Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club hosts
Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society's annual fundraiser outing

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – The Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society will host the 17th annual Alumni Golf Scramble at 12:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 1, at Arnold Palmer's Latrobe Country Club.

Co-hosted by Penn State New Kensington, the shot-gun start tournament is open to alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends of Penn State. The $200 entry fee includes green fee, cart, lunch, dinner, refreshments and awards. Participants registering by May 31 will receive a $25 discount per golfer.

Various sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from a $5,000 tournament sponsor to a $200 tee sponsor. All sponsors will get recognition at a tee box, in the event program, and on the Penn State New Kensington website.

Out-of-town golfers can stay at the Springhill Suites Pittsburgh Latrobe, located less than five minutes from Latrobe Country Club. A tournament partner, Springhill Suites offers a nightly rate of $119, which includes breakfast and shuttle to the golf course. For hotel reservations, call 724-537-7800.

For those wanting to get a jump on festivities a day earlier, the Alumni Golf Scramble committee will host a private tour of Palmer’s memorabilia in the hotel and dinner at DeNunzio’s Italian Chophouse at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Sunday, July 31. The cost is $50.

Non-golfers are welcome to forego chasing a little white ball with implements ill-suited for the purpose, and attend the post-tournament dinner and awards ceremony. The dinner is $50.

The golf scramble is the alumni group’s major fundraiser. Proceeds benefit the society's endowed scholarship that is awarded annually to New Kensington campus students. For the 2015-16 academic year, a record $5,500 in scholarships was awarded to four New Kensington campus students -- Lynsie Headley of Ford City; Alissa Dolensky of Lower Burrell; Adis Juklo of Pittsburgh; and Carley Carnahan of Lower Burrell. The endowment was established in 1994 at $15,000. It now stands at $109,000. Since 1998, the society has awarded $53,500 to 59 campus students.

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

To download the brochure, visit Alumni Golf Brochure

To download registration forms, visit Alumni Golf Registration

For more about the Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Alumni/alumorg.htm

The “Finch Robots” workshop, presented by Andy DeAntonio, standing, a teacher in the New Kensington-Arnold School District, featured tips on implementing robots into the curriculum. The workshop was a part of STREAM Showcase at Penn State New Kensington.

STREAM Showcase 2016 educates the educators on
science, technology, reading, engineering,
arts and math collaboration

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Educators, business representatives, government officials and network partners gathered at Penn State New Kensington in February for the third phase of the Alle-Kiski Best Practices Collaborative CREATE Lab Satellite Network Regional Hub, better known by its acronym ABC CREATE.

The series of workshops, “STREAM Showcase 2016,” provided participants with updates on the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education within individual districts. Adding reading and arts components to STEM creates STREAM. The ABC CREATE advisory board reported on the program's future plans.

Spearheaded by New Kensington Chancellor Kevin Snider, ABC CREATE is a campus partnership with 15 local school districts, the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University, Westmoreland County Community College and Penn State Electro-Optics Center. The program includes the school districts of Allegheny Valley, Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Highlands, Kiski Area, Leechburg, New Kensington-Arnold, Plum, Riverview and South Butler. The collaboration will benefit approximately 40,000 students from kindergarten to grade 12 in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

The campus was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Grable Foundation to work in concert with the school districts, government and industry to share best practices and to integrate technology into classrooms to prepare students for future careers. The program expands innovative teaching and learning through the STREAM initiative.

More than 150 participants, including teachers and administrators, took part in the workshops that focused on three key strategies --  learning new technologies to engage high school students in STEM fields; collaborating with colleagues to share ideas and strengthen the region; and using technology to integrate education and business.

The keynote speaker was Randy Sargent, senior systems scientist for the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon. Sargent’s presentation featured the Lab's newest technology, Earth TimeLapse, which shows the human impact on the earth over the past 30 years. For example, glacier movements since 1985 can be condensed into a few minutes using time lapse technology.

Sargent demonstrated the potency of data when it is paired with visualization, a powerful tool for social justice. Sargent, who serves as a visiting scientist for the Google Earth Engine team, also explored data visualization for other complex systems, including air and water quality, climate change, personal health, employment and economic trends. Google Earth Engine is a cloud computing platform for processing satellite imagery and other Earth observation data. It provides access to a warehouse of satellite imagery and the computational power needed to analyze those images. The platform was developed by Google, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon, and NASA.

A Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate, Sargent earned rave reviews from participants in their post-conference evaluations. One teacher said, “I couldn't stop thinking about ways to integrate the data into my lessons.” Another teacher noted that there were “a lot of opportunities for cross-curricular work between science and social studies.”

The keynote speech was followed by morning and afternoon breakout sessions, many of which were hosted by the school districts. The New Kensington-Arnold’s “Finch Robots” session featured tips on implementing robots into the curriculum. The presentation, “Veteran’s Memorial Project," explained how Kiski Area created a database of veteran memorials within the district. The accompanying website will include various elements that will evolve through the years. The “Hear Me Project,” organized by Carnegie Mellon, looked into gender bias in STEM classes.

“The showcase provided a better understanding of how STREAM intersects grade levels and subjects,” said Colleen Smith, STEM outreach coordinator for the campus and facilitator of the new initiative. “Districts learned from other districts about how to think creatively in implementing STREAM.”

The next phase of ABC CREATE will focus on teacher training for creative technology projects. The summer sessions will be conducted by teacher advocates who have already brought the process to their classroom. In addition, the advisory board will continue to work on implementing cross-district projects developing technological fluency across grade levels.

For more information, contact Smith at 724-334-6138 or cms64@psu.edu

The Collaborative
ABC CREATE works to identify strengths, resources, and needs related to STEM education within individual districts and to share best practices and integrate technology into classrooms to prepare students for future careers. The program helps develop teacher advocates and build an educationally-focused collaborative.

“Our reputation as a regional leader resulted in our taking leadership in helping to address the STEM needs of school districts,” Snider said. “We currently are leading an effort to develop a regional approach to STEM education across six and ultimately 15 school districts in the AK Valley that shares the best STEM teachers in each grade within the region.”

The first phase of the program began in 2014 with an inaugural meeting of the program’s advisory board. Comprising superintendents from the charter member school districts and representatives from the founding organizations, the board was tasked with guiding the implementation and development of the project. A conference last year brought together teachers from all 15 school districts to learn about ways of using technology in a variety of classes.

“By pulling resources, ideas and partners together with an explicit purpose, they could significantly energize and strengthen the educational growth within this geographically concentrated area,” Smith said.

The pilot program is an opportunity to impact students and teachers in this region and to develop a project that other regions will be able to replicate to help strengthen communities across the country.

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

Student survey gives Penn State New Kensington high marks for safety within Penn State Commonwealth college campuses.

University-wide student survey
shows Penn State New Kensington
safest among Commonwealth colleges

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Penn State New Kensington released the results of a survey of students’ experiences with and attitudes about sexual misconduct today (April 13), including a finding that 3.1 percent of students reported being the victim of at least one instance or attempt of sexual assault. The results are part of a comprehensive University-wide survey conducted last fall.

The Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey is part of a broad-based initiative by Penn State to significantly curtail sexual misconduct on all of its campuses, while at the same time expanding its efforts to ensure an effective response to any cases. The survey asked students about their experiences, as well as about their attitudes, and awareness of the resources available for preventing and responding to sexual misconduct.

“The results of this survey are important in allowing us to understand the current climate and to continuing our battle against sexual misconduct. Ensuring the safety of all of our students across the Commonwealth is our priority,” said President Eric Barron. “We recognize that the needs of all campuses are not the same when it comes to addressing these unwanted behaviors. That is why this survey is such a crucial part of our ongoing efforts.

“I want to thank all of the students who took the time to complete the survey,” he said. “Your attention to this issue and your desire to stop sexual assault, harassment and violence on our campuses will help create a safer community. Sexual misconduct is a deeply troubling issue, and this survey will play a vital role in evolving our policies and practices, as well as embedding our commitment to end sexual misconduct in everything we do.”

Implementing a campus climate survey was one of 18 recommendations made by the Task Force on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment, http://news.psu.edu/story/342644/2015/01/29/campus-life/task-force-report-details-recommendations-halting-sexual, which Barron appointed in 2014 to study the University’s resources for addressing sexual misconduct. The task force also was charged with making recommendations for areas to expand education on the issue and resources, and ways to reach out to students and the community. Many of those recommendations have already been enacted, including the creation of a University-wide Title IX office, http://news.psu.edu/story/383311/2015/12/02/administration/university-appoints-title-ix-coordinator-oversee-new-office

At Penn State New Kensington, a census of 617 students received the survey, and the response rate was 26.1 percent. University-wide, a representative sample of 9,427 students completed
the survey, including both undergraduates and graduate students. Completely anonymous, voluntary and completed electronically, the survey covered topics such as whether a student thinks the University would take a report of sexual misconduct seriously, whether the student is aware of resources available and whether they would walk a friend home who had had too much to drink.

“I am proud of Penn State for being so proactive and open about this serious issue that is affecting college students across the country. This survey is a huge step in helping us understand the climate on our own campus and across our University,” said Kevin Snider, chancellor of the New Kensington campus. “We are pleased to see such high percentages of Penn State New Kensington students reporting a supportive and safe environment on campus and delighted that they have faith we will act when informed about an incidence of sexual misconduct. Yet, we also know that there is work ahead in developing programming, policies, and education if we are to become a campus completely free of this type of behavior. This survey will inform our activities and help us measure the impact of our efforts.”

Summaries of the findings for each of the 23 Penn State campuses where students were surveyed, including Penn State New Kensington, can be found online at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/assessment/SMCS

At Penn State New Kensington, the survey also found:
• 4.2 percent of women and 2.3 percent of men said they had been the victim of at least
one instance of sexual assault or attempt;
• Among students who said they had been a victim of sexual assault or attempt, 75 percent said they had used alcohol or drugs just prior to the incident; 62.5 percent said the perpetrator had used alcohol or drugs just prior to the incident;
• 90.1 percent said the University would take a report of sexual misconduct seriously; • 82.6 percent said the University would handle the report fairly;
• 17.8 percent said they “always” or “most of the time” walked a friend home who had too much to drink home from a party, bar or other social event if they had been a bystander in that situation.

