As they traveled to University Park to participate in the People to People and Business and Information Technology career fairs, Tyler Roberts and Aaron Stoprya did not know that they would soon be receiving an offer of employment and internship.
 
Tyler and Aaron, both students at Penn State Schuylkill, majoring in information, sciences and technology (IST), and psychology, were thrilled to receive their respective offers. Tyler was offered employment through General Motors in Detroit as a information technology (IT) operations engineer. In his new role, Tyler will be working in the areas of database administration, system administration, incident management and response, monitoring and continuity planning, and problem resolution and root-cause analysis; in the Warren, Mich., General Motors facility. Tyler will be on the ground floor of GM's initiative to return IT function back to the company after it had previously been out-sourced.
 
Aaron, will be working as an intern this summer at the Lions Beacon Lodge, in Mount Union, Pa. The camp focuses on autism spectrum children, as well as physically and mentally challenged individuals.
 
Both Tyler and Aaron are excited and anixious to start their new experiences. Tyler stated, "I want a job where I can use my hands and brain, fixing things." He feels that his position with General Motors will be a perfect match for his hand skills and his academic preparation received through his IST degree from Penn State. Aaron sees himself, for the first time this summer, using his academic preparation as a psychology major, where he will be making a difference in the children's lives he will be interacting with. He appreciates the opportunity Penn State has given him and can hope to exemplify those standards of learning.

Penn State Schuylkill hosted Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day 2013 on April 25. The campus’ chapter of the Commission for Women committee hosted the event for 11 children to help them explore career options and understand what their parent(s) did on campus.
 
The program began with Jerry Bowman, coordinator of public information, welcoming the children to the campus and wishing them well on the day’s events. Michael Gallis (physics), Melinda Anthony-Spolski (counseling services), Ronald Kelly (criminal justice), Penny Shade (food services), Tina Rose (career services), and Cecelia Boran (health services) all presented interactive programs throughout the day. Penn State Schuylkill’s Chancellor, Dr. Kelly M. Austin, made the event possible by providing funding. The Commission for Women Schuylkill Campus also received money from the University Commission for Women.

To celebrate Earth Day, Penn State Schuylkill hosts annual Eco Fair
By Thomas Leskin (staff writertleskin@republicanherald.com)

On the annual day to reflect on our planet Monday, Penn State Schuylkill and local companies and organizations participated in the annual Eco Fair on the campus.
 
The Earth Day program included presentations of exactly what products come from recycled materials, solar panels that convert light energy into electric energy and even a seat cushion made out of plastic bags from grocery stores.
 
According to The Associated Press, Earth Day was 43 years old Monday and the global event was the brainchild of founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif.
 
Tiffany Macaulay, public relations and marketing from Cougle's Recycling Inc., Hamburg, was at the fair telling students about the importance of recycling, that it's not a waste of time.
 
"We're just here to show them what recycled items can be made back into, to give some motivation and show that it really does matter," Macaulay said. "When you throw it in a bin, it ends up somewhere."
 
Some of the recycled items Macaulay was talking about included PET bottles being turned into T-shirts, milk jugs into toy trucks, paper that will be recycled back into other paper products, and food waste composting, where instead of food waste going into a landfill, it is now being reused to help grow local fruits and vegetables.
 
Thomas Cleary, engineering instructor at Penn State Schuylkill, was telling students about the campus' 3-kilowatt solar electric system that provides supplemental power to its Nittany 1 dormitory.
 
"We installed these back in 2009," Cleary said. "We had actually received a grant as a result of several of us that attended a conference and a training program in 2008."
 
Cleary said that after the 2008 program, the campus applied for and received a $15,000 grant.
 
"Our campus maintenance people did a lot of the work then the campus picked up the rest of the money," Cleary said. "It cost a little over $20,000 at the time and today it would be close to half that."
 
He also said that during the summer, the panels generate enough energy to help the college with energy savings.
 
With there being no students in the dorms, the system is generating electricity that then goes back out onto the grid, for which PPL pays the campus.
 
While Sheri Bone, director of group program business development from Pocono Environmental Educational Center, was braiding plastic bags into a seat cushion as a personal Earth Day project, she was also educating students about her center.
 
PEEC is a nonprofit corporation in partnership with the National Park Service Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Center.
 
Bone said that PEEC has five hiking trails that feature ponds and waterfalls, hosts environmental school trips, public nature programs, birding and photography workshops and year-round family programs, and has a retreat and meeting center.
 
"We've been an environmental center for 40 years," she said. "I'm hoping I can get some student organizations to come up and do a retreat."
 
In addition to the organizations that were showing off their projects and businesses to students, Schuylkill Headwaters Association was not only giving out information about acid mine drainage, which flows from abandoned mines and flooded pits into rivers and streams, and what they're doing about it, but were also seeking volunteers.
 
Sierra Gladfelter, New Ringgold, outreach coordinator for the organization, said that Headwaters was seeking to recruit volunteers for the tree planting initiative on Arbor Day this Friday at the Mountaintop Coal Mining Operation near the Schuylkill County Joe Zerbey Airport in Mount Pleasant.
 
"We should have quite a large group of people," Gladfelter said. "I have like 30 something volunteers and the mine operation has some high school students coming, so it should be a good size group."
 
Over the years, they have planted about 8,000 trees near the airport.
 
The campus club that brought all these groups together for the Earth Day event was Penn State Schuylkill's Biology and Environmental Club.
 
"We like to expand it to new people," said Katelyn Abrose, Pottsville, a sophomore at Penn State Schuylkill and club president. "Basically, we try to attract people who need volunteers, have job opportunities or want to share about their projects."
 
Abrose said that in addition to the Eco Fair, throughout the year the club hosts career panels to teach people about the different jobs available in the community, trail clean-ups, fundraisers and in the future, are planning on sponsoring retreats to a wildlife center, where students can spend a weekend in the wilderness learning about nature.
 
Penn State Schuylkill's annual Eco Fair was started in 2009 to allow the university to promote environmental education.

Penn State Schuylkill honored students, faculty and staff during an Honors Day program on April 17. The honorees are listed below:
 
Award for Excellence in Teaching - Salih Hakan Can, associate professor of administration of justice
 
Award for Excellence in Faculty Service - Michael R. Gallis, associate professor of physics
 
Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Accomplishments - Helen M. Hendy, professor of psychology
 
Staff Service Award - Cecelia Boran, campus nurse
 
Retirees - Mary Bonawitz, assistant professor of accounting, 1998-2013, and John Sinisi, assistant professor of economics, 1989-2013.
 
Linda Fehr Memorial Award - Cecelia Boran, campus nurse. Award recgonizes a student, alumni, staff or faculty member who has demonstrated a commitment to support the interest and issues of women at Penn State Schuylkill.
 
The President's Freshman Award - Dana Bashore, Dara Deibert, Bradley Schwartz, Megan Bensinger, Caleb Latovich, Sean Spotts, Bryan David, Doug Mizic and Kuangzheng Zhu
 
The President Sparks Award - Aaron Cali and Kyle Cunningham
 
The Evan Pugh Scholar Award - Edward Breiner, junior

Organizations and companies represented are;  SKIP (Schuylkill Keep It Pretty), Penn State Master Gardeners, solar and renewable energy information, Cougle's Recycling, Inc., and more...

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information please contact Dr. Darcy Medica at 570-385-6176 or dlm56@psu.edu.

Students conducting independent research, or who have made a significant contribution to a faculty research project, will give short oral presentations on their research and/or will render performances of their creative accomplishments, at the "Penn State Schuylkill Student Research and Creative Accomplishments Symposium."

Please contact Dr. Darcy Medica at 570-385-6176 or dlm56@psu.edu for more information.

Penn State Schuylkill was named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, one of only 690 institutions of higher education to receive this honor This designation is the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. 

