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.

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.

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/

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.

Penn State York celebrated its fifth annual fall commencement on 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.

Associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees were awarded.

John J. Romano, Ph.D., vice president for commonwealth campuses at The Pennsylvania State University, which includes academic and administrative leadership for 19 undergraduate campuses across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was the commencement speaker. 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.

Romano chairs the Council of Campus Chancellors and serves on various other University committees including the Academic Leadership Council, President’s Council, Facilities Naming Committee, University Faculty Senate, and Facilities Resources Committee, to name just a few.Prior to his current assignment, Romano served as the vice provost and dean for enrollment management and administration and affiliate associate professor of education at The Pennsylvania State University, which included administrative responsibility for Enrollment Management and the offices of Undergraduate Admissions, Student Aid, and University Registrar. Romano served as assistant and then associate dean for undergraduate studies and assistant professor of social sciences in the College of the Liberal Arts, and for one year as the interim director of the School of Journalism. Prior to his appointment at Penn State, Romano was the assistant to the vice president for student affairs at the University of Delaware.

Romano received his B.S. in secondary education (physics) from the State University of New York, College at Oswego. He holds a M.S. from Springfield College in guidance and counseling and a Ph.D. in counselor education from Penn State.

In addition to hearing from Romano, Penn State York continued its tradition of open microphone where graduates can speak for a moment. The top associate degree, baccalaureate, and master’s degree graduates said a few words.  A number of 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 Thon Committee invites you to give the gift of life this holiday season by participating in the campus’ blood drive Thursday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. in the Conference Center of the Main Classroom Building. Not only will your donation help increase the American Red Cross blood supply but you’ll also be helping children with cancer. The American Red Cross will donate $2 to the Penn State Dance Marathon, affectionately know as Thon, for every pint of blood given at the campus. Two dancers from York will take part in the dance marathon at University Park on Feb. 17-19, 2006.

Students, faculty, staff, and members of the community can set-up an appointment to give blood from noon - 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 - Friday, Nov. 18, in the Lion’s Den in the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center at Penn State York or by calling 240-423-7066. Scheduling an appointment is encouraged but walk-in donations will also be accepted.

Thon is a year round fundraising event benefiting 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, 48-hour dance marathon held every February. Over the past 30 years, the students of THON have raised more than $30 million and have helped thousands of children and families fight pediatric cancer.

During THON weekend, 700 students and thousands of supporters come together in University Park in the hopes of one day finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Whether standing for 48 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 fundraise 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 10,000 students, has become one of Penn State's greatest and most unifying traditions.

In October, Penn State York’s Thon Committee raised more than $300 during a film screening on campus. Anyone interested in sponsoring Penn State York's dancers in THON can contact George Kapterian, the York THON chairperson, at gak159@psu.edu.

Larry Barton, Ph.D., one of the world's leading experts in crisis prevention, management, and crisis communication will be at Penn State York on Friday, Dec. 2, for a half-day seminar, Disaster Planning and Crisis Management: Getting Ready. The program, from 8:30 a.m. noon, is in the new Pullo Family Performing Arts Center at the campus. The program is sponsored by The Community and University Partnership (CUP) at Penn State York, PennSERVE, and the READY Campus Compact.

Download registration flier (Microsoft Word document)

Disaster Planning and Crisis Management: Getting Ready provides an intensive overview of what businesses and organizations can do to minimize exposure to business disruption and more effectively respond to incidents that could hurt your people, reputation, and financial condition. Barton will discuss crisis communications and how to manage all types of emergencies and disasters. He has delivered seminars to more than 40,000 managers and executives in twenty countries and has written more than 300 crisis plans.

Participants will learn strategies and tactics to immunize their organization to disruption factors; see and hear actual examples of managers and executives in the midst of crisis; learn how to align employees, customers and other key stakeholders with your core messages; improve your ability to rebound after an industrial accident, chemical spill or other disaster; develop a crisis management plan for your organization; and properly capitalize on local police, fire, and emergency services assets during and after a disaster.

Designed for professionals responsible for disaster and crisis planning in corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations, this seminar is based on a case study method so participants can learn what has worked, and not worked, at organizations around the world. Barton uses his experience to help participants anticipate the "worst case scenario" and be prepared for the numerous challenges that come with any emergency. Participants will be able to learn strategies and implement specific contingency and crisis management plans in their own organization.

