The Penn State DuBois Athletic Fundraising committee will hold its fifth annual golf scramble on August 24, at the Silver Course at Treasure Lake.  Sponsored by the DuBois Educational Foundation, all proceeds will directly benefit intercollegiate athletic programs 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, snacks, lunch, on-course beverages, skill prizes, and team awards.

Call Ken Nellis, athletic coordinator, at 814-375-4857 for more information.

For the latest news on all Penn State DuBois athletic programs, schedules, and results, visit http://www.psuduboisathletics.com

The United Nations has taken notice of the work of Penn State DuBois' own Assistant Professor of Economics Evelyn Wamboye. Officials in the UN's Committee for Development Policy, who work to improve the lives of people living in undeveloped countries, have asked Wamboye to contribute her expertise to their efforts.

Wamboye will serve as an economic expert on the UN's web-based Support Measure Portal for Least Developed Countries, where she'll offer insight on the economic issues these countries face and participate in discussions with other experts from around the world on how these issues can be resolved.

UN administrators happened to find a research paper online that was written by Wamboye and a colleague that addressed topics such as foreign aid to underprivileged countries.  They were so impressed with her vision concerning these topics, that those UN officials reached out to Wamboye and asked her to contribute that vision to their mission. 

"It is quite a great professional thrill and honor to be asked to contribute my expertise to such a global entity," said Wamboye.  "It accentuates my pride of being affiliated with a great institution such as Penn State, and the continued support I have received towards my scholarship of research."

Originally from Kenya, Wamboye received her undergraduate degree from the University of Nairobi in Kenya and her master’s degree from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.  Wamboye earned her Ph.D. in economics at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, specializing in international economics with research interests in international trade, outsourcing, economic development and labor economics.

Wamboye's research focuses on issues related to foreign aid, foreign debt and various aspects of globalization, and their impact on economic growth and development of least developed and developing countries in general.

With the UN's Committee for Development Policy's mission so closely aligned with her own work and interests, Wamboye quipped, "Since the world is indeed flat, I am so glad that my expertise will be shared and have an impact, especially in the developing countries."

To learn more about the United Nation's efforts to aid underdeveloped and least developed countries, visit http://esango.un.org/ldcportal 

A total of 15 people graduated from the Floor Hand Training Program at Penn State DuBois on Friday, June 7, armed with new knowledge and certifications that qualify them for a wide range of jobs in the natural gas industry.

Floor hands operate and maintain drilling systems and pumps by connecting and disconnecting pipes, inspecting derricks, cleaning and oiling derricks, and performing other general maintenance tasks around the rig.  The Floor Hand Training Program provides all of the training and certifications the students in the program need to enter the workforce on a gas well drilling site as a floor hand.  The costs for this program are covered by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. 

Training such as the Floor Hand program can mean the difference between working on the peripheral drilling site and working directly on the rig in higher-scale positions. Even people who already have experience in the natural gas industry say that such training can make a difference for them.  Richard Irvin, of Reynoldsville, and Anthony Kurtz, of Brockway, are two such people.  Both have prior experience working at natural gas drilling sites, but completed the Floor Hand Program in order to broaden their knowledge and expand their opportunities.

"I learned a lot.  Our instructor was top-notch and thorough, and he could really explain what it's like to work in the field," said Irvin, who was laid off from his position as a hose department supervisor with a drilling company due to cutbacks.  Now that he has qualifications to land a position working directly on the rig, he's confident that more stable employment opportunities will open up for him.  He said, "I'm better prepared to work in the Marcellus field.  Now, I have the certifications and knowledge to actually go out and work on a drilling rig."

Kurtz worked in the gas industry as a roustabout, completing various tasks around the job site, before changing career paths for a while.  When he heard about the Floor Hand Training Program, he figured it was the way to get back into the gas industry and boost his income.

"I got out, and got into welding.  I wasn't making any money," Kurtz said.  "I wanted to get more experience in the gas industry and get on a drilling rig.  Money is the all-controlling factor in the world, and rigs pay well.  It's hard work, but that's what I enjoy." 

Throughout the training, representatives from North Central, Pennsylvania CareerLink, and Penn State DuBois also guided students on preparing their rιsumιs, completing job searches, and networking with potential employers.  Their goal is to help the graduates find jobs right away.  

"Penn State DuBois Continuing Education and our partners are committed to assisting individuals obtain the education they need to obtain good positions in the workforce," said Betsy Carlson, Continuing Education program aide. "Students have come from as far away as Wyoming to complete this training at Penn State DuBois. We are glad to be able to provide this needed training for individuals seeking employment in the natural gas industry." 

Members of the latest graduating class of the Floor Hand Training Program not only agree that they are now better qualified for jobs in the natural gas industry, but they also hope others take advantage of the same opportunities.

"I would definitely suggest this program to other people," Irvin said.

Penn State DuBois has partnered with several organizations connected to the Natural Gas Industry through ShaleNET to offer this three-week training program that prepares individuals for careers in the Marcellus Shale boom at very little cost.  Located inside Penn College’s Center for Business & Workforce Development, ShaleTEC provides a centralized location for industry, students and the public to obtain information regarding shale and tight sand workforce-development initiatives. 

In all, the Floor Hand Training Program is a product of the collaboration between ShaleNet, the North Central Workforce Investment Board, Superior Energy Resources, Pennsylvania CareerLink, and Penn State DuBois. 

The Office of Business Services at Penn State DuBois would like all students, visitors, faculty, and staff members that will be on campus this summer to be aware of some renovations taking place.  The renovation projects may cause temporary changes in the flow of foot traffic around campus and the accessibility of certain building entrances and parking areas. 

The outdoor staircase on the Swift Building, nearest to the DEF Building and Event Lawn, is currently being replaced.  The adjacent entrances to each building have been closed, and will remain closed for the duration of the project.

Work will soon begin to replace the retaining walls along the loading dock at the rear of the Hiller Building.  During this project, the parking lot at the rear of Hiller, along Sixth Street, will be closed. 

A new roof will be installed on the Smeal Building this summer, which will require the closure of one of the building entrances.

Various sidewalk replacements throughout campus are planned, as well.

Project completion dates and other details are not finalized at this time.  Updates will be announced as that information is made available. All work is expected to be completed before the beginning of the Fall Semester. These projects have been made possible by funding from University Park.

Two courses offered this summer during Penn State DuBois' Arts, Science and Technology Institute will provide college-bound high school students the chance to prepare for future exams.  The S.A.T Prep Course and the Academic College Enhancement (ACE) Summer Program will both be held in June.

The six-session S.A.T. course will help students to sharpen their test-taking abilities by reviewing critical reading skills and essay writing techniques, building knowledge of required mathematical concepts, providing methods for overcoming test anxiety, and more.

The ACE Summer Program, sponsored by the DuBois Educational Foundation, prepares students for college placement exams by introducing them to college-level academic expectations over the course of multiple sessions.  They'll receive previews of college algebra, pre-calculus, and English, and will be introduced to the college experience by taking in overviews of campus life, career services, and more.

The S.A.T. Prep Course will be held from Noon until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 11, through June 27 at a cost of $125 per student.  The ACE Summer Program will be held from Noon until 3:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays from June 10, through June 26, also at a cost of $125 per student.  Course fees also include required text books.  Courses are open to students in grades 9 through 12.  To register, visit www.dubois.psu.edu/youth or contact Rebecca Colletti for more information at 814-375-4772 or rjm32@psu.edu 

The Penn State DuBois Office of Adult Student and Veteran Services was recently recognized by Penn State's Commission for Adult Learners.  Sueann Doran, coordinator for Adult Student and Veteran Services received the recognition and served on a discussion panel for adult learner services at the university-wide Hendrick Best Practices for Adult Learners Conference at Penn State Harrisburg in May. 

The Commission for Adult Learners is composed of faculty, staff, and students from several university locations. Members are dedicated to improving the adult learner experience at Penn State. Each year, the commission recognizes Penn State staff and faculty who offer outstanding support to adult students through various programs and services. 

The Office of Adult Student and Veteran Services at Penn State DuBois is a result of collaboration between the campus departments of Continuing Education, Enrollment Services, Student Services, and Academic Advising. The office is responsible for providing programs of interest to adults and veterans including a portfolio workshop, a veteran transition program, job search skill development, and career placement information.  The office also maintains the Adult and Veteran Resource Center on campus, which provides study and meeting space, a library of resources for veterans, informational publications on careers and community resources, and more.  Additionally, the office supports and advises the campus Veteran's Club. 

The Office of Adult Student and Veteran Services was created at Penn State DuBois in 2011.  Since then, the campus has twice been named to Victory Media's Military Friendly Schools list.  The list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus. 

For more information about the services and programs available through the Penn State DuBois Office for Adult Student and Veteran Services, contact Sueann at 814-375-4716 or srd145@psu.edu

The nationally recognized and award winning summer youth program, Kids in College (KIC) and the Art, Science and Technology Institute (AST) will return to Penn State DuBois this summer. 

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.  

Classes this year include, Robotics with LEGO, Rainforest Ramble, Birds and Bats, and much more.

KIC programs are for youth from age four, 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. Their grade level is determined by the grade the student will enter in the fall. 

Sessions are scheduled for June 17-20, and June 24-27.  Classes run from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.   

A full list of courses and an online registration form can be found at www.dubois.psu.edu/youth

For more information, contact Rebecca Colletti at 814-375-4772 or rjm32@psu.edu

The Penn State DuBois Blue and White Society will hold a fundraising car wash in DuBois in June. 

The Blue and White Society is a student organization that supports the Penn State Alumni Association and its mission to connect alumni to the university. Society members also support their communities through volunteerism and civic leadership.  The DuBois Blue and White Society sponsors food drives locally to benefit the DuBois Ministerial Food Pantry, and members volunteer at a variety of community and campus events, such as a safe trick-or-treat night for children each Halloween. 

The Blue and White Society car wash is planned for 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, at Advance Auto Parts on Liberty Boulevard in DuBois.  There is no established price; cars will be washed for a donation to the society.

Inventors, entrepreneurs, and small business owners could benefit from an upcoming workshop at Penn State DuBois hosted by marketing and business consultant Bob Beaury.  The half-day workshop is free and open to the public.

The day's program, Marketing and New Business Development – a Real World Focus, will cover topics such as new product ideas, starting and growing a business, long-term business growth, and developing partnerships. 

Beaury is a marketing strategy consultant to a wide-range of clients throughout Central Pennsylvania, and an instructor in Entrepreneurship and Leadership at Penn State, University Park.  He previously served as the CEO of Broadband Networks, Inc. and has been involved in the development of more than 100 new products and the creation of their market introduction programs.

This event is funded, in part, by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the North Central Regional Planning and Development Commission. It was also made possible by regional partnerships with the Penn State DuBois Office of Technology Transfer, Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority, North West Industrial Resource Center, Clarion University Small Business Center, The Greater DuBois Area Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson County Development Council, and the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation.

Marketing and New Business Development - a Real World Focus is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, in the Hiller Auditorium at Penn State DuBois. Individuals must register to attend this free workshop.  To register, click here.

A free, family-oriented event in St. Marys will provide a glimpse into life in Ireland, featuring traditional music, food, and activities.  Made possible through a grant from the Stackpole Hall Foundation, Irish Culture Community Night is sponsored by Penn State DuBois in an effort to increase awareness of cultural diversity in the region.

The evening will feature the traditional Irish folk music and dance ensemble Irish Blessing.  The group includes James and Cushla Srour and their multitalented sons, Jonathan and Josh. With a love of family and Irish culture, Irish Blessing embraces the living tradition, keeping classic Irish folk music and dance alive at home and on stage.

Jonathon has completed four tours with Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, and has been sought out by Riverdance.  He also mesmerizes audiences with his skill on the flute.

Josh is a rising fiddle phenomenon whose phrases draw the audience into the infectious toe tapping, hand clapping world of jigs and reels. Both boys have the rare and dual distinction of competing in the world championships of both Irish music and dance.

Hailing from New Zealand with Irish roots Cushla provides strong rhythmic accompaniment on the piano and beautiful melodic phrases on the whistle and flute.  Jim rounds out the band with the percussive palpitations of the bodhran, the traditional Irish drum. Together, Irish Blessing has electrified audiences from New Zealand to New York.

Irish Culture Community Night will also feature interactive activities for children, Irish food, and the opportunity for individuals to learn how to perform Irish step-dance.

Admission is free, and no tickets are necessary.  Irish Culture Community Night is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, at the St. Marys High School Auditorium.  For more information, contact Marly Doty at mag374@psu.edu or  814-375-4764.

A new minor available to all Penn State DuBois bachelor’s degree students will provide them with the tools to be a champion for the environment, while also making them more appealing to future employers.  The Minor in Sustainability Leadership allows students in any four-year major to incorporate sustainability as a significant theme in their undergraduate degree program. Through a combination of coursework and immersive experiences in sustainability, students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to become sustainability leaders in their respective fields.

"The sustainable use of resources is perhaps the greatest challenge facing us at the local, national and international scales," said Penn State DuBois Associate Professor of Geography Debra Straussfogel, who worked to develop the minor for  the campus. "Learning how to manage and use resources with a look to long term sustainability will take broad based knowledge, as well as leadership and problem-solving skills.  Any sustainable solution to a resource problem must follow the three part goal of being economically viable and socially acceptable, as well as being environmentally sound."

The ability to achieve that three part goal, Straussfogel explained, makes education in sustainability appealing, if not necessary, in today's world and in the workforce of tomorrow.  Not only will individuals with training in suitability have the know-how to work toward the conservation of natural resources, but they'll also be positioned to help their employers operate at maximum efficiency.  According to EarthShare, a non-profit federation that connects companies with environmental causes, applying green and sustainable business practices can help organizations save thousands, to tens of thousands of dollars each year.  Graduates who earn the Minor in Sustainability Leadership will have the tools to put those practices in place.

"The Minor in Sustainability Leadership gives students with an interest in any baccalaureate degree the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills relevant to their field of study and applicable to sustainability related problems in their target job areas," Straussfogel said. "Whether a student is interested in Business, Earth Science, Engineering, Human Development, Information Science and Technology, Liberal Arts and Sciences, or any Penn State four-year degree, this minor will provide an additional opportunity to become uniquely qualified to become leaders in their fields."

The concept of formal education in sustainable resources that can be applied to any field is still very new.  Advocates of this notion, however, say that the need for it is very old, and that today's more positive attitudes about going green are a long time coming. 

"People have started to come around and realize that there are some fundamental laws of the universe that won't go away," said Jim Hamilton, a retired Penn State assistant professor who taught courses in communications, as well as in forestry and other environmental fields. He has worked on sustainability issues for decades, and in retirement, he continues to contribute to Penn State's efforts to practice sustainability and educate others on how to do the same.  Hamilton said society is more aware of the concepts these days, but education in bringing those concepts to life is a must for people in all fields, and relevant to nearly any career.  He said, "There is not a single course I couldn't have put sustainability into.  Issues of sustainability are among the most important issues of this century." 

For more information on the Minor in Sustainability Leadership at Penn State DuBois, visit http://dubois.psu.edu/sustainability  

The Penn State Coaches Caravan made a stop at Penn State DuBois on May 9.  Onboard the caravan for this event was football coach Bill O'Brien, men's hockey coach Guy Gadowsky, and men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik.

This was the final day of this year's two-week Coaches Caravan, which featured stops at a total of 12 locations.

Coaches met with members of the local media at a news conference on campus before heading to the campus gymnasium for a luncheon with fans.  Each coach spoke during a program at the luncheon, providing insight on their teams' coming seasons, and answering questions from the crowd.

The Coaches Caravan is jointly sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and the Nittany Lion Club.

To see more scenes from the Coaches Caravan event at Penn State DuBois, visit the photo album on the campus Facebook page here 

Many young students of mathematics have asked the question, "When am I ever going to use this?"  A program held each spring at Penn State DuBois provides answers to that question for girls from around the region.

