Campus News Feed

Elementary School 3rd Grade Class Visits Penn State Schuylkill

Thu, 31 May 2012 15:58:45 EST

The entire 3^rd grade class from the Pine Grove Area Elementary School visited Penn State Schuylkill on Monday Oct. 20 & Wednesday Oct. 22. The visit was meant to encourage students, even starting at a young age, to think about higher education. While here, the vistors traveled around campus to various stations at which they interacted with campus faculty, staff, and students and were able to learn more about our campus and higher education. Thank you to all the faculty, staff, and students who helped make this event possible; an enjoyable time was had by all involved.

Click > here to view slide show from their visit.

Fall 2008 Commencement Speaker Announced

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:40:56 EST

Penn State Schuylkill will be holding graduation on Thursday, December 18, 2008, at 7:30 pm in the John E. Morgan Auditorium. State Representative Tim Seip will be the keynote speaker.

State Rep. Tim Seip, D-Schuylkill/Berks, is a lifelong Schuylkill County resident, born in Pottsville to Eugene D. Seip and Joan (Kenny) Fenstermacher. Seip attended Mansfield University, where he obtained a bachelor�s degree in criminal justice administration. He went on to earn a master�s degree in social work from Marywood University.

Seip was employed as a social worker for the Senior Behavioral Health Unit of the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Pottsville. Seip has also served as the lead therapist for the Family Support Unit of ReDCo and was the Schuylkill County CASSP coordinator, where he worked with children and families in coordinating all of Schuylkill County�s child-serving systems. Additionally, Seip worked as a social worker at the State Correctional Institution at Frackville in the Mental Health Unit.

Seip is affiliated with the following organizations: American Red Cross, Drug Free & Healthy Beginnings Coalition; Local Interagency Coordinating Council; IU #29 Student Assistance Program (School) District Council; Advocacy Alliance; Super Cupboard Nutrition Program; and CYO as a basketball coach . He also is a supporter and member of the National Rifle Association. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

Seip lives with his wife Starr and daughter Elisa in Washington Township, Schuylkill County.

Award Nominees in Schuylkill Food Services

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:25:22 EST

Two employees of the Penn State Schuylkill Food Services have received recognition for their hard work, dedication and commitment for excellence.

Penny Shade has been nominated for the William H. McKinnon Quality Customer Service Award

The Awards Steering Committee renamed the Quality Customer Service Award in appreciation for the many years that William H. McKinnon served at the helm of the Housing and Food Services organization. During McKinnon's tenure, the department continued to elevate the focus on the customer, both internal and external. McKinnon's commitment to quality and service is evident in the positive culture of the department. The renaming of this award serves to remind future generations of this leader's legacy.

Eligibility- A full-time employee (exempt, non-exempt, or technical service) who has worked in or supported Housing and Food Services for at least one year�with the exception of those who hold senior leadership positions reporting directly to the assistant vice president for Housing, Food Services, and Residence Life and the associate vice president of Auxiliary & Business Services�is eligible for this award. This is an individual award and is not designed for a team

Selection Process- A director serving as the chair, plus a seven-member awards committee�consisting of two technical service employees, two staff exempt employees, two non-exempt employees, and the previous year's award recipient�will select a finalist who demonstrates some or all of the following characteristics:

Eddie Beneshunas has been nominated for the Technical Service Achieving Excellence Award

The Technical Service Achieving Excellence Award recognizes a technical service employee in Housing and Food Services for exemplary performance, teamwork, commitment, and productivity.

Selection Process- A director serving as chair, plus a seven-member awards committee�consisting of two University Park Housing technical service employees, two University Park Food Service technical service employees, two Campus Technical Service Employees and the previous year's award recipient�will select a finalist who demonstrates some or all of the following characteristics:

Both Penny and Eddie will be honored for being nominees at a ceremony hosted by the Associate Vice-President for Auxiliary and Business Services, Gail Hurley on November 6th at the Letterman Lounge in Beaver Stadium.

Program to Honor Veterans at Penn State Schuylkill

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:20:32 EST

Take a few minutes from your busy day and join us for a brief ceremony and posting of the colors to honor our Veterans. The Penn State Schuylkill Veterans Club cordially invites you to join us as we honor all those who served our great nation.