The survey itself was based on the Administration Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3) survey, which was created based on suggestions from the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. Penn State’s survey was administered by the Office of Student Affairs Research and Assessment, which partnered with DatStat, a data research company the University has worked with on other survey projects.

For more information about resources to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct at Penn State New Kensington, contact Wes Sheets, public safety manager, 724-334-6013 or wrs18@psu.edu

The Penn State survey confirmed an outside survey in January that ranked Penn State New Kensington as the sixth safest college campus in Pennsylvania in January. Niche, a company that surveys and reviews colleges nationwide, also ranked the campus 57th nationally.

The 2016 Safest College Campuses rankings were based on statistical data and student reviews of 1,713 public and private four-year colleges and universities. Using surveys and mandatory annual reports submitted by colleges, Niche compiled a list of seven factors that were used to determine the safest campuses. The factors included student surveys on safety, crime rates, local crime statistics, alcohol-related arrests and drug-related arrests. Also considered were freshmen retention rates and graduation rates.

For more on the Niche survey, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Information/News/46427.htm

The Alle-Kiski Society's Alumni Bowl-a-thon is a family event that funds scholarships at Penn State New Kensington. The 14th annual edition is slated for Sunday, March 13, at Wildlife Lanes in Lower Burrell.

14th annual edition

1 - 4 p.m., Sunday, March 13, Wildlife Lanes. Lower Burrell

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The Alle-Kiski Society's 14th annual Bowl-a-thon is set for 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 13, 2016, at Wildlife Lanes in Lower Burrell, Pa.

Hosted by the local society of the Penn State Alumni Association, the tournament is open to alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends of Penn State. The entry fee is $20 and includes three games and shoe rental. Four- or five-person teams may sign up, or individuals may sign up and be assigned to a short-handed team. The bowl-a-thon is the alumni group's major fundraiser in the spring, and the proceeds support the society's pledge for campus projects.

Tournament sponsorships are available for $500 and $250. Lane sponsorships are available for $50 and $100. Sponsorship and registration forms are below. For information, call John Spadaro 724-337-8536.

For more on the alumni society, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Alumni/alumorg.htm

Sponsorship Form

$500 – Exclusive Event Sponsorship
-- Company or personal name displayed on event sponsorship board
-- Company or personal name displayed on scoring monitor
-- Inclusion in live announcements during the event
-- Inclusion on the Penn State New Kensington website and newswire service
-- Half-page company or personal advertisement in event program
-- Four (4) free bowling registrations

$250 – Event Sponsorship
-- Company or personal name displayed on event sponsorship board
-- Company or personal name displayed on scoring monitor
-- Quarter-page company or personal advertisement in event program
-- Two (2) free bowling registrations

$100 – Big Ten Lane Sponsorship
-- Company name displayed on sponsorship board
-- Company name displayed on scoring monitor
-- Company name in Bowl-a-thon program
-- Inclusion in live announcements during event
-- Inclusion on the Penn State New Kensington website
-- Inclusion on the Penn State New Kensington newswire service

$50 – Nittany Lion Lane Sponsorship
-- Company name displayed on sponsorship board
-- Company name displayed on scoring monitor
-- Company name in Bowl-a-thon program

Your contribution is tax deductible
Please make checks payable to AKS-PSAA

Name: _______________________________________________________
Company Name: ______________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________
City: _________________________ State: __________ Zip Code: _______
Mail to:
John Spadaro
508 Greenridge Road
New Kensington, PA 15068
Sponsorship deadline --- Friday, March 4, 2016

Registration Form

Cost: $20 per person (includes three games of bowling and shoe rental)

Registration: Mail the registration form below with your check payable to: AKS – PSAA

*************************************************************

The $20 registration fee per person must accompany this form. Please complete one form per person. (Please Print)

Name:_______________________________ Work Phone:______________
Address:_____________________________ Home Phone:______________
City:____________________________State:_______ Zip Code:_________
Team Name:_________________________________________________________________
Team Members:_______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Mail to:

John Spadaro
508 Greenridge Road
New Kensington, PA 15068

Diana Hill, left, certifying official in the Penn State New Kensington's Veterans Services office, talks with Mustafa Anslan, a sophomore information sciences and technology major and Marine Corps veteran.

Diana Hill honored for
service to campus veterans

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – In basketball, reaching double figures is a sign of scoring prowess. At Penn State New Kensington, reaching double figures is a sign of working prowess. With the Dec. 8 announcement that Diana Hill, administrative support assistant, is a “We Are!” recipient, the campus now claims 10 We Are! accolades.

“We Are!,” a weekly feature of the daily email publication Penn State Today, 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.

Hill is the 10th 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, Karen Harlan, multimedia specialist, and Lauren Blum, assistant to the director of student affairs, were accorded the prestigious honor. All were nominated by campus colleagues or students for personifying Penn State’s commitment of service to the community. New Kensington is home to more We Are! recipients than any other Penn State campus.

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.

“The word is getting 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

Hill and campus veterans
Hill’s nominator wrote: "Being a military veteran student at Penn State New Kensington, having someone such as Diana to depend on to accomplish everything between the University and the Veterans Administration made my life much easier, to say the least."

A graduate of Duff's Business Institute, Hill joined the campus community in 1999. In her position, she provides support for the Enrollment Management and Financial Aid staff and oversees the Federal Work Study program. For 17 years, she has headed the Veterans Services office, which provides additional support to suit the needs of veterans. The campus was recently designated a Military Friendly School,

"Diana does a wonderful job with the veterans' benefits program. She will tell you that it is just a part of her job, but our veterans on campus consistently praise Diana for her attention to detail, her efficiency, and her efforts to get the veterans their benefits in a timely manner.  This doesn't happen everywhere," states Patty Brady, director of enrollment management.  "Diana helps us attract more veterans to our campus."

The New Kensington resident works closely with veterans as certifying official for veterans educational benefits. Hill assists veterans with the requirements of programs, such as the Post-9/11 GI-Bill that provides financial support for education and housing. Under the bill's Yellow Ribbon program, veterans who served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, have their tuition costs covered through shared responsibility between Penn State and the Veterans Administration.

“Diana Hill is very knowledgeable about vet programs and assistance,” said Matt Knapp, a veteran and alumnus who graduated from the campus in 2012.

Knapp, a four-year member of the Dean’s List with a 3.94 GPA, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. During his 12-year Army career as a military policeman, his duties ran the gamut from guarding nuclear weapons to ensuring the safety of presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and vice presidents Dan Quale and Dick Chaney. He left the service after suffering lower back and ankle injuries.

“Disabilities inhibited my future in law enforcement and security,” said Knapp, who was a staff sergeant. “I wanted to get into human resource management, and the business program at Penn State New Kensington was a great way to get started in that field.”

Mustafa Arslan, a sophomore information sciences and technology major, is president of the Veterans Club, a student organization that reaches out to veterans on campus to make them aware of the resources available to them.

“Diana Hill does her work diligently to make sure that veteran students have all of our certifications in on time, and that we are ready to continue pursuing our education without any hiccups,” said Mustafa Arslan, who spent 12 years in the Marine Corps working as a English/Turkish linguist. “This plays a vital role in our scheduling and billing. I am thankful for her dedicated work ethics.”

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.

“I often say that ‘it takes a village,’ and Penn State New Kensington staff work toward helping our veteran students have a good outcome,” Hill said.

For more on Veterans Services, contact Hill at 724-334-6047or duh3@psu.edu.

Admissions and veterans
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. 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.

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

Discover benefits of campus

6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 18

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Prospective students and their families will have the opportunity to discover the benefits of attending Penn State New Kensington at Transfer Student Open House 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 18, in the campus Conference Center.

The open house will review the admissions process for transfer students. Discussions will focus on important points about admissions and financial aid services available to this special population. Students are welcome to bring copies of any post-secondary transcripts with them for an unofficial review of credit transfer. Patty Brady, director of enrollment management, and the Admissions staff will talk about the admission process and student-aid opportunities.

The open house is one of several programs in the spring and summer to acquaint prospective students with the campus and Penn State's wide variety of academic programs. To register for an event, call 724-334-LION or 888-968-PAWS.

For more on admissions, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Admissions

For more admissions events, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Admissions/admevents.htm

Virtual tour preview of campus
Prior to visiting the campus in person, prospective students can access the new interactive virtual tour. Out-of-state and international students can get a feel for the campus via a home computer or mobile app.

The online tour also highlights campus students, facilities and activities. After previewing the campus, future Penn Staters can use the navigation buttons to schedule a visit or apply online. The tour is available in English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.

“This is a great tool for our (admissions) office,” said Corinne Coulson, enrollment specialist at the campus. “It can be utilized during our school visits, college fairs and other recruitment activities.”

Users can explore different areas of the 72-acre campus using four tour options -- walking, panoramic view, videos, and photos. The guided walking tour starts at the Lion Shrine and continues to 19 other campus hot spots, including the Junction Coffee Bar, Art Gallery, Computer Center, Forum Theatre, Conference Center, Café 780 and Athletics Center.

Located in the lobby of the main entrance, the coffee bar has the look of a mini-Starbucks and serves Starbucks products. The Athletics Center houses a basketball/volleyball court, wrestling room, racquetball court and the Pilates/yoga room, a fitness center, with heavy equipment, and a cardiovascular room with light equipment.

The guided tour features the Biomedical Engineering Technology (BET) and Radiological Sciences (RadSci) classroom and labs. Recent renovations to the areas allow for more hands-on instruction. Healthcare providers rely on BET graduates to operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair medical equipment. Contemporary imaging equipment for the RadSci program gives students the opportunity to work with medical equipment that is currently used in hospitals. Radiographers provide patient care using safe radiation practices, operate sophisticated technical equipment and make independent judgments and decisions daily.

