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. 

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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." 

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

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. 

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."

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.

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. 

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

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." 

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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."

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.

Penn State DuBois now offers a certificate program that will introduce individuals to the many career opportunities in the ever-growing healthcare industry, and prepare them for further education in almost any of those careers.

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 the healthcare field.  It will afford students an early look at their options and allow them to decide later what career path they want to take.

"This certificate provides a unique opportunity to explore healthcare programs and career options, while at the same time take courses that can articulate into a healthcare major," said John Blasdell, interim director of Continuing Education at Penn State DuBois. "We are excited about this unique option for our prospective students. The health care industry never stops growing and evolving, and that means there are always good jobs available in a variety health related fields.  We want to help put people in those jobs."

Classes in the certificate program include subject areas such as anatomy, chemistry, nutrition, and more.  The program also affords individuals the flexibility to build their own curriculum and choose classes that will fit their specific needs.  The 33 credit Health Sciences Professions Certificate program can be completed in as little as one year.  Additionally, credits from this program could count toward a Letters, Arts and Sciences associate degree, or other degrees, which students could earn in as little as eight additional months.

Spring semester classes begin January 7.  To view an e-book with detailed information on the Health Sciences Professions Certificate, visit http://www.ds.psu.edu/CE/32696.htm 

For registration information, contact Sueann at srd145@psu.edu or 814-375-4716

Fall commencement ceremonies were held on Thursday evening in Hiller Auditorium, marking the graduation of nearly 50 students from Penn State DuBois this fall semester.  Bachelor and associate degrees were conferred in a wide range of disciplines.

Jim Kuterbach, campus instructor of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) offered the commencement address.  Kuterbach began teaching at Penn State DuBois in 2004. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in clinical psychology.  He successfully defended his thesis for his Ph.D. in educational theory and policy in October, and will receive that degree in May. Kuterbach's HDFS students go on to work in fields such as mental health, addiction counseling, behavioral counseling, probation, and more. 

Kuterbach was named the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) Educator of the Year for 2011-12.  Nominations for the Educator of the Year Award come from campus students who feel a faculty member has had a significant impact in the lives of those they teach.  Besides his classroom duties, Kuterbach acts as the academic advisor for many of the HDFS students, assisting them with scheduling classes, and providing job and graduate school guidance.  He assists in advising the HDFS Club, serves on the Enrollment Management Team, the Library committee, and the Early Intervention Team.  He also supervises and mentors undergraduate research for several HDFS students.

"Every one of you in this room will go on and accomplish something great, that is something that I have no doubt about," Kuterbach told the graduates.  "Whether it is starting a business, starting a family, doing great works, or helping out your fellow man, you will all make an impact on the world.  And regardless if that impact seems large or small, that is accomplishing something great."

Kuterbach stressed to his audience that they had already accomplished something great by earning a college degree.  He noted many ways in which that degree would then help them to accomplish more great things.  He said, "Your college degree doesn’t just make you more marketable; it doesn’t just make you educated; your diploma is piece of paper, but it is a piece of paper that sums up that you not only have learned something, but that you know how to learn for yourself.  And it is that ability to learn that will serve you the most in your new beginning."

Ping Werner has been named interim chancellor and chief academic officer at Penn State DuBois effective January 1, 2013, following the retirement of current chancellor Anita McDonald.  In this role, Werner will be responsible for the administrative oversight of the campus, as well as the direction of its academic functions.

She will serve as interim chancellor until a permanent chancellor is identified, likely during the spring semester.

Werner is a professor of engineering at Penn State DuBois, and began teaching at the campus as an instructor in 1990.  She rose through the ranks of assistant professor and associate professor, and was promoted to professor in 2005. 

Werner's concentration is in electrical engineering, and she has taught a variety of courses in that field at the campus. Her research interests include theoretical and computational electromagnetics with applications to antenna theory and design, electromagnetic metamaterials, wireless and personal communication systems, fractal electrodynamics, and genetic algorithms. Her work has primarily involved developing novel antenna design technologies.  She has developed several new techniques useful for designing miniature and multiband/broadband antennas as well as miniature arrays. Her work on genetically engineered fractal/stochastic antennas has been developed and applied as part of several funded research contracts. She has two US patents, over 100 publications and has written five book chapters.

Among her accomplishments and recognitions, Werner has been selected as a Leonhard Center Fellow and awarded funding for developing and improving undergraduate courses from The Leonhard Center, College of Engineering. She was a recipient of the College of Engineering PSES Outstanding Teaching Award. She is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), as well as a member of Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi.

The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society recently made donations to two organizations that have missions to serve children.  A portion of the proceeds from the honor society's annual haunted house have been donated to THON, the Penn State dance marathon that benefits pediatric cancer research.  Another portion was donated to Western Pennsylvania Cares for Kids, a Brookville based child advocacy center that helps children who have been victims or witnesses of abuse.

THON received $825 from Delta Mu, and Cares for Kids received $400. 

"I'm honored to be able to help children who have gone through a rough time, or who are now dealing with illness," said Delta Mu chairman Adam Snyder.  "We're trying to do our part to give them a little peace and a better life." 

People representing the organizations who received these gifts expressed gratitude for the honor society's support of their causes. 

"The children we see go through unspeakable experiences and to have the community recognize and assist us in providing them with a less traumatic experience when they talk about what happened to them is immeasurable," said Pat Berger, director of Western Pennsylvania Cares for Kids.

"This means the world to us because we start from scratch every year to raise as much as we can for the kids," said Rebecca Horner, chair of the Penn State DuBois THON Committee.  "Everything people do to support us like this helps to make a better life for the kids."

The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society organizes a haunted house each Halloween as a fundraiser for THON and other area organizations. The honor society also reaches out to DuBois and the surrounding area each year by offering community service such as a "Dine Out" event at Luigi's Restaurant, with part of the proceeds benefiting scholarship funds, and by volunteering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. 

Students in Penn State DuBois' Wildlife Technology Program put their skills and knowledge to the test recently when they were asked to switch sides of the desk and become teachers, themselves.  The students visited fourth graders at the Moshannon Valley Elementary School. They introduced the youngsters to several exotic species of animals found in Pennsylvania using interactive games and activities.

"An exotic species is a species not native to an area," explained Wildlife Technology Instructor Keely Roen.  "All of these were non-native species to Pennsylvania that have either become problems or are in competition with native species."  Roen said those species are usually artificially introduced in a variety of ways.  Sometimes it's because people have let exotic pets free in the wild.  Other times it's because the species came to this country or state as stowaways in shipments of plants or other cargo from other countries. 

The species that the Penn State students made presentations on included red-eared sliders, a variety of turtle native only to the southern United States, but a popular pet turtle that often finds freedom in natural areas where it does not belong.  Students also presented information on stink bugs, feral pigs, European starlings, and the chestnut blight, a fungus native to Asia that nearly wiped out the American chestnut tree in the early 1900's. 

To make the presentations both educational and fun, the Penn State DuBois students guided children through art activities like making feral pigs out of clay, and using paper plates to make model turtles.  The wildlife students also used colorful posters with photos of animals and insects to give the children visual examples of the species being covered. 

According to Nisa Makowiecki, fourth grade teacher at Moshannon Valley, her students learned a great deal, and the timing of the visit was just right. She said, "The Moshannon Valley fourth grade students have been learning about how changes in ecosystems affect our world.  The Penn State DuBois Exotic Species Presentations gave the students a visual depiction of the concepts they have been learning in their science class.  The Penn State students created engaging, hands-on projects that brought their science book to life."  

"I think it was important to introduce the students to a topic that isn't normally talked about in class," said Penn State DuBois student Mandy Marconi.  "Overall, we wanted to make the youth aware of the exotic species in a fun way that both educators and learners could enjoy." 

According to Roen, the lesson plans, games, and activities that her Penn State DuBois students designed for this visit were a valuable part of their education, as well.

"If they end up in a job working as a park ranger, or for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, or for any number of conservation agencies, they'll have to create games and lessons to educate the public and interested groups," said Roen.  "In those professions, you never know when you might be asked to do a program.  These professionals are asked to instruct programs for kids and organizations all the time.  This prepares them for that." 

In gauging feedback from these demonstrations, the wildlife students from Penn State DuBois are already skilled presenters.  Makowiecki said, "The fourth grade students wrote reflective essays about what they learned from the Penn State presentations.   For example, one fourth grader wrote that she learned about how a change in a food web affects all the animals.  Another student wrote that he now knows that releasing a non-native turtle like the red-eared slider into the wild could harm the native turtles.  These are just a few examples of the many concepts the fourth grade students learned from the Penn State DuBois Exotic Species Presentations."

A short story written by Penn State DuBois Distinguished Professor of English Richard Kopley has been chosen for inclusion in this year's edition of an exclusive international anthology of fiction literature compiled and printed in England.  The Lightship Anthology 2 (Lightship Publishing) is the second collection of short stories, poems, and flash fiction written by authors from around the globe.  It is meant to discover the best new literary voices writing in English.  Kopley's work is one of 10 selected for inclusion in the anthology's short story category, out of a total of 552 submissions. 

Kopley’s story, "The Hideous and Intolerable Bookshop," was inspired by Manhattan’s Book Row, a now vanished part of a New York City neighborhood that was once home to an extensive assemblage of eclectic bookshops.  Kopley’s fantasy of visiting the site of the extinct Book Row to discover a little-known shop still operating prompted him to write the story. Told in the first person, the story features a hero who finds both familiar comfort and unexpected mystery once he enters the forgotten store.

Kopley is no stranger to seeing his work in print. His academic work, such as research into literary legends like Edgar Allan Poe has been published extensively.  In that vein, he published his analytical volume Edgar Allan Poe and the Dupin Mysteries (Palgrave Macmillan) in 2008, in which he examines the structure, sources, and autobiographical significance of Poe's detective stories, which many say inspired the entire detective genre in modern literature. 

Notably, Kopley is about to break into the children’s fiction realm with the soon-to-be-published "The Remarkable David Wordsworth," and he hopes to keep his momentum going in the fiction genre.

"I’m very happy to have my story published in Lightship Anthology 2," Kopley said.  

"The book is very new, but my dream of becoming a fiction writer is very old.  So I’m especially pleased.  I hope to publish a collection of short stories someday." 

Kopley recently returned from a literary awards ceremony in Hull, England where he was recognized for his work and its inclusion in the anthology.    

The Lightship Anthology 2 is available at www.almabooks.com/lightship-anthology-2-p-433-book.html  and at amazon.com 

Penn State DuBois will offer the ShaleNET Floor Hand Training Class again this February to meet the Natural Gas Industry's demand of skilled workers in entry-level jobs.

Individuals interested in the class should attend one of two information sessions scheduled for 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8; and 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, in Room 209 of the DEF Building at Penn State DuBois.  The information sessions will cover the details of the training program, review the job demands and expectations of floor hands, and complete the registration process for the full class in February.

This is the second Floor Hand Training Class to be offered at the campus.  All graduates of the first class, held last February, were placed in jobs shortly after completing the program.

Penn State DuBois has partnered with several organizations connected to the Natural Gas Industry 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.  All 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.

Military veterans returning from active service and dislocated workers interested in Shale Industry jobs are encouraged to attend the information session.

This training program is a product of the collaboration between the Shale Training and Education Center (ShaleTEC) at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, ShaleNet, the North Central Workforce Investment Board, Superior Energy Resources, Pennsylvania CareerLink, and Penn State DuBois. 

Once the training program is completed, the graduates will also have the opportunity to attend a job fair at Penn State DuBois that will help them land a job right away.

According to ShaleNET, the Marcellus Shale deposit will yield decades of gas production. The drilling of a single well requires 400 people working in nearly 150 occupations.

Class size is limited to a total number of 17 students.  To reserve your seat for either information session, click http://www.ds.psu.edu/CE/32678.htm

Penn State DuBois, in conjunction with the Central Intermediate Unit #10 (CIU #10), will offer a free course in mathematics, beginning in January, for adults who want to brush up on their basic skills. 

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

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

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

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

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

Space is limited for this math improvement program.  Classes will meet from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Mondays beginning January 7, and ending on April 26, in room 204 of the DEF Building at Penn State DuBois.

To register, or for more information, call the Clearfield Development Center for Adults at 814-765-1131, or the Penn State DuBois Office for Adult Student and Veteran Services at 814-375-4772. 

Penn State DuBois will hold Fall Commencement Ceremonies at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 20, in the Hiller Auditorium.  Friends and family members of graduates, as well as all members of the community are welcome to attend. 

The commencement speaker is Penn State DuBois Instructor of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) James Kuterbach.  He was named the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) Educator of the Year for 2011-12.  Nominations for the Educator of the Year Award come from campus students who feel a faculty member has had a significant impact in the lives of those they teach.  Kuterbach's HDFS students go on to work in fields such as mental health, addiction counseling, behavioral counseling, probation, and more.  Kuterbach has taught at Penn State DuBois since 2008.  He successfully defended his thesis for his Ph.D. in educational theory and policy in October, and will receive that degree in May.

In addition to teaching, Kuterbach also serves on the campus Early Intervention Committee, which assists students dealing with emotional, behavioral, or academic issues. He also serves on the campus Enrollment Management Committee. 

A reception for graduates and guests will be held in the Lion's Den Cafe, Hiller Building, immediately following the graduation exercises.

The Penn State DuBois Office of Student Life has planned a Cultural Holiday Family Night in Ridgway, made possible by the Stackpole Hall Diversity Grant.

This family friendly event is intended to be a fun way to educate children about holiday traditions in a variety of cultures from around the globe. 

The evening will feature activities and discussions surrounding holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, and more.  Details about these holidays, including their similarities and differences will be covered.  Food, games, and education will make the event fun and informative for all.

Cultural Holiday Family Night is planned for 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 14, at the Second Ward Fire Hall in Ridgway.  It is free and open to the public.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by December 12, by calling Marly at 814-375-4764 or by email at mag374@psu.edu

Members of the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society invite all campus alumni, friends, and members of the community to the annual Alumni Society Holiday Mixer.  Each year, the mixer provides alumni and members of the community the chance to catch up and reconnect during the holiday season.

This year's mixer is slated for 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, December 14, at the Pine Inn, 15 Main Street, Fall Creek, PA. 

A cash bar opens at 6:00 p.m. A buffet dinner at a cost of $10 per person is set to begin at 6:30 p.m., which will include a choice of chicken or pasta, with vegetables, salad, and dessert. 

You're asked to RSVP by December 12, to the Alumni Relations Office at (814) 375-4775 or jad62@psu.edu

Some Penn State DuBois students have used a class project to start a support effort for local women in need, and achieved surprising results.  Students Brittany Meckley and Ian Claycomb devised the idea of Support the Unsupported, and launched their efforts in November.  For the entire month they collected a total of more than 200 new or gently used bras.  They have now donated the bras to the Salvation Army, which will then distribute them in packages with other clothing items to area women who may not have the money to buy such items on their own. 

"People don't donate things like bras," Claycomb said.  "People don't think about things like that, but they are things that people need." 

Those on the front lines fighting for the less fortunate couldn't agree more with Meckley and Claycomb.  Major Robin Maddock of the Salvation Army Worship and Service Center of DuBois received the donation.  She said, "That's an item we don't often get, they are not typically donated, but we do serve a population where it certainly is a blessing.  We have women, young and old, who can benefit.  These are a necessity, and I think this is very thoughtful." 

