right corner of the tapestry's border, which is composed of 25 illustrations.

Using pulleys, blocks, tubes, screws and duct tape, middle school students join forces in December to build a Rube Goldberg contraption at the annual "STEM Challenge" at Penn State New Kensington.

Future employment opportunities in the fields of
science, technology, engineering and math;

Company reps talk about the need for an
educated and skilled workforce

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- High school students will get the lowdown on future employment opportunities in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields at the “STEM Exploration Workshop” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Penn State New Kensington. The campus is located in on state Rt. 780 in Upper Burrell Township.

The STEM event provides an opportunity for secondary-school students from three counties -- Armstrong, Butler and Indiana -- to hear about careers and what skills will be needed for future workforces from local employers. The focus is on safety in science. Representatives from the emergency response cleanup, waste treatment, wetlands restoration and sustainable resources will give advice and answer questions.

“This program allows Penn State New Kensington an opportunity to reach out to additional counties in order to provide STEM career exploration to high school students,” said Debra Novak, coordinator of STEM programs at the campus.

The hands-on workshop will give students a chance to complete “real world” team projects. The Alle-Kiski Valley and the surrounding areas are home to numerous STEM-related companies, including McCutcheon Enterprises Inc. As a part of the workshop, McCutcheon will provide a tour of its Apollo facilities to participants. Transportation will be provided.

The event is sponsored by the Tri-County Business-Education Partnership, the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, and the New Kensington campus. The cost is free for students from the three counties, which are a part of Penn State New Kensington’s five-county service area. Allegheny and Westmoreland are the other two counties. Lunch will be provided.

To register, call Novak at 724-334-6119 or register online at www.nk.psu.edu/youthprograms 
Registration deadline is March 15.

STEM Activities
Over the years, the campus has hosted numerous STEM-related activities. The seed was planted in 2010 with the “Women in STEM Symposium.” More than 300 high school females attended the event that featured a panel discussion on career possibilities for women in STEM-related fields. The panelists extolled the different perspectives that women can bring to these traditionally male-dominated fields. They advised the audience to take advantage of internships at local companies to gain experience in their prospective vocations.

In December, more than 200 seventh and eighth graders from four local school districts -- Burrell, Franklin Regional, Kiski Area and New Kensington-Arnold -- honed their critical thinking and engineering skills at WEDIG’s third annual “STEM Challenge” by building Rube Goldberg machines. Prior to the competition, students learned about career paths in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields from 30 STEM professionals.

STEM initiatives on campus
STEM is a statewide effort dedicated to preparing Pennsylvania students for global competitiveness through a strategy of enhanced education and career development opportunities. The initiatives are designed to increase the number of students, especially females, minorities and the underrepresented, in the STEM fields.

Novak, who joined the campus community in 2012, coordinates the campus’ three STEM programs -- Kids in College, STEM Academy and COMETS. Her responsibilities include increasing the interest of grade-school students in the four core disciplines critical to the development of technological innovations. She develops and manages STEM initiatives by bringing together representatives from the campus, local school districts and regional industries. The initiatives are geared to elementary and secondary students.

Kids in College is a summer program that combines hands-on activities and STEM camps for students in grades one to 12. The STEM-related classes include courses like "Daring Designs" where students draw scale plans for a bedroom or game room using a scientific perspective and "Rocketry" class, which is an opportunity for students to build their own model rockets and launch them. Kids in College is sponsored by the Grable Foundation.

“The camp was established to provide students with a fun learning experience, while exposing them to a college campus atmosphere,” Novak said. “Over the past 27 years, we have had nearly 8,000 students participate in the program.”

STEM Academy targets high school students. The program provides dual-enrollment courses that are focused on STEM majors. Students are given options for courses that can be taken at the New Kensington campus.

“The academy provides students with the advantages of earning college credits while in high school and exploring a career path that is STEM-related," said Novak, who teaches English as a second language in the Burrell School District. “It also provides an opportunity for high school teachers to work with campus faculty to develop the talents of college-bound and workforce-bound students whose career interests will require advanced knowledge of STEM areas.”

COMETS (Courses on Math, Engineering, Technology, Science) targets seventh- and eighth-grade girls who have an interest in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. Volunteer mentors, drawn from Penn State alumna and friends in STEM-related professions, will share their experiences on career opportunities in their fields. In addition to mentoring, the eight-month program features the Saturday Morning Brunch series, COMETS camp, guest speakers, demonstrations and projects.

“The program combines an online mentoring program with hands-on presentations in a wide range of STEM fields,” said Novak. “The mentors will provide new perspectives on their careers, as well as perspectives on other STEM careers for the girls.”

The campus’ STEM projects complement Novak’s charge to coalesce interdisciplinary teams of grade school teachers and administrators, higher education students and faculty, and industry representatives to determine the best approach to STEM literacy in the region.

“STEM-related growth is expected to expand immensely in the near future for the Alle-Kiski Valley,” Novak said. “Our programs are directed at introducing and supporting the necessary pathways for students in our area districts for success in STEM jobs.”

For more information, contact Novak via email at dsn2@psu.edu

Event will host recruiters from a variety of industries

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Wednesday, March 9,
Monroeville Convention Center

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- More than 120 national and local employers offering internships and jobs will be at the Western Pennsylvania Career Services (WestPACS) Association's Spring Job and Internship Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, at the Monroeville Convention Center along state Rt. 22 in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.

Recruiters from a variety of industries, including telecommunications, engineering, technologies, health care, government, human services, retail, hospitality and financial services, will attend the annual event. The fair is geared toward fall 2015 and spring 2016 graduates and recent alumni with program certificates and degrees in all majors. There are also many internship opportunities for current undergraduates.

Jim Shields, career services coordinator at Penn State New Kensington, is an executive board member of WestPACS. According to Shields, the event features full- and part-time employment, internship and co-op opportunities, both regionally and nationally.

"Job seekers will be able to discuss current openings and network with employers hiring in more than 22 career fields," Shields said. "It is the biggest job fair event for college students and graduates in western Pennsylvania.”

Sponsored by the WestPACS Consortium of 44 colleges and universities in western Pennsylvania, the job fair is open to students and graduates from two- and four-year degree programs. Registration is free for Penn State New Kensington students and graduates who register by March 9 on the WestPACS website at www.westpacs.org or in the campus’ Career Services office located in the Academic and Career Success Center on the lower level of the Student Union Building, adjacent to the bookstore. Shields can be reached at 724-334-6065 or xjs8@psu.edu

Walk-in registration also is available at a cost of $10 at the door. Parking is free; a resume and professional dress are required for entrance into the fair.

For more information on career assistance at Penn State New Kensington, visit www.nk.psu.edu/CareerStartHere

Penn State New Kensington's Phil Marra, in the bottom position, won the PSUAC and NCWA-Mid-East conference championships this year to advance to the NCWA nationals, March 10-12, in Florida.

Phillip Marra finished second at
NCWA nationals last year

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Penn State New Kensington junior wrestler Phillip Marra (Burrell H.S.) is headed back to the nationals after winning the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Mid-East Conference Feb. 27. A year ago, Marra finished second at the NCWA national championships, which is set for March 10-12 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida.

Marra is undefeated on the year at 19-0. The Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, resident is ranked 18th nationally in the 184-pound weight class. In addition to winning the Mid-east crown, Marra captured the PSUAC title. Last year, he finished second at the nationals in the 174-pound class. He will be vying with 185 other wrestlers in his weight group. A graduate of the storied Burrell wrestling program, Marra went 98-42 in high school and earned fourth place at the state championships in 2013.