Nearly 200 seventh grade girls from 14 schools were introduced to careers and every day activities that require skills in mathematics and science during the Math Options Program at Penn State DuBois on May 7.   The program is designed teach young girls how skills in these areas apply to a variety of real-world situations and rewarding careers.  The hope is that they stay interested in mathematics by learning about the opportunities and success that they can realize through its use.  The program is aimed at the specific seventh grade female demographic because statistics show that they are at the greatest risk for losing interest in these essential subjects.

"At this age, girls' interest in math really starts to decline," said Penn State DuBois Assistant Professor of Education Pamela Hufnagel, who serves as an organizer for Math Options. "By engaging them with these activities and helping to maintain an interest in math, it leaves the door open for future studies and careers. Efforts like these are effective in keeping girls in the math pipeline."   

The activities the girls participate in through Math Options are focused on areas including health, engineering, production, forensics, and more.  Volunteer instructors guide the students through the activities with the goal of providing a fun, hands-on learning experience where the girls can apply math skills to solve problems or gather information.

"There is huge value in this," said Kiya Riverman, a Penn State graduate student in geosciences who volunteered to teach a Math Options course on the movement of glaciers and rising sea levels.  She said going beyond classroom lessons and showing students how math can be applied makes a big difference in the students' interest in the subject. "It's a lot easier to look at a glacier and get excited because you can get a physical sense of how the numbers are applied."  

Riverman used a hands-on activity in her course that simulated glacial drift.  She used model chutes, or the path a glacier would take in moving into the sea, lined with different types of material to simulate the varying surfaces glaciers travel on.  The speed at which the glaciers travel varies depending on the surface, and Riverman's exercise demonstrated that.  It also gave students the chance to determine what the differences in speed are between several types of surfaces.

"We're talking about how ice on land flows to the ocean and contributes to sea level rise.  We're looking at model glaciers and chutes to demonstrate the speed of glaciers and how it is affected by what is under them.  For example, glaciers with rocks under them move slower than those with sediment under them," Riverman said. 

School districts and parochial schools who participated in this year's Math Options Program include Brockway, Clarion Limestone, Curwensville, DuBois, DuBois Area Catholic, Harmony, Immaculate Conception School, Johnsonburg, Kane, Moshannon Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola, Punxsutawney, Saint Marys, and Saint Marys Catholic.

Clad in caps and gowns, eager to transfer their tassels from right to left in a gesture demonstrating their accomplishments, members of the Penn State DuBois Class of 2013 listened to a campus professor offer one final piece of advice before they would make the transition from students to alumni. Penn State DuBois Distinguished Professor of English Richard Kopley offered the commencement address Saturday in the campus gymnasium.  His message to the graduates spoke of the importance of encouragement.  He extended his own encouragement to them, and asked them to always remember the significance of positive words.

"When I started to think about this talk, I wondered what I could offer," Kopley said.  You students have worked hard in your classes, and you have attained your degrees.  How could I be helpful?   Perhaps, I thought, I could offer encouragement for the future.  Yes, that was it. That was what I could do, building on the encouragement of your family, your teachers, your friends.  Encouragement, it seems to me, is so precious, so vital, so needed.  And even if one fails, encouragement lives on."

Through stories of his own, personal experiences and by citing examples from literature, Kopley illustrated the importance of encouragement in life and in success.  He noted its worth on both sides; in giving encouragement, and in getting it.

"It seems to me that encouragement is the ice cream flavor we can never get enough of," said Kopley.  "Perhaps the greatest piece of encouragement I ever heard came from a senior scholar, David S. Reynolds, when I was a young faculty member.  'Richard.' he said, taking me aside after he’d given a talk; 'I want you to know something:  I believe in your work.'  What better thing could he have said?  I have been living on those five words for many years now.  And when I can, I pass them on."

Kopley then took the opportunity to do just that, and passed on those encouraging words.  "And so, as I congratulate you graduates, I encourage you.  I know some of you from English class, and while I don’t know others of you, I know your wonderful teachers and therefore have a considerable idea of how much you have achieved," he said.  "So, I’m confident in saying to all of you graduates, 'I believe in your work.' "    

Kopley began teaching at Penn State DuBois in 1983.  He studied English at Brandeis University in Massachusetts.  He earned his master's in English at the Teachers College at Columbia University, and eventually a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo where he also taught while completing his degree.

In Addition to teaching, Kopley is an internationally known author and literary scholar with expertise in classic American Literature.  He has published books on his research into the literary works of renowned American writers Nathaniel Hawthorn and Edgar Allan Poe.  He has also had short stories and other pieces of his personal work published in international anthologies, and has contributed to numerous journals and magazines as an expert on Poe’s work. He speaks regularly about his research at national and international conferences. 

Assistant Professor of Education Pamela Hufnagel served as campus marshal for commencement ceremonies.

Chancellor Melanie Hatch conferred associate and baccalaureate degrees to the graduates, and offered her own words of encouragement.   

"Earning a Penn State degree is no small feat.  It has taken hard work and dedication.  You’ve come to class, studied extensively, and likely sacrificed other things in your life to make time for your academics," Hatch said. "Today is the day when we celebrate the fruits of that sacrifice and the benefits that it will bring you from this day forward.  You are now equipped with an education that will help you to thrive in both a career and in life.  Your hard work has paid off.  You can be very proud of the work you put into earning the degree that you’ll take home today.  We certainly are proud of every one of you."

Penn State DuBois 2013 Graduates are:   

University College

For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts

Letters, Arts, and Sciences (LASCC)
Holly A. Kiesling………………………………………………………………Brookville, PA

Louise A. Whyte …………………………………………………………    Leslie, Scotland

Kelli L. Williams…………………………………………………………………     DuBois, PA

For the Degree of Bachelor of Science

Business (BSBCC)
Rachael M. Anderson ………………………………………………….…   Brockway, PA

Kendra R. Chamberlin (with Distinction)….……………………     Brookville, PA

Rebecca M. Kear……………………………………………………………            DuBois, PA

Miranda L. Meyer …………………………………………………………….St. Marys, PA

Brian C. Seitz………………………………………………………….  Punxsutawney, PA

Dawn M. Tett (with Highest Distinction) ………………………….            Penfield, PA  

Annette L. Walker (with High Distinction) ………………………St. Marys, PA

Joesy M. Williams ……………………………………………………………St. Marys, PA

Human Development and Family Studies (HFSCC)
Ashley M. Buck……………………………………………………………….         Clearfield, PA

Cristal G. Colgan* ………………………………………………………………     DuBois, PA

Melissa A. George (with Distinction) …………………………….   Sykesville, PA

Heather M. Hartsock*……………………………………………………    Falls Creek, PA

James H. Johnston, II………………………………………………………….        DuBois, PA    

Liza J. Kutzer ………………………………………………………………….        Houtzdale, PA           

Jennifer S. McDonald…………………………………………………         Reynoldsville, PA

Stacey A. McGarry………………………………………………………     Curwensville, PA

Linda L. Moore……………………………………………………………Rockton, PA

Beth E. Rogers……………………………………………………………….Clearfield, PA

Deborah A. Whiting (with Highest Distinction) …………….          Emporium, PA           

Information Science and Technology (ISSCC)

Heyward H. Mitchell, IV* ………………………………………………….           Bushkill, PA

Nicholas C. Siple …………………………………………………………….          Brockway, PA

College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

For the Degree of Bachelor of Science

Earth Sciences (EARTH)

Courtney R. Colley ………………………………………………      Shippensburg, PA

Gregory L. Stanek ……………………………………………………         DuBois, PA

College of Engineering

For the Degree of Bachelor of Science

.

Industrial Engineering (I E)

Logan J. Yeager   ………………………………………………………       Milesburg, PA

College of Liberal Arts

For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts

History (HIST)                                  

Shawn M. Sonon ……………………………………………………           Sinking Spring, PA

Candidates for Degrees
For the Degree of Associate in Arts
For the Degree of Associate in Science
For the Degree of Associate in Engineering Technology

University College

Faculty Marshal

Annette Muth, B.S., M.B.A., C.P.A.

 June M. Strohm, B.A., M.A.

.

For the Degree of Associate in Arts

Letters, Arts, and Sciences (2LACC)

Ellen C. Gardner ……………………………………………………………            Brookville, PA

Christopher G. Minarchick …………………………………………            West Decatur, PA

For the Degree of Associate in Science

Business Administration (2BACC)
Nicole K. Carlson*……………………………………………………......   Weedville, PA

Chelsey K. Caylor*…………………………………………………………   Brookville, PA

Tiffany A. Cieleski (World Campus) ……………………………    Brookville, PA

Daniel S. Emery ……………………………………………………………   Brookville, PA 

Chad M. Fisher…………………………………………………………………       St. Marys, PA

Kasey A. Haines ……………………………………………………            New Bethlehem, PA

Human Development and Family Studies (2FSCC)

Kimberly A. Ball ……………………………………………………………………            Girard, PA     

Amy K. Heuser ……………………………………………………………………  DuBois, PA

Information Science and Technology (2ISCC)
Ronald J. Lefebvre, Jr.  …………………………………………………      Houtzdale, PA

Abderrahim Mahfoud (with Distinction) ……………………………          DuBois, PA

Daniel J. McDonald ………………………………………………………………  Sigel, PA

Colby G. Rooker …………………………………………………………………    Kersey, PA

Matthew R. Schultz………………………………………………………    Curwensville, PA       

Scott D. Smiesko………………………………………………………………        Freeport, PA

Physical Therapist Assistant (2 PTA)

Lacey N. Gamble*…………………………………………………………………  DuBois, PA    

Rachel A. Hertlein* …………………………………………………………           Karthaus, PA

Angela M. Skrzypek* …………………………………………………………..      Kersey, PA

Shelley A. Smith* …………………………………………………………………. Sligo, PA

Terra J. Thompson* ………………………………………………………….           Kersey, PA

Lauren K. Topolski*………………………………………………………   Emporium, PA

Occupational Therapy (2OTCC)

Alyssa M. Wetzel………………………………………………………………Oxford, PA

College of Engineering
For the Degree of Associate in Engineering Technology
Faculty Marshal

Daudi Waryoba, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.

.

Mechanical Engineering Technology (2 MET)
Philip J. Bartoletti, Jr. …………………………………………………….   Emporium, PA

Eric M Dippold (with High Distinction)…………………………….           St. Marys, PA            

Richard J. Fotta………………………………………………………………          Brockway, PA

Donald B. Gilbert…………………………………………………………Reynoldsville, PA

Raymond L. Hagg ………………………………………………………… Youngsville, PA

Daniel M. Kalgren (with High Distinction)……………………………        DuBois, PA

Matthew R. Liptak ………………………………………………………………..  Kersey, PA

College of Agricultural Sciences
For the Degree of Associate in Science
Faculty Marshal

Frederick G. Terwilliger, A.S., B.A., M.S.

Wildlife Technology (2 WLT)
Chelsea D. Clark…………………………………………………………….. McDonald, PA        

Clayton D. Delancey  …………………………………………………..      Millerstown, PA

Brian L. Everett …………………………………………………………………     Windsor, PA

Patrick G. Fuller  …………………………………………………………………    Armagh, PA

Tyler J. Gibboney …………………………………………………………   Huntingdon, PA                    

Tyler D. Heeter………………………………………………………………Beavertown, PA

Matthew J. Heffner ……………………………………………………………..Bigler, PA           

Wildlife Technology (2 WLT) (cont’d.)

Alyssa M. Knee………………………………………………………………          Frenchville, PA

Mandy L. Marconi (with High Distinction)………………………   St. Marys, PA

Christopher G. Minarchick …………………………………………            West Decatur, PA

Shelbie L. Schatz……..……………………………………………………  St. Marys, PA

Kyle Schwabenbauer………………………………………………………  St. Marys, PA

April N. Sperfslage……………………………………………………………….    Drifting, PA               

Douglas R. Urmann………………………………………………………….. Ridgway, PA

*Summer 2013 graduate

Robert Loeb, associate professor of biology and forestry, has been named the 2013 DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) Educator of the Year. Nominations for the award come straight from the students themselves, and each year the DEF presents the award to a Penn State DuBois faculty member who has made a difference in the lives of students. 

Loeb has taught at Penn State DuBois for more than 25 years. He teaches introductory biology, ethnobotany and biogeography, including both face-to-face and online sections. His long standing research program focuses on urban forests and undergraduate students are consistently members of his research team. Recent awards include recognition as a Senior Ecologist from the Ecological Society of America, and as a Kenan Fellow of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens.

Besides his classroom duties, Loeb serves as the academic advisor for biology students, assisting them with scheduling classes, and providing job and graduate school guidance.  He represents Penn State DuBois as an elected representative on the University Faculty Senate, serves on the campus Promotion and Tenure Committee and the Faculty Affairs Committee.

DEF Secretary Bob Johnson presented the award to Loeb.  He also shared some comments from students who nominated Loeb for the award. 

One student said, "Dr. Loeb is one of the most outstanding teachers I have had the pleasure to be around.  He continues to remind me every day that biology is such a huge part of our very existence and that by completing my major I will be able to help create future teachers, ecologists, and doctors.  He was the professor that inspired me and motivated me. His method of teaching made me feel like I was connected to the material.  His uplifting personality makes him that much easier to listen to."    

Another student nominated Loeb, saying, "Dr. Loeb challenged me in ways that I enjoyed, by asking me to think deeply and critically about everything that I was learning.  I began to understand things genuinely instead of just storing the information periodically to pass his tests.  He always got the class involved by asking us to participate in discussion questions that led to intriguing conversation.  He often explained how our attitude towards our schooling reflected our personality and related to our life goals, and that the habits and regularities that we were developing at the time would impact our lives in the future, which motivated me to be the best student and person that I could be."

Loeb was moved by the words of his students and the efforts they took to nominate him for the Educator of the Year Award. 

"It's always been my greatest pleasure to teach Penn State DuBois students," Loeb said.  For me, it's truly a special recognition to receive this award because it is based on the students' learning and their enjoyment of my classes." 

The Penn State Board of Trustees today (May 3) approved the naming of a recently renovated facility at Penn State DuBois as the Alan R. Fairman House, in honor of a gift from the Fairman Family Foundation, which largely funded the restoration of the building.

Previously referred to as the Honors and Alumni Center, the former residential home provides space on the first floor for campus honors programs, and is open to honors students who may use the space to study, work jointly on projects, host seminars or guest speakers, or take a much needed break in between classes. The second floor houses the campus' alumni and development offices, as well as marketing and public information offices. 

The Alan R. Fairman House was originally a home to family members of John DuBois, for which the town of DuBois was named.  The property neighbors the grounds of the lumber tycoon's former estate, which Penn State DuBois campus now occupies. The Alan R. Fairman House was not originally granted to Penn State with the rest of the DuBois family property and had remained a residential family home until the campus purchased it in 2008. 

A renovation, completed in the fall of 2012, brought the facility up to date, while retaining the charm of a stately, late 19^th-century family home.  Original, authentic woodwork is intertwined with state-of-the-art study and meeting spaces, complete with wi-fi and teleconferencing capabilities.  Purchase and renovation of the house was made possible by the generous contributions of private donors, such as those at the Fairman Family Foundation.

"Restoring the Fairman House was a perfect opportunity for us to show our support," said Foundation representative Joyce Fairman. "We want to see the DuBois campus thrive and continue to provide excellent educational opportunities close to home for local young people and members of our community.  The campus also plays a very important role in the local economy by partnering with businesses and providing training programs.  It’s especially rewarding to see the honors program occupying an area of the Fairman House.  An investment in education can only reap rewards."

Fairman also noted that the mission of the campus is something that her late husband, the building's namesake, would wholeheartedly support. 