Maddock said the timing of the donation of the bras was just right.  It took place between October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Christmas season, when many women are not thinking about themselves, even if they are in need.  She said, "With Christmas around the corner, over 200 women will benefit from this generosity." 

Support the Unsupported all started in the classroom as a project for the Intro to Women's Studies course, taught by instructor Jackie Atkins.  The course focuses on women's issues, and how women have overcome struggles to succeed.

"One of the projects my students do is what I call an activism project," Atkins explained.  "I have students doing a variety of things, from hosting a spaghetti dinner to support a food pantry, to making informational pamphlets."

Atkins' students were able to choose their own project, so Meckley and Claycomb decided to partner up to do something that no one else had ever done. 

"I wanted to support women in a way you don't usually see," Meckley said. 

That voyage into uncharted waters paid off with unexpected results.  Claycomb said, "I didn't think we were going to get as many as we did.  I'm surprised, but it's good." 

Meckley agreed, saying, "I'm shocked.  I never thought it would take off the way it did.  It just got out into the community more than I thought it would." 

In the end, those 200 bras would have cost around $600.  Meckley and Claycomb said area Wal-Mart stores were enormously generous in donating a large number of bras from their stores.  The remainder came from members of the campus community who dropped the garments in collection boxes on campus. 

The students say this initial campaign saw enough success that it will likely become an annual event.

More than 200 people turned out to celebrate the career and accomplishments of Chancellor Anita McDonald during her recent retirement celebration at the DuBois Country Club. Guests included friends, family members who traveled from Arizona, Colorado, Washington D.C. and Michigan, members of the business community, government leaders, members of Penn State University leadership, and Penn State DuBois faculty, staff and students.  All wished McDonald well in her upcoming retirement, which will begin January 1.   

Most of those in attendance also contributed to the Anita D. McDonald Endowment Supporting Children and Youth Programs, which now boasts a total of $113,000 in pledges and gifts.  Penn State DuBois friends, supporters, and donors at the Fairman Family Foundation recently established the endowment in the 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.  Mark Freemer, chair of the campus' For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students committee announced the total during the evening's program.

"To establish an endowment here at Penn State, you need to raise $25,000," Freemer said. "Not only did the committee succeed in doing so, they surpassed it."

Following Freemer, a list of other speakers offered remarks on McDonald and her accomplishments.

"You are indeed leaving a grand legacy," said Madlyn Hanes, vice president of the Commonwealth Campuses and dean of the University College of Penn State.  "The vitality of this campus and the central role it plays in the economic vitality of this region are of your making." 

"Penn State DuBois and our community are both better today as a result of your efforts," said Ed Nasuti, campus donor, DuBois Educational Foundation board member, and president of the engineering firm Lee-Simpson Associates, Inc. "Anita, we wish you a happy and fulfilling retirement and thank you for your service to our campus."

Lisa Taylor, the chancellor's administrative assistant, shared a special surprise for McDonald.  She read from a letter written by First Lady Michelle Obama to McDonald.  She read, "I am so pleased to join your family and friends in congratulating you on your retirement. As you look back on your career, I hope you take pride in all that you've accomplished and contributed over the years. I wish you the best as you begin the next chapter of your life.  Sincerely, Michelle Obama." 

State Representative Matt Gabler presented McDonald with a letter of commendation on behalf of the citizens of Pennsylvania's 75^th legislative district.  He said, "As somebody who grew up in DuBois, and recognizes how important Penn State DuBois is to our area, I want to thank you for your leadership and for doing everything you've done to make our community the very best place it can be." 

"Dr. McDonald has been a great help in advancing our academics.  She has also opened the door for students to come to DuBois and participate in athletics," said student athlete Joe Shields, who spoke of McDonald's work to reestablish varsity athletic programs on campus.  "On behalf of the athletes, I just want to say thank you." 

Campus Director of Information Technology Brian Hart presented McDonald with a gift from the faculty and staff.  That gift is a small scale replica of a mosaic that hangs on a wall in the campus' Swift Building. The circular mosaic depicts people of varying ethnic backgrounds and different countries, as well as species of animals found around the world. The piece is meant to symbolize the power of diversity and the commitment the campus community has made to promote and foster diversity, an effort that McDonald has always championed.  McDonald said, "The mosaic carries deep meaning for me and for my efforts at the campus.  To know that there are only two such beautiful pieces in the world and that one is on campus and the other will always be with me is more than I could hope for.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

McDonald also expressed her gratitude for the entire celebration and the effort that campus employees and friends put into planning the event.  She said, "My retirement celebration was absolutely magnificent.  Every aspect had some personal significance for me. I am still filled with emotion from the many kind words expressed that evening."

The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society at Penn State DuBois invites everyone in the community to Sweets and a Movie on campus.  There will be one afternoon and one evening showing.  

The film, Elf, staring Will Ferrell will be screened in the Hiller Auditorium.  Hot chocolate and pastries will be served in the Lion's Den, across from the auditorium.  Admission is free, but Delta Mu members ask that those attending bring items for donation to the victims of Hurricane Sandy.   They will accept non-perishable food items, gently used or new clothing, cleaning supplies, and monetary donations.  

Sweets and a Movie is planned for Wednesday, December 12, from noon until 1:30 p.m., and again from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Only seven students in the entire Penn State University system will receive the Dietz and Watson Campus Spirit Scholarship Award this year, and two of them are from Penn State DuBois.  Hillary Yarger of Brisbin and Tony Schneider of Brockport have both been picked to receive the award, which will help to fund their education, as well as help them support causes they care about.  Dietz and Watson, a Philadelphia based manufacturer of premium deli products, will award each student with $500 in scholarship funds, plus, the company will make a $500 donation to the campus organization of the students' choice.  

Dietz and Watson awards the Campus Spirit Scholarship to Penn State students who demonstrate success in the classroom, and have the courage and commitment outside the classroom to make a difference in the Penn State Community. 

Schneider, an eight year veteran of the United States Air Force, was chosen because of his active role in the Penn State DuBois community.  He is involved in both the Engineering Club and the Veterans Club.  He chose to contribute the gift portion of his scholarship to the Veteran's Endowed Scholarship Fund.  He said, "This is a great honor. Awarding a scholarship such as the Dietz and Watson scholarship speaks volumes about the company and employee commitment to giving back to the community while promoting the educational goals of college students. It's a humbling feeling to be awarded a scholarship of this magnitude, and it speaks to their generosity by making a charitable donation on my behalf to the Veterans Endowed Scholarship fund."

Yarger has been recognized by Dietz and Watson for her tireless service to others.  She has served as president of the Service Above Self (SAS) Club, and participated in multiple spring break service trips to volunteer in communities around the country.  She also helps to organize blood drives and food drives. 

"I was extremely surprised and honored to receive this scholarship for my community service throughout the years," Yarger said.   "I am thankful for the scholarship from Dietz and Watson."   

All winners also received four tickets and hospitality passes for the November 24, Penn State vs. Wisconsin game.

Some of the most accomplished individuals in the Penn State DuBois community were honored for their success during the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society Awards Banquet, held Thursday at the DuBois Country Club.  The society presented awards to four people this year, based on their professional accomplishments and the support they've offered the campus and their communities.

This year's honorees are: Carrie Wood, recipient of the Dave Shaffer Outstanding Young Alumni Award; David Spigelmyer, recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award; Stephen Johnson, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Aaron Beatty, recipient of the Distinguished Ambassador Award.

Aaron Beatty accepted the Distinguished Ambassador award first during the evening's program.  This award is given to an individual who may or may not be an alumnus, but has made outstanding contributions to the campus and its mission. Beatty has served as chair of the Penn State DuBois Athletics Golf Benefit for the past two years.  He has also volunteered with the planning of the Lion Wine and Cheese fundraiser for athletics.  During his involvement, these two events have raised over $20,000 for campus athletics. 

Beatty is the human resources director for Beatty Restaurant Enterprises, which operates McDonald's of DuBois and Brockway, as well as human resources director for LiJo Incorporated.  He also works as shop manager for Treasure Lake golf courses.

Beatty's friend, Brian Elias of DuBois, presented the award.  Elias said of Beatty, "He's a real go-getter, and has done wonderful things for Penn State DuBois athletics.  I remember how he would always come to me and ask me to donate to the golf outing and to the wine and cheese." 

Beatty commented, "I've been extremely lucky for the friends and family who have supported me in everything I do."  One of the most impactful things he's found support in doing, Beatty said, is volunteering with athletic programs at the campus.

"To have a campus of one of the greatest universities in the world right in your home town is amazing," he said.  "Supporting the campus and the teams is a great cause.  All you need to do is come to a sporting event and see the drive these young people have and you'll know that they'll go on to be exceptional citizens."

Next, Carrie Wood was presented with the Dave Shaffer Outstanding Young Alumni Award.  Wood is the CEO of Timberland Federal Credit Union in DuBois.  She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Penn State in 2002.  Previously, she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in business administration and Spanish from Juniata College in 1998. 

Wood currently serves as chair of the development committee for the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF), which provides financial support to Penn State DuBois.  She is also a past president of the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society, and continues to be an active member of the society.  Additionally, Wood is president of the Shortway Chapter of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association.  She volunteers with the GFWC Curwensville Woman’s Club and the Curwensville United Methodist Church, and serves on various professional committees. Wood's award was presented to her by her own mother, Lois Richards, who is also a past recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award.  Richards spoke of her daughter's dedication and hard work, noting that it only took Wood four years from her date of hire at Timberland to become the CEO.

"She dedicates herself to something and she does it," Richards said.  "She sets high goals for herself, and she reaches them." 

Richards also explained that above all of her professional and volunteer responsibilities, Wood finds time to make family her top priority.  She said, "No matter how busy she is, Carrie always makes time for her family, and puts her two wonderful children first." 

Dave Spigelmyer then received the Outstanding Alumni Award.  Spigelmyer currently serves as vice president of government relations for Chesapeake Energy in its Eastern Division operations. He is chairman of the Marcellus Shale Coalition and is a founding member in the development of that organization. Spigelmyer is responsible for Chesapeake Energy’s state government relations program in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia.  He is a 1982 Graduate of Penn State with a bachelor's Degree in Public Service.

Spigelmyer has built a 29-year career in the natural gas industry, building bridges between state and local government officials, communities and community leaders, philanthropic organizations and advocacy groups.  He began his career working as a director in his hometown YMCA and then moved into the natural gas industry in 1983. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Moraine Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America, is a former President of the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, and is a member of a variety of additional professional organizations.

Spigelmyer's long-time friend Rawley Cogan presented the award.  Cogan spoke of his friend's direct, yet careful approach to his work in the natural gas industry. Cogan said, "He's a true professional, a good communicator.  He was born right here in Clearfield County, right here in DuBois.  He understands what it takes to have clean air and clean water.  He didn't read about it in a book, he lived it.  He is connected to the outdoors and conservation."

In his comments, Spigelmyer echoed those sentiments about the quality of the environment in the DuBois area; that in the natural environment, and that created by the people.

"When I think of a definition of home, I think of a great place to raise a family," Spigelmyer said.  He also shared insight on his experience of becoming successful with integrity.  He said, "Success is driven by how one treats others.  Treat everyone with compassion and a level of respect." 

Stephen Johnson was then presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.  Johnson is the vice president for Cornell University Government and Community Relations. He directs the university’s legislative efforts and coordinates its involvement with government-focused higher education associations.  He earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Penn State in 1967, and a master's degree in Public Administration from Maxwell Graduate School of Syracuse University. 

In his 41-year tenure at Cornell, Johnson has been closely associated with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Program, state relations, and federal advocacy. He serves on the board of the local economic development agency, Tompkins County Area Development, and Excell Partners, a regional economic development partnership focused on Upstate New York.

Ross Donahue, Johnson's life-long friend, presented the award.  Donahue said, "Steve cares about the community.  He's willing to do anything he can to help.  He lives with honesty and integrity.  I'm proud to be his friend." 

Upon receiving his award, Johnson said, "I want to thank the association, I'm very honored."  He then shared reflections on receiving the Lifetime Achievement award, and on how things have changed since he first started to make those achievements. 

"When I learned I was being considered for this award, I thought, 'wow', " Johnson said. "I started at the campus in 1963.  The campus was very different in 1963.  Our first year there were 110 students.  Today, I look at what the campus has become, and I'm very proud." 

In closing, Chancellor Anita McDonald thanked the award recipients for the deeds that they had been recognized for throughout the evening.  She encouraged them to stay engaged, and to continue to inspire future generations of students and alumni.

"Please continue to stay involved with the campus," McDonald said.  "Your efforts have made, and do continue to make a difference.  We wouldn't be able to do the things that we do without such support from dedicated people." 

Clearfield Area High School students who are enrolled in physics courses visited Penn State DuBois this week to learn how physics and other sciences can be applied to exciting careers.  In all, 33 students toured the campus and took in presentations from faculty members in the engineering and Information Sciences and Technology (IST) departments. 

"They're seeing physics and science and how it applies to engineering and other areas," said Susan Spaid, the senior class guidance counselor at Clearfield High.   "We want our students to see that these fields are real, and that there are good jobs in these areas." 

Spaid said the demonstrations from IST and engineering faculty members showed students that jobs in such fields are more than just office work.  She hoped that they realized how education in the sciences can be applied to hands-on careers.  She said, "So often they think that a career after college is just sitting at a desk. I want them to see that a career in an interesting field is possible, where they can be active and solve problems."  

The Penn State DuBois faculty members showcased the hands-on education that they offer, which trains students for the kinds of stimulating careers Spaid had in mind.  In the IST lab, students learned how the variety of the tasks that professionals complete can make for interesting work. In creating and maintaining vast computer and communications networks, professionals in IST often perform all tasks related to networking, from running cables, to writing software programs. 

In the engineering lab, students got a close-up look at the new face of manufacturing.  Modern work in powder metals, for example, requires the use of computer-aided machines to produce precise parts for use in automobiles, home appliances, and more.  People who enter these careers are those who have a strong education in the field, but also are not afraid to get their hands dirty.

Engineering and powder metal professionals are also in high demand in today's economy, which means plenty of opportunity for graduates of engineering programs.

"There are a lot of career opportunities in engineering," said Craig Stringer, assistant professor of engineering at Penn State DuBois.  "We can help them get into those careers.  Education is a key to that. It will open up opportunities for them."

Spaid said the campus visit went a long way in showing her Clearfield High School students the opportunities they'll have in the future, and that they don't have to go far from home to get it. "We want to broaden the knowledge these kids have. We want to provide the opportunity for them to see what college is like," she said.  "This is only 20 miles away from home; it's close." 

The eighteenth Video Game Day event held in the DEF Building at Penn State DuBois on Saturday, November 10, saw a record 163 gamers in attendance.  This breaks the previous record of 156 attendees set in the fall of 2009.

Held twice each academic year, Video Game Day is organized and hosted by the campus Information Technology (IT) Club. It is open to anyone interested in playing computer games, and offers participants the opportunity to try the latest games and game systems available. 

"The biggest reason we do this is to offer a fun, safe environment for students and gamers of all ages to get together and play some videogames and enjoy themselves," said IT Club advisor and senior instructor in Information Science and Technology (IST) Jason Long. 