The Panoramic tour provides 360-degree views of campus facilities. The Academic and Student Success Center, Elizabeth S. Blissell Library, and Nittany Highland Apartments are among the 21 campus venues. The virtual tour features students, faculty and staff and highlights the quality of academic programs and the variety of student extracurricular activities.

There is a gallery of 50 photos that feature the Café 780 court yard, the iconic arch that overlooks the campus entrance off state Route 780 and the Larry R. Pollock Fountain, as well as a myriad of campus students. The courtyard also features a fire pit, along with new furniture and benches. Chancellor Kevin Snider utilizes the pit for a series of fireside chats with campus students.

To experience the interactive virtual tour, visit www.nk.psu.edu/virtualtour

For videos about the campus, visit http://iyt.psu.edu/newkensington

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

Director Jimmy Baker and his child stars rehearsing "The Little Mermaid" at last year's Kids in College program at Penn State New Kensington. Baker will direct "Aladdin Jr." this year.

Science, Technology, Engineering,
Arts, Mathematics highlight hands-on summer camps

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Young students can “steam” into the summer camp season at Penn State New Kensington aboard a “space ship” as Kids in College opens its 28th year of operation at the campus.

Since 2009, the program has integrated the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into the traditional summer classes. Two years ago, a creative arts component was added, turning STEM into STEAM. A nationwide effort, STEAM prepares middle-school students for a competitive world through a strategy of enhanced education and career development opportunities.

“Creativity is a vital part of education and innovation, and classes in the arts will allow students to express their creativity in a fun environment,” said Debbie Novak, coordinator of STEM programs at the campus. “The arts teach students to interpret information, which is a necessary component in problem solving.”

The campus is working with Snapology, an educational company who specializes on melding creative arts and the STEM fields. Snapology stresses hands-on learning and teamwork, a crucial social skill for elementary students.

Snapology offers a learning concept that combines play with education using Lego bricks and other materials that snap together. The four Snapology camps – Adventures with Star Wars; Minecraft Advanced; Space War Robotics; and snAPP Game Designs -- are designed to inspire creativity and promote teamwork. The classes are scheduled for two weeks in July and are appropriate for children in grades 1-4 and 5-8.

“We are partnering with Snapology to provide new opportunities for area students to experience state of the art technology programs,” said Novak, who earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Pittsburgh. “Snapology will provide their most popular LEGO’s classes where students can learn about design concepts while building their favorite characters and games. These classes are a good fit with the STEAM concept.”

Overall, the line-up features 31 camps, as well as an SAT prep course for high school students that runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., July 11-15. For sports enthusiasts, three camps featuring Penn State New Kensington coaches will teach youngsters the fundamentals of soccer and basketball.

The Kids in College camps, which run from June to July, are arranged by grade levels. There are three classes for first graders, 13 classes for second and third graders, and 14 classes for fourth graders. Twenty courses are available for students in grades 5-8.

“We continue to have gifted instructors who provide creative courses that enrich our students in a variety of topics,” Novak said. “The number of courses offered each year has continued to grow in size and material content. Due to the program’s success, we presently have second-generation students attending the camps.”

The dean of all the camps is Theatre Camp, a perennial favorite of the young participants. It begins a three-week run on June 9. Director Jimmy Baker, a Penn State alumnus and former campus student, will bring an adaptation of “Aladdin" to the camp. The camp is split into two sections: 9 a.m. to noon (grades 2-5) and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. (grades 6-11). A grand performance is scheduled on the last day of classes, June 29 for the younger group and June 30 for the older group. The cost of theatre camp is $195.

Most camps meet Monday through Thursday, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or noon to 2:30 p.m. Each camp offers a unique learning opportunity for children Grades 1-11. From cooking to circuit design to chess wars to cartoons and animation, there is truly something for everyone. Camp instructors come from the ranks of University faculty and local school teachers. They are aided by teams of counselors, campus students and local teens who volunteer as camp assistants.

All camps are conducted at the New Kensington campus. Classes require preregistration, and prices range from $95 to $195 per class. Scholarships are available to students who qualify for the state’s free or reduced-price lunch program.

For more than a quarter of a century, the Office of Continuing Education has offered a variety of academic and sports activities for students in grades one through 12. Each year, more than 400 youths participate in the hands-on camps.

“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 more than 8,000 students participate in the program.”

For more information on "Kids in College," call 724-334-6010.

For a list of camps, visit www.nk.psu.edu/kidsincollege

Kids in College Program
The program is funded, in part, by a grant from the Grable Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the academic, artistic and social experiences for at-risk youth living in the Alle-Kiski Valley. The grant is earmarked for scholarships and materials. A limited number of scholarships is available. Students are encouraged to register early. Based in Pittsburgh, the Grable Foundation supports community and youth organizations in southwestern Pennsylvania. The foundation reflects the philanthropic philosophy of Erret and Minnie Grable who were strong believers in the importance of education in helping children build productive, self-sustaining and meaningful lives.

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

Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society vice president Vera Spina Greenwald highlights the accomplishments of Craig Synan, the 2015 Spirit Award recipient the campus' annual Academic and Student Achievement awards ceremony.

"Celebration of Excellence" recognizes
student and faculty achievements

7:00 p.m., Friday, April 29, Athletic Center

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society will sponsor the reception for student honorees at Penn State New Kensington's annual Academic and Student Achievement awards ceremony.

The society, based at Penn State New Kensington, donated $500 to help recognize more than 100 students for their accomplishments during the fall and spring semesters. The "Celebration of Excellence" awards ceremony is set for 7 p.m., Friday, April 29, in the campus' Athletic Center. The event is co-sponsored by the campus’ Student Government Association.

The highlight of the evening is the awarding of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award to the student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship and leadership contribute to the prestige of the campus. In addition, faculty will be recognized for excellence in teaching, and the society will present its annual Penn State Spirit award 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. Former campus student Vera Spina Greenwald, a 2003 Penn State alumna and president of the alumni society, will present the award.

The society engages in various campus projects throughout the year, interacting with former and current students through social and fundraising events and other networking activities. Recently, the society held its 14th annual Alumni Bowlathon that raised $7,000 for campus projects and scholarships.

Penn State alumni, students, parents and friends from the Penn State New Kensington service area -- Westmoreland, Allegheny, Butler, Armstrong and Indiana counties -- are encouraged to re-connect with the University and campus by attending the society’s monthly meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The next meeting is May 16 at the Elks Lodge in Tarentum.

The society's next major fundraiser is the alumni golf scramble that is set for Monday, Aug.1, at Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club. For information on the golf outing, call Kary Coleman, director of development and alumni relations, 724-334-6057 or kxc22@psu.edu

For more information on the society, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Alumni/alumorg.htm

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

Penn State New Kensington landscape contrating major Ryan Kieffer checks out the hardscaping at the campus Lion Shrine. Kieffer, who started his own business, earned a scholarship from the College of Agricultural Sciences

Landscaping contracting major
Ryan Kieffer founded own business

UPPER BURREL, Pa – Ryan Kieffer, a freshman landscape contracting major at Penn State New Kensington, recently was awarded a scholarship by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Kieffer, who runs his own landscaping business, earned a Barbara U. and Daniel J. Eichenlaub Trustee Scholarship. Established last year by Penn State alumnus Daniel Eichenlaub and his wife, Barbara, the scholarship helps the college support talented students. The Eichenlaubs geared their scholarship to first-year Ag Sciences students.

A reception in October at the University Park campus honored all Ag scholarship recipients, who met their benefactors in person. With one of the largest scholarship endowments at Penn State, Agricultural Sciences gives out nearly $2.5 million in scholarship support each year. Keiffer was seated at the table with Daniel Eichenlaub.

“I sat next to Mr. Eichenlaub, and he was extremely informative the whole night, pointing out all the ‘big wigs’ in the room” said Kieffer, whose table was front and center in the room. “I felt a connection with Mr. Eichenlaub due to the fact that we are both landscapers. Granted, his business towers over mine, but he was very interested in what I do and how my business is going.”

Eichenlaub is president and co-founder of Eichenlaub Inc., a full-service, design-build landscape construction and maintenance company that has served the greater Pittsburgh area for more than 40 years. He delivered the commencement address to Ag Sciences graduates in May at University Park.

In addition to sitting next to Eichenlaub, Kieffer sat across the table from Provost Nick Jones. The proximity didn’t allow much conversation with the provost during dinner, but it picked up afterwards.

“Provost Jones took the time to congratulate me on my scholarship, and we struck up conversation right away,” Kieffer said. “He was very interested in my business and my schooling. He is an extremely kind and considerate gentleman, and it was great to talk to him.”

Kieffer Landscaping
A native of Plum, Pennsylvania, Kieffer owns Kieffer Landscaping, which he started while in Plum High School. The company offers many services, including hardscaping, which refers to working with masonry materials such as concrete, brick and stone. Kieffer prepared for a career in landscaping at a young age.

“I spent my days on our old tractor, trying to make our yard look perfect,” Kieffer said. “My passion continued in high school, so I started my own landscaping business.”

As his customer base grew, his knowledge about his line of work grew as well. To slake his landscaping thirst, Kieffer’s mother pointed him to college. Penn State offered the program he needed to complement his business.

“It was during my high school years that my mom was trying to help me find a major that would best suit me,” Kieffer said. “When I saw the Landscape Contracting program at Penn State, I knew it was the perfect fit for me.”

Although the New Kensington campus does not offer the landscape contracting major, its 2 + 2 program allows Kieffer to fulfill his general education requirements before moving on to the University Park campus to complete his bachelor’s degree studies. New Kensington’s learning environment helps Keiffer keep up with his studies and on top of his company.

“Penn State New Kensington offers smaller class sizes, and that appealed to my learning style,” Kieffer said. “I commute and it is close to home, which I really like. I could have gone to a community college, but I wanted to go to New Kensington because of the prestigious level of education.”

The Ag College scholarship was not the only scholarship Kieffer received. The New Kensington campus awarded him a Hazel L. Hug scholarship. The campus also holds a reception for scholarship recipients and donors in the fall.