The program will be held on Tuesday Nov. 11, 2008 at 12:00pm and will take place beneath the flagpole on campus. Chancellor Dr. Hillkirk and Representative Tim Seip will speak at the program. All are welcome!

Reminder: Sign up for PSUTXT for emergency information

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:39:34 EST

There's a quick and simple way to inform everyone on campus of an emergency.

Penn State Schuylkill encourages students, faculty and staff to enroll in PSUTXT, an easy and accessible system that lets them know via cell phone and/or email when classes are canceled due to weather conditions or if the campus has an emergency situation. Sign up now for PSUTXT and, when necessary, Penn State Schuylkill will send a text message alert directly to your cell phone and/or e-mail account.

To register, visit http://live.psu.edu/psutxt and click on the PSUTXT REGISTER button at the bottom of the page to sign up.

Local Students Get National Exposure

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:43:08 EST

How many students do you know who are published writers in a national magazine? There are two right here on Schuylkill campus. Thanks to Barnes & Noble College Booksellers and its U4U magazine, second-year students Angel Zheng and Fatima Scott, now have some real hands-on experience that demonstrates the skills they�ve been honing in the classroom.

U4U (formerly U turn magazine) is a unique publication written entirely for students and by students. In fact, it�s the only national publication of its kind, giving students firsthand experience writing for their peers across the country � an extra edge that can help students stand out as they make their first foray into the workforce.

For Angel, the experience was one of self-learning. While she loves writing, she admits to not having much experience in it. Still, she recognizes the importance of being a good writer noting, "It is definitely a skill you need to succeed in the business world � to be concise and put your ideas forth."

The experience was also "kind of crazy" and one she feels humble about. "It�s a weird feeling to hold that print and know � I wrote this," said Angel.

For Fatima, writing for U4U was an experience she enjoyed from beginning to end. "My favorite part about writing for U4U was really the entire process," she noted. "I really liked interviewing people, being able to reach out to them and get their ideas."

As a journalism major, Fatima is very excited about the results. "I�m so happy to be part of this opportunity," she said.

The experience is one that both women intend to put on their resumes.

Angel contributed the sidebars to the "This Land is Our Land" article. Her writing can be found on pages 11, 12, and 13 of the fall 2008 issue of U4U magazine, which is already available for free at the campus bookstore. Fatima�s article, titled "Affordable Uniqueness," is featured on page 5 of the magazine. U4U magazine is a publication reaching one million readers.

Students who would like to be considered as contributing writers for U4U magazine should email their best writing samples to magazine@bncollege.com.

Extended Hours Offered

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:22:29 EST

To accommodate student needs , the following offices will be open until 7:00 p.m. on August 26th & August 27th and September 2nd & September 3rd.

The offices that will be open are: Bursar and Financial Aid Office located in the Administration Building and the Advising and Registrar Office located in the B-Building.

Wayman named new Ciletti head librarian

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:32:43 EST

Matthew Wayman has been selected as the new head librarian at Ciletti Memorial Library, Penn State Schuylkill, and anticipates starting at Schuylkill on July 21. Wayman joined the Libraries in 2000 and was tenured and promoted to associate librarian in 2007. He has been working as an instructional/reference librarian at Penn State Abington for the past eight years. While at Abington, Wayman served as the library�s instruction coordinator and was responsible for collection development in several areas including history, religious studies, philosophy, organizational leadership, geology, earth sciences, math and science education. Wayman has a bachelor's degree in history from Rutgers University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He received his Master of Library Science degree from Rutgers as well. In 2005, he earned a master's degree in history from Temple University. Much of Wayman's research has focused on bibliographic resources for areas of early American history and military history. Wayman can be contacted at mjw13@psu.edu

Spring Commencement Scheduled for May 17

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:30:21 EST

Penn State Schuylkill will be holding graduation on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10 am on the Campus Green.. John Bertolet, Jr. president of J. Bertolet Volkswagen will be the keynote speaker.

John(Jack) R. Bertolet Jr. is the president of J. Bertolet Volkswagen, Orwigsburg, a family-owned and operated business that was started by his father 45 years ago.

A proud family man, Jack is dedicated to maintaining his father�s passion for life, faith in his fellow man, ability to work hard, and above all, his deep love for his family and friends.