Long said the other side of the coin, however, is the enormous learning opportunities that this event provides for his IST students and student members of the IT Club. He said, "The work they do for this event is a large scale, real life version of the laboratory exercises they do while getting their education here."  Long explained that the students are responsible for the complete construction of a complex network of over 100 computers and 10 servers used to run the games during Video Game Day.  Various gaming consoles and systems are also tied into the network, and it must be reliable enough to support the 160-plus gamers for the entire event.  It's a huge undertaking, but it is work that hits close to home for IST majors, whose degree will prepare them for careers in computer programing, networking, information system administration, and more. 

"We built a complete network just for the gaming computers, separate from anything else on campus," said IST major Jessica Noland.  "We became network administrators and system administrators, while supporting the client computers, which in this case are the gaming computers. It gave us the whole experience of working in IT support within any business." 

In all, 25 members of the campus IT club worked as system administrators for Video Game Day. 

For more information on Video Game Day, visit http://istlab.ds.psu.edu/

Penn State DuBois students and the Office of Student Life are conducting the Project Hurricane Sandy Donation Drive now through November 30.  Everyone on campus and in the surrounding community is encouraged to donate items that victims of the disaster are in need of.  The most needed items include:

·         Water

·         Non-perishable food

·         Can openers

·         Cleaning supplies and tools, including work gloves, shovels, garbage bags, rakes.

·         Hygiene and toiletry items such as shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, towels, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, diapers.

·         Unopened packages of underwear and socks – Note: no other clothing can be accepted.  

Drop off boxes are located in the campus library, and in the student union, both in the Hiller Building.  Boxes will remain in place through November 30.

The Penn State DuBois Veterans Club is currently holding a collection for Toys for Tots on campus.  All members of the community are asked to donate a new, unwrapped toy. 

Collection boxes for Toys for Tots will remain in the campus library in the Hiller Building, and in the Center for Undergraduate Excellence (CUE) in the Swift Building until December 14.  An additional collection will take place from Noon until 1:30 p.m. on December 5, and December 6, in the Student Union.   

Toys for Tots is sponsored and organized by the United States Marine Corps. Reserve, and started with the work of one Marine reservist in 1947. According to the program organizers, the primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.

For more information, contact Sueann Doran at 814-375-4716.

The Penn State DuBois Student Government Association will hold its 18^th Annual Breakfast with Santa this holiday season.  The event is planned for Saturday, December 8, in the Student Union at Penn State DuBois.  Breakfast will be served throughout the morning at timeslots of 8:00, 8:45, 9:30, and 10:15.  

Children will have the chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and, of course, sit on Santa’s knee and tell him what they want for Christmas.  Kids can play games and win prizes, and Santa will have a gift for each child.

The cost is $4.00 per person, and proceeds will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation.  Reservations are a must.  To reserve your time, call Marly Doty in the Student Life Office at (814) 375-4764, or email studentactivities@psu.edu or make your reservations online at www.dubois.psu.edu/breakfastwithsanta

The first home contest for the Penn State DuBois men’s basketball squad was a scrimmage against their alumni in the first ever alumni game. The 2012-13 Nittany Lions defeated the alumni 109-62 in the Penn State DuBois gymnasium on Saturday.

Chancellor Anita McDonald presented the members of the 2011-12 PSUAC Championship team and the coaching staff with championship rings prior to tip-off.

The game started off with the alumni jumping out to an 8-2 lead in the first four minutes, but the young Nittany Lions went on a 21 point run with long range shots from Darrian Brown, Salim Wyche, and Isaiah Jordan.  With the alumni shooting going cold the current Nittany Lions finished the first half shooting 67% from the floor including 69% from thre point land. The half time score was 63-27 in favor of the 2012-13 Nittany Lion squad

Leading scorer was Darrian Brown with 26 points, 10-14 shooting including 4-4 on 3 point attempts. Other scores in double figures were Isaiah Jordan with 20, Salim Wyche 14, and Kashawn McLaughlin with 10 points.  Overall Coach Bennett was very pleased with the defense play, the shot selection and the flow of the offense.

For more on the athletes who returned to play in the alumni game, see http://www.ds.psu.edu/32623.htm

Both the Penn State DuBois women's and men's teams will start their official season with a home double header on Wednesday, Nov. 14, when they host Pitt-Titusville.  The women start at 6:00 p.m. followed by the men at 8:00. 

Veterans of the armed forces were honored at the annual Penn State DuBois Veterans Day Ceremony on Monday.  Held in the Schoch Plaza, the ceremony was organized by the campus Veterans Club.

The ceremony opened with the Penn State DuBois Choir singing The Star Spangled Banner.  Amazing Grace was performed on the bagpipes by Sandy Township Police Chief Don Routch. 

Greg Stanek, vice president of the campus Veterans Club offered remarks.  A Marine Corps Veteran himself, Stanek said, "It's important to remember that while we're here at home, or at school, there are always people out there protecting or freedom and everything else we enjoy in our lives." 

Penn State DuBois Women's Studies students will hold a spaghetti dinner to benefit the Brockway Helping Hand food pantry this month.  The dinner is planned for 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 24, at the Moorhead United Methodist Church on Main Street in Brockway. 

The cost is $6.00 for eat-in, and $7.00 for takeout.  Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad and a roll, as well as a drink.

A new accelerated program offered at Penn State DuBois will provide professionals an edge in the realm of human resources and related areas, and will put new credentials in their hands quickly.  The new Labor Studies and Employment Relations (LER) Certificate will utilize a combination of conventional classroom lessons and video conferencing classes through the Penn State Video Learning Network (VLN), and the entire 12-credit certificate can be earned in as little as two semesters.

The program is designed to educate individuals on workplace employment issues from both the employee and employer perspective.  Courses cover topics including employment law, the changing role of unions, collective bargaining, growing workplace diversity, and new methods of conflict resolution. All classes in the program are credit classes, meaning they can also count toward a Penn State degree. 

"This certificate will benefit current human resource managers as well as students and other individuals who are interested in working in the field of human resources," said Interim Assistant Director of Continuing Education Jeannine Hanes.  "The courses are a nice supplement for individuals who already hold certifications of Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Penn State DuBois additionally offers the 40-hour SHRM Learning System program to help professionals prepare for the PHR or SPHR examinations."

The first two courses begin this spring. Courses are offered in an accelerated evening format of once a week for seven weeks.  Instruction includes video-conferencing, classroom lectures, and online learning components.

Registration is now open.  Early registration is encouraged, as the limited number of seats in the program is expected to fill up quickly.

For information, contact Jeannine Hanes at 814-375-4836 or jhanes@psu.edu

The Penn State DuBois Men's Basketball team will kick off its 2012-13 season with the Alumni Game on November 10. The contest will feature some of the most talented players from the past, taking on this year's 2012-13 team. 

Alumni players will include Marcus Genevro, Kevin Genevro, Josh Salter, Jimmy Higgins, and Kyle Mahoney, all from Elk County Catholic; Jonny Songer and Kyle Vogt, from Cameron County; Gabe Rosenberg and Pat Brown from DuBois Area High; Mark Shannon from Brockway Area; Kyle Dynda of Austin; Dylan Howard from Oswayo Valley; Neil Hanes of St. Marys; Derek Burdick of Coudersport; and Jovan Brown of Sayre High School.   

The Alumni Game is slated for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 10, in the Penn State DuBois gymnasium.  Before tipoff, Chancellor Anita McDonald will present Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) championship rings to the players and coaching staff of the 2011-12 team, who brought home the PSUAC title last year. 

This is the second PSUAC championship title won by the campus since the athletic programs were reinstated.  The 2006-07 basketball team captured the PSUAC title and finished second in the USCAA National Tournament in 2007.  Several of the alumni playing in Saturday's game are members of that championship team, including Howard, Dynda, Vogt, Songer, Pat Brown, Rosenberg, Marcus Genevro, Kevin Genevro, and Hanes. 

Athletic Coordinator Ken Nellis said, "I can't think of a better way to recognize the accomplishments of the 2012 team than with the alumni on hand who created the tradition and pride that we have on campus for Penn State DuBois basketball.   This will be a fun day and great way for fans to see a lot of the players they enjoyed watching over the years.  I anticipate the gym to be full and great basketball skills to be on display." 

For more information on the winter sports teams visit Penn State DuBois Athletics' home on the web at www.psuduboisathletics.com

A Penn State DuBois student in the four-year general engineering program is one of only six students across the country to receive a prestigious scholarship from a national organization with a mission to support powder metal (PM) research and education.  Kevryn Boser, from Bradford, PA, has been awarded the $4,000 Clayton Family Scholarship for Studies in Powder Metallurgy from the Center for Powder Metallurgy Technology (CPMT) in Princeton, New Jersey.  

Boser completed the two-year Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) program at the campus this spring, and has reenrolled for her current four-year program with junior status.  She said the scholarship she just earned will relieve a lot of financial pressure.

"It really helps.  I'm trying to do everything on my own, and this is a great opportunity to further my education," Boser said. 

Part of making it on her own means working through college, which Boser is doing as an intern at American Refining Group, in her home town of Bradford.  There, she works in the plant, solving engineering problems with equipment and machinery used to refine and produce wax lubricants and oil.  She landed the position shortly after her initial enrollment in the campus MET program, and will have the opportunity to go to work there, full time, following her graduation from the baccalaureate program.  The experience has been an ideal supplement to her education, and helped to put her on the path to a promising career.  It also helped her to secure the CPMT scholarship.

"She got it because of her hard work and experience, and the real-world experience she has, which is really critical," said Craig Stringer, assistant professor of engineering at Penn State DuBois.

Stringer will make sure Boser continues to get that real-world experience as he calls on her to assist with research in the Penn State DuBois Engineering Lab, and to make a presentation at a national conference next year.  Together, teacher and student will conduct research into lubricants and other additives that can be applied to powder metal parts during the machining process, which they theorize will make the parts easier to manipulate.  They'll present their findings at the Powder Metal Industry International Conference to be held in Chicago in June.  While this is not a requirement of the CPMT scholarship, it is something Stringer requires of his students who are recognized on the national level.

"This organization has selected her to be a leader by granting her this scholarship," Stringer said.  "So, we want to give the industry something in return; the dissemination of knowledge." 

"For me, I'm excited about the chance to do this project and present it to other professionals," Boser said.

For Stringer, the excitement comes from seeing one of his students already on a clear path to professional success.  He said, "It indicates the effort put forth by campus faculty to educate and support students, and to form partnerships in industry." 

A published author with some very strong and unique ties to the world of engineering and powder metals (PM) is scheduled to speak at Penn State DuBois in November.   The campus engineering club will host Kristine Gasbarre, author of How to Love an American Man (Harper Collins), who will discuss her book, and relationship with her family and the PM industry. 

Gasbarre's family has a rich history in PM, and their DuBois-based company, Gasbarre Products, continues to be a global leader the industry.  Gasbarre's book is a memoir of a year that she spent with her grandmother garnering advice on life and love.  Her grandmother recounted tales of the support she offered her husband, Kristine's grandfather, as he worked day and night to launch a family business that would become a world-wide industrial frontrunner. 

All are welcome to attend the presentation, free of charge, at Noon on Friday, November, 16, in Room 209 of the DEF Building at Penn State DuBois.  For more information, contact Craig Stringer, assistant professor of engineering at cjs206@psu.edu or Kevryn Boser, engineering club president, at krb5314@psu.edu

Four people who are among the most accomplished of alumni and friends of Penn State DuBois will be honored for their achievements and support during the annual Penn State DuBois Alumni Society Awards Banquet. 

This year's honorees include Carrie Wood, recipient of the Dave Shaffer Outstanding Young Alumni Award; David Spigelmyer, recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award; Stephen Johnson, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Aaron Beatty, recipient of the Distinguished Ambassador Award.

Carrie Wood is the CEO of Timberland Federal Credit Union in DuBois.  She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Penn State in 2002.  Previously, she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in business administration and Spanish from Juniata College in 1998. 

Wood currently serves as chair of the development committee for the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF), which provides financial support to Penn State DuBois.  She is also a past president of the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society, and continues to be an active member of the society.  Additionally, Wood is president of the Shortway Chapter of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association.  She volunteers with the GFWC Curwensville Woman’s Club and the Curwensville United Methodist Church, and serves on various professional committees. 

Dave Spigelmyer currently serves as vice president of government relations for Chesapeake Energy in its Eastern Division operations. He is chairman of the Marcellus Shale Coalition and is a founding member in the development of that organization. Spigelmyer is responsible for Chesapeake Energy’s state government relations program in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia.  He is a 1982 Graduate of Penn State with a bachelor's Degree in Public Service.

Spigelmyer has built a 29-year career in the natural gas industry, building bridges between state and local government officials, communities and community leaders, philanthropic organizations and advocacy groups.  He began his career working as a director in his hometown YMCA and then moved into the natural gas industry in 1983. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Moraine Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America, is a former President of the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, and is a member of a variety of additional professional organizations.

Stephen Johnson is the vice president for Cornell University Government and Community Relations. He directs the university’s legislative efforts and coordinates its involvement with government-focused higher education associations.  He earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Penn State in 1967, and a master's degree in Public Administration from Maxwell Graduate School of Syracuse University. 

In his 41-year tenure at Cornell, Johnson has been closely associated with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Program, state relations, and federal advocacy. He serves on the board of the local economic development agency, Tompkins County Area Development, and Excell Partners, a regional economic development partnership focused on Upstate New York.

Aaron Beatty is the human resources director for Beatty Restaurant Enterprises, which operates McDonald's of DuBois and Brockway, as well as human resources director for LiJo Incorporated.  He also works as shop manager for Treasure Lake golf courses.

Beatty has served as chair of the Penn State DuBois Athletics Golf Benefit for the past two years.  He has also volunteered with the planning of the Lion Wine and Cheese fundraiser for athletics.  During his involvement, these two events have raised over $20,000 for campus athletics. 

The Penn State DuBois Alumni Society Awards Banquet is slated for 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 15, at the DuBois Country Club.  Featuring dinner and the awards ceremony, the evening's activities are open to the public at a cost of $25 per person. 

To make reservations to attend, contact the Alumni Relations Office at 814-375-4775, or duboisalumni@psu.ed    

Students on the Penn State DuBois THON committee will host a Kid's Day fundraising event from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, at the DuBois Mall.  All children and their parents and guardians are invited to attend and have fun, while making a positive impact in the battle against childhood cancer.

Kids will be able to take part in dancing, face painting, and letter writing, plus get their picture taken with the Nittany Lion, and much more.  Look for the Penn State DuBois students to be set up near the former location of the store Wear Else. 

All proceeds will benefit THON, the Penn State Dance Marathon.  The DuBois committee supports efforts for THON that reach throughout all of Penn State.  Money raised by THON is donated, each year, to the Four Diamonds Fund, a leader in the support of childhood cancer research.  University-wide, THON raised over $10.6 million last year.  The Penn State DuBois THON committee also broke their own record by raising $16,235 for the cause. 

THON takes place every February at Bryce Jordan Center at University Park, when student dancers stay on their feet for 46 hours straight, to raise money and awareness for the Four Diamonds Fund.   

