Tracy Morgan is coming to Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) on Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.  Morgan, who plays wild and unpredictable movie star Tracy Jordan in Emmy Award-winning "30 Rock" brings his standup comedy to York.  Tickets to the general public go on sale Dec. 19 at 10 a.m.  Penn State York students may purchase tickets now at the box office with their student I.D.

A standup comic who headlines across the country, TV audiences first met Morgan in his role as "Hustleman" on the hit comedy series "Martin." Morgan next joined "Saturday Night Live" in 1996 where he appeared for seven seasons and created such memorable characters as "Astronaut Jones" and "Brian Fellows." After leaving "Saturday Night Live," Morgan went on to star in his own comedy series "The Tracy Morgan Show" for NBC and as the voice of "Spoonie Luv" on "Crank Yankers." Film credits include: "The Longest Yard," "Little Man," "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," and "Head of State."

Tickets are $42.50 general admission and can be purchased by calling (717) 505-8900 or visiting The Pullo Center Web site at http://www.pullocenter.psu.edu/.  Thanks to the student activities fee at the campus, Penn State York students may receive one of 235 free tickets by finding the Nittany Lion on campus the week of December 15-19 and answering the Tracy Morgan trivia questions or by attending specially announced activities during spring semester.  Penn State York students may also purchase a ticket at the box office for $22.50 with their Penn State York I.D.

With seating for just over 1,000, The Pullo Center offers an intimate venue with full theatre capabilities. The Pullo Center opened at the campus in August 2005. 

Rebecca Blakeslee was named the winner of Penn State York’s first play writing competition for her play, Almost the Weekend, and received the first place prize of $250 during a ceremony on Dec. 16 at the campus.  The contest was sponsored by Penn State York and its Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center).  The second place prize of $150 was awarded to Megan Shawver for her play Liar, Liar.  Both plays are scheduled to be produced in the spring by the Penn State York Theatre Program.

“Both students are excellent writers and I was truly impressed with their work,” said Stuart Stelly, Ph.D., instructor in English and director of the theatre program at Penn State York.  “We are excited to acknowledge their work and look forward to presenting the plays in the spring.”

Blakeslee is a junior at Penn State York who plans to major in media studies.  Although she has been writing for as long as she can remember, and is currently on the second draft of a novel, play writing is a more recent interest.  During a six month stint as a volunteer in Bolivia she stumbled across an anthology of American plays, and what started as stress relief ended as inspiration. Although she has no idea what she will do after graduating, she knows that writing will be part of her future.  She says of her play, “Almost the Weekend is a snapshot of six friends trying to find a balance between the world’s expectations and their own dreams. Confronting life without purpose, they are trapped between cynicism and idealism – something they are only able to ignore for so long.”  Blakeslee is from Lewisberry, PA.

Shawver is a sophomore from Lewistown, PA., and is working to get into film studies at University Park, which she will be attending in January.  Shawver plans to concentrate on screenwriting but is interested in all aspects of film.  She has been active in the community theatre in Lewistown.  She says of her play, “Liar, Liar pokes fun at the gender roles of men while comically emphasizing how those roles can make unexpected turns.”

Penn State York is celebrating its eighth annual fall commencement on Friday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center at the campus. Jennifer Butler Stone, severe accident engineer at AREVA NP and a Penn State graduate, is the commencement speaker.  

In addition to hearing from Stone, Penn State York will continue its tradition of open microphone where graduates can speak for a moment.  The top graduating senior in Penn State York’s baccalaureate programs, Audra R. Weaver, communication arts and sciences; top associate degree graduate, Elizabeth L. Melhorn, business administration; and top master’s degree graduate, Melody K. Reed, master of education in teaching and curriculum; will speak for a few minutes.

A native Yorker, Stone is severe accident engineer at AREVA NP, a company considered a world leader in the design and construction of nuclear power plants.  Stone joined ABREVA NP in June 2006 and works on designing and analyzing the next generation of nuclear power plants to be licensed in the United States.

Prior to her position with AREVA NP, Stone was the lead engineer for Dominion's Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) at North Anna Power Station, a position she accepted upon completion of a degree at Penn State in 2002.  She returned to Penn State full-time in 2004 to complete a master's degree.

A Penn State graduate with a master of science and bachelor of science in nuclear engineering, Stone is a former Penn State York student and is well remembered as an outstanding student both in and out of the classroom.  While at Penn State York, Stone was active in a variety of clubs and organizations.  She served as a Lion Ambassador, secretary to the Student Government Association (SGA), an orientation leader, and a campus co-chair for the Penn State Dance Marathon, known as THON.  She was the recipient of the Eric A. Walker Award at Penn State York, the highest award a Penn State student can receive. In addition she earned two student service awards for enhancing activities on campus and a campus service award for her dedication to THON.  In addition, as a student she worked as a reactor engineering intern at Exelon, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station and PECO Energy, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station.  She is a York County native and a graduate of West York High School.

Stone received several scholarships including the National Academy for Nuclear Training Scholarship, the Dr. Warren Witzeg Scholarship, and the Exelon Scholarship.

She is the co-chair of the AREVA Lynchburg NA-YGN and has served as the college relations chair.  She is the secretary for the American Nuclear Society Young Members Group, and a member of the American Nuclear Society Virginia Chapter, and a board member of the Penn State Nuclear Engineering Society.

Her community service includes working with the United Way Day of Caring and serving as a judge for the York County Science and Engineering Fair, an event close to her heart.

An avid Penn State fan and part of a proud Penn State family, Stone and her husband, Mark, live in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Penn State York will award 38 master of education in teaching and curriculum degrees;  32 baccalaureate degrees: three bachelor of arts in communication arts and sciences; two bachelor of arts in English; two bachelor of arts in letters, arts, and sciences; 13 bachelor of science in business; two bachelor of science in electro-mechanical engineering technology; two bachelor of science in human development and family studies; five bachelor of science in information sciences and technology; and three bachelor of science in science.  The campus will also award 33 associate degrees:  six in business administration; two in electrical engineering technology; four in human development and family studies; six in information sciences and technology, 12 in letters, arts, and sciences (liberal arts), two in mechanical engineering technology, and one in nanofabrication manufacturing technology.   

One Penn State York student who completed her degree work at an upper division campus of Penn State will return to York, her home campus, to receive a degree during the ceremony.  Penn State York offers the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors and those students comprise most of the campus.  The campus will also award an associate degree to a student who completed her degree through the Penn State World Campus.

A reception, sponsored by the Penn State York Alumni Society, will follow the ceremony. 

The powerful sound of the Japanese Taiko drums will fill Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. when Taikoza, Japanese Drumming Ensemble, visits York.  This free performance is part of the campus’ Cultural and Performing Artists Series sponsored by the York Newspaper Company.  No tickets are needed for this show.
 
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). For more information on Taikoza, visit their Web site at www.taikoza.com.

Ten students from Mumbai, India are completing their information sciences and technology (IST) degrees at Penn State York thanks to the fulfillment of an agreement between Penn State and Vidyalankar School of Information Technology in India.  The agreement signed two years ago allows Indian students to take part in a program that combines their first two years of university education in India with their final two years at Penn State York.   This 2 + 2 program is a historic first step in preparing students to work in an international marketplace.  The Vidyalankar School of Information Technology is affiliated with The University of Mumbai. 

 “The 10 students in York are just the beginning.  This program will not only increase the number of international students at Penn State York, it will give our students the opportunity to work alongside future colleagues in the fields of information sciences and technology and to prepare themselves for careers in the global economy of the 21^st century,” said Joel M. Rodney, chancellor of Penn State York.  “I’m looking forward to developing similar programs with universities in other countries.”

Students are enrolled at Vidyalankar in a pre-approved series of courses which parallel Penn State’s information sciences and technology curriculum.   Satisfactory completion of this program enables students to apply, transfer to, and enroll at Penn State York for the completion of their bachelor of science degree in IST.

This is not Penn State York’s first connection with India.    Penn State York students, faculty, and staff traveled to India in May 2006.   The India trip was an outgrowth of an information sciences and technology course (IST 440W) taught by Samir Shah, instructor in information sciences and technology at Penn State York.  This collaborative class project was conducted between Penn State York students and The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India, (M.S. University) students. The project was sponsored by Unisys - a worldwide information technology consulting services and solutions company and although the students were 9,000 miles apart, both universities completed real world projects for the company.   In addition to the classroom work, students enjoyed many cultural experiences and became more familiar with customs and life in India.  

Shah was recently appointed director of the Penn State India Initiative by John Romano, Penn State’s vice president of commonwealth campuses.   An expansion of this initial agreement is the establishment of a multi-campus, multi-cultural India initiative, which now includes Penn State Commonwealth Campuses:  Schuylkill, Berks, Greater Allegheny, Lehigh Valley, Wilkes-Barre, Worthington Scranton, Hazleton, as well as York.  Plans are under way to include more Indian universities in the initiative and to bring students from other Indian universities and colleges to study at the other partner campuses in the initiative within the next two years. 

An additional 10 Vidyalankar students are expected to participate in the program next year in York, Shah said.  Shah is also working on arrangements that would allow Penn State IST students to study at colleges and universities in India as well as to provide opportunities for faculty exchange.

Shantanu Rajadhyaksha, one of the students at York, said he is adjusting well to life here and to courses at Penn State.

“The program in India is definitely more rigid than the one at Penn State,” he said. “Here, we have the opportunity to take courses outside of IST. That’s something we couldn’t have done there because the courses are already planned out when you enroll in the program … there’s no such thing as making your own schedule.”

As an arts lover, Rajadhyaksha said he particularly enjoys the music and theater courses he is taking this semester. He plans to finish his IST degree at Penn State and hopes to pursue a master of business administration.

“Everyone here has been very friendly and is always ready to help,” said Krupali Desai, one of two female students in the group from India.   A vegetarian, one of Desai’s biggest adjustments to the area has been replacing the Indian food which she misses.  Subway’s “veggie delite” has become a staple in her diet. 

Desai’s favorite class is cognitive psychology.   “I enjoy experimenting on other students for our projects and I also like being the subject for in-class experiments,” she said. 

In addition to her studies, Desai has become a member of the Student Activity Fee Committee on campus.  “It is an honor to be a part of the committee.  I feel like I am a treasurer and everyone has to ask my consent for getting money,” she said with a laugh.  “The committee is quite fair having members from all aspects of the campus. I am enjoying meeting new people and I like being involved.”

In addition to Rajadhyaksha and Desai, other students in the program are Rohan Chitalia, Kashmeera Kundargi, Kiran Mody, Akshaya Naik, Akhil Rane, Ashish Rane, Sayur Shah, and Bhaskar Suryakumar.

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker is coming to Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m.   Tickets are on sale now.  Exquisite dancing and spectacular sets and costumes have earned the praise of critics who rave that Anatoli Emelianov’s Great Russian Nutcracker is “flawless,” “breathtaking,” and “dazzling.”
Now celebrating its 16th annual USA tour, Emelianov’s Nutcracker is beloved by audiences and praised by critics for its unique setting of Act II in the Land of Peace and Harmony. Set against Valentin Fedorov’s   scenic design, replete with dancing puppets and a Rousseau inspired backdrop of unicorns, exotic birds and animals, Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian is the must-see production of 2008. 

Tickets are $65, $45, $35, and $25 and can be purchased by calling (717) 505-8900 or visiting The Pullo Center Web site at http://www.pullocenter.psu.edu/.  With seating for just over 1,000, the Pullo Center offers an intimate venue with full theatre capabilities.  The theatre opened at the campus in August 2005.

Tickets are still available for Last Comic Standing at Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m.   The show features the 2008 Last Comic Standing winners, and four finalists from NBC’s hit comedy series.  Winner Iliza Shlesinger and her runners up Marcus, Jeff Dye, Jim Tavare, and Louis Ramey will take to the stage for an evening of laughs from the comic voted by America as the funniest in the world.

Top comedians from 20 countries – including England, Australia, Scotland, Sweden, South Africa, India, New Zealand, Norway, Japan and Israel – auditioned during the international search, which took talent scouts to LA, NY, Toronto, Minneapolis, Houston, Tempe, San Francisco, Nashville and Miami. 

Tickets for Last Comic Standing are $39. For tickets and information on the variety of programs available at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, visit http://www.pullocenter.psu.edu/ or call 717-505-8900.  With seating for just over 1,000, the Pullo Center offers an intimate venue with full theatre capabilities.  The theatre opened at the campus in August 2005.

The first 125 dog tags monogrammed with “PSY BE THEIR HERO” have already sold out at Penn State York and the second batch is selling quickly according to Eric Hudak, 29, a senior at Penn State York and a member of the Veteran’s Club.    Dog tags are being sold for $2 each from noon – 1 p.m. outside the Lion’s Den of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center each day at the campus.  Proceeds from the dog tags will go to purchase items for care packages to send to the troops for the holidays.  Hudak knows a thing or two about being away from home during the holidays.  He has served two tours of duty in the military.

While enlisted in the Army, Hudak was deployed to Bosnia for eight months, and later served one year in Iraq.  Hudak is a member of the Penn State York Veteran’s Club, as well as a student in Joe Downing’s public relations class.  After sharing his experiences with the class, he helped to inspire the students to focus their public relations campaign this semester on supporting the troops during the holiday season.   The class designed a marketing campaign and decided to work along with the Veteran’s Club to help the troops.  Penn State York’s Veteran’s Club had planned to do something to help the troops so a natural alliance formed between the Veteran’s Club and the public relations class to combine their efforts to brighten the holiday season for soldiers deployed overseas at this difficult time of year.

