The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society at Penn State DuBois has inducted its new members for the Spring 2012 semester.  In all, 33 new members have joined the society this semester, bringing membership to nearly 200 strong.

In order to qualify for membership students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above, and be involved in campus or community service.

"You're now a part of a community that is dedicated to academic excellence and to helping others," Chancellor Anita McDonald told the inductees.  "This is an opportunity for you to practice leadership, and to exercise those skills and prepare for what you'll do when you leave the campus."    

Delta Mu Sigma reaches out to DuBois and the surrounding area by offering community service such as a "Dine Out" event at Luigi's Restaurant, with part of the proceeds benefiting scholarship funds.  Members have volunteered with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, and organize a haunted house on campus each Halloween and donate proceeds to local charities.  Tony Vallone, the society's faculty advisor and campus English professor noted the charitable work done by Delta Mu Sigma Members.  He said, "We are evolving as an organization.  We are a service organization, serving the campus and our community." 

Pictured are new inductees with the Delta Mu Sigma Board of Directors.  

Seated, left to right: Makenzie Ceprish, Samantha Smitchko, Angela Stahlman, Alice Gyamfi, Tony Vallone, faculty advisor; Ashley Hilyer, board member; Jaci Gordon, board member; Adam Snyder, board chairman; Andrew Piccolo, board co-chair; Rachel Fairman, board member; Chancellor Anita McDonald. 

Standing, left to right: Zach Thayer, Joshua Kunig, Evan Aravich, Jena Pierotti, Brandon Genevro, Kristen Knisley, Amanda Ickes, Lacey Gamble, Rebecca Horner, Kaitlyn Fenton, Danielle Cyran, Kelley Gentry, Kristen Benwich, Alice Ahn, Tammy Uong, April Sperfslage, Alexandra Blose, Lisa Tinker, P.J. Monella. 

The Penn State DuBois wrestling team is back in action this weekend with two big meets this Saturday and Sunday.  Coach Matt Park’s wrestlers will take on National Coaches Wrestling Association (NCWA) powerhouse, Apprentice School at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Bellefonte Area High School.  Apprentice School is located in Norfolk, Virginia, and is coached by PA native Bruce Shumaker.  Apprentice School has been one of the premier teams on the East Coast for many years in NCWA wrestling. 

On Sunday, the team will participate in the PSUAC/USCAA National Invitational tournament held at Rec Hall at University Park.  Wrestling begins at 11:00 a.m. and should conclude with finals starting at 3:30 p.m.  A total of 10 teams will participate in the tournament, with 7 teams affiliated with the PSUAC, along with Williamson Free Trade, Apprentice School, and Lindenwood-Belleville, of Illinois.

For more information about this event, or any Penn State DuBois athletic events, log onto www.psuduboisathletics.com or contact Ken Nellis, Penn State DuBois Athletic Coordinator, at (814) 375-4857 or email, kcn3@psu.edu

• Shaving cream                                  
• Toothbrushes                          
• Toothpaste
• Baby wipes                            
• Emery boards
• Denture cleaner                      
• Hand sanitizer
• Combs                                    
• Twin blade disposable razors
• Deodorant                  
• Assorted occasion cards
• Shower caps                           
• Sketch pads
• Powder                                               
• Large-print word search books
• Pens
• Brand Name Kleenex

Donation boxes labeled "VA Hospital Donations" will be placed around campus at Penn State DuBois. Those who wish to contribute may also contact LuAnn at 375-4748 or ldb4@psu.edu and arrangements can be made for a student to pick up donations from individuals. Items must be collected by Monday, February 20. 

Some one of a kind pieces of sports memorabilia, and many other unique items will be up for bid at the Fifth Annual Lion Wine and Cheese.  During live and silent auctions, bidders will have the opportunity to take home auction items that include a jersey autographed by Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, or another jersey autographed by Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin.  Tickets for club seats at a Pittsburgh Pirates game are up for grabs, as well as Penn State football tickets, a golf vacation package, weekend getaways, and a wide variety of other items that will appeal to people of all interests. Numerous businesses and individuals have donated prizes and auction items.

The event is planned for 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Friday, February 10, in the Multi-Purpose Building at Penn State DuBois.  Meteorologist Brian Thompson, of WTAJ-TV, will serve as emcee for the evening. 

Organized by the DuBois Educational Foundation Athletics Fundraising Committee, the event will also feature wine and cheese tasting, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and dessert.  Raffles and other games of chance will also be held. 

All proceeds will benefit intercollegiate athletic programs at Penn State DuBois. 

Admission tickets are $30 per person, which also includes a chance at the evening's door prize.  For additional information or to purchase tickets contact Julie Duffee at 375-4786 or jad62@psu.edu

Author and speaker Daryl Davis captivated the audience in Hiller Auditorium Wednesday evening.  His program, Klan-Destine Relationships, provides an overview of his book by the same name. It delves deep into the Ku Klux Klan, and provides a real and up-close look at racism in America.

An African-American male, Davis says he has, "come in closer contact with members of the Ku Klux Klan than most white non-members and certainly most blacks, short of being on the wrong end of a rope."  He also continues to do so, making him one of the most unique lecturers on the college speaking circuit today.

Over the last ten years, Davis has done such things as set up surprise meetings with Klan leaders unaware of his skin color, and attended KKK rallies, all on a quest to do nothing more than explore racism and gather information for his book.  Through it all, Davis eventually became the recipient of robes and hoods from Klan members who came to him to rescind their beliefs, and inadvertently stumbled upon a successful method of forming friendships between sworn enemies.

"I was really intrigued.  He taught me so much that I never knew before about how African Americans have been treated," said student Adam Snyder of Brockway who attended the program.  Though Snyder said the program revealed shocking cruelties about racism, he believes Davis provides a positive message in the end.  Snyder said, "He teaches all the reasons bigotry and racism shouldn't be part of anyone's life." 

Josh Snedden, a Penn State DuBois alumnus recently returned to campus to make a presentation on the work he is currently doing at Duquesne University. His visit was part of the Natural Resources Colloquium, hosted by the Earth Science program faculty. Snedden earned both an associate degree in Wildlife Technology, and a bachelor degree in Earth and Mineral Science at Penn State DuBois, in 2007 and 2010, respectively. He is now enrolled in a master's level program in Environmental Science and Management at Duquesne, where he is involved with helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the campus in Pittsburgh.   

"The practices we have put into place have lowered Duquesne's carbon footprint by 10,000 metric tons a year, so far," Snedden said. He presented some of the measures Duquesne has taken to reach those numbers. For example, he said all of the university's solid waste is sent to a landfill that practices methane recovery, where gas captured from the waste is used to produce electricity.  The electricity used to power the campus, however, comes from another green alternative.

"As of 2012, Duquesne will purchase almost all of its electricity from wind power," Snedden said, explaining that the electricity they've purchased is generated at a wind farm in Texas and put into a nation-wide grid.

Snedden also noted the Duquesne's plans to use things like "Green Roofs" on buildings, where soil is placed on rooftops, and grass and other vegetation is planted there.  This helps to insulate the building in a natural, environmentally friendly way.  Snedden is involved in studies for this and other such green initiatives to be taken in the future. 

With aspirations to build a career out of environmental stewardship, Snedden said he got his start at Penn State DuBois, and that his undergraduate education laid a firm foundation for his graduate work and his professional accomplishments ahead. He said, "I use what I learned at Penn State DuBois every day in the work that I do now." 

The Natural Resources Colloquium is the periodic gathering of the natural resources scientific community on campus. During each meeting students, faculty, and community members listen to a scientific presentation, and engage in discussion.

For those who haven't taken his classes, mathematics Instructor John Tolle is known around the Penn State DuBois Campus as "the guy with the beard".  The beard hangs well below his chest, and is matched by the long hair on his head, that is usually worn in a ponytail.        

Now, after years of letting it all grow out, Tolle has agreed to put all of his hair on the line in support of THON, the Penn State dance marathon that benefits pediatric cancer research. He has volunteered to participate in the annual THON Hair Auction at Penn State DuBois. Those who attend the auction can place bids for the opportunity to cut the hair of those who volunteer.  Knowing his beard and locks would could bring big money, Tolle offered them up, under the agreement that $1,000 must be raised for the hair cut event before he consents to going under the shears.

"If they meet their goal, they can do whatever they want to me, from the neck up.  It's going to be fun," Tolle said, explaining that once the $1,000 mark is reached, he's willing to let the amateur barbers do anything they please.

Tolle said the decision to allow his many years-worth of beard and hair to be removed was easy when he considered the cause, and the students who are the driving force behind it.  He said, "Penn State DuBois students are an inspiring group, committed to the kind of personal improvement and character development that makes our world a better place, one person at a time.  THON, in particular, is a cause near and dear to their hearts.  This year I thought I'd offer more than just a round of applause for all their hard work."

The DuBois THON Committee supports the efforts of THON that reach throughout all of Penn State.  Money raised by THON is donated, each year, to the Four Diamonds Fund, a leader in the support of childhood cancer research.  University-wide, THON raised over $9.5 million last year.  Penn State DuBois contributed a campus record of nearly $14,000 to that total. 

The Hair Auction to Benefit THON is scheduled for noon, on Friday, February 10, in the Student Union at Penn State DuBois.  All members of the public are welcome to join students at the event.

The Penn State DuBois Athletic Department will host their annual "White Out" Night on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. The men’s and women’s basketball teams will challenge their PSUAC rivals Penn State Beaver in the Multipurpose Building Gymnasium. The double header will start at 6:00 p.m. with the women’s rivalry, followed at 8:00 p.m. by the men’s contest.  The outcome of these games will go a long way in determining first place in the PSUAC standings for both the women’s and men’s divisions.

The "White Out" Shirts are sponsored by Fullington Bus Company. They will be available in the Student Union on Tuesday from 1:00-3:00 p.m.  Shirts will also be available prior to the games on Tuesday.

For more information on Penn State DuBois Athletics, visit www.psuduboisathletics.com

Joe Paterno, who reached legendary status in his 46 years as Penn State's head football coach, was honored during a public memorial and candlelight vigil at Penn State DuBois on Wednesday.  Paterno died Sunday of complications from lung cancer at the age of 85. 

Organized by the Penn State DuBois Student Government Association (SGA), the service in DuBois was held in addition to services and public memorials at University Park.  The campus community was compelled to hold their own memorial because of the personal impact Paterno made at Penn State DuBois. Most recently he helped to raise funds for the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society Trustee Scholarship, and personally contributed to that fund.  During the service, Chancellor Anita McDonald remembered when Paterno visited the campus for the Alumni Scholarship Dinner fundraising event just a few years ago.

"When we had him on campus in 2006, he challenged us; he said, 'reach your goal at this event, and I'll make a contribution to the fund'," McDonald recalled.  "Well, he did.  In fact, I think his check was here before we even had the rest of the money counted. He really showed his dedication to academics."    

SGA President Louise Whyte shared her feelings about Paterno's passing, saying, "I, like most of you, had never met JoePa. The closest I had ever been to him was watching him walk by me from the seventh row of bleachers in Beaver Stadium. But I stand here today feeling a great sadness and loss because I feel like I have lost a loved one. I feel like I have lost a family member, but in my mourning I realized I am not the only one that feels this way. On Sunday we all lost a family member."

Whyte continued, saying, "I think the fact that one man could impact so many thousands of people in such a profound way without them ever really knowing him speaks for itself and speaks for who JoePa was.  JoePa was Penn State. He taught us character, values and morals. He taught all of us to be better students, and he taught our football players to be better players, but most importantly, to be better men."

Campus Minister Kyle Gordon led the crowd in prayer, and offered his own thoughts about a man who was able to exhibit such humility, despite being regarded as a legend to so many.

"I don't know of any football coach as famous as JoePa who had their number and address still listed in the phonebook. I can't think of any other well-known football coach who still walked to home games," Gordon said.  "The amount of respect he got came from the character he had.  It will be very difficult to find a true successor; to find someone who would live so selflessly." 

Other students had the opportunity to share their own feelings; many of them demonstrating the reach of Paterno's influence, and how it transcended football.

"I'm not even a football fan," said student Chrissy Lockwood, recalling a conversation she had with her mother and the realization it brought to her about Paterno's impact.  She said, "If it weren't for him, taking a Penn State degree to an employer wouldn't mean as much as it does.  The exposure and reputation he brought to this university made it more special.  I'm truly grateful for him.  He has set a legacy that the rest of us, as the Penn State family, must live up to." 

The SGA also arranged for a TV and space in the campus Multipurpose Building for students to view the televised memorial for Paterno on Thursday at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park. 

The Paterno family has announced arrangements for Joe Paterno, who died Sunday, Jan. 22.

A public viewing will be held from 1 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on Penn State's University Park campus. A second public viewing is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 25, also at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, with a private family funeral service also on Wednesday.

A public memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State's University Park campus.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania or the Penn State THON (The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon).

For information on donating to THON, go to THON.org or call 800-392-THON (8466).

The Penn State DuBois Lady Lions will host a Pink Zone basketball game against Penn College at 1:00 p.m. on February 4, in the Multipurpose Building Gymnasium at Penn State DuBois.

The Pink Zone game is in collaboration with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Pink Zone game at University Park, which is set to take place on February 26, as the Lady Lions take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Bryce Jordon Center. The Pink Zone is a cancer awareness program that donates to the following:

·         Mount Nittany Medical Center

·         Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute

·         Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition

·         Kay Yow Cancer Fund

·         J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital

·         Lewistown Hospital

Pink Zone t-shirts will be on sale in the gym on Saturday, January 28, prior to the 1:00 p.m. game with Central Penn College. The shirts will also be available February 4, when the Lady Lions host Penn College.  Adult shirts are $15. And youth sizes are $10.

For more information about this event or any Penn State DuBois Athletic events, log onto www.psuduboisathletics.com  or contact Ken Nellis, Penn State DuBois Athletic Coordinator, by phone 814-375-4857 or email, kcn3@psu.edu

A mandatory state-wide food safety course designed to meet the food certification requirements for establishments in the food service industry will be offered by Penn State DuBois in partnership with Penn State Cooperative Extension.

The nationally recognized ServSafe program fulfills The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requirements for the Food Employee Certification Act in the categories of food service, retail, and bakery.

February classes will be held in Clearfield and DuBois.  All classes are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The Clearfield class will be held on Thursday, February 2, and Thursday, February 9, at the Hampton Inn, on Industrial Park Road.  DuBois classes will be held on February 13, and February 20, on campus at Penn State DuBois.   

To register, call toll-free 1-877-489-1398. For more information, contact Rick Kralj at 814-849-7361.

Penn State DuBois students joined students from five other Penn State campuses in Western Pennsylvania on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to volunteer with community service efforts.  Each year, the community of one of the campuses is chosen for the MLK Day of service, and students volunteer in that community.  This year, the students volunteered with community organizations in New Kensington, home of Penn State New Kensington.  Campuses who had students involved in the MLK Day of Service were, DuBois, New Kensington, Greater Allegheny, Shenango, Fayette, and Beaver.  

This year, students volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and at day care centers in the New Kensington area.  They helped to construct shelving and performed stocking and cleaning duties at the Habitat for Humanity store, and cleaned toys and play areas at day cares, making the space safer for the children there.

Penn State DuBois student Hillary Yarger said, "It was great to see Penn State students from several campuses come together to make a difference. It truly shows what Penn State University stands for."

Campus Student Life Assistant Tasha Gilkes and International Student Services Coordinator Tharren Thompson joined the students during the service day. 

"This was a really great day.  It was a great opportunity for the students to do something that matters," Thompson said. "They could have stayed at home in bed; they could have taken an extra day for their own studies, but they didn't.  They decided to go out and do some good in the world, and that is a great way to celebrate Dr. King's legacy." 

Pictured are:

In front, left to right: Student Life Assistant Tasha Gilkes, Rebecca Horner, Joey Schaeffer, and Louise Whyte.

In back, left to right: Chris Albert, Patrick Watkavitch, Hillary Yarger, Morgan Lingle, Holly Kiesling, Alice Gyamfi, and International Student Services Coordinator Tharren Thompson. 

The workshops are designed to help students understand the process of securing financial aid, which can often offset the cost of pursuing a higher education. 

"Getting started can sometimes be the hardest part," said Penn State DuBois Director of Enrollment Services Melissa Duttry.  "Our program is intended to help all people, attending any institution, comprehend the free application process." 

In all programs, information will be presented on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Other aid programs and important dates to remember will also be covered. 

Workshops are planned for: 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, January  24,  at Brookville Area High School; 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at Redbank Valley High School; 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 8, at Penn State DuBois (RSVP required for this night);  6:30 p.m.,  Thursday, February 9, at Clearfield Area High School. 

For more information or to RSVP call the Penn State DuBois Financial Aid Office at (814) 375-4760, or1-800-346-7627. 

A jersey autographed by Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is among the auction items that will be available during the Fifth Annual Lion Wine and Cheese at Penn State DuBois. The event is slated for 6:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10, in the Multi-Purpose Building on campus. 

Drafted by the Steelers in 1998, Ward has been with the team ever since.  He is a four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, two-time Super Bowl champion, and was named MVP of Super Bowl XL.  He attended the University of Georgia, where he played college football.

Organized by the DuBois Educational Foundation Athletics Fundraising Committee, the Fifth Annual Lion Wine and Cheese will feature wine and cheese tasting, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and dessert.  A live auction will be run by auctioneer Pat Errigo.  A silent auction, raffles, and other games of chance will also be held.  Numerous businesses and individuals in DuBois and the surrounding areas have donated prizes and auction items to the event.  Other auction items include Penn State football tickets, sports memorabilia, area golf packages, artwork, and more.  WTAJ-TV Meteorologist Brian Thompson will serve as emcee for the evening.

All proceeds will benefit intercollegiate athletic programs at Penn State DuBois. 

Admission tickets are $30 per person, which also includes a chance at the evening's door prize.  For additional information or to purchase tickets contact Julie Duffee at 375-4786 or jad62@psu.edu

Monday, January 16

Day of Service at New Kensington: The annual day of service at the New Kensington campus.

Tuesday, January 17

Do you have a Dream?: Dr. King had a dream, do you? Post your dreams on the board in the Union all week.

Wednesday January 18:

Lunch and Learn presents “Eyes on the Prize: No Easy Walk”

In celebration of MLK , there will be a screening of a documentary focused on the Civil Rights movement and the efforts of Dr. King to provide equality for all. Lunch will be provided and a discussion will follow the video.

Contact Tasha in Student Life to reserve a seat. The luncheon will be in the Quiet Lounge at 12:00 p.m. Students, Staff, and Faculty are welcome to attend.

Thursday, January 19

Trivia Thursday: Students can test their MLK knowledge and facts to win a prize. Students can pick up the quiz in the Union from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00p.m.

MLK Essay Contest:

Students have the opportunity to write an essay in celebration of Dr. King. The essays are due Feb 8 and a luncheon will be held Feb 22 in honor of the students.

Mark Freemer, of DuBois, has been named the new chair of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students at Penn State DuBois.  The fundraising campaign is aimed at keeping a Penn State education affordable by increasing scholarship opportunities for students, and enhancing the overall student experience.  Each campus has assembled its own committee, which is responsible for seeking funding and gifts that will benefit only that campus' students.  As campaign chair, Freemer will provide leadership and guidance to the rest of the committee as they work to secure the remaining $3 Million needed to reach the campus' campaign goal.

Freemer is a certified public accountant and a partner in the accounting firm, Clyde, Ferraro and Company in DuBois. He is also a Penn State DuBois alumnus.  He has served as a member of the board of the DuBois Educational Foundation, the advisory board which provides scholarships, research support, financial support, and facility project funding to Penn State DuBois.

"I had an interest in becoming involved in this campaign because of the positive impact Penn State, and the DuBois campus, has had on my own professional career," said Freemer. "It provided me an opportunity to get a great education from a nationally known university. By being able to attend Penn State DuBois, it also provided me the ability to get this education at a cost that my family and I could afford."

Freemer replaces former committee chair Dan Kohlhepp.  Kohlhepp resigned from the position when he relocated to the Washington D.C. area in order to accept a position as Academic Director of the Edward St. John Real Estate Program at Johns Hopkins University.  During Kohlhepp's tenure as chair, the committee raised close to $1 Million, including gifts that were used to establish several new scholarships to benefit Penn State DuBois students. 

Freemer graduated from Penn State with a bachelor's degree in Accounting in 1981.  He began his career in Pittsburgh, but was quickly offered a position in DuBois, which he came home to accept in 1982.  He then moved into his position at Clyde, Ferraro and Company, where he eventually became a partner and remains today.  

A community minded professional, Freemer has volunteered with numerous other organizations, including the DuBois Regional Medical Center Board of Directors, the DuBois Area United Way, DuBois Area Catholic Schools, and Goodwill Industries. 

"Mark has a reputation as an extremely caring and devoted individual, who proudly serves his community through many organizations," said Penn State DuBois Chancellor Anita McDonald.  "We are delighted, and honored to have him as the chair of our campaign committee."  

Recognizing the current economic challenges and need for student support, Freemer said choosing to join For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students was an easy decision.  He said, "I believe now is the time to support the educational system of this great university with gifts that will help continue to make the DuBois campus a good option for students wishing to obtain a Penn State degree."

For more information on the campaign and giving opportunities at Penn State DuBois, contact Director of Development Jean Wolf at 814-372-3038

The Fifth Annual Lion Wine and Cheese is slated for 6:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10, in the Multi-Purpose Building at Penn State DuBois.  Meteorologist Brian Thompson, of WTAJ-TV, will serve as emcee for the evening. 

Organized by the DuBois Educational Foundation Athletics Fundraising Committee, the event will feature wine and cheese tasting, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and dessert.  A live auction will be run by auctioneer Pat Errigo.  A silent auction, raffles, and other games of chance will also be held.  Numerous businesses and individuals in DuBois and the surrounding areas have donated prizes and auction items to the event.  Some of the items up for grabs include Penn State football tickets, sports memorabilia, area golf packages, artwork, and more. 

All proceeds will benefit intercollegiate athletic programs at Penn State DuBois. 

Admission tickets are $30 per person, which also includes a chance at the evening's door prize.  For additional information or to purchase tickets contact Julie Duffee at 375-4786 or jad62@psu.edu

Penn State DuBois, in conjunction with the Central Intermediate Unit #10 (CIU #10), will offer Part II of a free course in mathematics for adults who want to brush up on their basic skills.  Part II begins January 9, but there is still time to sign up by the second class, which will be held January 16.  Students do not have to have taken Part I of the course to enroll in Part II. Part I reviewed basic math operations, using whole numbers, fractions, decimals and signed numbers, the metric system, problem solving with formulas, and graphing. Part II reviews signed numbers, the evaluation of algebraic expressions, polynomials, equations and inequalities, factoring, graphing, and word problems.

Class is held Mondays, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., from January 9, through April 27, in Room 204 DEF Building, at Penn State DuBois.   

This refresher course is intended for any adult who wants to improve math skills to help further their education, or simply to advance their abilities for use in everyday life. For those who have considered enrolling, or reenrolling in college, the course will prepare them for math classes required in most degree programs.

"This is a great opportunity for people who want to update their math skills," said Adult Student and Veteran Services Coordinator Sueann Doran.   "What they learn here can really give them an edge if they choose to enroll in college; or they can simply come away from this with a better knowledge of math that they can apply to their day-to-day lives." Doran explained that there is no obligation to enroll in additional courses for those who take advantage of this free opportunity.

Students in the course will receive an assessment of their math skills at the beginning, and another assessment at the end to determine how much they learned.

The math improvement course is sponsored by CIU #10, one of 29 regional education delivery organizations in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's Intermediate Units are funded by the Department of Education and local school districts. They can provide special education services, student counseling services, staff continuing education opportunities, and program planning assistance to the public and non-public schools.

Space is limited for the math improvement class.  To register, or for more information, call the Clearfield Development Center for Adults at 814-765-1131, or the Penn State DuBois Office of Adult and Veteran's Services at 814-375-4716. 

The all-new Penn State DuBois Intercollegiate Athletics website is now live.  This new home on the web for all campus athletic programs provides the latest game results, schedules, rosters, player information, photos, and more. 

Visit the new site at http://www.psuduboisathletics.com

A complete list of Summer Session Courses at Penn State DuBois is now online.  Course offerings meet requirements for a variety of degree programs, and can give those who attend class over the summer some significant advantages.

Continuing your education over the summer months means you'll complete your degree faster than you would if you chose only to attend during the traditional fall and spring semesters, because you can fill the requirements for your degree program much more rapidly by completing classes year round. 

Summer Session classes are also priced more affordably than courses held through the rest of the year.  Additionally, class sizes are smaller during the summer, allowing for more individual, one-on-one time with faculty members.

For the complete list of Summer Session courses at Penn State DuBois, and registration information, click here.

"As an affiliate of the Marcellus Shale Education and Training Center, Penn State DuBois acquires expanded curriculum and instructional capability needed to train and educate existing employees of gas companies, and those who want to enter the natural gas industry," said assistant director of Continuing Education at Penn State DuBois, John Blasdell.  He explained that students who enroll for Marcellus Shale training programs at Penn State DuBois will have access to a wide range of resources offered at MSETC, which addresses a multitude of training and education needs of the natural gas industry.

"We feel these courses will complement the other successful industry programs offered at Penn State DuBois," said Larry Michael, assistant vice president for Workforce Development and Special Projects at Pennsylvania College of Technology. "Our Marcellus Shale Education & Training Center (MSETC) has trained in excess of 3,500 students over the past eighteen months and our MSETC Affiliate Program is expanding throughout the region to help meet the demand." 

That demand, Michael said, is the demand for trained workers to support the various occupations associated with the development of Pennsylvania’s natural gas resources.  According to MSETC studies, each well requires a workforce of approximately 420 individuals working across 150 different occupations.

Some of the initial programs available at Penn State DuBois through the MSETC include training for Onshore Rigging and Hoisting, SafeLandUSA, Hazard Recognition, Natural Gas Measurement, and Roustabout. "As the demand for natural gas training programs continues to grow across the Appalachian Basin, Penn College is excited about our opportunity to expand with that demand," Michael said. 

"The MSETC has a strong reputation throughout the Commonwealth in serving the workforce development needs of this quickly expanding industry," said Blasdell. "Penn State DuBois is proud to have this affiliation."

For more information, contact Blasdell at (814) 375-4822, or jfb12@email.psu.edu or visit www.msetc.org

Penn State DuBois head men’s basketball coach Dave Bennett recorded his 100th career win at the campus when his Penn State DuBois Nittany Lions defeated Penn State Lehigh Valley 88-42 on December 19. The win pushed DuBois to a season record of 7-3 and 5-1 in the PSUAC.  Coach Bennett is in his sixth season at the helm of the basketball program. He assisted one year prior to taking over the reins in October 2006.