A Penn State DuBois partner in education and training, The Marcellus Shale Education Training Center (MSETC) at the Pennsylvania College of Technology is officially changing its name to ShaleTEC. TEC is meant to stand for Training and Education Center, and the new name is thought to be more inclusive of the current and future industry expansion into other shale and tight sand formations beyond Marcellus Shale.

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.  It features participation from Penn College and Penn State Extension, which has provided workforce development analysis, economic needs assessment and training services since 2008. Since its inception, ShaleTEC, formerly MSETC, has also trained more than 8,500 people in natural gas related courses. These courses have benefited employees currently working in the oil and natural gas industry as well as individuals seeking a career change including the unemployed.

Penn State DuBois partnered with ShaleTEC last year, in efforts to bring their quality training programs to DuBois and the surrounding area. Interim Director of Continuing Education at Penn State DuBois John Blasdell said, "As an affiliate of ShaleTEC, Penn State DuBois acquires expanded curriculum and instructional capability needed to train and educate existing employees of gas companies, and those who want to enter the natural gas industry."  He explained that students who enroll for Marcellus Shale training programs at Penn State DuBois will have access to a wide range of resources offered at ShaleTEC, which addresses a multitude of training and educational needs of the natural gas industry.

The ShaleTEC name will extend the reach of the initial MSETC throughout the entire Appalachian Basin including Ohio, West Virginia, New York and other emerging plays throughout the United States. Penn College also has several affiliate agreements with other Penn State campuses across the Commonwealth with plans to enter into additional agreements with training providers in Ohio and New York.  Through these affiliates, ShaleTEC is able to offer its comprehensive list of courses across a broader geographical area to better serve the oil and natural gas training needs of local employers and residents.  Customized courses can also be developed to meet the specific training needs of an employer and offered on-site if preferred.

"This continues Penn College’s commitment to support the various workforce-development needs of the natural gas industry," said Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour. "As shale activity and the natural gas industry continue to expand and evolve in the Appalachian Basin, Penn College and its strategic partners are committed to providing the infrastructure and support services required to serve the area’s workforce needs."

According to Tracy Brundage, Assistant Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development at Penn College, "The rebranding of the Center is critical to our outreach efforts in the Appalachian Basin and beyond.  Our new name allows us to better market our services and programs to stakeholders beyond the Marcellus play. The Center provides a centralized point of contact for natural gas workforce-development initiatives and information.  We have many program offerings, as well as funding, to offset the workforce-training costs associated with training industry personnel and individuals pursuing a career with this exciting new industry."

"In addition to the Marcellus, at least five other shale zones are actively being explored in Pennsylvania today," said Thomas B. Murphy, co-director of the Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research at Penn State. "The value of workforce research and training programs available through the Shale Training and Education Center reach well beyond the Marcellus. Having a one-stop location for all shale and tight sand workforce needs is certainly key to providing a skilled workforce and meeting local employment demand."

For more information on ShaleTEC, workforce and economic analysis on the oil and natural gas industry and available courses, visit www.ShaleTEC.org or call 570-327-4775.

Members of the Penn State DuBois Diversity Committee, in conjunction with the Student Life Office, organized programs in The Stackpole Hall Diversity Series this week to help inform the campus community of the global crisis surrounding human trafficking.  According to the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, an estimated 2.5 million people are in forced labor, including sexual exploitation, at any given time as a result of human trafficking. 

The programs educated those who attended by featuring the film Not My Life, a documentary on human trafficking.  Organizers also hosted an expert speaker on the subject, Jason Connell. The series was made possible by a grant from the Stackpole Hall Foundation, a St. Marys based organization that supports the enhancement of social welfare and education. 

Students, faculty members, and staff members met Thursday for a lunch-time discussion to wrap up the series, and summarize what they learned. 

"The goal of our program is really to raise awareness, and inspire people to do their part to make a difference," said campus assistant director of student affairs Marly Doty.  Doty explained that human trafficking is really modern day slavery, with victims being sold into the harshest of work conditions, or often being kidnapped and forced to work in sweatshops, or in prostitution.  The majority of the victims are between the ages of 18 and 24, yet 1.2 million children also become victims each year. 

Human trafficking is a dark reality that affects every continent on the planet, and countries with every type of economy.  Doty cited cases of forced labor that were under investigation in cities as close as Pittsburgh.  In one instance in Pittsburgh, people were trafficked from other countries because they were promised the opportunity to make money for themselves and their families.  In reality, they were forced to work in a restaurant for long hours, for little or no pay, and held in apartments above the restaurant when they were allowed to rest.  Doty said, "It's shocking, it's scary, and people don't understand that it's happening right outside their backdoor." 

Facts like this, some of which were highlighted in the film, hit close to home for some who attended the programs.  Student Allyn Brown said, "The film really got me thinking about the people taken from their families, and what if that happened to me?  What if it happened to my little niece, who is four?  It almost made me cry." 

Doty also noted that Pennsylvania is one of few states in the country with no specific laws regulating human sex trafficking, which is also an issue of overwhelming proportions around the country.  Often young women and their families are fraudulently convinced that they're being offered opportunity for good employment, but are instead taken away from home and forced to work in prostitution. 

"I never realized how much of this happens because people are not educated about what they're being told," said student Louise Whyte, highlighting why educational programs like this are so vital. 

At other times, people make decisions to enter, or allow family members to enter forced labor because of dire circumstances like extreme poverty.  Tharren Thompson, the campus' international and multicultural student services coordinator shared an example of a personal brush with people in such despair that happened while he was on a mission trip. 

"I had a woman at a train station in India ask me to take her child home with me.  She knew nothing about me except that I had white skin and looked like an American.  That's how bad it can be for people.  Imagine that; asking a total stranger to take your child, and you'd never see them again, because it's so bad where you are that they can't stay there." 

In the end, program organizers said each person can make a difference.  They suggested buying American made products, which decreases the chances you're buying something made in a sweat shop by children.  They also told students that their voices could be heard by state legislators; that new laws against human sex trafficking would be an enormous step forward in the fight against these heinous acts. 

"There are so many things you can do.  You can make a difference," Thompson said.

Professionals with expertise in environmental and wildlife conservation are in high demand today, and a group of future college students got an up-close look at some career options in those fields at Penn State DuBois recently.  More than 40 students from gifted programs at eight area school districts participated in a Gifted Workshop on campus.  Open to middle school or high school students enrolled in a gifted program, the workshop was designed to introduce those bright students to educational opportunities that would get them working in careers related to environmental stewardship.  To that end, faculty members from the campus' Wildlife Technology Program held sample classes and labs that provided hands-on lessons and field experience.

"Some of my students are involved in scouting, some are interested in outdoor experiences, and they were very interested in these programs.  I could see some of them going into things like environmental engineering," said Della Kurtzhals, the gifted program coordinator at Clarion Area High School.  "This shows them that they have good options for that education close to home." 

In fact, the Wildlife Technology Degree is an option exclusive to DuBois, explained Admissions Counselor Holli Lashinsky.  She said, "Wildlife Technology is unique to Penn State DuBois; we're the only campus in the Penn State system to offer it.  The great thing about it is that we provide extensive lab and field experience, so students get hands-on learning opportunities."

Some of those hands-on experiences the students sampled included learning how to estimate the age of white-tailed deer by examining their jaws and teeth.  This is information that wildlife professionals would use to manage a deer herd and its habitat.

They also had the opportunity to participate in placing leg bands on song birds, a tactic that professionals use to track movement and migration patterns.  Additionally, students used radio-tracking equipment to locate radio collars hidden in a near-by forested area.  This simulated the real-world work that experts do when tracking animals that have been tranquilized and equipped with radio collars.  Once an animal is outfitted with a radio collar, they can be tracked using specialized radio equipment so that their migration patterns, feeding patterns, and more can be recorded.  It's a technology that is used on everything from deer and elk, to bears, and even pheasants. 

Overall, each of the activities represented the gathering of information that wildlife professionals use to manage animal populations and habitats in the wild, for the overall best quality of life for animals, people, and the environment. 

"These workshops help students explore different opportunities that they may want to pursue in the future," Lashinsky said.  "Or, it may introduce them to opportunities they never thought of before."  She explained that many graduates of the Wildlife Technology Program go on to enjoy careers with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and numerous private organizations devoted to the study and preservation of wildlife and habitat. 

The fact that workshops like this allow students to see the important work that happens behind the scenes, that they may not be aware of, is what makes them so valuable according to some educators.  Anne Young, the secondary gifted program coordinator at DuBois Area High School said, "This allows the students to come to Penn State DuBois and see exactly what is offered, and to see what the classes and courses of study are like.  It allows them to think about their options and their higher education early, and really get the ball rolling and start thinking about college." 

In addition to gifted workshops, Wildlife Visitation Day is held three times each semester at Penn State DuBois. The day serves as an open house for the Wildlife Technology Program, where prospective students meet with program faculty members, tour campus, and receive enrollment and financial aid information. Wildlife Visitation Days are open to prospective students of any age, who want more information about the program and the careers for which it prepares graduates. For more information, call 814-375-4720, or visit www.ds.psu.edu/wildlife

Penn State DuBois Associate Professor of Biology, Emeritus, Hank Webster recently came back to campus to make an informative presentation on some of the biggest trees on earth, the Giant Sequoia and Coast Redwoods of California.   Webster and his wife, Marianne, made a trip to California this spring, where they got an up close look at these enormous trees.  Webster used the knowledge he gained about these impressive species to construct a presentation for the campus' Natural Resources Colloquium.  The colloquium is the periodic gathering of the natural resources scientific community on campus, which features lectures and discussions on topics in the realm of natural sciences.  The meetings are also open to all members of the public and campus community.

Webster fascinated his audience with personal photos of the trees he encountered at various locations, including Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, and others.  With the images as a backdrop, projected onto a screen behind him, Webster noted some incredible statistics about the trees. Redwoods, he said, can grow to nearly 400 feet high and 26 feet in diameter, and live for 1,200 to 1,800 years or more. Sequoias can grow larger in volume, but usually not as tall. They can live up to 3,000 years.   Webster also shared some facts about the continued purposes these species serve in society, which many people may not realize.

"These trees are fire resistant, with thick bark.  They are rot resistant and insect resistant," Webster explained.  "These characteristics make them good for constructing outside furniture, like picnic tables.  They are still harvested commercially." 

In places like the national parks, however, the ancient giants are protected.  Many of the landmark trees are surrounded by fences, or stand beyond reach from designated walkways, so that visitors can look, but not touch. 

"In spite of their size, the root structures can be fragile," Webster said.  "They really don't like people walking around the bases of the trees."

Before there was the National Park Service, the Sequoia and Redwoods enjoyed the protection that their very size and physical makeup offered.  Early settlers who attempted to harvest the trees using traditional logging methods found that they not only were difficult to fell due to their size, but that also, once a tree impacted the ground, the lumber usually did not survive. Webster explained, "The wood is actually very brittle.  When the trees fell to the ground, they would simply splinter under such weight.  The settlers soon learned cutting the trees was not worth the effort." 

So, the Sequoia and Redwood forests of California still stand today, much the same as they were a thousand years ago, or more.  Not only are the natural wonders of such monumental trees there for visitors to view today, but cultures of the past have managed to find preservation under the canopy of the tall conifers, as well.  According to the National Park Service, in Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks alone, more than 500 Native American archeological sites and over 100 historical sites still exist, and will remain protected.

A group of Penn State DuBois students raised nearly $1,000 for an area shelter over the past weekend, by sleeping outside in cardboard boxes on campus. The "Sleep Out for Hunger" took place Friday night, with a dozen students bundling up and enduring the sub 30 degree temperatures until 7:00 a.m. They'll donate the money to Haven House, a DuBois shelter open to individuals and families, free of charge, who need temporary shelter.

Students who participated said they wanted to raise awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness in the United States, and raise money to help combat it.  They sought sponsorships from people who would make a donation for each hour they spent in their cardboard city. 

"I think it's important when you're raising awareness to make a statement. Sleeping out on campus definitely got the attention we were hoping for," said student Louise Whyte, who helped to organize the event in coordination with the campus student life office.  "Not only did we raise a lot of money for the Haven House, but we made more people aware that there was a homeless shelter in DuBois."

Whyte said that often, through no fault of their own, people are not aware of problems around them that they might lend a hand to if they only knew more.   

"Awareness is key. Sometimes people think because we're not in a big city we don't need these kinds of services, but we do," Whyte said.  "We are lucky to have the Haven House and its volunteers. We are just glad we could do something to help give back to them."

Haven House serves people who have become homeless due to circumstances that were beyond their control.  Many of the guests include victims of fire or natural disaster, and people who have lost their homes due to foreclosures caused by job loss.  Staff members at Haven House work with guests to help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible, so that they can move on to their own home once again.  Haven House is operated entirely by volunteers, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Since its inception, the shelter has served over 343 homeless people, including 50 children.  In all, it adds up to 10,260 nights slept and 20,520 meals served.

Three Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) students from Penn State DuBois recently made a presentation on their circular and extra circular work at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association’s (POTA) annual conference in Lancaster, PA.  It provided the students with opportunities to showcase their accomplishments, and to network with professionals in the occupational therapy field. 

Accompanied by LuAnn Demi, instructor and campus coordinator of the OTA program, the students presented a poster session featuring photos and information about the hands-on learning experiences they've had while enrolled in the campus program.  Their presentation focused on CarFit, a clinic styled program that students offer periodically.  During CarFit clinics, students work with other health care professionals to help senior citizen drivers stay safe and comfortable behind the wheel.  Seniors who attend the clinic receive help adjusting their seats, steering wheels, and mirrors for maximum comfort and safety, in a way that best suits each individual.  Through their presentation, the students were able to show OT professionals the impact that real-world learning opportunities have had on their education. 

"This was a great opportunity for students to take knowledge they have gained during their education to a new level," Demi said.   "The students shared information and experiences they’ve had serving the community through CarFit with occupational therapy professionals in the field who hadn’t even heard of the program.  I think presenting a poster at a professional conference gave the students confidence and experience that will continue to benefit them in their future careers in occupational therapy."

The students said that they couldn't agree more.  OTA student Colleen Prechtl said, "Getting to be a part of the CarFit POTA presentation was a great experience. It allowed us to educate others in the OT field about this great program for senior drivers and how they can also get out in their communities to spread the word of how OT can help make this world a better place."

"I feel that the POTA Conference was a great experience for me because I was able to spread the word about the program, CarFit, as well as mingle with some other people of the OT profession," said student Katrina Anderson.

A live performance of a play that attempts to educate the audience on issues surrounding Marcellus Shale is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 25, at the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center.

Modeled after an old fashioned radio show, Marcellus Shale: Living with Risk Can Give You Gas, is part of a Penn State research project that examines how we perceive and understand the risks, rewards and uncertainties in natural gas development. The research is supported by the National Science Foundation.  The show will both educate and entertain, as it features songs, sketches and live music, in the format of the classic live radio shows of the past.

"We want to explore how people are responding to information about Marcellus Shale development and how they determine whether to trust that information," said Bill Doan, Penn State professor of theatre.

The evening is also an opportunity for people to engage with several Penn State scientists with expertise in energy development, and with the artists involved in the production.