Barton has served as a crisis consultant to leading organizations worldwide including British Petroleum, ExxonMobil, The Walt Disney Company, LG Electronics, Mirage Resorts, Honda, The United States Army, GoldStar Electronics and many others. Barton is also a respected voice in higher education, having served as past president of DeVry Institute of Technology in Phoenix and Heald College, a system of eleven colleges in California, Oregon, and Hawaii. He is the president and chief executive officer of The American College in Bryn Mawr, PA.

Barton holds an A.B., magna cum laude, from Boston College (1978), the M.A.L.D. from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (1981) and his Ph.D. in public affairs and international communications from Boston University (1983). He was named Senior Fulbright Fellow to Japan in 1995 by the United States Information Agency. After teaching management and communications at Harvard Business School, Boston College, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and The Pennsylvania State University (1983-94), he served as vice president of communications and public affairs for Motorola, Inc. from 1995-1998. In this role he was responsible for corporate crisis management for a corporation with 150,000 employees and annual sales of US $31 billion.

Cost for the half-day seminar is $50 per person. For a brochure or more information, please contact Beth Gill-MacDonald at 717-771-4047 or bxg5@psu.edu

Students participating in the Preparation for Your Verbal SAT (9 -11a.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 recently by the campus with the 2005 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. Currently Sloboda is writing a book on Edith Wharton and Gertrude Stein.

Preparation for Your Math SAT (11:05 a.m. - 12:35 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 has authored numerous study guides for the University’s Independent Learning Program.

Register for both sessions at $155 and save $10. The course fee includes the book the The New Official SAT Study Guide: For the New SAT by the College Board. For a brochure or more information, please call Penn State York at 771-4050 or visit the campus at 1031 Edgecomb Avenue. You may also visit the Continuing Education SAT Web page at http://ce.yk.psu.edu/satprep.shtml.

Is Cheryl Wheeler a poet or a comic? Audience member will discover the two sides of Cheryl Wheeler, poet and comic, when she performs Friday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Penn State York’s new Pullo Family Performing Arts Center. The program, sponsored by the campus and the York Newspaper Company, is free and open to the public.

Poet Cheryl is the writer of some of the prettiest and intelligent ballads on the modern folk scene. Honest songs of love and loss, contrasting the prosaic landscapes of her native small town America with the hopelessly rootless life of the traveling performer. Her evil twin, comic Cheryl, is a militant trend defier and savagely funny social critic. Comic Cheryl comes on like Groucho in a housecoat; a fiercely everyday woman with a barbed wire tongue, shredding the more of our gossipy, greedy, trend-obsessed culture, always aiming enough darts at herself to never seem sanctimonious.

As the two forces smooth their conflict, take their separate turns and meld into the same artistic vision, Wheeler emerges as a gifted and openhearted song writer approaching the summit of her craft. In addition to Wheeler’s unique style and performance skills, those who attend will also experience the beautiful state-of the art facility that is the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center. For more information on upcoming free and paid performances at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center visit http://www.pullocenter.yk.psu.edu/perfomances.shtml or call 505-8910.

The rain didn't stop visitors from attending Penn State York's Open House on Saturday, October 22. More than 180 prospective students, family members, and friends of Penn State attended the event as part of Penn State Days, a statewide recognition of the role Penn State plays in education.

Participants had the opportunity to experience the new state-of-the-art Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, receive information about the campus, attend sample classes, enjoy free University Creamery ice cream, win prizes, and more.

Photos of the event can be viewed at http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2005_10_25_psuday/.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (BBVD) will perform on December 6 at Penn State York’s new Pullo Family Performing Arts Center. The performance, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin' Holiday Party, is set for 7:30 p.m. and tickets are on sale now. BBVD brings the big band sounds of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller holiday style. BBVD borrows the Rat Pack lingo, the hip zoot suits, and the swinging days of the '40s and '50s.

BBVD’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. They have performed at the Billboard Music Awards, the White House and at the halftimes of both the Super Bowl and the Orange Bowl. The band’s videos are regularly featured on MTV and VH1 and they have performed on numerous television shows such as "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Live with Regis" and "Late Night with Conan O’Brien."

Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center has seating for just over 1,000 and offers full theater capabilities. It is a state-of-the-art venue providing an intimate cultural experience. Tickets are $29 and $24. For tickets and information, visit http://www.pullocenter.yk.psu.edu/ or call 717-505-8900.

Drake combines his extensive knowledge of music and abilities as a dynamic entertainer in his multimedia presentation. Prepare to discover or rediscover the Roots of Rock & Roll at Penn State York.