“Penn State Schuylkill has a long history of service-learning and believes strongly in preparing our graduates to be active leaders and participants in an ever changing world,” said Dr. Kelly M. Austin, Chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award – and owe much of it to the students themselves. They are the energy driving our commitment and they are the ones who make it all happen.”

During the review period, Penn State Schuylkill students have cataloged three to four trail clean-ups on the Schuylkill River Trail, at the Landingville trail head.  Students, faculty, and staff rake, cut back brush, and pick up litter along the trail.  The clean-ups were so successful, and the students so energized about their efforts, that the campus adopted this part of the trail and maintain it regularly each and every year for the enjoyment of the community.  Another activity that the campus students were heavily involved with was “THON”, the largest student run philanthropy in the world.  THON raises funds, through the Four Diamond Foundation, for children who are being treated for pediatric cancer at The Hershey Medical Center.  During the review period, Penn State Schuylkill students raised over $30,000 for this most worthy endeavor.

“Congratulations to Penn State Schuylkill, its faculty, and students for its commitment to service, both in and out of the classroom,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS.  “Through its 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 United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council on Education and Campus Compact.

More information about Penn State Schuylkill can be found at www.sl.psu.edu .  More information on eligibility and the full list of Honor Roll awardees, can be found at www.nationalservice.gov

The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll honors the nation’s leading higher education institutions and their students, faculty and staff for their commitment to bettering their communities through service. These are institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, the Social Innovation Fund and other programs, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve.

Penn State Schuylkill raises $47,956.69 for THON; the highest in campus history.

The THON committee at Penn State Schuylkill composed of:  Peter Gannon, chair of committee, Vincent Carrano, family relations chair, Derek Stufflet, fundraising chair, Yodit Haileselassie, advertising chair, and Yanique Thomas, morale chair, raised $47,956.69 for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) that benefits the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the fight against pediatric cancer.  The total was the most raised in campus history.

The two Schuylkill campus student dancers – Bethany Richards, Tri Valley High School, and Alex Miller, Perkiomen Valley High School, joined more than 700 dancers from across the University and stayed on their feet for the entire 46-hour event that was held February 15-17, 2013, in the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University Park.

In the past two years, the Schuylkill THON committee has raised more than $73,000 from the local community, which greatly surpasses the amount raised in 2011 of $5,300.  Overall, THON set a new record in 2013 by raising $12,374,034.00 for the Four Diamonds Fund, surpassing last year’s record of $10.68 million.  Funds raised by THON go to support the Four Diamonds Fund and its pediatric cancer patients, families and researchers at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.  More than 15,000 Penn State students participated in making THON 2013 successful, including the thousands of students who helped raise funds throughout the year, and the thousands more who volunteered during THON weekend.

The amount raised this year at Penn State Schuylkill ranked seventh among nineteen commonwealth campuses and number one among northeastern campuses, which includes Lehigh Valley, Hazelton, Wilkes-Barre, and Worthington-Scranton.

Honors Day is intended to recognize members of our campus community, including students, faculty, and staff who have distinguished themselves through accomplishments in teaching and learning, scholarship and research, and service to the campus community.

Refreshments will be served immediately following in the Student Community Center lobby.

The powerful sound of Japanese Taiko drums will fill Penn State Schuylkill's John E. Morgan Auditorium on Tuesday, January 29th, at 7:00 p.m. when Taikoza, Japanese Drumming Ensemble, visits Penn State Schuylkill. This free performance is part of the campus’ Cultural Events Series.
 
Taikoza, a Japanese music and dance group founded by Marco Lienhard, has dazzled audiences worldwide with its electrifying performances since 1995. The Taiko is a large barrel-like drum that can fill the air with the sounds of rolling thunder. Drawing from Japan's rich tradition of music and performance, Taikoza has created a new sound using a variety of traditional instruments. In addition to drums of assorted sizes, Taikoza performers also play the shakuhachi and the fue (both bamboo flutes) and the koto (a 13-string instrument).
 
Taikoza has performed in Europe, and Asia. The group has also appeared on the History Channel and The Last Samurai DVD set. Taikoza’s goal is to educate people about the exciting art form of Taiko and introduce them to Japanese culture. Much like their music, Taikoza’s members come from culturally diverse backgrounds.
 
For more information on Taikoza and Marco Lienhard, visit http://www.taikoza.com online.

Today we dedicated the newly renovated biology teaching lab, the Cotler Life Science Lab. In a ribbon cutting ceremony that was attended by Steve and Marjorie Cotler, Penn State Schuylkill Advisory Board members, elected officials, and campus faculty and staff, everyone enjoyed a presentation by Dr. Rod Heisey, Professor of Biology, took a tour of the facility, and enjoyed a celebratory cake. This new state of the art laboratory includes the latest technology, furniture, and equipment. These efforts are consistent with the campus' focus to advance in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Angel Zheng, who attended Penn State Schuylkill 2008-2010, will receive a Fulbright grant for 2012-2013 to study and teach in Macau. Ten such Penn State students were selected, from a field of 56, to do research and to teach English in diverse, non-English speaking countries. Penn State is one of the top universities in the country for successful student Fulbright applications. The concept of the program is one of exchanging students, teachers and university faculty from the United States with students and researchers throughout the world to help maintain peace and understanding.

Zheng was enrolled in the 2+2 program at Penn State where a student attends a campus location for two years and then completes their degree at University Park. When Zheng completed her two years at Penn State Schuylkill, she went on to earn a bachelor of science in education and public policy in 2011 at University Park, where she graduated as a Schreyer's Honors College student. She is currently enrolled as a graduate student in the master of arts program in educational theory and policy at University Park.

Zheng returned to Penn State Schuylkill in the spring of 2011 as the featured speaker at the campus' annual scholarship dinner, held at the Schuylkill Country Club.

Penn State Schuylkill is pleased to acknowledge Ms. Zheng and her accomplishments.

For more information on the Fulbright Scholar program, please visit the Council for International Exchange of Scholars website at http://www.cies.org/About.htm

Penn State Schuylkill announces two new campus scholarships, the Academic Excellence Award and the Honors Award. These scholarships are for students who have documented merit and are not based on financial need.

The Academic Excellence Award is for Penn State Schuylkill students who have documented merit based on a high school GPA of 2.7 or higher, SAT or ACT scores, and the student's evaluation index. This award ranges from $500 to $5,000 per academic year and can be renewed for subsequent years. This award can be combined with other grants and scholarships.

The Honors Award is for Penn State Schuylkill students who are enrolled in the Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program or Schreyer Honors College at Penn State Schuylkill. Ten students will be chosen for this award and will receive $5,000 per academic year for a total of $20,000 over four (4) years. This scholarship is in addition to other scholarships and awards the student may be receiving.

Penn State Schuylkill also has many endowed scholarships that are awarded each year - up to a total of $600,000.00 is available to be awarded! Click HERE to see a list of all of our available scholarships and awards. To be eligible for these awards, apply today to Penn State and choose Penn State Schuylkill as your first choice campus.

We hope to see you in 2013 at Penn State Schuylkill!

Apply today at www.sl.psu.edu/admissions

http://www.sl.psu.edu/aspnet/directory.aspx

Penn State Schuylkill, in cooperation with the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, hosted a day-long camp for 130 local students who are enrolled in the 21st Century Community Learning Center. For more information, please read the article published in the Republican Herald http://republicanherald.com/news/more-than-130-students-attend-1st-stem-saturday-1.1380968.

Penn State Schuylkill's THON group had an excellent response to their canning effort this past weekend. For the first time in the Campus' history, the group raised $14,295.98 in one weekend! Penn State Schuylkill is very proud of their students and their efforts. The students would also like to thank our local community for their generosity and support!

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) has released its 2012 ranking of the top 100 world-class universities and has ranked Penn State at No. 49. Penn State is one of 53 highest-ranking institutions in the United States, 30 in Europe and 17 among Japan, Israel, Canada and Australia. Penn State is one of five Big Ten universities and one of only two Pennsylvania schools to make the top 50.