Marcellus Shale: Living With Risk Can Give You Gas is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact William Doan, at wjd13@psu.edu or 814-863-0408.  You can also write to marcellus@psu.edu or call 814-865-1587.

A disability Awareness Fair held this week in the gymnasium at Penn State DuBois provided a venue for people with disabilities and their families to connect with others who can help them to meet their life goals.  The one day event hosted by Penn State DuBois Disability Services, in conjunction with the advocacy group, The Arc of Jefferson and Clearfield Counties, was organized with the aim to educate others on the various disabilities and services available, and to offer resources to those in need of disability services and supports.  The event was free and open to everyone.

"We want to make people more aware of the challenges faced by people of different ability levels, and what they can do for people with disabilities," said Diana Kreydt, campus disability services coordinator.

Representatives from dozens of area service organizations and agencies were on hand at the fair to answer questions, or provide general information, face-to-face, about the services they offer and their roles in providing assistance to those with disabilities.

The fair also featured displays of some of today's assistive technologies, provided by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). 

Additionally, some local businesses were there for recruitment purposes, promoting the employment opportunities they offer for people of all capabilities. 

"We're looking for individuals to work in our warehouse, sorting goods, and getting items into our stores," said Shane Dietz, a community resource specialist with Goodwill Industries of North Central Pennsylvania. "This event has helped us reach out to people.  We're finding people looking for work."

Roberta Wingard, a caseworker with Skills of Central Pennsylvania, works with people who have disabilities, helping them to adjust and grow in their community.  She came to the Disability Awareness Fair with a client who she's helping to become more independent.

"By coming here, we can see what the programs are that can help us; what they offer."  Wingard said.  "We're finding resources here, and making contacts to help make the right choices." 

This program was funded, in part, with funds given to The Arc from the CMS Medicaid Infrastructure Grant.

The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society at Penn State DuBois inducted its new members for the Fall 2012 semester at the annual 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.

"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 an 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.  This year's haunted house is planned for October 18, 19, and 20, on campus. 

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

Row 1, left to right: Kyle Bauer, James Earle, Taylor Neal, Haylee Peace, Mary Mino, Co-Interim Director of Academic Affairs.

Row 2, left to right: Jocelyn Marzella, Mary Transue, Michaela Colavecchi, Jessica Reardon.

Row 3, left to right: Anthony Vallone, Delta Mu Advisor; Emily Callender, secretary; Zach Thayer, co-chair; P.J. Monella, communications director; Rebecca Horner, treasurer; Adam Snyder, chair; Carrie Bishop, advisor.

DuBOIS – Murals, drawn and painted by hand, now line a hallway near the Language Lab in Penn State DuBois' Swift Building.  They feature flags from various countries, instantly recognizable landmarks, famous historical figures, and more. Created by students in the Spanish 083S course as a class project, the six new murals showcase the diverse foundations of culture in the United States. 

"Instead of focusing only on the Hispanic Culture, I allowed the students to use diversity in its entirety.  The theme which they were to portray was, 'Diversity United, Building America's Future Today'," explained Associate Professor of Spanish Deborah Gill. "Each small group decided on what that meant to the group and how they were going to portray it."

Spanish 083S is a course that focuses not just on language, but also exposes students to Hispanic culture, and other cultures from around the globe.  The understanding of the culture helps students to better appreciate the language they're studying, and offers a well-rounded educational experience.   Gill thought the murals would afford students a unique vehicle for expressing what they've learned.

"Creating the murals is interdisciplinary, where students take a cultural aspect of something and portray it through art work.  Students learn to take an idea and visually represent and share that with the community through the murals that they create," said Gill. 

"In our mural, we decided to have the shape of America split up into different puzzle pieces, with each puzzle piece depicting another country's flag; then we put all of the pieces together, showing that America is made up of many different people and cultures," said freshman Kendall Neal.  "We also had silhouettes of people with a colorful glow around them, showing that it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, we all share the same hopes and dreams for this country."

Freshman Rachel Stetler of Clearfield explained the learning experience the project provided. She said, "Our mural shows what we've learned in class about the art of murals, about the diverse Hispanic population in America, and about what parts of America have a large Hispanic population. From this project, I learned about where different Hispanic groups live in America, the different careers many have chosen, and about the strong increase in the Hispanic population in America." 

The increase in the Hispanic population that Stetler speaks of is similar to the increase in populations of people from many different backgrounds, nation-wide.  That's why Gill finds lessons like this are such a vital part of a complete education today.

"It is so important in our community today because the community is becoming more diverse and, as our students finish their degrees and move on, it is important that they understand that they live in a diverse world which needs to be nurtured now, and built into the future," Gill said.  "I try to instill the idea of diversity into all of my courses because we do not live in a bubble.  Students need to understand that the world is diverse, that we are not all the same, and that is an integral part of what makes America great; the diversity in all senses of the word that there is here.  If students leave my courses with that idea, then I believe that I have met one of the major objectives of my courses." 

Penn State DuBois "thinks pink" this month.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and students, faculty, and staff members are showing their support by wearing pink each Friday.  

Pink ribbons are also available to everyone in building lobbies and the Student Union, ready to pin on to your shirt or jacket.  Materials for making the ribbons have been donated by faculty member June Strohm.  Student Government Association President Holly Kiesling led efforts to make the ribbons. 

According to Pink Ribbon, a leading charity in the fight against breast cancer, the pink ribbon represents hope for the future, and the charitable goodness of people and businesses that publicly support the breast cancer movement.

The Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research and the Penn State DuBois Earth Science Club invite all members of the community to attend a free screening of Switch at Penn State DuBois.  The film will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 11, in the Hiller Auditorium.  

Switch is a documentary film that investigates all forms of energy production, from natural gas, to oil, to coal, and on to new renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power.  The film attempts to answer questions about all forms of energy production, including the safety, environmental impacts, efficiency, and viability of each.  Documentary filmmaker Harry Lynch and geologist Scott Tinker collaborated on the film project, following Tinker's 10 years of research into alternative energy use.

The film is part of the Switch Energy Project, a larger educational program designed to build energy awareness and efficiency, and find practical solutions to the world's energy challenges. The filmmakers remind the audience that energy impacts all parts of our lives, including the economy, water, population, and more.  Their goal is to promote the understanding of energy and the relationship it is has to all of these issues.

"We want our energy to be cheap, reliable and environmentally benign, and this film makes it clear no energy source at this time meets those three criteria," said Michael Arthur, professor of geosciences and co-director of the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research. "Understanding the impacts of each of our energy options is critical as we map out our energy future."

A discussion of the film will immediately follow the screening.

For more information, and to see a trailer for the film, visit http://www.switchenergyproject.com

The Penn State DuBois Service Above Self (SAS) Club and the Student Life Office have organized a Sleep Out for Hunger to take place on campus in October. 

The aim of the event is to raise awareness of the struggles faced by the homeless, as well as to raise money for a local shelter.  Participating students will sleep outside on campus on the night of October 12, plus have the option to participate in a 24 hour fast.  They're now collecting sponsorships for each hour of the sleep out and fast.  Proceeds from sponsorships will benefit the Haven House Shelter.

"We will literally be sleeping outside on campus, along East DuBois Avenue," said SAS Vice President Louise Whyte. "Students are asked to bring themselves, a sleeping bag or blanket, and we will have as many cardboard boxes as we can collect from local businesses to give to students to build their own shelter. We will be sleeping in cardboard boxes, no tents or other shelter."

Haven House is operated entirely by volunteers, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.    Since its inception, the shelter has served over 343 homeless people, including 50 children.  In all, it adds up to 10,260 nights slept and 20,520 meals served.

For more information, contact the Penn State DuBois Office of Student Life at 814-375-4764, or email mag374@psu.edu

Christian rock musician Jason Dunn is set to perform at Penn State DuBois in October as part of his fall 2012 Jason Dunn Plays for Change Tour. As the name of the tour implies, show-goers will only be asked to donate the change they have in their pocket.

Dunn, the former lead singer of Canadian Christian rock group Nelson Hawk, battles type 1 diabetes himself, and has launched this tour to raise awareness and money for children and young adults with diabetes.  Local musician Eric Selfridge is slated to open for Dunn.

"There is no cost for the concert, but Jason is asking that people bring loose change to donate to the American Diabetes Association," said Penn State DuBois Campus Minister Kyle Gordon.  "Whatever amount of change is collected, Jason will then match it."    

The concert will be hosted by the Penn State DuBois Christian Student Fellowship (CSF), a club that Gordon oversees. He said of the students in the group, "I have been very proud of the students in Christian Student Fellowship with their efforts to serve the community in so many ways, from our mobile food pantry, to our weekly Bible studies, to annual mission trips, and events like these that offer a positive and encouraging night of entertainment that is great for the whole family."

Jason Dunn is scheduled to perform at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 18, in Hiller Auditorium at Penn State DuBois.  This family friendly show is open to people of all ages.

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

Safe Trick-or-Treat Night is planned from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 19, in the Student Union.  Organized by the Student Life Office, members of student clubs will be on hand to pass out candy to young trick-or-treaters.  Children will also be able to take part in Halloween-themed games throughout the evening.  This event is free and open to everyone.  

A haunted house is planned on campus for three evenings.  The Delta Mu Sigma Honor Society will host the haunted house from 7:00 p.m. until midnight on October 19, and 20, and from 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. on October 21.  Admission is $5.00 per person, with proceeds benefiting Delta Mu Sigma and local charities.  Anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. 

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

Spencer West, a motivational speaker and author, captivated the audience in Penn State DuBois' Hiller Auditorium with his inspirational story of overcoming his personal challenges during a recent appearance there.  Often using humor to keep things relaxed and interesting, West went on to share tales of how he now helps others find inspiration, and the satisfaction he gets from doing so.

The 31 year old from Toronto knows quite a bit about overcoming adversity to achieve great things.  He lost both of his legs to amputation as a child after a genetic disorder rendered them unusable.  However, this didn't stop West from climbing Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro in June.  At nearly 20,000 feet, Kilimanjaro is the world's tallest stand-alone mountain, and West made the summit almost entirely while walking on his hands.

West credits his "can-do" attitude to a strong foundation of self-confidence and determination instilled in him by his parents beginning when he was a child.

"We were told by the doctors that I probably wouldn't be a functioning member of society.  We were basically told that there was no hope for me," West told the campus audience.  "My family and I set out to prove them wrong."

West chronicled his journey in a book, Standing Tall; My Journey, published last year, which goes into detail about just how much he has proven that those doctors were wrong.  He went back into his history in the book, and in his speech at Penn State DuBois, explaining the events that built the determined attitude that got him to the top of Kilimanjaro.

"I didn't want to just be known as a guy without legs," West said.  I'm a son, a grandson; I want to be a dad someday.  I have an identity.

West went on to further build his identity in high school by participating in cheerleading and other school activities.  From there, he went to college and ended up launching a successful career in sales.  When he found that he had done everything that the doctors once said he could never do, he realized it was now time to do something for others.

"I had a good job as a sales rep, a house, a car. I had everything in life that society says you need to be happy, but I still wasn't happy," West remembered.  "Then, a friend invited me to Kenya to help build a school," he said, noting that he was apprehensive about the idea at first.

Before long, West decided to join the school building effort in Kenya, and joined the charitable organization, Free the Children, who was heading up the project.

"The moment that changed my entire life came when we got to the site of the school," West remembered. He said the Kenyan children had questions about his missing legs. He continued, "A little girl said something to me in Swahili.  It translated to, 'I didn't know that sort of thing could happen to white people, too,'; That told me that I could show them that there are others that have struggles; that they're not alone.  That's when I realized that I could use my story to inspire others." 

While in Kenya, West got the idea to climb Kilimanjaro in order to help spread his inspirational story and to help others. When word got out, donations for the cause started pouring in.  In the end, his climb raised $750,000 for Free the Children.

West continues to work with Free the Children today, sharing their story while he shares his own tale at speaking dates around the globe.  At the campus, the story struck more than one chord.

"He is just phenomenal," said student Adam Snyder.  "His story was just amazing and so inspiring." 

"Spencer West was a great inspirational speaker," added student Katrina Anderson.  "He shows us that everyone has a different purpose and reason in life." 

Penn State DuBois, in conjunction with Service Access and Management, Inc., will offer a new program on campus that is designed to help veterans adapt from military life, to life as a college student. 

From Military to College: A Transition to Campus Life is a free program, funded by Community Connections of Clearfield and Jefferson Counties. It is open to any veteran who is interested in attending college, or to veterans who are already in college.  It is also open to family members or friends of veterans who want to support their loved one's transition into higher education. 

The program will help to prepare those with a service background for life in the classroom.  Additionally, it will offer assistance in transitioning from service life, to life back home.  From Military to College also covers strategies for dealing with issues such as stress and trauma related to military service, and behavioral changes due to combat exposure.  It will teach veterans tactics for reconnecting with family after their tour of duty, and how to deal with cultural issues here at home. 

Veterans interested in attending From Military to College: A Transition to Campus Life can choose from two program times to best accommodate their own schedule.  The program will be offered from 12:15 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. on October 1, 3, and 5, and again from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on October 15, 17, and 18.  All classes will be held in room 209 of the DEF Building at Penn State DuBois. 

To register, or for more information, contact the Penn State DuBois Office of Adult Student and Veteran Services at 814-375-4772, or rjm32@psu.edu  

The Club Fair held this week at Penn State DuBois gave students the chance to learn about more than two dozen student clubs on campus, and provided the opportunity for new members to sign up.

Current club members set up tables in the Student Union where they displayed information about their club and what it's all about.  Clubs on campus range from recreational organizations, to service organizations dedicated to helping others and the community. The diverse variety of clubs offers extracurricular involvement for almost any interest. The fair is a one-stop venue where club members can get the word out about their organization, and where students who want to become involved can take the first steps to do so.

 "The fair was a good way for me to come and learn about what clubs there are and gather more information about them," said Trevor Butcher, of Emmaus, PA, who signed up for the Information Technology (IT) Club while at the fair.  He noted that he's a long way from home, and that getting involved helps to make it easier to adjust.  He said, "It's a good way to meet people and make new friends.  I'm four hours away from home.  So, I want to get involved while I'm here and make the most out of college."

Natalie Kadingo, a sophomore from DuBois, joined the campus THON committee during the Club Fair, where she'll help to raise money for Penn State's dance marathon that benefits the fight against pediatric cancer.  She said, "It's a good cause, just something good to be involved in.  I knew I wanted to join, and this made it really easy and convieneninet for me to do that." 

Involvement in college clubs can also do a great deal for a student after graduation.  Assistant Director of Student Affairs Marly Doty said, "Out of class involvement really helps to build a rιsumι.  It shows employers that graduates applying for jobs with them are motivated.  So, they're more likely to get jobs when the graduate."

Doty also noted that the enjoyment and well-rounded experience that students get from club activities helps them to strike a balance in school and life.  She said, "You need fun and stress relief as a student, too.  It's important to have a balanced life, and this goes a long way toward achieving that." 

Coming off of two wins in PSUAC matches on Sunday at Wilkes-Barre, the Penn State DuBois ladies' volleyball team hosted conference rival Beaver in Wednesday night action.   DuBois started slow, following behind Beaver 7-1 in game 1, but the ladies regained their composure and passed well and took advantage of strong serving from Ashley Meyer and Taylor Thornhill to win game 1, 25-20.