"Alan Fairman believed in giving people a chance, whether in business or through the many sports teams he was involved in. He had a special place in his heart for teaching kids through coaching. A Penn State education gives people a chance for a better life and the opportunity to make the world a better place," she said. 

Penn State Chancellor Melanie Hatch said the campus community is proud to have such a beautiful facility named in honor of a person, and a family, that has had such a large and lasting impact on the region.

"This house is a place for students to study, to learn, and to prepare themselves to be the leaders of tomorrow. It also provides office space for valuable campus functions that support our students' education," Hatch said. "The Fairman Family recognizes the importance of all of these things, and for that we are truly grateful."  

This is not the first gift that Penn State DuBois has received from the Fairman Family Foundation.  Last year, the foundation funded the establishment of the Anita D. McDonald Endowment Supporting Children and Youth Programs in honor of the retiring DuBois campus chancellor who served from 2003-2012. This endowment supports Kids in College (KIC), The Art, Science and Technology Institute (AST), athletic camps and other Penn State DuBois programs for children and youth.

Through their generosity, the Fairman Family Foundation is helping to support For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students. The campaign’s top priority is keeping a Penn State degree affordable for students and families. The For the Future campaign is the most ambitious effort of its kind in Penn State’s history, with the goal of securing $2 billion by 2014.  Penn State DuBois' individual aim is to raise $12 million by 2014, and the campus is now at 80 percent of that goal.

Penn State DuBois' own Distinguished Professor of English Richard Kopley will serve as the featured speaker at spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday.  In Addition to teaching at Penn State DuBois, Kopley is an internationally known author and literary scholar with expertise in classic American Literature. 

Kopley has published books on his research into the literary works of renowned American writers Nathaniel Hawthorn and Edgar Allan Poe.  He has also had short stories and other pieces of his personal work published in international anthologies, and has contributed to numerous journals and magazines as an expert on Poe’s work. He speaks regularly about his research at national and international conferences. 

Kopley began teaching at Penn State DuBois in 1983.  He studied English at Brandeis University in Massachusetts.  He earned his master's in English at the Teachers College at Columbia University, and eventually a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo where he also taught while completing his degree.

Spring commencement ceremonies are planned for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, in the Multipurpose Building Gymnasium at Penn State DuBois.  All members of the public are invited to attend.  For more information, contact Lisa at 814-375-4775 or ljt2@psu.edu

Penn State DuBois employees were recently recognized for their length of service to the campus.  Penn State DuBois annually recognizes faculty and staff members for their years of employment when they reach personal, five year milestones.

Those recognized this year, pictured left to right, are:

Front Row, seated: Chris Klinger, 25 years; John Tolle, 5 years; Amy Fatula, 5 years; Debra Straussfogel, 5 years; Karen Fuller, 30 years; Jeff Pernesky, 35 years; Melissa Duttry, 25 years. 

Back Row, standing:  Melanie Hatch, Penn State DuBois Chancellor; Jean Wolf, 5 years; Rebecca Pennington, 15 years; Dick Kerstetter, 10 years; Annette Muth, 15 years; John Luchini, 25 years; Lisa Labue, 5 years; Vince Calabrese, 5 years; Jim May, 30 years; Aaron Stottlemyer, 5 years; Polly Read, 15 years; Gary Smith, 5 years; Tharren Thompson, 5 years; Brian Tokarcik, 10 years; Matt Checchio, 5 years. 

Penn State DuBois has launched an entirely new certificate program to meet the needs of health care professionals looking to further develop their career in the areas of management or human resources.

The Health Care Leadership Certificate is a 20 credit program that will benefit people currently working, full-time or part-time, in a health care environment who want to enhance their qualifications for management roles and further their professional development.  Courses focus on areas including finance and managerial accounting, business ethics and legal issues, management concepts, and health systems management.

Certificate programs are a sequence of credit classes that provide individuals with core competencies in specific areas. Certificates are ideal for those who wish to set smaller, more immediate educational goals and work up to meeting larger ones.

Certificate programs can be the gateway to a college degree, but also offer advantages to those who already have a degree. Individuals can gain knowledge in a new subject area, stay current with developments in their field, acquire new skills, or learn about the latest technology.

Penn State DuBois also offers a certificate program that will introduce people not currently working in health care to the many career opportunities in the ever-growing industry. The Health Sciences Professions Certificate program provides classes in health science and basic academic requirements for a variety of fields, without committing students to any particular job or specialty within health care.  It will afford students an early look at their options and allow them to decide later what career path they want to take.

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.htm

The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society at Penn State DuBois held their annual Dine Out Event at Luigi's Ristorante on Brady Street in DuBois on Sunday.  The event raised $565 for the Delta Mu Sigma Scholarship Fund.

Each year, Luigi's Ristorante generously hosts the honor society's fund raiser.  The restaurant owner donates a portion of the proceeds he takes in during the event to the honor society. Anyone who wishes to support the scholarship fund only needs to come to Luigi's to dine.

Pictured during the check presentation that followed the event are, left to right: Adam Snyder, student and Delta Mu Sigma chairman; Ed Tate, Luigi's owner; Kristina Bubhannon, Luigi's manager; and Tony Vallone, associate professor of English and Delta Mu Sigma advisor.

Students in the Penn State DuBois Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program presented the work and research they've completed over the past year during an exhibition this week. Students offered demonstrations of their work in the student union, displaying therapy devices that they've designed and built, and presented their research using poster displays.  They chose to offer the presentations during April because it is Occupational Therapy month, as designated by the American Occupational Therapy Association.  

"Everything they've done is related to therapy that's currently in practice in the field," said LuAnn Demi, instructor and campus coordinator of the OTA program.  She said the work students did this year helped them to learn the real-world applications for Occupational Therapy, and how it is used to help people with a wide variety of ailments. She continued, "The purpose of this research is to show the variety of places OT can be used and the variety of practice settings that there are in the field."  Demi noted that individual student research focused on areas including low vision, mental health, injuries, fall prevention, disaster relief, and more."

"Some used traditional methods for OT, and some students have worked on implementing emerging technologies," Demi said, noting that some students researched the use of iPad Apps in Occupational Therapy.  Some apps currently available to all iPad and iPhone users are designed specifically for Occupational Therapy.  They consist of games that stimulate various parts of the brain, which can be therapeutic for people with certain mental conditions. 

"These apps help people with autism by working on fine motor skills," explained student Molly Myers of Hillsdale, Indiana County, as she demonstrated a game on her iPad.  Another app that Myers shared was one that can be beneficial to Occupational Therapy professionals in prescribing treatment.  Using an image of the human brain, it allows the users to pin-point the functions that are controlled by each part of the brain.  Myers said, "It explains what parts of the brain focus on different tasks.  You just click on the part of the brain and it tells you what it does, and what diagnoses might affect each part."

Another group of students worked with more traditional devices that would allow people who have injuries, or who are recovering from surgery to complete household tasks.  Amanda Williams of Clearfield worked with her classmates to build a dog bowl outfitted with a high-standing funnel that would allow a pet owner to feed their animal without bending over.  Williams said, "The funnel would be helpful for someone who has had a hip replacement, so they can't bend past 90 degrees.  So, they can feed their pet without bending down." 

Williams and her peers also designed a device that holds a book in an open position, and another one that holds a plate and silverware at an elevated point above a table top.  She explained, "These are for people with neck injuries who can't put their head down.  The book stand also helps people with arthritis in their hands who want to read but have trouble holding a book." 

As the OTA students shared their research with other campus students, Demi was enthusiastic about how illustrative the presentations were of the many areas in which OT is used every day.  She said of her students, "They really impressed me.  They have really shown the variety of ways that OT can be used to help people in different practice settings."

The Penn State DuBois women’s basketball team held its post season recognition banquet on Saturday, April 20, at Luigi’s Ristarante in DuBois.   Coach Pat Lewis and players were joined by parents and family members to celebrate the 2012-13 season, honor players with team awards, and recognize academic excellence.

After the meal Coach Lewis gave a re-cap of the season and spoke briefly about his players.  Two team members who played their final season at DuBois, Karly Carnovale and Karlee Cyphert, will be missed for their play on the court and their leadership off the court.  Three team awards were presented by Coach Lewis; Team MVP was awarded to Karly Carnovale for her outstanding play and for leading the team in scoring.  The Coaches Award was presented to Freshman Jordan Fairman for her work ethic, positive attitude, and commitment to the team. The final team award was that of Rookie of the Year which went to Freshman Kiley Lewis who led the team in rebounds.

Highlighting the dinner was the presentation of the PSUAC Academic All-Conference awards. Six eligible players received academic all-conference certificates for earning a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They are: Carnovale, Cyphert, Kiley Lewis, Fairman, Patience McCullough, and Linsey Mizic.  The seventh player on the team, Nicki Hurler was not eligible for the award because she joined the team in January.

Karly Carnovale was selected to the PSUAC All-Conference Second Team and Karlee Cyphert was selected as Honorable Mention. 

The 74^th Annual Delta Mu Sigma Honors Convocation at Penn State DuBois recognized outstanding students, faculty, and staff members on Friday night in the campus' Hiller Auditorium. Awards at the Honors Convocation recognize students for a wide range of accomplishments, from academic excellence, to overcoming hardships to succeed.  Members of the staff and faculty were celebrated for their commitment to supporting students and for their service to the campus and community.

"These awards are going to students who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty; the students who always push themselves beyond where they have been comfortable in the past; students who challenge themselves daily to do a better job, to put in that extra bit of effort," said Penn State DuBois Chancellor Melanie Hatch while offering a welcome to the audience.  She then told the awardees, "We are proud of you and honored to be in your presence."

Student and Delta Mu Sigma chairman Adam Snyder commended his peers , saying,

"These many students who receive awards, scholarships, and certificates should be utterly proud of themselves, along with their families, friends, and fellow classmates, because these students have made a difference and made this campus a better place this school year."

 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. 

Around 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.

Students in gifted programs at area school districts had the opportunity to experience college classes, and prepare for higher education during a workshop at Penn State DuBois on Thursday. Around 30 students in grades seven through twelve visited campus from five different school districts, including Brookville, DuBois, Punxsutawney, Clarion, and Keystone.

Penn State DuBois Enrollment Services periodically holds Gifted Workshops as an opportunity for advanced middle and high school students to attend sample college courses and explore opportunities in their future education.  Each workshop focuses on a different academic area.  The most recent workshop featured courses in English and psychology, with a common concentration on human emotion.  In the English course, taught by Penn State DuBois Associate Professor of English Tony Vallone, students wrote poetry that expressed their feelings about subjects that they found exasperating, learning constructive ways to vent their frustration.  In the psychology class, Instructor Bill Allenbaugh introduced the students to techniques that can be used to calm themselves during stressful situations.

"Teachers from the gifted programs at these school districts told us that there is a lot of interest in psychology among their students," said Holli Lashinsky, a campus admissions counselor who organized the workshop.  "So, we tried to build the workshop around that interest and offer something that would really appeal to the students." 

At the same time the students are taking in new lessons on subjects that they find appealing, Lashinsky hopes that they're also learning what they can expect as they take the next steps in their education.  She said, "It's never too early to start thinking about college and this is a great way for students to get a little taste of what college classes are like."

The teachers who accompanied the middle and high school students to the workshop agreed that the early exposure to college could help many of their students make decisions on their future college majors, or even their careers. 

"It's a great way for them to experience college in a non-intimidating way, and to explore different opportunities," said Melinda Burton, who teaches on both the high school and elementary level at Brookville Area School District.  Burton said the workshop could inspire students to consider Dual Enrollment college programs while they're still in high school as a way to accelerate their college education.  She said, "We have a lot of students who are undecided about what they want to do.  Here, they're exploring their options, and this can even get them to think about Jump Start or Dual Enrollment classes. Some students really have no idea what they want to do, and this is opening their awareness."

Chancellor Melanie Hatch and Athletic Coordinator Ken Nellis have announced plans to add a men's and women's golf team to the list of intercollegiate athletic programs at Penn State DuBois.  The co-ed team will be coached by Pat Lewis, who is also the Penn State DuBois women's basketball coach. Lewis has served as golf coach at Cameron County High School for twelve years.  He guided the Cameron County women’s golf program to three consecutive undefeated seasons as well as three Penn-York Golf titles from 2005-2007.

The golf team will compete in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) and the USCAA National Championship event.  There are currently seven other campuses in the PSUAC with golf squads. The team will compete in the fall season, with matches starting in September. 

Any current Penn State DuBois student or incoming student interested in becoming a member of the golf team is asked to contact Pat Lewis by calling or texting at 814-603-1707.

Any further questions about the golf team can be directed to Ken Nellis at 814-375-4857 or email kcn3@psu.edu

Hank Webster, a member of the Jefferson County Master Gardeners and associate professor of biology emeritus at Penn State DuBois, will present Basic Backyard Composting at Penn State DuBois on Earth Day, April 24.  All members of the public are welcome to attend.

Webster's talk will cover the basics of mixing compost for use in the home garden and other household applications.  Webster will have an example of a compost bin on-hand to demonstrate the methods of blending brown and green waste materials to start the composting process.  He will also use a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate the preparation and uses of compost.

This event is jointly sponsored by the campus' Green Team, a group of Penn State DuBois faculty, staff members, and students who are dedicated to promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship, and the campus EcoClub.  Composting is a popular practice in sustainability, as it takes organic waste and repurposes the waste into natural fertilizer. 

The Basic Backyard Composting presentation is scheduled for Noon until 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, in Room 12 of the Multipurpose Building at Penn State DuBois.  A limited number of composting bins will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who wish to attend are asked to RSVP to Chris at 814-375-4770 or czk4@psu.edu

Individuals who attended college but were unable to finish their education can learn how to complete their degree requirements during an upcoming information session at Penn State DuBois.

This information session is intended for people who already have college credits, but had to "stop out" before earning a degree due other obligations or circumstances.  Staff at Penn State DuBois will help those who attend understand their options for reenrolling in college and earning the degree they were not able to complete in the past. Campus representatives can also offer advice on the job market and careers. Attendees are asked to bring an unofficial copy of their college transcripts for review.

The session is planned for 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, in room 203 of the DEF Building at Penn State DuBois.  Please RSVP to Sueann at 814-375-4716 or sdoran@psu.edu

Two open house and information session events are planned at Penn State DuBois and at the Community Education Council in St. Marys where registered nurses can learn more about earning their bachelor's degree in nursing. 

The Accelerated RN to BS Degree offers registered nurses the opportunity to quickly earn a B.S. in nursing in 16 months. Classes will be held at Penn State DuBois, and in St. Marys using teleconferencing that will connect students with instructors at Penn State Altoona.  

The program consists of 12 credits, or four courses, per semester over the course of four semesters.  The classes will meet on Tuesdays from 11:45 a.m. until 2:45p.m. for the entire length of the program.

The information sessions on the RN to BS program are designed to give nurses interested in a bachelor's degree more complete information about the entire program. The sessions are both planned for 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25. One will take place in room 201 of the DEF Building at Penn State DuBois, and another at the Community Education Council at 4 Erie Avenue, Suite 200, in St. Marys. 

RSVP to Sueann at (814) 375-4716 or sdoran@psu.edu

Penn State's head football coach Bill O'Brien and men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik will attend the Coaches Caravan stop at Penn State DuBois on May 9. 

O’Brien will headline the 12-stop bus tour of many Penn State alumni strongholds across Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic.  The two week tour, jointly sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and the Nittany Lion Club, begins on April 30.

At each Coaches Caravan stop, Penn State alumni and fans will have the opportunity to hear from Coach O’Brien and at least one other head coach and ask questions about the Nittany Lions’ nationally recognized 31-sport athletic program at a lunch or evening event.The DuBois stop featuring Pavlik is scheduled as a luncheon event.

