New members inducted into campus Arch Society

 

 

James and Lynne Ramage; Karl and Jennifer Salatka
Arlene Hall; Raymond Mastre

Four families and individuals were inducted March 14 into Penn State New Kensington’s Arch Recognition Society at the annual dinner at Oakmont Country Club.

James and Lynne Ramage, Karl and Jennifer Salatka, Arlene Hall and Raymond Mastre join a roster of 27 alumni and friends who were honored during the past four years. The donor society's membership is reserved for campus supporters who have contributed a total of $25,000 to the campus.

The Arch Society was founded in 2010 and named for the arch that stands at the front entrance to the campus. Designed by Henry Noestheden and donated by Alcoa, the aluminum arch has been a campus landmark since 1976. A symbol of the history and spirit of the campus, the arch is a significant tribute to the campus’ achievements. It was the inspiration for the creation of the society that supports the needs and programs of Penn State New Kensington students.

"The arch sits at the top of a set of stairs and forms a portal to the campus," said Barb Arnold, who is a charter member of the society. "It leads new students upward to find their path, their adventure and their new frontier."

The honored guests received a print of a painting of the arch by Bud Gibbons, professor of visual arts at the campus. Membership in the Arch Society is open to alumni and friends of the campus. For more information, contact Donna Speer, director of development, at 724-334-6057 or dms46@psu.edu

For photos of the Arch Society dinner, visit http://psnk.smugmug.com/

For more about the Arch Society and other giving societies, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Giving/43601.htm

2014 Arch Society Inductees

Jim and Lynn Ramage
Local residents and longtime Penn State supporters, Jim and Lynn Ramage pledged $50,000 to create the Dr. James Ramage and Lynn Ramage Trustee Scholarship at Penn State New Kensington.

“I am thankful that I have the opportunity to help students realize their potential and benefit by the education provided by Penn State,” said Jim, an Air Force veteran. “I served my country and was fortunate to be able to take advantage of the Korean GI Bill and assistance from Penn State scholarships. This gives me an opportunity to pay back the University by helping deserving students achieve their degrees.”

Undergraduates and incoming freshmen at the New Kensington campus are eligible for the Ramage scholarship. As per the donor's wishes, first preference is given to students who enroll in the math course, Calculus with Analytic Geometry I, a required course for the science, technology, engineering and math majors. It is the Ramages’ desire to support students who are pursuing a degree in the STEM fields.

The Ramages' connection to the campus has spanned more than 20 years, beginning in the 1990s when Jim served on the campus Advisory Board. They have attended numerous events and have donated to other scholarships that benefit campus students. Their bonds to Penn State are even stronger.

Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and biological science from Penn State in 1963 and a veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1967. For 30 years, he owned and operated a veterinary practice, Valley Veterinary Hospital, in Lower Burrell. Lynn was the business manager, technician and surgical assistant at the business. Both are now retired. Two of their children also are Penn State alumni. The connection encompasses three generations as Lynn’s father, Dee Orcutt, was a graduate of Penn State’s School of Forest Resources.

In addition to supporting scholarships, the couple supports the Arboretum at Penn State, where trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes. The Arboretum’s marsh meadow was named after the husband and wife philanthropists.

Complementing their giving to the campus and University, the Ramages regularly give back to the community. The Ford City residents are Penn State Master Gardeners and support several horticultural societies. Trained by the Penn State Cooperative Extension, Master Gardeners are volunteer educators in their local communities. They advise individuals and groups on gardening topics that include plant selection, composting, soil improvement, pest control, vegetable and flower gardening, and pruning.

Lynn has served as president of the Kittanning Garden Club, and Jim is a member of the American Conifer Society. They developed a 37-acre garden on their Armstrong County property that boasts thousands of bulbs and hundreds of trees, an extensive hosta collection, and 14 varieties of oak.

Karl and Jennifer Salatka
Karl and Jennifer Salatka established the $50,000 Dr. Karl and Mrs. Jennifer Salatka Family Trustee Scholarship at Penn State New Kensington.