Kieffer is already mapping out his landscaping plans after he earns his degree in 2019. He wants to expand his business and would be willing to learn more under the tutelage of a master landscaper, such as Daniel Eichenlaub.

“My ultimate goal is to own a large scale, full-service landscaping company,” Keiffer said. “I would be willing to work with a reputable landscaping business to learn more about the business aspect.”

Penn State New Kensington in May means students can earn their degrees or continue to work toward their degrees.

Commencement set for May 7

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The spring semester is ending, and summer classes are looming at Penn State New Kensington.

Classes end Friday, April 29, and final exams run from Monday, May 2, to Friday, May 6. Commencement is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7, in the campus Athletics Center.

The New Kensington campus summer class schedule comprises five sessions of three weeks, five weeks, eight weeks or 12 weeks. The first session runs three weeks, May 9 to May 27, followed by the 12-week session that runs from May 9 to July 29. The first five-week session begins May 16 and ends June 17, and the second five-week session is scheduled June 20 to July 23. The eight-week session starts May 16 and goes until July 8.

A variety of classes are available during all sessions.

For summer scheduling information, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/register.htm

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

Jim Shorkey will address the 2016 graduates of Penn State New Kensington on May 7 in the campus Athletics Center.

Auto dealership patriarch to
speak to Class of 2016

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- James R. Shorkey Jr., a life success coach and founder of Jim Shorkey Family Auto Group, will be the principle speaker at Penn State New Kensington’s spring commencement ceremony at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 7, in the Athletics Center.

A successful automobile dealership entrepreneur, Shorkey got back into the “start-up” business two years ago after passing his dealerships to his children. The business venture, Results From Thinking, was established to share the formula for success he followed while building the automotive empire. The program features a series of informative and inspirational talks that provide the skills needed to achieve a level of success in any aspect of life. Clients experience the businessman’s journey that ran the gamut from imminent bankruptcy to a profitable company.

Shorkey attributes his success to the knowledge he garnered from studying the lessons of the most successful people in the world. Adherence to the principles helped him in the business world, as well as his personal life. According to Shorkey, “this formula is transferable to anyone and to any business.”

Shorkey graduated cum laude from Millersville State University with a degree in Liberal Arts in Economics. A family-run business since 1974, his auto group has expanded from a small three-car showroom to seven dealerships, carrying five automotive brands -- Kia, Mitsubishi, Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Ford and Fiat.

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

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

Penn State New Kensington student Shannon Josefoski, a junior business management major, fills up at the most popular hydration station on campus. The station in the Administration building has saved more than 100,000 plastic bottles from the landfill.

Sustainability initiatives environmental friendly

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – While one Brita filter can save about 300 plastic water bottles from adding to the waste of the United States, one Penn State New Kensington hydration station can save more than 100,000 plastic bottles from the same demise.

Hydration stations, which are water bottle refilling stations attached to the back of traditional drinking fountains, were installed five years ago as the New Kensington campus became more environmentally friendly. The station in the Administration building, which generates the most foot traffic, recently hit the 100,000 mark in bottles saved. The other two -- Fitness Room in the Athletics Center and in Cafe 780 in the Student Union building -- have topped 50,000, giving the campus a decrease in the use of 200,000 disposable containers that would have wound up in landfills.

Each water station includes a digital counter that displays how many 16-ounce water bottles have been filled and saved from the landfill. When a water bottle is placed under the dispenser, an electronic sensor detects the bottle and chilled, filtered water fills the container. More hydration stations will be added as other drinking fountains on campus wear out.

In addition to conserving landfill space, the hydration stations help reduce the campus' carbon footprint. According to Food and Water Watch, a non-profit organization that advocates for safe and affordable drinking water, more than 17 million barrels of oil -- enough to fuel a million cars for a year -- are needed to produce the plastic water bottles sold annually in the United States.

The drinking fountains are a part of the campus' ongoing quest for sustainability. A number of initiatives, such as the Green Paws program and single stream recycling, are in full swing.

Supported by the Penn State Sustainability Institute, Green Paws are teams of faculty and staff volunteering to take specific actions to help their offices or departments operate in a more efficient, innovative, and healthy way. The groups work in conjunction with the institute to earn certificates of achievement for activities, such as energy savings, waste reduction and recycling. New Kensington is the only Penn State campus with 100 percent participation by its faculty and staff.

At the same time the hydration stations were installed, "Going Green" was implemented as a fast, easy and efficient way to recycle without the hassle of sorting recycled materials. Single stream recycling allows end-users to discard plastics, paper, glass and cans into one container. Green and blue containers are located in high-traffic areas throughout the campus. Dumpsters are located behind the Athletics Center and in the lower parking lot behind the Student Union.

Sustainability is a key initiative of Chancellor Kevin Snider’s five-year strategic plan that was unveiled two years ago. It cuts across several of the strategic goals and highlights the campus’ intent to become a recognized leader in the community. Sustainability, poverty initiatives and STEM programming are the main ingredients in the campus plan, and the campus is engaging the community in these critical areas.

Penn State has been the leader in sustainability initiatives among colleges and universities. The Campus Sustainability Office, established in 2008, promotes and ensures environmentally-safe activity at Penn State. Its initiatives protect and enhance the financial, human, and ecological resources of the University and the planet.

For more about sustainability at the campus, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Information/News/46365.htm#NEWS46365

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

Photojournalist Eddie Adams arrives in Vietnam in 1965, the first of three tours for the world-renown photographer.

Pulitzer Prize- winning war photographer and New Kensington native

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – “Saigon Execution,” the world-famous photograph that helped turn American opinion against the Vietnam War, is one of the many works of the late photojournalist Eddie Adams that will be on display May 8, and continuing throughout the summer in the Penn State New Kensington Art Gallery.

The exhibit, “Eddie Adams: Vietnam,” features more than 50 photographs from the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer’s collection. A reception is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 28, in the art gallery. Eddie’s widow, Alyssa Adams, will be on hand to talk about her late husband. Walter Anderson, retired CEO of Parade magazine, is the special guest speaker. Anderson worked with Adams for many years. The exhibit and reception are free to the public. The gallery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. weekends.

In a more than 50-year career as a working photographer, Adams covered 13 wars, from Korea to Vietnam to Kuwait. In Korea, he was in the Marine Corps as a combat photographer. During Vietnam, he did three tours working for The Associated Press.

He won the 1969 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography for a shot of a Vietnamese general executing a Viet Cong prisoner on the second day of the Tet Offensive. The 35mm photo was instrumental to the rise of protest demonstrations against the war.

The photograph was not a favorite of Adams because it did not tell the whole story. General Nguyen Ngoc Loan was reacting to the prisoner’s complicity in the recent murders of Loan’s aide and American soldiers. Adams was disturbed by the anti-war movement usurping his work.

 
"Saigon Execution" and "Boat of No Smiles" were famous shots of working photographer Eddie Adams.

The Adams photograph that was a favorite and affected change in America was a part of his 1979 series about people of Vietnam fleeing their homeland. “Boat of No Smiles” featured about 48 men, women and children on a 30-foot fishing boat in the Gulf of Siam headed for Thailand. The boat reached its destination but was turned away and towed back out to sea by the Thailand military. The photo shows a Vietnamese women aboard a refugee boat using a blanket to shelter herself and her child from the hot sun. Adams’ depiction of the “boat people” prompted President Jimmy Carter and Congress to allow more than 200,000 Vietnamese refugees into the United States.

In addition to his combat work, Adams photographed numerous presidents, world leaders and celebrities. He worked for Parade for 12 years as a special correspondent, and his work appeared on the cover of the magazine over 350 times.

A New Kensington native, Adams died in 2004 in New York City from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, at the age of 71.

The four-month exhibit runs until Aug. 27. The photographs are powerful and may elicit strong emotions in viewers. Parents are advised to tour the exhibit before deciding if it is appropriate for their children.

Prior to the coming to New Kensington, the traveling show was featured in the Dublin Art Council in Ohio. The collection is permanently housed at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin. Alyssa donated the photographic archive, which includes slides, negatives, prints, audio and video materials, news stories, diaries, notes and tear sheets.

For more information about the exhibit and reception, call 724-334-6056.

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

First-year Penn State New Kensington engineering student Hannah Albright shows off her "Community Greenhouse" project proposal April 30, in the campus' Entrepreneur Center in the city of New Kensington.

Student projects help rejuvenate
downtown New Kensington

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – A river bank clean-up, a voter registration drive and a homework hotline were some of the community projects displayed by Penn State New Kensington students April 30 in the campus’ Entrepreneurial Center in downtown New Kensington. The students were taking part in the city’s third “Better Block” celebration.

Better Block is an ongoing series of one-day events that highlight the revitalization of New Kensington’s business district. The section of Ninth and 10th streets bounded by Fourth and Fifth avenues served as the “stage” for more than 60 vendors. The area featured food, crafts, children’s activities, pop-up businesses and musical entertainment.

Various campus student groups set up shop in the center and showcased their research and community activities. Nine students in a Leadership in Sustainability class, taught by Joan Kowalski, senior instructor in engineering, unveiled a design for a sign for the city of Arnold. The sign will display “Arnold” and stand on the eastern bank of the Allegheny River that borders the city. The construction project will serve as a beacon for water enthusiasts to visit the city.

Kowalski’s students -- James Bailey, Aaron Carter, Brandon Gabler, David Green, Anthony Maiolo, Jonathan McCabe, Danielle Richardson, Cody Shoemaker, and Navarre Statam -- prepared the site in early April by spending a day cleaning up debris, such as old tires and appliances, from the river bank. The sign design and clean-up are a part of a larger initiative to improve Arnold.

 The "Arnold" sign designed by Penn State New Kensington students in Joan Kowalski's Leadership in Sustainability class.

A group of Kowalski’s engineering students used the front window of the center to present their summer research projects. Hannah Albright, Codi Belfield and Tyler Delancey were selected for the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, an initiative for engineering students at Penn State. The objective of the program is two-fold: promote undergraduate research to broaden student education and establish collaboration between engineering professors at University Park and Commonwealth campuses. New Kensington is one of Penn State’s 19 Commonwealth campuses. The students will receive a stipend and work with Kowalski and professors from the University Park campus.