Game 2 was all DuBois as they rolled to a 25-10 win with setter Kelsey Schwabenbauer placing the ball well at the net for Elainna Hilliard and Thornhill.  Serving out the final 7 points of the game was Julianne Heasley.

Game 3 was a battle for both teams as Beaver refused to go quietly and held the lead the majority of the game, but a late surge brought DuBois from behind to get the 25-23 win and close out the match.

DuBois will travel to PSU New Kensington on Friday, and will be at home on Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. game against PSU Brandywine.

For all of the latest in Penn State DuBois Athletics Action, visit http://www.psuduboisathletics.com

Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has named Penn State DuBois to the coveted Military Friendly Schools list. The 2013 Military Friendly Schools 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. This is the second year in a row that Penn State DuBois has earned a spot on the list.

"Inclusion on the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools shows Penn State DuBois' commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students," said Sean Collins, Director for G.I. Jobs and Vice President at Victory Media. "As interest in education grows we’re thrilled to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools."

The 1,739 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility, and other services to those who served. Now in its fourth year, the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 12,000 VA-approved schools nationwide.

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

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

Everyone is welcome to the Penn State Day Open House scheduled for 9:00 a.m. until Noon on Saturday, October 20, at Penn State DuBois.  Visitors will have the opportunity to register to win an iPad 2.

 All area high school students, as well as adult learners of any age, are encouraged to attend and find out what the campus has to offer those who are thinking about enrolling in college.  Information for students of any age will be available.

During visitation, prospective students can learn about admissions, financial aid, and available courses of study.  Campus tours will also be offered, and visitors may sit in on a sample class taught by a Penn State DuBois faculty member. 

Current students, including adult learners and students of traditional age, will be on hand to talk to visitors about their own college experiences. 

An RSVP to Enrollment Services is appreciated, and can be made by calling (814) 375-4720, or by visiting our Penn State Day webpage

The totals are in for the Jordan Andrulonis Memorial Golf Tournament, and the event raised $34,000 to help Penn State DuBois students fund their education.  Specifically, the money raised at the tournament benefits the Jordan Andrulonis Trustee Scholarship at Penn State DuBois. 

Endowed this summer, The Jordan Andrulonis Trustee Scholarship is available to any undergraduate student who is enrolled or plans to enroll at Penn State DuBois who has a financial need.   Jordan's mother, Betty McFadden Freemer, and her husband, Mark Freemer, both of DuBois, established the scholarship in memory of Jordan, who drowned at Treasure Lake in September of 2009.  He was an engineering major and dean's list student at Penn State DuBois, and was a member of the campus wrestling team. 

The Freemers also organized the golf tournament, which was held on August 10, at the DuBois Country Club.  Like Andrulonis, they are both alumni of Penn State DuBois, and Mark is the chair of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students campus fundraising campaign.  They saw the golf tournament as an opportunity to raise scholarship money to help make a higher education more accessible to all students.

"It was a fabulous day," said McFadden Freemer. "We had 107 golfers, 120 dinner guests, and we raised $34,000 for a fantastic cause and we had a great time doing it. I am thrilled that we are helping Penn State DuBois students with their college education."

McFadden Freemer said the day also provided comfort for those close to Andrulonis.  She said, "It was also a day of healing for Jordan's friends and family.  There was a 90% chance of rain that day.  Instead, the sun was shining more than we saw clouds.  Then during dinner it did rain long enough to finish the day with a beautiful rainbow that was vibrant end to end.  It was a blessing."

The Disability Awareness Fair is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 10, in the gymnasium at Penn State DuBois. 

Hosted by campus Disability Services, in conjunction with the advocacy group, The Arc of Jefferson and Clearfield Counties, the fair is intended to celebrate October as disability awareness month. The goals of the organizers are to educate others on the various disabilities and services available, and to offer resources to those in need of disability services and supports. 

The fair will feature disability simulations provided by Life and Independence for Today (LIFT), and displays of some of the assistive technologies available, provided by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR).  Representatives from several area agencies will be on hand to discuss their roles in providing assistance to those with disabilities.  In addition, several employers will be present to discuss employment for those with disabilities, as well as positions available throughout their organizations.  This program is funded in part with funds given to The Arc from the CMS Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (CFDA #93.786).

For additional information, contact Diana Kreydt, Disability Services Coordinator, at

814-372-3037.

Nathan McCandless, the Penn State DuBois graduate who tragically lost his life in a work related accident this summer, was remembered during a memorial service on campus Wednesday evening.  An American chestnut tree that McCandless planted on campus during his time as a student was also dedicated to his memory. 

McCandless, 21, of Butler, died on Sunday, July 29, while working in Sullivan County as a summer wildlife technician for an independent company.  He had graduated from the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology Program, and planned to continue his education in wildlife and fisheries science this fall at University Park.  He was a dean's list student, and won the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society's Outstanding Student in Wildlife Technologies Program Award in 2011.  He graduated from Butler High School in 2009, where he ran track and field, and played soccer. 

Friends, family members, fellow students, and members of the campus faculty and staff filled Hiller Auditorium for the memorial service, and subsequently gathered around the chestnut tree for the dedication.  Among those who spoke about McCandless during the memorial were Chancellor Anita McDonald, Wildlife Technology faculty members Aaron Stottlemyer, Keely Roen, and Hoagy Schaadt, Campus Minister Kyle Gordon, and Christine Voorhees of Wildlife Specialists, a company with which McCandless had interned.

"Nate was a member of our family, and we feel a tremendous loss," said McDonald.  "I find it personally difficult to accept the death of our student, our friend, our family member.  We have all been truly blessed to have Nate come into our lives."

Those who spoke at the service, as well as those in attendance, all remembered McCandless as a happy, outgoing individual with a zest for life, a deep love of animals and nature, and an intense interest in the natural world around him.

"Every kid goes through a 'why' phase, but somewhere along the way they lose that.  What I loved about Nate is that he never lost it.  He had an insatiable curiosity about everything," Roen said, noting the love of learning McCandless possessed that made him an exemplary student.

Numerous friends attending the memorial knew McCandless as the guy who seemed as though nothing ever got him down, and as the one who could always cheer up a friend.  

"He was just one of those people.  You could be in any mood, good or bad, and he could just lift you up," said friend and former Penn State DuBois classmate Michael Coleman.  "He could always bring a smile to your face."

Another former classmate from the campus, Brian Grove, said of McCandless, "Regardless of circumstance, he was always happy.  We would be out for Wildlife labs, and it didn't matter if there was rain, snow, mud, he just always had a smile on his face and was happy to be out there."

Stottlemyer led the dedication of the chestnut tree during the outdoor portion of the evening.  For several years, Stottlemyer has contributed work and research to efforts aimed at bringing the American chestnut tree back from near extinction.  His students participate in studies of the tree species and field work in an area chestnut orchard as part of their course work.  In 2010, McCandless had the honor of planting an American chestnut tree on campus.  The American Chestnut Foundation provided the tree, which is the product of 26 years of research that was dedicated to developing a chestnut that is resistant to the disease that wiped the tree from the American forest in the early 20th century.  Thanks to generations of cross breeding with the disease resistant Chinese chestnut, the tree on campus is still growing strong today, and it could be one of the first American chestnut trees to thrive on this continent in the last century.  Fittingly, it now stands as a tribute to the memory of Nathan McCandless.

"Since I heard of his passing, so many thoughts have crossed my mind," said Stottlemyer.  "At the forefront was the fact that we memorialize people with trees all the time.  Here's a unique opportunity to memorialize a person with a tree they, themselves, planted."

The American Chestnut Foundation sent a letter to the McCandless family offering condolences, and the foundation's blessing for dedicating the tree to their loved one. 

The family has established the Nathan McCandless Scholarship to benefit other students who are aspiring wildlife professionals.  The privately established scholarship will be available for sophomores in the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology program.

For links to photos and a video featuring McCandless, including photos of the chestnut tree planting, see the story at this link http://www.ds.psu.edu/32487.htm

Students and alumni from Penn State DuBois and other Penn State campuses in western Pennsylvania are encouraged to attend the Nittany Lion PRIDE, or Penn State Regional Industry Development Event, in Somerset, PA in September.

Nittany Lion PRIDE is an opportunity to make new connections and enhance existing relationships with area Penn State students, alumni, and employers from across the region. This event will allow participants to learn about opportunities throughout the region in addition to connecting with Penn State’s talent from across a variety of majors.

Majors to be represented at the event include Administration of Justice, Business, Communications, English, Earth Sciences and Wildlife Technology, Engineering / Engineering Technology, health related fields, Human Development and Family Studies, Information Sciences and Technology, Mining Technology, Psychology and more.

A full day of activities is planned for Thursday, September 20, at the Hidden Valley Resort in Somerset, PA.  For more information, including the day's agenda, visit http://alumnipsu.cvent.com/d/hcq21t  or contact the PRIDE Planning Team at 724-773-3953 or 814-865-LINK. 

Penn State Laureate Chris Staley will speak at Penn State DuBois at Noon on Wednesday, September 26, in the Hiller Quite Lounge.  All members of the public and campus community are welcome to attend.

Staley's lecture, Art and Life: Where They Intersect, examines the wisdom that is revealed when art crosses paths with life. He will discuss how living in a time of unprecedented change has affected how people relate to objects and each other. 

Staley, the 2012-13 Penn State Laureate, is a Distinguished Professor of Art.  He joined the university faculty in 1990, teaching ceramics in the School of Visual Arts. Under his leadership, the Ceramics Graduate Program has been ranked number 10 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. He received Penn State’s Graduate Faculty Teaching Award in 2007. His work can be seen at such prestigious locations as the International Museum of Ceramic Art, Fuping, China; the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England; and the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art, Washington D.C.

The Penn State laureate is a full-time university faculty member in the humanities or fine arts who is assigned half-time for one academic year to bring an enhanced level of social, cultural, artistic and human perspective and awareness to a broad array of audiences. The laureate will be a highly visible representative of Penn State who will appear regularly at events University-wide and throughout the Commonwealth at community and statewide events.

The Penn State DuBois Office of Student Life regrets to announce that the SandStory show scheduled on campus on September 11, has been canceled due to scheduling conflicts that arose due to the artist's current national success.  

Artist Joe Castillo, a current contestant on NBC's America's Got Talent, recently made it to the final rounds of the televised contest.  Due to his success and future appearances on the TV program, he will not be able to appear at the campus on his originally scheduled date.

SandStory is a live-art presentation, performed to music, in which Castillo produces stunning images with sand upon a light table, as it is projected on large screens for the audience to view.  He previously appeared at Penn State DuBois in March.

The Student Life Office extends congratulations to Castillo, and hopes to schedule him to perform on campus again in the near future.  As of this time, no make-up date for the show has been slated, but it will be announced as soon as a date is confirmed.

A special "Welcome Week" breakfast had campus staff members busy at the griddle and the waiter's station in the Lion's Den Cafι Thursday morning.  The pancake breakfast was offered free to all students, and prepared by Penn State DuBois' very own staffers, who flipped flapjacks and waited on the hungry students.  

"We want the students to feel at home and really welcomed here at Penn State DuBois," said Assistant Director of Student Affairs Marly Doty, who spent the morning mixing batter and flipping cakes on the grill.  "This is another opportunity to serve our students, and provide something extra to welcome them at the beginning of the semester."

Garret Roen, an admissions counselor, worked a shift as a waiter at the breakfast.  He said he enjoyed the chance to reconnect with students that once sat across the desk from him during their application process.

"It's great to interact with the students again after they've gone through the admissions process, and they're actually here and in class now," Roen said.  "We can catch up on how things are going for them this semester so far, and make sure any needs they have are taken care of."   

"Welcome Week" is the first week of Fall Semester classes each year.  The Office of Student Life plans activities for each day of that week to help students get to know each other, their faculty and staff members, and the campus.  In addition to the breakfast, "Welcome Week" also featured lunch, an ice cream social, a stand-up comedy performance, and a caricature artist, all on various days.  All events are free and open to the campus community.

More than $8,000 was raised to support campus athletics at the Fourth Annual Penn State DuBois Athletics Golf Benefit.  Hosted by the DuBois Educational Foundation and Penn State DuBois, 104 golfers played in the scramble on Saturday, August 25, at the Treasure Lake Silver Course. All proceeds from this event benefit the six intercollegiate athletic programs on campus.

The winning team shot a 15 under par (57) and was comprised of Jason McCaslin, Ian Miller, Judd McCullough, and Mike McCullough.  Each member of the winning team received a new pair of Footjoy golf shoes.  Other winners of skill prize competitions were: Flop Wall Challenge, Mike Stockdale; Putting Contest, Ian Miller; Team Skins, Andy Wiesner, Karl Weisner, Ruth Ross, and Kim Wiesner.

Title Sponsors again for this year’s event were Johnson Motors and Veolia Environmental Services, in addition to 35 businesses and individuals who donated funds or items for the golf benefit. 

"Aaron Beatty, who has been the golf committee chairmen the past two years, organized a great event and we thank Aaron and the 25 volunteers who shared the day with the golfers on the course to make the tournament a huge success," said Penn State DuBois Athletic Coordinator Ken Nellis.  

After golfing, a meal of chicken and ribs was shared by all the participants and skill prizes were handed out for all 18 holes.

For all of the latest Penn State DuBois Athletics news, visit www.psuduboisathletics.com

Students, faculty, and staff members of Penn State DuBois spent Friday, August 24, volunteering at businesses and charitable organizations throughout DuBois and neighboring communities for the annual Outreach Day.  Outreach Day is part of New Student Orientation at the campus, and each freshman has the option to participate. The outreach activities give students the opportunity to help others through volunteering, while they build their own team working skills and get to know their new classmates.

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

Students volunteered at more than a dozen sites, and performed a variety of tasks to suit the needs of the organizations they visited.  Between the students who participated, their faculty and staff guides, and the student orientation leaders, 171 people completed a combined total of 513 service hours on Friday.

At Rumbarger Cemetery in DuBois, students straightened grave markers that had toppled, or sunken into the ground, and participated in general landscaping and clean up. 

"We get a lot of jobs done that we otherwise just could not get done [without the students]," said Paul Sprague, president of the Rumbarger Cemetery Preservation Society.  "What we lack is volunteers to actually do the work, and these students are helping to do the work that needs done.  This builds on what the last group did, and will leave things better for the next group.  Every little bit helps, and eventually, all will be done." 

At the Reitz Theater in DuBois, students helped to organize costumes and props for the community theater group.  They also helped maintain the outside landscaping, and pulled weeds around the building.

"It's a great bonus for us," said Terry Swope, a member of the Reitz Theater Board of Directors.  "We're an all-volunteer operation, and we sometimes get behind in our chores. It's great to have some young people come in and help. We can also introduce them to our theater programs, and maybe get them involved down the road." 

Freshman Vincent Mammone, of DuBois, volunteered at the theater.  He said it was a great cause, and that working with his fellow students helped to start the building of strong relationships.  Mammone said, "It's nice to be able to volunteer for something like this.  It's a big part of the culture in town.  We also get to work together as a team, and that's a real good way to get to know each other."   

Louise Whyte, a student orientation leader now in her senior year, has taken advantage of volunteer opportunities throughout her student career.  She said the experiences get more rewarding as time goes on, and that she gains more understanding with each outreach project she completes.