“Food, shelter, religious practices, and especially mail boost your spirits,” Hudak says. “It doesn’t even have to be mail from anyone you know.   For a soldier, receiving mail raises your moral and makes a bad day better.  This project is a way to give back and say thank you to the troops.”    The care packages are being sent to 1st Lt. Donald Wagner, a Penn State alum stationed in Afghanistan who is also a blogger on the Penn State Live site.  Wagner will see that the care packages are distributed.

To make a difference this season, the two Penn State groups are raising money to send care packages to soldiers serving overseas.   Care packages will include phone cards, beef jerky, Christmas cards, drink mixes, and pretzels.  The pretzels were donated courtesy of Snyder's Of Hanover, Inc.

In addition to learning about the fundamentals of a public relations campaign, Hudak also hopes “to make a difference this holiday season. …it means the world to get mail at the end of a long day.”

Monetary donations for the project are being accepted and should be sent to the Penn State York Student Government Association (in the memo line please write Veteran’s Club), 1031 Edgecomb Ave., York, PA   17403.  All donations must be received by Nov. 30.

Check out the YouTube clip!

Penn State York Hispanic students will speak about their home cultures and cultural difference between their native culture and American culture.  The goal of the series is to introduce people to a variety of cultures.  The First Friday Series is sponsored by the Penn State York Diversity Committee.  Please bring your lunch and plan to take part in this informative program.

The celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month continues at 6 p.m. with free salsa dance lessons and a dance in the Conference Center of the Main Classroom Building.   The dance is from 7 – 11 p.m. and is sponsored by Penn State York’s Hispanic Student Association (HSA).

The Penn State York THON Committee will be having a variety of events leading upto THON, the 46-hour dance marathon, set for February 20 - 22, 2009, at the
Bryce Jordan Center in State College.  The campus hopes to reach and surpass a $10,000 goal.  Each year Penn State York sends at least two dancers to participate in the University event. 

For more information on local events, contact Jenn Bradley, York THON chairperson, at jmb5613@psu.edu.  The campus THON Committee meets on Tuesdays and Fridays at noon in Room 112 or 113 of the Main Classroom Building at the campus.

Penn State York’s soccer team fell to Penn College 1-0 in the championship match of the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) held Saturday, Oct. 25 at University Park.  This is the second consecutive year York’s soccer team has played in the championship match.

The team will travel to Rochester College in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this week to play in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) soccer national championship tournament Oct. 29 – 31.  The York team earned an at-large bid to the championship thanks to their outstanding season of play.  This is the first time the York team will play for a national title.  The team is coached by Rich Chilcoat.

Deadline for submissions is Nov. 1 and scripts should be submitted to Stelly.  Entrants should follow standard play script format.  Please visit the Web site for complete rules and guidelines as well as a sample script for the correct format.

Your trash may be a treasure to someone else and this is an inexpensive way to get rid of your old things Penn State York clubs can purchase table space for $5 and other campus or community members can purchase table space for $10.  For more information or to purchase table space or donate items, please contact Lyanne Gomez at lwg5029@psu.edu or Latashia Gilkes at llg165@psu.edu or call the Penn State York Student Government Association at (717) 771-4043.  This event is sponsored by the Hispanic Student Association (HSA) at the campus.

An annual event in Penn State York’s free Cultural and Performing Artists series, Barry Drake, rock historian, returns to campus on Oct. 23 for his multimedia presentation “60s Rock: When the Music Mattered.” Travel back to the 60s at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center.  This free program, sponsored by the campus and the York Newspaper Company, is open to the public.

The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, The Supremes, the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, the Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, and yes, even The Monkees, were the sounds filling the airwaves through those turbulent years.  The decade of the 60s was one of the most interesting periods in American history and through all of the good and bad times, it was the music that brought us together and sometimes tore us apart. The political turmoil, the social upheaval, the hippie movement, the Vietnam War and the generation gap were all reflected in the popular music of the day.  “60s Rock - When The Music Mattered” will celebrate, examine, clarify and put into perspective one of the most exciting decades in music history. 

Drake, often called a walking encyclopedia of rock & roll, is a graduate of Manhattan College and has been involved in the world of music since buying his first rock & roll record in 1954.  He grew up in New York City and saw everyone from Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry at the Brooklyn Paramount in 1957, to Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin at the Filmore in 1967.  In 1965, Drake became a performer and songwriter and in 1970 was signed to Capitol Records.  Since then, Drake has recorded three albums and has extensively toured the United States and Europe. 

In 1984 Drake added rock & roll lectures to an already busy concert schedule.  His lectures have become the most popular shows on college campuses.  Drake is the five-time winner of the Campus Lecturer of the Year Award by The National Association for Campus Activities and the three-time winner of the Campus Lecturer of the Year Award by Campus Activities Magazine.  
 
Drake combines his extensive knowledge of music and abilities as a dynamic entertainer in his multimedia presentation. Get ready to discover or rediscover the 60s with Drake at Penn State York.  For more information on Drake visit his Web site at http://www.barrydrake.com/ .   Check out http://www.pullocenter.psu.edu/ for more information on the variety of free and ticketed programs at Penn State York.

Penn State York’s Drama Club  will present “Talk Radio,” the 1987 Pulitzer Prize-nominated play on Oct. 28 and 29 at 7 p.m. in the campus’ Pullo Family Performing Arts Center.  Tickets are available at the door for $5 to the general public and free to Penn State York students with I.D.

The play, written by Eric Bogosian, is based on a concept by Bogosian and Tad Savinar.  It centers on Barry Champlain, a Cleveland-area shock jock, on the eve of his radio show's national syndication. The play, with Bogosian in the lead role, premiered off-broadway at The Public Theater on May 28, 1987, in a production directed by Frederick Zollo. A film adaptation of Talk Radio, directed by Oliver Stone, was released in 1988.

The Penn State York performance is directed by Jennifer La Fluer, a student at the campus.  The cast includes Rachael Brenner, Robyn Johnson, Casey Lynch, Jess Olan, Jenna Pouliot, Sarah Mills, Eric Brown, Roby Bradford, Steve Daugherty, Todd Gutierrez, Chris Leverette, Josh Lovejoy, and Matt Sutton.
 
The drama club was formed after the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center opened in August 2005 and has been performing a variety of one-act plays, shorter pieces, and took on “The Heidi Chronicles” in the spring of 2008. The campus added a theatre minor in the fall of 2007 and students taking those classes now have the opportunity to get hands-on experience and be a part of productions.  Stuart Stelly is the adviser for the drama club and an instructor in English at Penn State York.

All faculty are eligible to be nominated except for recipients of the award in the past four years: Noel Sloboda and H. Robert Kaufhold (2005), John Dawson (2006), Bruce Babcock and Heidi Deren (2007), and Abul Siddiqui and Gene Ellis (2008).
 
Two awards are given: one to a full-time faculty member and one to a part-time faculty member.  Do not worry if you are unsure whether a faculty member is full-time or part-time, the Teaching Award Committee will divide the nominations accordingly.
 
This nomination form is for faculty who are teaching in fall 2008 and/or spring 2009.

Please make your nominations using the online form and please provide a brief paragraph explaining what you think this faculty member has done to merit an award for excellence in instruction. The award is presented as a good way to say “thank you” to a faculty member who is doing an excellent job.

Please submit the form electronically, or print out the form and return your nomination to the faculty staff assistant on the second floor of the M.S. Grumbacher Information Sciences and Technology Center (ISTC) or to the staff assistant to the director of academic affairs in the Main Classroom Building by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13. Ask the staff assistant to place your nomination in Noel Sloboda’s mailbox.

The nomination deadline is Friday, Feb. 13, 2009.

Any Other Word, Penn State York’s literary E-zine, is now accepting submissions of student fiction and poetry for its third edition, due out at the end of the fall semester.  Please submit stories and poems by Friday, Oct. 31 for consideration in the upcoming publication.  All submissions, along with any questions, should be addressed to Noel Sloboda, Ph.D., instructor in English and publication adviser, at njs16@psu.edu .

Any Other Word is a creative outlet for members of the Penn State York student body and was created to showcase students’ talents and unite artistic minds.  Work on the first issue began in the fall of 2006. To see the publication, visit http://www2.yk.psu.edu/anyotherword .

Submissions published in the Any Other Word are selected by a board of directors who read all entries submitted and make selections.  The student adviser has the final say on what is published.  The publication takes its name from the quote by William Shakespeare, “What’s in a name?  That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.”

Penn State York will hosts it first “Wake up with a ROAR” program Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7 a.m. featuring Robert C. Shaler, Ph.D., Sc.D., professor in the biochemistry and molecular biology department and the director of the forensic science program at Penn State.  The breakfast, in the Conference Center of the Main Classroom Building, is an opportunity for alumni, students, and friends of Penn State to network and hear from Shaler, an internationally-known forensic scientist.  This program is sponsored, in part, by a grant obtained by the Penn State Alumni Association, York County Chapter.

Prior to coming to Penn State, Shaler supervised the massive DNA testing effort to identify thousands of victims of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.  He designed, organized, and implemented the DNA testing strategy that became the cornerstone for the majority of the 1,592 identified victims.  After the effort to identify the WTC victims paused, he accepted a professorship at Penn State.

Most recently, the Investigations Discovery Channel aired “Crime Science University “ which is based on Shaler’s forensic science and crime scene investigation program at Penn State, one of the University’s most popular programs.

Shaler earned a doctoral degree in biochemistry from Penn State in 1968.  He worked at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine before joining Pitt's Pharmacy School faculty in the Medicinal Chemistry Department. About this same time, he began taking scientific sleuthing courses in the Department of Chemistry, a program taught by the scientific staff at the Pittsburgh Crime Laboratory.

Working as a criminalist at the Pittsburgh Crime Laboratory and also as a professor of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, he taught forensic chemistry while delving into the world of forensic science, performing drug analyses, crime scene investigations, court testimony, and administrating a National Institute of Justice grant to study the individualization of bloodstain evidence. The latter led him to The Aerospace Corporation, where he managed four National Institute of Justice forensic science contracts, one of which resulted in the development of a bloodstain analysis system, the defacto standard in forensic laboratories until the early 1990's.

The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner beckoned in 1978. He directed the forensic serology laboratory and performed and directed forensic biological analyses in all New York City homicide investigations. In 1986, he left New York City to join The Lifecodes Corporation, the nation's first forensic DNA laboratory.

In 1990, he returned to the medical examiner's office to establish the largest forensic biology department in the U.S. The laboratory embarked on an expansion program in 1997 that raised its scientific staff of nine to 110.

Steve Lippia brings his vocal talents to the stage at Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. for Simply Sinatra.  The show features the musical talents of Lippia, who has been called a dead ringer for Frank Sinatra.

Lippia blends the classic sounds of “old blue eyes” with the sounds of today.  His energetic performance introduces a new generation to Sinatra’s timeless music while at the same time appealing to long-time listeners.

Tickets are on sale now for $50 VIP, $36, and $26.  For more information about The Pullo Center’s season or to order tickets, visit http://www.pullocenter.psu.edu/ or call 717-505-8900. The Pullo Center is a state-of-the-art, 1,016-seat theatre, with full production capabilities and audience amenities offering the best features of large theatres in an intimate setting.   The theatre opened at Penn State York in August 2005.

Jeong Jin Yu, assistant professor of human development and family studies at Penn State York, is the featured speakers in Penn State York’s Human Development and Family Studies (HD FS) speakers’ series on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at noon at the campus.  The program, in room 105 of the Main Classroom Building, is free and open to the public.  Yu’s topic is “Reexamining Aggression and Social Affordance in Sibling Relationships:  Taking a Closer Look at Neglected Characteristics.”

Sword swallowing while juggling saw blades and a flaming chainsaw are two reasons to head to Penn State York on Sept. 23 when Team Rootberry kicks off the 2008-09 Cultural and Performing Artists series at the campus.  The performance, at 7 p.m. in the campus’ Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center), is free and open to the public.

Jonathan Root and Bill Berry, otherwise known as Team Rootberry, bring their internationally acclaimed juggling credentials to the stage at The Pullo Center for an evening of comedy and juggling that is exciting and family friendly.  Team Rootberry holds five international juggling championships and three world records.  They have performed on CNN, Speed Channel, Discovery, ESPN, and they will be right here in York.  Don’t expect to see ordinary juggling.  Visit www.rootberry.net for more information on this unique act.

The free series continues on Oct. 9 with Los Llaneros (Los Yah-NEH-ros), a South American music ensemble.  Los Llaneros specializes in the music of the Colombian/Venezuelan plains that surround the vast basin of the Orinoco River. The music of this geographically and culturally unique area evolved from the contact between nomadic Indians and Jesuit settlers 500 years ago.

Authentic “Llanero” music is rarely performed outside these savannas because of its difficult harp, cuatro, and percussion techniques, and hence it remains one of Latin America’s best kept secrets. Los Llaneros has won several awards at Latin American competitions, and René Devia, the ensemble’s harpist, is recognized as one of Colombia’s foremost specialists in Llanero music. Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Los Llaneros.  Visit www.losllaneros.com for more information on this exciting group.

An annual event in Penn State York’s free series, Barry Drake, rock historian, returns to campus on Oct. 23 for his multimedia presentation “60s Rock: When the Music Mattered.” Travel back to the 60s at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center.

The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, The Supremes, the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, the Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, and yes, even The Monkees, were the sounds filling the airwaves through those turbulent years.  The decade of the 60s was one of the most interesting periods in American history and through all of the good and bad times, it was the music that brought us together and sometimes tore us apart. The political turmoil, the social upheaval, the hippie movement, the Vietnam War and the generation gap were all reflected in the popular music of the day.  “60s Rock - When The Music Mattered” will celebrate, examine, clarify and put into perspective one of the most exciting decades in music history.   Visit www.barrydrake.com for more information on this program.