Albright’s project is called “Community Greenhouse.” The freshman engineering major proposes turning a pre-existing building into a greenhouse that will be viable throughout the year and inexpensive to maintain.

“I will use gutters for a water supply and windows for ventilation,” Albright said. “I want to take off the top half of the building and replace it with Plexiglas.”

After she works out some funding issues and completes the details, Albright plans to present the proposal to the New Kensington City Council. The New Kensington native and Valley High School graduate will ask the council to donate a building.

Albright is a member of 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 students with local internship opportunities. The GREAT program is a partnership between the New Kensington campus and the Penn State Electro-Optics Center and industries within the greater Pittsburgh region. 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. In lieu of an internship, Albright opted for the REU program.

  Penn State New Kensington students Millie Brasser, left, and Aaron Holness, members of the student group My Vote Matters, sign-up a new voter during the city of New Kensington's "Better Block" day.

My Vote Matters, a student organization established last semester to educate and register first-time voters, used the Entrepreneur Center as a base for a get-out-the-vote drive. The group, led by Millie Brasser, a sophomore corporate communications major, includes Kyle Waraks, Derrek Koblinsky, Broderick Gerano, Aaron Holness, Cecily Petrarca, Sarah Steighner, McCabe, and Richardson. The group is dedicated to enlightening young voters on the importance of getting involved in the political process, be it on a local, state or national level. My Vote Matters doesn’t espouse the views of any political party or candidate.

Prior to the April 26 Pennsylvania primaries, they signed up 125 new voters on campus. After primaries, the group expanded its voter reach to the city of New Kensington. The Better Block event was the ideal venue to reach young non-registered voters before the general elections in November. Twelve people joined the voter rolls at the event.

“I'm super proud to have been able to make a difference to our community through Better Block in New Kensington,” said Brasser. “It is so important to stay active as a citizen and participate in our civic responsibilities, especially when it comes to voting.”

The Entrepreneur Center also served as home for the inaugural public awareness campaign for the campus’ new Homework Hotline program. The initiative provides free math tutoring to students in local school districts. Geared to middle and high school students, the sessions will be offered by telephone on evenings throughout the school year.

Campus students with strong math skills, such as engineering and information sciences majors, are serving as tutors, guiding students through their homework problems by focusing on the terms and processes. Julie Wolfe, a geometry teacher at Highlands High School, is supervising the tutors. Homework Hotline began May 3, with Highlands’ students serving in the trial program. The hotline in the initial phase will be available from 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday.

Burrell and New Kensington-Arnold school district students will be added in the fall when the complete pilot program is up-and-running. The focus will be on math courses that lead to calculus, such as algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Calculus and science courses will be added as the program expands. Tutoring will be conducted from 7 to 10 p.m., Sunday to Thursday, during the school year.

 With the Lion greeting alumni and friends, Penn State New Kensington's Entrepreneur Center was a hub of activity for the revitalization of downtown New Kensington.

Entrepreneur Center fuels city’s revival
Better Block, a nationwide concept, is a grassroots effort for economic development. Communities that were once robust, such as New Kensington and Arnold, are targeted for renewal. The New Kensington campus is sparking the renewal process.

Led by Chancellor Kevin Snider, the campus began the first phase of its plan to revitalize downtown New Kensington in January with the start of remodeling the Entrepreneurial Center, which is located at 951 Fourth Avenue, in the former Harts Department Store.

When completed later in the year, the center will launch a business accelerator program to attract and nurture innovation and small business development across the Alle-Kiski Valley. The building will serve as an incubator for entrepreneurs.

The campus’ Alle-Kiski Economic Generator (AKEG) program is the delivery vehicle for affecting change in the city of New Kensington and the region. AKEG is a collaboration of students, faculty and campuses working with businesses and communities across the state to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians. AKEG is funded by a $50,000 grant from Invent Penn State, a new program that brings together Penn State’s intellectual resources, alumni, private and public businesses and investors to support the efforts.

“The Entrepreneur Center will bring energy, innovation, and a sense of progress and quality not seen in the area in a long time,” Snider said. “Penn State New Kensington is committed to bringing economic development to New Kensington through entrepreneurship."

The 800 and 900 blocks of Fourth and Fifth avenues form the core of downtown New Kensington. As the city celebrates its 125th anniversary year, Mayor Tom Guzzo, a Penn State alumnus, is overseeing the area’s revitalization, which included the razing of vacant buildings to make existing buildings more viable. Last fall, PugDug’s Rock and Bead Shop moved from Squirrel Hill, a neighborhood of Pittsburgh, to the 900 block of Fifth Avenue.

(Information on the Arnold sign and clean-up courtesy of Danielle Richardson, author of the article “PSNK Students Help to Clean Up Arnold” that was published in the April 26 issue of The Nittany Pride, a campus student publication.)

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

Penn State New Kensington chancellor Kevin Snider greets junior Danielle Richardson, the 2016 Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award recipient

Communications major garners
campus’ highest student honor

Students and faculty honored at annual awards celebration
LaVarr McBride selected for “Excellence in Teaching” award

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Demonstrating excellence in the classroom, providing leadership on campus and displaying citizenship in the community are Penn State ideals. Danielle Richardson, a junior communications major, personifies these ideals.

Richardson was named the 2016 recipient of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award on April 29, at the Academic and Student Achievement Awards ceremony at Penn State New Kensington. 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.

At the annual "Celebration of Excellence" ceremony, students, faculty and staff were honored for their achievements inside and outside the classroom. More than 100 students were recognized for their academic prowess and extracurricular accomplishments during the fall and spring semesters.

Three faculty members were honored with the Excellence in Teaching Awards -- LaVarr McBride, instructor in administration of justice (full-time); Joshua Karelitz, instructor in psychology (part-time); and Skip Laratonda, adjunct instructor in engineering (Continuing Education). Faculty has three areas of responsibility: teaching, research/scholarly activity and service. The award recognizes campus faculty contributions in teaching. The principle criterion is classroom performance, but excellence in other activities such as advising, supervision of learning outside the classroom, and course development are also considered.

Students received academic recognition for the highest grade-point averages in each major, as well as for earning memberships in honor societies and honors programs. Brittany Hydock received the President Sparks Award for earning a 4.0 GPA with at least 36 credits. Five first-year students -- Dylan Clinton, Huating Lang, Kayly Lazaroff, Jiahui Lin and Thomas Sonnie -- were recognized for earning 4.0 GPAs during the fall semester.

Student achievement honorees included: Trevor Guerico, Lion Ambassador of the Year; Tyler John, Emerging Leader; and Richardson, Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society’s Penn State Spirit award. In athletics, Louis Payne (men’s basketball) was named Male Athlete of the Year, and Rachel Lojas (softball) was selected as Female Athlete of the Year.

 An animated Nicolas Regoli, the Literary award recipient.

Danielle Richardson
A member of the campus' Honors program, Richardson’s academic prowess and leadership acumen provided solid credentials for a Walker award. Richardson is vice president of the Lion Ambassadors, former vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA), student representative of the Student Activity Fee committee, a New Student Orientation leader, and staff writer for the Nittany Pride, the student newspaper.

In addition, Richardson serves as an academic success coach. She is trained to assist students using academic resources and navigating the new class scheduling tool, LionPath. One nominator wrote, “Ms. Richardson’s contributions to the work of the Penn State New Kensington Academic Success Center in the newly formed role of student academic success leader have been nothing short of invaluable.”

When campus leaders are needed to serve as delegates on campus-wide teams, Richardson is the first name on the volunteer list. She designed a public relations campaign for the new “Common Schedule” at Penn State, helped a local community organization prepare training videos for displaced workers re-entering the workforce, and contributed to the Better Block initiative for the city of New Kensington.

The Kiski Area High School graduate presented two research projects at the campus’ annual Research and Creative Exposition. She also helped plan Career Day, which is held in conjunction with the expo, and the Etiquette Dinner, which is designed for students as a workshop on proper business dinner etiquette and on best practices for networking and handling of awkward social situations.

“I am truly happy when I get to contribute to the well-being of the campus, the community, and to my fellow students,” Richardson said. “To me, serving means more than just achieving personal and professional goals. To me, it is a way of life, and something that I will continue to do after I graduate.”

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

ACADEMIC AWARDS

COLLEGE ACADEMIC AWARDS

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Baccalaureate Degree): Brittany A. Hydock (Sophomore)
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (Baccalaureate Degree) Alec J. Hydock (Sophomore)
Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology (Baccalaureate Degree): Michael J. Frenak (Senior);
Nathan A. Piluso (Junior); Matthew A. Rzewnicki (Sophomore)
Biomedical Engineering Technology (Associate Degree): Watipaso Kumwenda (Sophomore)
BEHREND COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (Baccalaureate Degree): Zachery J. Smith (Sophomore)
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: Kelsey L. Belitskus (Sophomore)
COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY (Baccalaureate and Associate Degrees): Christian B. Kamenic (Senior, Baccalaureate); Matt I. Lomicka (Junior, Baccalaureate);
Rachael L. Goch (Sophomore, Baccalaureate); Jeremy Salisbury (Sophomore, Associate)
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, Administration of Justice (Baccalaureate Degree): Nicholas J. Welsh (Senior);
Nicholas J. DiMaria (Sophomore)
Liberal Arts (Baccalaureate Degree): Jonathan P. McCabe (Sophomore); (Associate Degree): Bethany D. George (Sophomore)
Organizational Leadership (Baccalaureate Degree): Leslie J. Davis (Senior)
EBERLY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (Baccalaureate Degree): Ariel C. Festa (Sophomore)
SCHOOL OF NURSING (Baccalaureate Degree): Megan E. Myers (Senior)
THE JOSEPH A. AND MARY M. QUARATO NURSING PROGRAM AWARD
Outstanding achievement by students in Nursing program: Cathleen Choby, Amy B. Lutz
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, Bachelor of Science, Psychology (Baccalaureate Degree): Shawn A. Shannon (Senior) and
Joshua T. Gump (Sophomore)
Business Administration (Baccalaureate Degree): Jennifer Shannon (Senior);
Madison N. Tonarelli (Junior); Nathaniel K. Coup (Sophomore)
Communications (Baccalaureate Degree): Sarah E. Steighner (Senior)
Radiological Sciences (Associate Degree): Danielle N. Wertz (Sophomore)
DIVISION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES: Hon Tak Cheng (Sophomore)