Pavlik is in his 19^th season at the helm of the Penn State program. He has guided the Nittany Lions to 18 of their 29 EIVA Championships, including in 2013, enabling the Nittany Lions to host the EIVA Tournament for the 15^th straight season. The Nittany Lions aim to make their 15^th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championship after advancing to the NCAA semifinals in 2012 for the 27^th time. Pavlik owns a career record of 452-133 and led Penn State to the 2008 NCAA title.

Seats are still available for the luncheon at Penn State DuBois. To register, visit

www.alumni.psu.edu/coachescaravan  or www.GoPSUsports.com

Penn State DuBois students who have received scholarships to help fund their education had the chance to personally thank many of the people who make those scholarships possible on Friday at the campus' annual Scholarship Luncheon, held at the DuBois Country Club.  Each year, donors and scholars alike are invited to the event to get to know one another over lunch.  Donors get to see, first hand, the kind of impact they've had in the lives of students, and the students have the chance to explain how critical the scholarships have been in their educational pursuits.

"Some students may not be able to be here if it were not for the donors in this room," said Penn State DuBois Chancellor Melanie Hatch.  "For many students, a scholarship can be the difference between earning a degree, and just having the dream of earning a degree.  Donors, you have allowed Penn State DuBois to award over $380,000 in scholarships this year.  With 90 percent of our students requiring some form of financial aid, it's just wonderful to have that help."

Students were happy to express their gratitude, as well.  Senior HDFS student Melissa George of Sykesville addressed the room saying, "Without scholarships I don't know if I would be able to complete my education.  Scholarships helped me to achieve my goal of earning a bachelor's degree, and one day I would like to help someone else achieve their goals by giving back and helping others."

Bill Wood, Chairman, President and CEO of Clearfield Bank & Trust Company spoke at the luncheon to share a donor's perspective.  Wood and Clearfield Bank & Trust recently established a scholarship at Penn State DuBois.  He said, "As a locally owned and operated bank, we feel it's part of our mission to give back to the communities we serve. We understand the importance of higher education.  It provides graduates with opportunities that would not be available to them without a degree."

Donors who realize the importance of scholarships as Wood does are valuable assets to communities everywhere, Hatch said.  In closing the luncheon she again expressed her appreciation to those donors.  She said, "We hope this lunch, in some small way, shows our gratitude for what you've done for our students and our campus."

Anyone interested in training for a career in the natural gas industry is encouraged to attend the Natural Gas Careers Forum and Exposition at Penn State DuBois on April 26.  The event will highlight the educational opportunities available at Penn State DuBois that will prepare individuals for a career in the natural gas industry by providing the training they'll need to qualify for most jobs.

During the forum, industry professionals will offer presentations on the gas industry and Marcellus Shale, as well as the career opportunities available.  Educators from Penn State DuBois will cover all of the training options offered on campus, including degree programs and non-credit courses.

The exposition will feature the Drake Well Museum’s Mobile Energy Education and Training Unit (MEET-U), a 44 foot long rolling exhibit.  Housed primarily in a modified tractor-trailer, the MEET-U features hands-on activities such as videos, artifacts, and interactive experiments designed to educate participants about various forms of energy including oil, gas, coal, wind, and solar. 

Representatives from local employers in the natural gas industry will also be on-hand during the exposition to speak with those interested in working in the field.   Professionals from Penn State DuBois Continuing Education and from the ShaleTEC training and education center of Williamsport will also be available to speak more about options for education and answer questions.  There will also be a screening of the film FracNation.

The Natural Gas Careers Forum is slated for 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 26, in the Hiller Auditorium at Penn State DuBois.

The exposition will follow from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the student union, as well as the MEET-U exhibit in the parking lot.  Lunch is available for purchase at the Lion's Den Cafι.

Individuals planning to attend are asked to submit an RSVP to Jeannine Hanes at jhanes@psu.edu or 814-375-4836.

For three days this week, the Student Union became a center for hope for the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  The Clothesline Project and the Shoe Project were organized by the campus Students Allies, Friends, and Educators (SAFE) Club and the sexual assault counseling and prevention organization, Passages.

The Clothesline Project, an annual event on campus, provides T-shirts and fabric paint to anyone who wishes to decorate a shirt. Each T-shirt color represents a different violent crime against women.  White for women who have died from violence; yellow or beige for women who have been battered or assaulted; red, pink or orange for women who have been raped or sexually assaulted; blue or green for women who are survivors of incest or child sexual abuse; purple or lavender for women attacked because of their sexual orientation, and black for women attacked for political reasons.  Messages are written on the shirts and they are then placed on a clothesline for display.

The Shoe Project is a collection of shoes illustrating the journeys faced by domestic violence survivors.  They are accompanied by written accounts of the abuse that the victims who once wore the shoes endured.  The goal of both of these displays is to raise awareness of domestic violence issues, which professionals and advocates hope will ultimately reduce the occurrence of violent acts.

"I think most people don't think about it," said April Fleck, a prevention educator with Passages.  "This shows people that it does happen, and that it does happen right here in your town.  There's this feeling that it doesn't happen here.  It does happen everywhere and the more we talk about it, the more we can change the social norms that allow it to happen."

Fleck said not only do these cases of domestic and sexual violence happen everywhere, but it also happens with staggering frequency. She said, "Statistics tell us that it's likely everyone knows someone that has been a victim, even if we don't know that person has been a victim.  The statistics show that one in four girls and one in six boys will be victims of sexual assault by the age of 18."

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  The National Sexual Violence Resource Center has more information here. 

The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society at Penn State DuBois and Luigi's Ristorante plan to hold a Dine Out event in April that will benefit the Delta Mu Sigma Scholarship Fund.  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.

The event is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, at Luigi's Ristorante, on Brady Street, in DuBois. 

Honor society members will also hold a 50/50 drawing and basket auctions. 

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

Penn State DuBois is partnering with area businesses to help students get real-world experience in their desired field, while filling a need for companies who need quality employees.  The Partnering Academics and Workplace Learning for Success, or PAWS Program, is managed by the campus Student Affairs Office. It gives students professional development and internship opportunities to gain knowledge and hands-on experience while earning their degree. In some cases, it may even lead to long-term employment for the student with the company where they complete their internship.  

Students can be accepted into the PAWS program as early as their first year on campus.  The PAWS program will pair a student with an employer in their field.  They then have the opportunity to work in a paid internship for up to three years of their time here at the campus.  If granted the internship, they'll intern with a company for 10-15 hours per week during the semester, and for up to 40 hours per week in the summer. 

While in the program, students will also take part in workshops, seminars and many professional development events presented by Penn State DuBois Career Services and expert guests to sharpen their skill set and add to their overall experience.

GKN Sinter Metals of DuBois was the first area company to participate in the PAWS program as an industry partner. The company welcomed general engineering student William Tett, of Penfield, as its intern. 

"GKN Sinter Metals was delighted to be the first employer to participate in the PAWS program at the Penn State DuBois campus," said GKN Human Resources Director Dave Brennan.  The program has been very rewarding from the GKN standpoint and our student PAWS member is contributing to our business on a regular basis.  The program is also a way to build a relationship with students who we hope, after graduation, will become full time GKN employees."    

As a fulltime student with a busy schedule, Tett appreciated the individualized structuring the program provides its participants.  He said, "I am glad there is a program to assist students in finding internships with employers that are willing to work with our schedules."

The experience Tett has had with GKN made for a promising inaugural run of the PAWS program.  Penn State DuBois' Assistant Director of Continuing Education Jeannine Hanes, who works closely with Student Affairs on this program, said Tett's story is a textbook example of how the program was designed to work. 

"We believe all students should participate in internships and other experiential learning activities, not just those students whose degrees require them," Hanes said. The new PAWS program allows the student to document both workplace learning and on the job internship skills, as well as professional development skills that will build a portfolio of their employability skills."

If students or employers are interested in participating in this program they should contact Jeannine Hanes at (814) 375-4836.

Friends and family of Penn State DuBois students, as well as all members of the community are invited to attend the Annual Delta Mu Sigma Honors Convocation.  It is slated for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19, in the Hiller Auditorium. 

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. 

A reception will follow in the student union, with refreshments provided.

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. 

Internet search engine Google helps millions of people find what they're looking for every day.  However, the web giant conducted its own search recently, to find the very best interns for their summer internship program.  One of the top "hits" on Google's search has a direct "link" to Penn State DuBois; it's the campus' own Information Science and Technology (IST) student Jessica Noland, who will begin an internship with Google at the company's Pittsburgh location in May. 

"They actually found me," Noland said.  The IST program junior from DuBois recalled that a recruiter from Google contacted her about the internship program after finding her personal profile on the popular online professional networking site LinkedIn.  She said, "They found my profile, and asked me to apply for the internship." She noted that an interview process followed before she was offered the internship. Noland confides that she has put substantial effort into her rιsumι and online profile, which likely attracted the attention of those at Google.  

During Noland's 12-week internship, she will work in Google's internal information technology department, assisting Google employees with computer operation and troubleshooting.  It's the first time the company has offered an internship in this particular area. At the end of May, Noland will fly to the main headquarters, known as the Googleplex in Mountain View, California, for a week of training.  Then, she'll return to Pennsylvania and serve out the internship in Google's Pittsburgh offices. Located in the city's Bakery Square, the Google office is housed in a renovated Nabisco factory, and boasts such morale-boosting features as a replica of a rollercoaster car from Pittsburgh area amusement park Kennywood.

"I don't even know that I can put it into words," Noland said of the excitement she feels over the opportunity to be a Google intern.  "When I first came to college to major in IST, it's because I wanted to work for Google.  So, to be doing this now is unbelievable." 

Jason Long, the senior instructor and program leader for IST at Penn State DuBois said it's not so unbelievable for a student who possesses the skills and enthusiasm he has seen Noland exhibit.  Though, this makes it no less exciting. 

"Where Jess is now speaks for itself.  Getting an internship at Google is momentous," Long said.  "I am very proud that she got this opportunity.  It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for any IST student, and she definitely deserves it." 

Noland is also no stranger to exceptional internship opportunities.  Last summer she interned in Englewood, Colorado with EchoStar, a company that designs and produces set-top television boxes for Dish Network.  She also continues to work locally in IT support for Magnus Marketing, a private consulting business. 

With an already Google-worthy rιsumι in hand, Noland is excited about the future, but remains open about where that future may lead. 

"I don't know where it leads from here," Noland said.  "I'll come back in the fall and finish my degree.  After that, nothing is off the table. 

As a budding professional who was just recruited as an intern for one of the world's largest technology-based companies, Noland also offers advice for others just embarking on their careers.  She said, "You want a strong rιsumι.  You want it to clearly tell what you've done, what you're doing, what you can do, and what your goals are.  Then, you have to get it out there." 

Mike and Tracy Lazar of DuBois have generously pledged support to students at Penn State DuBois through the Preston Stewart Freemer Special Needs Trust.  The trust is named for Tracy's son, and will contribute a total of up to $75,000, through a gift of life insurance, to scholarship funds for students at Penn State DuBois who have a financial need.   

"As the parents of a special needs child, my husband and I felt that, first and foremost, we needed to establish the Preston Stewart Freemer Special Needs Trust to insure Preston is taken care of after we’re gone," Tracy Lazar explained.  She said that funds remaining in the trust after their primary goal is achieved will then be given to the campus by trustees of the fund. 

"We also wanted to give back to the community that has been so kind and accepting of Preston", Tracy Lazar continued.   "We thought of Penn State DuBois because I graduated from there in 2001, and while attending Penn State DuBois, I received several scholarships which helped me to earn my degree. My stepdaughter Kristine also graduated from Penn State DuBois in 2007.  We feel that the DuBois campus brings a great deal to the community and we want to do our part to keep DuBois Penn State proud." 

The Preston Stewart Freemer Special Needs Trust will benefit four students annually, awarding each student the significant amount of $1,000 per semester to help pay their tuition costs.

"Generosity of this kind means so much to our students," said Penn State DuBois Chancellor Melanie Hatch.  She continued, "It has the potential to change lives. Receiving a scholarship can be the difference between earning your college degree and putting your dreams on hold.  We are grateful to the Lazar family for contributing to resources that can be so vital to student success."  

To learn more about how to make a gift to Penn State DuBois via a planned gift, such as this trust, contact Jean Wolf at 814-372-3038, or jaw57@psu.edu

This summer, Penn State DuBois will offer the class Geology of Oil and Natural Gas at the Clearfield Outreach Center, and through video conference on campus in DuBois.

This for-credit course is an introduction to the geology of oil and natural gas in Pennsylvania, which will cover topics such as the origin, geologic distribution, exploration, and exploitation of oil and natural gas, and the credits earned will count toward a Penn State degree.

"This is a great introductory course for students interested in pursuing careers in the oil and gas industry. The course will also benefit incumbent workers in the industry who are not familiar with Pennsylvania geology," said Jeannine Hanes, assistant director of Continuing Education at Penn State DuBois. 

Hanes explained that the course can also benefit those who work in fields that may have connections to gas and oil such as banking and financial services, engineering, legal, healthcare, construction and more.  She said the course would also offer advantages to students already enrolled at the campus.  Hanes said, "Students in several of our degree programs will have the opportunity to seek employment in the natural gas industry and should consider taking this course. This obviously includes students majoring in Earth Sciences and Engineering, but the industry also hires graduates with degrees in Business, Wildlife Technology, Information Sciences and Technology, and Letters, Arts, and Sciences."

Classes will begin with the first summer session on May 13. They will be held as a combination of face-to-face sessions and web-based instruction.  The four live classes will be teleconferenced from Clearfield to DuBois so that students can choose the location most convenient for them.  Those live sessions are scheduled for Wednesday evenings from 5:15 – 8:15. Web-based portions may be completed independently.

For more information, or to sign up for the Geology of Oil and Natural Gas course, call Jeannine Hanes at 814-375-4836, or click here.  

Mike Disney couldn't help but smile as he received his certificate for completing the Floor Hand Training Program.  As one of 14 graduates of the latest Floor Hand class at Penn State DuBois, the Arkansas native can finally start a new career, and get his life back on track after a layoff derailed his 20-plus year career in mass media.

Penn State DuBois has partnered with several organizations connected to the Natural Gas Industry through ShaleNET to offer training that will prepare individuals for careers in the Marcellus Shale boom at very little cost.  The Floor Hand Training Program provides all of the training and certifications the students in the program need to enter the workforce on a gas well drilling site as a floor hand.  The costs for this class and the ShaleNET program are covered by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Floor hands operate and maintain drilling systems and pumps by connecting and disconnecting pipes, inspecting derricks, cleaning and oiling derricks, and performing other general maintenance tasks around the rig.

The certificate for his newly completed training marks a major milestone on what has been a long road for Disney.  The 39 year old married father of four rose to the rank of regional manager for his Arkansas-based media company.  That career, however, came to an end when the company was forced to close their Arkansas offices.  The layoff would force Disney to sell his family's home as he struggled to find work in a bleak economy.

"I have a business degree, and I kept applying for professional positions," Disney remembered.  "But in this economy, I only got three interviews in a year and a half."  

Disney considered a career change and looked into the natural gas industry when he heard about the Marcellus Shale boom in the North East.  However, he found that it was a difficult industry to break into with no prior experience or training.  Then, he happened to have the TV on at just the right time.

"I've been interested in gas and oil for years, but I never got into it because it requires experience or education specific to the industry," Disney said.  "Then I saw this story on Fox News about ShaleNET and the education they provided.  I searched around on the internet, and found the training offered at DuBois."

Soon, Disney made some calls and was signed up for the program.  He packed his bags, and headed out from Arkansas to DuBois.  After a long job search full of trials and disappointment, the idea of the gas industry training was able to lift his spirits for the first time in a long time.

"The minute I talked to them on the phone I saw the light," Disney remembered.  "I'm in the light right now, today.  It's a complete change for me, but I'm excited about my future."

Before graduation for the Floor Hand Training Program event took place, Disney and his classmates were getting job offers.  He's now deciding which one to take.