Nearly 100 wrestlers and 14 teams competed in the mid-east regional qualifier in Baltimore. The top six individuals in each weight class received invitations to the nationals. Dylan McAnallen and Ryan McCauley just missed securing their tickets to the national tournament. McAnallen and McCauley finshed seventh and eighth, respectively. The New Kensington Lions are under the direction of first-year head coach Francis Healy.

Since the reincarnation of the wrestling program, 11 campus grapplers have made the trip to the NCWA nationals. Lou Gardone was the first, earning a fourth seed in the 197-pound division.

NCWA is the governing body for collegiate club wrestling teams in the United States and Canada. It is divided into seven regional conferences: Mid-East; Northeast; Mid-Atlantic; Southeast; North Central; Southwest; and West coast. The New Kensington Lions compete in the 18-member Mid-East region that includes programs from the University of Pittsburgh, Rutgers University, University of Delaware and Lehigh University.

The campus ties to the NCWA are strong. Former Penn State New Kensington student Jim Giunta, a wrestler for the original campus program in the early '70s, is the founder and executive director of the organization.

Giunta, a 1971 graduate of Burrell High School, was a biology major at the campus. He switched to education after transferring to Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master’s degree in exercise physiology and cardiac rehabilitation. After graduation, he began teaching high school in Richardson, a North Dallas suburb, and served as the head wrestling coach there for seven years.

A resident of Dallas, he launched the Texas Interscholastic Wrestling Association in 1987 to promote wrestling in high schools. He formed the NCWA in 1997. Giunta was honored in 2004 with a lifetime achievement award by the Texas Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

For schedule and results of the NCWA tournament, visit http://ncwa.net/

 Phil Marra finished runner-up at the 2015 NCWA national championships.

Penn State New Kensington
Post-Season Wrestling

(2011-present)

NCWA National Championships Participants
Year, Participant, National Ranking (weight class), Result

2016: Phillip Marra, 18th (184), TBD;
2015: Phillip Marra, 9th (174), 2nd;
Dean Lusk, 5th (285), 9th; Trey Turnblacer, 54th (235), DNP
2014: Dean Lusk, 5th (285), 5th;
Phillip Marra, 9th (149), 9th; Colin Austin, 21st (165), 20th
2013: John Dopplehauer, 18th (285), 24th;
James Melnyk, 63rd, (149), 24th
2011- Lou Gardone (197), 4th, forfeit; Mark Irwin (149), forfeit

Conference Champions
Year, Name (weight class) Conference

2016: Phillip Marra (184), Mid-East, PSUAC
2015: Phillip Marra (174), Mid-East, PSUAC
Dean Lusk (285), PSUAC;
2014: Dean Lusk (285), Mid-East Conference
2012-Matt Kepple (184), Penn State University Athletic Conference
2011- Lou Gardone (197), Mid-East Conference

The life-size mosaic art rock band creation by Valley High School students features Slash on guitar and Joan Jett with mic. The exhibit runs through March 26 at Penn State New Kensington.

Alle-Kiski Arts Consortium's
'Arts Alive' runs in March

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- "Portraiture and faces" is the theme of the annual high school student art exhibit, March 2 to 26, in the Art Gallery at Penn State New Kensington.

The show, “Arts Alive,” is sponsored by the Alle-Kiski Arts Consortium, a group of local educators dedicated to bringing performing and visual arts to area students. Artwork by students from five area high schools -- Highlands, Valley, Deer Lakes, Kiski Area and St. Joseph's -- is featured in the show. The theme is interwoven in each school’s display.

One of the more exciting displays is a life-size mosaic art rock band creation by Valley students. The exhibit includes eight real size guitars and features Joan Jett and Slash. Jett was the guitarist, singer and songwriter for the all-female punk-rock bands The Runaways and Blackhearts of the 1970s and 80s. Slash, whose real name is Saul Hudson, was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter for the hard-rock band Guns N’ Roses of the 80s and 90s. Both musicians are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Valley’s show is a result of a substantial collaborative effort from 25 members of all the advanced classes,” said Ray Sharkins, visual arts educator at Valley High School in the New Kensington-Arnold School District and coordinator of the event. “Participation in the project provided the students with a type of group learning environment that is rarely found in a typical school day.”

More than 500 two- and three-dimensional pieces, including paintings, drawings, sculpture and jewelry will be hung salon-style, a European technique that dates back to the 17th century. Salon-style features a single exhibition room with artwork covering all the walls in a collage-like pattern.

“It furthers the uniqueness of the young emerging artists,” said Prissy Pakulski, an art teacher at Valley and former event coordinator. “In addition, easels and pedestals further showcase the creations.”

A reception for the secondary-school artists is set from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, March 21, in the art gallery. In conjunction with the reception is the High School Performing Arts Showcase, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the campus’ Forum Theatre.

“Performing arts is yet another venue for creative minded students to showcase their talents in the theater and vocal arts,” Sharkins said.

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

“The art exhibit is a wonderful cooperative experience for the art students in the districts,” said Pakulski, a visual artist who works in stained glass. “The gallery at Penn State New Kensington produces an ambiance of professionalism, and students get a real gallery exhibition experience.”

For more information, email Sharkins at rsharkins@nkasd.com

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

 
Art by local high school students hangs salon-style in the Art Gallery at Penn State New Kensington. The works are a part of the Alle-Kiski Arts Consortium exhibit in March.

Penn State New Kensington THON dancers Wati Kumwenda, left, and Ben Lesko during a break on the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center during their 46-hour dance marathon to raise funds for pediatric cancer research.

Wati Kumwenda, Ben Lesko dance ‘For The Kids’

Shannon Josefoski, Shawna Fluhme oversee
seventh-best campus fundraising effort

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The THON committee at Penn State New Kensington, headed by juniors Shannon Josefoski, and Shawna Fluhme, raised $17,099 for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) that benefits the Four Diamonds Fund and the fight against pediatric cancer. The total is the seventh-best in campus history.

“THON 2016 was a challenging one across the board,” said Lauren Blum, assistant to the director of student affairs and adviser to the THON committee. “We had some crazy ups and downs with programs canceled and changed for reasons out of our control. But through it all our students stayed resilient.”

The two New Kensington campus student dancers – Wati Kumwenda of Malawi in southeast Africa and Ben Lesko of New Kensington -- joined more than 700 dancers from across the University for the 46-hour event, Feb. 19 to 21, in the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University Park.

“It was fantastic, and people were so lively and friendly,” said Kumwenda, a second-year biomedical engineering technology major. “Music was always playing and time seemed to move really quickly.”  After playing a supporting role in the stands last year for campus dancers Brooke Churma and Alex Pedder, Lesko got a new perspective on THON.

“It was a completely different experience,” Lesko said. “Just looking up, seeing all the support, colors and smiles just was amazing.”

The Four Diamonds Fund serves a dual role -- supporting families financially during treatment and funding cancer research. The children and families joined the dancers on the floor, playing games and pulling pranks. Squirt gun battles are a tradition, and Lesko summoned his inner-Wyatt Earp at the OK Corral.

“I carried a water gun around the entire weekend, making me a constant target,” Lesko said. “Once the kids see a water gun, it's game on. So that was a lot of fun.”