That dedication is evident in everything Jack has accomplished throughout his life, including currently serving as president of the Schuylkill United Way, president of the VW Regional Dealer Council, board member of Volkswagen�s National Dealer Council and the CCOET.

His previous achievements include being past president of the Schuylkill New Car Dealers Association, a member of his church council, and board member of the MT Penn Soccer Club.

Jack is also passionate about helping others by working with the United Way. That passion led to a hugely successful annual campaign that Jack chaired in 2004, which he credits to the organization that helps make miracles happens by supporting 16 human service agencies throughout Schuylkill County.

A native of Reading, Jack received strong family values from his parents, John(Jack) Sr. and Eleanor, and six siblings. He is a graduate of MT Penn High School, Reading and attended Robert Morris College, Pittsburgh, before joining the family business in 1973. His dedication to family continued when he married the former Karen Herzog in 1973, with whom he had three children, Kara, John, and Joseph.

When not playing tennis or spending time with his family, Jack can be found proudly romping on the soccer field with his two grandsons, Dylan and Aidan.

Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences to speak on Earth Day

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:41:41 EST

On April 22, Earth Day, the campus will be welcoming Professor Richard Alley to Penn State Schuylkill.

Dr. Richard Alley is Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences and Associate of the Earth System Science Center at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, where he has worked since 1988. He was graduated with the Ph.D. in 1987 from the University of Wisconsin�Madison and with M.Sc. (1983) and B.Sc. (1980) degrees from the Ohio State University�Columbus, all in Geology. Dr. Alley teaches, and conducts research on the climatic records, flow behavior, and sedimentary deposits of large ice sheets, to aid in prediction of future changes in climate and sea level. His experience includes three field seasons in Antarctica, eight in Greenland, and three in Alaska.

Dr. Alley is a member of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which shares the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. His other awards include a Packard Fellowship, a Presidential Young Investigator Award, the Horton Award of the American Geophysical Union Hydrology Section and Fellowship in the Union, the Wilson Teaching Award and the Mitchell Innovative Teaching Award of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the Faculty Scholar Medal in Science at Penn State, the first Agassiz Medal of the European Geosciences Union Cryospheric Section, and the Seligman Crystal of the International Glaciological Society.

Dr. Alley has served on a variety of advisory panels and steering committees for the National Science Foundation, targeted research activities, and professional societies, including the congressionally mandated Antarctic External Review Panel and the Polar Research Board, and has provided advice to numerous government officials in multiple administrations including a US Vice President, the President's Science Advisor, and a Senate Committee.

Dr. Alley will be speaking at 7:00 p.m. in Morgan Auditorium on the topic, "Get Rich and Save the World: Global Warming, Peak (Whale) Oil, and Our Future." This program is free and open to the public.

For information, contact the office of Community Relations at 507-385-6152

Penn State to conduct test of PSUTXT system

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:13:07 EST

Just as the Emergency Broadcast System periodically runs tests on radio and television stations, Penn State plans to test the PSUTXT text-messaging system to help ensure its functionality in a true emergency.

"Testing of the system also raises awareness of the system, increases the confidence of responders and provides insight into the weaknesses and strengths of a plan. Testing will help to proactively identify and resolve any issues," said Annemarie Mountz, assistant director of Public Information.

At 1:30 p.m. on March 31, PSUTXT administrators from each campus will log into the system and send a message that will clearly be marked as a test. "Having 26 people log into the system at once to send messages to each of the alert categories will test the company's server, to make sure it can handle that sort of demand," Mountz said. She said that e2Campus, the company that hosts the PSUTXT service for Penn State, is aware of the upcoming test.

Penn State's PSUTXT was launched in August 2006 and currently has more than 38,000 valid subscribers. However, not everyone who thinks they're subscribed actually is.

"There are a number of subscriptions in the system that remain unvalidated," said Mountz. "These people have not yet successfully completed the validation process, so they are not set up to receive PSUTXT messages although they may think they are. This test also will help to make those people aware that their PSUTXT accounts are not active and they need to complete their subscription validations."

Validating the cell phone at the time of opt-in verifies that users have an active text messaging service on their accounts; ensures that only the person who owns the mobile phone is signing up for the service; and ensures that the user correctly keyed in their phone number.