HONORS PROGRAM
FOUR-YEAR PARTICIPANTS: Christian B. Kamenic
THREE-YEAR PARTICIPANTS: Carley L. Carnahan
TWO-YEAR PARTICIPANTS: Ariel C. Festa, Laura K. Gensamer, Brittany A. Hydock,
Jonathan P. McCabe, Danielle A. Richardson, Vanessa J. Sacco, Evan J. West
ONE-YEAR PARTICIPANTS: Isabella M. Borondaro, Ryan J. Breen, Jared J. Burk, Nathaniel K. Coup, Justin M. Dumm,
Derek A. Fuhrman, Joshua T. Gump, Jacob C. Lutz, Evan M. Shaffer, Ashley B. Worlds

THE PRESIDENT’S FRESHMAN AWARD
Presented to undergraduate degree candidates and provisional students who earned a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average at the end of the fall semester.
Dylan G. Clinton, Huating Lang, Kayly A. Lazaroff, Jiahui Lin, Thomas Sonnie

THE PRESIDENT SPARKS AWARD
Presented to undergraduate degree candidates earning 4.0 cumulative grade-point averages with at least 36 credits.
Brittany A. Hydock

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARDS
Faculty have three areas of responsibility -- teaching, research/scholarly activity, and service. This award recognizes a faculty member’s contribution 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 considered.
FULL-TIME FACULTY: LaVarr W. McBride, Instructor in Administration of Justice
PART-TIME FACULTY: Joshua L. Karelitz, Instructor in Psychology
CONTINUING EDUCATION: Skip Laratonda, Adjunct Instructor in Engineering

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

WHO’S WHO AMONG STUDENTS IN AMERICAN JUNIOR COLLEGES AND AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES AWARDS:
Milagros J. Barta De Brasser; Brandon B. Burchette; Ian R. Callender; Carley L. Carnahan; Hon Tak Cheng;
Ariel C. Festa; Laura Gensamer; Joshua T. Gump; Brittany A. Hydock; Christian B. Kamenic; Watipaso Kumwenda;
Jiahui Lin; Jonathan P. McCabe; Brittany L. Miller; Marissa A. Russo; Madison M. Sedilko; Savannah M. Smith;
Cheyenne D. Swanger; Evan J. West; Ashley D. Worlds

PENN STATE SPIRIT AWARD
Presented by the Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society to the student who exhibits integrity and character as a leader and exemplifies the meaning of Penn State pride.
Danielle A. Richardson

PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS
Presented to students who merit recognition for outstanding efforts in performing arts.
BEST PERFORMER: Nathan A. Traini
BEST TECHNICIAN: Watipaso Kumwenda

LITERARY AWARD
Recognizes a student who authors a creative fiction or nonfiction published or accepted for release in a current campus publication.
Nicolas G. Regoli

LION AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Lion Ambassadors represent Penn State at campus recruitment events and in the community.
Trevor J. Guercio

STUDENT ORGANIZATION AWARDS

EMERGING LEADER
Recognizes a student’s leadership impact on a student organization through dedication to community service, promotion of diversity, responsible citizenship, and academic excellence.
Tyler A. John

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION AWARDS
Presented to officers of the Student Government Association for exemplary leadership. The SGA sponsors activities for students, assists other campus organizations, and promotes student welfare.

SGA EXECUTIVE BOARD 2015-2016
Marissa A. Russo, President
Cody M. Shoemaker, Vice President
Taylor M. McHenry, Secretary
Ashley D. Worlds, Treasurer
William J. Carney, Upperclassmen Faculty Senate Representative
Jonathan P. McCabe, Underclassman Faculty Senate Representative
Shannon M. Josefoski, Shawna M. Fluhme, THON Co-Chairs

ATHLETIC ACADEMIC AWARDS
The New Kensington campus is a member of the Penn State University Athletic Conference, United States Collegiate Athletic Association and
National Collegiate Wrestling Association. Student-athletes are recognized for academic and athletic success.

USCAA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA
Selected for earning or maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher
MEN’S SOCCER: Austin C. Baer, Nathaniel K. Coup, Nicholas S. Osikowicz
COED GOLF: David A. Sadecky
WRESTLING: Dylan R. McAnallen
MEN’S BASKETBALL: Brandon B. Burchette
SOFTBALL: Brittany L. Miller

PSUAC ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE
Selected for earning or maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher
COED GOLF: Patrick Fegan, Liam D. Fitzgerald, Grant N. Rukat, David A. Sadecky
MEN’S SOCCER: Austin C. Baer, Nathaniel K. Coup, Francesco E. DiCocco, Roya M. Fashandi, Samuel W. Longwell,
Alain J. Niyibizi, Nicholas S. Osikowicz, Brennan T. Rodden
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Emily Carnes, Kathleen M. Dugan, Madison A. Graham, Cora P. Rejniak,
Aubrey H. Simpson, Bethany C. Weiblinger, Brittney N. Wolford
WRESTLING: Eric S. Green; Dylan R. McAnallen, Alain J. Niyibizi
MEN’S BASKETBALL: Brandon B. Burchette, Mihnea A. Dinu, Louis C. Payne
SOFTBALL: Melanie Campbell, Madison A. Graham, Brittany L. Miller, Katlin V. Miskanic, Branna R. Wyant

JOHN EVANS SCHOLAR / ATHLETE MEMORIAL AWARD
Recognizes sophomore, junior, and senior student-athletes for academic achievement.
COED GOLF: Patrick Fegan, Liam D. Fitzgerald, Grant N. Rukat, David A. Sadecky
MEN’S SOCCER: Austin C. Baer, Nathaniel K. Coup, Roya M. Fashandi, Alain J. Niyibizi, Nicholas S. Osikowicz
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Emily Carnes, Kathleen M. Dugan, Madison A. Graham, Aubrey H. Simpson
WRESTLING: Eric S. Green, Dylan R. McAnallen, Alain J. Niyibizi
MEN’S BASKETBALL: Brandon B. Burchette, Mihnea A. Dinu, Louis C. Payne
SOFTBALL: Melanie Campbell, Madison A. Graham, Brittany L. Miller, Katlin V. Miskanic, Branna R. Wyant

ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AWARDS
The campus, PSUAC, USCAA and NCWA recognizes students for athletic ability.

ALL-CONFERENCE
MEN’S SOCCER: Cole Wilson, Second Team, PSUAC
MEN’S BASKETBALL: Joret A. Chambers, Honorable Mention, PSUAC
WRESTLING: Phillip C. Marra, Champion (184-pound division), PSUAC, USCAA, NCWA Mid East

CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cole Wilson (Soccer); Dylan R. McAnallen (Wrestling); Phillip C. Marra (Wrestling)

NCWA ALL-AMERICA
Phillip C. Marra, NCWA Nationals, Sixth Place (184-pound division)

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Louis C. Payne (Men’s Basketball)

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Rachel N. Lojas (Softball)

ROBERT DARBY “THE DARB” SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
The award was established in honor of Robert Darby, kinesiology instructor, athletic director, and coach, who retired in 2006 after 38 years at the campus. "The Darb" recipient demonstrates exceptional sportsmanship.
Alain J. Niyibizi

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

Grab a brush and socialize with friends
outside in the twilight of a summer evening

7-9 p.m., Thursday, June 2, Café 780 Courtyard

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – Penn State New Kensington alumni and friends can let the artistic juices flow at the third “Paint ‘n Sip” creative art social from 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, June 2, in the campus courtyard, outside Café 780.

The latest national trend makes art fun and accessible to amateur artists. The event is designed to inspire friends and family to let loose their inner Bud Gibbons, professor emeritus of visual arts at the campus. Gibbons preferred painting outdoors, a style called “en plein air,” which is French for “in the open air.”

The event will be in a communal setting where participants are encouraged to paint, eat, drink and socialize. No previous art experience is required.

An art instructor will guide participants through the step-by-step process, while encouraging individuality. The featured painting will be a 16” x 20” acrylic on canvas. For the en plein air session, the nouveau riche painters will be working on either “Lightning Bug” or "Sunset.” The winning selection will be determined that night by a vote of the participants.

All paintings will reflect their owner's creativity. At the end of the evening, the next generation of masters will take home their masterpieces, which can find a home on the living room wall or the attic floor.

The cost is $45 and includes all art supplies and instruction, as well as beverages and light fare. Seating is limited. The registration deadline is May 27. To RSVP, contact Kary Coleman, 724-334-6057 or kxc22@psu.edu

A portion of the proceeds is earmarked for the Cultural Arts Fund, which was established by Chancellor Kevin Snider to enhance student learning and improve campus aesthetics through visual arts.

 
"Lightning Bugs" or "Sunset" will be the featured painting as voted on by participants at the Paint n Sip Night.

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

A line of Penn State New Kensington graduates enjoyed a moment in the sun before entering the Athletic Center for commencement on Saturday, May 7, 2016.

Seventy-nine receive bachelor's
and associate degrees;
many starting their careers immediately

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Chancellor Kevin Snider conferred degrees to 79 graduates on May 7 at the 57th spring commencement exercises at Penn State New Kensington. James R. Shorkey Jr., a life success coach and founder of Jim Shorkey Family Auto Group, delivered the commencement address, “Blueprint for Success.”

Shorkey prepared the new Penn Staters for life after college and shared the formula for success he followed while building the automotive empire. Shorkey attributed his success to the knowledge he garnered from studying the lessons of the most successful people in the world. Adherence to their principles helped him in the business world, as well as his personal life. He stressed to the new alumni that “this formula is transferable to anyone and to any business.”