“We believe that higher education improves the individual, and this, in turn, improves his or her community and society in general,” said Jennifer, a retired registered nurse. “We have admiration for those less fortunate who wish to improve themselves through higher education.“

“It is a way to give back to the community,” said Karl, a retired general surgeon. “We also wanted to take full advantage of the University's matching fund program, which directs additional scholarship resources to our regional campus.”

The Trustee Matching Scholarship Program maximizes the impact of private giving while directing funds to students as quickly as possible, meeting the urgent need for scholarship support. For Trustee Scholarships created through the end of "For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students" on June 30, 2014, Penn State will provide an annual 10 percent match of the total pledge or gift. This level is an increase from the program’s original match of 5 percent, and it is available only for new endowments of $50,000 or more. The University match, which is approximately double the endowment’s annual spendable income, continues in perpetuity, multiplying the support available for students with financial need.

Undergraduates and incoming freshmen at the New Kensington campus are eligible for the Salatka Trustee Scholarship. Knowing the impact that higher education can have on a community, the donors want the scholarship to be given to New Kensington students whose ethnic, cultural and national backgrounds contribute to the diversity of the student body. The Salatkas' gift is the first to support diversity at the campus.

“Simply put, diversity broadens the base of educated individuals,” said Jennifer, a native of Johnstown, Pa. “We offer the opportunity and challenge to those who previously might not have been able to fulfill their full potential.”

Karl earned a medical degree and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from the University of Pittsburgh. Jennifer received her nursing degree from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. They reside in Lower Burrell.

Their connection to Penn State is through a niece who graduated from the University Park campus in 2010 and a nephew who currently attends University Park. Their connection to the New Kensington campus is their support of higher education in the Alle-Kiski Valley. The Salatkas encourage others in the community to invest in the region.

“We would hope that others who are financially able will learn of this great opportunity to aid in the further education of our youth and thereby strengthen our community and our nation,” Jennifer said.

Arlene Hall
Director emeritus of academic affairs at Penn State New Kensington, Arlene Hall pledged $10,000 to support student scholarships at the campus. The scholarship gift provides financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate students who demonstrate a need for funds to meet college expenses.

Hall spent 36 years at the campus as educator, coach and administrator before retiring in 2012. At the behest of Madlyn Hanes, vice president for commonwealth campuses, she came out of retirement in 2013 to become interim chancellor at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.

A native of Snowshoe, Pa., Hall earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master’s degree in physical education administration from Slippery Rock University. She holds a doctorate in health education from Penn State. Hall joined the New Kensington faculty in 1977 as instructor in kinesiology. In addition to her teaching duties, she coached a number of sports teams, leading the volleyball team to several championships. The Export, Pa., resident received tenure and was promoted to associate professor in 1997. She was named director of academic affairs four years later.

As director, Hall’s leadership experience included faculty development, curriculum and program planning, and strategic planning. Among her many accomplishments are forming a faculty committee for undergraduate research, introducing international programming on campus and mentoring countless faculty and staff.

She was recognized with a Faculty Achievement Award by the College of Health and Human Development and was twice-honored as women’s volleyball coach of the year by both the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference and the Commonwealth Campus Athletic Conference.

Ray Mastre
A 2004 Penn State New Kensington alumnus, Ray Mastre established the $50,000 “Raymond Mastre Professional Advancement Trustee Scholarship” at the campus.

The impetus behind the endowment was Mastre’s sense of “paying it forward.” He was a first generation student whose family was unable to fund his college education. While caddying during the summer at Oakmont Country Club, he applied for a scholarship from the Druckenmiller Foundation, a private nonprofit organization, which supports medical research, education, and poverty-fighting initiatives. He earned the first of four annual scholarships in fall 2000. Over the course of his bachelor’s degree studies, he was awarded nearly $40,000 in scholarship money from the foundation, which enabled him to graduate with no debt. A chance meeting with Stanley Druckenmiller, former chair and president of Duquesne Capital, liberated Mastre’s latent philanthropic attributes.