Kumwenda befriended eight-year-old Emily, who she had seen dance on the stage during the kids show. Like Kumwenda, Emily and her mother were THON rookies and loving the experience. Emily danced with her new friend and then jumped in her mother’s arms.

“Emily had no hair because she was going through treatment, but she had the biggest, most beautiful smile,” Kumwenda said. “Her mom cradled her tenderly. I could tell mom was exhausted but happy that her little girl was enjoying herself.”

 Penn State New Kensington THON supporters, led by campus committee co-chair Shannon Josefoski, front, in the stands of the Bryce Jordan Center.

The New Kensington dancers did not go at it alone. The University Park THON committee assigned each dancer a moraler who attended to their needs during the marathon. Be it food, drink, or inspiration, the moraler's responsibility is to help the dancers get through the event. In addition, a New Kensington posse was on the floor and in the stands, ready to cheer on the campus hoofers and provide moral support.

“There were a couple of moments when the whole not sleeping thing started to catch up with us,” Kumwenda said. “But it was almost too perfectly timed as our friends and supporters from the campus would come down to the dance floor to hype us. It was just perfect.”

Fluhme, a business management major from Plum High School, and Josefoski, a business marketing major from Highlands High School, supervised the campus’s THON efforts at University Park. They developed and organized schedules and manage shifts and breaks.

“We had a wonderful THON committee this year, and I am so proud of everything they were able to do,” Blum said. “We are so proud of everyone’s hard work and dedication to such a great cause, and they really showcased our campus well. Most importantly, we had two dancers who dedicated so much of themselves to stand for 46 hours for the cause.”

In the past five years, the New Kensington THON committees have collected over $210,000. Since 2002, campus students have raised $315,000. Kelly Sieja, who earned a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology from the campus, chaired the committee that set the record of $53,000 in 2011. The second-best total, $50,000, was secured a year later under the direction of Lauren Richards, an alumna of the campus’ Information Sciences and Technology program.

Overall, THON raised nearly $10 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Researchers at the hospital are working to find better treatments and, ultimately, cures for forms of cancer that afflict children. Approximately 100 new families receive support each year.

First held in 1973, THON has partnered with the Four Diamonds Fund since 1977 and in that time has raised about $138 million FTK -- "For The Kids." More than 15,000 students participated in making THON 2016 happen, including the thousands of students who helped them raise funds throughout the year and thousands more who volunteered during THON weekend to boost dancers' morale, kept them fed and entertained, made sure they stayed safe and shared the THON experience around the world via streaming video.

For more on THON, visit http://www.thon.org/

  Displaying the traditional Four Diamonds sign as one, Penn State New Kensington THON dancers Wati Kumwenda, left, and Ben Lesko dance "For the Kids" at the Bryce Jordan Center.

CAMPUS THON HISTORY

2000-present

YEAR, TOTAL, CHAIR(S), DANCERS
2016: $17,000 Shannon Josefoski, Shawna Fluhme, Wati Kumwenda, Ben Lesko
2015: $28,000 Jadyn Perry, Lea Long, Brooke Churma and Alex Pedder
2014: $24,000, Melissa Gabrielli, Mike Cavazza, Mitch Hastings, Melissa Gabrielli
2013: $43,000, Kelsie Nury, Aric Fellers, Leigh Hastings, Courtney Rockwell, Bill Staniszewski
2012: $50,467, Lauren Richards, Joe Mandak, Erin Prager, Andrew Holodnik, Kelsie Nury
2011: $52,392, Kelly Sieja, Nicole Thoma, Deanna Mazur, Megan Pulaski, Kiki Wilkinson
2010: $23,000, Deanna Mazur, Sarah Calligan, Megan Karl
2009: $8,700, Deanna Mazur, Erika Mazur, Kyle Tomer
2008: $5,000, Dani Bonura, Samantha Smith, Heather Schweikert
2007: $7,000 Shayne Brown and Alan Wiley, Dani Bonura, Missy Franklin, Ed Newell, Donna Stewart
2006: $10,000, Karen Mayer and Danica Myers, Robert Dietz, John Lowery
2005: $12,000, Karen Mayer, Jamie Love, Crystal Gilliland, Joe Hudeck, Alicia Fitzgerald
2004: $12,000, Mike Kelley and April Sheets, Greg Schubert, Andrew Presutti, Crystal Gilliland, Jayme Campana
2003: $8,600, Rich Moser, Jim Dykes, Mike Kelly, Rich Moser, April Sheats
2002: $9,300, Vera Spina, Rich Moser, Tim Burg
2001: $3,000
2000: $3,000

Penn State New Kensington nurse, Elaine Zarichnak, right, checks the registration table at last year's fall blood drive.

Semiannual event part of
Nurse Elaine Zarichnak’s wellness series

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Students, faculty, staff, alumni and local residents have two donating options at Penn State New Kensington's biannual Community Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the campus Art Gallery.

Donors can choose between the whole blood or apheresis methods. Both methods are safe and draw approximately a pint of fluid from the donors. The whole blood method is the typical method where the blood is drawn manually, collected in a pint bag and stored unprocessed. It is later separated into red blood cells and plasma. The apheresis method draws blood from the donor, separates it using a centrifuge or a filter, stores the desired part and returns the rest to the donor. This process is done with a machine specifically designed for this purpose.

The Central Blood Bank will collect, store and deliver the blood. Donors of all blood types from the campus and the local community are encouraged to help increase the blood supply in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Last fall's donations totaled 43 units. Since 2006, the campus community and alumni have donated nearly 800 units of blood for use in the local area.

The blood drive was made possible through the efforts of donors, canteen volunteers and Elaine Zarichnak, the campus nurse. Appointments are not necessary as walk-ins are welcome. A free cholesterol screening is available to each donor.

“Blood donors feel good about giving back,” Zarichnak said. “Patients in the community and across the nation receive the gift of life.”

The nurse reminds donors to bring a photo ID, and that it must be at least 56 days since their last donation. In addition, they should not have any tattoos or self-piercings in the past year. Those giving blood should eat a good breakfast and decrease caffeine intake prior to donation.

For more information about the blood drive, contact Zarichnak at 724-334-6066 or emz3@psu.edu

Health Services
The blood drive is a part of Health Services’ Health Promotion and Education program, a series of activities that promotes health awareness, positive health behaviors, and disease prevention. Zarichnak collaborates with others in the health field to identify and advocate for student needs to provide appropriate high quality, cost effective responses. One-on-one counseling is available to students seeking assistance with health concerns such as smoking, alcohol and other drug abuses, nutrition and weight management, and human sexuality issues.

Throughout the year, Zarichnak offers wellness programs and contests for the campus community to increase the health and raise the morale of the campus.

“The basis for the wellness programs centers on our students’ wellbeing,” Zarichnak said. “We encourage and educate our students on the importance of making good health and wellness choices. This allows them to be in a better state to learn.”

Zarichnak earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Carlow University. She joined the campus staff in 2001 after serving as critical care nurse educator at St. Francis Medical Center in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania.

As campus nurse, she provides treatment of minor injuries and illnesses, as well as emergency responses and athletic physicals. She coordinates the schedule of the visiting physician.

The next wellness program, Team Weight Loss, is set for Thursday, Oct. 22. The five-month program is designed for those who want to shed those unwanted pounds.

“The benefits of weight loss are improved sleep, a healthy heart, and protection from Type 2 Diabetes,” Zarichnak said. “It also can save you money and lead to a better sex life.”