Come and celebrate Hilo-ween on Oct. 30 when the Penn State Glee Club Hi-Los and the Penn State Trombone Choir offer a "spooktacular" concert at 8 p.m. in The Pullo Center.  The groups will travel from the University Park campus of Penn State to share their music talents with selections that range from serious, spooky and mysterious to humorous.  This program will appeal to the entire family.

The powerful sound of the Japanese Taiko drums will fill The Pullo Center on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. when Taikoza, Japanese Drumming Ensemble, visits York.  The Taiko, a large barrel-like drum, 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).  Don’t miss this exciting presentation ( www.taikoza.com).

Preacher Moss  and the “End of Racism” comedy/lecture tour comes to The Pullo Center on Tuesday, Feb. 24 in celebration of African-American History Month. Preacher Moss will take to the stage to share his sincerity, intellect and comic ability in the 7:30 p.m. performance.

A writer for "The Damon Wayans Show" and "Saturday Night Live," his comedy stylings are distinguished for being sculpted out of the everyday relevance of life and the rare glimpses of truth we value as reality. He is intellectual yet humble.  “Speaking on Truth," Moss has been playing college students, faculty, and administrators all over the country. With his insight on "racial understanding vs. racial interaction," he has quickly become one of the funniest social commentator on the college scene today. (www.preachermoss.com )

Live music comes back to the series on March 5 at 7 p.m. when Zili Misik, an all female group brings their distinct sound to The Pullo Center.  Zili Misik has been bridging cultures, generations, and continents for seven years.  Zili retraces routes of forced exile and cultural resistance through diasporic rhythm and song.  Powerful Haitian, Brazilian and West African rhythms infuse Zili's original creations and traditional folk songs.  Reconnecting Haitian mizik rasin, Jamaican roots reggae, Afro-Brazilian samba, Afro-Cuban son, and African-American spirituals, blues, jazz and neo soul, Zili Misik honors its influences while creating a sound that is uniquely its own.

Zili takes its name from Haitian spiritual entity, "Ezili" who is envisaged as mother, lover, and warrior.  Zili's songs are sensual, political, self-reflective, positive, and invoke love.  Zili's lyrics glide seamlessly from English to Kreyòl to Portuguese to Spanish, spinning tales and visions of lives lived and yet to be. (www.zilimisik.com).

Get ready for the Irish folk-rock sounds when Ceann, an Irish Drinking Band, bring the luck of the Irish to The Pullo Center on Wednesday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m.  Ceann formed as an Irish Rock Band in Pittsburgh in 2005 with the release of their first album of all-original material "Almost Irish." Before that, Ceann was an acoustic trio that played Irish pub music across the northeast.

Ceann continues to mix fun Irish music with their popular originals. While some of Ceann's songs revolve around the culture of being Irish Americans many of Ceann's most popular songs have distinctively more contemporary themes. Their songs appeal far beyond the normal reach of Irish music and have given them access to unprecedented markets for an Irish band. As one of the only Irish bands to find success on commercial radio, Ceann's fan base has grown as quickly outside of Irish music circles as quickly as it's grown within them. Their cross market appeal has allowed them to be featured at Irish festivals and at non-Irish music festivals to equal success. Ceann has also become one of the most sought after college music acts in the country.  Everyone is Irish in March so don’t miss this performance. (www.ceannmusic.com)

Closing out the free series is the Penn State International Dance Ensemble (PSIDE) on Saturday, March 21 at 7 p.m.  This 38-member student-run performance group based in State College celebrates the diverse cultures of the world through song and dance.  Now in its 25^th year, PSIDE is entirely under student leadership and is an official Penn State performance group.

The Cultural and Performing Artists Series is sponsored by Penn State York and the York Newspaper Company, with additional support from the Penn State York Student Government Association and the Student Activity Fee.  Admission to events is free, open to the public, and no ticket is required.  For information regarding ticketed performances at The Pullo Center, please  call 717-505-8900 or visit them on the Web at www.pullocenter.psu.edu.

Noel Sloboda, instructor in English at Penn State York, is the author of Shell Games, a new book released in July featuring 35 poems.  This is Sloboda’s first book of poetry which was published by Buffalo small press sunnyoutside.  Sloboda has been writing poetry for as long as he can remember but only began having it published in the last half decade. He has published more than 100 poems in various journals in the United States and abroad and is the author of The Making of Americans in Paris, a book on Edith Wharton and Gertrude Stein.

“I’ve long been interested in what we see in the half-light – when clouds pass overhead or the sun drops below the tree line.  Many of my poems have a dark tinge for that reason, not because I am trying to be bleak, but, rather, because I am interested in what we see when the hard edges blur, when shades of gray emerge,” Sloboda said.

Early praise for the collection has come from Carol Clark Williams, the poet laureate of York, Pennsylvania, who wrote of the collection: “[Shell Games] is pure poetry, at once clarifying and deepening the mystery of our human experience.”  Keyhole Magazine editor Peter Cole added:  “Noel Sloboda’s poems are life forms.”

Shell Games takes its name from one of the poems in the book.  The inspiration for the poem came from a story a Shakespearean actor shared with Sloboda.  The actor, along with his wife, rescued a turtle.  The turtle’s shell was cracked and they wrapped it in duct tape.  The last Sloboda heard, the turtle was alive and kicking, unlike the turtle in his poem.  In handling the material, Sloboda turned it to comment on loss and relationships, thinking there’s something inherently sad, and maybe even tragic, about a turtle with a cracked shell.  “We usually think of turtle shells as tough, as protection, but in fact they can become serious liabilities if damaged.  In the poem, I touch on the shells people construct around both loved ones and themselves,” he said.

An expert on Shakespeare, Sloboda serves as dramaturg (literary consultant) for the Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival. His work on Shakespearean film adaptations has appeared in Studies in the Humanities and in the collection In/Fidelity: Essays on Film Adaptation (Cambridge Scholars Press). He has contributed to the Encyclopedia of American Literature, the Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction, the Student’s Companion to American Literary Characters, and the Literary Contexts series. His creative work has appeared in venues based in Canada, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.

Sloboda is a graduate of Washington University with a masters and doctorate in English and American studies and has a bachelor of arts in English and philosophy from Connecticut College.  He was the recipient of the 2005 James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching at Penn State York and the 2006 recipient of the campus’ advising award in recognition of outstanding advising to students.   Sloboda was the driving force behind the campus’ online student magazine, Any Other Word, and serves as its adviser.

Shell Games is available for $10 at the Penn State York Bookstore or through the publisher, sunnyoutside, at http://www.sunnyoutside.com/releases/031/o.html or on amazon.com.

Penn State York’s “Today’s Ethical Issues” free lecture/discussion series focusing on the critical ethical issues of today us is under way in York.  The program takes place in five locations in York County, with four to six sessions at each location.  A complete listing of times and locations can be found at the end of the story.   All sessions are open to the public.

Leonard J. Berkowitz, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at Penn State York and an award-winning instructor, continues his highly successful lecture and discussion series focusing on current ethical issues.  Each year “Today’s Ethical Issues” focuses on one major ethical issue. Last year’s issue was war and morality. The focus for this year is the morality of the death penalty.

A faculty member at Penn State York since 1972, Berkowitz earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Duke University and a master’s and doctorate in philosophy from the Johns Hopkins University.  He teaches courses in philosophy at the campus, including critical thinking, symbolic logic, ethics and social issues, and medical and health care ethics. 

The first four sessions at each location will focus on the death penalty, the first on legal issues and the others on the morality of the death penalty. All the major arguments for and against capital punishment will be discussed, including whether murderers deserve to die and whether the death penalty is an especially effective deterrent that helps prevent murders. There will be time for full analysis and discussion of all the major issues.

In the final two sessions, “Today’s Ethical Issues” will cover other important ethical issues.  The additional topics for this year remain to be decided but may include our moral obligation to address world hunger, animal rights, or homosexuality and gay marriage.

“Today’s Ethical Issues” is funded by a grant from the Grumbacher Family Foundation.  For more information about the series, please contact Berkowitz at 717-771-4159 or ljb1@psu.edu.

“Today’s Ethical Issues”

Schedule for 2008-09

All sessions are free and open to the public.

Jewish Community Center of York         

2000 Hollywood Drive, York

September 16 (10:30 a.m.)          

October 28 (10:30 a.m.)              

November 11 (10:30 a.m.)                     

February 17 (10:30 a.m.)

March 24 (10:30 a.m.)

April 21 (10:30 a.m.)

Heritage Senior Center

3700 Davidsburg Rd., Dover

January 20 (10 a.m.)                   

February 10 (10 a.m.)                 

March 3 (10 a.m.)

April 7 (10 a.m.)

Martin Library

159 East Market Street, York

October 16 (noon)                       

November 13 (noon)                              

December 11 (noon)                              

February 19 (noon)

March 19 (noon)

April 16 (noon)

White Rose Senior Center

27 S. Broad Street, York

September 11 (10:30 a.m.)          

October 23 (10:30 a.m.)              

December 2 (10:30 a.m.)             

Feb. 12 (10:30 a.m.)

March 26 (10:30 a.m.)

April 23 (10:30 a.m.)

YMCA of York

90 N. Newberry Street, York

October 2 (10 a.m.)                     

November 6 (10 a.m.)                 

December 4 (10 a.m.)                 

February 5 (10 a.m.)

March 5 (10 a.m.)

April 2 (10 a.m.)

For adults who never want to stop experiencing life and learning, Penn State York invites you to be a part of a community that celebrates learning in a relaxed and accepting environment, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Penn State York (OLLI).  OLLI is open to all adults who love to learn.

Through the efforts of three women, Charmaine Kissinger, Olive Padden, and the late Gussie Petron, and their thirst for knowledge and mental stimulation, OLLI at Penn State York began offering courses in April 2008.  Now less than a year later, OLLI is offering 12 courses, seven one-hour "lunch and learn" events, a bus trip and boasts more than 120 members.

Stimulating courses are the primary focus of OLLI. Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes begin the week of Sept. 29 and Tuesday classes begin Oct. 7.  OLLI courses are taught by volunteers who want to share their expertise and talents including college faculty members, hobbyists, artists, schoolteachers, and practicing professionals.  The six-week classes beginning in September are offered during the day and are 90 minutes in length. To cover costs, OLLI has a $50 yearly membership fee that covers two semesters and a $20 fee for each course taken.

Classes for fall are: Comparative Religions—Baha’i, Hindu, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), Metaphysical, and Christian Science, Mondays, 9 –10:30 a.m., Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, and Nov. 3; Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art: Who, What, When, Where, and Why, Mondays, 9 –10:30 a.m., Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, and Nov. 3; Time Walk, the Building of a Continent, Mondays, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27,and Nov. 3 (field trip); Pueblo Indian Pottery, Tuesdays, 9 –10:30 a.m., Oct. 7, 14, 28, Nov. 4, 11, and 18; A Step Back in Time to Ancient Egypt, Tuesdays, 9 –10:30 a.m., Oct. 7, 14, 28, Nov. 4, 11, and 18; Writing from Two Perspectives: Get Your Creative Juices Flowing, Discover the Writer Within, Tuesdays, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Oct. 7, 14, and 28; A Thousand and One Ways to Publish Your Book, Tuesdays, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Nov. 4, 11, and 18; An Introduction to the Campaign and Battle of Gettysburg, June 3–July 14, 1863, Wednesdays, 9 –10:30 a.m., Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and Nov. 5; Immigration: Facts, Fiction, and Theology, Wednesdays, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and Nov. 5; A Short Course in Hollywood Cinema, Wednesdays, 2 – 3:30 p.m., Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and Nov. 5; George Armstrong Custer: The Man, the Myth, the Legend, Fridays, 9 –10:30 a.m., Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, and Nov. 7; Using Your Digital Camera, Fridays, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, and Nov. 7; and Evolution of Jazz, Fridays, 2 –3:30 p.m., Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, and Nov. 7.

In addition to courses, OLLI is offering a brown bag lunch and learn series.  Sessions are held in the Conference Center of the Main Classroom Building at Penn State York from 12:45 – 1:45 p.m.  The cost is $5 for each session. Participants can bring a brown bag lunch or purchase one there for $5.The series includes:  Medical Missions, Oct. 7;  The River (Creek) Runs Through It, Oct. 24; Community Change: A Look at the Efforts of YorkCounts, Oct. 22; Calligraphy—The Art of Beautiful Handwriting, Oct. 23; Weaving Historical Fabric, Oct. 27; Health Issues After 50, Oct. 29; and Frakturs—German-Style Marriage and Birth Certificates, Nov. 5.

A bus trip, York County’s Civil War Sites, is set for Oct. 30.  The bus leaves at 9 a.m. from Penn State York and returns by 4 p.m.  This program will introduce participants to the details of our county’s occupation by Confederate forces.  Cost for the trip is $50 and includes brown bag lunch, bus, and guided tour. 

OLLI is a nonprofit, volunteer driven organization established to enrich the lives of mature adults living in York County by providing a variety of educational and social enrichment activities.  OLLI at Penn State York is one of more than 100 lifelong learning institutes across the nation that is supported by a grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation.    The grant was made available locally through Penn State which now has three OLLI sites; University Park, Mont Alto, and York. 

Learning what it’s like to be a college student from other students is one of the reasons Penn State York has launched a new blog site.  Four students and two admissions counselors are offering their experiences online in an effort to answer questions and ultimately encourage people to be a student at Penn State York.