In his first year as head coach, Bennett led the team to a 24-7 record and a second place finish in the USCAA National Basketball Championship.  He followed that up with another trip to the USCAA Championships in 2010, finishing in fourth place with a record of 22-8.

For the full story, and more information on Coach Bennett and athletic programs at Penn State DuBois, visit the all-new Penn State DuBois Athletics website at http://www.psuduboisathletics.com

The audience at Penn State DuBois' Fall Commencement Ceremony in Hiller Auditorium saw much more than pomp and circumstance this year, when one graduate decided to use the venue to propose to his long-time girlfriend. 

Graduate Ed Williams, of DuBois, led the audience on a rollercoaster of emotion throughout a speech he gave at commencement, as his girlfriend, and the couple's six year old daughter looked on from the front row.  He had just received his bachelor's degree in Letters, Arts, and Sciences, and was presented with the Academic Award for carrying the highest GPA among baccalaureate students.  He thanked his family, and paid homage to his sister, whose untimely death happened while she, herself, was a college student. 

Williams then spoke of what brought him to Penn State DuBois as a returning adult student; a fateful motorcycle accident, that happened nearly a year to the day after his daughter was born.   

"I should have been dead," Williams said.  "I was thrown 92 feet, and had severe head trauma.  I severed an artery in my head." 

After a full recover, Williams was ready to return to his new job as a car salesman.  However, since he had not yet been with the dealership through his probationary period before taking leave to heal, he was told his job was no longer there. 

"I figured it was time to do something different.  I went straight from the dealership, right to the admissions office at Penn State DuBois.  They told me to fill out an application and get it in ASAP," said Williams.  "If I would have kept working there, I wouldn't be here now," he said, noting that he plans to attend law school now that his undergraduate studies are complete.

The highlight, however, came at the end of Williams' speech.  Looking at his girlfriend, Toni Adams, in the front row with their daughter, Natalia, Williams popped the question.

"Toni, it's time to make it official," he said.  "Will you marry me?"

Though it was difficult to hear Adams' answer over the applause and cheers, the way in which she ran to Williams and threw her arms around him said, "yes". 

In making his mark with this public proposal, Williams seemed to take a cue from the commencement address he heard just minutes before.  Commencement speaker Jim Baker, a vice president and commercial lender for CNB Bank, asked the graduates how their autobiography might read if they chose to write one. 

"In 35 years, as you look back on your career and your life, and your own autobiography," Baker said.  Will it be a short story, a book, or a novel?  It's entirely up to you." 

The couple, who has not yet set a date, will continue to reside in DuBois with their daughter.  Adams is an event specialist with Cross Mark, a company that handles promotional campaigns for Wal-Mart.  Williams is looking forward to law school, and determining which school he'll attend. 

In all, 56 graduates earned their degrees from Penn State DuBois this fall.

Studies show that the Marcellus Shale Industry could bring the most significant economic impact to Central Pennsylvania that the region has seen for decades.  Officials at the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) say that means more than the development of new industry and businesses; it could also mean a boon for businesses already established in the area.  The challenge is helping those business owners and leaders find where they fit in the Marcellus Shale boom.  That's where a group of business students from Penn State DuBois came in.

For a class project, under Senior Instructor of Business Laurie Breakey, the students did a four month study of the oil and gas industry, focusing on opportunity for local businesses.  They compiled the results of their research in easy to use literature that will be utilized and distributed by the CCEDC.  Titled, "Join the Boom"; their informational pamphlet will serve as a guide to local business leaders.

"It's an outstanding resource for the community and the region," said CCEDC Executive Director Rob Swales.  "No one has brought this information together in any form, especially not a pamphlet like this." 

The students presented their work at the CCEDC annual luncheon at the Fort Worth Restaurant in DuBois.  They explained that opportunities for businesses and professionals in retail and service industries are plentiful as they relate to the oil and gas industry, as long as members of those industries are willing to adapt.

"Hardware stores, grocery stores, auto parts stores, gas stations, they all just need to adjust their inventory to fit the needs of the industry," said student Ryan Wehler.  He explained that the oil and gas industry has specific needs that may differ from the needs of the existing population, and keeping the shelves well stocked with the things gas company workers will need is a key to success. 

The students also shared tips on advertising and targeting companies within the industry. They even mentioned that providing stickers that workers would place on their hardhats can be a savvy marketing tool that would get their name on the jobsites.

Overall, the research the students conducted shows that many business leaders, who thought they didn't have a place in the Marcellus Shale industry, might just have a niche after all. 

"We've tried to show them that their products or services are worthy of selling to the Marcellus industry," said student Cori Bus.  "We want to give them that confidence and that insight." 

For the students, each of them aspiring business leaders, the project and presentation also gave them a look into what they might be doing in the future.  As Breakey said, "I like doing service learning like this.  It shows the students real-world scenarios at the same time that it helps the people we work with understand that the campus is a resource; that we're always available to help." 

"It's a great opportunity," Bus said of presenting her work to the local business community.  "I would like to be one of these people sitting here some day in my career path.  So, while it was a little intimidating, it was exciting at the same time." 

To view literature compiled by the students, visit www.clearlyahead.com

A group of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) students at Penn State DuBois have helped a private school revamp a database that is used to manage one of the school's main fundraiser, ensuring funds will be available to continue educating children there.

As a class project, the students reached out to St. John the Evangelist Catholic School in Bellefonte.  The school was in need of an updated computer system to keep track of their Scrip program.  The program provides gift certificates that can be purchased at the school and redeemed at many retail outlets and businesses.  St. John then receives a portion of the proceeds.   

"This is really important because it's their main fundraiser," said Jessica Noland, a Penn State DuBois IST major who worked on the project.  "This new system will help them to take care of this program more efficiently." 

In a presentation, Noland explained that staff members at St. John had been using an antiquated system that was not only less user friendly than the new system, but also lacked an archive, so information could not automatically be retained from year to year. This left staff members with the responsibility of recording the information manually. 

"They'll gain efficiency, and have less human error coming into play," Noland said.  "This new database provides data storage, archiving, and solved some issues they had with printing." 

The students will also continue to maintain the system for St. John's, and return there to trouble shoot it should any issues arise. 

Jason Long, instructor and program leader for IST at Penn State DuBois, said projects like this give his students a first-hand look at what it will be like to work in their field.  He said, "They go out and find a local organization with a real problem, and they find a solution for them.  It's not just an academic project.  It's a real-world project that also helps them develop the professional skills they'll need to work with clients."

Long said such projects have been undertaken by his students at numerous businesses and organizations including restaurants, schools, and charitable organizations; each of them providing learning experience and networking opportunities for the students.  He said, "It has actually led to full-time positions for students who have had the opportunity to show employers what they can do through a hands-on project." 

The team will take on Washington and Jefferson College at home beginning at 7:00 p.m. on January 20, in a match originally scheduled for November 30.  The DuBois wrestlers will host Penn State New Kensington at 7:00 p.m. on January 24, in a match rescheduled from November 19.  An additional home match against Penn State Monte Alto has also been added to the schedule.  That match is set for 7:00 p.m. on February 8. 

Breakfast with Santa at Penn State DuBois raised just over $1400 this year, the 17^th year for the event.  All proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which helps to make wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses. 

For a cost of $4.00 per person, children had the chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and, of course, sit on Santa’s knee and tell him what they want for Christmas.  Kids also had the opportunity to play games and win prizes, and have their face painted.

Breakfast with Santa is organized each year by the Student Government Association (SGA) at Penn State DuBois.

"You'll have plenty of opportunity in a field that is going to thrive here in our area for the next 30 years or more," said Clearfield Outreach Coordinator Jeannine Hanes.  She said graduates of the Earth Science program can go on to be geologists, soil scientists, or seismologists, or pursue any number of other careers related to the study of the earth. She said people in these fields are in high demand in the Marcellus Shale drilling industry.    

Hanes said the courses have been made available in Clearfield, in addition to DuBois, as a convenience for students across the area.  Courses are also offered during the evening, and online for people who have to work during the day, but want to expand their career opportunities locally.

"If you want to get a job in the natural gas industry, this is a great opportunity to get your education close to home and enter the local workforce," Hanes said of the Earth Science program. 

Registration is still open for Spring Semester classes.  For more information, contact Hanes at 814-375-4836, or jhanes@psu.edu

Students have options for courses that can be applied to several certificates and degrees.  ACCTG 211 is offered for business students and those interested in learning about accounting.  It is also a required course in the 10 credit Accounting, Business, and Computer Skills for Professionals Certificate.  ACCTG 211 will be taught by Heidi Thomas on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 – 6:40 pm.  Other business courses include LER 201 Employment Law, ECON 102 Microeconomic Analysis, ENGL 202D Business Writing and MKTG 301 Principles of Marketing. 

MATH 022 College Algebra II is being offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays for students who have completed the associate degree in business administration and would like to complete the bachelor’s degree in business.  

Individuals who are interested in engineering, drafting and design can register for EDSGN 100 Introduction to Engineering Design that will run on Tuesdays and Thursday from 5:45 – 9:00 pm.  This hands-on course will be taught by Doug Miller from University Park.  It can be applied to the seven credit Spatial Analysis and Engineering Design Principles Certificate that is being offered in St. Marys.  It is also applicable to the Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology and the bachelor’s degree in General Engineering- Applied Materials Track.  

Those who want to learn about family can enroll in HD FS 315Y Family Development on Mondays 5:30 – 6:45 pm.  This course will be taught as a blended course by Dr. Laura Kuterbach; it will include on-line instruction in addition to having traditional classroom sessions. 

General Education courses offered include BI SC 004 Human Body, CAS 100 Effective Speech, ENGL 050 Creative Writing and PSYCH 243 Well Being and Positive Psychology. 

For more information about certificates, degrees and the spring semester courses in St. Marys, contact Mike Beimel, Outreach Coordinator, at (814) 834-3593, or e-mail StMarysCE@psu.edu , or stop by the Community Education Council in the Marienstadt Center, 4 Erie Avenue, Suite 200, St. Marys. 

Penn State DuBois students studying statistics now regularly have the chance to see their lessons applied to the real world in one of their local industries.  Assistant Professor of Economics Evelyn Wamboye has partnered with Atlas Pressed Metals, of DuBois, to show students how statistics are used in the Powder Metal industry.  It's a practical method for teaching students how their lessons can be applied outside of the classroom. 

"The focus of this class is to teach students the relevance and importance of statistics in everyday life, especially its critical significance to business enterprise, and government, as well as nonprofit organizations," said Wamboye. 

At Atlas, the students tour the facility, and get a first-hand look at how the business operates. The company produces powder metal components used in the automotive, lawn and garden, appliance, and other such industries.   David Laubacker, a quality technician with Atlas, said mathematics is used throughout their production process, but statistics really come into play during their quality assurance procedures. In the company's Quality Lab, technicians statistically track the strength and quality of their products by running a battery of tests on them, and recording fail rates, or the resistance to failure, that the parts exhibit.

"Maybe the biggest lesson that students can learn from us is how valuable statistics are when it comes to providing a customer with a sense of confidence that you are able to process and deliver a quality product," Laubacker said. 

Wamboye agreed that the local company provides valuable lessons for her students.  She said, "Taking students to Atlas is a way to give them hands-on experience of how statistics is applied in a business setting.  Showing them the relevance of statistics at a neighborhood company gives them a powerful understanding as to why they should take statistics seriously, as it permeates every function and decision that affects our lives."

Wamboye went on to explain more benefits of partnering with a local company, rather than one from out of the area.  "I want them to see that their knowledge can be useful to our local economy, to our local businesses," she said. For example, nontraditional students who have returned to college after having worked at our local powdered metal companies realize that they can go back to the company with new skills and increased earning potentials."

Laubacker said having the students in the shop can help Atlas employees, as well, since the students come to them with fresh knowledge and the latest training. 

"This brings out the similarities and differences, between the classroom and textbook theory, to the working application and real world use of statistics," Laubacker said.

Christy Fulton, a professional working in the booming natural gas industry surrounding the Marcellus Shale formation recently spoke at Penn State DuBois, sharing insight into the industry and offering career advice to students hoping to work in one of the many related fields.

Fulton, of Clearfield, is a land services representative for Little Pine Resources (LPR), a Texas-based company who has established an office in Clearfield.  She graduated from Penn State DuBois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Science in 2008, and has put her education to work in pre-drilling operations for LPR.  Specifically, she handles land acquisition duties, securing the right for her company to drill and extract natural gas from properties in the area.  She explained that her job, like many related to Marcellus Shale, is one that most people outside of the industry are not aware of.  She told her audience that when searching for jobs, there are many opportunities related to Marcellus Shale that don't directly involve drilling.

"I want them to be informed about the process that takes place and the jobs that are out there in high demand right now," Fulton said.  She explained that jobseekers with degrees in fields such as engineering, environmental sciences, and wildlife technology can all find opportunity in the gas industry.  She said lawyers, and those with expertise in real estate, sales, marketing, and research and analysis are also in high demand.  "It involves so many different disciplines, it's much more than just drilling," said Fulton. 

Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Geoscience Ben Turner teaches in Penn State DuBois' Earth Science program.  He said Fulton's presentation provided valuable information for his students.  "Many of our students in the Earth Science program are going into careers involving natural gas," Turner said.  "They are particularly well fitted to these positions given their education, and this presentation helped to show them where to look to find the right positions." 

Fulton's presentation was part of the campus Natural Resources Colloquium.  The Colloquium is the periodic gathering of the natural resources scientific community on campus. During each meeting students, faculty, and community members listen to a scientific presentation, and engage in discussion.

Members of the Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society at Penn State DuBois recently made donations to two different causes.  Members presented checks to the campus THON Committee, who supports the university-wide Penn State dance marathon, benefiting children with cancer, and to the Paint and Play Preschool, of DuBois.  Each organization received a check for $1,000.

Delta Mu raised the total of $2,000 through proceeds from a haunted house the society organized and ran over Halloween Weekend in the Smeal Building at Penn State DuBois. The honor society organizes the event each year as a fundraiser for THON, and other area organizations.

In the first photos, from left, Delta Mu President Adam Snyder and Vice President Ed Williams present a check for $1,000 to Shawna Heffner and Jasmine Confer of Paint and Play Preschool.  Rylan Heffner and Hunter Confer joined their mothers for the presentation.  Both children are also students at the school.

In the second photo, from left, Steve Terwilliger and Morgan Lingle of the campus THON Committee accept a $1,000 check from Delta Mu President Adam Snyder and Vice President Ed Williams.

The overall seven credit program provides innovative instruction about the application of new design methods and processes in a variety of engineering disciplines. The certificate emphasizes the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to create concise drawings, and to develop an effective design system for specific products, systems, components, or services.  Additional courses for this program will be offered in St. Marys during future semesters. 

Certificate programs are a sequence of credit classes that provide students with core competencies in a specific area.

To register for this course, or for more information about other certificates available at Penn State DuBois and Penn State DuBois in St. Marys and Clearfield, visit www.ds.psu.edu/ce/certificates or contact Mike Beimel, Outreach Coordinator in St. Marys at 834-3593. or mjb75@psu.edu    

The Penn State DuBois women’s basketball team, coming off a (14-12) season, enters the 2011-12 schedule with high expectations.  Several returning key players from last year's successful run are joined by an influx of a few talented freshmen to fuel these expectations.

Leading the charge of the Lady Lions this year will be senior guard, Tessa Vargas (Sheffield / Sheffield, PA).  At the guard spot, the team’s leading scorer from last year will be joined by senior Beth Pernesky (DuBois CC / Falls Creek, PA), sophomore Lauren Topolski (Cameron County / Emporium, PA) as well as Kyley Mickle (Port Allegany / Port Allegany, PA).  Sophomore Lynnie Schirmer (Clarion-Limestone / Summerville, PA) and Freshman Karley Carnovale (Elk County / Kersey, PA) will be sharing time while directing the offense from the point guard position.

The frontcourt will boast the return of last year’s top rebounders, sophomores Kelsey Rini (East Forest / Marianville, PA) and Patience McCullough (Purchase Line / Cherry Tree, PA).  Joining them down low will be sophomore Karlee Cyphert (North Clarion / Leeper, PA) who led last year's team with over one hundred assists and PA All-State third team selection small forward, and Jenna Matzinger (Coudersport / Coudersport, PA).

Fifth year head coach Pat Lewis said he is happy with early season workouts.  On his outlook for the upcoming season, he states, "We had a very respectable showing in our scrimmage against Clarion University last week where we showed a strong ability to score points against a strong Division II program."  He adds, "We have advanced to the PSUAC three out of the past four seasons and would like to do so once again.  We believe that we have the strength and depth this year to advance deeper into the playoffs and hopefully secure a national bid in the USCAA."

The Lady Lions open their home schedule against Pitt-Titusville at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22.  

A grand opening for the new Office for Adult Student and Veteran Services (OASV) Resource Center at Penn State DuBois, in room 208 of the DEF Building, was held on November 10.  The ceremony featured speakers such as State Representative Matt Gabler, and campus alumni.  It also honored Chancellor Anita McDonald and her husband, Bob, who is a veteran himself, having served in the United States Army in Vietnam.  In a surprise announcement at the ceremony, Director of Continuing Education John Piccolo said that the center would now be known as the Anita and Bob McDonald Adult Student and Veterans Resource Center.

"We want to acknowledge the fact that room 208 was originally funded through a generous donation by Bob and Dr. Anita McDonald," said Piccolo, referring to a gift the McDonalds made while the DEF Building was under construction.  "So, when we were looking for the best room to use for our center, the choice was obvious.  First, because Bob McDonald is a Vietnam veteran; and then, as one looks at Anita’s career path, you quickly see that much of it was, and still is focused on serving adult learners." 

Chancellor McDonald was then presented with a hand-sketched portrait, done by local artist Marianne Fyda, of her and her husband, which will hang in the resource center.  She accepted the portrait on behalf of herself and her husband, who was not able to attend the ceremony.

"I am truly touched by this," Chancellor McDonald said.  "I am overwhelmed with surprise.  Thank you so very much.  If my husband were here, he would be extremely honored." 

Thanks to a grant from the Stackpole Hall Foundation of St. Marys, PA, the new center has been furnished and equipped with computers and resources specific to the needs of  adults and veteran students. Trained staff members are available to assist with career development activities including career exploration, job search skill development, and career placement information. Staff can also assist with other career-related activities such as internships.

Other services are offered to student veterans through the campus' partnerships with veteran services in the community. The partnerships with the Clearfield County Veteran's Affairs Office, DuBois Veterans’ Center, Veterans’ Employment Services at the PA CareerLink, and other organizations help to provide assistance that is not just relevant to education, but lifestyle and readjustment help as well. 

"I want to commend the leadership of Penn State DuBois for making this campus a true community resource," said Gabler.  "This center is another step in that mission."

Veterans of the armed forces were honored at the annual Penn State DuBois Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday.  Held in the Hiller Auditorium, the ceremony was organized by the campus Veterans Club. It opened with the Presentation of Colors by the DuBois Honor Guard, and featured guest speakers such as State Representative Matt Gabler, and the founding president of the campus Veterans Club, Scott Davis. 

Penn State DuBois Chancellor Anita McDonald provided welcoming remarks, saying, "We can often take so much for granted.  There are individuals in the armed services who have given so much of their time, or even given their lives, so that we can be here and be free." 

Gabler, who is also Captain and Commander of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of 424th Multifunctional Medical Battalion in the US Army Reserve, provided a history of Veterans Day. He explained how the holiday has its origins in Armistice Day, which marked the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany, bringing an end to World War I.  Gabler said, "Now, we sit aside this day to think about all of the men and women who served in our armed forces in any capacity." 

Davis, a Vietnam veteran, attended Penn State DuBois following his military service.  He, along with fellow veterans, founded the Penn State DuBois Veterans Club in 1975.  He spoke about the positive changes that have come about in society regarding veterans since he returned from Vietnam.  In that time, Davis remembered, veterans often were the target of hostility.  "The veterans of that era, returning to many college campuses, faced different circumstances than veterans do today," he said, noting that he was luckily never treated harshly.  Davis then praised the support today's veteran's receive.  "With this week's dedication of the center [Office for Adult Student and Veteran Service Resource Center at Penn State DuBois] I thought it would be good to remember this history," he said.  The resource center Davis spoke of was officially opened November 10, to provide services and resources specifically for adults and veteran students.

The Penn State DuBois Choir performed the National Anthem and Freedom Train, and Officer Lanny Prosper of the DuBois City Police Department sang God Bless the USA.  Greg Stanek, secretary of the Veterans Club, offered closing remarks. 

Players and coaches in the Penn State DuBois Men’s Basketball Program are looking forward to another exciting season.  The DuBois Nittany Lions will strive for a championship this season, after making it to the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) semi-finals the past four seasons.  Penn State DuBois has a mix of returning players and freshmen on the 2011-12 squad.

Team members are now polishing their skills in early season practices.  The point guard position will be manned by Derek Burdick (Coudersport / Coudersport, PA), a 5’10” senior.  Kai Ahmad (Stroudsburg / Stroudsburg, PA), a 5’10” freshman, is also competing at the point guard position along with Camden Nolan (Oswayo Valley / Shinglehouse, PA), a 5’7” freshman.  One of the wing positions will be occupied by 6’1” Senior, Jovan Brown (Sayre / Philadelphia, PA).  Shakeal Brown (Franklin / Franklin, PA), a 5’10” freshman, is pushing for early playing time at both guard positions.  The other wing position will be manned by versatile, 6’2” junior, Woody Mitchell (East Stroudsburg North / Bushkill, PA) or Isaiah Jordan (Franklin / Franklin, PA), a 6’2” freshman.  Tyler Bennett (Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, PA), a 6’0” freshman, and Derrick Williams (Franklin Learning Center / Philadelphia, PA), a 5’11” sophomore are also in the mix at the guard positions.  The two forward positions will be filled by 6’4” junior, Chris Dickison (Stroudsburg / Stroudsburg, PA), Will Welles (Simon Gratz / Philadelphia), a 6’6” junior, and John Hau (Coudersport / Coudersport, PA), a 6’3” junior.

Penn State DuBois Head Coach Dave Bennett expressed his excitement for the season, and his confidence in the team.  "I really enjoy the make-up of this team.  We have some talented, hard-working freshmen to go with our proven veteran players.  The key to our season will be building strong team chemistry and having everyone in the program committed to achieving our goals," Bennett said.

The Penn State DuBois Nittany Lions open the 2011-2012 season on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 with a home game against NCAA Division III, Washington and Jefferson. A 7:00 p.m. tipoff has been set.

"Each of us has created a one-credit course to be taken alongside the second semester of calculus, or at any time thereafter.  We have a lot of engineering students who can benefit from the deeper study of certain calculus methods," Tolle said. "These courses are optional, but one incentive is that you'll get prior exposure, or deeper exposure, to certain methods you'll have to learn anyway in your required courses."

Each course meets once a week for two hours.  During the first hour the students themselves orally present solutions to the problems assigned the previous week.  The grade is based solely on participation.  "The atmosphere is nice, too," said Tolle. "Rick and I are both there and the discussion is very open.  Having students present their solutions to the group improves their confidence and communication ability, an important career skill." 

Seven students signed up for the spring semester 2011 course.  The feedback from students was very positive.  Tolle explained, "I collected anonymous comments from students on index cards.  They all had wonderful things to say about how much they learned, how much fun it was, and how they would recommend the course to others."

Tolle's course dealt with numerical series, with an emphasis on what are called "p series".  Students learned how to explicitly evaluate these series when it is possible, and why it is sometimes impossible.  Brazier's course, to run in spring 2012, will explore partial fraction decomposition, a standard topic in second-semester calculus, but one which is not typically covered to such depth.  

For more information on courses at Penn State DuBois, contact (814) 375-4720, or duboisinfo@psu.edu

In an effort to answer the increased need for food items in the community around Thanksgiving, the Penn State DuBois winter athletic programs will hold a food drive at the home sporting events leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Anyone who attends the home sporting events is asked to bring a non-perishable food item to the game, and receive a discount on their admission.  Collection bins will be placed at the entrances of the Multipurpose Building, near the gymnasium.  Dates and home sporting events during the food drive are: November 15, men's basketball, 7:00 p.m.; November 16, wrestling, 7:00 p.m.; November 19, men's basketball, 2:00 p.m., and wrestling, 5:00 p.m.; November 22, women's basketball, 6:00 p.m., men's basketball, 8:00 p.m.

"We will work with the DuBois Ministry Food Pantry to collect as many food items as we can leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday break for students," said Athletic Coordinator Ken Nellis.  "We will give a dollar off game admission for each food item you bring to the games."

Nellis noted that regular admission for basketball is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for students; wrestling admission is $3.00 for adults, $1.00 for students.  All current Penn State students are admitted at no charge with ID.

The drive was organized by members of the Penn State DuBois Athletic Advisory Board, including student-athletes, faculty, staff, and community members, who hope to support members of the community who are in need.  

The DuBois Ministry Food Pantry also has a regular drop off location for donations at Mansell Stadium, near the DuBois Middle School.  Donations can also be made by mail to: DuBois Ministry Food Pantry PO Box 157 DuBois, PA 15801.  Or call 371-4750. 

Members of the Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society have announced that the haunted house held at Penn State DuBois this Halloween raised $2,000, which will benefit THON, and the Paint and Play Preschool of DuBois. THON, the Penn State Dance Marathon, benefits childhood cancer research.

"I am so grateful to be donating half to each of these great organizations," said Adam Snyder, chairman of Delta Mu Sigma.  "Both organizations benefit children who are either battling cancer, or attending preschool for an early education." 

The haunted house was held for three nights, October 28, 29, and 30, in the Smeal Building at Penn State DuBois. The honor society organizes the event each year as a fundraiser for THON, and other area organizations. Delta Mu Sigma also reaches out to DuBois and the surrounding area each year by offering community service such as a "Dine Out" event at Luigi's Restaurant, with part of the proceeds benefiting scholarship funds, and by volunteering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. 

Students in the Honors Physics Class at Clearfield Area High School toured the Engineering Lab and Information Science and Technology (IST) Lab at Penn State DuBois on Wednesday. 

In all, 18 students visited the labs, where they learned about the programs and courses that use the facilities.  Specifically, Penn State DuBois offers two and four year engineering degrees, as well as opportunities to complete a two year or four year degree in IST, all of which rely heavily on laboratory facilities.   