Put on your “Blue Suede Shoes” and get ready to “Rock Around the Clock” with Drake as he talks about everyone from Chuck Berry to the Beatles.  Roots of Rock & Roll: 1953  1963 begins just before the dawn of rock & roll and examines the styles of music that came together on the early recordings.   It follows music’s development through the 50s and 60s covering rhythm & blues, rockability, doo-wop, teen idols, girl groups and early soul.    For the first time, music belonged to young people.

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 was voted the Campus Lecturer of the Year by the National Association for Campus Activities from 1995 - 2000 and the 1998 Campus Activities Lecturer of the Year by Campus Activities Magazine.

This program is sponsored by Penn State York and The York Newspaper Company.  For more information on Drake visit his Web site at www.barrydrake.com .

Penny Wars at Penn State York raised more than $465 for the American Red Cross during a recent fundraising event.  Penn State York's Lion Ambassadors challenged other student clubs at the campus to put their pennies to good use and raise money for victims of hurricane Katrina.

Marnie Sipple (pictured right), school program manager for the York Chapter of the American Red Cross, thanked students for their support of hurricane relief through Penny Wars at the campus.

Representatives of a variety of clubs positioned containers outside the Lion's Den in the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center, and encouraged members of the campus community to donate their spare change. Clubs participating in the Penn Wars were the Christian Fellowship Organization, Outdoor Adventure Club, Biology Club, Rainbow Paws, York Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, Asian Culture Club, SCROUNGE, Student Government Association,  Belly Dancing,  Martial Arts, College Republicans, Hispanic Student Association, Black Student Union, and the Lion Ambassadors.

A check was presented to the York Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Discover all that Penn State York has to offer during the second annual Penn State Day Open House Saturday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Meet faculty, staff, and students, tour the campus and sample a class.  Find out about our programs, from the first two years of more than 160 baccalaureate majors to the nine baccalaureate programs, seven associate degrees, master's degree, and a variety of credit certificates that can be completed without leaving York.

Come and explore the variety of educational opportunities for people of all ages. Visit the Information Fair and learn about a variety of programs at the campus from eight varsity sports to student clubs and activities and undergraduate research opportunities.  There's a lot happening at Penn State York.  Discover the possibilities.

For more information please call 717-771-4040 or 1-800-PSU-6227. Check out our Web site and visit admissions. Registration is encouraged but not required.

Students hope to raise money for Thon by attracting Final Fantasy fans to this latest movie.  The movie takes place two years after Cloud & Company saved the world from Sephiroth.  The citizens of the planet begin suffering from a strange sickness called Geostigma and Cloud has secluded himself, being haunted by the demons of his past.   In addition to the film screening, students will also be selling Thon bracelets.

Thon is a year round fundraising event benefiting 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, 48-hour dance marathon held every February. Over the past 30 years, the students of Thon have raised more than $30 million and have helped thousands of children and families fight pediatric cancer.

During Thon weekend, 700 students and thousands of supporters come together in University Park in the hopes of one day finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Whether standing for 48 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 fundraise 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 10,000 students, has become one of Penn State's greatest and most unifying traditions.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Penn State York's dancers in Thon can contact George Kapterian, the York Thon chairperson, at gak159@psu.edu.

View photos of the event here

Ian Rosenberger, the third-place finisher on last season's "Survivor: Palau" on CBS, shared his experiences at Penn State York on Thurs. Sept. 15. The former Undergraduate Student Government president at Penn State, Rosenberger, 24, talked about leadership, ethics, and what it was trying to win $1 million on network television. Following his informal presentation Rosenberger joined the group to watch the first episode of "Survivor Guatemala."

Beyond the physical challenges of "Survivor," Rosenberger talked about the importance of developing relationships and how his experience on "Survivor" has really changed him. "I really learned a lot about myself. I realized just how important friends are and how to have trust and faith in people," he said. "I also have a real appreciation for food and a better understanding of what real hunger is. The experience gave me a glimpse of what life is like for the 50 percent of the world population who lives in poverty."

Rosenberger also discussed his time as USF President at Penn State and the impact the Penn State Dance Marathon had on his life. "I really learned where my place is and what's important, "he said. He plans to finish his last Penn State course online and graduate in December.

Rosenberger is pursuing a number of job leads and left the audience with a bit of advice to remember, "Career development is not about what's on paper, it's about the people you meet."