“We’re doing a blog to attempt to give prospective students an inside look at what it’s like to live a day in the life of an average Penn State York student.  Readers will be able to gain access to students’ lives inside and outside the classroom, as well as start conversations with the bloggers about any issues that may arise in their college search,” said Sara Hilton, an admissions counselor at Penn State York coordinating and participating in the blog.

Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions in life and Hilton and others at the campus hope the blog will provide another tool to assist students in making their college decision. Those interested in blogging simply go to http://pennstateyork.blogspot.com/ and click on the Create Blog and Sign In to set up an account and get started.  For more information about the blog, contact Sara Hilton, admissions counselor at (717) 771-4040 or seh12@psu.edu.  To learn more about Penn State York and its variety of programs please call the admissions office at (717) 771-4040 to schedule a visit or check out the Web site at http://www.yk.psu.edu/.

On-stage performances, guided tours, book signings, inflatable games, carnival games, food, and a variety of other entertainment are all a part of Penn State York’s Pullo Party set for Saturday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. at the campus.  The Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) opened at York campus in August of 2005 and the Pullo Party is an event designed to introduce the community to the new facility featuring the theatre, the John T. and Paige S. Smith Atrium, and the Lee R. Glatfelter Library.  The event is free and open to the public.

“We hope that the community will visit the campus, take a tour of The Pullo Center and the Lee R. Glatfelter Library, and enjoy the free activities we have planned.  It will be a day of fun.” said Janine Pflaum, coordinator of the campus’ first Pullo Party and the group sales and sponsorship manager for The Pullo Center.

Performances taking place in the theatre include Theatre of Southern York County from 1:30 – 3 p.m., Coyle School of Irish Dance from 3 – 4 p.m., Experimental Movement Concepts from 4 – 5 p.m., and Todd Davis, classical pianist from 5 – 6 p.m.  At 2 p.m. Larry LeBeau will play the piano in the atrium that connects the performing arts center to the library.  Guided tours of the state-of-the-art facility are scheduled from 10 a.m. until noon.  Other entertainment is being added each day.

In the library from noon – 5 p.m., storytellers Judy Wolfman, Mickie Singer, and Jackie LeBeau will entertain children.  In addition, there will be book signings by local authors Voni Grimes, Jackie LeBeau, Mickie Singer, and Judy Wolfman.  Visitors can also sign-up for a library card or take part in the “take a book, leave a book” activity.

Outdoor activities include a bounce house, an inflatable slide, lawn games, a scavenger hunt, and crafts by YorkArts.  A variety of campus and community information tables will also be set up for visitors to pick-up materials.  Visitors may also purchase food from vendors including Bricker’s French Fries, Emanuel’s Italian Ice, and The Bistro at Penn State York.

The Pullo Center is located on the campus of Penn State York at 1031 Edgecomb Ave.  For more information on the Pullo Party, please call (717) 505-8900.

Enjoy some of Penn State’s Berkey Creamery ice cream and learn more about your connection to Penn State in Lancaster. The Lancaster Center offers Penn State courses and programs including: credit certificates; an associate degree in business administration; courses in the associate degree in letters, arts and sciences; and numerous noncredit professional development certificates

In an effort to meet the evolving educational needs of the Lancaster County community, a partnership was established at The Lancaster Center between Penn State York, Penn State Harrisburg, and Penn State Great Valley. Students can earn a bachelor of science in business degree at Penn State York, with the beginning classes offered in Lancaster. Upper-division classes continue to be added for credit students interested in this four-year degree.

Through a partnership with Penn State Great Valley's Graduate Center, students can take graduate courses in the principal certification in educational leadership program. By partnering with Penn State Harrisburg, The Lancaster Center offers the training and development credit certificate program and the master of business administration (MBA). This MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the primary accrediting agency for programs in business administration and accounting.  Most courses at The Lancaster Center are offered in the evenings but recently the center began offering courses for high school students interested in taking college courses while in high school. Through dual enrollment, eligible high school juniors and seniors can get an early start on college.

For information, call (717) 299-7667 or (800) 828-6233. Visit us online at http://www.lancastercenter.psu.edu.

For adults who never want to stop experiencing life and learning, Penn State York invites you to be a part of a community that celebrates learning in a relaxed and accepting environment, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Penn State York (OLLI).  Learn more about this exciting organization in York at an open house on Sunday, Sept. 7 from 2 – 4 p.m. in the Conference Center at Penn State York.  OLLI is open to all adults who love to learn.

OLLI is a nonprofit, volunteer driven organization established to enrich the lives of mature adults living in York County by providing a variety of educational and social enrichment activities.  OLLI at Penn State York is one of more than 100 lifelong learning institutes across the nation that is supported by a grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation.    The grant was made available locally through Penn State which now has three OLLI sites, University Park, Mont Alto and York.   

Matt Rice, a former Penn State football player, will display several pieces of his art work during the 23rd Annual Phil Grosz Banquet sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association – York County Chapter.  The banquet is set for Thursday, Aug 21 at 6 p.m. at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 North George Street, York, PA.  

Grosz, owner and publisher of BlueWhite Illustrated, will be the featured speaker. Grosz, a Penn State alumnus and former lacrosse player, will discuss the 2008 Penn State football season. Blue White Illustrated, which covers Penn State's football and sports recruiting, is a national and international publication published 28 times a year with more than 10,000 subscribers.

In addition to listening to the football predications of Grosz, those who attend will have the opportunity to meet Rice and see his art work.  Rice was a three-year starter at defensive end for Penn State and helped lead the Nittany Lions of 2005 to an 11-1 record, winning the Big Ten title and the Orange Bowl.  Rice graduated with a bachelor of arts in integrative arts and African American studies in 2005.  In 2006 he was signed to the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent; however, he finished the 2006 season with the Detroit Lions.  Rice played with the NFL Europa with the Rhien Fire in Germany and returned to the Lions to finish up the 2007 season.  Football is just one part of his life and art is another.  Rice hopes to combine his talents and draw on football for a series of paintings devoted to his experiences at Penn State.

Rice is putting his focus on painting with the debut of his personal business, Mateo Blu.  He sees art in everything and hopes he can give his perspective to all audiences.   He creates in many mediums but oil painting is his preference. “I want to expose people to different things that aren’t seen on a daily basis through my art,” said Rice.  “The thing I love about my art is that it’s not put into a box, it’s not defined.” 

The dinner event includes a silent auction featuring home game tickets and a raffle offering a set of tickets for the season.  Banquet tickets are $26 for club members and $30 for non-club members and the deadline for reservations is August 11.  To make reservations, contact Ricki Hevner at (717) 843-1061 or mail your payment to:  The Penn State Alumni Association, York County Chapter, Attention Ricki Hevner, P.O. Box 3893, York, PA  17402.

Penn State York is offering summer camps for adults beginning in July.  In addition to the campus’ youth camps, adults can now enjoy camps in music appreciation, drawing, stress management, and memory improvement.  The adult camps are scheduled at the same time as some of the youth camps in an effort to provide parents, grandparents and others with an opportunity to stay on campus and learn something new.  Adults can enjoy a camp experience designed just for them and any adult may register for any camp.

“Learn the Fundamentals of Drawing” is offered on July 21 and 25 from 9 a.m. – noon.  Brenda Wintermyer, artist, illustrator, and proprietor of City Studio Art Gallery, will provide simple exercises and instruction on how to draw using the right side of the brain.  Referred to as “the good eyes” or “the good eye of an artist,” this method of seeing is only found on the right side of the brain and makes drawing successful and enjoyable.  No drawing experience is required for this course.  Cost for this camp is $50. 

For those with a musical interest, Barbara Baker, professional flutist, jazz vocalist and instructor at Penn State York, will help participants develop “an ear for music” using the concept of musical rotation.   “What to Listen and Look for. . . in Music!” is offered on July 22 from 9 a.m. – noon.  Baker will help students gain an appreciation for a variety of styles and genres of music in written format.    Cost for this camp is $25.

In “How to Identify Your Stress Level and What to do About It” camp, July 24 from 9 – 11 a.m., participants will learn to recognize the symptoms of stress and what is causing it.  Cora Dzubak, Ph.D., director of the Nittany Success Center (formerly The Learning Center) at Penn State York and an instructor in counselor education, will provide effective techniques for dealing with stress which can help bring more enjoyment to day-to-day life.  Cost for this course is $25. 

In addition to the camp on stress, Dzubak is also offering a camp called “Worried About Your Memory? (And Want to Improve It)” on July 24 from 9 – 11 a.m.  This workshop can benefit anyone who wants to know more about memory and how to make better use of what you have.  Learn how to make better use of all those brain cells and improve your life.  Cost for this camp is $25.

Students participating in the Preparation for Your Verbal SAT (12:35  – 2:35 p.m.) will review important skills assessed in the verbal section and have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the format and type of questions on the Verbal SAT.  Participants will also practice test-taking in simulated exam conditions.  Cost for the Preparation for Your Verbal SAT course is $95.

Noel Sloboda, Ph.D., instructor of English at Penn State York, is the course instructor.  Sloboda earned his doctorate in English from Washington University.  Sloboda was honored by the campus in 2005 with the James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching.  He has received numerous other honors and awards and has been published in “Studies in Humanities.”  He is also involved in many language associations and has been a judge for the Lancaster Scholastic Writing Awards.   He has written a book about Edith Wharton and Gertrude Stein and has published more than 100 poems in various journals in the United States and abroad.  Sloboda has a book of poetry which is set to be published in July.

Preparation for Your Math SAT (11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) will familiarize students with the SAT format, and then review SAT math topics including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, graphs, measures, and quantitative comparisons.  Please bring a calculator to the first class.  Cost for the Preparation for Your Math SAT course is $70.

Bruce Babcock, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics at Penn State York, is the instructor.  Babcock earned a doctorate in mathematics from Michigan State University and is a former winner of the prestigious AMOCO Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award.  He was also honored with the Outstanding Teaching Award at Penn State York in 1991 and the James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2007.  He has authored numerous study guides for the University’s Independent Learning Program and developed a blended learning course for the Penn State World Campus.  He is currently working with a colleague on another World Campus course.

Register for both sessions at $155 and save $10.  The course fee includes The Official SAT Study Guide:  For the New SAT by the College Board.  For a brochure or more information, please call Penn State York at (717) 771-4107 or visit the Web site at ce.yk.psu.edu and click on youth programs.

After the presentations, take a campus tour and enjoy a picnic with your family and Penn State representatives.  To register or for more information, please call Penn State York Admissions at (717) 771-4040 or (800) PSU-6227 or register on the Web at www.yk.psu.edu/admissions/visits.

“Hanover HealthCare PLUS is very proud to be able to partner with Penn State York and Penn State Mont Alto to provide the opportunity to community members to further their education and careers through this wonderful program so close to home,” said Jerry Post, director of education service, Hanover Hospital.  

Public information sessions will be held at the Hanover Community Health and Education Center, on Saturday, May 10, from 10 - 11 a.m..;and Tuesday, May 13, from 6 -7 p.m.  Representatives from Penn State York and Mont Alto will be available to discuss educational options, answer questions, and assist individuals in registering for courses.

The bachelor of science in business (BSB) is an upper-division, professionally oriented business degree for individuals who are seeking general preparation in business. The degree combines the theoretical underpinnings of core business disciplines, notably management, marketing, finance, and logistics, with applied study in a practical setting, especially the small-business climates across most of the Commonwealth. Students also develop written and oral communication skills throughout the program, acquire contemporary computer skills, and engage in active and collaborative learning.

Jeffrey Warner, director of continuing education at Penn State York, explained, “Credit certificates can be used to step up to a degree, and they provide a way to sample a selected subject area before making the commitment to a degree program.  Others can be used as refresher courses to hone existing skills or develop new ones that can enhance your career and increase your value to your employer. By choosing Penn State, individuals have the flexibility to use the resources of one of the world’s largest institutions to tailor their educational experience and goals.”

The RN to BS program prepares registered nurses (RNs) to meet the rapid changes in health care by expanding and enhancing their nursing education to bachelor’s of science in nursing. The program is open to nurses who have previously earned either an associate degree or a diploma in nursing. In addition to upgrading skills, the program prepares RNs for non-traditional areas of nursing such as administration, pharmaceutical sales, managed care, and insurance.

The RN to BS program is designed to build on what the RN has already accomplished. These courses are designed to meet the needs of the employed nurse. Most of the nursing courses are offered as evening classes. The program can be completed in two years on a full-time basis or longer on a part-time plan.

All RN students with a current RN license are given 33 credits by portfolio toward the required 120 credits required for a BS degree. Minimal fees are assessed for placement of portfolio credits on the Penn State transcript.

For more information on these programs in Hanover, attend an information session or call (717) 771-4067.

"Using Psychodramatic Methods to Enhance Relationships: An Introductory Workshop" is the topic of a free program set for 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, in the Community Room of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center.   The workshop is sponsored by Penn State York's Community and University Partnership (CUP) and features Baljit Kaur, who is in her fourth year of psychodrama training at Christchurch Institute in Psychodrama in New Zealand. Kaur is a senior lecturer at University of Canterbury in New Zealand. CUP's workshops are designed for educators, human service providers and other professionals who work with children, youth and families. 

The workshop will help participants to learn more about psychodrama as an effective method to explore life experiences and to develop creative ways of living, through dramatic group or individual, action. In this session participants will be invited to participate in small vignettes or role-plays based on their experiences. There is no expectation of prior knowledge of psychodrama. Some of the basic ideas and concepts underlying psychodrama will become clear in the course of the workshop through example and action. 

This workshop is open to the public but space is limited. To register or for more information, contact Beth Gill-MacDonald at (717) 771-4047 or bxg5@psu.edu.