"When you first volunteer, it's hard to see the impact you have made.  But afterward, when you think about it, no matter how insignificant you think it is, the work you did is significant to someone."  

Outreach Day is the first of many service events that new Penn State DuBois students will have the chance to participate in.  Student clubs and organizations make community outreach and service a priority among their activities.  Last year, students completed a total of more than 10,000 hours of volunteer work.

"If you were to write a book about your life, what would you call this new chapter that you're just beginning?" Chancellor Anita McDonald asked the 231 new incoming freshmen and their parents, who filled the bleachers in the Penn State DuBois gymnasium during the annual convocation ceremony and New Student Orientation Day on Thursday.   

"The beginning of the rest of my life," came an inspiring reply from one voice in the crowd. 

McDonald went on to explain how the response from that student was quite accurate.

"Attending a university is like no other experience," she said.  "You'll have opportunities to participate in research with faculty, pursue your own interests, and meet new people from around the world.  You'll have opportunities to travel, and to use your own abilities to help others."   

Penn State DuBois' new freshman class is made up of students from nearly 100 different high schools in 5 states, and 32 counties in Pennsylvania, as well as 2 different provinces in China. Approximately 40 of those students are returning adult learners who have decided to further their education or pursue a new career.

"We have diversity on our campus, not just in ethnic background, but in hometowns, economic backgrounds, and life experiences.  Getting to know this diverse group of people will enrich your experience here and enrich your life," McDonald said. 

Student Government Association President Holly Kiesling then took to the podium to encourage freshmen to immerse themselves in the diverse campus culture by getting involved.  She said, "Don't just go to class and then go home.  Get involved.  Meet new people, make new friends, and join one of more than 20 clubs on campus.  You'll enjoy your experience so much more, and learn more in the process." 

McDonald drove home the importance of life-long learning, and pointed to reasons that education should remain a top priority in everyone's life.  McDonald said," Some critics today say a college education is not a necessity.  I say some form of education after high school is important for everybody.  We as a country will not stay competitive globally without an educated society.

"I commend you and your family for making the choice to attend one of the best institutions in the country.  We will need you to lead us into the future, and you'll do that armed with a Penn State degree." 

Among the new students at orientation was Dakota Ott, an occupational therapy major from St. Marys.  The prospect of earning that Penn State degree at DuBois in a diverse, yet comfortable setting is something that she is happy to take advantage of.

"This is close to home, so I can live at home and save a lot of money," Ott said.  "Plus, the class sizes are smaller here, and I like that because you can get a better understanding, it's better teaching, and it's more hands-on."

Jake Wilson, of Reynoldsville, first came to the campus as a high school student.  He participated in a dual enrollment program that allowed him to earn college credits while still in high school.  It got the business major off to a quick start in higher education, and afforded him the chance to learn the ropes of campus life early on.  Wilson said, "I liked the dual enrollment program a lot.  I have half of a semester's classes done already.   I want to find a good job and stay in the area, so this is a good start."

During the remainder of Orientation Day on Thursday, freshmen participated in ice-breaking and team building exercises, met faculty and staff members over a picnic lunch, and became familiar with classrooms and other campus facilities before the beginning of classes on Monday, August 27.  As part of orientation, students also participate in the Annual Community Outreach Day held on the Friday before the start of class.  Community Outreach Day places students in volunteer positions at area businesses and charitable organizations throughout DuBois and the surrounding area. Students complete a variety of service projects, doing their part to give back to the community.   

Members of the Penn State DuBois community will hold a memorial service on campus for Nathan McCandless at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5, in the Hiller Auditorium.  The memorial is open to the public.

McCandless, 21, of Butler, died in a work related accident on Sunday, July 29, while working in Sullivan County as a summer wildlife technician for an independent company.  He was a recent graduate of the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology Program, and planned to continue his education in wildlife and fisheries science this fall at University Park.  He was a dean's list student, and won the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society's Outstanding Student in Wildlife Technologies Program Award in 2011. 

McCandless graduated from Butler High School in 2009, where he participated in track and field, and soccer.

Friends remember McCandless as a dedicated outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and trapping. He especially enjoyed viewing and photographing wildlife.

In 2010, McCandless had the honor of planting an American chestnut tree on campus.  Made possible by the American Chestnut Foundation, the tree was the product of 26 years of research that was dedicated to developing a chestnut tree that is resistant to a disease that wiped the tree from the American forest in the early 20^th century.  Thanks to generations of cross breeding with the disease resistant Chinese chestnut, the tree on campus is still growing strong today, and it could be one of the first American chestnut trees to thrive on this continent in the last century.  While planting the tree, McCandless said, "It's an honor to be given the opportunity.  It's really something special, and something that no one else can say they had the chance to do." 

To see a video about the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology Program that features Nathan McCandless, click here. 

For a slide show of images, including the planting of the chestnut tree, click here. 

The story on the chestnut tree planting can be found here. 

Canadian stand-up comic Kelly Taylor is set to perform on campus, kicking off the academic year with a few laughs.  His show is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 28, in the Hiller Auditorium. 

A huge success on campuses across Canada, Taylor has extensively toured Canadian Colleges, and was named Canadian College Comedian of the Year. He has now become one the busiest comedians on the U.S. college scene. Taylor also starred as the lead role in the movie Sure Shot Dombrowski. His ability to headline clubs, corporate and college events at just three years into his budding career is evidence of his talent.

Taylor's appearance is part of the Penn State DuBois Performing Arts and Lecture Series.  Organized by the Office of Student Life, all Performing Arts and Lecture Series events are free and open to the public.  

For more information on this and future events, visit www.ds.psu.edu/StudentLife

As part of new student orientation, the Penn State DuBois Student Life Office has organized Outreach Day, which will put 150 students, plus faculty and staff members, out into the community to help with various projects at businesses and charitable organizations. New incoming freshmen participate in Outreach Day, with the group serving more than a dozen organizations, including animal shelters, historical societies, housing construction projects, and more. Last year was the inaugural Outreach Day, and organizers say it will now be a yearly event.

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

This year's Outreach Day is planned for Friday, August 24.  Be on the lookout for Penn State DuBois students, wearing their campus T-shirts, hard at work throughout the area.

The use of technology is breaking down the barriers of distance at Penn State DuBois.  Campus faculty and staff members are communicating with individuals around the globe, using services like Skype, to better serve students and their families.

Skype is a web-based service that allows people to communicate by voice and video, as well as with instant messages over the internet. 

"We're able to offer more immediate feedback and guidance with this technology," said Tharren Thompson, the campus' international and multicultural student services coordinator.  "We used to use things like traditional mail, or were required to travel and meet with these folks." 

Thompson and academic advisor Sarah Raybuck recently met with international students via Skype to schedule classes for the fall semester, while the students were still thousands of miles away in their home countries. 

"Because we have Skype, we can meet with them as if they're here, face to face.  We can then schedule them before they get here, and basically provide them the same services that we provide domestic students," said Thompson. 

"It's so nice for them to come here having already talked with someone, and having their schedule ready," Raybuck added.  "This way, they're not coming in blind; it's so much easier for them and really helps them prepare to start school here." 

One international student who recently connected with the campus through Skype is Yini Ran, a native of Chongqing, China, who plans to attend Penn State DuBois in the fall to major in business.  From an office on the campus of Penn State DuBois, Thompson and Raybuck linked up with Yini, still at her home in China.  They held advising meetings over the web, and guided the student through the application process.  They offered advice on taking placement tests, and directed her through enrollment procedures.  During one session, they were able to establish Yini's entire fall course schedule.

"Using Skype was very helpful and it let me know many things that I will need to do when I arrive there," Yini said. 

Internet-based phone and video conferencing are experiences that Yini said helped to make her dreams of pursuing higher education in the United State come true.  She said, "I visited America before.  I think American people are quite nice.  I experienced the educational system there, and I like it, and want to be part of that. I'm looking forward to college life, studying my major, and the friends I'm going to make."  

Spencer West, speaker, author, and double-leg amputee who climbed Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro in June, will speak at Penn State DuBois in September.

West shared his inspirational story on CBS News in July. He has also told his tale of overcoming life's hurdles in his book, Standing Tall; My Journey, published last year. 

A 31 year old native of Toronto, Canada, West was born with a genetic disorder that allowed him no use of his legs.  At the age of five, doctors amputated his legs in order to increase his mobility. 

After becoming bored working at his office job, West joined up with a charity called Free the Children and began leading kids from North America to Africa to build schools. It was while he was volunteering in Africa that he became inspired to set his sights higher than ever before, and tackle the world's tallest stand-alone mountain.

When word got out about West's intentions to climb Kilimanjaro, donations for the cause started pouring in.  In the end, his climb raised $750,000 for Free the Children.

With the help of his friends, West climbed Kilimanjaro almost entirely on his hands.  His companions helped him, with the aid of his specially designed wheelchair, only a fraction of the way. The group reached the nearly 20,000 foot summit in seven days.

All members of the public and campus community are invited to hear West recount his inspirational tales.  He'll speak at Noon, on Monday, September 24, in the Hiller Auditorium at Penn State DuBois.  This event is free of charge.

Penn State DuBois, in conjunction with the Central Intermediate Unit #10 (CIU #10), will offer a free course in mathematics for adults who want to brush up on their basic skills. 

This refresher course is intended for any adult who wants to improve math skills to help further their education, or simply to advance their abilities for use in everyday life. For those who have considered enrolling, or reenrolling in college, the course will prepare them for math classes required in most degree programs. It will be offered in two parts; the first session during the fall semester, and the second session during the spring semester.

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

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

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

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

Space is limited for the math improvement class.  Registrations will be accepted until August 24, and the course begins August 27.  To register, or for more information, call the Clearfield Development Center for Adults at 814-765-1131, or the Penn State DuBois Office for Adult Student and Veteran Services at 814-375-4772. 

Movie Night at Penn State DuBois, featuring a screening of Snow White and the Huntsman, will be free of charge and open to all members of the public, students, faculty, and staff. 

Movie Night is planned for Thursday, August 16, outdoors on the campus Event Lawn.  In case of rain, the screening will be moved into the gymnasium.  A barbeque style dinner prepared by Shannon's Catering will be offered before the movie, including hamburgers, hotdogs, sides, and soft drinks. Food will be provided to Penn State students and available for purchase to all others beginning at 7:15 p.m.  Show time is 8:00 p.m.

Please RSVP to studentactivities@psu.edu or 814-375-4764 by August 8.

This event is funded by the student activity fee, and hosted by the Penn State DuBois Student Life Office.

Michael White has started his term as president of the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society; an office he will retain until June of 2014.  The outgoing president, Jackie Allen passed the gavel to White at the alumni society's quarterly board meeting this week. 

As president, White will preside over all meetings, be responsible for general supervision of all work completed by the society, and oversee society committees, in addition to other duties.

White graduated from Penn State DuBois with a degree in business administration in 2007.  He came to the campus as a returning adult student after spending eight years in active duty as an aircraft electrician’s mate in the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Currently, White is the marketing manager for Brookville Equipment Corporation.  In addition to managing the marketing efforts, he also works as part of the sales team for the diversified transportation manufacturer, whose product line is sold domestically and internationally.  

For the past seven years, White has organized the Fat Tire Challenge Mountain Bike Race in Clear Creek State Forest in Sigel, PA.  The race averages 120 participants each year.  He also earned his Eagle Scout status with the Boy Scouts of America in 1986. 

White has received several awards from Penn State, including the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award, the Penn State Business Outstanding Junior Award, and the Penn State Program of the Year Award, all in 2006.  He also received the Penn State Terry Hartman Volunteer Service Award in 2007. 

There is still time to sign up for the Fourth Annual Penn State DuBois Athletics Golf Benefit sponsored by the DuBois Educational Foundation, Johnson Motors and Veolia Environmental Services.  The four-person scramble tournament will begin with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start on Saturday, August 25, at the Silver Course at Treasure Lake. 

Entry fees are $75 per person, and $300 per team.  Entry includes green fee, cart, lunch of chicken and ribs, on-course beverages, skill prizes, and team awards.  Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. All proceeds will directly benefit the seven varsity athletic programs at Penn State DuBois.

A hole-in-one contest will be held, featuring the prize of a new car from the Stoltz Family of Dealerships in DuBois.  A putting contest is also slated. The person who sinks the winning putt will take home a new Weber Grill, a $50 gift certificate from Palumbo’s Meats, and a $50 gift certificate from Prontock Distributing.  This year's tournament will also feature all new chipping and "Glass Break" contests, Closest to the Pin, and Longest Drive contests.

A registration form is available at http://www.psuduboisathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/files/Golf_Benefit-2012.pdf

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

Penn State DuBois' Jason Long has been promoted to the rank of senior instructor within the campus Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Program. 

Students who earn an IST degree are prepared to enter careers in computer programing, networking, information system administration, and more. 

Long has been an instructor of IST at Penn State DuBois since 2001.  He also serves as the IST program leader.  In 2010, Long won the DuBois Educational Foundation Educator of the Year Award, which is given each year to an educator that students feel is the most deserving.  He was also named the College of IST Statewide Faculty Member of the Year for all of Penn State for 2011-2012. Additionally, he was honored as Tech Prep Educator of the Year from the North Central Pennsylvania Tech Prep Consortium in 2006, and Penn State DuBois’ Penn Stater of the Quarter in the Spring of 2006.  Long has also been recognized by DELL for his innovative approach to teaching IST, using DELL’s servers.

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

"Mr. Long has been an exemplary faculty member. He is an excellent instructor who has made continuous and significant contributions to the IST Program," said Co-Director of Academic Affairs Mary Mino.  He creates instructional opportunities that engage students in ways that allow them to transfer their classroom experiences into practical application in professional settings. He sets high standards in the areas of learning, scholarship, and conduct and his students value his expertise as a teacher and role model. He is very devoted to his students and our campus. In all, we are very pleased to have Mr. Long as a faculty member and a colleague. We are delighted that he has received acknowledgement for his outstanding academic accomplishments."

Long expressed his excitement over attaining the senior instructor position, but said that he will retain the same passion for his work no matter what level he reaches.  He said, "I'm very happy about this achievement.  But, it won't stop me from continuing to build the IST program.  I want to make it bigger, and bigger, and keep improving.  I like to look at something, and see how I can build upon it, or if there are new ways of doing things.  I never like to be stagnant."  He added, "I love doing my job." 

Outside of Penn State, Long volunteers his time to St. John's Elementary School in Bellefonte by serving as the IT director. He also coaches soccer and baseball for local youth leagues. Long lives in Bellefonte with his wife, Vicki, and their children, Abagail, CJ, and Lauren. 

Artist Joe Castillo, a current contestant on NBC's America's Got Talent, will bring his unique program, SandStory, to Penn State DuBois in September for a special 9/11 show.  His performance on campus follows his July 24/25 America's Got Talent appearance.   

SandStory is a live-art presentation, performed to music, in which Castillo produces stunning images with sand upon a light table, as it is projected on large screens for the audience to view.  He previously appeared at Penn State DuBois in February.

Born in Mexico City, the artistic hub of Latin America, Castillo grew up in a bilingual home, surrounded by art and the cosmopolitan culture of this international city. He developed a passion for telling stories using artwork early in life and SandStory was born.