Campus faculty members offered demonstrations of equipment that Penn State DuBois students use in their classes, and explained how classroom lessons are applied in the labs.  Offering demonstrations were Assistant Professor of Engineering Craig Stringer, Assistant Professor of Engineering Daudi Waryoba, and IST Instructor Jason Long. 

Students in Spanish 1 and 2 courses at Penn State DuBois practiced an alternative to popular Halloween festivities by celebrating "Day of the Dead".  The celebration is observed in many Spanish speaking countries, and includes the creation of traditional artwork and displays.

"The Day of the Dead is a Hispanic celebration that takes place from October 31, through November 2, each year, and it is celebrated throughout Mexico, Central America and Latin America.  It's a celebration of those who have moved on," explained Spanish Professor Debbie Gill.  "It's important to show students that death is not such a negative event in other cultures, and is looked upon much differently."

One of the featured activities in the celebration is the creation of displays known as calacas.  As Gill explained, "Calacas are skeletal figurines that depict the afterlife of a person who has moved on. It features some of the things they liked, and stands as a celebration of their afterlife."

Students chose a variety of subjects to feature with their calacas, from their own family members, to historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln.  They were also permitted to create a general calaca that did not necessarily represent a real person.  

Gregg Johnson is the new Technology Transfer Coordinator at Penn State DuBois.  He replaces former coordinator Sally Moran. A successful entrepreneur, Johnson's background spans research and development, product and process development, and operations and technical marketing.  His recent accomplishments include the business analysis, planning and development for a small business development center, where he provided management assistance to a broad range of businesses.

Johnson was a co-founder of Hi-Mark Research, and previously held positions as an operations manager at Penngraph, Inc., and as a materials engineering manager with Toyo Tanso PA Graphite. He received his BS in Chemistry from Penn State University and a MBA from Clarion University.

The Penn State DuBois Office of Technology Transfer makes the resources of Penn State University available to those who need assistance developing a business idea. The office helps entrepreneurs connect with people across the university who have the knowledge, skills, and contacts to help them start a business, or expand an existing business.  Inventors and business owners can get assistance establishing a business plan, and gain access to research and laboratory facilities where they can develop inventions or ideas.  They can even get guidance on how to market their product or service once it is ready to be released to the public. 

In just over two years, the Office of Technology Transfer has engaged 60 companies, and 20 individual entrepreneurs, and has aided the founding of 10 new companies. 

Johnson is available to help individuals or businesses take the steps needed to advance an idea, tap Penn State research and development expertise, generate fresh ideas and solutions to real problems, and access business resources.  He is located in room 102B in the DEF Building, and can be reached at 814-375-4803 or gaj12@psu.edu

A special Halloween luncheon on campus celebrated the life and works of renowned American writer Edgar Allan Poe. 

Poe, who lived from 1809 to 1849, is best known for his mysterious and grim tales such as, The Raven, which made him an appropriate figure to recognize on Halloween.   

The menu for the luncheon was based upon a meal Poe once enjoyed at a New York boarding house while visiting publishers in the city.  Distinguished Professor of English Richard Kopley, an expert on Poe, said the meal made such an impression on Poe that he wrote about it in a letter to a friend, describing the fare in great detail.  It consisted of ham, veal, tea and cakes.

Readings of Poe's work were performed by Kopley, student Owen Samuels, and others.  Poems such as, The Bells, and Alone, were read, as well as excerpts from The Cask of Amontillado.

Campus music instructor Paul Fehrenbach led a sing-along of a 19^th century song entitled Mrs. Poe.  While it is not about Edgar Allan Poe's wife, Kopley explained that, according to a memoir, the wife of the famous writer did, in fact, play the song at least once, which delighted Poe.

Students in gifted programs at area school districts had the opportunity to experience college classes, and prepare for their future education at Penn State DuBois. Over 50 gifted students in grades six through twelve, from nine area schools participated in the campus' Gifted Workshop on October 26.  

The workshop focused on the arts, featuring sample classes in writing and artwork.  For the workshop, Penn State DuBois faculty members, Tony Vallone, English professor, and Mary Vollero, art instructor, designed classes that complimented one another, in order to show students some different ways that they can find artistic and academic motivation. 

Students were split into two groups; one group started with the writing portion, authoring poems, and the other began with an art lesson, where they produced a painting.  During the second session, the groups switched classes, and each student was required to produce work that was inspired by what they completed in their first session.  Half completed poems inspired by their paintings, while the other half painted pictures inspired by the poems they had written.

"Hopefully, they'll remember that good writing is vivid and real, and evokes feelings from a reader," said Vallone, explaining the underlying lessons in the workshop.  He said using writing and artwork together helps students learn visualization when taking on a project. 

"I think it makes perfect sense," said DuBois Area High School Junior Monica Sheffo.  "I know I visualize when I write, so using art together with writing is the logical next step." 

Both portions of the workshop were inspired by Asian forms of art.  Paintings were done in a far eastern style, while each poem was written as a haibun, a Japanese composition style. 

Following the workshops, the middle school and high school students had lunch with current Penn State DuBois students, where they had the chance to learn more about the college experience. 

Students on the Penn State DuBois THON Committee are working on a host of events that will ultimately raise money for childhood cancer research.  The events will take place at various times between now, and THON weekend, set for February 17-19 at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park. At that time, student dancers from across the university will attempt to stay on their feet for 46 hours in support of efforts to find a cure for childhood cancer.  

Some of the fundraisers the committee will participate in this year include canning drives, the THON Haircut, where volunteers let others cut their hair in exchange for a donation, and sales of fundraising coupons for area stores.  The THON Committee also organizes a spaghetti dinner each year, collecting proceeds for their cause.

"We're very proud of the dedication and professionalism with which our THON Committee carries out their fundraisers," said Penn State DuBois Chancellor Anita McDonald.  "Canning drives, for instance, are always graciously hosted by area businesses, who allow students to collect donations on their property.  Students never endanger themselves or others by canning along area roads, in heavy traffic.  It shows that they are always cautious of their actions, in spite of how passionate they are about their cause." 

Other campus clubs are passionate about THON, as well. The other clubs help by donating proceeds from their events to THON.  These include the Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society, which donates funds taken in from its haunted house at Halloween, and from its Dine Out event at Luigi's Restaurant, during which the owner of Luigi's donates a portion of the day's sales.

The DuBois THON Committee supports the efforts of THON that reach throughout all of Penn State.  Money raised by THON is donated, each year, to the Four Diamonds Fund, a leader in the support of childhood cancer research.  University-wide, THON raised over $9.5 million last year.  Penn State DuBois contributed a campus record of nearly $14,000 to that total.  This year, members of the DuBois committee are setting their sights even higher.

"We have a goal of reaching $15,000. We know it's a huge goal but, we are hungry to reach it for the kids and for Penn State DuBois," said THON committee co-chair Izzi Cogan. 

"I love THON because I want every Four Diamonds family to see their sick kids beat this evil thing called cancer," Cogan said.   "I truly believe we are making a difference, and it's amazing to think that a dozen or so kids in DuBois can be a part of something so wonderful, something that is saving lives."

For updates on where and when all Penn State DuBois THON related events are taking place, follow the group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/180923598650108/

The Penn State DuBois Student Life Office hosted an event to highlight the dangers of distracted driving on campus recently.  Representatives from the Grand Rapids, Michigan based company, LEG, brought their distracted driving simulator to campus.  Using a real car outfitted with simulation equipment, students drove using a computer program that replicated real driving on roadways filled with other cars, and lined with pedestrians, stop signs, and other realistic obstacles.

Students had the chance to give the simulator a try while sending a text at the same time.  Some were surprised by what they learned.

"Once I started texting, it made a huge difference," said student Dan Dettinburn of DuBois.  "As soon as I started to text, I crashed." 

Ashley Douglas, a technician from LEG who operated the simulator, said that is the reality that this exercise is meant to demonstrate.  That texting while driving is dangerous. 

"It's more dangerous than they expect, and routinely causes accidents and fatalities in real life," said Douglas.  In fact, nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million were injured, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

"We're trying to demonstrate that driving distracted really impairs your ability to operate a vehicle.  That operating a vehicle really does require full concentration," Douglas said.

"It's something that, unfortunately, a lot of people do, and I don't think anyone understands how much can happen and how important it is to focus on driving," said Penn State DuBois Student Life Coordinator Marly Doty.  "It's not just you you're putting at risk; it's everyone on the road." 

Doty said students trained as certified peer educators were also on hand at the event, asking students to sign a pledge to not text and drive.  Everyone who signed the pledge received a thumb band to show their support for safe driving. 

Jason Long, instructor in Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State and IST Program leader for the Penn State DuBois was named the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Statewide Faculty Member of the Year for 2011-2012.

The award is given to a faculty member who has consistently supported IST programs at his or her campus, has been a champion for the college, and has made a difference in the community. The award was presented at the college’s statewide faculty retreat, held on October 14, at the Nittany Lion Inn.

"I cannot say enough about Jason.  Not only is he a powerful force for IST at DuBois, but he is also a most valued colleague," said Gerry Santoro, a founding associate professor of IST, and the director of IST Commonwealth Academic Affairs at Penn State.  "Jason is a very valuable member of the IST faculty, and I think this award is very much deserved," Santoro continued. 

Hired in 2001, Long has received multiple awards for his service at Penn State DuBois.  These awards include Tech Prep Educator of the Year from the North Central Pennsylvania Tech Prep Consortium in 2006, Penn State DuBois’ Penn Stater of the Quarter in the Spring of 2006, and the DuBois Education Foundation Educator of the Year in 2010.  Long has also been recognized by DELL for his innovative approach to teaching IST, using DELL’s servers.

Long has also served on the IST Undergraduate Advising Committee, the 75^th Anniversary Committee, Teaching, Learning and Technology Advisory Committee, the campus’ University Hearing Board, and other committees. 

Long is the founder of the Video Game Day events on campus.  These events are held each semester, and bring Penn State students, high school students, and other members of the community together in a fun, safe environment to play videogames.  Long also uses the events as an educational tool, with his students setting up the computer networks used during Videogame Day. 

Outside Penn State, Long volunteers his time to a local Catholic elementary school by serving as the IT director. He also coaches soccer and baseball for local youth leagues.

Three Penn State DuBois faculty members have been recognized for 25 years of service at Penn State DuBois.  Professor of Physics Brian Weiner, Assistant Professor of Education Pam Hufnagel, and Associate Professor of Communications Mary Mino have all reached the milestone this year.

Weiner came to DuBois in July of 1986.  Before that, he was a member of the Quantum Theory Group at the University of Florida, and part of the Quantum Chemistry Group at Uppsala University, in Sweden. He began his career in the Department of Mathematics at Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Weiner received his Ph.D. at Leicester University, England, in 1970.

Weiner's central research focus is on the study of the philosophic and mathematical foundations of Quantum Mechanics and its applications to small and large chemical systems.  He has published more than 75 papers in international scientific journals. 

Hufnagel started teaching at Penn State Shenango, then moved to Penn State DuBois.  She has taught courses in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS), Educational Psychology, Educational Theory and Policy, Curriculum and Instruction, and Psychology.  Hufnagel serves on the University Faculty Senate.  She also helped to develop a bachelor’s degree program in HDFS that is now offered at all Penn State campuses. 

Prior to teaching at Penn State, Hufnagel taught fifth and sixth grade in Delaware.  She then enrolled in the University of Delaware, and earned a M.S. in Human Growth and Development and a Ph.D. in Cognition.

Mino teaches Communication Arts and Sciences, the basic public speaking course, as well as courses focused on small group communication, and on gender communication. Mino has also taught honors courses in public speaking, small group communication, and oral interpretation of literature.

Mino designed an undergraduate course for Penn State, "Personal and Interpersonal Skills," that she has taught for HDFS both at Penn State DuBois and at University Park since 1989. For over 20 years, she has been certified in Relationship Enhancement (RE) and a Relationship Enhancement Program Leader, and is listed in the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement’s Directory. She is an active member of the Pennsylvania Communication Association, the Speech Communication Association of Puerto Rico, the Eastern Communication Association, and the National Communication Association. Her publications and research interests focus primarily on communication education. Specifically, she is committed to improving oral communication skills training.

Mino received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Theatre Arts and her Master of Arts and Doctoral degrees in Speech Communication from Penn State.  She serves as an advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Communications.

Drivers, especially seniors, are encouraged to attend a CarFit clinic from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Friday, October 21, at the Best Western Plus Inn and Conference Center in DuBois to ensure they’re driving safely.

The clinic is sponsored by AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association Inc. in cooperation with PennDOT, Penn State DuBois, and the Central PA Highway Safety Network.

Drivers who attend the clinic will learn whether they “fit” their cars well, with trained installers and Penn State DuBois occupational therapy students on hand to ensure the seniors are traveling comfortably and safely. Students are trained as CarFit Technicians who can make recommendations for adjustments to mirrors, seats, steering wheels, seat belts, and more. 

This event is only to assist drivers in fitting their cars to them. Participants do not take part in a driving test.

The Central PA Highway Safety Network is supported by federal funds distributed through PennDOT.

Penn State DuBois alumnus Dale Simbeck has been awarded the Penn State Alumni Fellow Award. The Alumni Fellow Award is one of the most prestigious awards given by the Penn State Alumni Association. It is given to select alumni who, as leaders in their professional fields, are nominated by an academic college and accept an invitation from the president of the university to return to campus to share their expertise with students, faculty, and administrators. Penn State DuBois nominated Simbeck for the award.

Simbeck is an internationally known expert and consultant on global climate issues.  A 1969 graduate of Penn State, with a degree in chemical engineering, Simbeck is Vice President of Technology and a founding partner of SFA Pacific, Inc., located in Mountain View, California.  His expertise encompasses global climate change issues, CO2 mitigation, and clean energy technologies.

Simbeck's accomplishments include his involvement as a lead author on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on CO2 Capture and Storage.  This contributed to the IPCC being awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with Al Gore.  His clientele list includes major international energy companies; universities such as Princeton, Pitt, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Stanford; and the governments of Australia, China, Canada, European Union, Japan, Qatar, New Zealand and the United States.

Simbeck has made many national and international presentations on the technical and economic challenges of CO2 mitigation and clean energy technologies including keynote presentations at the Gasification Technology Conference, the International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Technologies and the International Fluidized Bed Combustion Conference.

Simbeck has authored numerous professional publications and technical reports.  He is a registered professional engineer in California, a Ph.D. advisor to Stanford University, advisor to the Canadian Clean Power Coalition, a member of the External Advisory Board to both the MIT Energy Lab and the energy industry CO2 Capture Project.  He is a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association.

Simbeck and his wife, Marilyn, live in Palo Alto, California.  While visiting Penn State, He also received the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society's Lifetime Achievement Award.

To kick off Disability Awareness Month in October, campus-wide events at Penn State DuBois this week have raised awareness of disabilities, and what can be done to make sure people of every ability level are understood and treated fairly.

Ben Fey, an organizational trainer with Goodwill Industries of North Central PA, gave a presentation in Hiller Auditorium on October 10. Fey talked about proper etiquette concerning mental disabilities such as Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Autism.  Fey said every person should be viewed as an individual and not simply identified by a label assigned to them because of a condition they may have. He said this philosophy should be practiced by everyone, including mental health professionals who treat and interact with people who face these challenges.  Fortunately, Fey explained, progressive attitudes about mental health are taking a firm hold today, more than ever.

"It's been a hard fight to get these issues recognized, because it's not a celebrity cause like other illnesses," he said.  "But, we've come a long way." 

The Disability Awareness Fair took place on October 11.  Area organizations and agencies were on hand to discuss services they provide to people with disabilities.  Assistive technology, such as wheelchairs, crutches, and more were available for students to try out.  Other simulations were also held, which gave students a first-hand experience at what people with some disabilities deal with on a daily basis.  In one exercise, students prepared an ice cream sundae with several topping while blindfolded, to simulate what the task would be like for someone who is blind. 

"It is important to raise disability awareness so that individuals with disabilities may be granted the understanding, human rights, justice, and fair treatment that they deserve and do not always receive today," said Diana Kreydt, Penn State DuBois disability services coordinator. "It is important for society to focus upon the abilities of those who have been diagnosed with a disability, rather than focusing on fears and negativity.  We have come a long way toward improving our treatment and understanding of people with disabilities, but we still have a long way to go."

Penn State DuBois students held a Coming Out Rally on October 10, to demonstrate their support for people of all lifestyles. 

Organized by Students, Allies, Friends, and Educators (SAFE) Club, the rally celebrated National Coming Out Day, which is a civil awareness day that promotes safe environments for people in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community.  Students carried signs throughout campus with positive messages about the LGBT community.

"When people show up and show their support for all of the students at Penn State DuBois, and not just the students who are similar to themselves, it demonstrates an acceptance of diversity on our campus, and with our young people," said SAFE Club President Staci Neal.  "It shows that Penn State DuBois is not only an outstanding facility for increasing one's intellect, but also for creating an accepting, equal, and diverse future for our community."

Nationally, Coming Out Day is recognized on October 11, this year.  On the 11^th, SAFE Club members also held sign-ups for an anti-bullying pledge. 

Children of all ages and their families are invited to participate in events celebrating Halloween at Penn State DuBois.

Safe Trick-or-Treat Night is planned from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28, in the Student Union.  Organized by the Student Life Office, members of student clubs will be on hand to pass out candy to young trick-or-treaters.  Children will also be able to take part in Halloween-themed games throughout the evening.  This event is free and open to everyone.   

A haunted house is planned for three evening on Halloween Weekend.  The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society will host the haunted house from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. on October 28, 29, and 30, in the Smeal Building.  Admission is $4.00 per person, with proceeds benefiting THON, the Penn State Dance Marathon, which raises money for childhood cancer research.

For information, contact the Student Life Office at 814-375-4764. 

DuBois – Following a major renovation project, the Swift Memorial Building at Penn State DuBois was officially rededicated on Friday, October 7.  The rededication ceremony came nearly 47 years to the day since the building was originally dedicated, on October 11, 1964.  The renovation that took place over the last year is the first time the building has been upgraded since it was first built.

Featured speakers at the ceremony were Penn State DuBois Chancellor Anita McDonald, 75^th District State Representative Matt Gabler, as well as Penn State University Executive Vice President and Provost Rodney Erickson.  President of Swift Kennedy Insurance and DuBois Educational Foundation board member, George Heigel, spoke about the history of the building, which was named for Patrick Swift, who was also the founder of Swift Kennedy.  Student Government Association President Louise Whyte also spoke, sharing the student's perspective.

"Today we celebrate the end of a year of construction, office relocations, and temporary facilities," Erickson said.  "But we also celebrate the beginning of a new era for the Swift Building. The building has become a state of the art facility for teaching and learning. Use it well, fill it with pride, and may it be here to serve the campus for many years to come."  

Some of the upgrades Erickson referred to that make the Swift Building State of the Art include cutting-edge laboratory facilities,  new smart classrooms, computer labs, and physics, chemistry, biology, and geoscience labs that have all been outfitted with the latest in technology, providing an up-to-date, quality educational facility for students. 

"It can't be expressed in words how much it means to our wellbeing and education," Whyte said of the renovations.  "It really has changed the way we learn.  Smart Boards, new computer labs; all students have open access to this new technology." 

In sharing the history of the building, Heigel said, "In 1962 they embarked on a huge capital campaign.  $600,000 was raised in the community.  That doesn't seem like a lot now, but obviously back then it was." 

Heigel went on to outline the life of the building's namesake. Patrick Swift, an Irish immigrant, moved to DuBois and founded the Swift-Kennedy Insurance Company in 1922.  Swift became a successful businessman and civic leader, and a strong supporter of the campus. He was instrumental in organizing the DuBois Educational Foundation, the advisory board to Penn State DuBois, and served as its first president. 

"When it was built, the DEF thought it was appropriate to name the building after Patrick Swift, who started the DEF in 1946 and helped it grow and support the campus," said Heigel.   

Gabler spoke about the important role the renovations will play in maintaining Penn State DuBois' role in the community.  He said, "This will allow the campus to stay ahead of the times, stay on the cutting edge of technology, and remain a valuable resource.  The resources here on this campus are just incredible." 

"The remodeling of the Swift Building enables our students to have a state of the art facility worthy of the Penn State name," McDonald told the crowd.  As in 1964, when community benefactors left their imprint on the lives of Penn State students, once again the community has contributed to what we do best at Penn State DuBois: make lives better.  Better through education provided in and out of the beautiful classrooms and laboratories you see here today."  She continued, "Penn State DuBois gives a wholehearted thank you to our university, our state, and our communities for their on-going support, as we continue to work towards our mission of providing access to higher education to the people of North Central Pennsylvania."

At the time the renovation began, in August of 2010, Penn State had set aside university dollars, and secured Capital Renewal Funds from the state to cover the $4.5 million dollar cost.  Increased efficiency of the building due to heating, air conditioning and other upgrades are expected to save the campus $15,000 to $20,000 a year in operating costs.  This accounts for approximately a 20% increase in the Swift Building's efficiency. 

DuBois – Three members of the Penn State DuBois community were honored for their outstanding achievements at the annual Alumni Awards Banquet on October 6, at the DuBois Country Club.  Dale Simbeck received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Christina Voorhees received the Outstanding Alumnus Award, and David Trinkley is the recipient of the Distinguished Ambassador Award. 

Dale Simbeck received the Lifetime Achievement Award.  A 1969 graduate of Penn State, with a degree in chemical engineering, Simbeck is an internationally known expert and consultant on global climate issues, whose work with CO2 mitigation, and clean energy technologies contributed to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) being awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with Al Gore.  He is currently a partner and vice president of technology of SFA Pacific Inc., which he co-founded in 1980.  SFA Pacific specializes in evaluation services in the oil refining, power generation, environmental control, petrochemical and renewable energy industries. The company has provided technical consulting services and conducted in-depth multi-client programs and reports addressing global and regional issues in fuels, chemicals, and electric power to individual companies; government entities including Australia, China, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Qatar, New Zealand and the United States; and universities including Princeton, Pitt, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Stanford.

Simbeck is an advisor to the Canadian Clean Power Coalition and a member of the External Advisory Board to both the MIT Energy Lab and the energy industry CO2 Capture Project.

A life member of the Penn State Alumni Association, he and his wife, Marilyn, live in Palo Alto, California.  

Presenting Simbeck's award was Penn State DuBois Chancellor Anita McDonald.  She said to Simbeck from the podium, "We may be giving you the lifetime achievement award, but I think there are many more achievements to come in your life.  What you've already accomplished has helped make a difference in our lives, and will make a difference in the lives of our children and grandchildren.  You are one of those Penn Staters that has really made their mark." 

Upon receiving his award, Simbeck said, "I am very humbled by this award.  I'm the type of person that really doesn't deserve this."  He went on to say that being aware of one's own faults is a key to accomplishment.   "I can be wrong.  I always admit when I'm wrong, and that is my biggest success.  If you can't admit to being wrong, then you're lying to yourself."  

Christina Voorhees received the Outstanding Alumnus Award.  She is a 1997 graduate of the Wildlife Technology program at Penn State DuBois, and a certified wildlife biologist.  Voorhees is the chief operating officer for Wildlife Specialists, LLC, a natural resource consulting company, based in Landisburg, Pennsylvania, that provides support to the energy development industry. In addition to the associate degree earned at Penn State DuBois, Voorhees also earned a bachelor degree in Wildlife Science from Virginia Tech, a masters in Forest Resources from Penn State, and a Ph.D in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management from Penn State.  She has provided campus Wildlife Technology students with internships, and has been a guest lecturer on campus multiple times.

Voorhees has worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Penn State, Devine, Tarbell & Associates, and CalPoly University. Her field experience includes bat mist netting, bird and herp surveys, small mammal trapping, elk and grouse radio-telemetry, and a variety of deer management projects. In addition, Christina has 10 years of experience in human dimensions research focusing on deer management, hunting, and recreational visitor use assessments.

Voorhees is an At-Large Board Member of the PA Chapter of the Wildlife Society, a member of Mammal Technical Committee of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey, and serves on the advisory board for the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology Program. 

Presenting the award to Voorhees was her former instructor in the Wildlife Technology Program, Joe Hummer. 

"It was obvious to those of us instructing Christina that she was going to have an outstanding career," Hummer said.  "She distinguished herself again and again, with so much enthusiasm and determination.  It is a real pleasure to present this award to Christina." 

"I feel extremely honored to get this award," said Voorhees.  "It's nice to know that people here are still thinking of me and following my career path." 

Voorhees noted that her husband, a forester with the State of Pennsylvania, is also a graduate of the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology Program, and that they met on campus in their first semester. She said, "This is where the beginning of the rest of our lives took place." 

The recipient of the Distinguished Ambassador Award is David Trinkley.  This award is given to an individual who may or may not be an alumnus, but has made outstanding contributions to the campus and its mission.  An enduring supporter of campus athletic programs, Trinkley founded the Penn State DuBois Athletic Fundraising Committee, and chaired the committee for five years.  He helped to launch such successful fundraising events as the Lion Wine and Cheese, and the Penn State DuBois Athletics Golf Benefit.  Trinkley is a member of the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) Board of Directors, an independent, non-profit corporation which supports the campus.  He is also a committee member of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students.

Trinkley is the president of Micron Research Corporation in Emporium, PA. A division of GrafTech International, Micron is one of six companies in the world that produces Fine Grain Graphite for the Medical, Aerospace, Castings, Defense, and Tool and Mold industries. Micron Research Corporation, under Trinkley's leadership, developed a break through process called “Bundled Technology”, which produces materials with improved wear, speed and surface finish. He and his wife, Mandy, live in Treasure Lake and are the proud parents of Mikalya and Ben. 

DEF President Jim Baker presented Trinkley with his award. He said, "Dave is a successful business man with a great family; he is extremely busy, but he still takes the time to give to Penn State DuBois.  With that, he has more than exceeded the criteria for this award."  Baker continued, "Dave's efforts have given us additional money for athletic programs, he has brought enthusiasm to the committees on which he serves, and his hard work has contributed greatly to the success of our campus." 

Remaining modest upon receiving his award, Trinkley said, "There are so many people who could be standing here tonight that are so deserving of this award.  So, I'm humbled and really thankful." 

Trinkley said he has been inspired by the people he has gotten to know during his involvement with Penn State DuBois and his fellow DEF board members.  "It's been a great experience surrounding myself with these people," he said.  "They've shown me being good is good, but sometimes it's not good enough.  You have to be great."