 If I was going to title my life, I'd title it 'The Man That Lost All Hope'.  But, I have hope again now.  I went from no job offers in a year and a half to already having gas and oil companies knocking on my door.  It blows me away." 

Following the graduation ceremony, graduates met with representatives from companies in the gas and oil industries at a career fair organized by Penn State DuBois' Continuing Education department to help them get into jobs right away.

"Penn State DuBois Continuing Education is committed to assisting individuals obtain the education they need to obtain good positions in the workforce.  We are glad to be able to provide this needed training and excited to have someone come from as far away as Arkansas to participate in this training opportunity," said Betsy Carlson, Continuing Education program aide.

The next Floor Hand Training Programs at Penn State DuBois are scheduled to begin on May 6, and May 28, 2013.  Information sessions for those interested in attending the next classes are planned for 5:00 pm. until 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, and 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 11.

Each class is limited to a total number of 17 students.  Interested individuals are advised to attend one of the information sessions. To reserve your seat for either information session, log on to www.dubois.psu.edu/ce or call 814-372-3005.

A group of students from Penn State DuBois recently traveled to Baldwin, New York over spring break to assist in relief efforts that have been ongoing since Superstorm Sandy hit the area in October.  A total of five students from the campus made the trip with the Christian Student Fellowship, led by Campus Minister Kyle Gordon and International and Multicultural Student Services Coordinator Tharren Thompson.

In Baldwin, students worked to repair the Nassau Christian Church and parsonage that was damaged by flooding.  They reinstalled insulation in the floors by accessing crawl spaces, laid the subfloor, stripped damaged wiring for scrap, and installed drywall.  The church will use the money they get from the scrap that the students collected to fund a young girl's tuition for seminary so she can become a missionary.  Once the parsonage is completely finished, the church will use it to host more work groups to come and help rebuild the community.  The church currently serves as a hub for those that are in need of assistance in the area. 

"I know students left this trip knowing they made a significant impact in the lives of the people in the Baldwin community," said Gordon.  "Even further, I know this trip made a significant impact in the lives of our team as several are now exploring how they can be more involved in community service and even make a career out of relief efforts."

"During the trip to Baldwin, New York doing Sandy relief I learned that if I was asked to do something, it was needed no matter how small or insignificant it seemed," said student Sara Beatty.  "Everyone had a good time made lots of new friends and shared lots of laughs.  It also showed me and others how much we take things for granted."

For this year's spring break, 20 Penn State students spent seven days in Washington D.C. learning about the issues that surround homelessness and poverty in the United States, and volunteering to help those who are homeless.  The students had the opportunity to meet many homeless people on their service trip, putting faces with the issue.

Students volunteered at Capitol Area Food Bank where they sorted canned goods that are distributed to 700 area organizations, and at D.C. Central Kitchen, which serves 4,500 meals a day to local food shelters.

Marly Doty, assistant director of Student Affairs at Penn State DuBois, and Ken Nellis, campus athletic coordinator, accompanied students on the trip.  Doty said, "I'm so proud of the Penn State students that I had the privilege of leading to DC. They are all incredible and I have a renewed faith in our country's future because of their leadership and determination."

"Interacting with the homeless and learning their story had the biggest impact on me," said student Evan Aravich.  "I feel that homelessness is something that is commonly talked about but not completely understood. Looking back, I now have a more complete understanding of how homelessness affects the individuals going through it." 

The Penn State Coaches Caravan will make a stop at Penn State DuBois for a lunch-time program on May 9, during a two week tour that will visit 12 locations.

The tour begins on April 30, with football coach Bill O'Brien headlining events at Penn State alumni strongholds across Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic. The 2012 Bear Bryant and Maxwell Football Club national Coach of the Year will participate in all 12 Coaches Caravan stops and will be joined by other head coaches at each event. The April 30 opening stop at the Penn State Berks campus in Reading is sold out.

Three more dynamic Penn State mentors are set to join O’Brien on the Coaches Caravan during the first week (April 30-May 2). The coaches participating during the second week (May 7-9) of the tour are to be announced.

At each Coaches Caravan stop, Penn State alumni and fans will have the opportunity to hear from Coach O’Brien and at least one other head coach and ask questions about the Nittany Lions’ nationally recognized 31-sport athletic program at a lunch or evening event.

Jointly sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and the Nittany Lion Club, Coaches Caravan registration is underway at www.alumni.psu.edu/coachescaravan  and www.GoPSUsports.com  

More than 2,000 Penn State alumni and fans signed up for Caravan stops during the first two weeks of registration, with the Reading event reaching capacity in four days. Advance registration is required for all Coaches Caravan events.

The second week of the Coaches Caravan begins May 7 with a luncheon at Penn College of Technology in Williamsport and an evening reception at the Lehigh Valley Holiday Inn Conference Center in Breinigsville. On May 8, the Caravan will visit New York City and Scranton and on May 9, Caravan events will be held at Penn State DuBois and Pittsburgh. During the second week, the New York City lunch will begin at 12:00 p.m. and the receptions in the Lehigh Valley and Pittsburgh will begin at 6:00 p.m.

The 2013 Penn State Coaches Caravan stops are:

April 30	Penn State Berks; Reading (lunch) – SOLD OUT
	Philadelphia (evening reception)
May 1	Baltimore (lunch)
	Washington, D.C. (evening reception)
May 2	Lancaster, Pa. (lunch)
	Harrisburg/Camp Hill, Pa. (evening reception)
May 7	Penn College of Technology; Williamsport (lunch)
	Allentown/Breinigsville, Pa. (evening reception)
May 8	New York City (lunch)
	Scranton, Pa. (evening event)
May 9	Penn State DuBois (lunch)
	Pittsburgh (evening reception)

For the second consecutive year, Fullington Tours of Clearfield will provide a customized coach to transport all the Coaches Caravan participants throughout the 12-stop tour.

More than just a job fair, a unique event for jobseekers at Penn State DuBois offered a comprehensive look at local employment prospects, complete with networking opportunities and job interviews.  The inaugural Networking Luncheon and Career Fair was held in the campus gymnasium on Wednesday, and featured representatives from 35 businesses and organizations ranging from manufacturing, to law enforcement, to healthcare.  

The event was organized jointly by the campus office of Student Affairs and the Continuing Education Department, and sponsored by the DuBois Educational Foundation, the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society, GKN Sintered Metals, Brookville Equipment  Company, and Farmer's National Bank.  It kicked off with a luncheon for Penn State students and employers, where attendees were able to network and share information.  In this more casual setting, students were able to hear what local companies were looking for in employees.  After lunch, the industry representatives remained for a formal career fair that was also open to the public, providing a more in-depth profile for students and other jobseekers interested in their companies.

The final stage of the event gave students the chance to actually interview for a job right on the spot.  Many of the companies with current openings offered interviews to perspective employees after making initial connections with them during the job fair and networking times.

"We are really excited that we've been able to make this event as large as it is, and to offer all of the things that this event offers," said Rebecca Pennington, campus director of Student Affairs.  "This gives students a great chance to start networking and a lot of help finding employment." 

The students who attended found that the extra activities offered in addition to the career fair were very beneficial.  Information Science and Technology student Mathew Shultz from Curwensville said, "The opportunity to network really piqued my interest.  This gives us a chance to see what's in the marketplace and what employers are expecting from us. It's great." 

"It was good to see what employers are looking for," said student Ronald Lefebvre, who is a first year Information Science and Technology student who used the event for practice for his future job search.  "I got to see what employers are looking for so I'll be more prepared when I start really looking for jobs after graduation." 

For the employers, the Networking Luncheon and Career Fair served as a venue for recruiting quality employees who just completed their education at Penn State DuBois.

"Once we heard about this, it was a no-brainer for us to participate," said Jason Ebersole, an account executive with Peak Media, a television company.  "One thing it helps us do is find the best talent.  When you don't do outreach like this, you don't see the real folks in the community and the skills that are really out there." 

Penn State DuBois student Christina Lockwood has received the Susan R. Rankin Award for Leadership, Integrity, and Outstanding Contributions to Penn State University. The award is given to individuals who demonstrate leadership in supporting students who are members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, integrity in the promotion of a positive identity for LGBTA students throughout the university and local community, and contributions to the support services for LGBTA students, faculty, and staff at Penn State.

Lockwood, a Human Development and Family Studies major, has been involved on campus in many ways to improve the climate for the LGBTA. Recently, Lockwood has been involved with the SAFE Club and the Certified Peer Educators club.  Her voice and these groups challenge and educate others about the LGBTA community. She has also served on the Student Activity Fee board, she is a student orientation leader on campus and a member of Service Above Self Club. She has participated in the STAR Leadership program and has been involved in campus fundraising activities for THON.

The Dr. Susan R. Rankin Award for Leadership, Integrity and Outstanding Contributions to Penn State University was established in 2007 to be given annually to students, staff, faculty, community members or organizations who have provided leadership and service to LGBTA communities and who demonstrate outstanding efforts in leadership, integrity, and outstanding contributions to Penn State University. The award was presented to Lockwood on the steps of Old Main during Pride Rally Week at University Park.

For the second year in a row, Coach Matt Park’s team returned home from the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) National Championships with hardware. This year, two wrestlers earned All-American honors.  Senior Kasey Haines, at 149 pounds, and sophomore Cliff Hill, at 197 pounds, both captured eight place and finished the tournament with 4-3 records. 

Both Haines and Hill opened their tournaments with wins in the first round then dropped to the consolation bracket on Thursday evening with a loss.  Friday was a big day for both wrestlers as they reeled off of three straight wins to get themselves into the top eight of their weight class.  Along the way Haines reversed a loss from the Mid-East Regional qualifier where he was pinned by Jonathan Dempsey of Lafayette; on Friday he pulled out an 8-6 sudden victory win with a takedown in overtime.  Hill saved his heroics for this last match on Friday where he was trailing Benjamin Hogan 8-2 (Cincinnati) in the second period, when he used an upper body throw to secure the pin at 4:13 and earn All-American honors.  On Saturday both wrestlers lost their two matches to settle for eighth place and NCWA All-American.

Penn State DuBois’ other wrestlers competed hard and attributed to the team success with several winning matches along the way.125 Landon Clayton 1-2, 133 Sheibley 2-2, 141 Hildebrand 0-2, 157 Alterio 2-2, 165 Himes 1-2, 174 R.Terwilliger 2-2, S.Terwilliger 0-2, 285 Minarchick 2-2.

Penn State DuBois finished in 14^th place with 36 points; the next best conference school was Penn College in 20^th place and 19 points.  In the team race, California Baptist established a lead with its strength in the lighter weights, and then held off McKendree in a thrilling race of All-American one-upmanship as the Lancers won their second National Collegiate Wrestling Association Championships here. The Lancers totaled nine All-Americans out of their 13 qualifiers, and each made the difference in their 145.5 points that edged McKendree’s six All-Americans and 137 points.

Fittingly, the tournament results came down to the heavyweight match, where CBU’s Zach Merrill sealed the title with a 3-0 win over Ross Janney of McKendree. That ended a rush of points for both squads that saw each team score All-American (top eight) finishes in five of the last six weight classes. McKendree had the higher finishes during the impressive run, but the Lancers’ three additional All-Americans earlier in the tournament were the difference. 

For complete results from the NCWA Tournament, visit http://www.psuduboisathletics.com

Rob Loeb, associate professor of biology and forestry at Penn State DuBois, was recently featured on a Tennessee-based television program for his research and on-going work into the sustainability of urban forests.  The television program, Tennessee's Wild Side, is a seven-time Emmy Award winning series produced by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Nashville Public Television (NPT).  Broadcast on PBS stations in Tennessee and Kentucky, the show features segments that highlight outdoor interests including conservation, outdoor activities, hunting, fishing, camping, and more.

Loeb was recently featured for his work at Radnor Lake Natural Area, near Nashville, Tennessee.  At this natural area located near a major city, Loeb has used his experience in the growth and development of urban forests to help conservation organizations to better understand how to preserve this environment and help it prosper for generations to come.  Through this work, Loeb has also had the opportunity to reach out to students who are studying forestry and related sciences.  In his hands-on, outdoor classroom, Loeb is mentoring the next generation of environmental stewards.

In 2011, Loeb published his book, Old Growth Urban Forests (Springer), in which he advocates the active management of forested spaces found within or very near to urban areas. Much of his 30-plus years of research examines long-term forest ecology in urban and urbanizing areas.

To see the segment of Tennessee's Wild Side featuring Loeb, click here

To learn more about the show, visit www.tnwildside.com

Students in the Penn State DuBois Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program recently had opportunities to build upon their education with real-world lessons, while also reaching out to some special high school students. 

OTA students hosted Life Skills students from DuBois Area High School for a workshop on campus, where they participated in crafting activities and interactive video game play.  The Life Skills students are students who possess intellectual or developmental challenges.  Educators for both the Life Skills students and Penn State DuBois OTA students say the exercises are mutually beneficial.

"This gives them exposure, not just to a college campus, but experience in how to navigate through the community, how to interact with people, and how to behave in groups and in the community," said Life Skills teacher Dan Minns.

"It really gives us good experience working with children of different developmental abilities," said Rachel Wells, OTA student and president of the campus OTA Club.  "We'll work with a variety of patients with different challenges in our careers, and this helps us learn how to interact with them."

The activities OTA students offered provided fun learning experiences for the Life Skills students, while accurately simulating real-world occupational therapy situations. Making crafts and playing interactive games like those on the Nintendo Wii are tactics often employed by therapists in the field.

"Play is a big part of the work that we'll do, and a big part of OT," Wells said. 

The Penn State DuBois wrestlers arrived in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday for the three day National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) National Championships.  The tournament is held just north of Dallas at the Allen Event Center in Allen, TX.   Head Coach Matt Park has 10 wrestlers competing in the national championship, which is now underway.

There are 450 entries in the tournament representing 90 teams from across the nation.  The tournament action can be followed at  www.ncwa.net

The latest results can also be found on Penn State DuBois' athletics homepage at http://www.psuduboisathletics.com

Penn State DuBois was named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). This designation is the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.  This is the third year in a row the campus has made this prestigious list.

"Service learning is a wonderful framework that links classroom learning to community engagement.  At Penn State DuBois, we prepare our students to be active stewards of our global community through service-learning projects," said Chancellor Melanie Hatch. "We’re honored to receive this prestigious award, and owe much of it to the students themselves. They’re the energy driving our commitment and they’re the ones who make it all happen."

Penn State DuBois was admitted to the Honor Roll for its work in community service, education, environmental stewardship, and more. Penn State DuBois students have made mission trips to tornado-ravaged Joplin, Missouri and the Navajo Nation in Arizona.  Students recently travelled to New York where they aided cleanup efforts following Superstorm Sandy.  In the past, Penn State DuBois students were also among those who traveled to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild communities destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Students also participate in the Martin Luther King Day of Service each year, when they spend the holiday volunteering with charities.  Additionally, club events such as an annual haunted house and Breakfast with Santa provide family entertainment in the community, while raising funds for local causes. 

"Congratulations to Penn State DuBois, faculty, staff and students for their commitment to service, both in and out of the classroom," said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS.  "Through this work, institutions of higher education are helping improve their local communities and create a new generation of leaders by challenging students to go beyond the traditional college experience and solve local challenges."

Inspired by the thousands of college students who traveled across the country to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, CNCS has administered the award since 2006 and manages the program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council on Education and Campus Compact.

More information on eligibility and the full list of Honor Roll awardees, can be found at www.nationalservice.gov     

Brandy Brooks, regional director for the Food Project in Boston-Metro West will share ideas on sustainability and community agriculture during this year's Umbaugh Lecture at Penn State DuBois.  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. 

As director for the Boston-Metro West region for the Food Project, Brooks works to engage communities in sustainable agriculture.  The Food Project works with over 150 teenagers and thousands of volunteers each year to farm on 40 acres in eastern Massachusetts.  The organization's focus is on identifying and transforming a new generation of leaders by placing teens in unusually responsible roles, with deeply meaningful work.