The Community and University Partnership (CUP) is a collaboration between Penn State York and area human service, educational and community organizations. The partnership seeks to link the resources of both the University and the community to address critical issues facing children, youth and families. The mission of CUP is to promote healthy children, youth and family outcomes through university and community collaborations that are research-based and foster mutual learning and benefit to all partners.

The series includes "The Elwha River Restoration:  Microbial Communities and Nutrients as Indicators of Habitat Change" featuring William Eaton, Ph.D., senior vice president of academics and director of the Center of Excellence, Peninsula College, Port Angeles, Washington;  "Organic Name Reactions in Industrial Chemistry" featuring  Dr. Ron Kreis , president, Bimax, Inc.; "A Squirrelly Subject" featuring  Dr. Michael A. Steele, associate professor of biology, Wilkes University; "Mushrooms of Pennsylvania" featuring Dr. John Dawson, Professor Emeritus, Math Department, Penn State York; "Surfactants in Cosmetic Chemistry" featuring Dr. Camille Sasik, staff scientist, Johnson & Johnson; "Greenhouse Technology in Floriculture" Dr. Jay Holcomb, professor of floriculture, College of Agricultural Science, Penn State; "Osteopathology: Bone Tumors" featuring Dr. Benjamin Hoch, assistant professor of pathology, Mount  Sinai School of Medicine; "Stellar Evolution, Cataclysmic Eruptions, and the Mysterious V838 Monocerotis" featuring Dr. Timothy Lawlor, assistant professor of physics, Penn State Brandywine; "Stem Cells and Neurological Diseases: Now and in the Future" featuring Dr. Douglas Kerr, associate professor of neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; and "Biotechnology and the Changing Practice of Medicine" featuring Dr. James Greene, professor of biology, the Catholic University of America. 

Both professional development opportunities include national and well-known authors and instructors who will speak about creating diverse literacy in the areas of content literacy, digital literacy, differentiated instruction, and informal literacy assessment to meet the cultural and educational needs of each student.  Keynote speakers include Janet Allen, author; E. B. Lewis, illustrator of more than 30 children’s books; Jerry Pinkney, author, illustrator and winner of five Caldecott Honors; and Mitali Perkins, author and winner of the Christian Schools Association’s Lamplighter Award.   The Institute for Diverse Literacy features five keynote speakers and 15 break out sessions.  Stone Soup features three authors and eight break out sessions.

These programs are designed for anyone who works with students in grades K – 12 including classroom teachers, librarians, resource teachers, reading specialists, literacy coaches, special education teachers, gifted education teachers, ELL teachers, instructional aids, and administrators.  For more information on these courses or to learn more about the master of education in teaching and curriculum, please call (717) 771-4060 or visit our graduate students page.

“The Bay Series” showcases the eastern shore near Tilghman Island, Maryland and surrounding areas on the bay, and suggests the presence of those who live, work, and play on the Chesapeake Bay.   Their presence is found in the pound nets, sailing vessels, lighthouses, fossils, and debris that document the complex relationship between the bay and surrounding communities.  “These images are carefully selected to capture the quiet reflective moments when the wind pauses, the tide lulls, and the moment seems timeless.  It is during these times that the presence of people is sensed.  It is as if I am witnessing the moment before the action, a part of the prologue to some great novel. It is the rich visual narrative of these photos that, for me, make the stories of the past come alive,” said Weaver.  

Weaver has lived with her family on a 95 acre farm in central York County for more than 20 years. She has taught art privately at the Walters Art Museum in Carroll County, Maryland; in public schools, and at a variety of universities. She is currently working as a university supervisor for student teachers in art education at Towson State University.

Weaver is near her completion as a Penn State doctoral candidate in art education.  Her dissertation examines how the renaming of Native American cultural objects from artifacts (meaning a sample of the larger culture) to objects of cultural patrimony (meaning a mnemonic device through which culture is remembered) affects how they are interpreted.  The results of her research are used to develop new approaches to teaching about Native American objects in the art classroom. 

For more than 35 years, Weaver has used cameras to document life, nature, and people that photography has become a means for her to visually document the relationship of objects to their environment.   By using the lens to filter out the “visual noise”, Weaver is able to understand how parts contribute to the whole.  The “Bay Series” photos examine the complex relationships between the objects that humans use to work, play, and contribute to the bay.    

Weaver’s photographs are for sale and prices are available on request at the main desk of the Lee R. Glatfelter Library on the first floor.  For more information, please contact Valerie White at the library’s main desk at (717) 770-4020 or Victoria Weaver at (717) 235-6817.

Penn State York will celebrate its 38th annual spring commencement at 6 p.m. Friday, May 16, in the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center at the campus.  Thomas W. Wolf, Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue, is the commencement speaker.  The campus will award associate and baccalaureate degrees and recognize master's degree graduates during the program.  The ceremony is free and open to the public.   For those who cannot attend the event, Penn State York's commencement can be viewed on Comcast cable channel 18, or for the first time, streaming on the Web site at www2.yk.psu.edu/commencement.

A good friend and strong supporter of Penn State York over the years, Wolf has been especially supportive of the campus’ effort to become more international.  Wolf was nominated as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue in January 2007 by Governor Edward G. Rendell and confirmed on April 25, 2007.He was appointed by the Governor to serve on the 12-member Pennsylvania Business Tax Reform Commission, which issued a report in 2004 recommending changes to make business taxes fairer, simpler and more competitive with other states.

Prior to his position with the state, Wolf served as Chairman of the Board and President of the Wolf Organization, Inc., a family-owned building materials business based in York, PA. The Wolf Organization distributes building materials through 30 branches located along the eastern seaboard. It was ranked among the top 50 Best Places to Work in PA in 2006.

Wolf earned his Ph.D. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981 and a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of London in 1978. He graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College with a bachelor of arts degree in 1972.

He has a long history as a volunteer for many community and charitable organizations. He has served as President of Better York, Inc.; Chair of the Board of Trustees for York College of Pa.; Board Member of the Keystone Research Center and the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable; Chair of the Lancaster York Heritage Region, York County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of York County, WITF, Inc., and The York County Community Foundation.

He lives in Mt. Wolf with his wife Frances; they have two grown daughters, Sarah and Katherine.

In addition to hearing from Wolf, Penn State York will continue its tradition of the open microphone where graduates can speak for a moment.  The top associate degree, baccalaureate, and master’s degree graduates will also say a few words.  A number of former Penn State York students who completed their degree work at another campus of Penn State will return to their home campus, York, to receive their degrees during the ceremony.

A reception, sponsored by the Penn State York Alumni Society, will follow the ceremony in the John T. and Paige S. Smith Atrium and mezzanine areas of the Pullo Center.

Awards were presented by a variety of campus groups and several community organizations including the Rotary Club and the York County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association.  Highlights of the program were the presentation of the James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Penn State York Advising Award.  The James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching is given to an outstanding full-time and part-time faculty member based on nominations by students and other members of the campus community.  The award is named in honor of the late James H. Burness, in recognition of his outstanding teaching and service to the campus.  Burness died in December 1999.   This year's recipients are Abdul Siddiqui, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics, full-time recipient; and Gene Ellis, instructor in communication arts and sciences, part-time recipient.

Siddiqui received high praise from his students for his preparation for class and his willingness to help them understand difficult mathematical concepts.  One student wrote, “The amount of effort Dr. Siddiqui puts into making sure I understand the material and do the work is phenomenal.”    Other students noted that he requires “a lot of work” but that the end result is they are well prepared and understand the subject.   It was also clear from the student comments received that he is well respected by his students.  His peer reviewer was impressed with Siddiqui’s  obvious preparation for class and his ability to effectively provide students with a clear structure and content for the work to be undertaken.

Ellis earned accolades from students for his energy and his obvious caring and concern for them.   One student wrote, “He’s very energetic and has one of the most positive attitudes I’ve ever seen in a professor.”  His peer reviewer cited Ellis for his ability to provide students with “detailed, constructive, and supportive criticism,” and noted his “excellent rapport with the entire class.”

Harriet E. Darling, Ph.D., senior instructor in human development and family studies, was honored as the winner of the Penn State York Advising Award.  The Penn State York Advising Award, given by the campus Academic Affairs Committee, was established several years ago to recognize the importance of advising students.  This committee operates separately from the teaching award committee.  Darling received enthusiastic support from advisees who consistently cited her diligence and enthusiasm.  She was praised as “flexible, inspiring, and very helpful, especially when dealing with schedules.”

The most prestigious student award of the evening, The Eric A. and Josephine  Walker Award, was presented to Jamie L. Golden and Jessica-Leigh Olan.  This award is given annually to a full-time student who exhibits outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship.  Each Penn State campus selects a recipient of this award.  Golden is a sophomore at  Penn State York majoring in chemistry.  She resides in Red Lion and will head to University Park in the fall to complete her degree.  Olan is a senior at Penn State York majoring in letters, arts, and sciences.  She resides in York and will be graduating from the campus in December..

The Campus Honors Program provides challenging opportunities for academically superior students.  Students who complete 9 credits of  honors work are recognized.  Recipients are:  Geoffrey N. Bennett, York; Michael T. Bresch, Willow Street; Nadine J. Chase, York; Daniel J. Chronister, York; Rhoi J. Fajardo, Dover; Jonathan D. Harris, Shrewsbury; Collin B. Julius, East Berlin; Stephanie M. Semrau, York; Shuo Shi, Bradbury, CA; Diana E. Shoe, Owings Mills, MD; and Osman Veledar, Lancaster.

The Evan Pugh Scholar Award is for those juniors and seniors who are in the upper 0.5 percent of their respective classes and have completed at least 48 graded Penn State credits at the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given.  Candidates are eligible if they have been full-time undergraduate students for at least four semesters prior to selection.  The Penn State York recipient is Audra R. Weaver, York.

The President's Freshman Award is presented annually to full-time undergraduate students who have earned a 4.0 grade-point average for the first semester of their freshman year of study.  Recipients are:   Michael C. Cousar, Lancaster; Matthew L. Dunlap, Shrewsbury; Abigail G. Hofstrand, Stewartstown; Steven S. Pickel, Dover; and Xiaomeng Shi, York.

The President Sparks Award is presented annually to those undergraduate candidates who have earned 4.0 (A) cumulative grade-point average based on at least 36 graded Penn State credits completed by the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given.  The President Sparks Award recipients are Jonathan D. Harris, Shrewsbury; Collin B. Julius, East Berlin; and Christopher I. Myers, Spring Grove.

Freshman Press Chemistry Award recipient is Michael C. Cousar, Lancaster. This award is presented to a freshman based on outstanding academic achievement in chemistry.

Lambda Pi Eta Award recipients are Ophelia M. Chambliss, York; Siobahn L. Hyser, York; Ryan M. Lewis, York; Joshua M. Lovejoy, Glen Rock; and Amanda J. McCardle, York. Lambda Pi Eta Award is the official communication studies honor society of the National Communication Association.

Keystone Honor Society Awards were presented to full- and part-time students with the highest grade-point average at or above a 3.50 GPA in each associate and baccalaureate degree program offered at the campus.  Part-time students meeting the requirements are eligible to receive the award one time in their major.  There are also minimum requirements for the time in the degree.  Honorees for the full-time students are:  Kari S. Strasbaugh, Red Lion, associate degree in business administration; Kristine A. Stremmel, York, associate degree in information sciences and technology; Andrew M. Ibaugh, Felton, associate degree in letters, arts, and sciences; Jerry P. Armbruster, York, associate degree in mechanical engineering technology; Charlotte M. Albert, Red Lion, bachelor of arts in American studies; Thomas A. Smith, Dover, Amber S. Hinkle, York, Wendy M. Mace, Dauphin, and Michael E. Delp, New Freedom, bachelor of science in business; Joshua M. Lovejoy, Glen Rock, Alexis A. Montgomery, York, Audra R. Weaver, York, and Julie A. Cassel, York, bachelor of arts in communication arts and sciences; Eric S. Rohrer, Columbia, bachelor of science in electro-mechanical engineering technology; Timothy B. Groth, Glen Rock, Alexandra Handley, York, Daniel J. Chronister, York, bachelor of arts in English; Angela R. Lehman, Lancaster, Angi L. Davis, York, Mary J. T. Mullenax, Manchester, and Ann E. Krepps, York, bachelor of science in human development and family studies; Jeffrey A. Yost, York, Sean C. Breach, York, and Brent B. Berger, Hanover, bachelor of science in information sciences and technology; Eric A. Hudak, York, and Jessica-Leigh Olan, York, bachelor of arts in letters, arts, and sciences; and Diana E. Shoe, Owings Mills, and Joanne T. Nguyen, York, bachelor of science in science. 

Honorees for the part-time students are:  Bonnie L. Grizzell, York, associate degree in business administration; Philip E. List, Glen Rock, associate degree in electrical engineering technology; Nicole M. Waldron, Red Lion, associate degree in human development and family studies; Shannon K. McCulloch, Hallam, associate degree in information sciences and technology; Alyssa M. Fiore, Dallastown, associate degree in letters, arts, and sciences; David M. Gouge, New Freedom, associate degree in mechanical engineering technology; Mary K. Ott, York, bachelor of arts in American studies; Dana L. Grim, Thomasville, bachelor of science in business; Amanda J. Niebuhr, Jacobus, bachelor of science in electro-mechanical engineering technology; Anthony C. Brock, York, bachelor of arts in English; and Gloria K. Mark, Columbia, bachelor of science in human development and family studies.