Participants are assigned to a team, and weekly weigh-ins track the pounds lost by the team. The team concept gives individuals the motivation to do their best to adhere to a plan to drop the extra weight.

Zarichnak was honored for developing the weight-loss program in 2007. The New Kensington resident received Penn State’s Outstanding Program Award at the annual Rewards and Recognition Celebration at University Park. The University-wide event recognizes individuals in departments under the Division of Student Affairs.

For more about health services, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/StudentServices/HealthServices/healthsvc.htm

Published author
When Zarichnak is not helping the campus community, she is helping the global community as a published author and volunteer.

In 2010, she wrote a book of inspirational personal anecdotes that was published by Trafford Publishing. "Divine Interventions…Messages of Hope," is a collection of nine short stories on how God touches lives and works in extraordinary ways to restore hope. Writing under the pseudonym E.M. Schick, the Pittsburgh native details personal accounts of God touching not only her life, but the lives of those around her.

According to Zarichnak, through a series of events, she discovered that "God's ways were greater than her ways." The divine interventions validated her belief in God's desire for intimate involvement in her life.

In March, she accompanied 10 students on a voluntary Alternative Spring Break trip to Puerto Rico to work on several community-service projects. The campus contingent spent eight days in San Juan, performing a variety of functions including rehabilitating a mangrove forest and assisting with literacy initiatives.

For more about the book, visit http://www.amazon.ca/Divine-Interventions-Messages-Hope-Schick/dp/1426933460

The old banner is a collectors' item now that the Alle-Kiski Society has changed its name to the Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society. A new banner will be designed by the Penn State Alumni Association.

New moniker reflects groups’ mission

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – A philanthropic fixture at Penn State New Kensington for 32 years, the Alle-Kiski Society of the Penn State Alumni Association (PSAA) has undergone an identity transformation. The alumni group recently changed its name to the Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society, which better represents the society’s ties to the campus and its mission of serving New Kensington campus students.

Former campus student Vera Spina Greenwald, first-year president of the society, broached the subject of a new sobriquet at the Feb. 16 meeting of the board. She pointed out that most people did not discern the relationship between the Alle-Kiski Society and the New Kensington campus.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to approach the board about a potential name change,” said Greenwald, a 2003 alumna. “But in my short time as president, I found that a lot of campus graduates weren’t familiar with the term ‘Alle-Kiski Society’ or its connection to the campus. If we want to reach out to the campus graduates, we needed a name to reflect the campus.”

The alumni society was founded in 1984 as the Alle-Kiski Chapter, an organization that sponsored social activities for local Penn State alumni. Dennis Scarpiniti served as the first society president. In the early 1990s, on a recommendation by the PSAA, the group strengthened its connection to New Kensington by morphing into Alle-Kiski Society, a campus organization within the larger alumni association.

“We are, of course, very proud of our roots and that shows with our current board members,” said Greenwald, chief clerk for Westmoreland County. “We have campus graduates, alums that spent some time at the campus, alums that never attended the campus and friends of Penn State.”

The Alle-Kiski Society Endowed Scholarship was established in 1992 and fully endowed at $15,000 six years later. Bill Salem, former society president, launched the Alumni Golf Scramble in 2000 to nourish the scholarship fund. Proceeds from the tournament are earmarked exclusively for the endowment.

The New Kensington society surpassed the coveted $100,000 mark in 2015. In the past five years, the society has donated nearly $60,000 to its campus scholarship, increasing the endowment from $51,000 to $109,000.

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 year, $5,500 was distributed to four students -- Lynsie Headley of Ford City; Alissa Dolensky of Lower Burrell; Adis Juklo of Pittsburgh; and Carley Carnahan of Lower Burrell. Each received $1,375, more than the total of the inaugural recipients. Since 1998, the society has awarded $53,500 to 59 campus students.

The alumni group holds two annual fundraisers that are geared to the endowment -- Alumni Bowlathon, which will be held March 13 at Wildlife Lanes in Lower Burrell, and Alumni Golf Scramble, which is set for 12:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 1, at Latrobe Country Club.

The New Kensington society also engages in various campus and alumni projects throughout the year. It interacts with former and current students by sponsoring social events and other networking activities. In addition to raising money, board members are active on campus. They serve as a resource at many student functions, including admissions events, where they to talk with prospective students, and career events, where they discuss job opportunities with soon-to-be graduates.

The society represents more than 7,000 alumni living in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Penn State alumni and friends are encouraged to reconnect with the University and campus by attending monthly meetings. The group meets eight times a year, at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday in February, April, May, June, August, September, October and November. The meeting venue rotates among the campus, Tarentum Elks Lodge and JG’s Tarentum Station in Tarentum. The next meeting is April 18 at the Elks Lodge.

“We will continue to reach out to Penn State friends and graduates that live in area,” Greenwald said. “I really see this as a strong push to attract Penn State New Kensington graduates to the society.”

For more information, contact Bill Woodard, campus liaison, 724-334-6049 or uxw1@psu.edu

Vera Spina Greenwald
Greenwald attended the campus for two years before moving to University Park to complete her bachelor’s degree studies in journalism with a minor in psychology. While matriculating at the campus, she was active in the Student Government Association, THON and the Lion Ambassadors. Greenwald was named Lion Ambassador of the year in 2001. A year later, as chair of the campus’ THON team, she spearheaded the drive that raised $9,300 in 2002, tripling the previous record of $3,000. The effort earned New Kensington the award as the Most Improved Campus in the Penn State system.

As chief clerk, Greenwald is responsible for preparing the county commissioners' meeting agendas, compiling meeting minutes, maintaining county records and overseeing bid openings and contracts. A lifelong resident of Vandergrift, Greenwald lives in her hometown with her husband Jason Greenwald. They enjoy traveling, and Italy tops the list of favorite places. Disney World is second.

Alumni Golf Scramble
It is the dawning of a new era for the Alumni Golf Scramble. The 17th annual edition will feature a new course, Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club, a new day, Monday, Aug. 1, and a new tee time, 12:30 p.m.

The tournament is open to alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends of Penn State. If his schedule permits, The King will be at the club to greet guests.

The $200 entry fee includes green fee and cart, lunch, dinner, refreshments and awards. Various sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from a $5,000 tournament sponsor to a $200 tee sponsor.

For more information, contact Kary Coleman, director of development and alumni relations, 724-334-6057 or kxc22@psu.edu

Penn State New Kensington catcher Rachel Lojas (20) takes throws from the pitchers while other players await their turn in the batting cage in the campus' Athletics Center.

Lions finally get on the field to 
prepare for upcoming season

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- While El Nino has supplied western Pennsylvania with a relatively mild winter, replete with a few 60-degree days, the Penn State New Kensington softball team will count on sunshine uniformity in Orlando, Florida, for preseason training during the campus’ spring break, March. 7-11.

The New Kensington Lions will break out the shorts and sunscreen and begin spring training March 8, with practices and games. While the weather will be above normal in the Pittsburgh region, about 60 degrees, it will be closer to 80 degrees in central Florida. The Sunshine State will provide the first opportunity for the team to play outside.

"Going south will give the players as much field time as possible before we have to face conference opponents,” said Mike Marsili, beginning his eighth season as head coach. “The outfielders can actually shag fly balls, and we can face live pitching instead of hitting off of the machine.”