Snider opened the ceremony with remarks about the magnitude of the graduates’ achievements as they join the chronicle of 5,224 graduates from the New Kensington campus that dates from 1960. Commencement is the public recognition of those accomplishments and demonstrate the University's pride in the students' achievements.

“Today your names are added to the list of men and women who have earned degrees from The Pennsylvania State University,” Snider said. “The significance of the occasion is not that you are one of many, but that you yourself have achieved a worthy goal.”

Vera Spina Greenwald, president of the Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society, inducted the new alumni into the Penn State Alumni Association. Marissa Russo, president of the Student Government Association and one of the new alumni, spoke to the graduates.

Students were awarded degrees with highest distinction, high distinction, and distinction, based on their cumulative grade-point averages. Cords are worn to recognize each classification: Blue and White (Highest Distinction), Blue (High Distinction), and White (Distinction).

For the first time, U.S. service members and veterans donned military honor cords with their caps and gowns. The red, white and blue cords were worn by students who have honorably served, are serving or are commissioned to serve in the U.S. military. The military honor cords program was implemented to recognize students’ service to their  country as well as their academic achievements.

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

 For candid photos of the event, visit www.facebook.com/pennstatenewkensington

Pictured: John Learn (at right) wears the military honor cords.

Graduating with a job
New Kensington’s Class of 2016 embodied the impact that campus students made in the classroom, at research facilities, during internships, in communities and around the world. They personified the “Penn State Lives Here” initiative and were “inspired doers” in an environment that values teamwork, success and service.

A number of newly-minted Penn State alumni parlayed their internships into full-time employment. Justin Koscianski, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, and Russo, who received a bachelor’s degree in Information Sciences and Technology, accepted their diplomas after accepting job offers.

Alcoa is GREAT
Koscianski attended the New Kensington campus for two years before completing his studies at the University Park campus. During his time at New Kensington, Koscianski was a member of the campus GREAT (Growing Regional Excellence through Experience, Academics and Training) program. The initiative matches promising engineering and information sciences and technology students with internship opportunities in the local region. Unlike many other programs, GREAT provides students with the opportunity to build professional skills and experiences starting as soon as their first year at the campus.

Koscianski earned a paid internship with Alcoa at the Alcoa Technical Center (ATC) in Upper Burrell. He worked during the semester and summer while at New Kensington and during the summer after moving to University Park. Koscianski was a part of a design group that worked with product design, development, and site design. When assigned a project, he formulated and executed a resolution of the problem.

“I was responsible for meeting with customers to identify solutions to multiple issues in a timely and innovative manner,” said Koscianski, a resident of Lower Burrell and product of Burrell High School. “Once I devised a solution, I met with my mentor and the customer, and followed it through to implementation.”

The quality of his work drew the attention of his supervisors. He was offered the position of design engineer in fall 2015 and begins his career at the Technical Center in June, five weeks after graduating.

“Justin did an outstanding job in managing and implementing several key projects at ATC, in both our central maintenance organization, and most recently, our Product Design and Development group,” wrote Leighton Cooper, director of technology at ATC. “He is a great example of leveraging our local talent through the Penn State New Kensington GREAT program. We look forward to continuing to hire top talent from the campus.”

Koscianski also credits the New Kensington campus’ “2 + 2” plan with laying the foundation for his new career. The program allows students to start their major at one campus and transition to another campus to finish. Available for most majors, it is the most common path to a Penn State degree as about 60 percent of students choose 2 + 2.

“Penn State New Kensington offered me the possibility of gaining the first two years of my education close to home, and I enjoyed the small class sizes, which allowed for a more personal education experience,” Koscianski said. “I am extremely grateful for the many educational and professional experiences I would not have had elsewhere. The campus will always have a lasting impression on me and my future.”

Koscianski is using the “gap” between college and career to decompress. He is spending time with his grandparents at camp and working on the truck he recently purchased.

For more on the 2 + 2 plan, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/2+2

For more on GREAT program, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/greatprogram

Security at PwC
In contrast to Koscianski, Russo stayed at New Kensington for four years, a semester abroad notwithstanding. Identical to Koscianski, she carved a niche in the workforce through an internship.

Russo will join PwC, formerly known as PricewaterhouseCoopers, as a cyber security consultant in Pittsburgh. PwC is an international company, headquartered in London, that provides professional services – advisory, audit and assurance, family business services, human resources, legal and tax.

“I took an internship with them last summer, which resulted in a job offer,” said Russo, a resident of Plum.

Russo was the consummate student who enjoyed the full college experience, both academic and extracurricular. When she wasn’t working as an intern, or as a barista for the Junction Starbucks coffee bar on campus, or server at Boston Market, Russo was working on activities for the campus.

The Plum High School graduate was selected for a 2015-16 term as president of the SGA, after serving as vice president and secretary previously. She was already secretary of the Lion Ambassadors before assuming her SGA duties. Her outside-the-classroom work did not affect her studies, as she posted a 3.4 grade-point average.

To expand her experiences globally, she spent the fall 2014 semester at the University of Limerick in Ireland. She enjoyed four months of learning abroad as a part of the campus’ Global Programs initiative. The program provides students with a variety of opportunities to study in foreign lands for varying periods of time -- week, summer, semester, or year. The objective is to offer students a broader education than can be obtained through classroom experiences.

“I have always had a thing for traveling, and I first went abroad alone when I was 18,” said Russo, a recipient of an Elbert S. Howarth Scholarship. “So going to another country to stay for a while seemed like the perfect option. Ireland is small, but rich in culture, and the people are so welcoming.”

Russo might slake her traveling thirst with her new job. Another campus alumnus and information sciences and technology graduate traveled abroad for PwC. Ray Mastre is a director of SAP Security consulting in San Francisco. He joined the company’s New York office after earning his degree. He later accepted a position to lead PwC’s European SAP Security business in Zurich, Switzerland. Returning to the New York office in 2011, he rose through the PwC ranks to his current role as a director. Mastre also was president of the SGA.

 For more on the Information Sciences and Technology program, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/Degrees/44621.htm

 For more on Global programs, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/InternationalPrograms/intlprograms.htm

Pictured: Marissa Russo, SGA president, speaks at commencement

Penn State New Kensington
Class of 2016

BACCALAUREATE DEGREES

Behrend College, Bachelor of Science, Finance
Kayla B. Dowling♦♦♦

College of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology
Seth Cooper, Sage B. Defrances, Liam D. Fitzgerald, Michael J. Frenak, Jacob W. Matis, Jason Norman♦♦, Wesley Waddell

College of Information Sciences and Technology, Bachelor of Science, Information Sciences and Technology
Adam R. Cooper, Brandon D. Eyerly, Christian B. Kamenic♦♦♦, Riaz N. Khatri, Kimberly S. Kuruc, Robert P. Noel,
Louis C. Payne, Marissa A. Russo, James W. Wright

College of Liberal Arts, Bachelor of Science, Organizational Leadership
Carolyn F. Mahnick*

College of Nursing, Bachelor of Science, Nursing
Kaley Bowman, Jake W. Brandon, Maureen M. Ruyak*

University College
Bachelor of Science, Administration of Justice
Nicholas J. Welsh

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Megan R. Altmeyer, Allison D. Blue, Serena M. Buday, Abby J. Deluisio, Cassandra L. Dunmire, David Green,
Jamie R. Herstek, Alexandria L. Jones, Christopher J. Lecnar, Yasmin S. Ray, Shawn A. Shannon, Mariah E. Von Hofen

Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Beau T. Bechtel, Carley L. Carnahan, Amanda J. Hanks

Bachelor of Science, Business
Brianna M. Delledonne, Richard G. Jenkins, Timothy L. Jones, Stephanie M. Lloyd, Alexis Marcy, Michael D. Mascaro,
Kevin D. McKee, Jennifer Shannon*, Francis A. Udavcak

Bachelor of Arts, Communications
Evan R. Keener, Darren J. Myers, Paige E. Owens, Sarah Steighner

ASSOCIATE DEGREES

College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Technology
Danielle N. Cicak*, Nathaniel J. French*, Watipaso Kumwenda*, Brandon I. Lesko*, Rachel N. Lojas*, Nathaniel K. McDade*, Daniel R. Quast*, Matthew C. Reczynski*, Andrew Z. Stambaugh*, Jacob N. Tuminella*, Chad Waters*

University College
Business
Dean R. Lusk, Kaitlyn M. Sweeney *

Letters, Arts, and Sciences
Katie L. Clever

Radiological Sciences
Skyeler M. Balog*, Allison Beattie*, Brooke Cass*, Krista L. Ferracano*, Emily M. Gluntz*, Jillian T. Kuruc*,
Mystee Kustes*, John W. Learn*, Lauren J. Lizik*, Sara Rock*, Mark A. Salway*, Alexandra M. Seaholm*,
Caitlyn M. Sherrock*, Hannah M. Smith*, Carl M. Tutak*, Danielle N. Wertz*

♦ Highest Distinction ♦♦ High Distinction ♦♦♦ Distinction

*Intends to fulfill degree requirements during summer 2016

"Each fresh generation of students brings in a new fresh life.
The young men and young women who are going out today not only carry
with them a new flood of life… but they will carry with them recollections of the
men and women who have led them forward with the hope and promise to this occasion.
It is a scene that is always full of inspiration…that no time can wither nor custom stale."
Commencement Address, 1897, George W. Atherton, President, The Pennsylvania State University, 1882-1906

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

Alumni Breakfast looks at the local
aluminum technology industry

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Penn State New Kensington's annual Alumni Breakfast is set for 8 a.m., Monday, June 6, at the Alcoa Technical Center on state Route 780 in Upper Burrell, Pennsylvania.

The morning social, formally called "Penn State A.M.," is an informal, one-hour breakfast for Penn State alumni and friends who will have the opportunity to get "inside the ropes" of industry technology. The complimentary breakfast, with Happy Valley's famous grilled stickies highlighting the menu, will feature guest speakers from Alcoa and the Penn State Alumni Association.