Student Government Association (SGA) Campus Service Awards were presented to  Roderick A. Bell, York; Todd Gutierrez, Marietta; Andrew K. McClain, Stewartstown; Jessica-Leigh Olan, York; Hunter B. Schenck, York; and Lapiffany P. Shearin, Red Lion.  The Student Appreciation Award is given to faculty or staff persons for outstanding service to students.  The recipient was Barbara H. Dennis, Camp Hill, coordinator of community relations and communications; and Kimberly A. Kohler, York, technical service.

Gary L. Collison Community Service Awards were presented to Jennifer M. Bradley, Lancaster; Mary Jo T. Mullenax, Manchester; and Brad A. Sizemore, Airville.  The service awards were renamed this year to honor the late Gar y L. Collison, professor of English and American Studies at Penn State York, whose idea it was to recognize students for their volunteer service.  

The Manufacturers Association Award honors a second year associate or baccalaureate degree student who has displayed academic excellence in an engineering or science program.  The recipient was Eric S. Rohrer, Columbia, MD.   The Computer and Information Systems (C&IS) Award is presented to the student(s) exemplifying quality customer service.  The recipients are Sean C. Breach, York; Joseph S. Chronister, York; and Christian W. Sprenkle, York.   Other award recipients and their awards are as follows: Brad A. Sizemore, York,  Academic Achievement Award;  Latashia L. Gilkes, York, and Ranna S. McNeil, York, Diversity Award;  Michael C. Cousar, Lancaster and Jonathan D. Harris, Shrewsbury, Edward M. Elias Award; Charlotte R. Cleckley, Lititz, National Communication Association Student Undergraduate Research Award; John K. Walk, Lancaster, Nittany News Award (student newspaper); Diana L. Grim, Thomasville, Pennsylvania Institute for Public Accountancy Award; Julie A. Cassel, York,  Rotary Club Award; David L. Calhoun, Hanover, electrical engineering technology (2EET); Jerry P. Armbruster, York, mechanical engineering technology (2MET); and Eric S. Rohrer, Columbia, MD;  electro-mechanical engineering technology (EMET); Tau Alpha Pi National Honor Society; and Susan K. Jones, York, York Chapter  of the Penn State Alumni Association Award.

Penn State York students will have the opportunity to network with business professionals in a variety of career fields during the Careers Roundtable Luncheon set for Tuesday, April 22 at the campus.  Students will also hear from Penn State Lady Lions Basketball Coach Coquese Washington at 1 p.m.   The event begins at 11:45 a.m. in the Conference Center of the Main Classroom Building.

"The Penn State York Careers Roundtable Luncheon is an excellent way for students to meet business professionals," said Dina Wulinsky, career counselor at Penn State York. "Students can meet professionals in an informal setting and ask questions to learn more about jobs in their field of interest," said Wulinsky.  There will be about 80 people attending the program.  The luncheon for students is sponsored by the Penn State York Student Activity Fee.

Ten professionals representing career fields including business, communications, education, engineering, government, health care, information sciences and technology, nonprofit organizations, science, and social services will meet and talk with students about their career and what it takes to get a job.   Students will have the opportunity to network during lunch in a low-key environment.

Following lunch, Penn State’s new women’s basketball coach will talk about her career path and college experience.  She’ll also discuss how she arrived at her current career and how she knew it was the right fit for her.

Washington was appointed the fifth head coach of the Penn State women’s basketball program last April. Prior to her appointment at Penn State, Washington helped lead Notre Dame to the 2001 NCAA Championship.  A 1992 graduate of Notre Dame, Washington was a four-year starting point guard and was the team captain on Notre Dame's first-ever NCAA Tournament team.

After graduating from Notre Dame with a degree in history, Washington went on to earn her law degree from Notre Dame in 1997. She returned to the court as a professional in 1997-98, playing for the ABL's Portland Power, before beginning a two-year stint with the WNBA's New York Liberty (1998-99). Washington moved on to Houston for the 2000 season, where she played an instrumental role in leading the Comets to the WNBA title. She spent the 2001 and part of the 2002 season with the Comets and Hall of Fame coach Van Chancellor, before finishing her professional career in 2003 with the Indiana Fever.

Utilizing her law degree, Washington was a central figure in helping create the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA), serving as the founding president of the WNBPA from 1999 until 2001. She also served as the executive vice president of the WNBPA from 2001 until her retirement in 2003. Washington led negotiations for the association's first collective bargaining agreement as the association's president, and as the executive vice president was a mainstay in the negotiations for the current collective bargaining agreement, which brought about the first free agency system in women's professional sports.  A native of Flint, Mich., Washington and her husband, Raynell Brown, have a son, Quenton (2).

Penn State York honored its student athletes at the Thirty-seventh Annual Athletic Awards Banquet Friday, April 11, in the Lion’s Den of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center at the campus.  Awards were presented following a 6 p.m. dinner.

Twenty-five Penn State York students earned the distinction of Academic All-Conference.  This honor is bestowed on those student athletes who have a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher during the semester of competition or a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and completion of at least 24 credits.  Recipients in their sports are:  Baseball:  Adam G. Allshouse, Red Lion; Joseph E. Bechtel, Glenville; Michael D. Burkentine, Hanover; Brent A. Crawford, York; Brian K. Skeen, York; Jared L. Stiffler, York; Jonathan M. Roberts, Stewartstown; and Robert A. Whaley, Dover.  Men’s Basketball:  Joshua D. Czerski, Baltimore, MD; Matthew N. Frey, York; Eric A. Hudak, York; and Nicholas D. Huso, Parkton, MD.  Women’s Basketball:  Kaitlyn O. Toomey.  Soccer:  Neel Arora, York; Andrew W. Rudisill, Dover; John F. Suarez, York; and Tyson B. Wright, York. Tennis:  Christopher A. Bonham, Lancaster; Matthew K. Holdorf, York; Osman Veledar, Lancaster; Abhishek S. Parikh, York; and Chung Hong (Ronald)Sun, York.  Women’s Volleyball:  Jamie R. Lau, Wrightsville; Briana Mott, State College; and Erin R. Murphy, Hanover.

Twelve students earned Athletic All-Conference in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC).   This award is given to athletes chosen either by their coach or other coaches in the conference for their athletic performance.  Recipients are: Adam G. Allshouse, Red Lion, baseball; Eric A. Hudak, York, men’s basketball; Lindsay E. Mumma, Dover, women’s basketball; Suhaib M. Alqaddomi, York, soccer; Brian A. Helm, Spring Grove, soccer; Daniel C. Montague, Lancaster, soccer; John F. Suarez, York, soccer; Christopher A. Bonham, Lancaster, tennis; Kayla E. Cyr, York, tennis; Matthew K. Holdorf, York, tennis; Jonathan E. Pettit, York, tennis;  and Lindsay E. Mumma, Dover, women’s volleyball.

The Coaches’ Award honors those athletes chosen by their coach for their sportsmanship, leadership, and general contribution to the team.  Not all teams give these awards.  Recipients are: Tyler A. Buck, Macungie, baseball; Eric A. Hudak, York, men’s basketball; and Lindsay E. Metzger, Spring Grove, women’s basketball.

Joshua D. Czerski, Baltimore, MD; received the Trimmer Award in basketball.  This award is named in honor of former Penn State York Basketball Coach Ron Trimmer and is given to the most improved player. 

John F. Suarez, York, received the Broadbent Award given in honor of Bruce Broadbent, Ph.D., former assistant professor of kinesiology at the campus and division head of health and human development at the Commonwealth College.   Broadbent was the campus’ first athletic director and worked for more than 30 years to promote the campus’ athletic programs.

Christopher R. Jones, East Berlin, received the Christopher C. Miller Sportsmanship Award for soccer.  This award is given to an athlete who displays a high level of sportsmanship not only on the soccer field but also in everyday life.  The award was established in 2002 to honor the late Christopher C. Miller, the son of former Penn State York Soccer Coach George Miller, who passed away on July 9, 2001 at the age of 16.  During his soccer career, Christopher played between 350 and 400 soccer games and never received a yellow or red card for unsportsmanlike play.  His love if the game of soccer and outstanding sportsmanship will always be remembered through his award.

Team coaches presented awards to their athletes:  Women's Volleyball (Head Coach Meggan Clancy and Assistant Coach Amy Yohe) First-year awards: Rachel L. Alfano, York; Luxsana Iamsakuldacha, York; Jamie R. Lau, Wrightsville; Lindsay E. Metzger, Spring Grove; Briana M. Mott, State College; Lindsay E. Mumma, Dover; Erin R. Murphy, Hanover; Abbey J. Sabold, Manchester; and Ann P. Shaw, Spring Grove.

Team Tennis (Head Coach Michael Arnold)  First-year awards:  Christopher A. Bonham, Lancaster; Kayla E. Cyr, York; Michael A. Diaz, Lancaster; Matthew K. Holdorf, York; Abhishek S. Parikh, York; Jonathan E. Pettit, York; and Chung Hong (Ronald) Sun, York. Second-year awards:  Sarai Flores, York; Jason P. Throckmorton, New Freedom; and Osman Veledar, Lancaster.  Fourth-year awards:  Carrie L. Matthews, Shrewsbury and Jennifer M. Shaw, Spring Grove.

Soccer (Head Coach Rich Chilcoat, Assistant Coach Tim Brokopp)  First-year awards: Colton M. Allison, York; Suhaib M. Alqaddomi, York; Matthew D. Bieber, York; Joseph D. Dizio, York; Christopher R. Jones, East Berlin; Daniel C. Montague, Lancaster; Andrew W. Rudisill, Dover; Inwoo Seo, Marietta; Logan D. Shaffer, York; John F. Suarez, York; and Tyson B. Wright, York.  Second-year awards:  Neel Arora, York and Brian A. Helm, Spring Grove. 

Women’s Basketball (Head Coach Eric Leese) First-year awards:  Nicole E. Davis, York Haven; Lindsay E. Metzger, Spring Grove; Lindsay E. Mumma, Dover; Tiffany A. Mummert, York; Whitney R. Rodkey, Dallastown; and Kaitlyn O. Toomey. Dover.  Second-year awards:  Kate M. Musso, York.

Men's Basketball (Head Coach Steve Baublitz, Assistant Coach Keith Klahold)  First-year awards:  Eric M. Boyle, Wrightsville; Nevar A. Chase, York; Joshua D. Czerski, Baltimore, MD; Russell N. Englebert, East Berlin; Eric A. Hudak, York; Nicholas D. Huso, Parkton, MD; Nicolaos G. Karanicolas, Hellam; and Nathaniel R. Shewell, York.  Second-year awards:  Matthew N. Frey, York; Clifton O. Johnson, York; John E. Mehring, York; and Brandon E. Sullivan, York.

Baseball (Head Coach Ron Workinger and Assistant Coach Joe Royer) First-year awards:  Neel Arora, York; Michael D. Burkentine, Hanover; Christopher A. Garner, Dillsburg; Trenton L. Glace, New Freedom; Daniel S. Hood, McSherrystown; Justin S. McGee, Hanover; Nicholas S. Miller, BelAir, MD; Corey L. Righter, York; Jonathan M. Roberts, Stewartstown; Brian K. Skeen, York; Jared L. Stiffler, York; and Matthew L. Valverde, York.  Second-year award:  Adam G. Allshouse, Red Lion; Joseph E. Bechtel, Glenville; Tyler A. Buck, Macungie; Brent A. Crawford, York; John E. Mehring, York, and Daniel R. Reichard, New Cumberland.  Third-year awards:  Gregory M. Books, Dillsburg and Robert A. Whaley, Dover.  Baseball staff includes Todd E. Eicker, scorekeeper, Red Lion; Amanda M. Clements, manager, Lancaster; Abigail G. Hofstrand, manager, Stewartstown; and Matthew J. McKee, manager, East Berlin.

Powerlifting, a club sport under the direction of Peter Catina, assistant professor of kinesiology, also received awards.  Recipients are Luke D. Cover, Spring Grove; Benjamin D. Glotfelty, New Freedom; Nathan J. Greathouse, Mountville; Matthew J. Halderman, York; and Phillip L. Smith, Millersville.

Bands that will perform are The Burning State, a rock band from central Pennsylvania; Little Ivory Blues Band, a blues band dedicated to keeping the blues alive; Northbrooke, a punk, rock and alternative band; and The Tamboureens, an American pop rock band with a 60s English sound.  There’s something for just about everyone’s musical taste.

The emcee for the evening is Brian Davies, a well-known comedian.  Davies, born in Toronto, Canada hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow Canadian comics such as Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Howie Mandel, and Eugene Levy.  Davies moved to the United States at age 9 and grew up in York.  A York Catholic graduate, Davies joined the United States Marines after graduation and it was during his military service that he discovered he had the talent for comedy.  After 14 years of hesitation he finally decided to give comedy a try.   Davies has been working the improv comedy circuit in Florida and recently started working for The Comedy Zone.

Tickets for BOB are $5 at the door for the general public and free to Penn State York students with I.D.  Penn State York’s Blue & White Society is a student contingent of the Penn State Alumni Association, the largest dues paying alumni society in the world.  BOB is sponsored by the society with assistance from the Penn State York Student Activity Fee and the Student Government Association.  

Penn State York will celebrate its 10th annual Unity Day on Wednesday, April 16, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. when students, faculty, staff, and members of the York community are invited to celebrate diversity.  Students, faculty and staff will share food items that represent their heritage and those who attend can participate in an international food sampling from a number of countries.  The Unity Day celebration takes place in the Penn State York gym in the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center. Displays are set up with items that reflect the origin or ancestry of faculty, staff, and students.  A variety of performances are scheduled and food representing the ethnicity of the campus community will be available beginning at 11:30 a.m.     

To participate in the Unity Day program, please fill out our online form.