In closing, McDonald thanked everyone for coming, and reflected on the significance of the evening.  "Our work here is a labor of love; helping students reach their full potential.  We thank you for your comments.  Those words let us know that we must be doing a few things right." 

Students in the Penn State DuBois Business Society are 'walking the Silver Mile' for Goodwill Industries this fall.  Starting in October, the students will collect money through can drives during campus athletic events and at other locations on campus, as well as at area businesses.

The campaign, which aims to collect the majority of its donations in the form of loose change, has a goal of raising $15,840.  It's called the Silver Mile because that amount of money, in quarters, would stretch for one mile if laid out in a straight line. 

"Most people know us from our stores, but the stores really just support what we do," said President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of North Central PA, Ray Donati.  He explained that Goodwill receives no government or charitable funding, and is supported solely on sales from their retail stores, and the donations of used items made at those locations.

Donati then said that the organization's mission runs much deeper than retail operations.  He said Goodwill Industries' core mission is to help people with disabilities find jobs, and keep those jobs.  Job coaches reach out to employers, and jobseekers alike.  They learn the jobs that need to be filled, and then train jobseekers in how to do them. 

"We have job coaches who work to train people with disabilities to do jobs.  We help those people keep jobs.  Employers have their employees trained for free, and the workers remain productive people.  They're not collecting unemployment or welfare, but they're working and contributing."

Goodwill of North Central PA alone employs more than 400 people in its 13 county service area.  Employees work at Goodwill's 19 retail outlets, and at their facility in Falls Creek, Jefferson County, where donations are sorted and processed before they are placed up for sale at the stores, or online at www.shopgoodwill.com

Members of the Penn State DuBois Business Society recently toured Goodwill's Falls Creek facility, and were inspired to support the organization.

"After witnessing Goodwill's operation first hand, we believe in their mission and want to help Goodwill to continue their tradition of making a difference in people's lives and the communities they serve," said Business Society President Beau Hooftallen.  "We have chosen to utilize the Business Society's talents and core values to help put people to work."

Hooftallen said a date to wrap up the Silver Mile campaign has not been set.  He hopes to keep the fund drive going as long as it takes to reach the $15,840 goal. 

For more information, contact Beau Hooftallen at 570-220-0318, or bdh5094@psu.edu or contact Anne Ziegler at 814-594-6489 or amz5074@psu.edu

Students in English and Women's Studies courses at Penn State DuBois, taught by Senior Instructor Jackie Atkins, participated in a Banned Books Celebration on September 30, as part of the American Library Association's (ALA) Banned Books Week. 

According to the ALA, Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.  Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted banning of books across the United States.

To demonstrate the importance of the accessibility of all books, students selected and read passages from books that have been considered controversial, or even banned by some entities at some point in history.  They focused on works that had been written by influential female authors.     

"Our country doesn't ban books anymore," said Atkins.  "But, some organizations still do.  Schools, libraries, or groups may ban them if they find them inappropriate." 

Penn State DuBois Reference Librarian Carrie Bishop explained, "Libraries across the country are asked for books to be taken off the shelves every day because of a group's beliefs.  It doesn't usually happen because the librarians want to keep all books accessible, but the requests do come in." 

Students chose to read excerpts from a broad range of books written by women.  From Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), to J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter), the selections of literature spanned centuries, and covered a wide variety of subjects and themes, from race, to sexuality.  It demonstrated many different reasons that some books have been deemed controversial.

"For some books, it was for drug use, others for sexual content," Atkins said of the motives some groups or individuals have had in calling for the censorship of literature.  "It depends on the book and the entity that wants to ban it." 

Atkins said celebrating books that have been the subject of controversy highlights the importance of free speech and open access to information.  She said, "Some students don't realize books can be challenged even today in our country.  It is important to keep them aware of censorship, and aware of the possibility that we may not be exposed to some great literature because of the foibles of a few people."

Organized by Students, Allies, Friends, and Educators (SAFE Club), the rally is intended to celebrate National Coming Out Day, which is a civil awareness day that promotes safe environments for people in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. 

The rally at Penn State DuBois is slated for Noon until 1:30 p.m. on Monday, October 10. It is open to the public.  Everyone is also welcome to stop by the Student Union from Noon until 1:30 on October 11, to sign an anti-bullying pledge. 

For more information, contact the Student Life Office at 814-375-4764. 

The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society at Penn State DuBois has inducted its new members for the Fall 2011 semester.  There are currently 140 members of the society. 

In order to qualify for membership students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above, and be involved in campus or community service.

"Being inducted into this prestigious organization is an honor," Delta Mu Sigma Board Chairman Adam Snyder told his fellow students, "It is our hope that you will become involved in this organization and make it stronger, contributing to Penn State DuBois and our community."  

Delta Mu Sigma reaches out to DuBois and the surrounding area by offering community service such as a "Dine Out" event at Luigi's Restaurant, with part of the proceeds benefiting scholarship funds.  Members have volunteered with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, and organize a haunted house on campus each Halloween and donate proceeds to local charities.  Tony Vallone, the society's faculty advisor and campus English professor noted the charitable work done by Delta Mu Sigma Members.  He said, "We are evolving as an organization.  We are a service organization, serving the campus and our community." 

Students inducted into Delt Mu Sigma this fall are Cori Bus, Emily Callender, Timothy Clouser, Rachel Fairman, Anita Johnston, Rebecca Kear, Amanda Lockwood, Gloria McGarry, Kylie McGarry, Ashley Meyer, Adrienne Painter, Priya Patel, Andrew Piccolo, Kayla Shaffer, Jeremy Shoffstall, Ashley Stauffer, Jocelyn Stauffer, Jeremy Stiles, Aleshia Weible, and Marla Zaffuto. 

Pictured is the Delta Mu Board with new members who attended the induction luncheon. 

Board members seated in front, left to right, are: Jaci Gordon, communications officer; Staci Neal, Public Relations Officer; Colleen Coudriet, secretary; Adam Snyder, chairman; Ed Williams, co-chairman; Beau Hooftallen, treasurer.    

Standing, left to right are: Marla Zaffuto, Adrienne Painter, Anita Johnston, Emily Callender, Priya Patel, Aleshia Weible, Tony Vallone, faculty advisor; Andrew Piccolo, Rachel Fairman, Ashley Stauffer, Jocelyn Stauffer, and Timothy Clouser. 

Penn State DuBois Senior Instructor of Music Paul Fehrenbach has released a new music book that could be a lifesaver for violinists who perform in public, or serve as a new challenge for those who choose to play for their own enjoyment.  Sacred Hymns for Unaccompanied Violin (Forest Brook Publications) contains 24 traditional sacred melodies that are arranged specifically for solo violin without any accompanying instruments. 

"As a violinist, I find myself often needing short but appealing songs for church services and weddings where I perform, and quite often either the keyboard player is unavailable or is not prepared to accompany the violinist so the player must perform the songs without accompaniment," Fehrenbach explained.  "Melodies played on the violin can sound very nice, but are sometimes thin and empty sounding without an accompaniment. My book is designed to enable the violinist to play many popular hymns while providing his or her own harmony to the songs."

Fehrenbach said his arrangements allow the violinist to provide their own accompaniment by utilizing a technique known as double-stops, where two or more strings are played at once.  In this way, the single violin can provide both the melody and harmony simultaneously.  He said, "They are arranged by playing the regular theme of the song first, and then a couple variations of the hymn that get progressively more interesting to the listener and challenging to the performer." 

Sacred Hymns for Unaccompanied Violin is available through www.amazon.com as well as major book stores and various violin retailers in the U.S. and abroad.

This is Fehrenbach's third publication.  He has previously published a music book for medieval bagpipes, and another book of Christmas music for the pipes.

Everyone is invited to celebrate the reopening of the Swift Building at Penn State DuBois during a special rededication ceremony planned for 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 7, in the Schoch Plaza at Penn State DuBois.  Speakers will include State Representative Matt Gabler, Penn State DuBois Chancellor Anita McDonald, and other distinguished university representatives.

Over the last year, the Swift Building underwent a major renovation project, which brought the building into the modern era as an all-new, state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory facility.  New smart classrooms, computer labs, and chemistry and biology labs have all been outfitted with the latest in technology, providing an up-to-date, quality educational facility for students. 

The carbon footprint of the Swift Building has been reduces with the installation of an extremely efficient heating and air conditioning unit, as well as new windows and doors. 

Greater accessibility for all students has also been achieved through the addition of an elevator to the building, as well as new, more accessible doors and classroom space.

The building is named in honor of Patrick J. Swift, an Irish immigrant, who moved to DuBois and founded the Swift-Kennedy Insurance Company in 1922.  Swift became a successful businessman and civic leader, and a strong supporter of the campus. He was instrumental in organizing the DuBois Educational Foundation, the advisory board to Penn State DuBois, and served as its first president.  The building was originally dedicated on October 11, 1964, and has always provided space for a multitude of campus necessities.  Housed in the building are classrooms, labs, faculty offices, computer labs, the Center for Undergraduate Excellence, and more. 

An open house and tours of the Swift Building are planned following the rededication ceremony from noon until 4:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. 

For more information, contact Lisa at 814-375-4705 or ljt2@psu.edu

Dale Simbeck, an internationally known expert and consultant on global climate issues, will speak at Penn State DuBois in October. Representatives from area industries, as well as members of the public are invited to attend the lecture, and a luncheon.

Simbeck's presentation, Herding Cats: The Challenges of CO2 Mitigation, has been tailored to the interests of Central Pennsylvania-based businesses, including those in the powdered metals, graphite, Marcellus Shale, coal and lumber industries.  It will focus on the general challenges of CO2 mitigation, how it applies to these industries, and possible ways to accomplish mitigation.

A 1969 graduate of Penn State, with a degree in chemical engineering, Simbeck is Vice President of Technology and a founding partner of SFA Pacific, Inc., located in Mountain View, California.  His expertise encompasses global climate change issues, CO2 mitigation, and clean energy technologies.

Simbeck's accomplishments include his involvement as a lead author on the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on CO2 Capture and Storage.  This contributed to the IPCC being awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with former vice president Al Gore.  Simbeck's clientele list includes major international energy companies; universities such as Princeton, Pitt, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Stanford; and the governments of Australia, China, Canada, European Union, Japan, Qatar, New Zealand and the United States. 

Simbeck has made many national and international presentations on the technical and economic challenges of CO2 mitigation and clean energy technologies including keynote presentations at the Gasification Technology Conference, the International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Technologies and the International Fluidized Bed Combustion Conference.

Simbeck has authored numerous professional publications and technical reports.  He is a registered professional engineer in California, a Ph.D. advisor to Stanford University, advisor to the Canadian Clean Power Coalition, a member of the External Advisory Board to both the MIT Energy Lab and the energy industry CO2 Capture Project.  He is a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association.

Dale Simbeck is scheduled to speak during the Alumni Society Luncheon at 12:00 p.m. on October 7, at Penn State DuBois.  The cost is $10 per person.  Reservations can be made, by October 3, through the Greater DuBois Chamber of Commerce at (814) 371-5010 or dacc@duboispachamber.com  For more information, contact the Alumni Relations Office at 375-4775, or duboisalumni@psu.edu

To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, in October, Penn State DuBois students will hold Hispanic Heritage Day from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 1.  All members of the pubic are invited to this family friendly, child-oriented event.

Children of all ages will have opportunities to learn about Hispanic culture by participating in fun activities that involve art, dance, music and games.  Kids can also learn how to make their own pottery, masks, musical instruments and more.

See the full list of the day's activities below.

9:00-11:00

Art:                 Learn to make pottery

                        Making fans from around the Spanish-speaking world

                        Making birds

                        Making Masks and Noise Makers

Music:                        Making guiros

                        Making maracas

                        Making maracas and castenets

Dance:            Learn the Salsa!

Games:           Learn to play Bomba

                        Learn to play Gallo desplumado

                        Learn to play Pass the jalapeño

                        Learn to play Bean Bag Polo

                        Learn to play Arquitos

11:00-1:00

Art:                 Learn to make pottery

Music:                        Making guiros

                        Making maracas

Dance:            Learn the Salsa!

                        Learn the Ketchup Dance!

Games:           Learn to play Bomba

                        Learn to play Ting Ting Ting

                        Learn to play Bean Bag Polo

                        Learn to play Arquitos

1:00-3:00 p.m.

Art:                 Learn to make pottery

Music:                        Making guiros

                        Making maracas

                        Making Monkey Drums

Dance:            Learn the Salsa!

Games:           Learn to play Bean and Spoon Relay

                        Learn to play Bean Bag Polo

                        Learn to play Arquitos

Thanks to generous donations from the Stackpole Hall Foundation of St. Marys, PA, room 208 in the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) Building has been transformed to house the resource center for the Office for Adult Student and Veteran Services (OASV). 

With $12,000 from Stackpole Hall, the former conference room has been furnished and equipped with computers and resources specific for adults and veterans who are returning to school after extended time away from the classroom environment. Trained staff members are also available to assist with career development activities including career exploration, job search skill development and career placement information. Staff can also assist with other career-related activities such as internships and informational interviewing opportunities.

Other services are offered to student veterans through the campus' partnerships with veteran services in the community. The partnerships with the Clearfield County Veteran's Affairs Office, DuBois Veterans’ Center, Veterans’ Employment Services at the PA CareerLink, and others help to provide assistance that is not just relevant to education, but lifestyle and readjustment help as well. 

The center can be reserved for club meetings as well as job interviews and other career related events. The resource center will be formally dedicated in November, but the room is ready for use now.  For information, please contact Sueann Doran at 814-375-4716 or Jeannine Hanes at 814-375-4836.

Marly Doty served as guest speaker at the annual Penn State DuBois Commission for Women Kickoff Luncheon.  Doty is the campus student life coordinator, a Penn State DuBois graduate, and the 2011 recipient of the Burns Award.

Named for Professor of Speech Communication Janette Burns, who taught at Penn State DuBois from 1959 to 1975, the Burns Award is given to a full-time or part-time faculty member, staff member, student, or campus organization that has encouraged, supported, or mentored women or otherwise enhanced the campus climate for women at Penn State DuBois. 

Doty spoke to guests at the luncheon, which was organized by the DuBois Liaison Committee to the university's Commission for Women.  The Liaison Committee maintains a relationship with the Commission for Women at University Park and has its own individual agenda to support the needs of women in its area. The goals of the committee include supporting and distributing the work of the Commission for Women, identifying and advocating women's issues, developing and implementing educational programs on women's issues, and acting as a resource for individual women and their well-being.

During her speech, Doty praised the people, particularly women in her life, who have inspired her to succeed.  She said, "I have been given some wonderful opportunities in my life to interact with some amazing women. I am the sum of those interactions and examples that have come before me. Because of my aunt and some of the wonderful women that I met in college, I was able to dig deeper, not because I wanted to, but because these women drew it out of me."

Also, Doty offered advice for anyone who could use a little inspiration, themselves, listing some tips and some of her favorite quotes.  "Do something outside of your comfort zone every day; with each seed of adversity there is a seed of equal or greater benefit; today is the present and we should treat it like one," she said. 

Annual events organized by the Liaison Committee to the Commission for Women at Penn State DuBois include the Clothesline Project and the Take Back the Night Rally, and special events for Women's History Month in March. 

The term "Old Growth Urban Forest" may sound like a contradiction, but it is a very real ecosystem type, and many old growth urban forests across the globe are in danger of being lost.  Penn State DuBois Associate Professor of Biology and Forestry Robert Loeb defines the ecosystem, demonstrates research methodology for old growth urban forests, and offers strategies to reduce that danger, and save these unique and diverse forest ecosystems in his new book, Old Growth Urban Forests (Springer). 

In the book, Loeb suggests that, in places such as New York City's Central Park and Philadelphia's Fairmont Park, old growth forests should be actively managed, and not simply left to fend for themselves against the stresses of human disturbances and urban environments.  This contradicts conventional concepts related to old growth forests that a forest is deemed to be old growth only if it has gone completely undisturbed by humans. 

"Many urban forests are composed of old trees and admired by visitors as being old growth forests," Loeb explained.  Loeb hopes to change traditional way of thinking about old growth in order to ultimately save these urban forests through new conservation practices.  Many of these forests, according to Loeb, are on the verge of disappearing because of human interference with natural arboreal reproduction, and the fact that park administrators and urban foresters do not intervene with maintenance and conservation measures, particularly in natural area forests. 

"My purpose in writing this book is to motivate urban foresters and ecologists to break through the barrier created by the hallowed concept of old growth forest as undisturbed by humans," Loeb said.  "Recognizing old growth forests in urban settings expands the spectrum of urban forest research to include a focus on long-term changes in the relationships between human-caused changes and the urban forest dynamics.  Foresters and ecologists can then reap the benefits of understanding critical issues such as species introductions and climate change that have affected old growth urban forests across our planet for centuries."

Loeb hopes educators will use it as a text book in urban forestry and old growth ecology classes, training the next generation of foresters and ecologists with this new frame of reference and research methods. Also, he hopes his book will be embraced by urban conservationists who will actively put these perspectives and techniques into practice, preserving old growth forests in urban settings.

Students in the Penn State DuBois Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program met face-to-face with potential employers during the OTA Job Fair held on campus on September 14.  A number of companies that are recruiting professionals in the occupational therapy field were on hand. The event is held specifically for students and recent graduates in this high-demand field, and designed to get them placed in their careers as soon as they are ready to enter the workforce.

"We want students to be aware of the opportunities that are here locally, as well as ones that are out of the area," said OTA Instructor Marge Pendzick.  She noted that employers who attended the fair ranged from local therapy-based companies, to large-scale care providers with locations across the country.  Currently, there is a great demand for people in the occupational therapy field across the United States, and here in Pennsylvania, making it a favorable career choice.   

"These graduates probably won't have trouble finding jobs here," said Chad Eppley, the director of operations for Benchmark Therapies, based in Huntingdon, PA, who represented his company at the fair.  "But if you look at regional demand, some places are even better than others.  In Pennsylvania, in places like Lancaster, Chester County, and Lebanon, there are three jobs available for each one of these graduates, and that's a conservative estimate."  

Even OTA students just beginning in the program attended the fair.  Though they may have some time left before they begin their career, OTA Instructor LuAnn Demi said the interaction with employers is still a good experience for underclassmen.  She said, "It gives them the chance to practice their professional behaviors and job interviewing skills.  It also gives them a reason to prepare a résumé, and see what kinds of opportunities are out there. " 

OTA student Carrie Flanagan, of Curwensville, will graduate in December.  She's now deciding where she would like to start her career, and found that she has plenty of options. 

"It's nice to see all of the facilities represented here. There is a lot of opportunity here, locally.  I would also consider moving away to work for some of these other companies that seem really great.  It helps a lot that Penn State DuBois does this for us." 

Penn State Laureate for 2011-12 Linda Patterson Miller spoke at Penn State DuBois on September 13.  Miller, a professor of English at Penn State Abington, is the fourth is the fourth person to hold the title.

The Penn State laureate is a full-time faculty member in the humanities or fine arts who is assigned half-time for one academic year to bring an enhanced level of social, cultural, artistic and human perspective and awareness to a broad array of audiences. This individual appears at university events at Penn State campuses and throughout the state at various community programs in hopes of adding a more human dimension to the conduct of the usual affairs and business of these locations.

Miller’s area of expertise is early 20th-century American literature and art. She especially is interested in the emergence of Modernism and the intersection of literature and art, looking at such writers and artists as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso and Fernand Leger. Her acclaimed book, "Letters from the Lost Generation: Gerald and Sara Murphy and Friends," explores the group dynamics of the Lost Generation to reveal how their lifelong friendships shaped their art.

For more information on Miller, visit http://laureate.psu.edu/story/53353

PennDOT joined representatives from the Penn State DuBois Student Government Association (SGA) and the DuBois City Police Department to remind motorists and pedestrians that they each have responsibilities in maintaining safety in and around crosswalks.

The officials discussed laws regarding safety for pedestrians and motorists in pedestrian-heavy areas. Media and those in attendance were reminded that motorists must yield to pedestrians within painted crosswalks as pedestrians have the right of way. Pedestrians were also reminded of their responsibility to ensure that the roadway is safe to cross before proceeding into the crosswalk.

In the spring, a pedestrian channelizing device was placed in front of campus along Route 255 to alert motorists that, by Pennsylvania law, they must yield to pedestrians in that crosswalk. 

For more information and safety tips, visit the Bicycle/Pedestrian link under the “Traffic Safety Information Center” on PennDOT’s highway safety website at www.DriveSafePA.org

Penn State DuBois has been designated a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs, the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students.

Michael Dakduk, Executive Director for the Student Veterans of America said, "The Military Friendly Schools list is the go-to resource for prospective student veterans searching for schools that provide the right overall experience.  Nothing is more compelling than actual feedback from current student veterans."  Dakduk noted that feedback can be viewed online at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/2012 list

At Penn State DuBois, the Office for Adult Student and Veteran Services was launched this year to provide adults and former service members with the tools they need to succeed in higher education and in a career. Through the center, programs are offered to help veterans, who may have been out of school for many years, adjust to being students again.  Refresher courses in basic subjects and tutoring programs are designed to sharpen their skills, while counselors provide assistance with scheduling, financial aid, and other administrative processes that may be new to a soldier-turned-student. 

Other services are offered to student veterans through the campus' partnerships with veteran services in the community. The partnerships with the Clearfield County Veteran's Affairs Office, DuBois Veterans’ Center, Veterans’ Employment Services at the PA CareerLink, and others help to provide assistance that is not just relevant to education, but lifestyle and readjustment help as well. 

"Education is important, especially when coming out of the military and back into civilian life," said Penn State DuBois Veteran Services Coordinator Sueann Doran. "Education really gives you the edge.  With so many people coming out of the military and looking to start new lives now, we see a real need for this and we want to fill that need." 

Doran went on to say that the national recognition makes her feel like the campus center is, indeed, going a long way to fill that need.  She said, "We don't do what we do for the recognition; we do it for the students. Becoming a Military Friendly School, though, really makes me feel like we're going in the right direction." 

The 2012 list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled through extensive research and a data driven survey of more than 8,000 schools nationwide. More information is available at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com.

To make an appointment with Doran at the Penn State DuBois Office for Adult Student and Veteran Services, call 814-375-4716 or email sdoran@psu.edu

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11th Attacks on America, the Penn State DuBois Student Life Office, and campus students, have placed the "We Remember Board" on campus. 

Hanging in the Lion's Den Café in the Hiller Building, the bulletin board features an American flag with white stripes made from index cards.  This week, students have been encouraged to choose a card and write a few notes about their feelings about 9/11, then pin it back onto the flag to be shared with the campus community.  Students have written about their memories of that day, their feelings about patriotism, and more. 

The Student Life Office has also encouraged students to give back to their communities and participate in some type of service activity over the 9/11 weekend.  They've been asked to share their service experiences on the web at www.911day.org

Bogacki's essay is titled, "I Will Do What My Mother Has Done", is a tale of a parent's devotion and the lasting impact it has had on her children.  Bogacki's real-life account of his own upbringing cites examples of how his mother constantly put him and his siblings first.  He explains that her dedication has inspired him to be the best, most devoted parent he can be when he eventually has his own family.

"Nick has written a beautifully organized and touching tribute to his mother," said Richard Kopley, Bogacki's English professor. 

Copies of Best of Freshman Writing are available at Penn State Book Store locations, or online at www2. hn. psu. edu/ faculty/jmanis/bof.htm

Three people will be honored during the annual Penn State DuBois Alumni Awards Banquet, planned for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, at the DuBois Country Club.  The event, featuring dinner and the awards ceremony, is open to the public at a cost of $20 per person. 

Dale Simbeck will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.  A 1969 graduate of Penn State, with a degree in chemical engineering, Simbeck is an internationally known expert and consultant on global climate issues, whose work contributed to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) being awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with Al Gore.  He is Vice President of Technology and a founding partner of SFA Pacific, Inc., located in Mountain View, California.  Simbeck serves on the alumni subcommittee of the campus’ fundraising committee, For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students.

The Outstanding Alumni Award will be presented to Christina Voorhees, the chief operating officer for Wildlife Specialists, LLC, a natural resource consulting company, based in Landisburg, Pennsylvania, that provides support to the energy development industry. A certified wildlife biologist, Voorhees received an associate degree in Wildlife Technology from Penn State DuBois, a bachelor degree in Wildlife Science from Virginia Tech, a masters in Forest Resources from Penn State, and a Ph.D in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management from Penn State.  She has provided campus Wildlife Technology students with internships, and has been a guest lecturer on campus multiple times.

David Trinkley will receive The Distinguished Ambassador Award.  This award is given to an individual who may or may not be an alumnus, but has made outstanding contributions to the campus and its mission.  An enduring supporter of campus athletic programs, Trinkley founded the Penn State DuBois Athletic Fundraising Committee, and chaired the committee for five years.  He helped to launch such successful fundraising events as the Lion Wine and Cheese, and the Penn State DuBois Athletics Golf Benefit.  Trinkley is a member of the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) Board of Directors, and a committee member of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students. Professionally, he founded Micron Research Corporation in Emporium, a manufacturing company that produces powder metal components used in the healthcare industry.

To make reservations, contact the Alumni Relations Office at 814-375-4775, or duboisalumni@psu.ed  An RSVP is required by September 26. 

A book written by Penn State DuBois Distinguished Professor of English Richard Kopley is now available in a paperback edition, which features the artwork of a Penn State student. 

Edgar Allan Poe and the Dupin Mysteries (Palgrave Macmillan) was originally released in hardcover in 2008.  The paperback version can now also be found on Amazon.com, at Penn State book stores, and at other various locations.  

In the book, Kopley takes an in-depth look at Edgar Allan Poe’s three detective stories, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt", and "The Purloined Letter".  Through his extensive research, Kopley analyzes the structure, sources, and autobiographical significance of these stories, which many say inspired the entire detective genre in modern literature.    

For the paperback, Kopley enlisted the talents of Penn State student Michael Fazio.  An art student at University Park, Fazio designed and created the artwork for the cover.  It depicts the title object from the story of The Purloined Letter, hidden in plain sight in a card rack. 

"It's eye catching," Kopley said of Fazio's cover illustration.  "He is very gifted." 

"I was really excited at the prospect of being involved with Dr. Kopley's paperback," Fazio said.   He credits Kopley with the idea for the illustration, but explains how he brought it to life.  "Dr. Kopley told me the general idea he wanted for the cover was a close-up of the purloined letter in the letter holder. I did some sketches and we discussed what perspective and colors would be best.  Then, for the final version, I used pencil and ink-wash for shadowing and then colored it digitally."