The performance is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11, in Hiller Auditorium.  This event is free and open to the public.

Anyone who already holds an associate degree can still sign up to take advantage of an opportunity to turn that associate's into a bachelor's with Penn State DuBois' Bachelor of Science in Business Completion Program (BSB) with a management/marketing option.

With classes held in DuBois and St. Marys, during the day and evening, and online, the BSB program will offer course options to fit the schedule of most any working professional.  It can be taken as a fast-track, allowing a student to complete their undergraduate degree in an accelerated time frame of less than two years, or it can be taken over a period as long as three to four years if additional flexibility is needed.   

A business degree is statistically one of the most sought after degrees in the United States for new students as well as those who are already employed. The degree prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings including business, government, and nonprofit. They learn how to negotiate, improve written and oral communication skills, think strategically, and solve problems in teams.  Continuing Education professionals at Penn State DuBois have established the BSB program in response to a growing need in the workforce for such educational options. According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the year 2014, 14 million new job openings will require an undergraduate degree. The Occupational Employment Statistics Survey indicates that jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree will grow about 17 percent.  In Pennsylvania alone, it is projected that by 2018, 57 percent of jobs will require a bachelor’s degree.

"A Penn State degree is recognized throughout the country and the world," said Continuing Education Representative Jeannine Hanes.  "We've been ranked number one by recruiters in a Wall Street Journal study for supplying the most qualified graduates to employers.  What we're offering here is our effort to help get people working, or to help people excel and advance at current jobs, and help get the economy back on track." 

Classes begin August 27. Scholarships are available.  For more information, contact Mike at 814-834-3593 or mjb75@psu.edu or Jeannine at 814-375-4836 or jhanes@psu.edu

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

The students collaborated with healthcare professionals at Christ the King Manor Nursing Home in DuBois to offer a CarFit clinic at the facility.  Drivers who attended the clinic learned how to best "fit" in their cars to ensure they are traveling comfortably and safely.  Small adjustments were made to parts of vehicles when needed, including the gas and brake pedals, steering wheel, seat, seat belt, and mirrors to achieve optimum safety and comfort.

"As we age, driving becomes more challenging.  Loss of vision, decreased range of motion, pain, lack of strength and diminished posture all can hinder our abilities behind the wheel," said Trish Hopkins, an occupational therapist at Christ the King Manor who helped to organize the CarFit clinic. "Whether it's specialized seats, mirrors, or techniques, CarFit will show you the tools available to improve your driving experience for years to come."

"This is the third CarFit event Penn State DuBois OTA students have hosted in DuBois in the past year and a half," said Penn State DuBois OTA instructor LuAnn Demi. "To date, approximately 20 OTA students have been trained to be CarFit Technicians.  This is a national certification and the students will be able to use this training in their future careers as OTAs, plus they provide a service to the community while they learn." 

"I love to work with people and this is such a great experience to get hands on education and work with occupational therapists, as well as people from the community," said OTA student Rachel Wells, of Reynoldsville.  "CarFit is a great program because it helps make older adults more aware of their driving environment and makes driving safer and easier."

Another student, Colleen Prechtl of St. Marys agreed saying, "During CarFit we not only get to help seniors to drive longer and safer, but we also receive hands on experience which will benefit our careers as OTA's."

Students were required to be certified by AAA and the AARP to participate in the program the CarFit program.

Shane Chapman of Knox, PA was drawn as the winner of a new Kindle Fire electronic reader at Penn State DuBois' Spend a Summer Day event on Wednesday, July 11.  Each person who participated in the event had their name entered into a drawing for the prize.

Spend a Summer Day is organized by the campus admissions office and offers prospective students the opportunity to tour the campus, attend informational presentations about campus programs, and meet faculty and staff members.   

A new scholarship fund at Penn State DuBois has been endowed in the name of a student who tragically lost his life while enrolled at the campus.  The Jordan Andrulonis Trustee Scholarship has been established by Jordan's mother, Betty McFadden Freemer, and her husband, Mark Freemer, both of DuBois.  The scholarship will be available to any undergraduate student who is enrolled or plans to enroll at Penn State DuBois who has a financial need.     

An engineering major and dean's list student at Penn State DuBois, Andrulonis was also a member of the campus wrestling team and active in intramural athletics.  He drowned at Treasure Lake in September of 2009. 

The Freemers, like Andrulonis, are both alumni of Penn State DuBois. Jordan's brother, as well as his uncles, aunt, and cousins all attended the campus, as well. Additionally, Mark Freemer is the chair of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students campus fundraising campaign.  The family truly has a deep connection to the campus.

"Having Jordan’s name connected to Penn State DuBois thrills us.  He will always be remembered at the campus he attended," said Betty McFadden Freemer.  She went on to recognize the enormous impact scholarship dollars have on the lives of students, and explained that she and her husband are glad to be part of that impact. She said, "It is important to help others if you are able.  This scholarship will help students reach their academic goals, and then perhaps someday the recipients will be able to help others."

                                                                                                                                                                                                              In March, the Freemers also dedicated a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork to the campus in Jordan Andrulonis' name; a mosaic titled, "Let Our Diversity Be a Uniting Force".  The work of art was created by artist and assistant professor of education at Penn State Harrisburg, Anju Jolly. After seeing the piece, Mark Freemer decided to fund the artwork project on behalf of his wife, in honor of her son.  At that time, Mark Freemer said, "The timing just seemed perfect for this gift. I forwarded a picture of the mosaic to Betty, and when she saw it, she noted how beautiful it was.  After her response, it just felt like this gift to Jordan from her was meant to be."

The mosaic now hangs on an interior wall in the campus' Swift Building, alongside a plaque that reads:  "Mosaic donated in memory of Jordan J. Andrulonis, by his mother, Betty McFadden Freemer." 

The artwork, like this newly established scholarship, will stand as lasting gifts, representing one of the campus communities' beloved members, who will always remain at Penn State DuBois in spirit.

A golf tournament to benefit the Jordan Andrulonis Trustee Scholarship is planned for August 10, at the DuBois Country Club.  The event will also feature an auction, door prize, and dinner. For more information, contact Betty at 375-7489 or bettyfreemer@yahoo.com.

Two Penn State DuBois faculty members took some honors students on an educational and insightful tour of some of American Literature's most historic sites this spring.  Led by Distinguished Professor of English Richard Kopley and Mathematics Instructor John Tolle, an advisor for the honors program, the students toured historical homes and locations around the Boston, Massachusetts area. Most of the places they visited had significant meaning for American authors of the American Renaissance period of the 19^th Century, such as Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, and others.    

"We visited sites that were historically significant to literature," said Kopley, noting that the group traveled around Boston, Concord, Cambridge, and Salem.  Some of the highlights included the location of Thoreau's cabin on Walden Pond, a home and environment that inspired one of the author's most revered works, Walden.  They also visited the former homes of Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson, a public square honoring the nearby birthplace of Poe, and Author's Ridge in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where many of history's famous authors are buried, including Hawthorne, Emerson and Thoreau. 

"The work and the people that I talk about in my 19^th Century American Literature class became a little more real to the students," Kopley said of touring the historic locals.  "There's Emerson's house, Emerson's desk, there's Emily Dickinson's piano, there's where Thoreau lived.  It reinforces the sense that this really happened, that these were real people who lived in a real world that is reachable and recoverable.  It takes on an added meaning. It also makes it easy to see the relationship between the world these authors lived in and the world they created." 

"I know from doing genealogy, in my copious spare time, that it's one thing to read about people and places, but there's no substitute for standing at a spot and seeing it with your own eyes, seeing where people actually slept, ordinary objects they used, and how they lived," said Tolle.  "It gives you new insight into their lives that imagination alone can't always provide.  That's what makes these trips so indispensable."

Another opportunity for insight into the Massachusetts way of life was the lodging that the group took advantage of while on the trip.  Kopley's father-in-law, Yuda Golahny allowed the group to stay at his Boston area home.  As Kopley said, "It provided a nice atmosphere of home where we could share dinner each night and reflect on all the things we saw that day. 

Tolle said of the hospitality, "We are very grateful for this, as it kept the cost way down and enabled us to offer the opportunity free of charge to the honors students.

Members of the Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) at Penn State DuBois have partnered with the Second Harvest Food Bank in Erie, PA, to bring essential food items to area families in need.  The monthly Mobile Food Pantry operates from a refrigerated truck that has been specially equipped by the Second Harvest. It has only been hosted by CSF since February, and is already serving more than 300 people in DuBois and surrounding communities.

Held on the second Saturday of each month at Wasson Elementary School, in DuBois, the Mobile Food Pantry mostly serves families who have children.  Campus Minister Kyle Gordon said those who need help from the food pantry only need to call and register ahead of time, then show up for the distribution.  Gordon explained, "After we have a list of registrants, we send that number to the Second Harvest Food Bank and they send a truck full of food to be distributed for as many people as we have on the list.  As long as they call and register, they are guaranteed food." 

Gordon said he, as well as the CSF students, have found it very rewarding to help these families in need, and that they'll continue to do so for as long as they can.  He said, "The students have really taken ownership of this ministry of service.  It is something that many look forward to each month. I'm very proud of the students' efforts in serving the community through this ministry and look forward to continuing this service in many years to come." 

The next food pantry distribution will take place beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 14, at Wasson Elementary School.  Anyone who would like to receive food is reminded that they must call (814)-371-7471 to preregister before the distribution. 

Another class of youngsters has completed Penn State DuBois' Summer youth programs, Kids in College (KIC), and the Art, Science and Technology Institute (AST).  The kids who attended the programs this year, just like all those before them, may have a big advantage over others as they move through school and into careers.  Recent studies show that children who participate in supplemental educational programs develop stronger aptitudes for many fields, particularly "STEM" fields, which are Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

"So many of the courses are really designed to help children developmentally," said Summer Youth Program Coordinator Jeannine Hanes.  She explained that many courses offer children early exposure to fields like engineering, forensics, and sciences.  At the same time, teaching methods are designed to hold the attention of the youngest students.  Hanes continued, "Many of the classes use music or hands-on projects to help children learn.  Research shows that music and creative exercises help to increase IQ and increase the ability to learn.  It also makes the classes fun, which makes the kids want to be involved and learn more."

One course, for example, uses advanced Lego systems, and requires the children to design and build simple machines using the blocks and other components in a provided kit.  Another course uses hands-on lessons to demonstrate the history of mapping and navigation and how it has evolved from the use of magnetic compasses to modern Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and from paper maps to 3D computerized images.  Courses like these, Hanes said, help children with the early development of skills related to STEM fields. 

The journal, Education Week, in fact, recently published the results of a long-term study that tracked high-performing students over a 25 year period.  It concluded that students who were exposed to STEM courses at an early age were more likely to pursue advanced studies or careers in sciences and related fields.

Taking place after the school year is completed, KIC and AST programs also keep children engaged in learning during the summer break, and offer unique activities that can supplement their school's curriculum. 

"KIC allows teachers to include hands-on learning experiences that kids may not have the opportunity to participate in during the school year," Hanes said. 

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

Summer youth programs at Penn State DuBois are keeping young minds engaged in learning during the summer break from school.  Children from age four, through high school age students, have a large variety of courses available to them. The courses mainly focus on the fields of science, technology, engineering, math and art, and directly relate to the academic programs of study offered at Penn State DuBois.

"The Robotics with Lego course introduces students to the field of engineering," said Jeannine Hanes, youth program coordinator.  "They use some advanced systems produced by Lego to learn the fundamentals of engineering.  But, they have fun learning this way, because they're still using the familiar Lego blocks." 

Hanes went on to describe a Technology Tuesday program that introduced youngsters to subjects covered in the campus Wildlife Technology and Earth Science curriculums. It also taught the kids some basic outdoor skills.  Course instructor Keely Roen explained the course saying, "They're learning to use a compass, draw maps, and use maps to identify roads, lakes, and other geographical features.  It's a great starter course for geography and navigation." 

"Preparing youth for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math includes provoking, informing, and stimulating creative thinking. Through hands-on experiments, activities, and projects, students will gain meaningful and relevant learning experiences this summer at Penn State DuBois," Hanes said. 

For additional information regarding youth programs at Penn State DuBois, please visit www.ds.psu.edu/youth  or call Jeannine at 814-375-4836

Designed with working professionals in mind, the program operates on a part-time schedule, with classes held in the evenings in St. Marys, and can be completed in three years.  A Management/marketing option is also available in this degree program.

A business degree is statistically one of the most sought after degrees in the United States for new students as well as those who are already employed. The degree prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings including business, government, and nonprofit. They learn how to negotiate, improve written and oral communication skills, think strategically, and solve problems in teams.

The information session is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, in Room 301 of the Community Education Council of Elk and Cameron Counties, 4 Erie Avenue, St. Marys, PA.  For more information, contact Mike at 814-834-3593 or mjb75@psu.edu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DuBois - Penn State DuBois Associate Professor of Mathematics and Geosciences Rick Brazier had the unique opportunity to teach geology in Africa this year.  Penn State DuBois student Mike Yamrick also had the exceptional opportunity to be one of the students in Brazier's field school. 

The eight week long AfricaArray field school was based out of the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, Africa.  There were 25 students in all, including Yamrick from Penn State DuBois, and four students from other universities in the United States.  The rest of the students were from different locations on the African continent.   

Brazier and the students spent a week at the university designing their field project before heading out to a remote bush camp where they collected and interpreted geophysical data for the project. The goal of this undertaking was to collect geophysical data to benefit Africa’s economy and society, as well as to understand the geology of the continent.

The students from the U.S. made formal project presentations on their work at University Park.  Brazier is scheduled to present a portion of his work during the Natural Resources Colloquium at Penn State DuBois on April 30. 

 
"This experience for the students was not only academically beneficial but life changing," Brazier said, adding that bringing different cultures together within the school had a lasting impact as well.  "The cultural diversity aspect of this program is truly eye opening."

Yamrick said the experience helped him to decide that seismology is what he will concentrate on in his career. "The field school in Africa was awesome. I found what I am truly interested in, and what I would love to make a career out of," he said.  Yamrick also noted that the diverse group in the school made an impression on him as well.  "The field school was a very interesting experience. I got to meet people from a totally different culture, and work with some of the most qualified professors in the world."

AfricaArray is a partnership between Penn State University, Witwatersrand University, and the Council of Geosciences in Pretoria, South Africa. 

Follow DuBois Athletics at National Championships

2/19/2010 Update
We are pleased to announce that the PSU DuBois will be hosting a Men’s Basketball PSUAC playoff game.

Saturday, Feb. 20th at 3pm against PSU Greater Allegheny.

Come out to support the team, be loud!!   Wear your PSU athletics “white out” shirts from last Saturday’s game.  Additional white out shirts will be on hand in a limited quantity.

Click here for the latest results:

Athletics News

http://dubois.psu.edu/StudentLife/Athletics/sports.htm?cn25

Varsity Athletics Schedules and Results

Women's Basketball
http://dubois.psu.edu/StudentLife/Athletics/30090.htm?cn25

Men's Basketball
http://dubois.psu.edu/StudentLife/Athletics/30095.htm?cn25

Men's Wrestling
http://dubois.psu.edu/StudentLife/Athletics/30500.htm?cn25