Students in Fred Haag's design class, Art 010, created designs for Unity Day and the campus community selected a T-shirt design from among them.  Haag is an associate professor of visual arts at Penn State York and each year his class takes on this project as a part of the course. A design by Joseph Kurilla, a Penn State York information sciences and technology major, was selected for the shirts. Those participating in Unity Day will wear the specially designed T-shirts. Visitors to the event can also receive a shirt, while supplies last, if they visit a number of displays.  Goals for Unity Day include creating teachable moments to learn about diversity and to provide an opportunity for the campus and community to suggest ways Penn State can create a multicultural environment.

In addition to the activities on Wednesday, the Human Race Machine (HRM) will be on campus Monday, April 14 – Friday, April 18, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.  The HRM is a computerized program that takes a digital photograph of a person and transforms the image into various races and ages.  In addition to its "curiosity" and "entertainment" value, the intent of the program is to challenge our ideas about race and ethnicity.  The HRM has been featured in a recent Scientific American supplement and ties into the PBS series "Race: The Power of an Illusion."  Further information about the HRM can be found at  <http://www.wolfmanproductions.com/>.  The HRM will be set up in the Community Room of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center.

Unity Day is the culmination of the work of the Penn State York’s Diversity Committee and is sponsored by the group. A variety of multicultural events are planned throughout the year to provide a forum for the campus and community to learn about diversity.

Goals for Unity Day include creating teachable moments to learn about diversity and to provide an opportunity for the campus and community to suggest ways Penn State can create a multicultural environment.  Flags fly at Penn State York representing the homelands of students, faculty, and staff almost year round, and symbolize campus pride in the ethnic heritage of campus members and their commitment to providing an environment where all opinions are valued and respected.  Unity Day is an opportunity to educate, understand, and appreciate the differences among us and discover the many similarities.

Students involved in the performance include those are taking theatre 282 and theatre 150 as well as some drama club members.  In addition to performing, students are also designing sets.  The campus added a theatre minor last fall and students taking those classes now have the opportunity to get hands-on experience and be a part of productions.  The drama club was formed after the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center opened in August 2005 and has been performing a variety of one-act plays and shorter pieces.  This production will be a marker in their development.   The performance is under the direction of Stuart Stelly, adviser for the drama club and instructor in English at Penn State York.

“This is the most ambitious and complex play we’ve done so far,” said Stelly.

“I chose “The Heidi Chronicles” because it is a play that deals with relevant issues.  It’s about a young person trying to create a life for herself during a difficult time period.  It’s a situation that so many people face these days,” he said. “At one point in time people just did what their parents did but now people go out and create their own identities.  That’s what Heidi did in the play.  It’s also a really funny play,” Stelly said. 

“The Heidi Chronicles” is the story of Heidi Holland and follows her from high school in the 1960s to her career as a successful art historian more than 20 years later. The play's main themes deal with the changing role of women during this time period, describing both Holland’s ardent feminism during the 1970s and her eventual sense of betrayal during the 1980s. Though most of the characters are women, there are two important male characters; Peter Patrone, a homosexual pediatrician who is arguably Holland’s best friend, and Scoop Rosenbaum, a magazine editor who marries and has many affairs, with whom Holland has a tense friendship.

“The Heidi Chronicles” was first produced Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons, December 11, 1988, running for three sold-out months, before moving to the Plymouth Theater on Broadway on March 9, 1989. The play averaged 90 percent full houses during its run and, in 1989, garnered numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for drama as well as the Antoinette Perry (Tony) and New York Drama Critics’ Circle awards for best play. Other honors include the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Dramatists Guild’s Hull-Warriner Award, and the Susan Smith Blackburn Award for women playwrights.

Back by popular demand, Wayne Hoffman illusionist and mentalist, will present   Mind Candy, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 11, in Penn State York's Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (Pullo Center). Hoffman packed the 1,000-seat performing arts center last season. This is a free show but due to overwhelming demand, admission will be with ticket only. Free tickets will be available at the doors of the Pullo Center beginning at 5 p.m. the night of the show on a first-come, first-served basis.

Since 1994, Hoffman has performed Mind Candy for hundreds of thousands of people across the United States. His name is now synonymous with professional mystery entertainment. The show includes some of Hoffman’s signature effects such as his infamous "soda can effect" and his preshow predictions of his audiences actions. During all of the shows, Hoffman constantly has people participate both individually and as a group.

In 2007 he appeared on NBC's television show "Phenomenon," where he performed for millions of viewers on live television. He also appeared on various other television networks including TLC and the Discovery Channel.

The show features 38 signature songs from the legendary troubadour.  Hits include “I Walk the Line,” “Hurt,” “Jackson,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “A Boy Named Sue,” and the title track “Ring of Fire.”  Stories of passion, redemption, humor, and salvation set the stage ablaze in this musical celebration of one of the world’s most famous rebels, Johnny Cash.

Tickets for Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash are $55. For tickets and information on the variety of programs available at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, visit www.pullocenter.psu.edu or call 717-505-8900.  With seating for just over 1,000, the Pullo Center offers an intimate venue with full theatre capabilities.  The theatre opened at the campus in August 2005.

Goals for Unity Day include creating teachable moments to learn about diversity and to provide an opportunity for the campus and community to suggest ways Penn State can create a multicultural environment.  Flags fly at Penn State York representing the homelands of students, faculty, and staff almost year round, and symbolize campus pride in the ethnic heritage of campus members and their commitment to providing an environment where all opinions are valued and respected.     Unity Day is an opportunity to educate, understand, and appreciate the differences between each other and discover the many similarities. 

This production follows the epic story of the rise and fall of one of the world’s most notorious leaders. Set in a world of political intrigue and strained domestic relationships, the production explores the moral and political dilemma of Marcus Brutus. Should he join the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar, conquering hero and his trusted friend? Or should he allow one man’s tyrannical ambition to overcome the very ideals that Rome was founded upon?  The choice that Brutus makes has the power to destroy the old world order and to ignite a fierce civil war. Aquila’s production asks the audience to consider the price of democracy and freedom and the consequences that can befall a society when it is asked to defend its core beliefs.  The Aquila Theatre Company is known around the world for their outstanding Shakespeare productions.

For more information on this show or any other events at the Pullo Center, please call (717) 505-8900 or visit the Web at http://www.pullocenter.psu.edu/.

Penn State York’s Lee R. Glatfelter Library recently received a donation of 30 ceremonial dancing masks which are now on display.  The masks, from Latin American nations, primarily Mexico and Guatemala, were donated by the family of the late Gary Collison, Ph.D., Penn State York Professor of English/American Studies, who died last year. These masks were part of a much larger collection gathered by Collison, many of which were purchased in his travels to other countries.

The masks were worn by dancers playing out rituals that are rooted in centuries old ceremonies, and are typically part of festivals such as Carnaval and The Day of the Dead.  Masks are meant to convey the characteristics of what is being portrayed, such as an animal or a human characteristic like violence or stupidity, and can signify a variety of things. Some masks and dances are intended as parodies, some have to do with purification rites, and others act out Christ’s Passion or the cycle of life on earth.

The motifs used in this collection of masks are many. Male visages are prevalent as are those of the devil; several are animals and one is a harlot. Almost all the masks are carved from wood and painted in bright colors.  Several masks also have attached hair pieces fashioned either from animal hair or a plant fiber much like that found in rope. A number of the masks have been extensively used in dancing ceremonies, as evidenced by the dark sweat marks on the varnish inside the mask. Other masks in the collection are regarded as not authentic, in that these were not made for the ceremonial dances, but rather for the tourist trade. The oldest mask in the collection, a deer head mask complete with real antlers, is estimated to be between 50 – 60- years-old.

Most of the collection is displayed on a wall adjacent to the circulation counter, and is easily viewed by library users. The remaining masks, those considered to be more valuable or distinctive, are displayed in the library’s conference room. Although the conference room is locked when not being used, the masks may still be viewed through a large conference room window.

“The library is grateful to Bryan Stevens, a long time friend of Collison, for extending his knowledge and expertise in identifying and attributing the masks in the collection,” said David B. Van de Streek, assistant librarian at the campus. “The masks are a wonderful addition to our library.”

Along with the masks, a small collection of Collison’s books about masks were donated.   These books are being added to the library’s already existing materials on masks.  The combined book collection numbers close to 30, most of which are not duplicated elsewhere in the Penn State system.   Regular library hours resume March 17 and the masks can be viewed Mondays-Thursdays, 8 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Fridays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; and Sundays, 1 - 6:00 p.m.   For more information on Penn State York’s Lee R. Glatfelter Library visit www.libraries.psu.edu/york/ or call (717) 771-771-4020.

Penn State York begins its celebration of Women’s History Month with a presentation on Thursday, March 20 by Suzanne Gladfelter, senior instructor in information sciences and technology at the campus.  The program, from 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. in the Community Room of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center, is free and open to the public. 

Gladfelter will discuss “Pathways to Your Future:  Exploring STEM Careers,” a program for middle school girls that encourages careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  The program, founded by Gladfelter, is in its twelfth year. 

Pathways to Your Future offers girls the opportunity to explore a variety of job related fields in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  Participants can attend three workshops from a list of 21 covering a wide range of topics.  This free program brings together young women and professional women from academia, medicine, government agencies, business, and industry for a day or workshops and discussion.  The program also provides teachers with information to guide young women toward career opportunities in these fields.        

These programs were coordinated by Jennifer Nesbitt, Ph.D., assistant professor of English at Penn State York, as a way to introduce the campus and community to some outstanding, talented women.   Nesbitt teaches English courses and a women’s studies course at the campus.

Explore the Worlds of Engineering, Science, and Information Sciences and Technology on Saturday, March 8, when Penn State York opens its doors to middle and high school students.  The program, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., offers a variety of hands-on activities for students including: “Creating Web Pages with ‘Style’” with Suzanne Gladfelter, senior instructor in information sciences and technology; “Be a Crime Scene Investigator” with Robert Farrell, associate professor of biology; “The Colorful World of Chemistry” with Andy Landis, instructor in chemistry; and “The Legacy of Colonial Mill Ponds” with Matt Hoch, assistant professor of biology.  Stay an hour or the entire time.  Other topics include “Phun with Physics” with Kip Trout, senior instructor in physics; “Hacker for a Day” with Larry Newcomer, associate professor of information sciences and technology; and “Efficient Bridge Design” with Chuck Gaston, assistant professor of engineering.  Penn State York faculty will lead students in a variety of activities that introduce them to science, engineering, and information sciences and technology.

Beginning at 2 p.m., watch the breaking of the bridges during the Great Bridge Building Competition being held in conjunction with Explore the Worlds.   The event, sponsored by the Lincoln Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society for Professional Engineers, offers high school students a chance to construct a bridge and then test it to see how strong it is.   Bridge kits are still available and can be picked up at the Penn State York Admissions Office; C. S. Davidson, 38 North Duke Street, York; or Penn State, The Lancaster Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster.  Completed bridges must be on campus by 1:30 p.m.   For additional details on this event please contact Tim Koppenhaver at 845-4805. This program is free and open to the public. 

For more information on Explore the Worlds, visit the Web at www2.yk.psu.edu/explore/ or call 717-771-4040 or 1-800-776-6227.

”Be a Crime Scene Investigator”
Robert Farrell, associate professor of biology
10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

The world of forensics is becoming more sophisticated each day.  The techniques and methods have not only revolutionized the criminal justice system, but have also captured the imagination of a very large television viewing audience.  In this workshop, students will have an opportunity to learn about the standard techniques and equipment commonly used to solve crimes; some of the myths surrounding the discipline will also be dispelled. Questions about Penn State's new forensics major will be answered.  Workshops include:

“Efficient Bridge Design”
Chuck Gaston, assistant professor of engineering
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Using only "Lego-type" blocks and a limited amount of masking tape, design and build a bridge which will be weighed and then tested to destruction.  The measure of efficiency is maximum load supported/bridge weight. 

“Creating Web Pages with ‘Style’”
Suzanne Gladfelter, senior instructor in information sciences and technology
11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.

Modern Web sites incorporate W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) standards-based design to separate style from structure. These Web sites use XHTML (eXtensible Hyper Text Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to implement accessible Web pages.  In this hands-on, “make and take” lab, we will learn some basic Web design principles and modify a simple W3C standards-compliant Web page.

“Hacker for a Day”
Larry Newcomer, associate professor of information sciences and technology
11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m.

Explore the tactics, tools, and techniques that real hackers use to penetrate systems.

“The Colorful World of Chemistry”
Andy Landis, instructor in chemistry
10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.

Using a flowing stream model and eroded stream bank monolith, Hoch will demonstrate the legacy of colonial mill dams in causing sediment and nutrient pollution today. Mill ponds trapped sediment for 150 – 200 years. When they breached in the late 1800s to early 1900s, they began the massive release of eroding soil that has contributed to the decline of the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem and its commercial and recreational fisheries today. Opportunities will be available for workshop attendees to experiment with stream flow and erosion in the stream table after each demonstration.

Penn State York’s Theatre Department presents Welcome to the Moon, a one-act play by John Patrick Shanley, Feb. 27 and 28 at the campus’ Pullo Family Performing Arts Center.  Welcome to the Moon, at 7 p.m., is $5 for the general public and free to Penn State York students, faculty, and staff.  This play has mature content.  Shanley was the winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize in drama for his play, Doubt.  In addition to Shanley’s play, the program for the evening includes four other short plays, Small, Medium, Large by Jon Brooks; China by Scott Organ; The Battle of Bull Run Always Makes Me Cry by Carole Real; and The Office by Kate Hoffower.