Food from those farms is distributed through community supported agriculture programs and farmers' markets, and donated to hunger relief organizations.

In addition to producing and distributing food, The Food Project helps others grow their own crops through community programs and provides training resources. 

Brook's presentation will highlight the ways that community-based organizations around the country are reconnecting communities, families and individuals to one the most basic human needs: food that is produced in ways that are healthy and sustainable.

The public is welcome to attend the Umbaugh Lecture, free of charge. The lecture is planned for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2013, in the Hiller Auditorium at Penn State DuBois. 

The Penn State DuBois Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Department and the Information Technology Club will hold their 19th Video Game Day in March. Video Game Day is open to anyone interested in playing video and computer games, and offers participants the opportunity to try the latest games and game systems available.  Over 100 computers are networked together for the event, along with a wide variety of gaming consoles including xBox 360s, PS3s, Wiis, and even a retro console area.

"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 video games and enjoy themselves," said event organizer and IST program leader Jason Long.  He noted that Video Game Day is held twice each year, once in the spring, and once in the fall. 

Video Game day is planned for 4:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, in the DEF Building at Penn State DuBois.  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. 

Clearfield Bank & Trust Company has recently made a commitment to support the educational pursuits of area students by establishing the Clearfield Bank & Trust Company Scholarship at Penn State DuBois.  Clearfield Bank & Trust pledged $5,000 to the scholarship this year, and will make annual contributions to the fund, which will be distributed in its entirety to qualifying students each year.

This scholarship will provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate students enrolled or planning to enroll at Penn State DuBois who have superior academic records and a need for funds to help cover their college expenses.  In an effort to support those in Clearfield Bank & Trust's immediate area, students from Bedford, Blair, Centre, Clearfield, or Huntingdon Counties will be given first preference.

"The DuBois Campus of the Pennsylvania State University has been part of the community for over 75 years and we are proud to be a supporter of the campus," said Bill Wood, chairman, president and CEO of Clearfield Bank & Trust Company. "As a locally owned community bank, we understand the importance of a secondary education.  It provides graduates with opportunities that may not be available to those who have not obtained an advanced degree.  We hope Clearfield Bank & Trust’s scholarship will help students achieve their aspirations in life."

Penn State DuBois chancellor Melanie Hatch agreed with Wood, saying that higher education is very often the key to individual success.  Though she added that scholarships like the one established by Clearfield Bank & Trust put that education within reach for so many.  She said, "The support that Clearfield Bank & Trust has extended to us will have a tremendous impact on the lives of students who receive this scholarship.  By contributing, each year, to this fund they’re helping students, who may not be able to afford a college education without the commitment Clearfield Bank & Trust has made."

By establishing this scholarship, Clearfield Bank & Trust is also helping to support For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students.  The campaign’s top priority is keeping a Penn State degree affordable for students and families. The For the Future campaign is the most ambitious effort of its kind in Penn State’s history, with the goal of securing $2 Billion by 2014.  Penn State DuBois' individual aim is to raise $12 Million by 2014, and the campus is now at 80 percent of that goal.

As a senior instructor in Wildlife Technology at Penn State DuBois, Keely Roen works in a field where most of her colleagues are men.  While the number of women has increased across many fields over the past few decades, women who work in fields devoted to the study of wildlife and forestry remain less common.  Since this imbalance can often serve as a backdrop for unique challenges, conflicts or even interesting anecdotes, Roen recently decided to put down on paper some of the experiences different women have had working afield.  Her article, The Woman Wildlifer appears in the current winter newsletter from the Pennsylvania Chapter of The Wildlife Society (TWS), which can be found here. 

"The article kind of came about organically," Roen said.  "I had been speaking to a few female friends and colleagues in wildlife and related fields and we seemed to share a lot of the same stories.  I then mentioned this to one of the board members of the PA-TWS in passing at last year’s annual conference and she felt strongly it would be a good article."

Roen then began asking her female friends and colleagues in related fields to share their experiences with her, and the information came pouring in.

"I asked a few friends and I got some great quotes," Roen recalled.  "I tried to keep it focused on the people sharing their stories.  I could have written a novel with some of the information I received."

Roen began teaching at Penn State DuBois in 2001, and was promoted to the rank of senior instructor in 2011.   She currently teaches Wildlife Management Techniques, Terrestrial Wildlife Management, Wildlife Statistics, and Environmental Science.  She focuses research and lab activity on projects where she is able to get her students involved in meaningful, hands-on work.  This fall will mark the thirteenth year that she and the other Wildlife Technology Program faculty will trap, band, and release northern saw-whet owls for study.  She is also currently working with a student to study the distribution of golden eagles, using motion-activated trail cameras.  She'll use those photos in her teaching afterward, and she will make a presentation along with her student at the Penn State DuBois Faculty and Student Research Symposium in April.

Learn more about the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Wildlife Society at http://joomla.wildlife.org/pa/

Penn State DuBois announces that Swift, Kennedy and Company has generously pledged $100,000 to the campus that will support students and programs.  Through a planned gift of life insurance, the company will provide that support in two different ways.  With $50,000, the Swift, Kennedy and Company Endowed Scholarship at Penn State DuBois will be established.  The additional $50,000 will benefit the Anita D. McDonald Endowment for the Support of Children and Youth. 

Consideration for the Swift, Kennedy and Company Endowed Scholarship will be given to all undergraduate students enrolled or planning to enroll at Penn State DuBois who have superior academic records and a financial need.  

The Anita D. McDonald Endowment for the Support of Children and Youth was established by the Fairman Family in the former campus chancellor's honor. It is intended to provide scholarship support for Kids in College (KIC), The Art, Science and Technology Institute (AST), athletic camps, and other Penn State DuBois programs for children and youth between the ages of 4 and 15. 

Swift, Kennedy and Company has been dedicated to the success of Penn State DuBois students for decades, as company president George Heigel explained.  He said, "This gift is simply a continuation of our company’s support of higher education at the DuBois Campus of Penn State University.   Our company’s founding father, Mr. Patrick Swift served as the first president of the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) back in 1944 and Swift, Kennedy and Company's leadership has since continued to serve in leadership roles on the advisory board of the DuBois campus."  Additionally, Patrick Swift had such an impact that a building on campus bears his name.

Heigel, himself, currently serves as president of the DEF.  Both he and his wife, Deborah, also attended Penn State DuBois and are 1981 graduates of Penn State.  Their oldest son, George III also graduated from Penn State in 2009. 

Heigel said leadership at his company has always contributed to the success of higher education in the area because they feel it's such a worthwhile cause.      

"To maintain enrollment and facilities, the DuBois community has, and must continue to financially support the campus," Heigel said.  "Our gift will allow the campus to continue running the successful Kids in College program and provide an endowed scholarship to a deserving student attending our campus.  Our gift is just one of many made by local individuals and businesses over the years, who recognize the importance of having the presence of Penn State University in our community.  We are, and we always will be, Penn State."

Chancellor Melanie Hatch expressed her gratitude for Swift, Kennedy and Company's commitment to the campus, and the enthusiasm company leaders have for education.  

"We deeply appreciate the generosity of Swift, Kennedy and Company in making this gift to our campus," said Hatch.  "Scholarship opportunities funded by gifts like this make higher education possible for so many students who otherwise may not have the means to go to college.  Swift, Kennedy and Company has a long history of support for our campus and our community, and this is just the latest in a long list of contributions they’ve made that help to improve the lives of people in our area."

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, the traditional Irish folk music and dance ensemble Irish Blessing will perform at Penn State DuBois on March 14. 

The acclaimed family quartet from York, PA carries on the purest forms of traditional Irish music and dance.  The group includes James and Cushla Srour and their multitalented sons, Jonathan and Josh. With a love of family and Irish culture, Irish Blessing embraces the living tradition, keeping classic Irish folk music and dance alive at home and on stage.

Jonathon has completed four tours with Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, and has been sought out by Riverdance.  He also mesmerizes audiences with his skill on the flute.

Josh, with flying feet, is also a rising fiddle phenomenon whose phrases draw the audience into the infectious toe tapping, hand clapping world of jigs and reels. Both boys have the rare and dual distinction of competing in the world championships of both Irish music and dance.

Hailing from New Zealand with Irish roots Cushla provides strong rhythmic accompaniment on the piano and beautiful melodic phrases on the whistle and flute.  Jim rounds out the band with the percussive palpitations of the bodhran, the traditional Irish drum. Together, Irish Blessing has electrified audiences from New Zealand to New York.

Irish Blessing is slated to perform at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, in the Hiller Auditorium at Penn State DuBois.  As part of the campus' Performing Arts Series, this performance is free and open to the public.

The Penn State DuBois Alumni Society and the Winery at Wilcox will host a Wine-ee Women Mixer in March to benefit the alumni society's commitment of funding for the campus' Honors and Alumni House.  This mixer is also open to men, and organizers invite all men to attend.

The Mixer is planned for 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, March 15, in the Lion's Den Cafι at Penn State DuBois. There will be appetizers, hors d'oeuvres, wine, and opportunities to win prize baskets.  The cost is $15 per person. 

An RSVP and cash payment can be made at the DuBois Mall Wine Shop, or the Penn State DuBois Alumni Relations Office in the Honors and Alumni House.  Contact Julie at 814-375-4775, or jad62@psu.edu

Faculty and students from all Penn State campuses are invited to participate in the Sixth Annual Faculty and Student Research Symposium at Penn State DuBois.  Faculty members, as well as students from all academic disciplines, both graduate and undergraduate, are welcome. Proposals by those who wish to present are due by Friday, March 29, 2013.  They may be submitted at http://www.personal.psu.edu/djg25/Symposium/2013/index.html      

Throughout the day-long event, 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 engineering, business, mathematics, communications, sciences, and more.  The sessions will detail many groundbreaking projects spearheaded by members of the university community.

The public is also invited to attend the Faculty and Student Research Symposium.  The event is planned for 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, in the DEF Building on campus.  There is no charge for admission. 

For more information, contact Deborah Gill at 814-375-4783 or by email at djg25@psu.edu

Faculty members at Penn State DuBois engage in research that helps to provide solutions to global problems and improve the lives of people around the world.  The discoveries these educators make along the way can make for fascinating reading material, and fortunately, that reading material is easy to find right on campus.

The Penn State DuBois Library is showcasing the publications of campus faculty members, and a long list of books written by those faculty members can be found on the shelves there.  A new display case in the library highlights these works, as does a new page on the library website, where readers can learn more about the volumes that are available and the people who wrote them. 

Campus educators have written books on subjects ranging from psychology, to geology and earthquakes, to literary studies, biology, social issues, and more.  By making these works accessible to all, faculty and librarians hope students and others in the campus community can learn more about a variety of subjects, research activity, and the faculty members themselves.

"Ernest Boyer once said that the problem with higher education is that students and faculty occupy two different cultures. His solution was to bring students into the world of research," said Distinguished Professor of English Richard Kopley, who has authored books on American literary icons such as Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. "Opportunities at the campus for undergraduate research are part of the solution, as is the Faculty-Student Research Conference that takes place every spring.  The display of faculty research at the library and the related website are additional parts of the solution, giving students a convenient way of learning about their own teachers’ scholarly discoveries.  And, of course, having faculty research available to all others in the campus community is valuable, for it enables them to understand the critical research element of our mission.  The larger consequence, one hopes, is to encourage all people to enjoy the pleasure of discovery."

Look for the faculty publications display near the front entrance of the campus library, or learn more on the web here. 

Students at Penn State DuBois once again contributed to a record breaking year at THON.  Overall, Penn State's dance marathon raised $12,375,034 for the Four Diamonds Fund, which benefits pediatric cancer research.  The THON Committee contributed $11,849.09 to that sum. 

DuBois students Louise Whyte of DuBois, and Jordan Eisman of Brockway served as the campus' 2013 THON dancers.  The pair represented Penn State DuBois at THON, and stayed on their feet for 46 hours straight from February 15, through February 17, at the Bryce Jordan Center. 

Students at Penn State DuBois raise funds for THON in a variety of ways. Fundraisers include canning drives, the THON Haircut, where volunteers let others cut their hair in exchange for a donation, dinner events, and more.

The Penn State DuBois Men's Wrestling Team brought home the 2013 Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Championship Saturday following the USCAA (United State Collegiate Athletic Association) -PSUAC National Wrestling Invitational held at Rec Hall, University Park.  The DuBois men came in second overall in the tournament, claiming the PSUAC Championship, but letting the USCAA title slip to Apprentice School.  Apprentice finished with 176 team points, followed closely by Penn State DuBois with 168.   

Outstanding wrestlers for DuBois were the Terwilliger brothers.  At 174 pounds, Ryan Terwilliger defeated previously undefeated Logan Gresock of Penn College, 11-8 in the finals. Stephen Terwilliger, at 184 pounds, defeated Josh Rodriguez in the semis, 8-5 and won by technical fall in the finals, 17-2 over Genkie Stoutamire of Penn State Greater Allegheny.  The other title winners for DuBois were 165 pound Jake Himes and 197 pound Cliff Hill.

Penn College finished in third place with two champions; 133 pound Ryan Hart and 157 pound Tyler Myers.  Penn College entered the tournament with several starters not able to wrestle with injuries which prevented the Wildcats from challenging for the team title.  Penn State Greater Allegheny showed the most improvement from the PSUAC schools where they finished fourth with 69.5 team points and had six of their wrestlers place in the top six in their weights and claimed a title at 141 pounds from Eric Rayman who defeated Tyler Warner (Mont Alto) 7-4 in the finals.

Team standings and championship results are as follows:

Team scores:

 1^st place Apprentice School 176pts.

2^nd PSU DuBois 168.

 3^rd Penn College 95.5.

 4^th PSU Greater Allegheny 69.5.

 5^th Southern Virginia Univ. 50.5.

6^th PSU New Kensington 41.

 7^th PSU Beaver 38.

 8^th PSU Fayette 30.5.

9^th PSU Mont Alto 30.

10^th Williamson Trade 24pts.

Pictured are members of the Penn State DuBois Wrestling Team with coaches and athletics staff.

In front, left to right: Garrett Hildebrand, Landon Clayton, Austin Sheibley, Cliff Hill, Head Coach Matt Park.

In back:  John Fritz, PSUAC Commissioner; David Gnage, Penn State Mont Alto Chancellor; Manny Aguilar, Kasey Haines, Jake Himes, Shane Alterio, Stephen Terwilliger, Volunteer Coach Clinton Stout; Ryan Terwilliger, Chris Minarchick, Assist coach Josh Knapp.

For all the latest news on Penn State DuBois Athletics, visit http://www.psuduboisathletics.com/landing

Carrie Bishop, the reference librarian in the Penn State DuBois Library, has been selected to attend a national training program held by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).  Bishop will attend the Teacher Track portion of the ACRL Immersion Information Literacy Program this summer at Seattle University, where she expects to learn new and valuable methods for bringing student instruction into the library.  Since part of Bishop's responsibilities include the direct instruction of students, she saw the Teacher Track training as an ideal way to enhance her skills.

According to the ACRL, the Immersion Teacher Track focuses on individual development for those who are interested in enhancing, refreshing, or extending their individual instruction skills. Curriculum includes classroom techniques, learning theory, leadership, and assessment framed in the context of information literacy.

"I am truly excited to be attending ACRL Immersion this summer," Bishop said. "Teaching students how to find, use and think about information, in other words being information literate, is the most rewarding part of my work in the library.  Participating in Immersion will allow me to focus on the fundamentals of teaching and return to campus a more engaging and effective teacher."