During January and February, Marsili had the team doing its conditioning, fielding, and hitting in the Athletics Center. The squad worked out in the weight room, fielded grounders in the gymnasium, and took swings inside the batting cage. In addition, pitchers threw on the sidelines while position players executed defensive drills.

"We can only do so much in the gym, so I'll be excited to get them on the field and see what they can do," said Marsili, a resident of Vandergrift. "The Florida schedule gives the coaches an opportunity to analyze players' strengths and determine their positions."

The team will spend six days in Florida and will play games against Walsh University and Owens Community College from Ohio, Mott Community College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Glen Oaks Community College from Michigan, and Monroe Community College from New York.

The schedule is not all diamond-related as it provides time for a trip to Disney World. And in keeping with the spirit of the campus' spring break, the players will also have some beach time.

“We want everyone to have a good time and get to know their new teammates,” Marsili said. “I hope to use the Florida experience to get off to a fast start during the regular season.”

Marsili fields a squad dominated by freshmen. Seven first-year players are expected to start on opening day. The Lions, 2-14 a year ago, are bolstered by the return by all-conference catcher Rachel Lojas (Norwin High School), who sat out the 2015 season because of shoulder surgery. Lojas will provide leadership, as well as stability behind the plate. She hits for both power and average.

“This year's team has quite a few freshmen who played on travel teams, so they come in with some seasoning and having played with and against some good competition,” said Marsili, a former baseball player at the campus. “This team needs the Florida trip to jell together and get to know each other.”

The 2016 campaign gets under way at noon, Sunday, March 20, with a nonconference doubleheader at Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood, Pennsylvania. The home opener is set for 2 p.m., Saturday, March 26, with a double header against Southern State (Ohio) Community College at the Lions new home, Alcoa Field. The newly renovated field is located about five minutes from campus on the property of Alcoa Technical Center at the intersection of state Rt. 780 and White Cloud Road in Upper Burrell.

Marsili's squad is set to play six home doubleheaders at Alcoa Field. The 22-game schedule features 16 Penn State University Athletic Conference games and six nonconference contests.

With eight years under his belt, Marsili is the dean of head coaches at the campus. His assistant coaches are Caitlin Nealer, Bob White and Bubba Hileman.

For the full softball schedule and roster, visit http://psnkathletics.com/sports/sball/index

Penn State New Kensington students visited the Canyon River Gorge and Grand Canyon March 7 as a part of their spring break trip to the Navajo Nation in Arizona.

Community service project in Arizona a
working and learning venture

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- When they could be unwinding in Florida or Cancun after a week of midterm exams, nine Penn State New Kensington students are spending spring break, March 7-11, at the Navajo Nation in Arizona. The students committed to the hybrid community service trip that combines helping environmental efforts and underserved communities, while also learning about the Navajo culture and history.

Two staff members, Lauren Blum, student life coordinator, and Corinne Coulson, enrollment services specialist, accompanied the students to the Native-American governed territory in northeastern Arizona. Bill Carney, Trevor Guercio, Lynsie Headley, Shannon Josefoski, Wati Kumwenda, Jon McCabe, Brittany Miller, Vanessa Sacco, and Ashley Worlds left March 4 for the Copper State. They are performing a variety of functions at a ranch in Tuba City, home base for the New Kensington contingent.

“Each year I am amazed by our students’ dedication to community service over spring break,” Blum said. “The growth and development of our students from start to finish is amazing. One of the true blessings of my job is to experience this with our students.”

The students are helping with various construction projects, such as building a Sweat Lodge and taking part in a traditional Navajo experience. A Sweat Lodge is a hut made with natural materials that is used for purification ceremonies and prayer. They will partake in other Navajo ceremonies, including making alkaan, also known as Navajo cake. It takes teamwork to create the cake, which is made in a three-foot-wide fire pit. The main ingredient is ground white corn meal. The production is part ceremonial bonding by participants, part religious experience and part delicious.

In addition to the service projects, the eight-day goodwill journey includes sightseeing trips to the Grand Canyon and Dinosaur Tracts, a site in Tuba City where dinosaurs left their footprints over 200 million years ago. One of the museums they will visit features the Navajo Code Talkers exhibit, which was made famous by the 2002 movie “Windtalkers.” Code talkers were Native-American Marines who used their native language during World War II to communicate secret messages over the radio. The Germans did not know this obscure language and could not break the code.

“While this trip is offering students a variety of sightseeing opportunities, the students will be impacted by learning about the Navajo Nation through meeting community members, working alongside them, and reflecting on the entire experience through daily discussions and journaling,” Coulson said. “By actively learning and participating, the students are becoming active citizens and more aware of the world around them.”

Navajo Nation comprises 27,000 square miles in three of the Four Corners states: northeastern Arizona, southeastern Utah, and northwestern New Mexico. Colorado is the other state that constitutes Four Corners, a region where the boundaries of all four states meet. A monument marks Navajo Nations’ boundary with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in Colorado.

Tuba City is located within the Painted Desert near the western edge of the Navajo Nation. The Painted Desert is known for its brilliant and varied colors of rock. A part of the desert lies in the Petrified Forest.

Spring break trips to help others is an annual rite for New Kensington students. Two years ago, Washington, D.C. was the destination, and Puerto Rico was the trendy hotspot last year. Blum is the lynchpin for all the excursions.

“I am so proud of the students who gave up their personal time to serve others,” Blum said. “We always have great groups, and I looked forward to every trip.”

The campus travelers return to Upper Burrell on March 12. The final project for the trip is a campus presentation, scheduled for noon, Wednesday, March 30, in room 140 in the Science Building. The students will show photos and videos while talking about learning and working with the Navajo people.

Classes resume on Monday, March 14. After the break, there are seven weeks remaining in the semester. Final exams conclude May 6, and commencement is scheduled for May 7.

For Penn State academic calendars, visit http://www.registrar.psu.edu/academic_calendar/calendar_index.cfm

 
A Navajo Sweat Lodge. Photo by examiner.com       Dinosaur tracks in Tuba City. Photo by Edmondo Gnerre courtesy of Wikipedia

Math teams from the Kiski School arrive in the Penn State New Kensington Conference Center March 1 for the final round of the annual Math League competition. Kiski earned its eighth title by defeating Freeport High School.

Seven consecutive titles for
Saltsburg boarding school

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The Kiski School captured its seventh consecutive championship of the WEDIG Math League competition March 1 at Penn State New Kensington. Kiski has earned eight titles overall.

The college preparatory boarding school in Saltsburg compiled 55 points to win by 28 points over its nearest rival, Freeport High School, which took second place with 27 points. Armstrong High School claimed the bronze medal with 21 points. Yunzhe Li of Kiski Prep was the top individual scorer with 19 points (out of a total of 32). Li was the top individual a year ago.

The two-day competition, spread over the fall and spring semesters, featured more than 120 students from eight area high schools answering mathematical questions. Sponsored by WEDIG (Westmoreland Economic and Development Initiative for Growth), the annual competition brings together students from Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Burrell, Freeport, Kiski Area, Kiski School, Leechburg and Valley high schools, and gives them the chance to go head-to-head in an academic competition.

Each school is allowed three teams of five students, competing against all the other teams in each round. Students answer two sets of eight questions within the 25-minute limit for each set. The questions in algebra, geometry and other areas of mathematics are developed by the campus’ husband-and-wife team of Xiang Ji, assistant professor of mathematics, and Ge Mu, instructor in mathematics.