The experience, Fazio said, is one that he is very grateful for.

"As a student who is still in art school, it was truly a tremendous opportunity to work with an established author, especially since I imagine it's rare for a student to get to illustrate the cover of a professor's book. I hope I will get to do more illustrations in the future." 

Kopley said Fazio will, in fact, have that opportunity.  He plans to have Fazio illustrate his children's book, "The Remarkable David Wordsworth", which is still in the works. 

The foursome of Dave Hopkins, Von Berger, Lea Anne Heltzel, and Carl Lias took first place in the Third Annual Penn State DuBois Golf Benefit at the Treasure Lake Silver Course on August 27.  The team finished the tournament 17 under par with a score of 55.  Each team member received licensed Penn State items including golf club head covers, a divot tool pack, ball markers, a bottle opener, and hat. 

In second place with a score of 56 was the team of Aaron Beatty, Paul Ignatius, Drew McCleary, and Chris Smith.  Third place went to the team of Doug Jaggi, Bob Clepper, Dan Johnson, and Ed Moran with a score of 56. 

Roger Gates won the putting contest, taking home the prize of a new gas grill donated by Kohlhepp's True Value. 

More than 100 golfers participated in the Third Annual Penn State DuBois Golf Benefit.  The event raised approximately $8,000 for Penn State DuBois varsity athletic programs.

For more photos, visit our News Photo Gallery.

Professor of Mathematics and Geosciences Richard Brazier said a device he has placed on campus at Penn State DuBois captured seismic data from the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked the east coast Tuesday.  The seismometer, Brazier said, was installed in the basement of Symmco House, the campus administrative building, late last year.   It is intended to monitor and record earthquakes and other seismic activity for geophysicists to study.   The data collected is transmitted by satellite to the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) where anyone can view the seismograms online at any time. 

Originating in rural Mineral, Virginia, the quake was felt as far away as New York and Connecticut, and was even felt by many on campus at Penn State DuBois. 

"My desk began to shake, and my external hard drive started hopping across the top of my desk," said Debbie Gill, a Spanish professor who was in her office in the Swift Building when the shockwaves went across campus.  "I didn't know if I should stay put, get out of the building, or what I should do.  Then it was over."

What was felt on campus, and in DuBois and the surrounding area, lasted for less than a minute, according to Brazier's data.  However, it reached so far from its epicenter that it gave many people in usually quite seismic areas their first experience with earthquakes. Brazier said that's because the activity happened so close the earth's surface.

Brazier explained what he deciphered from the information on the seismometer's visible report, saying, "You can clearly see three types of waves.  The first or primary wave at about 55 seconds; the secondary wave's arrival at 100 seconds; and finally the surface wave which is the wave we all felt around 140 seconds. It’s a fairly large event but the reason we all felt it so far away is that it is very shallow, around one kilometer in depth."

To view the data collected from the seismometer at Penn State DuBois, visit  http://www.iris.edu/mda/PE/PSDB.

For a look at some local coverage click here http://www.punxsutawneyspirit.com/content/punxsy-residents-agree-we-felt-quake-here-too.

Following the long tradition of service throughout its 76 year history, Penn State DuBois reached out to the community to give back with Outreach Day. As part of new student orientation this year, the Student Life Office organized Outreach Day, which put 180 students, plus faculty and staff leaders, out into the community to help with various projects at businesses, charitable organizations, and public ventures.  The students volunteered at more than a dozen sites, ranging from humane societies, to preschools. 

"Getting students actively involved from the beginning is very important to their overall college experience, and helping them become well-rounded members of the community," said Student Life Coordinator Marly Doty.  "What better way to get involved than by giving back to our surrounding community,"  

Students Mary Transue, of Kittanning, and Rachael Wells, of Reynoldsville, volunteered at the historic Rumbarger Cemetery in DuBois, which has graves dating back to the 1870's.  While some students in this group helped with landscaping duties, Transue and Wells worked to identify the names and information of some of the oldest headstones, which have been worn by the elements over the years.

"A lot of it, you just can't read any more," said president of the Rumbarger Cemetery Preservation Society, Paul Sprague.  "By carefully studying these and recording the information, we can preserve this history, and help people who may be doing family research."

"I feel like I'm helping a lot," Wells said of her experience during the Outreach Day.  "I feel like I can really make a difference by being a part of this." 

Campus Chancellor Anita McDonald led a group who volunteered at the DuBois Historical Society.  The group helped to clean the society's vast collection of local artifacts.  According to society members, that's one of the most important parts of maintaining their collection. 

"One of the hardest jobs is keeping the place clean," said DuBois Historical Society President Evo Fracchine.  "We're grateful and thankful for these students, and I'm quite pleased with them.  They've worked really hard." 

Jessica Noland, a student orientation leader who helped to clean the historical society's displays, said the hard work was worth it.  "I think this is part of the college experience.  This is one great way to see how we can improve the community, not only through our education, but also through our ability to assist others." 

McDonald worked alongside Noland cleaning the exhibits.  McDonald spoke for all groups at all sites during the Outreach Day, saying, "This experience really helps the students understand the challenges that people face every day in our communities, and demonstrates for them the value in helping and giving back.  They learn quickly that what they do can have a positive effect, and will benefit others." 

"By participating in this community outreach, my hope is that students will feel more a part of Penn State DuBois, DuBois and the surrounding area, and become more socially responsible," Doty said.  "It's also a great way to help people in our area who could use a few extra hands."

Faculty and staff at Penn State DuBois kicked off the 2011-2012 academic year by welcoming new students to campus during the annual convocation ceremony on Thursday. 

"Today you are becoming part of a very strong Penn State tradition of excellence," said Chancellor Anita McDonald as she addressed the crowded campus gymnasium, packed with new students and their parents.

Nearly 300 new students make up this year's freshman class.  They come from 37 counties in Pennsylvania, and eight states in the U.S., and Germany.  The students come from nearly 100 high schools.  This kind of diversity, McDonald said, is an integral part of higher education.  She said, "One of the most rewarding experiences of attending college is meeting people from different backgrounds.  The diversity of hometowns, cultural heritage, and work and life experience will enrich your education and your life."

McDonald also responded to recent discussions surrounding funding for universities and critics of the higher education system.  "Everyone should pursue some level of education beyond high school," she said.  "Our country cannot be competitive without an educated society."  

Upon welcoming freshmen to Penn State DuBois, McDonald encouraged them to be dedicated to their studies, and made it clear that each of them had the responsibility to use their education to make positive contributions to society.  She told them, "We have many challenges in our communities, country, and world.  We will need each of you, armed with your education, to face these challenges.  Tomorrow will be better because of each of you and the difference you'll make." 

A fresh renovation to the engineering lab at Penn State DuBois will be beneficial to both students, and some local businesses in the powder metal and manufacturing industries who can take advantage of new equipment and services.

"The goal was to increase the capabilities of our lab for teaching students, as well as increasing the flexibility we have to work with local companies on research projects," said Assistant Professor of Engineering Craig Stringer. 

Financed, in part, by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority, improvements to the lab include new electrical and ventilation systems for safety, convenience, and added equipment capacity.  However, the real gains for industry and education come with new equipment and better utilization of current equipment, like a state-of-the-art Computer Numerical Control (CNC) mill and lathe. It's a machine which can be programed to automatically produce precise dimensional metal parts at an impressive pace.  Many parts made by machines like this are used in the fabrication of goods for industries such as the automotive industry, powder metal industry, and other key manufacturing areas relevant to the regional area.

Other improvements include equipment used to test the characteristics of material powders before they are pressed into a solid piece. Powder can be placed into a powder feeder and within seconds the machine can determine the size of the powder particles, the volume fraction of sizes, and print a detailed report recording all the data.  Many local companies and campus engineering students have already taken advantage of the equipment to check their powder mixtures from season to season, or from different powder vendors, troubleshoot product quality issues within a production line, and formulate new materials mixtures for required projects.  Students can now see how to choose the proper powder characteristics for the job they're doing, and meet specified requirements of their applications. 

"The properties of the material dictate the properties of the part," Stringer said.  "We look at the powder properties, the design process for a particular part, and the way it needs to be produced, and decide what powder characteristics will work best for the final product." 

Another recent addition to the lab is equipment used for measuring the dimensional change of materials brought on by temperature, or the materials' thermal expansion. 

"This will allow us to understand the dimensional change and the materials' behavior under different atmospheric conditions, heating and cooling rates, and other processing variables," Stringer mentioned.

Offering the opportunity to perform these analyses to local manufacturing companies, Stringer said, can be an enormous help to those in the industry looking to break ground with new products.  In fact, Stringer, his colleagues, and his students are assisting companies on several projects at this time that are confidential.

"Some projects won't even be out for three to five years," Stringer said.  "Companies like to keep these things under wraps until they're ready to start production." 

For students, they're putting their hands deep into the work that they want to do in their career, rather than just learning the concepts through classroom lectures.

"You're able to apply what you learn in the classroom to a project here in the lab, and it really helps you learn what you need to do," said third year mechanical engineering student Justin Kerr, of Punxsutawney.  Kerr said he plans to pursue a career in the manufacturing industry, and already feels prepared for his first job thanks to his work in the lab.  "It gives you an edge. I'm learning things here that students at other schools might not have the opportunity to learn if they're only in a classroom." 

The lab and its new equipment are even saving money for the campus engineering program by making the program more self-sufficient.  Stringer noted that metal rods, called tensile bar specimens, are now produced in-house in the Penn State DuBois lab.  Tensile bar specimens are placed under stress in a machine until they break; the amount of pressure a specimen can withstand before breaking tells engineers how strong the metal is.  This lab exercise teaches students processes used by manufacturers to test metals around the world.  Making these tensile bar specimens in the labs, as opposed to buying them, adds up to big savings.  

"This cost us $110 to buy," Stringer said, holding up a single specimen, and noting that the lab can go through 20 of them each year.  "We can now make it for $4.00.  It's a huge cost cutting measure doing this in-house."  

For more information on the Bachelor of Engineering degree at Penn State DuBois,    visit http://dubois.psu.edu/GeneralEngineering

Jeannine Hanes, of Clearfield, has been named the new Community Outreach Coordinator for Penn State DuBois' Clearfield Outreach Center. Hanes comes into this position with over 10 years of experience in career development and over four years of experience from her previous position with workforce development at Penn State DuBois Continuing Education.

As the Community Outreach Coordinator, Hanes is responsible for creating and managing schedules for Penn State courses held in Clearfield.  She also works to recruit both traditional and adult students, and helps those students make a smooth transition into college.

"As an adult learner herself, Jeannine understands and relates well to the prospective students’ life circumstances," said Diana Ricotta, assistant director of Continuing Education. "She is an excellent role model for them, having earned her master’s degree in workforce education while she was a working wife and mother."

"I am excited about the opportunity to help students in my own hometown reach their educational goals," said Hanes. "A Penn State education can make all the difference in a person’s life, and students in Clearfield can take advantage of completing a degree close to home."

Hanes is now busy helping students to prepare for the next session of classes to be held in Clearfield.  The Clearfield fall 2011 schedule includes courses that count toward a Certificate in Early Childhood Education, such as Infant and Child Development and Overview of Curricular Practices in Early Childhood Care and Education. Other offerings include courses on effective speech, psychology, finite math, world music, women in the arts and humanities, and a science course that explores dinosaur extinctions and other controversies.  Many of the classes offered in Clearfield give students additional options for general education classes that are conveniently offered in the evening.

Classes begin August 22; individuals interested are encouraged to register soon.  Hanes can help in selecting the best courses to meet individual's interests and needs.  She can be reached by calling 814-765-7878, extension 7.  Her office hours in Clearfield, now located at the former FCI Electronics facility on Spruce Street, are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. and other times by appointment.

This refresher course is intended for any adult who wants to improve math skills to help further their education, or simply to advance their abilities for use in everyday life. For those who have considered enrolling, or reenrolling in college, the course will prepare them for math classes required in most degree programs.

"This is a great opportunity for people who want to update their math skills," said Adult Student and Veteran Services Coordinator Sueann Doran.   "What they learn here can really give them an edge if they choose to enroll in college; or they can simply come away from this with a better knowledge that they can apply to their day-to-day lives." Doran explained that there is no obligation to enroll in additional courses for those who take advantage of this free opportunity.

Students in the course will receive an assessment of their math skills at the beginning, and another assessment at the end to determine how much they learned.

The math improvement course is sponsored by CIU #10, one of 29 regional education delivery organizations in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's Intermediate Units are funded by the Department of Education and local school districts. They can provide special education services, student counseling services, staff continuing education opportunities, and program planning assistance to the public and non-public schools.

Space is limited for the math improvement class.  Registrations will be accepted until August 19, and the course begins August 22.  To register, or for more information, call the Clearfield Development Center for Adults at 814-765-1131, or the Penn State DuBois Office of Adult and Veteran's Services at 814-375-4716. 

As state mandated requirements on certifications for childcare professionals continue to increase, Continuing Education representatives at Penn State DuBois have designed courses and credential programs to keep these individuals up-to-date and employed.  Additionally, the Penn State Cooperative Extension for Clearfield County offers the Child Development Associate (CDA), the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE). Earning the credential is an important milestone for those seeking a career in ECE.  The nationally transferable CDA is a credible credential recognized by caregivers nationally as a vital part of professional development.

"The state is really calling for the entire early childhood care system to step it up and improve the quality," said CDA course instructor Jackie Amor-Zitzelberger.  "This will make them a well-rounded childcare provider."

Beyond the CDA, students have the opportunity to continue their education in a degree program. Penn State provides the opportunity to translate the work and education obtained from this credential into college credit in the Early Childhood Education Certificate which is part of the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) associate degree at Penn State DuBois.

These courses also allow people interested in the field of childcare to gain pertinent knowledge and professional development. Programs emphasize work with infants, toddlers, and young children, as well as parent/family communications. Developmentally appropriate activities in various learning areas and practical guidance techniques will be addressed.

Classes will begin August 22, at Clearfield Area High School.  To learn more about registration, and financial aid information, call Jeannine Hanes at 814-765-7878 or 814-591-5459, or email her at jhanes@psu.edu.  For a complete list of courses, visit http://www.ds.psu.edu/CE/credit.htm

Julia Kennis, of DuBois, is the new head coach of the Penn State DuBois Women's Volleyball Team. 

Kennis played volleyball for Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and for DuBois Area High School.  During her high school days she received multiple MVP and All Conference awards, and was named to the PIAA All-State Team for the 1996-97 season.

Coaching women's volleyball, Kennis said, is something she has always wanted to do.  She is now eager to make a difference in the lives of female athletes. 

An insurance clerk at DuBois Regional Medical Center, Kennis also continues to play volleyball in local leagues. 

The Penn State DuBois Athletic Fundraising committee will hold its third annual golf scramble on August 27, at the Silver Course at Treasure Lake.  Sponsored by the DuBois Educational Foundation, Johnson Motors, and Veolia Environmental Services, all proceeds will directly benefit the seven varsity athletic teams at Penn State DuBois. 

The event will be a four-person scramble with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.  Entry fees are $75 per person, and $300 per team.  Entry includes green fee, cart, brown bag breakfast, lunch of chicken and ribs, on-course beverages, skill prizes, and team awards. 

This outing will feature a hole-in-one contest for the chance to win a new car; a putting contest, with a prize of a deluxe outdoor grill; skill prizes; team prizes for first, second, and third place; a 50/50; a door prize of a one-year family membership to the DuBois YMCA; and a raffle for a complete set of Nike Sasquatch Mach Speed golf clubs and bag.  Mulligans can also be purchased.

Space is limited to 120 golfers. For an online registration form, visit http://www.ds.psu.edu/StudentLife/Athletics/sports  Or, call Ken Nellis, Athletic Coordinator, at 375-4857 for more information.

Well before her own graduation, Penn State DuBois engineering student Brooke Greathouse is already working for one of the largest companies that employs people in her field.  This summer, the DuBois native who is earning a degree in Electrical Engineering, is an electrical maintenance intern with Nucor, the country’s largest producer of steel.

Greathouse is interning at Nucor’s Armorel, Arkansas location.  It is just one of many of Nucor’s facilities throughout the nation, and around the globe, that contributes to the company’s annual production of 26 million tons of steel. The steel is used in building construction, and purchased by other manufacturers to make numerous other steel products.  For Greathouse, it’s the opportunity to get hands-on experience that will help her decide where she wants to take her career.  Since she hasn't yet entered a concentration for her engineering degree, the internship has given Greathouse some guidance on what she should focus on in her education. 

"I would have missed out on so much if I didn't take this internship.  I wouldn't have had the actual work experience, and having that before even starting my main classes is really helping me find the path that I want to travel on," Greathouse said.  "Without this internship, it's possible that I could have chosen the wrong concentration for my major. I am so lucky and very thankful that Nucor and Penn State DuBois gave me this opportunity. It has really helped shape my personality, my future, and my life in general." 

"Brooke was unique in that she accepted an electrical internship without having very much, if any, electrical training," said Brooke's internship supervisor at Nucor, Dave Davolt.  "We knew one of the things Brooke wanted to get out of her internship was to better decide which direction to steer her education.  Therefore, we provided Brooke with opportunities to experience several different aspects of electrical and mechanical engineering, maintenance, repair and operations."

To gain all of this experience, Greathouse is updating electrical components of equipment in Nucor’s plant, exploring ways to install work lights for some of the machinery, and making the rounds with electricians who help to keep the plant running smoothly with regular maintenance.

"When I arrived in May I was given a couple small projects to work on throughout the summer," Greathouse said, "It is solely up to me to make sure that these tasks get finished. I'm learning how to keep a project organized, make sure I have all the information needed, research my options as much as possible before making a choice, and how to communicate my ideas to others. I've even learned how to adjust from college to work, putting my education to good use." 

Greathouse said she has had such a positive experience with Nucor that she believes the company could provide the future career she's looking for.  She said, "I always knew that I wanted to work somewhere that offered two things: One, the opportunity to put both my mechanical and electrical abilities to good use; and two, the opportunity to be out in the field often, actually working on things, not just sitting in an office all day. Over the summer I have easily found that Nucor holds both of these traits and so much more. I would love to continue my time here at Nucor during future summers, and hopefully make a career out of it."

As impressed as Greathouse has been with Nucor, Davolt said Nucor is also impressed with what this intern has brought to the table.  He stated, "Our interns and co-ops are given the same responsibility as Nucor teammates.  After safety training, they hit the ground running. We expect them to apply themselves to the best of their ability and contribute to the success of Nucor, and Brooke has done a great job since she’s been here."

Greathouse's engineering professor at Penn State DuBois, Craig Stinger, said this is the kind of internship experience every student should have, and it's what he strives to provide for each student.  He said it is one of the most important parts of their education. 

"Internships provide valuable real-world training where students can get a firsthand look at how their Penn State education fits an industry.  It is a great résumé builder, and allows the students an early chance to get a feel for what they might encounter after graduation when they work for a company," Stringer said.  "In today’s competitive job market, grades are only a part of the equation when finding a job; job experience goes a long way when discussing future employment prospects."

Greathouse will complete her summer internship with Nucor in August. 

The center was previously housed off of Old Town Road, with the Team Pennsylvania CareerLink. 

Penn State DuBois Outreach centers focus on the support of adult learners who wish get a fresh start at a new career, or further their education. Staff members provide academic support for incoming and current students, and assist them with their transition back into education. Center representatives also help those students develop an individual education and employment plan by completing an assessment of their current education, skills and abilities, and develop a plan for quick re-entry into the workforce.

Other centers for adult learners are located in St. Marys, and on campus at Penn State DuBois.

For more information about adult and veteran services call Sueann in DuBois at 814-375-4716, Jeannine in Clearfield at 814-591-5459, or Terry in St. Marys at 814-834-3593.  Or visit http://www.ds.psu.edu/

on the Continuing Education (CE) Department's Telecommunications Technologies Certification Program.  The session, to be held in St. Marys, will introduce individuals to the training that is available to help them launch a new career in this growing industry.

The program is designed to quickly and affordably provide new skills to people seeking new career opportunities.   Those who complete the 115 hour course and earn the industry-recognized certificate will be qualified for jobs in some of the fastest growing fields in the country including telephone and computer networking, cable and satellite system operation and repair, and more.

This information session will give those considering the program the chance to learn more about it, and the doors it can open for them.  They'll have the chance to meet the instructor, Bill Carlson, receive information on career opportunities, see a demonstration of some of the materials and equipment used, and learn how to register for upcoming fall classes.  

Two sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, August 9, at the Community Education Council located at 4, Erie Avenue, Suite 200, in St. Marys.  The first session is planned for 2:00 pm. until 3:00 p.m., and the second is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.  Those who wish to attend must reserve a seat by calling 372-3005 or 375-4772. 

The community is invited to a free outdoor movie at Penn State DuBois, planned for 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3, on the Event Lawn near the DEF Building.  Everyone is asked to bring a lawn chair or blanket. 

The Penn State DuBois Student Life Office will present a free screening of the comedy Bridesmaids starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Rose Byrne.  According to the producers, the film follows a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads the bride and fellow bridesmaids on a wild ride down the road to matrimony. 

Pizza, popcorn, and candy will be available to students free of charge, and available for purchase by the public.

For more information, contact the Student Life Office at 375-4764

King attended Karns City High School where he earned all-state honors in both track and cross country.  He went on to Clarion University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Education and was named All-Conference and All- East Region for cross country in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

King previously served as head track coach and assistant cross country coach at DuBois Central Catholic School.

"We are excited that Ean has joined the coaching staff at Penn State DuBois," said Athletic Coordinator Ken Nellis.  "We look forward to Ean working with our student-athletes and passing along his passion for the sport and his knowledge in cross country."

Also employed by Community Resources for Independence, a local in-home personal care agency, King lives in Reynoldsville with his children Morgan and Reese.

Dr. Aaron Stottlemyer, Penn State DuBois Forestry Instructor, has joined a group of experts who are leading the charge to restore the American chestnut to eastern US forests.  He was invited to join The American Chestnut Foundation's (TACF) Restoration and Ecology Track and recently met with this group consisting of other researchers at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.  They discussed plans for reintroducing the tree to forests since seeds of blight-resistant hybrids will be available soon. 

"This species accounted for one quarter of our hardwoods before its demise.  An estimated four billion trees were killed when chestnut blight, a fungus, was accidentally introduced to the United States from Asia in the early part of the 20^th century," Stottlemyer said.  He went on to explain the effect that the loss of the chestnut had on forest ecosystems.  "We lost the single largest producer of hard mast for wildlife and the death of these trees dramatically changed plant composition as other trees increased in abundance when they filled in the gaps." 

Reintroducing chestnut to forests will be a complex task.  "Forests are very different now than they were before the chestnut blight arrived and we are a long way from fully understanding the ecology of the species.  Interestingly, much of this information first started being studied and documented for other tree species as chestnut was on its way out.  So, we’re lacking some basic information about things like site requirements that we would otherwise use to help us manage for chestnut," said Stottlemyer.   

TACF has been working on developing a blight resistant American chestnut.  By breeding American chestnuts with the already blight-resistant Chinese chestnut through a process called back-crossing, scientists have developed a hybrid that will be resistant to chestnut blight.  "For the past 28 years, TACF’s efforts have largely been focused on producing a blight-resistant hybrid," said Stottlemyer.  "Now, blight-resistant trees are producing seed and it's time to start thinking about how we reintroduce this species to its native range."

"Right now, there’s a significant challenge in selecting appropriate sites for the first plantings," Stottlemyer said.  He explained, "We'll need to identify areas of land where seedlings will have the necessary light, moisture, and nutrient levels and a reasonable chance at competing with other species."

While there is no exact timeline on when the first plantings will be established, Stottlemyer believes it will happen in the near future.

Stottlemyer said he and his colleagues hope nature will take over once the trees mature and begin to produce seeds, in as soon as six years after they're planted.  "Our hope is that wildlife such as bluejays and squirrels will collect and disperse the seeds," he said. 

Stottlemyer and other Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology faculty and students work on an ongoing chestnut research project in Jefferson County.  There, a farm containing around 2,000 hybrid chestnut saplings is one of approximately 75 chestnut research orchards in Pennsylvania.

 Dr. Aaron Stottlemyer  

Angie Russell, the Administrative Support Coordinator in the Office of Business and Finance at Penn State DuBois, is officially retired at the end of June, 2011. She has spent 26 years serving the students, faculty and staff of the campus.

Russell works to make sure all business transactions go smoothly, and keeps track of various campus accounts and finances. She is a graduate of DuBois Business College.

Previously Russell was employed by radio station WCED, G.C. Murphy Company Main Office (Ames), Ames of the DuBois Mall, Secure Credit Union, DuBois Area School District, and St. Catherine’s School.   

On campus, Russell has served on the Length of Service Award Committee, the 75^th Anniversary Committee, and the Athletic Wine and Cheese Fundraiser Decorating Committee.  She has also served as vice president of the Penn State DuBois Marketing/Business Club, treasurer of the Penn State DuBois Business Society, and she has made two mission trips to Jamaica.

Other accomplishments include recognition in Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.  Russell also volunteers with community service organizations such as Make a Wish, the American Diabetes Society, Friendship Ladies Auxiliary, St. Catherine's Rosary Altar Society, and the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America.

Russell has two children, Louis Russell and Nicole Kovalyak, and six grandchildren. Russell enjoys watching NASCAR, golfing, oil painting, flower arranging, and crafts. She also enjoys walking and being outdoors.

"I love spending time with my family and friends, especially my children and grandchildren," Russell said. "Watching my amazing grandchildren play flag football, baseball, softball, basketball, and cheerleading are some of my favorite things to do."

Summer youth programs Kids in College (KIC), and the Art, Science and Technology Institute (AST) are in full swing at Penn State DuBois.  According to program coordinators, children from infants, through twelfth grade will find opportunities to learn new things that will give them an edge when it comes to their education.

"So many of the courses are really designed to help children developmentally," said Summer Youth Program coordinator Jeannine Hanes.  She explained that many courses in KIC use music and dance to help children learn.  She said, "Research shows that music and creative exercises help to increase IQ and the ability to learn.  It also makes the classes fun, which makes the kids want to be involved and learn more."

Hanes said courses like Toddlers on Their Toes gets youth up and dancing to music in activities that stimulate them both mentally and physically.  Such activities can have an impact on children from an early age. This year, there is even one class offered for infants and their parents. Mommy and Me Music Time uses music to improve motor skills, communication, coordination, and spatial reasoning in very young children.

