December 2005 News Archive

Nearly 1,000 Attend Penn State York Commencement

Penn State York celebrated its fifth annual fall commencement with nearly 1,000 people in attendance Monday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. in the new Pullo Family Performing Arts Center at the campus. This was the first commencement to take place in the new facility which opened in August. The ceremony was free and open to the public.

The campus awarded 51 baccalaureate degrees, 48 associate degrees, and recognized 51 master of education in teaching and curriculum degree recipients.

John J. Romano, Ph.D., vice president for commonwealth campuses at Penn State was the commencement speaker. Hi shis remarks, Romano shared the advice his father gave him upon his graduation from eighth grade, "Don't wait for your ship to come in, row out to meet it." Romano ended his remarks to the graduates with "Your ships are awaiting your arrival." A familiar face in York, Romano served as the campus executive officer at Penn State York from 1985 to 1993 and was instrumental in helping the campus gain funding and support for its new facility featuring the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, the Lee R. Glatfelter Library, and the John T. and Paige S. Smith Atrium.

In addition to hearing from Romano, Penn State York continued its tradition of open microphone where graduates spoke for a moment. The top associate degree, baccalaureate, and master's degree graduates said a few words. Two former Penn State York students who completed their degree work at an upper division campus of Penn State returned to their home campus, York, to receive their degrees during the ceremony. Penn State York offers the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors.

The campus also recognized baccalaureate students who began their work at Penn State York and are eligible to move on to University Park or other campuses to complete their degree work. A reception, sponsored by the Penn State York Alumni Society, followed the ceremony. Penn State York's spring commencement is set for May 12, 2006.

FRIDAY FINAL EXAMS

Final exams scheduled for 2 p.m. or after on Thursday, December 15, will take place today, Friday, December 16, at their regularly scheduled time and location unless you have made other arrangements with the faculty member.

Think Summer at Penn State York

It’s never too early to think about summer classes and Penn State York has two summer sessions to meet your needs. Whether you’re interested in undergraduate credit, graduate credit, computer seminars, or personal enrichment courses, Penn State York has day and evening classes to help make this summer count. Two six-week sessions offer students a convenient way to get ahead for fall, catch-up on classes or just get started. Summer Session I begins May 8 and continues through June 16, and Summer Session II begins June 19 and continues through July 28.

Penn State York’s small class size offers students the opportunity to get to know faculty members and work in research areas using the campus state-of-the-art lab facilities. The two summer sessions also allow students to take a class and still have time to enjoy the summer. Summer is also a great time to perfect computing skills and the campus has a number of programs for the novice or the experienced user. The seminars provide a clear, in-depth, hands-on approach to using and understanding personal computers.

For a brochure or more information on summer course offerings at Penn State York, please call 717-771-4050. Discover how the lion roars in York.

Holiday Closings Set at Penn State York

Penn State York will be closed for regular business for the holidays beginning at 5 p.m. Dec. 22 and will re-open at 8 a.m. Jan. 3. Registration for the spring semester is ongoing with most day and evening credit classes beginning Jan. 9. Some professional development programs begin in January with others beginning throughout the semester. Plan to register by Jan. 6 for credit courses to ensure a place in class. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on Penn State York's wide range of programs beginning Jan. 9 and throughout the spring, call 717-771-4000 or visit http://www.yk.psu.edu online.

Rent Opens Feb. 3 and 4 at Penn State York

Rent, the Broadway musical and winner of four Tony Awards and the 1996 Pulitzer Prize, opens at Penn State York's new Pullo Family Performing Arts Center Feb. 3 and 4, 2006.   The Broadway touring company of Rent takes to the stage at 8:00 p.m.  This is the second Broadway musical to perform at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center since it opened in August 2005.  With seating for just over 1,000, the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center offers an intimate venue with full theater capabilities.

See a clip! [Windows Media file - 1.17 MB]

Rent is about being young in New York, being brave and being scared, being in love and being in trouble, having hope for today and faith in tomorrow.   Rent captures the heart and spirit of a generation.  Inspired by Puccini's La Boheme, Rent is a musical that celebrates a community of young artists as they struggle with the soaring hopes and tough realities of today's world.  Rent contains mature themes and adult language.

Check out more about Rent by visiting http://www.rentthetour.com/

Tickets for Rent are $39 and $49. For tickets and information on the variety of programs available at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, visit http://www.pullocenter.yk.psu.edu/ or call 717-505-8900.   Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.ticketweb.com/

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Will Perform Dec. 6 at Penn State York

There's still time to buy tickets for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's Wild and Swingin' Holiday Party set for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 in Penn State York's new Pullo Family Performing Arts Center. The group brings the Big Band sounds of Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller in holiday style. The band borrows the Rat Pack lingo, the hip zoot suits and recalls the swinging days of the '40s and '50s.

The band's upbeat sound has been embraced both by older fans nostalgic for the music of their youth and by younger fans interested in swing dancing and the elegance and sophistication of the Big Band era. The band has performed at the Billboard Music Awards, the White House and at the halftimes of both the Super Bowl and the Orange Bowl.

Parker House and Theory (PH&T) will open the show for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. This five-man group creates a unique sound with influences ranging from rock to hip-hop and jazz to jam. PH&T will also perform at noon on Dec. 7 in the Lion's Den of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center at the campus as part of the free Wednesdays in the Lion's Den (WILD) program.

Penn State York's Pullo Family Performing Arts Center has seating for more than 1,000 and offers full theater capabilities. Tickets for the performance are are $29 and $24.

Patrons should mark their calendars for Feb. 3 and 4 when the Broadway touring company of "Rent" takes the stage at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center. For tickets and information, visit http://www.pullocenter.yk.psu.edu/ or call (717) 505-8900.

Things are Getting Sticky Again at Penn State York

Once again things are getting sticky at Penn State York and it's not a bad thing. It's peanut-butter-and-jelly time at the campus. Penn State York hopes to have hundreds of pounds of peanut butter and jelly on campus by Dec. 22. No, students, faculty and staff aren't looking to make sandwiches but what they are doing is collecting the food for the Salvation Army in York. Last year the campus collected more than 400 pounds of the sandwich-makings and they hope to increase that amount this year.

It's the second annual peanut-butter-and-jelly challenge on campus and Penn State York students are taking on faculty and staff to see who can gather the most jars and tubs of the ingredients for one of America's favorite sandwiches. Last year Penn State York faculty and staff won by nine pounds so students are looking to have a victory in 2005. Collection boxes for faculty and staff are located in the faculty lounges of the Main Classroom Building and the Information Sciences and Technology Center. Collection boxes for students are located in the lobby of the Main Classroom Building, outside the Lion's Den in the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center and several other spots on campus.

This food collection is just another outreach activity happening at Penn State York under the direction of Ann Fetterman, a part-time instructor of English. The peanut butter and jelly collected will go to the after-school program through the Salvation Army and will be used for snacks for the more than 300 students at various locations throughout York. Earlier this fall Penn State York students, faculty and staff worked at Habitat for Humanity, Our Daily Bread soup kitchen, and collected backpacks and school supplies for the Homeless Student Initiative in York.

To donate peanut butter and jelly, visit the campus and drop off a donation by Dec. 22. For more information, e-mail Fetterman at axf25@psu.edu or call (717) 771-4162.