Researchers at the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University conduct the annual ARWU ranking using six objectives. According to its website, these are: “the number of alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, number of highly cited researchers selected by Thomson Scientific, number of articles published in journals of Nature and Science, number of articles indexed in Science Citation Index - Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index, and per capita performance with respect to the size of an institution.”

Researchers also break down rankings by some individual fields. Engineering at Penn State ranks 11th in the world, while Penn State’s social sciences ranks 23rd, economics and business is 33rd, physics is 37th and natural sciences/mathematics is 44th worldwide. Penn State mathematics, chemistry and life/ag sciences are in a group ranking of the top 51 to 75 programs in the world.

The complete ARWU list is here and detailed methodology can be found here. 

10:00am | Penn State Schuylkill

Join us for Penn State Day Open House! Penn State Day is a structured program that will help you get information about the Penn State multi-campus system.  This Open House includes information on the admissions process, academic programs, financial aid and student life.  The program agenda will include a presentation, question/answer, student panel, classroom experience, information fair, lunch, and a tour of campus lead by a Lion Ambassador (student tour guide).  Penn State Day is the perfect way to discover all of the opportunities that Penn State can offer you!

Want to Register for Penn State Day?

Call 570-385-6252 or Register Online

Penn State Schuylkill dedicated the Kiefer-Jones Building on Thursday, July 26. The building named for Allen Kiefer and Joseph Jones, both of whom have been involved with the Schuylkill Campus Advisory Board for more than 40 years. Kiefer is president of the advisory board and Jones is chairman of its development committee.

The building formerly owned by Schuylkill County as part of the Rest-Haven complex was utilized by Schuylkill County Child Development as administrative offices, until June 2010. The building, along with 33 acres and a second building, known as the 1912 Building, were purchased by the advisory board in April of 2008 for $475,000. The Schuylkill Campus Advisory Board subsequently obtained a loan from Susquehanna Bank to remodel the Kiefer-Jones Building and demolish the 1912 Building. Kiefer and Jones were instrumental in initiating and monitoring all of the legal and financial matters regarding the transactions.

MKSD Architects of Allentown, Pa., was retained to design the project. The design focused on maintaining the original exterior architecture of the building and modernizing the interior while trying to preserve some ot the original details, such as the entrance stairwell, hard wood floors and fireplaces. L&K Construction of Schuylkill Haven, Pa., was the general contractor. The building was completed in spring of 2011 and now currently houses the offices of chancellor, development and alumni relations, and continuing education.

For complete media coverage, click here.

Dancing 2012

In February 2012, the Penn State Schuylkill Cheerleaders met with Matt Harding of Where the Hell is Matt, to participate in a video that features Matt dancing with dozens of groups from all over the world.

Matt Harding is internationally known for his videos and “bad dancing” as he travels around the world. His videos have gone viral on the internet with over 42 MILLION views!

His new video, released June 20, 2012, includes the Penn State Schuylkill cheerleaders dancing with Matt in our own campus gym at time spots :12 and 1:50. Below is the link to the video on YouTube that currently has 6 million views. The cheerleaders were also featured on the posters used for promotion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwe-pA6TaZk

Jodi Staller, Marketing Communications Specialist and Cheerleading Advisor at Penn State Schuylkill receives a thank you in the credits at the end of the video.

"Joining Africa," a book by Penn State Schuylkill Distinguished Professor Charles Cantalupo, has won a 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award in the category of "Memoirs -- Other." Published by Michigan State University Press, the book is an eye-opening personal history, telling the story of an American college professor's 20-year engagement with a thriving Africa rarely encountered by Western visitors, including connections to poets across the continent. Cantalupo is distinguished professor of English, comparative literature and African studies at Penn State.

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the largest not-for-profit book awards program for indie authors and independent publishers. In its fifth year of operation, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards was established to recognize and honor the most exceptional independently published books in 60 different categories each year, and is presented by Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group in cooperation with Marilyn Allen of Allen O'Shea Literary Agency. 

Summer Open House Programs at Penn State Schuylkill

Are you about to start your Senior year of High School? 

Thinking about applying to Schuylkill?

Come out and Spend a Summer Day or Evening at Penn State Schuylkill:

Spend a Summer Day:  Wednesday July 18 at 11am
Spend a Summer Evening:  Thursday Aug. 2 at 6:30pm  

These programs feature information on the admissions process, PSU's 160+ degree programs, student life, housing, and much more! Agenda includes: presentation, meal, and campus tour with a Lion Ambassador (student tour guide).

Visiting multiple PSU campuses this summer?  The Schuylkill Spend a Summer Day program on July 18 coordinates well with the Spend a Summer Day program at University Park on Thursday July 19.  Stop in and see Schuylkill on your way to University Park!  

Penn State Schuylkill
ECO FAIR APRIL 23^rd 11am-1pm Mall Walk

Come see what Penn State and local companies and community organizations are

doing to preserve the environment.

Learn what you can do to help!

Presenters include:

STS, Herrings Green Grass Farm,

Schuylkill Conservation District,

Solar energy information, and MORE…

We are also collecting the following items to benefit the Schuylkill County Animal Response Team:
Cell Phones, Laptop Computers, Inkjet Cartridges, MP3 Players, Digital Cameras, Digital Video Cameras, Handheld Game Systems, GPS Devices, Radar Detectors, electronic Book Readers, Gold, Silver & Platinum Jewelry

Includes free food and give-aways!

Offered Admission to Penn State Schuylkill?

Trying to figure out if we are the right place for you?

Come out to an Academic Major Reception!  Each reception features specific academic areas and will allow you to mix and mingle with Penn State Schuylkill faculty, staff, and students (current and future) in your academic field.  Agenda includes:  faculty session, student panel, dinner, and tour (optional).   Spring 2012 Programs:

Friday April 13 (4:30pm) Featuring: Business, IST, Science, & Engineering

Thursday April 26 (5:30pm) Featuring: Psychology, Administration of Justice, Liberal Arts, Communciations, Education, and Health & Human Development

Call 570-385-6252 or Click Here to Sign up Now!

Administration Building Room 2

Adults interested in coming back to school can stop by anytime between 10am and 6pm to meet with the Adult Enrollment Coordinator. They will learn about degree opportunities, the admissions process, and financial aid.

For more information call 570-385-6112 or email smw29@psu.edu

RN to BS Information Session:

Wednesday, April 11  6pm-7pm

Health and Wellness Center

-Learn about the Penn State Schuylkill RN to BS program -Students can bring their transcripts for an evaluation -Call to REGISTER 570-385-6112 or email smw29@psu.edu

Penn State Schuylkill will be holding Spring 2012 graduation on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 10:00 am in the Gymnasium, Lower Level of the Health and Wellness Building. Schuylkill County District Attorney Karen Byrnes-Noon will be the keynote speaker.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Karen Byrnes-Noon is a 1977 graduate of Pottsville Area High School.  She began her studies at Penn State Schuylkill and then finished at the University Park campus with a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice.  She graduated in May 1981 with highest distinction. In 1985 she graduated from The Dickinson School of Law.  She was a law clerk for the now retired President Judge George Heffner.  She has been a prosecutor for over twenty-five years, twenty-three of them in Schuylkill County.  In January she was named the County’s first woman District Attorney.  She was the first attorney to present DNA evidence in Schuylkill County and the first to present this type of evidence in a homicide case.

Of all the jobs she has had, she says being a mom has been the most fun, challenging, and rewarding.  She and her husband of twenty years, David, have two children, Daniel and Molly.

Karen is a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Ashland, past president of the former Immaculate Heart Home and School, former treasurer of the Spartan Football Half-time Club, a member of the LAOH Girardville Division, the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association, and the Pennsylvania and Schuylkill County Bar Associations.  She is also an active member of the American Cancer Relay for life team, “The Sole Sisters.”

Karen wishes all the Penn State Schuylkill graduates great success in their endeavors.