Karen Fuller, head librarian at Penn State DuBois offered enthusiastic support of Bishop's continued training.  She said, "I am very pleased Carrie Bishop has been selected to participate in ACRL’s Immersion Teacher Track program.  Not only will her dedication to quality library instruction be enriched through the skill sets offered, Carrie will have the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of library professionals. Our campus instruction activities will definitely be enhanced by the valuable techniques Carrie brings back with her."

The ACRL is a professional association of academic librarians and other interested individuals, dedicated to enhancing the ability of academic library and information professionals to serve the needs of the higher education community and to improve learning, teaching, and research.

ACRL is the largest division of the American Library Association, with a current membership of more than 12,000 people, or nearly 20% of the total ALA membership.

As part of the Penn State DuBois Cultural Luncheon Series, Wildlife Technology Instructor Ed Vorisek made a presentation Wednesday on his 2011 service trip to Paraguay.  While in the South American Nation, Vorisek helped to construct a building that would serve as a community training center where locals learn how to sew to earn an income.    

Hosted by the campus' Student Affairs office, the Cultural Luncheon Series features speakers who share their experiences in other cultures and countries around the world.  To complement the program, food from the culture that the presentation focuses on is served.

As guests experienced the tastes of Paraguay, Vorisek ran an extensive slide show of photos, and shared stories about the work he did on his faith-based service trip, and how it helped a community. 

Vorisek traveled to Paraguay's capitol city of Asuncion with a group of other volunteers from his home-town Methodist church in Conneautville, PA.  A couple who organized the service project had been working with the Methodist Bishop in Asuncion for several years to improve the lives of people in the Paraguayan community, and helped to establish the Bible Institute there, where locals have access to ministry and other faith-based services.  Their latest project at the Bible Institute was the building of the Dorcas Sewing Center.

"They had been working for the last several years to build a small training center to teach local women to sew, as a supplement to their income," Vorisek said.  He explained that, upon hearing about the project, the timing was right for him to join the effort.  "They needed an extra worker to help with the building. I had just been laid off from a teaching job, had always wanted to see South America, and really enjoy working with my hands; especially for a good cause. So, there was really no hesitation about going."

The group spent two weeks working tirelessly to build the brick walls that would house the training center and second-floor dormitories.  It was an on-going project that had started before Vorisek got there, and was not completed until after he got back state side.  His participation in the building of the center, however, will always be a part of its history, and its legacy of improving the lives of those who are trained there.

The Sixth Annual Lion Wine and Cheese fundraiser brought in over $9,000 Friday night.  The event, held each year in the campus gymnasium, benefits intercollegiate athletic programs at Penn State DuBois. It features live and silent auctions, raffles, and other games of chance, in addition to wine and cheese tasting and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Athletic Coordinator Ken Nellis said he was happy that many people still turned out to support the event in spite of the winter weather that night.  He said, "I was pleased to see how many people came out on a miserable evening to attend our Lion Wine and Cheese Auction.  The community support for the event is outstanding. Without the community support we would have a difficult time competing in the PSUAC and USCAA championships each year."  

The Lion Wine and Cheese is sponsored by the DuBois Educational Foundation. Numerous businesses and individuals in DuBois and the surrounding areas donated prizes and auction items for the event.  Some notable items from this year's auctions included autographed photos of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and Philadelphia Flyers center Danny Briere, a jersey autographed by former Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis, and a print signed by golf legend Arnold Palmer. Other items included travel packages, golf packages, sporting events tickets, deluxe gift baskets, and more.

For all the latest news on Penn State DuBois Athletics, visit http://www.psuduboisathletics.com/landing

Members of the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society invite everyone in the community to join them for the Lady Lions Pink Zone basketball game slated for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 24, at the Bryce Jordan Center.   Transportation by bus from Penn State DuBois to the Jordan Center, as well as snacks will be provided. 

This marks the seventh annual Pink Zone game for the Lady Lions.  Pink Zone promotes awareness of cancer and raises funds for breast cancer organizations and charities.  Proceeds from Pink Zone benefit Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, PA Breast Cancer Coalition, Kay Yow Cancer Fund, J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital, and Lewistown Hospital. 

Cost for the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society Pink Zone game package is $25 per person, which includes a game ticket, water, snack, and round trip transportation.  Those attending are asked to arrive at the parking lot at Penn State DuBois by 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 24.  The bus will depart by 10:30 a.m., and is expected to return by 6:00 p.m.

To reserve a seat contact Julie at 814-375-4775 or jad62@psu.edu  An RSVP is required by February 18. 

The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society at Penn State DuBois inducted its new members for the spring 2013 semester at the society's induction luncheon Monday.  The new inductees join the ranks of nearly 150 honor society members on campus.   

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.

Chancellor Melanie Hatch addressed the new inductees, congratulating them.  She said,

"Today, we recognize that you have exceeded our expectations.  Many of you have other responsibilities outside of school.  You have families, jobs, athletics, or charitable work, yet you have been able to manage these demands while remaining focused on your educational goals." 

"We would like to congratulate you for achieving your academic success and being inducted into one of the most prestigious and oldest of honors societies at Penn State University," Delta Mu Sigma Board Chairman Adam Snyder told his fellow students. "We are not just and honors society; we are also a community service organization which helps many people around our campus and community.  It is our hope that you will become involved with our various campus events." 

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. 

Pictured are new honor society members with the Delta Mu Sigma board, advisors, and the chancellor.

Front row, left-to-right: Amanda Horner, Kelly Lewis, Jordan Fairman, Raymond Gascon, Jr., Nicholas Moore, Austin Sheibley, Howard Hartzfeld, Jr., Tyler Heeter.

Back row, left-to-right:  Carrie Bishop, advisor; Tony Vallone, advisor; Judith Davidson-Yablinisky, Melanie Hatch, chancellor; William Berry, Tammy Heckendorn, Patience McCullough, Linsey Mizic, Adam Snyder, Delta Mu chair; Ellen Gardner, Jocelyn Marzella, event planner; Jessica Reirdon, social media officer; Rebecca Horner, treasurer; PJ Monella, communications director; Taylor Neal, public relations director; Zack Thayer, co-chair; Emily Callender, secretary. 

A new online chat service that will provide technical computer assistance is now available to students in all computer labs at Penn State DuBois. 

Known as LabChat, the service is provided by Information Technology Services at University Park. It will give students real-time technical assistance, via online chat, on a wide range of computing topics.  LabChat is primarily intended for use when live lab consultants are not available.  At DuBois, live consultants are available at the main student computer Lab in the Swift Building, room 201, and at the HelpDesk in Swift 248; hours can be found at http://www.ds.psu.edu/it

To connect with a lab consultant using LabChat, simply click on the "LabChat" icon on the computer’s desktop.

As part of the recognition of Black History Month in February, the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. was celebrated at the Annual MLK Luncheon at Penn State DuBois on Wednesday. Each year, the luncheon serves as a venue for students, faculty and staff to learn about King's work, and honor his legacy in various ways. This year, King's commitment to serving his fellow human begins was the focus.

Organized by the Penn State DuBois Office of Student Life, in conjunction with the Office of International and Multicultural Student Services, the 2013 MLK Luncheon took a closer look at King's philosophies on service and on fair and ethical treatment for all people. An excerpt of a recording of one of King's lesser known speeches was played to give participants a glimpse inside King's thoughts on the subject before an open discussion took place. "The Drum Major Instinct" is one of the late reverend's speeches that he also used as a church sermon. In the speech, King offers what he called a new definition of greatness; he said it was fine to want to be great and to want to be important, but to be those things meant being a servant to others. King also said that it is ok to want to be first; but to be first in love, moral excellence, and generosity. "He who is greatest among you will be a servant to others," King said.

"It's always more interesting to hear from the famous person themselves, rather than listen to someone talk about them," said International and Multicultural Student Services Coordinator Tharren Thompson as he introduced the audio clip. "Listening to Martin Luther King, Jr. give a speech is much more interesting than hearing someone give a speech about him."

In "The Drum Major Instinct" King eerily made requests about the content of his own eulogy just months before he would be assassinated. He asked those who outlived him to remember him not for his awards or his education, but to remember that he tried to serve his fellow human beings; that he tried to be a drum major for peace and for justice, without the desire for riches, material items or luxury. Fittingly, Thompson told the students, King's widow had the speech played at the civil rights leader's funeral.

In hearing King's words in his own voice, the students were impacted the way Thompson hoped they would be. Students shared their thoughts on King's speech and his legacy in the following group discussion.

"It's inspiring. Everyone worries about material things sometimes," said student Cindi Weddle, of Curwensville, "He says helping people and being a humanitarian is more important than a big, fancy house on a hill. It makes you think."

"I think his main mission was to leave an impact for others, not to leave an impact for himself, and to teach others not to just leave an impact for yourself," said Marissa Brennan, of DuBois.

Pieces of sports memorabilia featuring photos and autographs from some of today's popular professional athletes are among the items up for grabs at The Sixth Annual Lion Wine and Cheese, scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 8, in the Multipurpose Building at Penn State DuBois. The items include autographed photos of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, and Philadelphia Flyers center Danny Briere. A jersey autographed by former Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis, and a print signed by golf legend Arnold Palmer will also cross the auction block.  

Also up for bid are Lexus Club seats for a Pittsburgh Pirates game, and Penn State football tickets.

Another popular item returning to the Lion Wine and Cheese live auction this year is the Starr Hill Winery Winemaking Experience, which will give the highest bidder the opportunity to make, bottle, and label their own wine at the winery.  Starr Hill then donates a portion of the proceeds from sales of the new wine to Penn State DuBois Athletics.

Additional items include golf packages at local courses, a weekend getaway at a rustic lodge, and a variety of gift baskets donated by local businesses and individuals.

Sponsored by the DuBois Educational Foundation, the event will also feature wine and cheese tasting, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and dessert.

Admission tickets are $30 per person, and include a chance at the event door prize.  All proceeds will benefit intercollegiate athletic programs at Penn State DuBois.  For additional information or to purchase tickets contact Julie Duffee at 814-375-4775 or jad62@psu.edu

Members of the Penn State DuBois community came together on Wednesday to part with either their hair, or some hard-earned cash, all to support pediatric cancer research.

The Annual THON Hair Auction, held in the Student Union, netted $1,205 this year.  All proceeds will be donated to THON, the Penn State Dance Marathon, which supports the Four Diamonds Fund for children battling cancer.  Students, faculty and staff members cast bids on each of the brave people who volunteered to have their hair cut for the cause.  The higher the bids went, the more extreme the volunteers were willing to go with their new hair styles.  This year's "volunteers under the sheers" were students Louise Whyte, Holly Kiesling, Steve Zanoni, Owen Samuels, and Chris Kurtz. 

Whyte had 12 inches of hair cut off, which she also donated to Locks of Love, an organization that makes and donates wigs to children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.  She set a personal limit of $350 that had to be raised in order for her to take it a step further; if bids for her reached that amount, she promised to shave the shape of a diamond into her hair to represent the Four Diamonds Fund.

"I was happy to be in the hair auction. Willingly donating 12 inches of my hair is nothing if it means I can help someone who has lost their hair," said Whyte, who will also represent Penn State DuBois at THON this year as one of the campus' designated dancers.  "Getting the diamond shaved into my head was scary, but it's for THON, it's for the kids, and hair grows back. Anything I can do to raise more money for THON I will willingly do."

Whyte's generosity through the sacrifice of her own hair was matched only by the generosity of a husband and wife team of faculty members who placed the biggest bid for the diamond haircut.  Those faculty members, Jackie Atkins, senior instructor in English and Women's Studies, and Tony Vallone, associate professor of English placed a bid for the full $350 dollars right after the auction opened.  This is in addition to a $1,000 match that Vallone's publishing company, Mammoth Books, donates to THON fundraisers every year.

"It's like planting a tree.  You may not see the end result, or see it right away, but it's necessary, and you're thinking for the future," Vallone said, explaining why he and his wife get behind the THON cause.  "Jackie and I also just like to come to the hair auction because we know the students, and it's a fun way to support a great cause." 

THON is planned for February 15, through February 17, at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park.  Student dancers will attempt to dance and stay on their feet for 46 hours in support of their cause. 

For more information on THON and THON events at Penn State DuBois, contact the Office of Student Life at 814-375-4764 or StudentActivities@psu.edu

To see more photos from the THON Hair Auction, click here.   

Woody Mitchell, of Bushkill, PA, became the seventh player in Penn State DuBois Men's Basketball history to become a member of the 1,000 Point Club. He joins former players Rick Clark, Dylan Howard, Marcus Genevro, Chris Dickison, Josh Salter, and Jovan Brown as Penn State DuBois basketball players who have scored 1,000 points or above during their career at the campus. Mitchell scored his 1,000th career point in a game Monday night against Penn State Mont Alto. The DuBois men also bested Mont Alto in the game, 74-69.

Mitchell finished the contest with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Kyle Mills had a game high 19 points. John Hau turned in a workman like effort with 13 points and 6 rebounds, and Kai Ahmad rounded out the double figure scorers with 11 points to go along with 9 assists.

Mont Alto jumped out to an early 10-2 lead to start the game. DuBois battled back to take a 7 point halftime lead. Mont Alto controlled much of the second half and led by 5 points with 2:30 remaining in the game. DuBois went on a run highlighted by 2 foul shots made by John Hau (Coudersport) and a 2 point and 3 point field goal by Kyle Mills (East Stroudsburg North) which tied the score and set up the end of the game heroics. DuBois had the ball with 33 seconds remaining. Kai Ahmad (Stroudsburg) ran the clock down and drove past his defender and found an open Woody Mitchell (East Stroudsburg North) for the go ahead 3 point shot with 4 seconds to go in the game. Ahmad then stole the inbound pass and again found Mitchell for a layup to seal the victory.

Penn State DuBois returns to action on Saturday as they host Penn College for the final home game of the season. This game also marks the annual Pink Zone game in support of Breast Cancer awareness. The women's game tips at 1:00 p.m. and the men's game begins at 3:00 p.m.

For all the latest news on Penn State DuBois Athletics, visit http://www.psuduboisathletics.com/landing

Marly Doty, the assistant director of Student Affairs at Penn State DuBois, recently returned from Las Vegas where she attended the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities National Conference.  At the conference, Doty was one of only 12 people, nation-wide, to be selected to serve on focus groups to develop better methods in enriching the out of class experience for college students. 

The conference theme was "Let's Talk About Edutainment".  Edutainment is entertainment that is designed to be educational. Creating fun learning opportunities is something that student life professionals like Doty work towards every day, so her focus group concentrated on developing new ideas for Edutainment opportunities in higher education. Additionally, they covered topics such as learning outcomes, programming in times of budget crisis, dealing with difficult students and other current issues.

As assistant director of Student Affairs, Doty leads the coordination of student life events at Penn State DuBois, including activities, student government, clubs, and more.  She organizes special events, schedules guest speakers, and works with students on service projects.  In all, Doty's efforts throughout her work in student life help to enhance the educational and extra circular activities for students, and enrich their overall college experience.

Under Doty's student life leadership, Penn State DuBois has twice been admitted to The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for work in community service, education, environmental stewardship, and more.

Thanks to a group of freshman engineering students at Penn State DuBois, some area dementia patients are finding comfort in spite of their illness. The students recently applied their engineering know-how to create devices that stimulate the minds of those suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia, and those devices are now being used daily at Christ the King Manor Nursing Home in DuBois. 

The items, entirely designed and built by the engineering students, vary in the activities and stimuli that they provide for patients.  One of them is a soft blanket that has had LED lights and an MP3 player sewn into it, offering stimulus to the eyes, ears, and skin all at once.  Another device utilizes an air pump to create moving bubbles in a lighted, water-filled tube.  Yet another device is built as a platform with various objects attached, such as buttons and zippers that allow patients to utilize their fine-motor skills.  Then, there is a Plexiglas table which is lighted from below, that provides patients the opportunity to create pictures on the glass with sand. Overall, this stimulation to sight, hearing, and touch, brings a sense of clarity and sharpness to the minds of the residents that use them.