Those who receive the test message on March 31 do not need to take any action. Anyone who initiated a subscription to PSUTXT but does not receive the test message on March 31 should log into the PSUTXT system by going to http://newswires.psu.edu/ and clicking on the "PSUTXT LOGIN" button at the bottom of the page.

"Once logged in, they should update their cell phone information, and then click on 'Services' to have a new validation code sent," said Ara Bagdasarian, president of e2Campus. "Once they receive the validation code, they need to enter it on the registration page on the Web site to complete the process and validate their accounts."

Subscribers who continue to have difficulty validating their account should visit http://omnilertsupport.com/e2campus/ online.

Anyone who has not yet subscribed to PSUTXT should go to http://newswires.psu.edu/ and click on the "PSUTXT REGISTER" button at the bottom of the page to sign up. For more information, e-mail mailto:AMountz@psu.edu

Nittany Players Present Peter Pan

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:47:12 EST

Penn State Schuylkill Nittany Players will present Peter Pan in the campus John E. Morgan Auditorium.

Performances will be held on Thursday, April 17th at 7 PM, Friday, April 18th at 7PM, Saturday, April 19th at 2 PM and 7 PM and Sunday, April 20th at 2 PM.

Tickets on sale in the lobby of the Student Center daily from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm or by calling 570-385-6049. Ticket prices are: General Admission - $10.00, Seniors and Students - $ 8.00 and Penn State Students - Free.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day to Be Held

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:35:38 EST

Penn State Schuylkill Campus and the Commission for Women will be sponsoring Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on Thursday, April 24, 2008. This day long event is a nationwide event and encourages children to envision opportunities that are available to them by accompanying an adult to the workplace.

This event is open to girls and boys ages 8 to 12. Registration is required. The registration form can be downloaded by clicking here and must be returned no later than April 18, 2008 to Rosalie Yeager or Darlene Young.

More information on the program and the schedule of events planned can be found by clicking here

Library Student Advisory Group sponsors book discussion group

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:55:28 EST

The Schuylkill Campus Library Student Advisory Board will be sponsoring a book discussion group which will be meeting on Wednesday, March 26 at noon in the Special Collections Room of the Ciletti Memorial Library to discuss "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory. The book is available for purchase in the campus bookstore, and is also on reserve for overnight loan in the library.

The campus community as well as the public is invited to attend.

Schuylkill Police Officer Named Jaycees Junior Chamber State President

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:36:34 EST

Amy L. Newton, a Penn State Schuylkill campus police officer has been elected Junior Chamber State President for the Jaycees organization. She began her official duties on January 1st.

Newton has been a member of the Northern Schuylkill Jaycees for 10 years and has held many offices at the local and state levels. Her local chapter takes in members from Shenandoah, Ashland, Frackville, Mahanoy City, Ringtown and other areas in the northern parts of the Schuylkill County. The Jaycees gives young people between the ages of 18 and 41 the tools they need to help them succeed in the areas of business development, management skills, community service and international connections. Young people are trained to become active citizens and leaders in other community organizations by learning the skills necessary for them to filter into organizations such as the Lions or Rotary.

The Jaycees sponsor many projects such as the Adopt a High program, bloodmobiles and many other fundraisers that support other community service groups.

Schuylkill students act at Pennsylvania's Renaissance Faire

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:00:52 EST

Three Penn State Schuylkill students have been offered acting positions at Pennsylvania's Renaissance Faire.

Nick Freer, Melissa Romero and Monique Shenoster from Penn State Schuylkill attended a national audition to work at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in 2008. All three, who are actively involved in Penn State Schuylkill's upcoming spring performance of "Peter Pan," received an offer for acting positions. The Faire is great experience for students who are pursuing a career in acting. Their theater instructor and coach Cathy Fiorillo said that competition is fierce and it is a great honor to be chosen.

Army Women's Basketball Team to play exhibition game

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:16:53 EST

The Penn State Schuylkill's Women's Basketball Team will host the U.S. Army's Women's Basketball Team in a nonleague exhibition game at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Multi-Purpose Building Gymnasium at Penn State Schuylkill. Tickets cost $4 and are available at the door. Students with ID are admitted free of charge.