For kids with an interest in science, classes like Junior Detective introduce them to the scientific process, reasoning, and problem solving.  Instructor of the Junior Detective course and campus faculty member Conny Pope said, "We're teaching techniques that are used in a forensics lab.  It's the kind of thing you see on TV.  They learn about things like microscopes, blood types, and DNA.  They have a really good time." 

Mother of four, Kyra Gray, enrolled all of her children in various KIC classes this summer.  She said, "My children are really enjoying their classes this year. Thanks for running a fun, safe and well organized program for my children."

Since 1985, summer youth programs at Penn State DuBois have provided fun learning opportunities in reading, science, art, and more for thousands of youngsters from infants through high school aged kids.  The main objectives of the programs are to increase students' interest and knowledge in the arts, science, and technology, and to provide challenging experiences which are not part of the regular school curriculum.  

KIC programs are for youth from infants through grade six.  Art, Science, and Technology Institute programs are for youth grades 7-12. AST programs contain enrichment classes specially designed for middle and high school students.

There is still time to sign up for courses this summer. For more information, call Jeannine at 814-375-4836 or Betsy at 814-372-3005.  A full list of courses and an online registration form can be found at www.dubois.psu.edu/youth

University Park, Pa. -- State Rep. Samuel H. Smith, R-66, received the sixth annual "Friend of Penn State" legislative award at a June 17 ceremony at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus for the significant role he has played in the continued improvement of Penn State.

Smith was named the 2011 award recipient by the Legislative Education and Advocacy Committee of Alumni Council, the governing body of the Penn State Alumni Association. Now serving his 13th consecutive term, Smith is one of the most senior members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and currently serves as Speaker of the House. His legislative district consists of Jefferson County and parts of Armstrong and Indiana counties. A Penn State alumnus with a 1978 degree in advertising, he was nominated for the award by Penn State DuBois.

Rodney P. Kirsch, Penn State's senior vice president of Development and Alumni Relations, presented the award to Smith. Kirsch outlined Smith's many efforts on Penn State's behalf, including consistently strong support for Penn State's annual state appropriation. "Sam's leadership team in the House enabled a major restoration to Penn State's appropriation," Kirsch said.

Smith also has worked with Penn State DuBois on accessing state and federal funds for the construction of the DuBois Educational Foundation Education and Technology Center and was instrumental in committing and directing $4 million in state funding for construction of a free-standing Children's Hospital at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Smith said receiving the award was a "great honor and a pleasure." He said the House is "working hard to manage this budget year" and to complete a budget by the constitutionally mandated June 30 deadline.

Read more about Smith at http://www.alumni.psu.edu/awards/individual/friend/recipients online.

The Penn State Alumni Association is the world's largest dues-paying alumni association with more than 164,000 members. More information on the Alumni Association is available at http://www.alumni.psu.edu online. For more information on the Friend of Penn State Award, go to the individual award section at http://www.alumni.psu.edu/awards online.

The event will be a four-person scramble with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.  Entry fees are $75 per person, and $300 per team.  Entry includes green fee, cart, brown bag breakfast, lunch, on-course beverages, skill prizes, and team awards. 

Click here for an online registration form. Or, call Ken Nellis, Athletic Coordinator, at 375-4857 for more information.

Since 1985, summer programs at Penn State DuBois have provided fun learning opportunities in reading, science, art, and more for thousands of youngsters from infants through high school aged kids.  The main objectives of the programs are to increase students' interest and knowledge in the arts, science, and technology, and to provide challenging experiences which are not part of the regular school curriculum.  

New classes this year include, Seeing in 3D - Perspective Taught Simply, Storybook Forest Fantasies, Recess, Fashion Jewelry Design with Wire, and Science and Story Stretching.

 
Returning programs, back by popular demand, will include Crazy Cooking Kids, Pirate School, Galactic Training Academy, Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!, Frosting & Flowers, Awesome Art, Princess Palace II, Flower Power, Slime Time, and Bubble-ology.

KIC programs are for youth from age two, through grade six.  This year, there is also one class offered for infants and their parents. Mommy and Me Music Time uses music to improve motor skills, communication, coordination, and spatial reasoning in very young children.

Art, Science, and Technology Institute programs are for youth grades 7-12. AST programs contain enrichment classes specially designed for middle and high school students. Their grade level is determined by the grade the student will enter in the fall. 

St. Marys courses are set for June 13-16.  

Sessions in DuBois are scheduled for June 20-23; June 24; June 27-30; and July 1. 

For more information, call Jeannine at 814-375-4836 or Betsy at 814-372-3003.  A full list of courses and an online registration form can be found at www.dubois.psu.edu/youth

Courses to meet general education requirements in biology, social science, psychology, music, and art, are available.  Credits will be accepted by most universities, fulfilling requirements for the majority of undergraduate degrees.

Specific course offered, beginning June 29, are: BI SC 004 Human Body: Form and Function; SOC 001 Introduction to Sociology; PSYCH 243 Introduction to Well-Being and Positive Psychology; HDFS 229 Infant and Child Development; MUSIC 007 Evolution of Jazz; ART  010 Introduction to Visual Studies; and MIS 204 Introduction to Business Information Systems.

For more information, or to register, contact the Penn State DuBois Registrar's Office at (814) 375-4722, or jch20@psu.edu

For complete course listings, visit http://www.ds.psu.edu/CE/28292.htm

Camps will be offered in basketball, soccer, and wrestling, in various age groups. 

Boys' wrestling camps are scheduled for July 11-14.  Activities will provide high level teaching sessions from some of the best college coaches and wrestlers in the country. The camp is intended to meet the needs of wrestlers at any skill level, from beginner to high school. There will also be mat strategy sessions to help wrestlers learn better mat management skills.

Basketball camps for boys are planned for June 13-16 and camps for girls are planned for June 13-15.  The camps will teach the fundamentals of the game, including ball handling, passing, defense, one-on-one moves, and layups.  The basics of team play will also be covered.  Penn State DuBois men's and women's basketball coaches will teach young players drills that they can use to practice at home.  

The boys' basketball camps will be held at Penn State DuBois, and the girls' basketball camps will be held at the Central Catholic Gymnasium.

Soccer camps for boys and girls will take place from June 27-30.  Geared for players of all experience levels, simple play activities will help to hone the skills of those in a variety of age groups.

All basketball and wrestling camp participants will receive a camp T-shirt.

For a full schedule, breakdown of camp age groups, and registration information, visit

http://www.dubois.psu.edu/CE/27974.htm

DuBois – Penn State DuBois played host to the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission's (North Central) annual conference on May 18.  Known as the North Central Communities Conference, the yearly event is designed to bring together businesses, elected officials, and other civic leaders.  Representatives from the various camps hear presentations on economic issues, and collaborate on ideas to improve the overall economic health of the region.  This year, Marcellus Shale drilling was widely discussed.

"One of the things we try to do at North Central is bring these different groups together to engage in dialogue," said North Central Executive Director Eric Bridges.  "We recognize the importance of responsible civic engagement for regional organizations, and this provides a venue for advancing that engagement and networking."

"The activities associated with the conference provide the opportunity to share information with organizations and agencies committed to the well-being and growth of our region," said Assistant Director of Penn State DuBois Continuing Education John Blasdell.

In all, more than 20 presentations were made throughout the day-long conference.  They focused on topics from workforce development and education, to improving communities.  However, a large focus of the conference was the Marcellus Shale gas industry.  Bridges said gas drilling came to the forefront of the conference because of the emerging impact that it has, and will continue to have on the region.

"There was a prevalent energy theme for obvious reasons," Bridges said, explaining that presentations on the industry varied.  Some focused on the benefits Marcellus Shale could bring to the area, while other outlined the risks involved with the drilling process.  "Presentations covered the economic perspective; local development and opportunity, to the costs associated with it." 

Clearfield County Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen offered opening remarks for the conference.  She said, "There is opportunity with Marcellus Shale, but it comes with responsibility.  We want to stay ahead of new opportunity, but we need to use our dollars wisely to do the best we can for our local economy."

Congressman Glenn Thompson, of Pennsylvania's Fifth District, also offered his insight on Marcellus Shale during the conference.  "I'm confident that history is being written today as we witness Pennsylvania's next big energy boom," Thompson said.  He, as well, said it will take work, vigilance, and education to assure the boom happens responsibly.

"We are going to find alternative energy sources that work.  There are a lot of smart people working on this, many work at campuses like this one and at University Park." 

DuBois – Penn State DuBois Senior Instructor in English Jackie Atkins has been named the 2011 DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) Educator of the Year.  Each year the DEF presents the Educator of the Year Award to a Penn State DuBois faculty member who has made a difference in the lives of students.  Nominations for the award come straight from the students themselves. 

"Jackie inspires each of her students to not only learn the class material, but to apply these lessons to our everyday lives," said one of her students, Staci Neal.  "She gives us the freedom to work as individuals, while still adhering to the expectations set forth in the syllabus." 

In the numerous nominations for Atkins that were submitted, students painted a picture of an educator who goes above and beyond the call of duty each day.  DEF Board Member Bob Johnson presented the award to Atkins and said, "This year's Educator of the Year is known for caring beyond the classroom; for having a genuine interest in the lives and success of students.  She not only dedicates herself to the highest standards of teaching, but is also dedicated to helping students become involved in clubs, organizations, and other activities outside of academics that provide complete, well rounded college experiences; experiences that assist students in their growth as individuals; experiences that not only help them to become good students, but great people."

A former student, Jody Lucas Kulakowski summed up her feeling about Atkins by saying, "Jackie Atkins deserves to be given the Educator of a Lifetime Award, but if Educator of the Year is the best we can do for her right now, I urge that it be bestowed upon her." 

"I don't feel it's possible for me to do what I don without students taking their education into their own hands," Atkins said upon receiving her award.  "It's a cooperative, collaborative effort." 

In addition to teaching English, Atkins also teaches Women's Studies courses, and is program leader of the Women's Studies minor.  She is a member of the Liaison Committee to the Penn State Commission for Women, the Lesbian/Gay/ Bisexual/ Transgender Support Network, the Zero Tolerance for Hate Support Network, and Faculty Congress.  Jackie is co-advisor to the campus SAFE Club, which stands for Students, Allies, Friends and Educators, and supports L-G-B-T efforts. 

She received the the Delta Mu Sigma Susanne Waitkus Faculty Award in 2009, and was named Penn Stater of the Quarter in 2004.

DuBois – Penn State DuBois' class of 2011 and the Student Government Association (SGA) presented their senior class gift at the spring commencement ceremonies.  The gift, a memorial stone, pays tribute to all enrolled Penn State DuBois students who have lost their lives.  

The idea of the stone as a class gift was spurred by the tragic loss of two students, Jordan Andrulonis and Shane Horner, in a single autumn weekend in 2009. 

Andrulonis, 22, of DuBois, was a mechanical engineering major and Dean's List student.  He was also a member of the Penn State DuBois wrestling team and active in intramural athletics. He drowned at Treasure Lake on Saturday, September 12, 2009.  

Horner, 18, of Brockway, was a freshman and First Year Senator in the SGA. He also volunteered with Service Above Self (SAS).  He was killed in a car crash on Sunday, September 13, 2009.

"The SGA wanted to pay tribute to not only Shane Horner and Jordan Andrulonis that passed on that tragic weekend, but also to all of the Penn State DuBois students that were taken too soon," said SGA Upper-class Senator Chris Kolp in a speech during commencement ceremonies. "With this memorial, remembrance of all those lost will be established for generations to come.  Although they may not physically be with us, they continue to inspire us as our memories of them live on."   

An inscription on the stone reads, "We are all leaves on the tree of life.  Unfortunately, some of our leaves fall too soon."  The stone is now on display near the Lion Shrine on the campus of Penn State DuBois.  

DuBois – Samuel Hayes, Jr. challenged Penn State DuBois graduates to take the reigns and steer society toward a more perfect tomorrow during his commencement address in the campus gymnasium on Saturday.  Hayes is a member of the Penn State University Board of Trustees, former state Secretary of Agriculture, and former member of the State House of Representatives.

"You must take what is imperfect today and make it more perfect tomorrow," Hayes said to the crowd in the standing-room only gymnasium.  "This will take leadership.  You must be a leader for a more perfect tomorrow." 

Nearly 200 graduates have joined the ranks of Penn State DuBois Alumni in the class of 2010-2011.  Hayes congratulated them on earning their various associate, bachelor, and master degrees, but also urged them to accept their new distinction with a sense of responsibility. 

"As Penn State grads, you represent a tradition, a brand.  You represent something special," he said.  "You have an obligation to do more than just occupy some position of success in life.  You have an obligation to make a more perfect world; that will take more than college credits."  

Hayes went on to encourage graduates to lead others to success and transformation.  He said, "You must be a leader with a vision, an agent of change.  You must be proactive, set priorities, and push boundaries.  You must influence others to work for a better world.  Others and the world depend on you."  

As a member of the Penn State University Board of Trustees, Hayes is responsible, in part, for the overall management of Penn State.  The Board of Trustees is the corporate body of Penn State, which has complete responsibility for the governance and welfare of the university and all of its interests, including students, faculty, staff and alumni.  Hayes was appointed to the Board of Trustees as a representative of the Agricultural Societies in March, 2003. He previously served on the Board of Trustees from June of 1997 to January of 2003 in his role as the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture.   

A former legislative leader, Hayes served in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1970 until 1992, representing the 81^st District, including Huntingdon, Centre and Blair Counties.  He rose to the positions of Majority and Minority Whip, as well as Majority Leader.

Hayes is actively involved in his community, serving as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board, the Pennsylvania Farm Show Commission, the Pennsylvania Animal Health Commission, the Hardwoods Development Council, the Agriculture Law Center Board, and the Pennsylvania Fair Advisory Board.  He is also a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Warriors Mark Grange, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Hayes has received many awards and honors, including Penn State Alumni awards, the Man of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Cooperatives, and the Leadership Award from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. He served five years on active duty with the U.S. Army and is a veteran of the Vietnam War where he received the Bronze Star.

Chancellor Anita McDonald presided over the commencement ceremony and conferred degrees. Senior Instructor in Wildlife Technology Joseph Hummer served as Campus Marshall, and Director of Academic Affairs Debra Straussfogel presented academic awards. 

Upon congratulating the new graduates, McDonald said, "All of us at Penn State DuBois are thankful for the opportunity we have had to help guide each of you on your own paths to success.  Contrary to what you may have heard or read, Penn State DuBois is and will remain a vital part of the community for generations to come.  We ask that you stay connected with the campus and represent us well in the community, or wherever your career path takes you.  Remain Penn State DuBois Proud." 

DuBois – Each May, seventh grade girls from area school districts converge at Penn State DuBois to learn about the many career options there are for those who excel in mathematics and sciences. 

Math Options is an annual program that is designed teach young girls how to apply mathematics and science skills to a variety of real-world situations.  The goal of the program is to keep these youngsters interested in mathematics by showing them the opportunities and satisfaction that they can realize through its use.  The program is aimed at the specific seventh grade female demographic for a reason.

"Seventh grade is a critical age when girls start to lose interest in Math," said Senior Instructor in Education Pamela Hufnagel.  "Programs like this have been proven to help hold that interest.  Strong evidence exists that women are often limited in career options due to early decisions not to study math and science.  Our sessions are led by professional women in nontraditional careers who demonstrate real-world perspectives of math, science, and engineering."  Hufnagel noted that Penn State DuBois students also assist in the instruction and supervision of youth in the program. 

This year, nearly 200 seventh grade girls from 15 school districts participated in Math Options. The program splits the day up into workshops that groups of students rotate through, one at a time.  The workshops feature lessons that teach the girls how to apply their skills to things like forensic science, money management, wildlife studies, and more. 

"A lot of these girls think that math is beyond them.  We're trying to show them that it is not, and that it can be used in everyday life," said Math Instructor June Strohm, who taught a workshop on tessellations for this year's Math Options. "Tessellations are when you break things up into sections and patterns like tiles on a floor," she said.  "We're showing them how patterns and designs repeat so they can see how tessellations work to break up a space.  When they see math put to practical use like this, they get comfortable with it."

The Penn State DuBois students who worked with the children in Math Options said they wanted to make an impact on students younger than them, and contribute to their eventual success.  A forensic science major, Sophie Reed of Clearfield said, "It inspires them, and it might mean they'll look into taking more math and science classes.  I don't think there are many people out there sharing that interest, and if they see it from us, maybe they'll be inspired." 

DuBois – First Graders from the Brockway Area School District spent their spring field trip at Penn State DuBois, getting an early taste of the college experience.

The students attended short classes at the campus, prepared by members of the Penn State DuBois chapter of the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association

(PSEA).  The theme for the lessons was animal habitats, and kindergarteners learned about animals that live in the desert, the polar regions, the sea, the rainforest, and the woodlands.

Students learned about animal adaptation through presentations and hands-on activities, and learned about safety in the local woodlands.

Penn State students who participated were Christopher Albert, Naomi Burnell, Janet Cahilly, Lauren Gaspari, Andrew Piccolo, and Dave Swatsworth.

"This event was a win-win for both schools," said Senior Instructor in Education Pamela Hufnagel. "The Penn State students, who are all preparing for careers in education, had an opportunity to prepare a lesson and present it multiple times, and the students at Brockway Elementary had a nice field trip, and a great learning experience." 

This will mark the 16th Annual Road Scholars Outreach Spring Tour.  Any new or recently tenured Penn State faculty member is invited to join the three day bus tour, hosted by Penn State President Graham Spanier, who joins faculty members on the tour. The tour travels to Penn State campuses, businesses, and historical sites throughout Pennsylvania. This year, the itinerary concentrates on the northwest region of the state. The intention is to provide participating faculty members with opportunities to learn more about the university, the state of Pennsylvania, and the significant impact Penn State has on the commonwealth. 

In DuBois, faculty members will tour Penn State DuBois and learn more about the campus' strong connections and involvement in the community. Two programs unique to the campus, Wildlife Technology, and General Engineering with Applied Materials Track will be highlighted. A presentation will also be made on the Earth and Mineral Science program. Scholars will then take a tour of GKN's DuBois facility. GKN and Penn State DuBois have a long relationship, working together to train employees and prospective employees for real world careers in industries such as Powder Metal.   

In this issue, a look back at the past year reflects the many positive events that were held to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the campus.  Also included are stories about the achievements of students and faculty members, as well as features on valuable services offered at the campus. Chancellor McDonald also shares her insight into the impact state budget cuts will have on the campus and the university in a one-on-one interview. 

For anyone who does not receive College Place in the mail, an online version is available on the campus website at http://www.ds.psu.edu/Information/mediapubs.htm

To receive a free subscription to College Place, contact Steve Harmic at (814) 375-4776, or sph6@psu.edu

DuBois – The Fourth Annual Penn State DuBois Faculty and Student Research Symposium recently gave the public, as well as those in the campus community, a look at the research taking place at the campus, and at other Penn State locations.  Held each year at the end of the spring semester, this year's event featured more than 50 presentations by students and faculty members from Penn State DuBois, and other campuses within the Penn State system. 

Researchers who presented their projects came from various disciplines, including business, mathematics, communications, sciences, and more.  Many groundbreaking projects spearheaded by members of the university community were highlighted.  

"Our goals are to promote interaction and collaboration between students and faculty, provide graduate and undergraduate students an opportunity to present their research and accomplishments in an academic, professional, and public setting, and to promote collaboration among all 20 Penn State campuses," explained Spanish Professor and symposium organizer Debbie Gill. 

"The annual research symposium represents the best of the teaching and learning experiences that go on at our campus," said Director of Academic affairs Debra Straussfogel.  "It is an opportunity for students to become the teachers and for the faculty to learn from them."

Student Christopher Kolp, a Letters, Arts, and Sciences major concentrating on mass media, made a presentation on the impact that advertising in major media outlets has on society.  He said, "Many people get pulled into the thought that they need this or that to be socially accepted among their peers."  Kolp's presentation included tactics for resisting the influence that ads can have on the public. He said the tips can be helpful to everyone.  

"It was an awesome privilege to have the opportunity to participate in the symposium," said student Alina Bumbarger, who made a presentation on bibliotherapy, a treatment for depression.  "I was able to share my research with colleagues, and in return gain new knowledge and insight from their ideas and research."

"Not only did students and faculty have the chance to showcase their work, and learn from each other," said Straussfogel.  "Community members and families also learned about the range and quality of research at Penn State DuBois.  We look forward to continued growth of this vital demonstration of research at our campus."

Organized by the new Office for Adult Students and Veteran's Services, the event will bring together representatives from multiple campus departments who will be available to provide information on all areas of the college experience. Those attending will have the opportunity to learn about enrollment procedures, financial aid and scholarships, career development, campus veteran's activities, and much more.

Application fees will be waived for any veteran who applies for admission to Penn State DuBois that evening.

Veteran's Night at Penn State DuBois is planned for 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, in room 203 of the DEF Building. 

For more information, contact Veteran's Services Coordinator Sueann Doran at (814) 375-4716, or sdoran@psu.edu

"The real nice part of this job is at the end of the day you've helped some person, or some company move forward, and you just can't beat that," said Technology Transfer Coordinator Sally Moran.  As the chief representative for Technology Transfer, Moran connects businesses and people with the resources and industry contacts they need to succeed.  She explained that she provides the avenue entrepreneurs can take to access the resources available at Penn State.  

 "The real value in what I do is that I open the doors to Penn State," Moran said. "The companies trying to be innovative don't always have the real resources they need.  Most of the time, Penn State does." 

Moran helps entrepreneurs connect with people across the university who have the knowledge, skills, and contacts to help them start a business, or expand an existing business.  Inventors and business owners can get assistance establishing a business plan, and gain access to research and laboratory facilities where they can develop inventions or ideas.  They can even get guidance on how to market their product or service once it is ready to be released to the public.  What's more, is that all of these services are free.

In addition to the aforementioned statistics on the office's accomplishments, Moran has also helped to launch five all-new products, and helped five inventors receive patents for their ideas.  She said, "I can do the project management role, I can do the leg work for them.  It's almost like having another person on their staff." 

One local inventor who has received some assistance from Moran and the Technology Transfer Office is Nicole Kovalyak, a neonatal nurse who developed the Nurture Rest pillow, which simulates a mother's body, making babies as comfortable as possible.  She has marketed the products mostly to hospitals with neonatal intensive care units that care for premature babies that cannot have frequent contact with their mother. 

Moran secured grant funding for Kovalyak to help cover the costs of patents and for promotion of the products, and connected her with the people and companies she needed to help get the business off the ground.  Vision Creative Group was contracted to provide graphic design work for a website, promotional literature, and helped to develop the branding of her products and business. Moran also arranged for an honors level finance class at University Park to design Kovalyak's business plan as their class project for this current semester, free of charge.  

Another success story is that of George Angelo of St. Marys, and his invention of the Angel Wings bicycle seat. His seat provides more comfort for riders by utilizing pads that move with the rider's legs as they pedal. The Office of Technology Transfer helped Angelo gain exposure for his invention, and connected him with other people at Penn State who helped to test prototypes of the seat on exercise bikes in university fitness labs. 

"There are some really smart people and great companies in this area, and I have the good fortune to work with them," Moran said. 

Moran said the services provided through the Office of Technology Transfer are made possible by a partnership between her office and the Northwest Industrial Research Center, the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, and the Clarion University Small Business Development Center. 

For more information on services offered by the Office of Technology Transfer at Penn State DuBois, call (814) 375-4803, or write to sum24@psu.edu

Penn State DuBois is offering the Blended Learning Instructional Series for teachers.  The program consists of two three credit courses that can be completed as a series, or taken individually.

Introduction to Computers for Educators will provide training for integrating technology into classroom lessons. They'll work specifically with applications like Slideshare, Voicthread, and Skype. The course is offered from 6:00 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. on Tuesdays from May 17, through June 21, at the Community Education Council (CEC) on Erie Avenue, in St. Marys.  There will also be an additional online course component.

Using the Internet in the Classroom will introduce teachers to methods for using the internet effectively in their lessons. They'll learn to apply the skills learned in Introduction to Computers for Educators to create and evaluate lesson plans for the next school year using Bloom's Taxonomy and International Society for Technology in Education standards. It will be offered from 6:00 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. on Tuesdays from June 28, through August 9, at the CEC, with an additional online course component.   

For more information, call (814) 375-4718, or visit www.dubois.psu.edu/ce

Pictured Left to Right are:

Front Row: Ben Turner, professor of mathematics, 5 years; Robin Gill, instructional designer, 15 years; Audrey Griffin, IT instructor, 10 years; Roger Curly, Tech Services, 20 years; Don Robertson, Tech Services, 25 years; Garret Roen, admissions counselor, 5 years; Holli Lashinsky, admissions counselor, 10 years; Charles Schaadt, professor of Wildlife Technology, 20 years.

Back Row: Chancellor Anita McDonald; Sueann Doran, outreach coordinator, 10 years; Ben Park, professor of sociology, 10 years; Arshad Kahn, professor of chemistry, 25 years; Holly Tkacik, instructor of physical therapy, 5 years; Amy Sprague, assistant manager, campus bookstore, 10 years; Angie Russell, administrative support coordinator, 25 years; Mark Matusky, facilities manager, 35 years; Jim Rieg, Tech Services, 25 years; Kathleen Bender, librarian, 25 years; John Piccolo, director, Continuing Education, 10 years. 

The nationally recognized ServSafe program fulfills The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requirements for the Food Employee Certification Act in the categories of food service, retail, and bakery. The class will meet from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 26 and Thursday, June 2, 2011, at the Community Education Council in St. Marys.

For more information call (814) 372-3005, class size is limited.

DuBois – Samuel Hayes, Jr. will provide the commencement address at the Penn State DuBois Spring Commencement Ceremony, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 14. 

Hayes is a member of the Penn State University Board of Trustees, the corporate body of Penn State, which has complete responsibility for the government and welfare of the university and all of its interests, including students, faculty, staff and alumni.  Hayes was appointed to the Board of Trustees as a representative of the Agricultural Societies in March 2003. He previously served on the Board of Trustees from June 1997 to January 2003 as the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture.  

A former legislative leader, Hayes served in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1970 until 1992, representing the 81^st District, including Huntingdon, Centre and Blair Counties.  He rose to the positions of Majority and Minority Whip, as well as Majority Leader.

Hayes is actively involved in his community, serving as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board, the Pennsylvania Farm Show Commission, the Pennsylvania Animal Health Commission, the Hardwoods Development Council, the Agriculture Law Center Board, and the Pennsylvania Fair Advisory Board.  He is also a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Warriors Mark Grange, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Hayes has received many awards and honors, including Penn State Alumni awards, the Man of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Cooperatives, and the Leadership Award from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. He served five years on active duty with the U.S. Army and is a veteran of the Vietnam War where he received the Bronze Star.