“It is very encouraging to witness the younger generation participating in the contest with strong passions towards mathematics,” said Mu, fourth-year director of the event. “As we all know, the whole nation is working very hard on the education in STEM fields.”

The STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) focus is meant to prepare Pennsylvania students for global competitiveness through a strategy of enhanced education and career development opportunities. The initiatives are designed to increase the number of students, especially females, minorities and the underrepresented, in the STEM fields.

The Math League competitions began in 1986 under the direction of David Wells, associate professor of mathematics at the campus, who retired in 2012. Mu replaced Wells on the campus faculty and as head of the math competition. In the 28 years of competition, five schools have hoisted the championship trophy. Kiski Area earned 14 titles, including a record eight consecutive wins from 1999-2005. Kiski School follows with eight. Burrell owns three trophies and Apollo-Ridge has two. Valley was the inaugural winner.

“The Math League serves as a wonderful way to motivate our students to achieve their best study potentials in mathematics,” said Mu, a native of China.

Ge Mu and Xiang Ji
Mu holds a master of arts in mathematics degree from Penn State University Park, where she taught mathematics for two years before arriving at the New Kensington campus. She has written two books: “Being an Undergraduate in the U.S.” that was published by Heilongjiang Education Press in 2006 and "Comprehensive College Algebra – Building Mathematics Insights through Logic and Exercises" that was published by Cognella Academic Publishing in 2013. The first book was written when she was an undergraduate and is based on her experiences at Louisiana State University. She was recognized for her publication at LSU’s commencement ceremony in 2008.

Ji joined the New Kensington faculty in 2013 after earning his doctorate in mathematics from Penn State. He secured a master’s degree in mathematics from Beijing University in China. He was a graduate teaching assistant at the University Park campus for four years. Ji’s research interests are differential geometry and mathematical physics. He wrote a book, "Comprehensive College Algebra: Building Mathematical Insights Through Logic and Exercises," that was published this year by Cognella Academic Publishing. Mu is the co-author.

Mu and Ji are residents of Plum Borough.

For additional information, contact Mu at 724-334-6749 or gxm929@psu.edu

Bruce Pipman’s whimsical creations are innovative paintings which are full of color, energy and love. His show, "Magic Realism; The Beat Goes On," runs during November in the Penn State New Kensington art gallery.

 “Magic Realism; The Beat Goes On”

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The whimsical creations of local artist Bruce Pipman returns in November for the third consecutive year to the Penn State New Kensington Art Gallery. The solo show runs until Nov. 28.

Blending images with words, Pipman’s affectional art reflects the emotions of desire, romance and love. “Magic Realism” is a series of art works that serve as metaphors for the nature of man. More than 50 acrylic and ink pieces, featuring people, places and things, are on display.

“I believe that the truth in life lies beneath the surface, and in my paintings I try to scratch at that surface,” said Pipman, who has been painting for 12 years. “I try to create a more focused experience for the viewer by writing on my paintings.”

A resident of New Kensington, Pipman previously exhibited at the campus in July of 2013 and 2014. Tina Sluss, art gallery director, visited Pipman’s home studio in the summer and was impressed with his body of work. With a fall slot available, Sluss moved the artist to the fall.

“Bruce's work is full of life and introspective thought, joyful, fun and Picasso-like,” said Sluss, who chairs the campus art committee that recently sold a Brussels tapestry at Sotheby’s auction house for $10,000. “As he describes each piece and his thought process in creating them, he will look at you and ask ‘what do you think?’ and always with a smile.”

Bud Gibbons, professor emeritus of visual arts at the campus, was the art gallery director in 2013 when he “discovered” Pipman. While perusing local art galleries, Gibbons came upon Pipman’s work at Art After Dark in Lawrenceville, a neighborhood of Pittsburgh, and suggested a one-man show on campus.

“I was excited then and I am excited now about having an opportunity to exhibit my paintings in my hometown,” Pipman said. “Bud Gibbons has been an inspiration to me as a local artist. I have been attending his art shows for years.”

Pipman holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Kent State University. He worked as a consultant and recruiter in the technology and engineering fields with various companies in the region before retiring and devoting his time to painting.

The artist has ties to Penn State. His wife, Millie, was an adjunct professor of English at the campus, and their sons are Penn State graduates.

A reception for the artist is set from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6, in the gallery. 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. It will be closed Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26.

For more information, call 724-334-6056.

For photos of the exhibit (beginning Nov. 3), visit http://psnk.smugmug.com/

Lisa Veitch, a weapons systems analyst and former campus student, talks with Penn State New Kensington freshmen engineering students about careers in engineering fields in 2013. A sign language interpreter, background, is signing the talk.

Lisa Veitch recognized with
"Andrew J. Goodpaster Award
for Excellence in Research"

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Former Penn State New Kensington student Lisa Veitch was honored recently for her career achievements by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA).

Veitch, a weapons systems analyst for IDA, received the 2015 General Andrew J. Goodpaster Award for Excellence in Research. The award recognizes Veitch’s two decades of significant research and analyses, most recently her assessments for the development of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and the next presidential helicopter.

“Two attributes stand out in Dr. Veitch’s work -- engineering excellence and impact,” said Dr. David S.C. Chu, president of IDA. “The extraordinary technical competence, creativity, objectivity, and perseverance demonstrated and sustained by Dr. Veitch, qualities we all admire and strive for, make her a most deserving recipient.”

Named in honor of the former IDA president and trustee, the Goodpaster Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional analytic achievement within the IDA research community.

Located in Alexandria, Virginia, the institute is a non-profit corporation that operates three federally funded research and development centers to provide objective analyses of national security issues, particularly those requiring scientific and technical expertise.

As a weapons system analyst, Veitch provides independent technical assessments on weapons, technology and policies that are supported by the Defense Department. It’s a job where routine days are not the norm.

“When you’re involved in the most expensive fighter aircraft program in the world, you sometimes don’t have any control over your days or nights,” said Veitch, who began her career in 1989 with NASA as a materials research scientist and moved on to Defense Analyses 10 years later.

Veitch served as the executive secretary for two independent teams that examined JSF initial production issues and reviewed the test plans for the replacement of the Presidential Helicopter program. The Joint Strike Fighter is a development and acquisitions program for tactical aircraft to replace existing fighter, strike, and attack aircraft. Veitch’s team provided an assessment of JSF flight test progress. The report highlighted a number of items of concern that were later addressed satisfactorily. She continues to lead a team that is currently monitoring JSF durability testing.

Veitch’s Presidential Helicopter team reviewed the first Presidential Helicopter program that was to replace the aging Marine One helicopter that transports the president of the United States. The findings served as the basis for a new Presidential helicopter program, which was awarded to Sikorsky Aircraft. The latest helicopter is expected to be ready during the next president’s administration.

 Sikorsky S-92, a four-bladed twin-engine medium-lift helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft, will serve as the next presidential helicopter. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Engineering roots
A Plum Borough, Pennsylvania, native, Veitch attended the New Kensington campus for two years before earning a bachelor’s degree in ceramic science and engineering from Penn State University Park. She received a doctorate in materials engineering from Purdue University.

Although she completed her undergraduate studies at University Park, Veitch credits the New Kensington campus as the springboard for her vocation. After graduating from Plum High School, she vacillated on the merits of attending college before choosing New Kensington because it was close to home.