The Undergraduate Research Program is hosting Dr. Cory Scherer's presentation of his research this Friday, March 30, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. in the Fryer Conference Center (C101). Dr. Scherer's research is "Evolutionary psychology and mate preferences: The case for the widower." Light refreshments will be served. No reservations are necessary for this program, which is open to the campus and community.

Rose Baker, co-chair-elect of Penn State's Commission for Women, has announced that Barbara Kaunas, administrative support assistant at Penn State Schuylkill, has been selected as the winner of the Achieving Women Award in the staff non-exempt category. Each year, the Commission for Women honors women who have shown notable leadership and are accomplished in their fields, have supported the University’s diversity efforts and promoted equal opportunity, and/or have contributed to human causes and public service activities.

Kaunas is being recognized for her contributions to both women and Penn State.

She will be honored, with six other award winners, at a University-wide luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 16, at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on the University Park campus.

Penn State Schuylkill adult learner Dolores Delin, 83, has a lifetime of experience to share with her classmates. Delin, who was encouraged to attend college by her grandchildren, was featured in a recent article in the Pottsville Republican Herald. To read the article, visit http://goo.gl/KtnEr online.

Penn State Schuylkill will hold its Annual Bunny Trail of Treats on Sunday, March 25.  The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Penn State Schuylkill Gymnasium, just follow the balloons!  This event is FREE and open to the community. There will be treats, crafts, games, and music!  The Bunny Trail of Treats is for kids 12 and under and must be accompanied by an adult. Don't forget your basket to collect your treats! 

CHAOS ON THE COURT 2012: Students and Faculty/Staff Needed for 3^rd Annual Faculty/Staff vs. Students Volleyball Game

Date: Sunday March 25, 2012

Location: Gym

Time: 5:00pm

Interested in Playing???

Students:  Form a team and sign up today with John Cooper in the Gym  (Team Guidelines: 6-10 Students & Must be Co-Ed)

Student teams will compete in a sudden death tournament.  The top student team will play the Faculty/Staff for the campus title!

Faculty/Staff:  Contact Janelle Gruber (jlh552@psu.edu) to join the Faculty/Staff team!

Spectators welcome!  Even if you don’t want to play in the game, this is a great day to support campus events: “Bunny Trail of Treats” (1:00pm-3:00pm) and “Chaos on the Court” (5:00pm).

Check out Spring Open Houses at Penn State Schuylkill

Saturday March 17
Saturday April 21

Making admissions decisions?

Just starting to think about applying to Penn State?

No matter where you are in the process, Spring Open Houses at Penn State Schuylkill are here for you!  Get your questions answered at our presentation, panel discussion, and information fair. Find out what classes are like at this campus in our classroom experiences, with campus faculty members.  See our beautiful campus (including on campus housing) in a tour lead by our student tour guides the Lion Ambassadors. Lunch included!  Open House programs have a structured agenda and begin promptly at 10am.  If you are interested, please register ahead of time as lunch is provided.

 Charles Cantalupo, distinguished professor of English, comparative literature and African studies at Penn State Schuylkill, will be hosting a reading and book signing of his recent release "Joining Africa: From Anthills to Asmara," at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 21, in The Ciletti Library on the campus of Penn State Schuylkill.

This eye-opening personal history tells the story of an American college professor's 20 year engagement with a thriving Africa rarely encountered by Western visitors.  The book, which is adventurous, spiritual, political and humorous all at once, is a unique documentary of a journey through the continent. The Africa presented here is neither a postcolonial study nor an exotic tourist destination. In vibrant prose, Cantalupo's book extends a stirring invitation to re-evaluate how we engage with this remarkable part of the world.

More information available at www.joiningafrica.com

Lion for a Day

Thinking about becoming a Penn State Schuylkill student for Fall 2012?  Experience life as a student at a Lion for a Day program. This program allows you to experience a typical college day with a current student.  Agenda includes: Campus Tour, Lunch in the Hidden Stream Café, Attending a Real College Class, and Meeting with an Admissions Counselor.

Lion for a Day programs will each last several hours.  We encourage family members to enjoy our local community while their student takes part in our program.  Our staff would be happy to direct you on eating, shopping, and local attractions. Seating is limited for each program so register today!  Check out one of our Spring 2012 programs:

Friday March 23 (1pm-4pm): Featured Class ASTRONOMY

Thursday April 5 (1:45pm-4:45pm): Featured Class COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Friday April 6 (AM: 10am-1pm & PM: 1pm-4pm):  Featured Class HISTORY

Monday April 9 (1pm-4pm): Featured Class: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY STUDIES

Please register for one of these FREE programs by calling 570-385-6252.

To register online, please click Schedule a Visit  

BY THOMAS LESKIN (STAFF WRITERTLESKIN@REPUBLICANHERALD.COM), Published: January 17, 2012

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Although to some, While Martin Luther King Jr. Day may be just another holiday, Penn State students used the day Monday to try to spur change by giving back to the community.

"It is very fitting to honor Dr. King with service activities, given that his life was spent giving service to others," said Dr. Stephen Couch, interim chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill. "I think providing service to others underlines our common mutuality, and it also treats others who may be very different from ourselves as our brothers and sisters, as common members of the human race, people who deserve to be treated with dignity, with respect and with love."

Students from five regional campuses - Penn State Schuylkill, Hazleton, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Lehigh Valley - participated in a breakfast, watched an opening video with clips from King's speeches, heard musical performances, listened to a guest speaker, which included a documentary about the conflict in Africa, and went out to perform community service projects.

Tina Rose, coordinator of student leadership, career development and community service at Penn State Schuylkill, said that the collaborative event, in which about 50 students participated, is held at a different campus every year.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day program was in its fourth year and will be held at Penn State Scranton next year.

Natasha Bliss, of Invisible Children, spoke about how the nonprofit grassroots organization came to be and what it does. She also showed a documentary made by the organization called "Tony," which follows the story of a Ugandan boy who grew up during conflict.

"It's really wonderful for me to be here today, especially for Martin Luther King Day," Bliss said. "For Invisible Children, this is a very revered day. We idolize Martin Luther King because he really set the foundation for our organization."

Invisible Children formed after the spring of 2003 when three young filmmakers - Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Laren Poole - traveled to Africa in search of a story and stumbled upon Africa's longest-running war, a conflict where children were both the weapons and the victims.

They produced the documentary "Invisible Children: Rough Cut" in 2005, first showing it to their friends and family, but eventually having showings throughout the nation.

It showed the war in northern Uganda. For the past 23 years, the Lord's Resistance Army and the government of Uganda have been waging a war that has left nearly two million innocent civilians caught in the middle.

The documentary depicts night commuting, where children of northern Uganda would be forced to walk miles from their village homes to city streets where it would be safe to sleep and then return home the next day, Bliss said.

Children feared being abducted by the LRA led by terrorist Joseph Kony, because they would either be killed or end up as members of the army.

It also concentrates around "Tony," through the death of his mother, his life during school, his travel to the United States and the loss of his close friend, Nate Henn, who worked with Invisible Children for a year and a half as a "roadie" or staff member, traveling all over the U.S. speaking about the organization's cause. He was killed by an explosion in a July 2010 terrorist attack in Kampala, Uganda, that ripped through a rugby field where hundreds of people had gathered to watch the final match of the World Cup.

Bliss said that since "Invisible Children: Rough Cut" was filmed in 2003, night commuting has ended for the children of northern Uganda. She said 25,000 children had been abducted.

In 2006, Invisible Children Inc. became an official 501(c)3 nonprofit, and it's goal is to remove Joseph Kony, so Uganda no longer has to live in devastating civil war conditions and wayward children can receive an education.

The organization was behind the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009, which was signed by President Barack Obama on May 24, 2010, legislation aimed at stopping Kony and helping the countless children whose lives are at risk.