"It occupies their thinking and they become more alive; it wakes them up," said Marsha Miles, the memory support supervisor at Christ the King Manor.  She explained that while the residents often do become alert during these exercises, they are also contented. She said, "These activities they created for the residents to do bring a calming effect to them."

"This not only provided some great experience to the students, but also allowed them to participate in some great community outreach," said Daudi Waryoba, the assistant professor of engineering who assigned the projects.  He explained, "Their big project for the fall semester was to come up with a design and to develop a system to stimulate elderly patients with dementia. They could use any kind of material.  This gave them freedom to think about a project on their own, develop it using their classroom and lab lessons, and put it to good use in the community for people who need it." 

According to the students, all of Waryoba's goals for the project were reached. 

"We spent a lot of time researching what materials we could use," said student Cody Wood of Marion Center, who was a member of the team that created the lighted bubble stimulation machine.  "It takes a lot of time and research before you even start anything.  Then, you put everything into practice.  This showed us a big part of that engineering process, so it was really helpful."

Wood also enjoyed the gratification of doing something special for the residents at Christ the King.  He said, "I think it's a great concept; it's a good cause.  It makes you feel good as a person to help people," 

According to the professionals at Christ the King, the student projects certainly do help people.  Miles said, "I'm impressed with the students.  I believe they gave everything they had in these projects.  They worked so well, and thought outside the box."   

"It was especially meaningful to see these students connect with their hearts, as well as using their minds, talent and education," said Michelle DiGilarmo, director of human resources at Christ the King Manor. "They learned about some of the challenges our residents face and developed concepts that were right on.  It was thrilling to be a part of such a worthwhile project where engineering students experienced, firsthand, how something they could design would impact a life."

The Penn State DuBois basketball teams will host "Pink Zone" basketball games to raise awareness for breast cancer research on February 2, as both men's and women's teams take on Penn College. 

Pink Zone promotes awareness of cancer and raises funds for breast cancer organizations and charities.  Pink Zone T-shirts can be purchased at the campus bookstore as well as at the game on February 2.  All proceeds will be donated to a local organization that supports cancer research.

The DuBois Lady Lions will wear pink shooting shirts, pink socks, and pink wrist bands for the game, and the game ball will be a special pink and white basketball.

The men will also show their support by wearing pink shooting shirts for warm up prior to the game.  Anyone who attends the game is encouraged to wear pink, as well. 

Penn State DuBois will enter the Pink Zone with the women's tip-off, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 2, in the Multipurpose Building Gymnasium.  The men are slated to take to the court at 3:00 p.m.

Nearly 100 Penn State students from six campuses spent Martin Luther King Day volunteering in the DuBois area. Each year, the community of one of the campuses is chosen for the MLK Day of Service, and students volunteer at various organizations in that community in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., and his dedication to serving others. This year, Penn State DuBois was selected to host the group of volunteers. 

Students from Penn State campuses at DuBois, New Kensington, Greater Allegheny, Shenango, Fayette, and Beaver spent the day in service at community-centered and charitable organizations such as Goodwill Industries, the Humane Society, DuBois Nursing Home, the DuBois Historical Society, and more.  They completed any and all volunteer services in areas where each organization has a need for help. 

"It's important to give back to our local community, because the community has done so much for us," said Penn State DuBois sophomore Evan Aravich of Brockway.  Aravich spend the day volunteering at Goodwill. "We do this in honor of Martin Luther King because of the freedom that he gave everyone and the freedom he worked for.  We give back in his name because of what he did for us." 

Penn State DuBois freshman Darcie Grenier sorted donations of clothing at Agape, in DuBois, a faith-based charitable organization that helps families in financial crisis.  Grenier said, "I think it's important to give back to the community.  It makes you feel really good."

That help is always appreciated, according to Agape Executive Director Gina McElwee.  She said, "Having the volunteers is key to our success.  We've been inundated with donations.  We're very thankful for all of the donations, but it can be hard to manage, so the volunteers are a great help." 

Anyone who plans to enroll, or has considered enrolling at any college or university is invited to attend one of several Financial Aid Workshops presented by professionals from Penn State DuBois. 

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. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6, in Room 204 of the Swift Building at Penn State DuBois.

·         6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, at Clearfield Area High School.

 ·        6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26, in Room 101 of the DEF Building at Penn State DuBois.

An RSVP is appreciated.  To do so, please call Barb at (814) 375-4760.

Karen Kemmer of DuBois has joined the Penn State DuBois Continuing Education Department as an Education Program Associate. In her new role, Kemmer will work with businesses and leaders in area industry to develop and implement corporate training programs that will educate the workforce at companies throughout the region.  She will also assist adult learners with their college enrollment, primarily in the St. Marys area. 

Kemmer holds a master's degree in Human Services and Business Management from Liberty University. Before completing her graduate work, she earned an associate degree in Letters, Arts, and Sciences from Penn State DuBois, and a bachelor degree in Arts and Human Services from the University of Wisconsin. 

Kemmer most recently worked at Penn Highlands Community College where she was director of the Ebensburg Education Center.  During her successful tenure at Penn Highlands she increased enrollments by 500 percent. Previously, she was employed as the director of admissions at Triangle Tech in DuBois.

Kemmer can be reached at (814) 834-3593 or kxk951@psu.edu

Professionals who are searching for jobs with area companies are invited to attend a career fair at Penn State DuBois in March.

This career event will focus on opportunities in industries and career fields that are thriving in Central Pennsylvania, such as human services, business management, engineering, marketing, and more.  Representatives from Penn State DuBois will also be on hand to speak with individuals about educational and training opportunities that could qualify them to work in these fields.

Job seekers are advised to bring copies of their rιsumι, and dress in business appropriate attire.  

The career fair is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27, in the Multipurpose Building gymnasium at Penn State DuBois.

Job seekers can find more information by visiting http://dubois.psu.edu/StudentServices/CareerServices/32721.htm

Penn State Students Louise Whyte of DuBois, and Jordan Eisman of Brockway have been selected by the Penn State DuBois THON Committee as the campus' 2013 THON dancers.  The pair will represent Penn State DuBois at THON, planned for February 15, through February 17, at the Bryce Jordan Center and attempt to dance and stay on their feet for 46 hours strait.

Money raised by THON, the Penn State Dance Marathon, is donated, each year, to the Four Diamonds Fund, a leader in the support of childhood cancer research.  University-wide, THON raised over $10.6 million  last year.

"I'm excited to represent Penn State DuBois at THON," Whyte said.  "Being a THON dancer has been a dream of mine for three years.  THON represents the best of Penn State. To be part of an organization that actually saves lives is incredible, and to be selected to dance is an honor.  I am determined to make it all 46 hours and be a part of the fight to end cancer." 

"You get to meet a lot of good people and do a lot of good things," Eisman said about her involvement on the THON Committee.  "I have been to THON before, and I've seen how excited everyone is to be a part of it.  I really wanted to be a part of it." 

The DuBois THON Committee broke their own record last year by raising $15,748 in support of the efforts of THON that reach throughout all of Penn State. This year, the DuBois committee has several fundraising events that are yet to come.  A three-on-three basketball tournament is slated for January 26; The Annual THON Hair Auction is set for January 30; and THON Basket Bingo is planned for February 1. 

For more information on THON and upcoming THON events at Penn State DuBois, contact the Office of Student Life at 814-375-4764 or StudentActivities@psu.edu

Members of the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society invite everyone in the community to join them for the Lady Lions Pink Zone basketball game slated for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 24, at the Bryce Jordan Center.   Transportation by bus from Penn State DuBois to the Jordan Center, as well as snacks will be provided. 

This marks the seventh annual Pink Zone game for the Lady Lions.  Pink Zone promotes awareness of cancer and raises funds for breast cancer organizations and charities.  Proceeds from Pink Zone benefit Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, PA Breast Cancer Coalition, Kay Yow Cancer Fund, J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital, and Lewistown Hospital. 

Cost for the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society Pink Zone game package is $25 per person, which includes a game ticket, water, snack, and round trip transportation.  Those attending are asked to arrive at the parking lot at Penn State DuBois by 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 24.  The bus will depart by 10:30 a.m., and is expected to return by 6:00 p.m.

To reserve a seat, or for more information, contact Julie at 814-375-4775 or jad62@psu.edu

Penn State DuBois student John Vallone may be a freshman in college, but as a playwright, his sophomore effort is already slated for curtain call.  The second one-act play penned by this creative writing major and DuBois native titled, Dress Rehearsal, is set to be performed by students at the DuBois Area High School (DAHS), where Vallone graduated from just last year.   

This will be the second time the DAHS students perform the comedic play.  The students debuted the show at the 2012 Pennsylvania Thespian Conference earlier this fall; Vallone offered his work to the troupe upon hearing they had been shopping for a one-act to perform at the conference.   This time, however, the show takes on a bigger meaning.  The performance in DuBois will serve as a benefit for one of the high school's acting troupe members. The student actor is battling heart problems due to complications from a blood infection.  Voluntary monetary donations will be accepted at the door to help cover the student's medical expenses.

"Getting the play from script to stage actually took me a while," Vallone recalled.  "I started writing it a very long time ago before sort of abandoning it, until I heard that the DAHS drama department was looking for a one-act to perform at the 2012 Pennsylvania Thespian Conference.  About a month later, they decided to perform it again [for the benefit], and here we are."

Vallone was certainly proud to have the play selected for performance at the conference, but has been most honored to have his work contribute to the support of a DAHS student.  He said, "It feels really amazing that enough people liked the thing I wrote to want to act in it and direct it, and do everything else that goes into bringing a play to life.  I think it's also really good that something I made is being put to such a good cause."

Dress Rehearsal, Vallone explained, portrays a theater troupe running through the final dress rehearsal of a contemporary drama before their opening night performance.  As the show progresses, things begin to fall apart. 

"I was inspired to write it by my time acting in high school productions and being around so many people, who were all crazy in their own unique and lovely ways, and by the idea that a bad dress rehearsal means a great opening night," recalled Vallone, who's theatrical efforts also include performances at the Reitz Theater in DuBois.  In addition, he previously wrote a one-act titled, Imagine That, that was performed at the DAHS 2012 Senior Showcase. 

Vallone also gets his writing talents honestly.  He is the son of  two members of the Penn State DuBois English faculty; Jackie Atkins, senior instructor in English and Women's Studies, and Tony Vallone, associate professor of English. 

Dress Rehearsal is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 16, at DuBois Area High.  The amount attendees wish to donate is up to the individual. 

Melanie Hatch, founding dean of the College of Engineering and Business at Gannon University in Erie, Pa., has been named chancellor and chief academic officer at Penn State DuBois effective Jan. 28. She follows Anita McDonald, who retired in December after nearly a decade as chancellor.

Ping Werner, professor of engineering, has been serving as the campus’ interim chancellor and chief academic officer since Jan. 1.

"Dr. Hatch brings broad experience as an academic leader in higher education to Penn State. She has a strong background in program development and applied research,” said Madlyn Hanes, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses. “Her accomplished service in senior administrative roles, including her collaborative work with industry and community partners, and her commitment to retaining a diverse student body and workforce, dovetails very well with ongoing efforts at Penn State DuBois. We look forward to her joining us as chancellor to build on the campus’ reputation for academic excellence and its strong presence in the region.”

Beginning in fall 2008, Hatch led efforts at Gannon University’s new College of Engineering and Business, overseeing the college’s six academic departments and a small-business development center. She led strategic planning and positioning initiatives for the college, and focused on building partnerships with local leaders in business and industry. She also led efforts to help the university more effectively recruit, retain and advance women faculty in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines.

"There is a great academic foundation in place at Penn State DuBois, and I am extremely excited to begin work at the campus and to join the DuBois community," Hatch said. "I very much look forward to working with the campus' dedicated and forward-looking team of faculty and staff to build upon an already robust slate of educational programs."

Previous to her time at Gannon University, Hatch served as the dean of the College of Business at the Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne, Ind., beginning in 2006. There, she led efforts to revise the college’s master of business administration curriculum and implemented new concentrations in health care administration and business continuity. Hatch also has served as associate dean of the School of Business at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., where she directed bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business administration; and as a full-time faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University and Miami University of Ohio.

Hatch earned a doctoral degree in management science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1994. She also earned a master’s degree in management science with a focus on operations research from the University of Dayton in 1989, and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a focus on computer science from Indiana University in 1983.

She maintains professional associations with the Decision Sciences Institute; the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science; and the Institute of Industrial Engineers. Hatch has served on boards and committees for numerous business and community organizations, including the Erie Technology Incubator, Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the Northwest Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, among others.

Former Penn State DuBois student Rebecca Edwards earned the honor of serving as student marshal for the College of Engineering at Penn State's fall commencement ceremony on Dec. 22. She received a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering with a minor in watersheds and water resources.

College of Engineering student marshals are selected for their outstanding academic achievement and contributions to engineering student life.

Edwards began her undergraduate work at Penn State DuBois where she collaborated on research projects and co-authored several published abstracts and a paper with faculty members.  She worked as a researcher in glaciology with Penn State DuBois Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Geosciences Byron Parizek during the summers of 2010, 2011 and 2012, and presented her work at both local and international conferences.

"She has never wavered in her focus or commitment to the glacier-modeling projects in which she has been involved," Parizek recalled of Edwards.  "She was an outstanding student in my classes.  She quickly set herself apart with her attention to detail, work ethic, and desire to truly understand the techniques and processes that were covered in class.  In the summer of 2010, she embarked on NSF and NASA-funded research with me.  That experience continued through the summer of 2012. After three years of sharing classroom, research, and travel experiences, it is clear to me that Ms. Edwards possesses those characteristics that are essential for a successful post-graduate career in Environmental Engineering."

Edwards received numerous awards and scholarships during her undergraduate career, including the Excellence in Water Resources Engineering Award, the Excellence in Mathematics Award, the Helen Fiedler Heckert Scholarship, the Helen Wood Morris Scholarship, the Joseph R. and Mary Reed Scholarship and the Gary and Ralphine Gentzler Trustee Scholarship. She was named to the dean's list every semester.

Edwards' extracurricular activities included participation in Engineers Without Borders and the American Society of Civil Engineers.   

She is the daughter of Laura and James Edwards of Glen Campbell, Pa.

Edwards now plans to pursue a master's degree in environmental engineering at Penn State.

Tickets are still available for the Sixth Annual Lion Wine and Cheese to be held beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday February 8, in the Multipurpose Building at Penn State DuBois.

Organized by the DuBois Educational Foundation Athletics Fundraising Committee, the event will feature wine and cheese tasting, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and dessert. Live and silent auctions, 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. Up for grabs are items including travel packages, professional sports memorabilia, golf packages, sporting events tickets, deluxe gift baskets, and much more.

Admission tickets are $30 per person, and include a chance at the event door prize. All proceeds will benefit intercollegiate athletic programs at Penn State DuBois.

For additional information or to purchase tickets contact Julie Duffee at 814-375-4775 or jad62@psu.edu

Penn State DuBois students will host dozens of students from other Penn State campuses in Western Pennsylvania for the MLK Day of Service on January 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Each year, the community of one of the campuses is chosen for the MLK Day of Service, and students volunteer at various organizations in that community. This year, Penn State DuBois has been selected to host the group of volunteers.

Students who will participate in the MLK Day of Service hail from campuses including DuBois, New Kensington, Greater Allegheny, Shenango, Fayette, and Beaver. They'll perform volunteer work at charitable and community-centered organizations, such as local pre-schools, animal shelters, and more.

"This is a great way for students to spend this as a day on, not a day off," said student coordinator of the service day, Louise Whyte. "This really teaches you something. You're giving up your time to help strangers in the community, or in another community, and the students have the chance to meet and bond with fellow Penn State Students."

The students will be on-site, volunteering at locations in DuBois and the surrounding area throughout the day on January 21.