"This will give people an idea of what is there and where to look for the birds," said Andie Graham, of Clearfield, a graduate of the Wildlife Technology program. She continued, "For example, if they want to see a bluebird, this will tell them what section of the park to go to."  Graham was working as a Wildlife Technology laboratory technician during the study, and volunteers with the Bilger's Rocks Association. Following the study, she spearheaded the sign project.  

The sign also includes photos of the birds featured and information about each species, so that visitors can learn a little more about them. 

"I think it will appeal to a lot of people," said Graham.  "From bird watchers, to anyone who just wants to visit the park, it gives them a chance to learn about the local wildlife and show them that there is more there than just the rocks."  

The rocks are an attraction all of their own.  Spreading across roughly 20 acres, some of the giant sand stones stand more than 50 feet tall, and weigh hundreds of tons.  They form natural caves and crevasses that have attracted visitors for years; and their high stone walls provide a playground for rock climbers.  

"I can't think of a more beautiful place for us to have conducted this study," said Instructor of Wildlife Technology Keely Roen, whose students conducted the survey.  "The area around Bilger's Rocks is such a diverse ecosystem.  There's forest, there's wetland, there's the rocks.  There is a lot of variety in the wildlife there," she said, noting that around 30 species of birds have been documented by students in her classes. 

Roen stressed the mutual benefits of the project for both Bilger's Rocks and her students.  She said, "The students get experience by doing this survey and by actually doing things that professionals in wildlife technology fields do, and the park gets the benefit of being able to use and provide the information we gathered."   

The new sign will be debuted at the Bilger's Rocks Earth Day Celebration.  The event, rescheduled from April 23, due to weather, is now planned to kick off at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, at Bilger's Rocks.  Volunteers are invited to aid in cleanup efforts of the park that day.  Volunteers will be treated to a free meal. 

In all, a group of 40 students, faculty, and staff made the trip.  Of those participants, 23 came from Penn State DuBois, while students and faculty from other Penn State campuses rounded out the group.  The trip was organized and led by Penn State DuBois Spanish Professor Deborah Gill. 

"We always want to provide international opportunities and global experiences to all students," Gill said.  "To understand a little bit about that country can help bring the classroom lessons home.  This trip allowed students to see that Spain is a very diverse country, with a very diverse population, history and culture." 

Gill explained that students saw, first hand, the cultural influences that have shaped modern-day Spain through the centuries.  People of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian decent, Gill said, had major impacts on the country throughout its history.  Signs of each influence were apparent at each site they visited in cities such as Toledo, Avila, Segovia, and Granada.  Within these cities, students toured museums, local landmarks, and historic sites and buildings.

"It was a real eye opener getting a look into these different cultures," said student Morgan Lingle of DuBois.  "It made me so much more aware of how they live.  It made me see that we're all different, but not so different."

Student Nicholas Newsom of Washington, DC agreed, saying, "It was so rewarding getting to experience these different cultures.  There are so many different and interesting types of people in the world."

Students shared specific examples of cultural experiences, like the opportunity to take in an authentic flamengo dance performance, and interactions with real modern-day gypsies on the streets of Spanish cities.  They also had the chance to enhance their skill in Spanish by conversing with people who are native speakers of the language.

This experience was especially exciting for Penn State DuBois international student Angela Hu, from Beijing, China.  She traveled internationally just to come to college, and now continues to visit new countries as part of her studies. 

"It was definitely a once in a lifetime trip," Hu said.

Gill said that students self funded part of their travel expenses, but made it clear that such international learning experiences would not be possible without financial support from the Chancellor’s and Academic Affair’s offices as well as outside donors.  Gifts made it possible for Gill to extend the itinerary on this trip to include the city of Granada, where students learned valuable lessons about Spain's cultural history. 

"With those generous donations we were able to see Granada and do things we normally wouldn't have been able to do. Granada is where you really see the blending of major cultures," she said.  "The impact these trips have on the students and their education is immeasurable.  This was a really special trip, and the experience is just something they won't forget."

The students undoubtedly agree.  Lingle commented, "I would do this trip all over again if I could.  Everyone should go on a trip like this." 

Students and faculty stand at the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, a Spanish national symbol, in Madrid. 

Standing (Left to Right):  Daniel McKeirnan, Dr. Pamela Hufnagel, Andrew Steffen, Morgan Lingle, Angela Hu, Darryl Beamon, Jacqueline Tynes, Tarah Trayer, Stephanie Baka, Kathleen Churico, Sara DiMattia, Kathleen DiMattia, Staci Neal, Kyle Bish, Richard Hanes, Jaci Gordon, Alyssa Pearsall

Kneeling (Left to Right):  Brandon Longe, Nicholas Newsom

The Dave Shaffer Outstanding Young Alumni Award is granted to a Penn State DuBois alumnus who graduated or attended campus less than 10 years ago and has achieved significant professional accomplishments, is an active community leader, and is engaged with a campus or alumni group.

The Outstanding Alumni Award is awarded to a Penn State DuBois alumnus who graduated or attended campus 11 to 40 years ago and demonstrates professional leadership with an impact on society, leadership within their professional field, citizenship in their community, and engagement with a campus or alumni group.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the most significant and prestigious award given by Penn State DuBois.  It shall be awarded to a Penn State DuBois alumnus who graduated or attended campus 41 years ago or more and demonstrates professional leadership with a significant impact on society, considerable leadership within their professional field, significant citizenship in their community, and engagement with a campus or alumni group.  

For a nomination form, or more information, go to http://www.ds.psu.edu/Alumni

The Office of Alumni Relations can be reached at (814) 375-4775, or duboisalumni@psu.edu

DuBois – Students in the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology program have joined forces with representatives from United Electric, Lezzer Lumber Company, and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to provide nesting sites for threatened birds of prey.  Their work will benefit osprey, a species of bird that lives near water, and feeds predominantly on fish. 

The group of five honors students, along with United Electric and DCNR personnel installed two nesting platforms for the birds at Shagger's Inn, a small lake northeast of Parker Dam State Park in Clearfield County.  They constructed platforms that were mounted to the tops of utility poles.  United Electric crews installed the poles in the ground using their specialized trucks and equipment designed for work on power lines.  Lezzer Lumber donated the building materials for the platforms. 

"We tried to create a permanent structure," said Professor of Wildlife Technology Charles Schaadt, who noted that osprey can live up to 25 years and usually return to the same nesting site each season.  "They add to the nest every year and they get bigger, and bigger," he said. 

A pair of osprey had been nesting at Shagger's Inn in recent years, but recently lost their home when the tree their nest was in fell over.  Schaadt and his students hope the structures they built will serve as a replacement to the birds.  They also hope another pair will move into the second platform, and have plans to construct more habitat and nesting sites in the future.

"The offspring of those already nesting there will sometimes return to nest, and other birds will find their way there.  Eventually a colony will form," said Schaadt. 

Work to reintroduce and sustain the osprey population has been ongoing since the early 1980's, and those efforts have reduced their status from endangered to threatened in Pennsylvania.  The species endured significant loss in numbers due to the widespread use of the pesticide, DDT, beginning in the early 20^th century.  Studies conducted in the 1950's revealed that high levels of DDT made it into the fish that they osprey depended on as their primary food source.  The contamination caused the birds to lay thinly shelled eggs that could not hold up during incubation of the young, and populations plummeted.  DDT was banned in 1972, and since then the osprey population has thrived. 

"It's such a good thing to provide habitat for these birds since they are still threatened in Pennsylvania," said student Courtney Colley, of Shippensburg.  She noted that projects like this provide solutions to practical, real-world problems, while presenting educational opportunities at the same time.  She said, "When you learn something, you should actually do it and practice it.  This program is very hands-on." 

Fellow student Ben Onusko, of Latrobe echoed that sentiment.  He said, "It's exciting and it's fun.  Building the platforms was good experience, and it helps out a great cause. 

Throughout the day, more than 50 presentations will be made by students and faculty members from Penn State DuBois, and other campuses within the Penn State system.  They will highlight the research taking place across the university in various disciplines, including business, mathematics, communications, sciences, and more.  The sessions will detail many groundbreaking projects spearheaded by members of the university community.

Session lengths will vary.  To see the complete schedule for this year's symposium, visit http://www.personal.psu.edu/djg25/Symposium/2011/2011_Conference_Agenda.pdf

For more information, log onto http://www.ds.psu.edu/Academics/ugradresearch.htm

Pictured left to right are:

Front Row: Mike Reed, outgoing treasurer; Eddie Smith, outgoing club coordinator and treasurer elect; Alex Angstadt, outgoing president; Louise Whyte, president elect; Andrew Piccolo, vice president elect; Kim Hummel, outgoing vice president; Izzi Cogan, recording secretary.

Back Row: Patrick Watkavitch, upper-class senator; Ashley Stauffer, upper-class senator; Morgan Lingle, upper-class senator; Jessica Noland, outgoing first-year senator; Holly Kresling, coordinator elect; Rebecca Kear, upper-class senator; Heidi Miller, upper-class senator; Adam Snyder, upper-class senator; Star Hasty, upper-class senator;   Chris Kolp, upper-class senator.

DuBois – New signs have been placed in the crosswalk on State Route 255, in front of the campus.  Also known as channalizers, the signs help to keep the heavily used crosswalk more visible for drivers on the busy road.

"This was a huge concern among students from both Penn State DuBois and DuBois Area High School," said outgoing Student Government Association (SGA) president Alex Angstadt. "Change was needed so that there would not only be an increase in pedestrian crossing awareness, but also to help ensure the safety of students from the area."

Angstadt spearheaded the efforts to make the crosswalk more visible.  He contacted the City of DuBois, and city manager Herm Suplizio, who got him in touch with officials at PennDOT.  Angstadt was able to schedule himself and Penn State DuBois campus police officer John Licatovich for a meeting with representatives of PennDOT, the City of DuBois, and the Pennsylvania State Police.  The group discussed different methods to increase visibility of the crosswalk, and agreed on the new channalizers, which are now in place.

DuBois – If you're busy and on the move, but still have the need for a quick personality test, there's an app for that; and a Penn State DuBois professor made it all possible.

The Dutch IT company, iTUDE, has just completed the design of an iPhone and iPad app that administers and scores a personality questionnaire originally designed for the internet by Penn State DuBois Professor of Psychology John A. Johnson.

Johnson was contacted by developers at iTUDE in December of 2010, and asked if he would collaborate with them to create the application.  The result is a 120-item version of Johnson's original web-based personality test, the International Personality Item Pool Representation (IPIP), or IPIP-NEO.

"I was happy to share my scripts and statistics with them so that they could create this application," Johnson said.  "I hope that they can make some money on this venture while providing a useful app for iPhone users."

The developers at iTUDE say that currently about 150 people are completing the questionnaire with an iPhone every day.

As an accomplished personality psychologist and pioneer in web-based personality tests, it was fitting that Johnson was sought out by the developers.  He has used personality tests in the classroom since 1981, and started to experiment with electronic applications out of necessity and convenience.

"Prior to 1990, my students completed paper-and-pencil versions of these questionnaires, and I had to score them by hand to give them feedback," Johnson recalled.   "This was extremely time-consuming, as the questionnaires I used contained between 300 and 500 items. By 1990 I developed some programs for microcomputers to help with scoring and generating feedback, but I was still entering questionnaire responses by hand."

By the mid-1990's, Johnson's work and modern technology allowed for him to begin posting questionnaires online.  Since that time, his students have been able to complete his questionnaires on the web and get instant feedback.

Since establishing his website in 1998, Johnson's online presence has served primarily as a way for his students to learn more about personality assessment and about their own personality traits.  After completing his questionnaire, students receive a seven page report describing where they stand on five primary personality factors and 30 subfactors.

"Not long after I placed the questionnaire on the web, its existence quickly spread by word-of-mouth," said Johnson.  "Hundreds, and then thousands, of people beyond Penn State DuBois began taking the test."

The test's popularity earned it a designation as a Yahoo! Incredibly Useful Site of the Day for October 30, 1998, and professors from dozens of other universities began sending their students to the site as an assignment for their psychology classes. At this time, over half a million people have completed the questionnaire.

Johnson does not charge any fees for either the online test, or the iPhone app.  He said, "I regard my contribution as a form of public service. I am just happy that access to my questionnaire is spreading rapidly." 

Anyone who does not own an iPhone can complete the questionnaire at: http://www.personal.psu.edu/~j5j/IPIP/

Johnson has taught at Penn State DuBois since 1981, earning his full professorship in 1995.  He completed a research fellowship at the University of Bielefeld, Germany.  He was previously an instructor at Johns Hopkins Evening College, and Towson State University.  He is a member of several professional organizations, such as the American Psychological Association, and the European Association of Personality Psychology.  Johnson has published numerous papers in academic journals. 

Johnson completed his undergraduate work at Penn State, and earned his masters and Ph.D. in psychology at Johns Hopkins University. 

More than 200 Penn State DuBois students are members of Delta Mu Sigma. In order to qualify for membership, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above, and be involved in campus or community service.

Delta Mu Sigma reaches out to DuBois and the surrounding area by offering community service and fundraisers with proceeds benefiting scholarship funds and local charities.

Honors Convocation award recipients for 2011 are pictured left to right:

Row One: Chrissy Lockwood, Adam B.L. Snyder, Ed Williams, Alex Angstadt, Barb Holt, Donna Veilleux, Emily Aiello.

Row Two: Staci Neal, Jessica Noland, Owen Samuels, Courtney Colley, Derek Dick, Jared Puketza, Justin Kerr, Eric Dippold.

Row Three: Colleen Coudriet, Ben Onusko, Marissa Galeotti, Gregory Wehler, Mallisa Galbo, Tim Folmer, Caleb McGarvey, David Whitaker.

Row Four: Nicholas Moore, Mark Kopp, Amanda Kear, Marly Doty, Michael Reed, Antonio Vallone, Delta Mu Sigma Faculty Advisor. 

DuBois – Penn State DuBois students who received scholarships this year had the opportunity to meet with and thank the people who help to make their education possible at the Annual Scholarship Luncheon.  The recent event, held at the DuBois Country Club, brought together the donors who have established or given to scholarship funds, with the students who benefit from them. 

"This is the opportunity to put a face with the name or organization," Chancellor Anita McDonald told scholarship recipients at the luncheon.  "You can see there are real people who are responsible for providing the funding you received."

Students and donors alike spoke during the luncheon, and shared their experiences and perspectives on what scholarships mean to them.

"I was nervous about how I would pay for tuition," said scholarship recipient and senior Cortney Yenzi, of Reynoldsville, remembering when she was first accepted at Penn State DuBois.  "After I received my scholarships, I knew I could do it.  It was amazing to me that people would invest in my future without even knowing me.  It made me a better person, and I never would have made it this far if it were not for that generosity.  I can't thank you enough," Yenzi said. 

Scholarship recipient Cesar Salazar shared his unique story about overcoming both international and financial barriers, and how his father inspired him to chase his dreams. He said, "My father came from, literally, the side of a mountain in Columbia, and came to New York City.  He started washing dishes in a restaurant.  Now, nearly 25 years later, he is a manager at a New Jersey restaurant with two kids in college."

Salazar said the kindness of others helped him, like his father, achieve his goals.  "Thank you very much to all of you who give to scholarships to help us move forward.  When I'm successful, I'm going to help people move forward, too," he said. 

Ed Nasuti, of DuBois spoke from the donor's perspective.  Nasuti, together with his wife and his engineering firm, Lee Simpson Associates just established a scholarship fund at the campus.  Nasuti remembered how a scholarship gave him a chance to pursue an education when he was first starting out. It's an experience that inspired him to pass on such generosity through the generations.

"That scholarship changed my life, and the life of my family.  Without the scholarship, I couldn't have started my career.  Hopefully our scholarship will help someone in the same way," Nasuti said. 

In 2010-2011 nearly $300,000 in scholarships were awarded to 241 Penn State DuBois students.

Jenkins' book, the Humanure Handbook, examines the process of recycling human waste to be used as an all natural, organic fertilizer.  He explains that the use of "humanure" can benefit the environment in a variety of ways, and will detail the process outlined in his book during his lecture.

According to Jenkins, "All animals produce manure, including humans. Yet, humanity has thus far not succeeded in constructively managing or recycling its own excretions. In the United States, water pollution and declining soil fertility are the results. Disease and death are common consequences in the third world, where water pollution from fecal contamination of the environment can have disastrous effects on public health. Yet, human excrement can be constructively recycled using microorganisms in aerobic composting environments, thereby eliminating the disease factor and creating valuable soil fertility." 

The public is welcome to this event, and all other speaking events held as part of the Natural Resources Colloquium. 

The Natural Resources Colloquium at Penn State DuBois is the periodic gathering of the natural resources scientific community on campus. During each colloquium meeting, students, faculty, and community members share some snacks, listen to a scientific presentation, and engage in discussion.

DuBois - Members of the Penn State DuBois Women's Liaison Committee and the Students, Allies, Friends and Educators (SAFE) Club hosted the Take Back the Night Rally on campus April 14.  The event is completely organized by students, and held each year to show support for women who have been victims of violence. The rally also provides those victims a venue to tell their stories, and to help others by sharing their experiences.

Beginning at noon on the day of the rally, supporters walked through campus carrying signs with messages of hope for abuse victims. 

The rally kicked off at 7:00 p.m., and included testimonials from victims, as well as speakers from organizations such as Passages and Crossroads.

"I fully believe that Domestic Violence is on the raise and that it affects more than just the victim," said student organizer Heidi Miller.  "The Take Back the Night Rally is the place for victims and survivors to come and know that people are behind them, know that people care and demand an end to violence against all types of people. I involve myself in the project because I want to be the voice for the ones who are too scared to stand up and speak out about violence. I want them to know that they are not alone and they don't have to fight this on their own."

Registration will take place in the Hiller Building on the day of the egg hunt. The fee is $2.00, which will benefit the Shriners Hospital for Children. 

All children age 10 and under are welcome. 

For more information, contact the Office of Student Life at (814) 375-4764.

DuBois – Students in the Penn State DuBois Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program recently worked with area senior citizens to assure they are as safe as possible when behind the wheel.

The students collaborated with PennDOT, AAA, and AARP to offer a CarFit clinic at the Best Western Inn and Conference Center in DuBois.  Drivers who attended the clinic learned how to best "fit" in their cars to ensure they are traveling comfortably and safely.  Small adjustments were made to parts of many of the vehicles, including the gas and brake pedals, steering wheel, seat, seat belt, and mirrors to achieve optimum safety and comfort.

"The population of people over 65 is growing at an astronomical rate, and this is about helping those people keep their independence," said PennDOT Safety Press Officer Dawn Walls.  "So much of our culture is about being mobile, and if the situation arises where we're not mobile, we loose a lot of our identity. This program helps senior citizens stay safe on the road, for a longer period of time."

One driver who turned out for the clinic was Hank Webster, a retired Penn State DuBois professor.  He said, "They're covering things that seniors definitely should be aware of.  I observe other drivers, and I have seen others that are apparently not well fitted to their cars, and that can be dangerous."    

For the OTA students participating in the clinic, it provided valuable real-world experience that they can carry with them into their careers. 

"When I get a job as an occupational therapy assistant, if I have an older client who is still driving, I can help them adjust their car to fit them by using what I've learned here," said student Colleen Prechtl from St. Marys. 

"Students involved in the CarFit event have the opportunity to practice skills they have been learning about in the classroom," said Penn State DuBois OTA instructor LuAnn Demi.  "Students learn how older drivers value being able to drive just as much as younger drivers do, but often they have some difficulties due to age-related changes.  It’s a valuable learning experience for everyone involved."

Students had to be certified by AAA and the AARP to participate in the program, so in addition to the knowledge they gained, they also earned nationally recognized certification.

DuBois – Penn State DuBois Academic Advisor Melissa Coles has been chosen to receive the Penn State Commission for Women's Achieving Women award for 2011.  An awards ceremony is planed for April 15, at University Park.   

Awardees are chosen from nominations collected from all Penn State locations.  According to the Commission for Women, the award recognizes Penn State women who have shown notable leadership and accomplishment in their fields, and have gone beyond the requirements of employment duties and responsibilities in their support of the university's diversity efforts, promotion of equal opportunity, or contribution to human causes and public service activities. 

Coles has served on the campus Diversity Committee, served as co-advisor for the All Come Together (ACT) Club, and has been a member of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity.  She has organized numerous diversity oriented events for students, faculty, and staff.  Just this year, Coles organized a month of activities centered on the work of Marin Luther King, Jr.  The activities included featured speakers, diversity workshops, a discussion event on a film dealing with diversity issues, and an essay contest.   

"I am most humbled by her willingness to work hard to provide an atmosphere for people to delve into the meaning of diversity, and have educated conversations about how inequalities affect people," said Student Life Coordinator Marly Doty, who was among the people who nominated Coles for the award. "This is not a part of Melissa’s job description. She has gone completely above and beyond in creating these avenues for our campus to work on this difficult boundary at Penn State DuBois." 

Spanish Professor Deborah Gill also nominated Coles for the award.  She said, "Melissa embodies what diversity and equal opportunity is all about.  She has supported our students, our campus, and the university to the fullest both in her capacity as an Academic Advisor as well as a member of the DuBois campus community." 

Coles said her dedication to diversity comes from knowing how important it is to pass along positive attitudes to others, especially students.  "It's important because we try to create, not only well-rounded, educated students, but people who will go out and create a better world," she said.  "That needs to start here, both in and out of the classroom."   

Coles will soon begin a new chapter in her career of helping students achieve.  In April, she will leave Penn State DuBois to take on new responsibilities as the lead advisor for Penn State's World Campus, based at University Park. 

Attendees are encouraged to decorate their table in the theme of their choice.  A prize for the best table will be awarded, and the winning sponsor will receive four free seats to next year's tea. Other opportunities for prizes include a 50/50 drawing and basket raffles. 

Tables accommodate four to eight people, at $25 per seat.  Proceeds benefit Penn State DuBois scholarship funds and community outreach projects. 

To make a reservation, or for more information, contact the Alumni Relations Office at (814) 375-4775, or duboisalumni@psu.edu

The event is held each year to show support for women who have been victims of violence. The rally also provides those victims a venue to tell their stories, and to help others by sharing their experiences.

Supporters will walk throughout campus with signs displaying messages of hope for abuse victims, beginning at noon on Thursday, April 14.  The rally will begin at 7:00 p.m., and include speeches from abuse victims, who will talk about what they have been through and how they have overcome it.  Speakers from organizations such as Passages and Crossroads will also offer information for victims and supporters.  Poetry readings and a candlelight vigil will also be held. 

For more information, contact the Penn State DuBois Office of Student Life at (814) 375-4764. 

DuBois – Penn State DuBois Chancellor, Dr. Anita McDonald, will be nationally recognized for her lifelong commitment to diversity by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA). 

McDonald has been chosen to receive the UPCEA Diversity Leadership Award, which she will accept at the UPCEA Annual Conference in Toronto, on April 7, 2011.   

According to the UPCEA, the organization supports national and international institutions of higher learning and helps them respond to the growing population of adults and non-traditional students seeking continuous learning opportunities.  Their Diversity Leadership Award is granted to leaders in higher education who exhibit and encourage understanding, appreciation and the celebration of diversity, and the championing of equal access to education.  This includes those who identify with different cultures, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, religious beliefs, and physical disabilities.  The UPCEA Diversity Leadership Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in one or more of the following areas: research, educational programs and services, administrative practice, or organizational commitment.

Dr. McDonald was nominated for the award by her colleagues at Penn State, with supporting letters from Penn State DuBois students.   The nominators touted McDonald's accomplishments and devotion to creating and maintaining a diverse learning environment.  They explained that due to McDonald’s leadership, a welcoming campus climate for diversity has become a major priority at Penn State DuBois, and has resulted in the doubling of the diverse student population on the primarily rural campus. In addition, international students from China, Morocco and Russia are enrolled.  In 2008, McDonald travelled to China with a Trade Mission sponsored by the Pennsylvania Office for International Business Trade to explore partnership options for the recruitment of Chinese students for Penn State DuBois.

Bill Curley, Senior Director of Continuing Education at University Park, noted, "Dr. McDonald is truly deserving of this award.  She is totally committed to diversity on all levels, including student body, curriculum, student programming, and community connections."

Additionally, McDonald created the position of Coordinator of International and Multicultural Students Services at the campus, assigning an individual to recruit new students and to provide them with a needed support system.  She leads the campus’s Diversity Team, made up of staff, faculty and students, to promote awareness of diversity on campus and in the community. McDonald also encouraged faculty to increase the number of intercultural and international courses offered each semester to broaden the curriculum. She has also initiated efforts to increase scholarship opportunities for first-generation and underrepresented student populations.

McDonald stated, "I am honored by this recognition.  I feel helping students understand and appreciate diversity is critical in preparing them for the world in which they will live and work. I share this award with my outstanding faculty and staff at Penn State DuBois who do the teaching, the planning, and the supervision of travel opportunities and other diversity events that impact the lives of our students and community." 

McDonald was appointed as the Chancellor at Penn State DuBois in 2003.  She previously held senior administrative positions at The University of Arizona and The University of Missouri, St. Louis.  

McDonald has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mathematics from Wayne State University, and a Ph.D. in education from St. Louis University. She is a former American Council on Education Fellow and attended Harvard’s Management and Leadership Institute.

Awards will be presented to students in a wide variety of academic programs for their many accomplishments throughout the past academic year. Awards are presented in categories ranging from academic excellence, to overcoming hardships to succeed. 

More than 200 Penn State DuBois students are members of the Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society. In order to qualify for membership, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above, and be involved in campus or community service.

Delta Mu Sigma reaches out to DuBois and the surrounding area by offering community service and fundraisers with part of the proceeds benefiting scholarship funds.  Members have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, and organize a haunted house on campus each Halloween, donating proceeds to local charities. 

DuBois – The "Mix It Up" lunch at Penn State DuBois brought to a close more than a month of campus activities related to diversity and the work of Marin Luther King, Jr.  Organized by the campus diversity committee, the luncheon brought together students, faculty, and staff for discussions about their experiences and perceptions of diverse people and culture.

Attendees of the luncheon were provided lists of questions about their attitudes and experiences with prejudice, diversity, and bullying.  The questions then spurred the discussion around their tables.  Representative from each table then took turns sharing parts of the table discussions with the entire group. 

"The event is really intended to bring about positive change and conversation," said Melissa Coles, campus academic advisor and organizer of the "Mix IT Up" lunch.