In October, Obama authorized the deployment of approximately 100 combat-equipped U.S. troops to central Africa to assisting regional forces "remove from the battlefield" Kony and senior LRA leaders.

"I can't think of any better story that personally is more inspirational and so fitting for MLK Day, as Martin and Invisible Children both caused a huge movement," Rose said, adding, "Change begins with you, no matter how big or small, so we're going to go out there today and cause change."

Rose said Invisible Children will visit Penn State Schuylkill again March 14 as part of the Kony 2012 tour. There will also be a Ugandan speaker.

For the community service projects, students from Penn State Schuylkill went to the Hillside SPCA, Pottsville, and Child Development, Minersville. Students from the Wilkes-Barre campus went to the Orwigsburg food pantry; Scranton campus students went to Rest Haven nursing home, Schuylkill Haven; Lehigh Valley campus student went to the Walk-In Art Center, Schuylkill Haven, and Hazleton campus students went to the Schuylkill YMCA and Historical Society of Schuylkill County, both in Pottsville.

Daniel Wells, 20, of Prince George's County, Md., a sophomore at Penn State Schuylkill, sang and played the piano during the morning events, then volunteered at Hillside SPCA, cleaning out the van used to transport animals.

"It's good to play music that goes with the occasion and you can make people feel a certain type of way with the music that you're playing," Wells said. "I like to do community service. Every little bit helps."

Kelly M. Austin, vice president of finance and administration at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, has been named the new chancellor at Penn State Schuylkill, effective June 1. He replaces previous Schuylkill chancellor R. Keith Hillkirk, who moved to the same role at Penn State Berks in 2011. Stephen Couch, director of academic affairs, has served as interim chancellor since July.

"Dr. Austin brings exceptional leadership experience to Penn State Schuylkill," said Madlyn Hanes, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses. "His accomplished service in senior administrative roles -- most notably in finance and business operations, academic and student support and community relations -- speaks to his broad expertise."

"It is an honor and a privilege to join the Penn State community, a nationally recognized institution of higher learning, as chancellor of the Schuylkill campus," Austin said. "Penn State Schuylkill’s reputation for producing high quality graduates prepared for the jobs of the future is well known, and the excellence attributed to the first-class faculty and staff have positioned the campus for prosperity in an increasingly unstable national and international climate. I look forward to working with the campus community to serve the evolving workforce and cultural, artistic and educational needs of the citizens of the region and beyond."

Austin has been in his current role since 2008, serving as the chief business and administration officer of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. His duties include the development and implementation of a strategic plan, collaboration with senior officers to ensure student retention and leading the development and implementation of the campus operating budget, capital budget and auxiliary budget, among other responsibilities.

He also coordinates budget and administrative operations within larger University of Pittsburgh operations and oversees units including business operations, facilities management, athletics, information technology, budget office, campus police, housing, human resources, purchasing, the campus bookstore and dining services.

From 2007-08, Austin served as vice president of student affairs, where his duties included the development of a comprehensive outside-the-classroom student experience focused on leadership, involvement and service. He worked to foster a campus-wide student-centered atmosphere and an inclusive, open and safe environment while overseeing a residential student population of 1,800.

"Dr. Austin is regarded by his colleagues in the higher education community as an innovative leader, skillful at building positive community relations and strategic planning, and committed to shared governance and student-centered learning," Hanes said.

Austin earned his Ph.D. in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He holds an M.B.A from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and bachelor's and master's degrees from Slippery Rock University.

Prior to joining the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, he served in multiple roles working directly with students at Embry-Riddle, including coordinator of first generation student programs, education specialist and academic advisor for first year programs and assistant director of student activities. He joined the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 2006 as director of student unions and student activities.

He has been active in numerous community service organizations, including United Way, Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish, Habitat for Humanity and March of Dimes.

"I am confident that Penn State Schuylkill will enjoy its long-standing tradition of educational excellence and realize significant progress in the coming years under Dr. Austin's leadership," Hanes said.

Students and parents are invited to complete their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at our FAFSA workshop on Wed. Feb. 8, 2012 at 6:00pm in 002 Classroom Building. To be reviewed for any type of financial aid at Penn State, students must have a current FAFSA on file, so take advantage of this brief FAFSA completion session to get your 2012/2013 aid started.  Please call 570-385-6252 to sign up. 

Participating students and parents will need to come prepared with the following:

1.) FAFSA student pin number

2.) FAFSA parent pin number (both types of pin numbers available at www.pin.ed.gov)

 3.) Completed taxes or the last pay stub for both student and parents

Call 570-385-6252 to Register for FAFSA Completion Night Wed. Feb. 8, 2012 at 6:00pm in C-2

Charles Cantalupo, distinguished professor of English, comparative literature and African studies at Penn State Schuylkill, has published a new book. "Joining Africa," published by Michigan State University Press, is an eye-opening personal history, telling the story of an American college professor’s 20-year engagement with a thriving Africa rarely encountered by Western visitors, including connections to poets across the continent.

At once adventurous, spiritual, political, dreamlike, and humorous, "Joining Africa" is a unique documentary of a journey through the continent, including an intense five-year encounter with economically struggling but culturally fertile Eritrea.

Miners Bank recently donated a stained-glass dome valued at $25,000 to Penn State Schuylkill. The dome, separated into nine sections with a corresponding metal frame, was removed from the ceiling of the Miners Bank Tremont Branch. The Tremont Branch was built in 1910 and the dome was part of its original construction. For several years, the dome -- comprised of leaded stained glass and 9 feet in diameter -- was covered and hidden from view.

"We are very pleased to donate the dome to Penn State and we hope it will be enjoyed for many years to come," said George H. Groves, president/CEO of Miners Bank. 

Stephen R. Couch, interim chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill said,  "I am delighted that Miner's Bank has given Penn State Schuylkill this beautiful historic glass dome. We greatly appreciate their generosity and look forward to finding a prominent place to display the dome on our campus."

Currently discussions are under way to find a permanent location for the dome on campus.

The committee, chaired by Pamela Black, associate professor of criminal justice and borough resident, will be charged with recommending actions to improve the climate on campus and campus relations with the Borough of Schuylkill Haven. Volunteers will be sought at the meeting for borough resident participation on the committee.

The committee will submit preliminary recommendations to Stephen Couch, interim chancellor at Penn State Schuylkill, by Feb. 1, 2012.

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Eric C. Dreisbach, ‘11
BS Administration of Justice, December 2011

Commencement at Penn State Schuylkill on December 15, 2011 will be a momentous day for one of our local veterans. Eric C. Dreisbach will receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice. Eric attended Penn State Schuylkill with funding from his GI Bill benefits.

Why did I choose Penn State Schuylkill?

“I always wanted to go to school near my hometown of Pine Grove, and fortunately PSU Schuylkill offered the degree I wanted. It is only 10 or so miles from my house, and I liked the fact that it’s a rural school. Their Administration of Justice program is also probably one of the best in the state. The professors who teach the program are very good at their jobs, and they were always there to help out if anyone needed guidance.” 

What has my experience been like at Penn State Schuylkill?

“In transitioning from military life to college, I had to adjust to the more ‘laid back’ atmosphere. The level of discipline in the military is much different than the college experience. I’ve made some close friends at Penn State Schuylkill; among them not just students but faculty as well. It’s been very rewarding. I’ve gathered a vast amount of knowledge on the criminal justice system, and had the privilege to learn from some of the best professors Penn State has to offer. There are plenty of faculty who are always there to provide a helping hand.”

“Penn State Schuylkill was very supportive when I needed to take four semesters off during my deployment to Iraq during 2009 through early 2010. This did have a big impact on my studies. A lot of the friends I had made during my first two years graduated while I was gone. When I came back I was the new ‘old guy’ and I had to make friends with the new students. It also was tough getting back into the ‘school mode’ after being overseas for so long, and out of school.”

Why did I decide to join the military?