The U.S. Army's Women Basketball team is training at Fort Indiantown Gap, in preparation for the Armed Forces Championship, also held at Fort Indiantown Gap, pitting teams from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, from March 21 to 27. During the Armed Forces Championship, an all-star team will be selected which will represent the U. S. Armed Forces at the World Military Basketball Championships, to be conducted this year at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio

For information on the Penn State Schuylkill game, contact John Cooper at (570) 385-6131.

Penn State Schuylkill professor publishes new work

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:17:11 EST

Michael J. Cardamone, professor of physics at Penn State Schuylkill, recently published a new book. "Fundamental Concepts of Physics," published by Brown-Walker, presents the science of physics in a nonthreatening, nonmathematical conceptual format. With the book's emphasis on the historical and cultural foundations of physics, the text is accessible to anyone with a curiosity concerning how we arrived at our current understanding of our physical world and its place in the universe. The book is designed for use as a text for nontechnical undergraduate students.

Cardamone, a longtime member of the Penn State Schuylkill community, has served on the faculty and in various administrative positions throughout his career. Although the author of many scientific papers published worldwide, the current book is his first effort in making physics accessible to a broader audience.

He chose to publish with Brown-Walker because of the publisher's unique efforts to keep books affordable. The text is available as a paperback through Amazon and Barnes and Noble or as either a paperback or e-book directly from the publisher. The publisher's Web site makes the first 25 pages of the e-book available without charge so interested potential readers can browse before deciding to purchase.

Business etiquette dinner will teach dining protocol

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:32:44 EST

The Penn State Schuylkill Business Society will sponsor a business etiquette dinner at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in the Fryer Conference Center, on campus. The dinner presents a chance for students and others to learn business dining protocol from Jody Newcomer of Professional Edge, York. The meal will consist of four courses and will be served by Hess Catering of Schuylkill Haven. The entree choices are ham or chicken. The event is open to the public. Tickets will be available from noon to 1:00 in the lobby of the Student Activities building beginning Wednesday, January 16th or by contacting Dr.Mary Feeney Bonawitz at (570) 385-6085 or e-mail mfb5@psu.edu for tickets, which are $22.

Events planned for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:48:39 EST

Penn State Schuylkill Student Affairs and Programming Board are supporting several student-led initiatives in support and celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. The theme for the initiatives will be �The Dream in Action.�

The students are encouraged to visit 1-800-volunteer.org to discover the more than 150 opportunities for local volunteer service in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

--- January 21 The Penn State Schuylkill Chapter of the NAACP and the United Minority Leaders, in conjunction with the Programming Board, will present the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration at 7 pm in the Morgan Auditorium. The event will feature performances by the Quiet Storm Step Team, the Sophisticated Beauties Dance Team, as well as other members of campus organizations.

--- January 21 The week will also kick-off the Poster Contest in support of African American History Month. Each organization will chronicle an important contributor to African American History by illustrating a poster to be displayed in the Student Community Center.

--- January 21-25 The Ciletti Memorial Library and the Library Student Advisory Board will be creating a display in honor of the holiday.

--- January 23: Student Activities presents Michael Fosberg, theatrical performance at 7 pm in the Morgan Auditorium. Michael Fosberg presents "Incognito" which is the story of his struggle to understand his identity, his roots, his family, and the difficult history behind the tragic American complexity of "race."

For more information, please contact the Office of Student Activities at (570) 385-6246.

Fall 2007 Commencement

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:48:52 EST

Fall commencement was celebrated at Penn State Schuylkill on Thursday, December 20 in the John E. Morgan Auditorium. Chancellor R. Keith Hillkirk presided over the ceremony. (View >commencement photo slide show and graduation program.)

The keynote speaker was Henry H. Nyce, Publisher of The Republican & Herald. Nyce has served in this position since August 2003 and prior to that was General Manager beginning in October 2002. Nyce is a past-president of the Manufacturer's Association of Mid-Eastern Pennsylvania, past-president of Pottsville Kiwanis Club, Past President of the Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce and treasurer and board member of Schuylkill County�s VISION and board member of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation.

He is currently serving as the President of the Board of Directors of the Schuylkill United Way and has been associated with the Schuylkill United Way since 1987. He serves as Chairman of the Industrial Division, member of the Budget Committee, member of the Board of Directors, member of Executive Committee and was the Campaign Chair for 2002.