Co-hosted by the Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society, the event is geared to alumni who live and work in the greater Alle-Kiski Valley area. It is a chance to get together with old friends and receive an update on current trends at Penn State and the region.

For more information on the breakfast or to RSVP, please contact Bill Woodard, uxw1@psu.edu by May 31.

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

Penn State President Eric Barron, (left to right), New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo and Penn State New Kensington Chancellor Kevin Snider get demolition tips from the Nittany Lion, deconstruction supervisor, prior to the demolition ceremony.

Penn State demolition ceremony paves way for
New Kensington campus’ Entrepreneur Center in city

New Kensington, Pa. -- Penn State President Eric Barron presided over the beginning phase of Penn State New Kensington’s plan to revitalize downtown New Kensington at a demolition and dedication ceremony in the city Jan. 7, celebrating the campus’ new Entrepreneurial Center.

Barron, along with Kevin Snider, chancellor of the campus, and Thomas Guzzo, mayor of New Kensington, knocked down a wall of a former store front at 951 Fourth Avenue. The deconstruction signified a rejuvenation of the area and the launch of a business accelerator program to attract and nurture innovation and small business development across the Alle-Kiski Valley. The New Kensington campus will re-purpose the building, the former Harts Department Store, to serve as an incubator for entrepreneurs.

"Penn State New Kensington has had historically strong and close ties to industry, business partners and the local community,” Barron said. “These collaborative relationships offer a wonderful opportunity to promote economic development and entrepreneurship in this region. I look forward to seeing how this seed funding will inspire innovation to further benefit students, faculty, staff, the business community, and all the entrepreneurs working among us.”

The project is funded by a $50,000 grant from Invent Penn State, an initiative that focuses on leveraging Penn State’s research, knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit to bring to market needed ideas, products and services. The premise is to involve campus students, faculty and staff and community members in generating ideas, then turning those ideas into promising new companies.

The New Kensington campus was one of six Penn State campuses to receive seed funding. The other campuses were Abington, Erie, Harrisburg, Lehigh Valley and Wilkes-Barre.

To turn the University’s research engine into a driver of job creation, economic development and student career success, Barron committed $30 million to the Invent Penn State program. The campus’ Alle-Kiski Economic Generator (AKEG) program is the delivery vehicle for affecting change in the city of New Kensington and the region.

"It is because of President Barron's vision of having Penn State drive economic development that we are pursuing this initiative,” Snider said. “The Entrepreneur Center will bring energy, innovation, and a sense of progress and quality not seen in the area in a long time. To have him kick off the first phase of the project is really exciting and speaks to the President's commitment in bringing economic development to New Kensington through entrepreneurship."

The 800 and 900 blocks of Fourth and Fifth avenues form the core of downtown New Kensington. As the city celebrates its 125th anniversary year, Guzzo is overseeing the area’s revitalization, which included the razing of vacant buildings to make existing buildings more viable. Last fall, PugDug’s Rock and Bead Shop moved from Squirrel Hill, a neighborhood of Pittsburgh, to the 900 block of Fifth Avenue.

“Penn State has been very kind and incredibly instrumental in taking a regional approach toward helping solve some of the economic issues of our city,” said Guzzo, a Penn State alumnus and mayor since 2010. “ Our city is moving forward, and on an upward trajectory as new businesses are moving in. The accelerator program will define the ‘new’ New Kensington as a place where our greatest minds can create the next big thing, and where new ideas and products can be developed and put to use. It is the perfect way to commence our quasquicentennial anniversary.”

President Eric Barron, (left to right), Mayor Tom Guzzo and Chancellor    Nittany Lion summons his inner Ronald          
Kevin Snider use various sledgehammer styles to break the wall of the    Reagan to “tear down this wall.”                       
former Harts Department Store and pave the way for the new                                                                                             
Entrepreneur Center in downtown New Kensington.

The Entrepreneur Center is a part of AKEG, a collaboration of the campus, businesses and communities working to improve the lives of the residents of valley. Regional partners, such as Bridgeway Capital, Idea Foundry and Riverside Center for Innovation, have pledged their support in developing the city and surrounding areas. In addition, the project is attracting matching funds from community partners.

"Today we begin a new chapter of inspiring innovation through collaboration in this region," Barron said. “We’re glad we could provide a location where academics and entrepreneurial leaders can meet and develop initiatives and programs, driving innovation in the New Kensington area.

The center will feature modern meeting and office space. Designated sectors will accommodate programming and training, and serve as a regional gathering place for campus faculty, staff and students, as well as entrepreneurs, funders and the business community. Companies will be able to utilize the space to meet clients, hold retreats and host seminars. The campus community will have opportunities to network and develop ideas with community partners.

AKEG is expected to spur economic development in the city through the four-phase process -- idea generation, idea refinement, idea funding and proof of concept. The process melds Penn State’s intellectual resources with the valley’s local assets to foster an economic surge. Individuals and community groups with scalable business concepts can benefit from the program, and are encouraged to apply.

“This center will be a place infused with Penn State New Kensington's entrepreneurial spirit,” Snider said. “By combining the energy and vitality of our students with like-minded individuals in the community, we hope to create new partnerships, businesses, and development opportunities in downtown New Kensington.”

Services at the Entrepreneurial Center will include guiding fledging innovators through the four phases. Idea generation will provide guidance and training on developing business ideas. Partners will supply training at little or no cost. Idea refinement will augment promising ideas and projects with mentors and business plan development workshops. Idea funding will offer resources for projects that merit investment. Entrepreneurs will be paired with financing partners to help secure funding for the project.

The last phase will be the key to resuscitating the vibrant business district of New Kensington. Proof of concept will support entrepreneurs who are ready to “test” their product or idea. The Entrepreneur Center will make vacant properties available to the start-ups for free or a nominal fee and provide low risk, time-limited opportunities to sell their products in the area. Successful vendors will be offered low-cost loans if they move into permanent store fronts in the New Kensington area and agree to hire local people.

Chancellor Kevin Snider shows Penn State President Eric Barron the front window of the building in downtown New Kensington that will serve as the home of the campus’ new Entrepreneur Center.

“The four phases will take a few years for the full promise of this initiative to be realized and for companies that were conceived through the AKEG to open store fronts in New Kensington,” Snider said. “However, we anticipate that the added traffic created by members using the office space, our students, and entrepreneurs, as well as the services provided by the Entrepreneurial Center will attract businesses and other start-ups to the downtown area.”

Invent Penn State dedication ceremonies previously were held at Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Future events are scheduled for Penn State Erie, Penn State Abington and Penn State Harrisburg.

For more about Invent Penn State, visit http://invent.psu.edu/

Jeff Roth, assistant professor of administration of justice, leads Administration of Justice students during the processional at Penn State New Kensington's 2015 fall commencement.

Ron Land and Jeff Roth lauded for
contributions to engineering and criminal justice

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. – Two faculty members at Penn State New Kensington, Ron Land, associate professor of engineering, and Jeff Roth, assistant professor of administration of justice, earned national recognition recently for the quality of their work in their respective disciplines.

Land was selected as a Fellow Member by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). The honor was bestowed for his outstanding contributions to the society. He will be recognized by his peers in June at the society’s annual conference in New Orleans. Founded in 1893, ASEE is a nonprofit organization of individuals and institutions committed to furthering education in engineering and engineering technology. The organization promotes excellence in instruction, research and public service, and fosters technological education.

Roth garnered the SAGE Junior Faculty Professional Development Teaching Award in March at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) meetings in Denver. He was selected in recognition of his significant promise as a teacher. The accolade is reserved for young educators who are untenured and have taught full time for less than five years. Roth presented a paper, “Juvenile Burglary and Routine Activities Theory: A City-level Analysis,” at the meeting. An international association established in 1963, ACJS fosters professional and scholarly activities within the field of criminal justice. The group advocates criminal justice education, research, and policy analysis for both educators and practitioners.

Ron Land
Awards from ASEE are becoming commonplace for Land, who retires at the end of June after 27 years at the campus. A year ago, he received the James H. McGraw Award for outstanding contributions to the Engineering Technology Division of ASEE. The Washington Township resident served as program coordinator for Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology (EMET) for 20 years until his retirement. He began teaching at the campus in 1989 and taught courses in electrical machinery, basic electrical circuits, instrumentation, linear electronics, and senior design. Prior to joining the campus faculty, he was co-founder and technical manager of an engineering consulting firm, which primarily served the electric power utility industry. His primary industrial expertise is in power plant thermal-hydraulic performance modeling, power plant safety analysis, probabilistic risk assessment, and economic value-impact analysis of power plant modifications.

Land received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology.

EMET program
The four-year EMET degree program emphasizes all fields of engineering technology related to typical, highly-automated manufacturing, production, or assembly plant processes. EMET graduates learn the skills necessary to apply current methods and technology to the development, design, operation, and management of automated electro-mechanical systems. Karl Harris, instructor in engineering, will take over as EMET program coordinator as Land retires. For information on the EMET program, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/Degrees/39807.htm

Jeff Roth
Roth holds a doctorate in criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he served as a consultant in the Applied Research lab and an assistant adviser in the Criminology Advising Center. His dissertation evaluated the factors that influence burglars’ target choices using surveys and home photographs.

He earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Tiffin University in Ohio and a bachelor’s degree in government from Patrick Henry College in Virginia. Prior to graduate school, the Freeport resident worked for several years with a consulting firm in Maryland where he assisted with reviews of counterintelligence programs in FBI field offices.

Roth teaches upper- and lower-level courses at the New Kensington campus. His research interests include research methods, criminological theory, crime prevention, criminal justice systems, violence and victimology, and comparative criminology.

Administration of Justice program
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. The four-year degree is designed for students interested in entry-level employment, academic or research positions, or graduate education. The program is a collaborative effort of three Penn State campuses in western Pennsylvania: New Kensington, Beaver and Shenango. All classes needed for the degree are offered at each campus, although students in the program take some courses via a combination of web-based and face-to-face technology in addition to the traditional classroom setting. For more about the Administration of Justice program, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/Degrees/43065.htm

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