“I joined the military because of a strong sense of patriotism and desire to serve my country. I’ve always had the utmost respect for those who wear the uniform, and it would be the greatest honor…to wear it standing beside them. My greatest accomplishment while serving in the military was graduating from advanced individual training as a 19 Delta Cavalry Scout in Fort Knox, KY. This school was both physically and mentally demanding, especially as a young eighteen year old adult. Graduation day was one of the proudest days of my life.”

How was the Veterans benefits process at Penn State Schuylkill?

“I found Penn State Schuylkill to be very supportive through the Veterans benefits process. The Veteran’s representative on campus sent out all of the necessary paperwork every semester. All I had to do was fill out the paperwork and send it back to the Veteran’s representative, overall it was a very simple process.”

What are my career goals for the future? 

“With my Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice degree, I’m looking for a position in law enforcement or I may try for a commission in the Army through the Officer’s Candidate School. My four year degree will make that option very possible.”

Interested in learning more about Veterans Services at Penn State Schuylkill?

At Penn State Schuylkill we are proud to serve Veterans. Our campus utilizes a team approach to Veterans Services, which aims to provide Veterans with a one stop shop to meet their needs. For additional information or to view the members of our Veterans Services team please click here to view our Veterans Services page.

-- University Police patrols of campus residence halls have been increased during nighttime hours.

-- Additional police from Penn State’s Berks campus will be added to the Schuylkill campus force for an increased presence on the patrols.

-- Many scheduled student events have been postponed until the spring semester of 2012.

-- Students must vacate housing within 24 hours of their last exam.

-- The Penn State Schuylkill Office of Student Conduct, in an ongoing effort, continues to implement sanctions against the students involved.

Couch said he will lead efforts in the coming days, weeks and months to strengthen the conversation about nonviolence and mutual respect, both on campus and in the Schuylkill Haven community. The chancellor said he has decided to accelerate the initial timeframe for creation of the committee, as well as the delivery of their recommendations. Couch said he would now like to see an initial report no later than Feb. 1, and he will share their report with the campus and the wider community at that time.

“The committee will be charged with recommending actions that will improve the climate on campus and between the campus and the Schuylkill Haven community,” Couch said. “I am determined to take the necessary steps to get to the root of the violence and incivility that plague some parts of our campus community.”

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, senior campus administrators attended a meeting of the Schuylkill Haven Borough Council to address the violent nature of events taking place on Dec. 4. Attending the meeting along with Couch were Tammie Durham, director of Enrollment Services; Matthew Swatchick, director of Student Affairs; and Pamela Black, director of Academic Affairs. The campus administrators responded to the concerns of several community members in attendance.

Students, faculty and staff members who have been affected by recent events are encouraged to reach out to Campus Counseling at 570-385-6127, or visit http://www.sl.psu.edu/StudentServices/counseling.htm for more information. Campus Counseling’s services are strictly confidential.

Police urge campus community members to remember to walk on well-lit paths, walk in groups and report suspicious behavior or individuals immediately to police at 570-385-6144 or 911. For more information about safety services at Penn State Schuylkill, visit http://www.sl.psu.edu/Information/Safety/cservices.htm online.

Penn State Schuylkill will be holding Fall 2011 graduation on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gymnasium, Lower Level of the Health and Wellness Building.  Allen Kiefer will be the keynote speaker.

Allen Kiefer has a long and distinguished career in banking and finance.  His banking career began over 30 years ago starting in a small community bank as a trainee and subsequently attaining positions as a cashier, investment officer, trust department manager, and president and CEO.

Mr. Kiefer is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Investment Advisor. In 2000, he formed Kiefer Investment Services, an investment advisory and money management firm, specializing in wealth creation, growth and retention through asset allocation. The firm also offers brokerage and insurance services.

 Mr. Kiefer’s military background includes serving in the US Army as a First Lieutenant.  His service included the position of Division Medical Supply Officer, 9th Infantry Division, Vietnam.  He was awarded the Combat Medical Badge, Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal.

Mr. Keifer began his post-secondary education at the Penn State Schuylkill Campus.  He is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics in 1965. He also attended The Graduate School of Business Administration at Temple University and completed specialized banking courses at Bucknell University, Mellon Bank, Duke University, and the University of Wisconsin.

Mr. Kiefer proudly serves on many community organization boards. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Schuylkill Health System, the President of the Penn State Schuylkill Advisory Board, and a member of the Rotary Club of Pottsville. He has previously served as Campaign Chairman for Schuylkill United Way and Co-chairman for the Ciletti Library Campaign at Penn State Schuylkill.

 On Tuesday, November 8, 2011, Penn State Schuylkill Campus will host Michael Seibel, Stage and Opera Director - Professor of Drama, Improvisation and Voice as a guest lecturer.  The lecture will be on Greek Theater and its Manifestations in Western Culture and will be held at 2pm in the Morgan Auditorium on campus.

Born in German, he has lived the last 17 years in Greece.  He has directed theatre and opera performances in Germany and Greece (such as National Theatre Athens, Opera House Thessalonika).  He was awarded international theatre awards (such as "Best Directing" at the international Theatre Festival for experimental in Cairo 2000/ "Best Performance at the Festalll "Encounter" for Drama Schools in Brno iin CZech Republic 1999)

He was Artistic Director of theatre groups, theatre programs and festivals ( such as Artistic Director at Theatre Festival "Nauwieser Theater Fest in Saarbrücken, German 1994-96/Artistic Director for the theatrical program at Film Festival "Max Ophuls" in Saarbrücken, German 1995).

The lecture is open to the campus community.

Noted Eritrean author Alemseged Tesfai will deliver his talk "Global Diversity ... The More We Get Together" at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, in The Morgan Auditorium, Penn State Schuylkill. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Alemseged Tesfai is the most prominent writer in Eritrea, a country in the Horn of Africa that is bordered by Sudan, Djibouti and Ethiopia  His books include history, political analysis, novels, short stories, plays, criticism and tales for children. 

As an intellectual and a fighter himself, he played a critical role in shaping and sustaining Eritrean culture during the war, when he also authored a collection of short stories, "Wedi Hadera", and his most famous play, "The Other War," published together with "Two Weeks in the Trenches"  in the United States and Eritrea. 

In 2000, he translated and published Ngugi wa Thiongo's "I Will Marry When I Want (Ms Teberhani Emir'o)", which went on to be widely performed in a national tour of Eritrea. His "magnum opus" is a history of Eritrea's struggle for independence, in three volumes and over 2,000 pages written in Tigrinya. Tesfai is the head of the History Project in Eritrea's Research and Documentation Center.

Lawyer turned freedom fighter, Tesfai is a pre-eminent historian and dramatist. A quarter of a century ago, he abandoned a promising academic career at the University of Wisconsin to join the fledgling Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front to fight for Eritrea's freedom.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- An application available starting Tuesday (Sept. 27) through eLion gives Penn State students at all campuses the opportunity to compare their non-class schedule conflicts with open courses to make scheduling classes easier.

Schedule Planner, an online application, aligns a student's intended courses with self-identified event conflicts -- such as a recurring work schedule, meetings, rehearsals and practice times -- and reports back open class sections that work around those conflicts.

"We view Schedule Planner as a secure way for students to use technology to make course registration an easier process," Karen Schultz, University registrar, said. "We believe the service will give students the ability to tailor their course options to the demands of their daily and weekly extracurricular activities."

At any time, even prior to open registration dates, students can log in to eLion and select the Schedule Planner link, which redirects them to the Schedule Planner website. There they list all known blocks of time that they are unavailable for classes along with the courses they wish to take for an upcoming semester. Schedule Planner returns all open class sections that fit open blocks of time. Students then return to eLion, and enter their preferred sections from Schedule Planner's personalized results to complete course registrations.

The registrar's office will send Schedule Planner hourly updates regarding section space availability. Additional features of Schedule Planner allow students to save their listed schedule conflicts for future use and offer the ability to lock in a particular section of a desired course.