“I wasn’t sure if college was right for me, but New Kensington gave me confidence in myself, and I thrived in both academics and leadership positions,” said Veitch, who was an officer on the board of the Student Government Association. “The students and faculty have always been great.”

Campus faculty inspired her to utilize her math and science talents to pursue an engineering degree. Clarence “Bill” Finley, associate professor of chemistry, was her favorite professor. Finley retired in 2007 after 25 years at the campus,

“Dr. Finley and I are still friends to this day,” Veitch said. “New Kensington is really home to me. I have many fond memories of being a student here, working in the labs in the summers and coming back to visit.”

Campus ties
Veitch stays connected to the campus and has been a guest speaker for engineering classes. In the past three years, she has twice been the guest speaker for the Intro to Engineering Design class of Joan Kowalski, senior instructor in engineering at the campus. The class is a required course in the four-year Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology program. Veitch talked with the first-year students about engineering careers.

“Lisa shared her 30 years of experience as an engineer,” said Kowalski, who joined the campus faculty in 1987. “Her presentations give the freshmen engineers exposure to the world of engineering.”

Harking back to her days at the campus and fast-forwarding to working at NASA and researching for the U.S. Department of Defense, Veitch gives the budding engineers a glimpse of the various careers that await graduates in the fields of engineering.

The Goodpaster-award recipient also delivered the fall 2013 commencement address. She stressed to the new alumni that their learning continues and that the world is their new classroom.

“Your degree is a license to learn,” Veitch said. “You’ve been taught how to find answers, solve problems, work through issues, communicate to others, etc. But you have a whole lot more to learn. Keep an open mind, and don’t be afraid to try something that is totally out of your area of expertise or comfort zone.”

Veitch resides in Alexandria and spends her leisure time in the air and under water. Veitch holds a private pilot’s license for single engine planes, and she is a certified scuba diver. When her feet are on the ground, she enjoys playing the piano and ballroom dancing.

Donating blood at Penn State New Kensington is fun and easy. The blood drive replenishes the supply in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Alumni and community encouraged to donate;
semiannual event replenishes blood supply in valley

9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, Art Gallery

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Penn State New Kensington encourages blood donations from the campus, alumni and local community at the semiannual Alumni Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, in the Art Gallery.

The Central Blood Bank will collect, store and deliver the blood. Donors of all blood types from the campus and the local community are encouraged to help increase the blood supply in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Elaine Zarichnak, the campus nurse, has tips for prospective givers.

“Donors will need to bring photo ID, eat a good meal and avoid caffeine prior to donating,” Zarichnak said. “I hope that the community takes this opportunity to donate what may be a gift of life for someone in need.”

Last spring, the staff of the Central Blood Bank collected enough blood and platelets to serve 63 patients. Donors had a choice of donating, using the whole blood or apheresis methods. Both methods draw approximately a pint of fluid from the donors. The whole blood method is the typical method where the blood is drawn manually, collected in a pint bag and stored unprocessed. It is later separated into red blood cells and plasma. The apheresis method draws blood from the donor, separates it using a centrifuge or a filter, stores the desired part, platelets in this case, and returns the rest to the donor. This process is done with a machine specifically designed for this purpose.

Appointments are not necessary as walk-ins are welcome. A free cholesterol screening is available to each donor. Prospective donors who had tattoos or self-piercings in the past year, might be denied the opportunity to donate. For those who give blood throughout the year, there must be a 56-day waiting period between donations.

The blood drive is made possible through the efforts of canteen volunteers and Zarichnak.

For information about the blood drive, contact Zarichnak at 724-334-6066 or emz3@psu.edu

“Portraiture and Faces” is the theme of the annual Alle-Kiski Arts Consortium's high school artists' show at Penn State New Kensington. The theme is interwoven in each of the five high schools' displays.

Alle-Kiski Arts Consortium organizes 'Arts Alive' show

Visual Arts: 5 to 7 p.m., Art Gallery
Performing Arts: 7 to 9 p.m., Conference Center

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- A reception for high school artists of the Alle-Kiski Arts Consortium is slated from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, March 21, at Penn State New Kensington. The young artists will discuss their works in the campus Art Gallery. The event is free to the public.

In conjunction with the reception is the High School Performing Arts Showcase, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the campus’ Conference Center. “Arts Alive” is the name of the annual student show. The art exhibit runs through March 27 in the gallery.

The two events are sponsored by the consortium, a group of local educators dedicated to bringing performing and visual arts to area students. Ray Sharkins, visual arts educator at Valley High School in the New Kensington-Arnold School District, is the coordinator of the event.

Artwork by students from five area high schools -- Highlands, Valley, Deer Lakes, Kiski Area and St. Joseph's -- is featured in the show. The theme, “Portraiture and Faces” is interwoven in each school’s display. More than 500 two- and three-dimensional pieces, including paintings, drawings, sculpture and jewelry are hung salon-style, a European technique that dates back to the 17th century. Salon-style features a single exhibition room with artwork covering all the walls in a collage-like pattern.

The gallery is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays, and noon to 5 p.m. on the weekends.

For more information, email Sharkins at rsharkins@nkasd.com

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

Sandra Muhhuku, right, was Penn State New Kensington's 2015 Walker award recipient.

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The deadline for nominations for Penn State New Kensington’s Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award and the Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society’s Spirit Award has been extended.

The Walker award is given to the student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, and leadership contribute to the prestige of the campus. The award was established in 1980 by Penn State President Eric Walker and is presented at each of the 24 Penn State campuses. Sandra Muhhuku, a petroleum and natural gas engineering major, was last year’s recipient. Muhhuku is completing her bachelor’s degree studies at the University Park campus.

“This very special University-wide award is the highest honor that students can receive in recognition of their contributions to the University and their academic achievements,” said Theresa Bonk, director of student affairs.

The Penn State Spirit award is given to the campus student who exhibits integrity and character as a leader, demonstrates outstanding dedication to the campus, and exemplifies the meaning of Penn State pride. Craig Synan, an alumnus of the Administration of Justice program, earned the accolade a year ago.

Nominators can be students, faculty, staff or administrators. Nomination forms are available in the Office of Student Affairs, room 112 in the Administration building. The form, accompanied by a letter of support, must be returned to Student Affairs by Wednesday, March 23.

For more information, call 724-334-6062.

The Mystery's Most Wanted cast of "Mobsters, Molls and Marinara," a murder-mystery dinner theatre production April 20 at Penn State New Kensington.

Murder mystery dinner theatre,
"Mobsters, Molls and Marinara"

6 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, Cafe 780

UPPER BURREL, Pa. -- Who vanquished Vinnie? That's what the sheiks and shebas will have to figure out at Penn State New Kensington's interactive murder mystery dinner theatre, "Mobsters, Molls and Marinara," at 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, in the campus' Cafe 780.

Set in Chicago during the Roaring Twenties, the action revolves around Vinnie Vermicelli's speakeasy. When Vinnie is fitted for a Chicago overcoat, everyone is a suspect. Since the world’s most famous detectives, Charlie Chan, Harry Hoo and Inspector Clouseau, are not assigned to the case, the gumshoes in the audience will do some sleuthing to resolve the issue of “Who took Vinne on a one-way ride?”

There is no lack of suspects. It seems that Vermicelli, the high pillow of the town, has the goods on everyone – grifters, shylocks, yeggs and dips. And they would like nothing better than to arrange the accommodations for Double V’s big sleep. The flappers and bimbos in the audience will have to know their onions before everything is jake and they can say “let’s blouse.”