The MLK celebration began in January, and featured speakers, diversity workshops, a discussion event on a film dealing with diversity issues, and an essay contest. 

"I’m honored to have the opportunity to introduce and celebrate such worthy historical figures and transformative moments in history," said Coles.  "Collaborating with the different offices on campus to organize these events mirrors the message we have diligently tried to bring to life at Penn State DuBois. We recognize our differences and how those differences make us stronger."

DuBois – Student athletes from all seven varsity sports programs at Penn State DuBois were recognized for their achievements over the past season at the annual All Sports Banquet on Sunday. 

Coach's and athletes reflected on the highlights of their seasons, including trips to national championships. This year, the cross country teams participated in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association's (USCAA) national meet in Concord, New Hampshire.

The volleyball team made it to the Penn State University Athletics Conference (PSUAC) Final Four, finishing 13-5 for the season. 

The men's basketball team made it to the PSUAC Final Four with a 14-13 record.  The women's basketball team made the PSUAC playoffs and finished 14-12. 

The wrestling team took the Pennsylvania State Championship in their division, and eight wrestlers qualified for the National Collegiate Wrestling Association's (NCWA) National Tournament in Macon, Georgia.  Head coach Matt Park was also named NCWA Mid-East Conference Coach of the Year. 

Students received awards for having been named All-American players, All-Conference players, Academic All-American players, and Academic All-Conference players.  Student athletes who receive academic honors must have a semester GPA of at least 3.0 or higher during the semester of competition, or a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a completion of 24 credits.

Chancellor Anita McDonald thanked coaches and parents for making the campus athletics programs a success.  "Coaches, you represent the utmost integrity and honor in your sports," she said.  "Parents, you have shared your students with us, and supported them; knowing you're there and that they have your support is really appreciated." 

Athletic Coordinator Ken Nellis thanked the athletes and the Athletic Advisory Committee, made up of students, faculty, staff, and community members.  He said, "It really takes a combined effort from everyone to make these seasons and events come together." 

Student athlete award winners are as follows. 

Men’s & Women’s Cross Country

Chris Antonio–PSUAC All Conference

Gabrielle Brennan–PSUAC All Conference

Volleyball

Cortney Yenzi– PSUAC All Conference  (2nd team)

Kaitlyn Karpinski—PSUAC All Conference (HM)

Women’s Basketball

Missy Aul–PSUAC All Conference (HM)

Heidi Hepler USCAA Academic All-American

Men’s Basketball

Josh Salter—PSUAC All Conference, USCAA  All-American (HM)

Jovan Brown-PSUAC All Conference  (HM)

USCAA Academic All Americans

Derek Burdick, Mark Shannon

Jordan Stiles

Wrestling

David Hommell - PA. State Collegiate Champion 

Nick Bogacki - NCWA Academic All-American

PSUAC Academic All Conference

Men’s & Women’s  Cross Country

Chris Antonio                       

Gabrielle Brennan

Kyle Gordon

Women’s Basketball

Missy Aul                            

Brittany Barrett

Heidi Hepler                        

Patience McCullough

Kelsey Rini                         

 Lynnie Schirmer

Jess Tarr

Volleyball

Lindsay Barrett                   

Becky Hoffman

Cortney Yenzi

Soccer

Rebecca Aul

Men’s Basketball

Jovan Brown                         

Derek Burdick

Mark Shannon                      

Jordan Stiles

Wrestling

Nick Bogacki                      

Kasey Haines

2011 Athletic Award Winners

Row One, left to right: David Hommell, men's wrestling; Nick Bogacki, men's wrestling; Cortney Yenzi, women's volleyball; Lynnie Schirmer, women's basketball; Heidi Hepler, women's basketball; Jess Tarr, women's basketball; Derek Burdick, men's basketball.

Row Two, left to right: Alyssa Wetzel, women's volleyball; Brittany Barrett, women's basketball; Ashley McCullough, women's volleyball; Tessa Vargas, women's volleyball; Karlee Cyphert, women's basketball; Patience McCullough, women's basketball, Kaitlyn Karpinski, women's volleyball; Lindsay Barrett, women's volleyball; Chris Antonio, cross country; Kyle Gordon, cross country; Gabrielle Brennan, cross country; Kasey Haines, wrestling; Jordan Stiles, men's basketball; Rich Walker, men's basketball.

Row Three, left to right: Rebecca Aul, women's soccer; Missy Aul, women's basketball; Kelsey Rini, women's basketball; Mark Shannon, men's basketball; Josh Salter, men's basketball; Will Welles; men's basketball; Jovan Brown, men's basketball; Kevin White, men's basketball.

The clinic, which will run from 1:30 p.m. through 3:30 p.m., is sponsored by AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association Inc. in cooperation with Penn State DuBois and the Central PA Highway Safety Network.

Drivers who attend the clinic will learn whether they “fit” their cars well, with trained installers and Penn State DuBois occupational therapy students on hand to ensure the seniors are traveling comfortably and safely.

Drivers can expect technicians to help make small adjustments to components of their vehicles, including the:
-  gas and brake pedals;
-  steering wheel;
-  seat;
-  seat belt; and
-  mirrors.

Clinic appointments can be made by calling Andrea Bierer at 814-490-5833 or online at www.car-fit.org/carfit/ViewEvent/1538. 

Organizers note that the event is only to assist drivers in “fitting” their cars to them. Participants do not take part in a driving test.

The Central PA Highway Safety Network is supported by federal funds distributed through PennDOT.

Media Contact: Dawn Walls, Safety Press Officer (814) 765-0598
Source: PennDOT Engineering District 2

DuBois – A total of 110 area high school students participated in the annual Spanish Cultural Bowl at Penn State DuBois this year.  Those students came from DuBois, Brookville, and Johnsonburg high schools.

Organized by Associate Professor of Spanish Deborah Gill, students test their proficiency with the Spanish language by competing through various activities, including written and oral exercises.  A talent portion is also held, in which students can perform songs or dance routines.  All signing must also be done in Spanish. 

Gill said the bowl is intended to be a fun way for young people to use and practice their language skills, and to fuel their interest.

"It's important to try and promote globalization, language, and cultural learning to these students," said Gill.  "If we get them to develop a love for these things at the high school level, they'll hopefully maintain that love in the future." 

"Our students love the opportunity to meet other students of foreign language and test their own knowledge," said DuBois Area High School Spanish teacher Lisa Benn. 

Awards were given in achievement, proficiency, and talent, on four different levels.  In all, 30 students took home awards. 

In the photo:  Winners of the 2011 Penn State DuBois Spanish Cultural Bowl

Row One, left to right: Kailyn Angelo, DuBois, first place in talent (dance); Kelly Mehok, DuBois, first place in talent (dance); Ben Magro, Brockway, third place in proficiency; Aaron Ray, Brookville, second place in achievement; Logan Stout, Brookville, second place in achievement. 

Row Two, left to right: Lauren Nelson, DuBois, second place in achievement; Courtney Kunselman, DuBois, third place in achievement; Nikki DuGan, DuBois, second place in proficiency; Sam Snyder, DuBois, second place in proficiency; Emilie Turner, Brookville, first place talent (singing) and third place talent (dance); Kiah Wymer, Brookville, first place in talent (singing) and third place in talent (dance); Lidia Boghean, Brookville, second place in achievement and first place in proficiency; Emily Dinger, Brookville, third place in talent (dance); Ashley King, Brookville, first place in proficiency and achievement.    

Row Three, left to right: David Smith, Brookville, third place in achievement; Chelsea Folmar, DuBois, third place in talent (dance); Aschleigh Graham, DuBois, third place in talent (dance); Tori Taylor, DuBois, third place in proficiency; Rebekah Tate, DuBois, first place in achievement, second place in proficiency; Annie Amslev, Brookville, third place in achievement; Brett Smith, Brookville, third place in achievement. 

DuBois - This year's Umbaugh Lecture at Penn State DuBois featured Eric Brown, an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.  During his lecture, From Bacteria to Cancer: Detecting and Destroying Unwanted Biological Agents with Nanoparticles, Brown spoke about groundbreaking methods for combating some of the greatest health threats of the day.

Brown's research brings together the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, medicine and environmental science.  He has done extensive work with nanoparticles, which are microscopic particles that can be used to manipulate the structures in human cells, ultimately fighting off cancer and other disease. 

"We can use the nanoparticles to detect certain types of cancer on the molecular level," Brown said.  "We can identify a single gene on a strand of DNA, and basically, blow it up."

Brown said the nanoparticles can work like weapons to destroy things like cancer cells when they are stimulated with light.  In his lab, he is currently experimenting with dyes that work best for eliminating the cells.  The cells are first coated in a dye, which reacts with the nanoparticles when exposed to light.  The result is the elimination of the targeted cell. 

Nanoparticles, Brown said, could also be used to identify and kill bacteria.  He is conducting research into this as well.  Brown said, at this point, a timeframe for when nanoparticles could be widely used in medicine is unclear.

Brown received his Ph.D. in Bionanotechnology from Northwestern University in Chicago in 2009.  While at Northwestern, he was trained within the university’s Cancer Center for Nanotechnology Excellence.  After receiving his doctorate, Brown joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he teaches Genetics and Biotech Laboratory Methods and engages undergraduate students in bionanotechnology research. 

Made possible by the generosity of Robert and Joyce Umbaugh, the Umbaugh Lecture brings highly qualified speakers in the fields of science and technology to the campus each year. 

DuBois – Penn State DuBois Head Wrestling Coach Matt Park has been named the National Collegiate Wrestling Association's Mid-East Conference (NCWA) Coach of the Year. 

Park led the rebirth of the campus wrestling program just last year, establishing the first wrestling team on campus since the 1970's.  In its second season, Park's team made it to the NCWA Championships hosted at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Over 70 teams had representatives at this year’s championships; Penn State DuBois sent eight competitors and finished in 27^th place in the team standings with 19 points. 

Previously, Park coached at Brookville and Brockway area high schools.  Under Park’s leadership, the Brockway team was the runner up in the 2001 Dual Meet State Championships.  That year Park was also named District Nine Coach of the Year.

The NCWA Mid-East Conference Coach of the Year is chosen by the coaches within the association.  Park said that makes the honor even more special.

DuBois – Tuika's Polynesian Island Magic will perform at Penn State DuBois in a free show that is open to everyone. 

The dance company presents multidimensional production of Polynesian and Asian-American entertainment using authentic costumes, songs, and dances of the islands. 

Tuika's Polynesian Island Magic currently performs on the Majestic Gateway Clipper Fleet's international cruises, and has appeared at the University of Pittsburgh, Allegheny College, and previously at Penn State.

The show is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, in the Hiller Auditorium. 

For more information, contact the Office of Student Life at (814) 375-4764.

DuBois – Some Penn State DuBois students looking forward to graduation are off to a good start on their job search.  The Professional Networking Luncheon, sponsored by the Blue and White Society, gave students the opportunity to connect with potential employers, successful alumni, and other area business leaders.

Representatives from various companies and alumni working in various fields were invited to meet with students at the luncheon and offer insight into their industries.  Students had the chance to network with these representatives and have their questions answered.

The students and professionals who attended also listened to presentations by Penn State DuBois staff and alumni on topics including job search tips, financial information, and the importance of networking and finding a mentor. 

"It's extremely important to provide the students with opportunities to make these connections.  It's important for the business people too, to get to know these young graduates," said campus alumnae Jessica Jones Haggerty.  The 2006 Letters, Arts, and Sciences graduate and previous recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award is working on her doctorate dissertation on Mentoring.  Her expertise allowed her to give a dynamic presentation on the benefits of finding a mentor. 

Students at the luncheon said presentations on financial information, like student loans, and the tips offered on networking skills were eye opening.

"You have to do a lot more than what I was planning to do to get a good job," said Wildlife Technology student, Sean Frantz, of Muncy, PA.  "I know what to do now though; this information was really good for me."

"It's a good idea to have us all here to interact with other students and business contacts," added Earth Science student Cortney Yenzi, of Reynoldsville. "I've learned some different ways to network and job search and it really helps."

The offices of Alumni Relations and Career Services plan to provide this opportunity annually. If you would like to get involved please contact the Alumni Relations Office at 814-375-4775 or email Autumn Weil at agw11@psu.edu

Tuba City, Arizona – Over spring break, a group of seven Penn State DuBois students provided valuable services to members of the Navajo Nation, while also having the cultural experience of a lifetime. Students Kim Hummel, Jess Hummel, Theresa Skillman, Lauren Neff, Hillary Yarger, Janet Cahilly, and Cesar Salazar joined Student Life Coordinator Marly Doty and Student Life staff member Tony Harris on the trip.

The students used their spring break to take a service trip to Tuba City Arizona, where they volunteered on the Navajo reservation through the service organization, Amizade. 

The Penn State students served Navajo children in their local school by tutoring them in their basic subjects.  It's something the administrators at the school say is essential, because lifestyles on the reservation offer little time for study outside of school.

"While Tuba City has electricity and running water, 15 miles out of the city many places do not have either of these modern utilities that we take for granted," Doty said.  "It is easy to understand why these students struggle in school because for many of them school is the last thing on their mind."

Another service the Penn State DuBois students offered to the Navajo students was a new cultural experience.  They introduced the children to many things that they have never seen before; things that people in mainstream culture view as the norm.

"Many of these children have never met anyone different from themselves and many will never be afforded the opportunity to leave the reservation," Doty explained.  "The Navajo reservation is the largest in the United States and occupies parts of four southwestern states. A great deal of these children have never even seen grass or trees."

In return, the Penn State DuBois students learned about Navajo culture as well.  They learned about the rich Navajo heritage through food, dance, music, making pottery and jewelry, and by experiencing a traditional sweat lodge.  Students said the trip was eye opening, even life changing.

"The Navajo people not only opened my eyes up to their world, but also to the whole world around me," said Hillary Yarger.

Students who went on the trip said they'll be able to pass along to others what they learned about a dying culture, hopefully extending the life of the Navajo legacy.  They'll start by sharing their experiences with fellow students on campus. In April, they'll host an informational lunch for the campus community where they'll speak about their trip to the Navajo reservation.

DuBois – This year's Umbaugh Lecture at Penn State DuBois will feature Eric Brown, an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.  During his lecture, From Bacteria to Cancer: Detecting and Destroying Unwanted Biological Agents with Nanoparticles, Brown will speak about groundbreaking methods for combating some of the greatest health threats of the day. 

Brown's research brings together the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, medicine and environmental science.  He has done extensive work with nanoparticles, which are microscopic particles that can be used to manipulate the structures in human cells, ultimately fighting off cancer and other disease.  

Brown is scheduled to speak from 12:15 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 25, in the Hiller Auditorium at Penn State DuBois.  The lecture is free and open to the public. 

Brown will be available for further discussions with students and other interested individuals immediately following his presentation from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Made possible by the generosity of Robert and Joyce Umbaugh, the Umbaugh Lecture brings highly qualified speakers in the fields of science and technology to the campus each year.

Leading the way at the NCWA Championships were David Hommell (133lbs) and Ryan Terwilliger (165lbs). Both wrestlers were 3-1 in matches and missed claiming All-American honors by one match.  The remaining members of the team at the championships Nick Bogacki (125lbs), Kasey Haines (141lbs), Ty Albright (149lbs), Stephen Terwilliger, Jim Mosher at heavyweight, and Anthony Ferguson at heavyweight.

The NCWA Team Championship was won by California Baptist University with 156.5 points, followed by Grand Valley State with 121points, Central Florida with 99.5 points.

Penn State DuBois Individual results:

125lbs.   Nick Bogacki(PSUD)  Lost 8-3  Tyler Williamson (Kansas State)

                                                    Won 9-4  Ryan Hall    (Univ. South Florida)

                                                    Lost 13-6 Nick Wright (Mercer Univ.)

133lbs.   David Hommell  Win by fall 2:22   Bee Vang  (M.I.T)

                                              Lost 8-0  Marcus Chevres  Apprentice School

                                              Win 9-4 Harrison Billig   (Univ. Central Florida)

                                              Win by Fall 4:00  Jose Pinal  (San Jose State)

                                              Lost 4-3 Hunter Wood  (US Military Prep)

141lbs   Kasey Haines  Win by major Dec. 14-6  Kenzan Tanabe  (M.I.T)

                                        Lost 8-2  Adam Bastow (Grand Valley State)

                                        Win by Fall 5:17 Ricardo Reyna  (U. Texas San Antonio)

                                        Lost 8-5 Calvin Cook  (Univ. Central Florida)

149lbs.   Ty Albright  Win 9-3 Austin Sanchez  (Oakland Univ. Mich)

                                      Lost 9-3 Trevor Bailey  (Marion Military Instit.)

                                      Lost 10-6  Joe Kent  (Illionois State)

165lbs.   Ryan Terwilliger  Lost 7-0   Mike Hoch  ( Grand Valley State)

                                               Win by Fall 6:43  Jeff Adams  (Colorado State)

                                               Win 19-16 Ryan White  (Univ. Maryland-Baltimore)

                                               Win 9-3  Nick Appleby  (Middle Tennessee)

                                               Lost by fall 1:36  Mike Ahearn  ( Univ. South Carolina)

174lbs.  Stephen Terwilliger  Win 3-0  Trevor Pinkerton  (Kennesaw State)

                                                    Lost by Fall 1:26 Jason Dack  (Northeastern Univ.)

                                                    Lost 7-2  Joel Hutchens  (Virginia Military Instit.)

Hwt.   Jim Mosher                    Lost by Fall 2:07  Jeremy Diley  (Apprentice School)

                                                    Win by Fall 2:15  Patrick Woulfe  (Auburn Univ.)

                                                    Lost by Fall 3:19  Frank Becker (Cincinnati)

Hwt.  Anthony Ferguson        Lost by Fall 6:45 Frank Becker (Cincinnati)  

                                                   Lost by Fall 2:38  Joseph Frazier  (Florida A&M)            

Local youth and educators have been invited to view the exhibit, and a period of time has been blocked off for members of the public to visit it as well. 

Penn State DuBois Continuing Education Representative Jeannine Hanes said the exhibit will help to educate area students and residents about the Marcellus Shale industry that is now a hot topic throughout the state.

"The Marcellus Shale industry is becoming very important in north central Pennsylvania. It is imperative to introduce youth and educators to this rapidly growing industry, new to our region," Hanes said.

The exhibit will be open to the public from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. 

The rolling exhibit's visit to the campus is co-sponsored by the campus Engineering Club and Continuing Education at Penn State DuBois. Continuing Education received funding from the North Central Workforce Investment Board’s Youth Council/Regional Career Education Partnership to offer professional development for teachers as well as introduce youth to the oil and gas industry. 

For more information, contact Jeannine Hanes at (814) 375-4836. 

Since 1985, summer programs at Penn State DuBois have provided fun learning opportunities in reading, science, art, and more for thousands of youngsters from infants through high school aged kids.  The main objectives of the programs are to increase students' interest and knowledge in the arts, science, and technology, and to provide challenging experiences which are not part of the regular school curriculum.  

New classes this year include, Seeing in 3D - Perspective Taught Simply, Storybook Forest Fantasies, Recess, Fashion Jewelry Design with Wire, and Science and Story Stretching.

 
Returning programs back by popular demand will include Crazy Cooking Kids, Pirate School, Galactic Training Academy, Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!, Frosting & Flowers, Awesome Art, Princess Palace II, Flower Power, Slime Time, and Bubble-ology.

KIC programs are for youth from infants to grade six. Art, Science, and Technology Institute programs are for youth grades 7-12. AST programs contain enrichment classes specially designed for middle and high school students. Their grade level is determined by the grade the student will enter in the fall. 

"Munch for Mu," is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, at Luigi's Ristorante, on Brady Street, in DuBois.  Anyone who wishes to support the scholarship fund only needs to come to Luigi's to dine.  During the hours of the event, part of Luigi's proceeds will be donated to the Delta Mu scholarship fund, which helps to make a Penn State education more affordable and accessible to area students.

Honor society members will also hold a 50/50 drawing, and a raffle for a flat screen television. 

For more information, contact the Student Life Office at (814) 375-4764.

DuBois - Eight Penn State DuBois wrestlers have qualified for the National Collegiate Wrestling Association's (NCWA) National Championships to be held March 10-12 in Macon, Georgia. 

Five of the wrestlers competed in the finals with Jim Mosher claiming the lone title for the Nittany Lions at 285 pounds.  Finishing second were David Hommell at 133 pounds, Kasey Haines at 141 pounds, Ty Albright at 149 pounds, and Ryan Terwilliger at 165 pounds.  The remaining qualifiers include Nick Bocki, at 125 pounds, Stephen Terwilliger at 174 pounds, and Anthony Ferguson  at 285 pounds.

The team placed second overall at the NCWA Mid-East Conference tournament at Lafayette College in Easton, PA on Saturday, February 26th. 

In addition to the team honors, Penn State DuBois head wrestling coach Matt Park was selected as Mid-East Conference Coach of the Year. 

The Penn State DuBois Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Department and the Information Technology Club will host the event. 

"The biggest reason we do this is to offer a fun, safe environment for students and gamers of all ages to get together and play some videogames and enjoy themselves," said event organizer and IST program leader Jason Long.  He noted that Videogame Day is held twice each year, once in the spring, and once in the fall. 

A $5.00 admission fee covers all gaming, pizza, snacks, and a drink for each participant.  Online registrations are required.  Log onto www.istlab.net to register. 

The Veterans' Financial Aid Night, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, in room 203 of the DEF Building, will help veterans discover the funding options available to them to help pay for their college education.  Campus representatives will be available to address individual questions about degree programs, admission procedures, financial aid, transfer of benefits, and more.

A presentation on financial aid to supplement veterans’ benefits will be held at 6:00 p.m. that evening. The presentation will provide an introduction to the process of applying for financial aid and Veterans' Administration benefits at Penn State DuBois, addressing points including Federal Financial Aid, and the GI Bill. 

Penn State DuBois representatives will be available following the presentation to meet one-on-one with military personnel, or to schedule future appointments. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call Enrollment Services at (814) 375-4720 or Veterans’ Services Coordinator Sueann Doran, at (814) 375-4716.

DuBois – Three Penn State DuBois students have been recognized for exceptional writing in the campus' Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest.  The three winners are Jody Vollmer, a Business Administration major, Owen Samuels, a Letters, Arts, and Sciences major, and Laurie Miller, a Business Administration major.  During the campus MLK Celebration on Wednesday, each winner read their essays to an audience in Hiller Auditorium, and each received a $100 cash prize. 

The contest was held as part of a month-long celebration of King and his legacy.  Entrants where asked: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."  What adversity or challenges have you faced that have helped form the person you are today?

All three winning essays told deeply personal stories noting their authors' struggles and how they have overcome them.  Depression, death of loved ones, dealing with negativity and stereotypes, coping with rejection, and experiencing homelessness were all topics explored in the essays. 

Director of Academic Affairs Debra Straussfogel served as featured speaker for the event.  The MLK Celebration was organized by the campus Diversity Committee led by Melissa Coles, in conjunction with the Student Life Office.

Leading the scoring efforts for PSUD were Josh Salter with 21 points and 6 rebounds, William Wells with 11 points and 12 rebounds, Jovan Brown 10 points and 6 rebounds.  Mark Shannon contributed with 5 points and 5 block shots on the defensive end of the court.  Penn State Beaver was led by David McGarry – 25 points and Tony Houghton 13 points.  Beaver will play Penn College in the PSUAC championship on Wednesday morning.

This brings the men's season to an end, with a record of 14-13.  DuBois advanced to the PSUAC Final Four following a 72-67 win over Penn State York on Saturday. 

The men will play PSU Beaver at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 22, at Bryce Jordan Center, with the winner advancing to the PSUAC Championship on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.  The PSUAC conference champion will receive an automatic bid to play in the USCAA National Championship March 1-5 in Uniontown, PA.  Penn State Fayette is hosting the championships for both men and women for the third year.  Details of the championships can be found at www.theuscaa.com .

The Penn State DuBois women were defeated in their first round playoff game 87-66 at Penn State Brandywine on Saturday.  The DuBois women showed great improvement over last season finishing the season at 14-12 (8-6) in the PSUAC.  Although Head Coach Pat Lewis will be losing five of his players, a strong nucleus remains to build upon for next season.   

DuBois – Penn State DuBois student Chrissy Lockwood, of Reynoldsville, has gone bald for a good cause.  She sacrificed her more than shoulder length hair to raise money for THON during the annual THON Hair Auction.  However, the Human Development and Family Studies major didn't just get a haircut; she upped the anti by agreeing to completely shave her head if the rest of the campus community would step up and donate at least $500 to the cause.  Lockwood was pleasantly surprised when bids for her hair surpassed her goal and topped $600. 

Each year, the Penn State DuBois THON Committee organizes the hair auction to raise money for the Penn State Dance Marathon, which benefits children battling cancer.  Those who attend the auction can place bids for the opportunity to cut the hair of the volunteer of their choice.  Lockwood's challenge raised the most, but two other volunteers brought in additional funds.  Student Doug May and campus engineering technician Brian Tokarcik also put their hair up for bid, helping to bring the hair auction total to $855. 

"I look at it this way," Lockwood said of her decision to give her hair to benefit children with cancer.  "Those kids have to be bald.  Mine will grow back.  It's a temporary situation, and if it helps them, it's well worth it." 

Lockwood is also donating her hair to Locks of Love, an organization that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment or other illnesses.  

All told, the Penn State DuBois THON Committee raised over $13,000 this year. The money will be contributed to the grand total for THON 2011, to be held this weekend at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park, where students will participate in a 46 hour dance marathon.  In 2010, the event raised nearly $8 million for The Four Diamonds Fund, which supports childhood cancer research. 

DuBois – An advocate for the rights of gay athletes, Brian Sims is set to speak at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, in room 209 of the DEF Building at Penn State DuBois.  His program is free and open to the public.

Sims has the distinction of being the only openly gay college football player in NCAA history.  After becoming a champion on the gridiron in high school, he went on to be the captain of the Bloomsburg University football team, and in 2000, led the northeast Pennsylvania team to their best season in school history.

Today, Sims in a lawyer practicing in Philadelphia, but he is also an advocate for gay athletes, and other people with diverse lifestyles, actively working to broaden the minds of individuals around the country. 

In 2009 Sims became the Board President of Equality Pennsylvania and the Chairman of GALLOP (Gay & Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia). He is also a faculty member and former State Political Leaders Fellow at the Center for Progressive Leadership and the Managing Editor of the Philadelphia Bar Association's newest publication, Upon Further Review.

For more information, contact the office of Student Life at (814) 375-4764.