Schedule Planner is available through the eLion website.

Thinking about applying to Penn State for Fall 2012? 

Join us for Penn State Day Saturday October 22 at 10:00am! 

Penn State Day is an open house program that will include information about the Penn State system, the admissions process, and specifics about the Schuylkill campus.   Penn State Day also provides interactive experiences including: student panel, staff panel, classroom experience (with current faculty members), information fair, lunch, and campus tours.

Please register for this FREE program by calling 570-385-6252.

To register online for Penn State Schuylkill's Penn State Day, please click here: Schedule a Visit  

As of July 1, Mary Feeney Bonawitz, assistant professor of accounting at Penn State Schuylkill, was installed as chair of the American Society of Women Accountants Educational Foundational (ASWAEF).

The Foundation is a 501 c(3) sister organization of the ASWA with a mission to promote financial literacy and award scholarships. The ASWAEF has worked with the FDIC through its many chapters to promote its Money Smart Program in the communities served by the chapters. The foundation provides professional certification and undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree scholarships through its fundraising activities. Through relationships with corporate sponsors, the foundation also provides certified public accountant exam review scholarships to the regions served by ASWA.

Want to be a Lion for a Day?

Thinking about applying to Penn State Schuylkill for Spring 2012 or Fall 2012?  Experience life as a Penn State Schuylkill student at a Lion for a Day program. Our Lion for a Day  allows you to experience a typical college day with a current student.  Visit agenda includes: Campus Tour, Lunch in the Hidden Stream Café, Attending a Real College Class, and Meeting with an Admissions Counselor.

Lion for a Day programs will each last several hours.  We encourage family members to enjoy our local community while their student takes part in our program.  Our staff would be happy to direct you on eating, shopping, and local attractions.  Seating is limited for each program so register today!

Tuesday Oct. 25, 2011 (10:45am-2:00pm) Featured Course: Fundamentals of Acting

Friday Nov. 4, 2011 (11:00am-2:00pm) Featured Course: Introduction to Human Development & Family Studies

Friday Nov. 11, 2011 (10:45am-1:45pm) Featured Course: Introduction to the Psychology of Gender

Monday Nov. 28, 2011 (10:45am-2:00pm) Featured Course: American Civilization Since 1877

 Please register one of these FREE programs by calling 570-385-6252.

The Penn State Schuylkill Commission for Women and members of the campus' Dance Marathon (THON) team have gathered 50 teddy bears for donation to children at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. The bears will be given to children entering the emergency room and the pediatric unit, and to children being treated in the hospital's hematology and oncology units.

Each bear sports a navy T-shirt that reads, "Penn State Loves You." The bears will be presented to the Penn State Hershey Medical Center on Oct. 11.

Penn State Schuylkill students raised $8,400 recently in a series of canning events in Schuylkill County as part of the The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately referred to as THON. The students collected funds at Boyer's Markets locations in Schuylkill Haven and Orwigsburg, Pa., and at Palermo's restaurant in Minersville, Pa.  The funds will go to the Four Diamonds Fund, which offers financial and emotional support to pediatric cancer patients and their families, and also funds cancer research.

Since THON began in 1973, Penn State students from across the commonwealth have combined to raise more than $78 million for the Four Diamonds Fund. THON now is known as the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.

• Identify risk factors for harm to law enforcement officers, specifically those related to persons who are in crisis and or suffering from symptoms of a serious mental illness.
• Recognize the symptoms of the three serious mental illnesses most commonly suffered by persons in our criminal justice system, including risk factors for suicide.
• Discuss serious mental illnesses from a consumer/family member perspective(s).
• Apply communication and de-escalation techniques to maintain officer and citizen safety when interacting with a person in crisis.
• Summarize general county crisis service procedures and perspective, and the meaning of the phrase “clear and present danger of harm to others or self” as used in the Pennsylvania Mental Health Procedures Act.

Stephen R. Couch, professor of sociology and professor of science, technology and society, is interim chancellor at Penn State Schuylkill. Prior to assuming the position on July 1, Couch served for four years as the director of academic affairs at the campus.

After receiving an undergraduate degree in music from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, he remained at Oberlin College for a master's degree in sociology. His received his doctorate in sociology from Binghamton University, N.Y.

An award-winning teacher and researcher, Couch is co-author of four books and has written more than 30 published articles, most of them dealing with environmental sociology and technological hazards. He has presented the results of his research at conferences throughout the United States, as well as in Europe, Mexico and Japan. His current research interests are on community breakdown and recovery from environmental risks, popular culture and disasters, and the collective construction of meaning by groups victimized by modern technology.

Couch has served as an expert witness in several cases involving environmental contamination. He has consulted in his areas of expertise for numerous governmental and business organizations, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and Borden Chemicals. He is past chair of the Environment and Technology Division of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, former editor of Social Problems Forum, has been a member of the board of directors of the Sociological Practice Association, and sat on the council of the Environment and Technology Section of the American Sociological Association.

Couch resides in Orwigsburg with his wife Kathy. He loves spending leisure time with her, his two granddaughters (7-year-old Stephanie and 4-year-old Kaitlyn) and their parents (daughter Amanda and son-in-law Drew).

By July, 16 Penn State campuses will have new high-technology classrooms equipped with identical high-definition video conferencing technologies that will enable faculty and students in up to four locations to participate in the same course at the same time. The classrooms are part of Penn State's new Video Learning Network (VLN). The goal of this network is to help Pennsylvania adults acquire the knowledge and skills they need for today's jobs -- which often require college degrees or specialized training -- conveniently at a Penn State campus close to home.

A VLN team is assessing career development opportunities within Pennsylvania. "We are pulling together data on long-term employment opportunities throughout the Commonwealth, the Penn State academic programs that will prepare Pennsylvania adult learners for these careers, and the campuses that have VLN classrooms to offer the programming most needed in their area," said Rosemarie Piccioni, who recently was appointed director of the Penn State Video Learning Network. She said a new report indicates there is employment growth in the health care, business, finance, engineering, nursing and education sectors.

Piccioni is responsible for overseeing the installation of VLN classrooms at Penn State campuses. She added, "The teaching and learning technologies available to faculty through the VLN classrooms are making it easier for them to reach students in multiple locations simultaneously in ways that meet the different learning styles of learners."

This summer, professional certificate programs and general education courses are being offering at many Penn State campuses through the VLN in accelerated seven-week formats. In the fall, a wider range of general education courses and certificate programs will be available. Starting in fall 2012, the first bachelor's degree programs will be offered.

The Video Learning Network includes the following Penn State locations: Berks, DuBois, Behrend, Fayette, Great Valley, Greater Allegheny, Harrisburg, Hazleton, the Learning Center in Lewistown, Lehigh Valley, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Schuylkill, University Park, the Williamsport Center, and York.

Penn State Outreach serves more than 5 million people each year, delivering more than 2,000 programs to people in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, all 50 states and 114 countries worldwide.

Tuesday, April 19 at 6:00 p.m.

Penn State University, Schuylkill Campus

Health and Wellness Building, Room 201

RSVP by April 11 to kdb132@psu.edu or 570-385-6115

The Commission for Women Award is a University-wide recognition that highlights the hard work of a technical service employee at Penn State. Shade works in the campus's Hidden Stream Café, a food court that features a large menu of snacks and meals for students during the school week. She also oversees Schuylkill's catering service.

"Penny goes above and beyond to provide students and the community here with incredible service," Penn State Hazleton and Schuylkill Housing and Food Services Director Jonathan Kukta said.

Shade will be honored at a ceremony on Friday, April 15 at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Kukta submitted the nomination and he said it wasn't difficult to find campus members to write supporting testimonials on Shade's behalf.

"I was delighted to learn that Penny is being honored for her achievements," Keith Hillkirk, Penn State Schuylkill chancellor, said. "She provides outstanding customer service in our campus café and it's essential that we recognize and celebrate excellence in the service and leadership exemplified by employees like Penny."