The show is performed by the cast of "Mystery's Most Wanted," a Pittsburgh-based comedy troupe that has been performing murder mystery dinner theatre in the region for 12 years. The troupe comprises five professional character actors who have strong improvisation skills. They write and perform the original material.

Tickets are free for students with ID, $10 for faculty and staff, and $20 for the general public. Price includes dinner and theatre.

To reserve your seat, contact Lauren Blum at 724- 334-6063 or ldb14@psu.edu

For more on Mystery's Most Wanted, visit http://www.mysterysmostwanted.com/

Glossary of 1920s Slang
Sherlocks - detectives
Sheik - A man with sex appeal
Sheba - A woman with sex appeal
Chicago Overcoat – coffin
Charlie Chan – Asian-American detective from Hawaii in 1930s and 40s films
Harry Hoo – A parody of Charlie Chan in the “Get Smart” TV show of the 60s
Inspector Jacques Clouseau – Bumbling French detective in the “Pink Panther” movies of the 60s and 70s
Gumshoe – detective
Sleuthing - investigate in the style of a detective
Big Sleep – death
High Pillow – person at the top
Grifter - con man
Shylock – loan shark
Yegg – safe cracker
Dip - pickpocket
Flapper - stylish, brash, young woman with short skirts and shorter hair
Bimbo - tough guy
Know One’s Onions: To know one’s business or what one is talking about
Jake - OK, as in, "Everything is Jake."
Blouse – let’s blow this popsicle stand
Lauren Blum - student life coordinator at the campus

Overview of Master of Business Administration degree offered at
Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Two information sessions on the Penn State Master of Business Administration in Pittsburgh program are set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, and Tuesday, April 5, at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry, Pa. Penn State New Kensington partners with Penn State Erie, The Behrend College to offer the MBA degree.

The information sessions will discuss curriculum, course content and expectations, credit exemptions, application requirements, scholarships, tuition reimbursement, and loan options. Attendees will have an opportunity to network and ask questions.

Alfred Warner, director of the MBA program and associate professor of management at Behrend, will discuss the curriculum, online delivery, program pre-requisites and outcomes students can expect. Ann Burbules, assistant director of graduate admissions at Behrend, will provide admission information, application requirements, GMAT prep deadline dates, test preparation overview and financing options.

The curriculum emphasizes the development of planning and problem-solving skills. Course work will focus on the practical application of theory to the business world, often enabling students to work with local organizations to fashion real solutions to real problems.

The program will be offered in a blended delivery whereby students will meet face-to-face once per month with the remainder of the course online. Each three-credit course will involve four class meetings per semester at the RLA with the remaining instruction delivered online. The class times are from 6 to 8:45 p.m. Depending on prior undergraduate courses, it will take approximately five to eight semesters to complete the program. This format is ideal for working adults who travel.

The Regional Learning Alliance was established in 2004 with the cooperation of educational institutions in the region. It offers a variety of degree programs and workforce training for adult and traditional students. Penn State New Kensington is a charter member of the alliance.

To register for the sessions, call 814-898-7255 or visit www.behrend.psu.edu/grad-events

Penn State New Kensington students can learn proper business dinner etiquette at a March 30 workshop in the campus Conference Center.

Workshop on proper business dinner etiquette

6 - 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, Conference Center

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Penn State New Kensington is providing the keys to unlock the doors to starting a career at the annual professional etiquette dinner from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, in the campus Conference Center.

The event is designed as a workshop on proper business dinner etiquette and on best practices for networking and handling of awkward social situations.

The guest speaker, who has not been finalized, will present dining and business etiquette tips for the interactive dinner. The focus is how to handle an interview that includes a meal, be it an interview over lunch or networking with professionals over appetizers or dinner.

"It is an interactive and fun way to learn how to act properly at professional and formal dinners and events," said Jim Shields, career services coordinator at the campus. "Plus, it is an opportunity to meet Penn State alumni and career professionals. I encourage the students to take advantage of this opportunity to help their chances during the job-finding process."

The cost is $10 for Penn State students and $20 for family and friends. The cost includes resource handouts for use during the session and for future reference. The event is open to Penn State students and their guests.

Tickets are available in Career Services, located in the Academic Success and Career Center, on the lower level of the Activities Building.

The event is co-hosted by the Student Government Association and the Career Services Office. AVI, the campus food service, is sponsoring the dinner.

For more information, contact the SGA office, 724-334-6141 or Career Services, 724-334-6095.

Dynasty emerges as Bucs capture
back-to-back-back titles in high school academic competition

 
Burrell High School students, left to right, Drew Murphy, Chris Phillips, Louis Yank, Alex Romano and Emma Hough, get ready to buzz in an answer during the final round of the WEDIG Quiz Bowl at Penn State New Kensington. Burrell went undefeated, 7-0.

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – Earning its fifth WEDIG Quiz Bowl championship in the past six years, Burrell High School staked its claim as a well-versed juggernaut and academic dynasty in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

The Bucs fended off a late run by runner-up Franklin Regional High School March 15 at Penn State New Kensington to successfully “three-peat” and capture the 2016 title with an undefeated record.

Burrell went 7-0 with 53 points or correct answers over the four-month season. Franklin Region, who won the silver medal, fell to the Bucs in the third round, 7-4. The loss was the only blemish on the Panthers otherwise stellar 6-1 record. Armstrong High School took the bronze with a 4-3 record and 30 points.

The victorious squad, under the direction of coach Bob Campbell, included seniors Emma Hough, Chris Phillips and Louis Yank, junior Alex Romano, and sophomore Drew Murphy. Hough was selected as Burrell’s Most Valuable Player. Hough, Murphy, Phillips and Romano anchored the team a year ago.

The Quiz Bowl was founded in 1997 as an academic competition among eight area high schools: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Freeport, Ford City, Kiski Area, Kittanning, Leechburg and Valley. Ford City and Kittanning merged this year to become Armstrong and Franklin Regional was added to keep the competition at eight schools.

In the round-robin, match-play format, teams of five students are asked a series of 20 questions. The first player to buzz in with the correct answer earns a point for the team. Most points or correct answers in the head-to-head competition win the match. Match record determines the champion. Points are accumulated during each match, and the total is used as a tiebreaker.

The history of the Quiz Bowl is peppered with mini-dynasties. Freeport won four of five titles from 2006-10, and Kiski Area accomplished the same feat from 2001-05. Kiski Area is still the standard by which the other schools are measured. The Cavaliers have won the tournament a record nine times.

The event is sponsored by Westmoreland Economic Development Initiative for Growth, better known as WEDIG, and the New Kensington campus. WEDIG is an organization of more than 100 business and government officials who work together to achieve economic growth and global competitiveness through private-public partnerships. Kevin Snider, chancellor of the New Kensington campus, spearheaded the establishment of the group in 2009 to foster quality development in communities throughout the county. Members come from five Alle-Kiski municipalities: Allegheny Township, Arnold, Lower Burrell, New Kensington and Upper Burrell. Snider organized WEDIG into committees that deal with five issues: infrastructure; education and training; quality of life; business and investment; and health, wellness and spirituality. Penn State New Kensington students serve as interns to help each committee.

For more information, contact Kathy Starr at 724-845-8789 or kathrich15656@yahoo.com

News Contact: Bill Woodard
Alumni and Public Relations
724-334-6049, uxw1@psu.edu