The evening of entertainment is being produced by the theatre 282 class taught by Stuart Stelly, Ph.D., instructor in English; with support from students in the theatre 150 class taught by Diane Crews, instructor in theatre;  and the Penn State York  Drama Club.

Students directing the performances are Gregory Florey, Shawn Lerew, Samantha Kwait, Abigail Hammer, and Miles Myers.  Set design is by Jason Hopkins.  Students performing are Maryan Captan, Steven Daugherty, Abigail Hammer, Sean Higgins, Jamie Golden, Robyn Johnson, Samantha Kwait, Christopher Leverette, Joshua Lovejoy, Zachary McCrary, Marla McDaniel, Andrew Rudisill, Jenna Pouliot, Richard Smith, and John Figueroa.

Steven Anthony Étienne McGinley was born in a small house in a small town in the small state of Maryland to a big family. His mother wanted him to be a priest and his father wanted to join the army, but he discovered juggling instead. He began appearing in school plays at the age of ten and he learned to love the sound of laughter and applause. 

Étienne  moved back and forth between the United States and France to earn an associate degree from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, a diplôme de sociologie from the Sorbonne in Paris and a master’s degree in theater from the École Internationale du Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. He also trained at the Ringling Brothers Clown College, and toured with Cirque Fratellini – Europe’s oldest circus. He has since been performing comedy all over the world and believes that laughter can cross all borders. The most symbolic moment of his career was playing French love songs on a tuba for a Chinese audience in Italy. Étienne enjoys discovering beauty in unexpected places and plans to never retire.

Should a government be allowed to protect secrets in the name of national security if those secrets are used to cover up that government’s politically damaging actions?  Top Secret:  The Battle for the Pentagon Papers will explore answers to this question on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m., at Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (Pullo Center).  This program is sponsored by Penn State York’s Grumbacher Program in Ethics and Humanistic Studies.

The play focuses on the ethical issues arising from the publication of the Pentagon papers, which detailed the history of the United States’ involvement in Vietnam from the end of World War II until 1968.  In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg, a high level researcher and former State Department official, obtained a copy of the secret papers and leaked them to the New York Times which began publishing excerpts from them.  After the Nixon administration obtained an injunction against the New York Times, the Washington Post began its own publication of the papers.  Among the ethical raised by the episode in our recent past ate whistle-blowing, journalistic responsibility, and governmental responsibility and deception in justifying its actions in war.  The issues raised by the play are especially timely since many of these same issues have arisen with regard to the war in Iraq.

L.A. Theatre Works brings this important period in history to life with a star studded cast including John Heard, Gregory Harrison, Susan Sullivan, and John Vickery.  Based on interviews and documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, the play follows the debate played out as Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee’s staff sorts through the classified documents and tries to decide if publishing them violates national security.  The play includes their momentous decision and the legal wrangling that followed, leading up to the historic decision that reaffirmed the First Amendment.  The United States government’s relationship with the media, the citizenry’s right to information, and the First Amendment are all critically explored against the canvas of the Vietnam War and the secretive Nixon White House.

Tickets for Top Secret:  The Battle for the Pentagon Papers are $29 for the general public and $19 for all students.   Penn State York students can purchase a ticket for $9 at the Box Office with their student I.D.   For tickets and information on the variety of programs available at the Pullo Center, visit www.pullocenter.psu.edu or call 717-505-8900.  With seating for just over 1,000, the Pullo Center offers an intimate venue with full theatre capabilities.  The theatre opened at the campus in August 2005.

“The Elwha River Restoration:  Microbial Communities and Nutrients as Indicators of Habitat Change” is the topic that kicks off Penn State York's sixth annual Science and Technology Seminar Series Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 4:30 p.m.   The 10-week series, in the Community Room of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center at the campus, is free and open to the public.

Penn State York started the lecture series six years ago to offer college students, area high school students, and the general public an opportunity to hear nationally recognized speakers on a variety of topics.  “This is a great opportunity to discover new and interesting science topics and also learn more about scientific research and the careers of people we call scientists,” said Matt Hoch, Ph.D., series creator and assistant professor of biology at Penn State York.

Seminar Schedule

Feb. 12         “Organic Name Reactions in Industrial Chemistry”, Dr. Ron Kreis (President, Bimax, Inc.)

Feb. 26           “Mushrooms of Pennsylvania”, Dr. John Dawson (Professor Emeritus, Math Department, Penn State York

March 4          “Surfactants in Cosmetic Chemistry”, Dr. Camille Sasik (Staff Scientist, Johnson & Johnson)

March 18         “Greenhouse Technology in Floriculture”, Dr. Jay Holcomb (Professor of Floriculture, College of Agricultural Science, Penn State)    

April 8   “Stem Cells and Neurological Diseases: Now and in the Future”, Dr. Douglas Kerr (Associate Professor Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine). This program is at 7:00 p.m. in the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center at Penn State York.

April 15              “Biotechnology and the Changing Practice of Medicine”,  Dr. James Greene (Professor of Biology, The Catholic University of America)

A former Boy Scout and Air Force sergeant, Krone thought the death penalty was for the monsters of the world but in 1991 found himself on Arizona’s death row for a murder he did not commit.  In 2002, DNA evidence exonerated this Dover native and he was released after spending 10 years in prison.

Attend this program and learn more about one of the most controversial issues facing our country and the world from someone who has experience it firsthand.  

All faculty are eligible to be nominated except for recipients of the award in the past five years:  Fred Haag and Walter Arnold (2003), Deirdre Folkers (2004), Noel Sloboda and H. Robert Kaufhold (2005), John Dawson (2006), and Bruce Babcock and Heidi Deren (2007).

Two awards are given: one to a full-time faculty member and one to a part-time faculty member.  Do not worry if you are unsure whether a faculty member is full-time or part-time. The Teaching Award Committee will divide the nominations accordingly.
 
This nomination form is for faculty who are teaching in fall 2007 and / or spring 2008.

Please make your nominations using the online form and please provide a brief paragraph explaining what you think this faculty member has done to merit an award for excellence in instruction. We feel this is a good way to say “thank you” to a faculty member who is doing an excellent job and we hope you do, too.

Thank you for your response and participation in the selection process. Please submit the form electronically, or print out the form and return your nomination to the faculty staff assistant on the second floor of the M.S. Grumbacher Information Sciences and Technology Center (ISTC) or to the staff assistant to the chancellor in room 121 Main Classroom Building by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 29. Ask the staff assistant to place your nomination in Deirdre Folkers’ mailbox.

The nomination deadline is Friday, February 29, 2008.

Eating healthier, buying new socks, exercising, and breaking in their dancing shoes are just a few things Penn State York students Ben Altland, 19; Roderick Bell, 18;  Jenn Bradley, 19, and Mike Klunk, 21 are doing as they get ready to head to University Park to represent the campus in the Thirty-sixth Annual IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, “Hope Finds a Way,” set for Feb. 22 – 24 at the Bryce Jordan Center.  This is the first year York has sent four dancers so history is being made.  The four were chosen to dance based on spirit points they earned since September by doing a variety of activities to raise funds for THON and promote the event.   In the past, just two dancers from the campus had the opportunity to participate in the event.  THON, as the dance marathon is affectionately known, is the largest student-run philanthropy in the country and its goal is to raise money to help fight pediatric cancer.

This year round fund-raising event benefits The Four Diamonds Fund, Conquering Childhood Cancer, at the Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, PA. The year culminates in a no-sitting, no-sleeping, two-day dance marathon. Throughout the past 35 years, the students of THON have raised more than $46 million and have helped thousands of children and families fight pediatric cancer.   Last year the event raised more than $5.2 million and broke its own record. The mission of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon is to conquer pediatric cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers, and staff of The Four Diamonds Fund.

For York’s dancers, and members of the campus’ THON committee headed by, Bell and Klunk, the year has included a variety of fund-raising efforts such as selling raffle tickets for a Penn State basket, hosting a talent show called Paw Search, manning the coat check at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, and successfully taking part in canning weekends (soliciting donations) at several locations in the York area. 

In addition to raising money, the dancers have also become close with Madison “Maddie” Hill, “York’s THON child” and her family.  Through THON,  Penn State York sponsors the Hill family and over the past three years, dancers and the campus community have grown close to them.  Hill, 10, of Dover, PA, has been battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma since October 2004 and is set to complete her treatments in February 2008.  

Altland, 19, is a sophomore in the animal biology science and a graduate of Spring Grove High School.   He has been active in a variety of THON activities throughout the year and has visited the Hill family numerous times and attended  Maddie’s  soccer games.   Thanks to friend and fellow dancer Mike Klunk, Altland got involved in THON.  “I’m excited to be a dancer and have the opportunity to meet the THON families and the kids who benefit from our efforts.  I think it will be a rewarding experience that I won’t forget.”

Bell, 18, is a freshman in public relations and a graduate of Central York High School.  He is a co-chair for THON at York and has been active in a variety of THON activities.  He was the organizer and host of Paw Search and has also canned dressed as the Penn State Nittany Lion.  “I dance For the Kids.  THON is like the culmination of all the hard work we’ve put in to make a successful year, For the Kids."

Bradley, 19, is a freshman in architectural engineering and a graduate of Manheim Township High School in Lancaster County.  She has been involved in numerous fund-raising activities for THON and helped out with Paw Search and a holiday party benefiting THON.  Bradley has canned in numerous locations and is always ready to do anything that’s needed for THON.  “I wanted to dance in THON because it is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with the kids that we’ve been raising money to help.   I’m really excited to do this, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Klunk, 21, is a junior electro-mechanical engineering technology major and a graduate of New Oxford High School.   He is a THON co-chair and has been the life blood of canning for Penn State York.  Klunk’s dedication to visiting Maddie and her family, scheduling THON meetings on campus, and keeping everyone organized is second to none.  “THON is something that makes me happy.    I find helping others, especially children with cancer, extremely rewarding.  I’m looking forward to spending 46 hours with my fellow dancers and most importantly my inspiration, the kids.”

During THON weekend, more than 700 dancers and thousands of supporters come together at University Park in the hopes of one day finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Whether standing for 46 hours as a dancer, entertaining the crowd, taking care of the facility, or even sitting in the stands, every person at THON plays a small part in creating an amazing atmosphere of love, compassion, and understanding. This atmosphere inspires the students to fund raise throughout the year and tells the families of The Four Diamonds Fund that they have the care and support they need. This collective effort, involving more than 15,000 students, has become one of Penn State's greatest and most unifying traditions.

Anyone interested in helping with the York THON Committee should contact Bell or Klunk.  THON meetings are held Wednesdays at noon in room 107 of the Main Classroom Building at Penn State York.

There’s still time to donate.  Anyone interested in supporting the dancers from Penn State York can send checks made payable to:

Penn State Dance Marathon
c/o York Student Government Association
Penn State York
1031 Edgecomb Ave.
York, PA   17403

Checks sent to the local campus will be credited to the local dancers and then added to the final total at University Park. 

For adults who never want to stop experiencing life and learning, Penn State York invites you to be a part of a community that celebrates learning in a relaxed and accepting environment, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Penn State York (OLLI).  Learn more about this exciting new organization in York at an open house on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 2 – 4 p.m. in the Conference Center at Penn State York.  OLLI is open to all adults who love to learn.

OLLI is a nonprofit, volunteer driven organization established to enrich the lives of mature adults living in York County by providing a variety of educational and social enrichment activities.  OLLI at Penn State York is one of more than 100 lifelong learning institutes across the nation that is supported by a grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation.    The grant was made available locally through Penn State which now has three OLLI sites, University Park, Mont Alto and York.   

Penn State York will remember the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with a variety of events throughout the month of January beginning  Monday, Jan. 21 with a Day of Service at the Crispus Attucks Association in York.  Members of the Penn State York campus community will serve breakfast at the facility.   Also on Jan. 21, from 10 a.m. – noon, a Martin Luther King Round Table will take place featuring LaMarr Shields, a motivational speaker with the Urban Leadership Institute. Topics of discussion include From the Classroom to the Boardroom, Violence Prevention Initiatives, and Understanding the Music. This program is sponsored by YWCA's Quantum Opportunities Program and Penn State York.

The week of celebration continues on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at noon when Shindana Cooper, storyteller, visits the campus.  Cooper perpetuates the African oral tradition. She takes her audience from an African village to the Middle Passage and from the plantation to a safe house on the Underground Railroad. Cooper will bring to life Sojourner Truth, Mary McLeod Bethune, and the frightened women who walked with Harriet Tubman.  This program is set for noon in the Conference Center at the campus.

Two events are planned for Jan. 24, Incognitio, a play, and a presentation on Pennsylvania’s Underground Railroads.  What would you do if you discovered you really aren’t the person you thought you were?  Incognito by Michael Fosberg comes to the   Pullo Family Performing Arts Center at noon.  This one-man play about racial identity features Fosberg’s wjo reenacts how it felt growing up thinking he was white only to learn that he was black. In this funny, emotional play the audience will be forced to evaluate race, ethnicity, and how they define themselves.  At 6 p.m., Lenwood Sloan will discuss Pennsylvania’s  Underground Railroads in the Community Room of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center.  Sloan is the director of Pennsylvania Past Players, a living history program that brings historical events to life. He will offer a multimedia presentation and discussion covering Pennsylvania’s response to the Underground Railroad – flight, resistance, social change, and self reliance.  Sloan’s background in choreography and history make this an exceptionally educational and entertaining presentation for all ages. 

Finally to complete the week of remembering King, Penn State York students, faculty and staff will again collect peanut butter and jelly (PB&J) for York’s Salvation Army after school program which serves more than 200 students.  Donation boxes will be located throughout the campus during this special two-week PB&J blitz in January.

All events are free and open to the public.   For more information call (717) 771-4128.