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

Undergraduates at the New Kensington campus are eligible for the Mastre scholarship. First preference will be given to students who have completed a course, “Introduction to Computer Languages,” one of the core courses in the Information Sciences and Technology program. The class, mandatory for IST majors, is taken at the end of a student’s sophomore year.

“The IST 240 prerequisite is meant give preference to upperclassmen,” said Mastre, a member of the third campus class to earn a bachelor’s degree in information sciences and technology. “Many students receive financial aid in their first two years of college, but this tends to taper off in years three and four. It’s my hope that the scholarship will eventually provide full tuition for a junior or senior who will be able to focus learning instead of worrying about loans and debt.”

Mastre is a manager in the Advisory practice at PwC. Based in Manhattan, Mastre utilized PwC’s matching gift program to assist in establishing the endowment. PwC is a network of firms in 157 countries with more than 180,000 people committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax and advisory services. As part of the SAP Security/Governance Risk and Compliance group, Mastre is responsible for helping clients reduce the risk of fraud or financial misstatement. In addition to serving clients, he develops future talent for PwC through individual mentoring and recruiting on Penn State campuses.

“I love being able to share the lessons I learned with current students,” said Mastre, who worked at PwC in Zurich, Switzerland for three years. “I encourage IST students to aspire to work for one of the world’s top professional services firms. PwC is a highly regarded brand in the market and a great place to work.”

Since matriculating at New Kensington, Mastre has been actively involved with the campus. After serving six years on the Advisory Board, he was elected president in 2013, becoming the board’s youngest president and the first campus graduate to fill the position. The Advisory Board works with administration and faculty in implementing the mission of the campus.

Mastre already is leveraging his advisory board status to grow the scholarship. Not content with a $50,000 endowment, he is offering to match any gifts by fellow advisory board members to his scholarship or another campus scholarship. Seventy-five percent of the board has responded positively to the offer. The original endowment could rise to $80,000 in a relatively short period.

“Many of our Advisory Board members already give generously of their time and money to help the campus, and I wanted to provide a motivation to members who may have been looking for an initiative to support,” Mastre said. “When a board member donates to the new endowment, I double their donation. If they donate to another Penn State New Kensington fund, I match their donation with one to the new endowment. The benefit to the students will be great.”

Fundraising is an innate trait for Mastre. As president of the Student Government Association in 2003, he spearheaded the drive to raise $10,000 for the Lion Shrine on campus. As a member of the Advisory Board, he was instrumental in garnering support for the Pollock Fountain that honors the legacy of former chancellor Larry Pollock. As board president, he is restructuring the committees to focus on creating student-centered initiatives, building the alumni revenue base and fostering relationships with local businesses.

ARCH SOCIETY

Charter Members 2010
THE BOOTH FAMILY
RICHARD P. SIMMONS
JIM AND CARMEN MOORE
THE STEIN FAMILY
JOSEPH AND BONNIE DEFILIPPI
THE HAUPIN FAMILY
FLOYD R. GANASSI
ROGER AND BARBARA CLAYPOOLE
SARAH G. YEAMANS
ROBERT L. MAYER JR.
JIM AND EILEEN KOPELMAN
BILL AND CLAUDIA HARBAUGH
JOE AND EVELYN KREPLEY
DR. ALLEN S. AND JUDITH RUSSELL
REGINA QUARATRO MAGUIRE
DR. BARBARA J. ARNOLD
ROBERT AND IRENE BOZZONE
MARDELLE AND PATRICK KOPNICKY
STANLEY AND LOIS JACOBS
BERNIE AND GERRY GUSS
HAZEL L. HUG
HERMAN ISRAEL
ELISABETH S. BLISSELL

2011
HUGH G. MCRANDAL JR

2012
ROBERT AND LORRAINE ARBUCKLE
ROBERT “DOC” AND LINDA MUELLER
SUZETTE SHAFFER SCHULTZ

2014
DR. JAMES AND LYNNE RAMAGE
DR. KARL AND JENNIFER SALATKA
DR. ARLENE E. HALL
RAYMOND P. MASTRE