Shade said she was equally excited and surprised about winning the award. She added that "it's an honor to be highly respected and appreciated by my peers."
Shade's culinary life doesn't stop at the Hidden Stream Café. After work, she takes culinary arts classes at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. Additionally, she also substitute teaches culinary classes at Northumberland Vo Tech in Shamokin.

"I love putting on my chef coat every day," she said. "There's just an endless amount of neat stuff you can do with food. If I can be a chef, I can smile."
Kukta said Shade brings a wealth of knowledge to the kitchen that is something the staff and students benefit from every day.

"Penny continuously displays the 'wow' factor to our students, faculty and staff," he said. "What makes Penny stand out is her student-centered approach in particular."

"The Wiz" is a children's show, something that people of all ages could enjoy.  "The Wiz" is a funky musical version of the L. Frank Baum story "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," telling the story of Dorothy, a Kansas farm girl, who is lifted to the land of Oz by a tornado. She meets a few friends, including a scarecrow, tin man and lion, as she follows the yellow brick road in search of the wizard who will help her get home.

According to Cathy Fiorillo, Assistant Professor of Theatre and Speech and Theatre minor advisor at Penn State Schuylkill , Penn State Schuylkill is updating the show and making it its own.

Tickets are now on sale for "The Wiz".  General Admission is $10, Children and Seniors $ 8.00 PSU Schuylkill Students are free.

The Penn State Schuylkill Alumni Society is co-sponsoring “Penn State Day At Knoebels Amusement Park” on Saturday, May 21, 2011.

We all know how much fun Knoebels can be. Just add a large crowd of PENN STATERS and the day will get even better!
Let’s Go State!!!!!!!

 
Reservation deadline: Friday, May 6, 2011.

For more information, call 570-385-6115

• Penn State Hazleton Alumni Society
• Penn State Schuylkill Alumni Society
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni Society
• Penn State Worthington Scranton Alumni Society
• Greater Scranton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association
• Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association
• Schuylkill Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association
• Susquehanna Valley Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association

The workshop will open with a keynote address by Judge John E. Jones III, United States district justice of the Middle District of Pennsylvania. In 2005, Jones presided over the landmark case of Kitzmiller v. Dover School District, after which he held that it was unconstitutional to teach intelligent design within a public school science curriculum in what has come to be known as the Dover Decision.

Jones will present "From Scopes to Kitzmiller: The Legal Battle Regarding Teaching Evolution in Public Schools." His talk will trace the legal cases starting with the Scopes trial in Tennessee up to today, including Kitzmiller, and highlight the reasons for the jurisprudential progression. His presentation also will highlight matters related to the Supreme Court and the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment.

Feb. 22 marked the date that Penn State was founded in 1855 as a publicly supported agricultural college. In 1863, Penn State was designated as Pennsylvania’s land-grant college -- a distinction that only Penn State holds and a designation that created a university to educate large segments of society that had not yet been served by higher education. To underscore Penn State’s important relationship with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Penn State Outreach has created a video that highlights the many successes of the University and the individuals whose lives have been touched by Penn State.

As one of the nation’s first land-grant institutions, Penn State has been in a partnership with Pennsylvania for nearly 150 years. Through this partnership, Penn State has provided both access to education and expertise to help solve some of society’s most pressing problems.

“It’s a designation that meant Penn State would work to improve the well-being of farmers and industrial workers,” said Penn State President Graham Spanier. “It meant that Penn State was one of the ‘people’s universities,’ created to make a difference in the lives of citizens.”

Today, Penn State plays a significant role in education, research and service that supports the development of the Commonwealth and its residents.

“Penn State is proud of its partnership with Pennsylvania and remains committed to the Commonwealth as we move forward in the 21st Century,” said Spanier.

To learn more about this unique partnership, click on the video link: http://thepartnership.psu.edu.

There are a number of subscriptions in the system that remain unvalidated. "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 will help to make those people aware that their PSUTXT accounts are not active and they need to complete their subscription validations," Mountz said.

Validation is necessary for subscriptions to become active to ensure that those receiving the messages actually want them and that nobody has subscribed them without their knowledge. It also confirms that the cell phone number and carrier information was entered correctly so messages can be delivered to the subscriber.

This particular test will involve having PSUTXT administrators from 23 Penn State campuses log into the server simultaneously and send SMS and e-mail messages to nearly 90,000 subscribers, putting as much strain on the vendor's servers as possible to test their ability to handle the load. The vendor, e2Campus, also will be able to use the results of the test to check for any problems with connections to cell providers.

"Text message aggregators in general experienced some issues with a connectivity to carriers such as Verizon Wireless in recent weeks. This test will help confirm that the carrier bind connectivity is working properly," said Eric Polovich of e2Campus.

Those who receive the test message on Feb. 23 do not need to take any action. Anyone who initiated a subscription to PSUTXT but does not receive the test message on Feb. 23 should log into the PSUTXT system by going to http://live.psu.edu/psutxt online. Penn State students, faculty and staff should click on the WebAccess link near the top of that page to login or to create an account using their Penn State access account ID and password. Anyone without a Penn State access account should login or create an account at http://live.psu.edu/psutxt online.

"Once logged in, they should update their cell phone information, and then click on 'Services' to have a new validation code sent," said Mountz. "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.

For more information, send an e-mail toAMountz@psu.edu.

What is it really like to be a Penn State Schuylkill student?  If you want to find out the answer to that question join us for one of our Lion for a Day programs.  Our Lion for a Day programs are geared at students looking to start at Penn State Schuylkill Fall 2011 and the day is focused on you spending time with a current Penn State Schuylkill Student including the following agenda items: 

A Campus Tour

Lunch in the Hidden Stream Cafe

A Talk with our Admissions Counselor

Attending a Real College Class

Each Lion for a Day program will highlight a real college class at Penn State Schuylkill.  We offer a variety of subject areas for students to choose from including:

·         Monday Feb. 21 (1pm-4:30pm) Featured Class: Astronomy

·         Tuesday March 1 (1pm-5pm) Featured Class: Emerging Issues in Technology

·         Tuesday March 17 (9am-1pm) Featured Class: Photography

·         Friday April 8 (10:30am2pm)  Featured Class: Infant & Child Development

·         Friday April 22 (9:30am-1pm) Featured Class: History

Our Lion for a Day programs will each last several hours.  We encourage family members to enjoy our local community while their student takes part in our program.  Our staff would be happy to direct you on eating, shopping, and local attractions.

Please register for this FREE program by calling 570-385-6252.

To register online for a Lion for a Day program please click here.

Making admissions decisions?

Just starting to think about applying to Penn State?

No matter where you are in the process, Spring Open Houses at Penn State Schuylkill are here for you!  Get your questions answered at our presentation, panel discussion, and information fair. Find out what classes are like at this campus in our classroom experiences, with campus faculty members.  See our beautiful campus (including on campus housing) in a tour lead by our student tour guides the Lion Ambassadors! Lunch included!  We are offering 3 Saturday Open Houses dates for Spring 2011:

February 26, 2011

March 19, 2011

April 16, 2011

Open House programs have a structured agenda and begin promptly at 10am.  If you are interested in any of these programs please register ahead of time and lunch is provided.

To register online for Penn State Schuylkill Open House, please click here.

Don’t Miss the Opportunity to get your Financial Aid in Order!

FAFSA Completion Night at PSU Schuylkill

Call to Register 570-385-6244

Wednesday, March 2, at 6 PM in the C2 of the Cotler Computer Center

Parent and Student will need their:

•  PIN numbers,(www.pin.ed.gov)
•  Social Security Numbers
•  Dates of Birth
•  Tax/Financial Information
•  Address of their High School.

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 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  to sign up.

Need help registering for PSUTXT? Click Here for Support from e2Campus

For assistance with PSUTXT service, please contact amountz@psu.edu.