Penn State York’s new Pullo Family Performing Arts Center’s gala premiere  wowed the audience with the sound of tap shoes and song on Sept. 28 as the Broadway cast of 42nd Street took to the stage to open the center's debut season. Dancing feet taped their way across the new stage after an opening reception attended by members of the campus, community, and the Pullo family.  The new facility is named for Robert and Donna Pullo and their family.   This was the area's first opportunity to fully experience the campus’ new performing arts center. The state-of-the-art facility was completed in August and 42nd Street was the center’s debut performance.

An Evening of Comedy with Bob Saget - "It Ain't Full House," is the next performance set for the Pullo Center on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m.  Tickets for Saget's standup comedy are $39 and $34.   This show contains adult language and humor.  For tickets and information, visit http://www.pullocenter.yk.psu.edu/or call 717-505-8900.

More than 500 people took part in a day of celebration during the grand opening of Penn State York’s new facility on Aug. 25 featuring the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, the Lee R. Glatfelter Library, and the John T. and Paige S. Smith Atrium.  The festivities began with a donor reception followed by a dedication and ribbon cutting, interactive tours of the buildings, and a free concert to close out the evening.   A number of University and local officials took part in the ceremony. Performers from a variety of local dance and musical groups provided entertainment throughout the afternoon.

View photos of this grand event!

Construction on the 71,000 square foot facility began just over a year and a half ago and completion of the building has been highly anticipated by the campus and community. The $13.2 million facility was constructed primarily with state funding ($11.9 million) through the Department of General Services in Harrisburg.  Additional funding was provided through local donors and the University.

The performing arts center has seating for 1,000 and offers full theater capabilities. Almost 700 seats in the house have been named, with plaques, in recognition of donors.  Students, faculty, staff, visitors, and guests will enjoy the intimacy of a smaller theater with the seating capacity of a larger venue because of the balcony that is part of the architectural design. The Pullo Family Performing Arts Center is a fully equipped theatre with state-of-the-art lighting and sound and one of the largest stage houses in the area. There's a full fly tower which allows the campus to bring in tours and traveling shows of all kinds.

The lower section of the building houses art and much needed general purpose classrooms.   In addition to cultural events, the performing arts center will also be used for commencement, a film series, and a variety of other activities. The performing arts center will also be home to four resident companies - the York Youth Symphony Orchestra, York Junior Symphony Orchestra, York County Honors Choir, and the York County Junior Honors Choir  who will rehearse and perform there.

The library portion of the facility has two separate levels and includes group study rooms, stack space, instructional space, and special collections rooms. More seating space will be available in the new library and visitors will have a spectacular view of Memorial Park, the City of York, campus, and the woods. The library doubles in size from just 9,000 square feet in the old facility to almost 20,000 square feet in the new one.  The library also features its own computer lab.

The performing arts center and the library are connected with an atrium/lobby designed to be open to floors above and below. There will be ample use of glass to take advantage of natural light and the vistas to the north. Sparky and Clark’s, a popular local café, will have a location in the atrium and the café will be open during the day for students, faculty, staff, and visitors as well as during events at the performing arts center.

The Pullo Family Performing Arts Center is named in honor of Robert and Donna Pullo and their family’s lifelong commitment to education, culture, and the arts.  Mr. Pullo has served as a member of the Penn State York Advisory Board and through his work as campaign chairperson,  Penn State York’s fundraising efforts were a tremendous success.

The library is named in honor of the late Lee R. Glatfelter, community leader and volunteer, and in gratitude to Arthur J. Glatfelter, Jr., for his gifts in her memory.   Mr. Glatfelter established the Lee R. Glatfelter Endowment for Project Connections at Penn State York to serve the youth of the York community now and in the future.

The atrium is named to honor benefactor and friends, John T. Smith and the late Paige S. Smith.  Both graduates of Penn State, they established a scholarship in their name as well as the John T. and Paige S. Smith Professorship in science at the campus.   In addition to their donations to York, the Smiths have supported the colleges of agriculture and health and human development, as well as athletics.

“This is an excellent degree that will support local agencies and fills a community need,” said Harriet Darling, Ph.D., instructor in human development and family studies and program coordinator. “Our market surveys of students and local agencies pointed us to this degree and the community human services option. Other schools in the region offer social work or behavioral science/sociology degrees but this degree is the only one to combine the individual and family development components with human services. The associate degree we currently offer also fits nicely into this program.”

The bachelor of science degree in human development and family studies is a multidisciplinary program that examines the development of individuals and families across the life span. It enables students to prepare for professional, managerial, or scientific roles in health and human services professions, in public and nonprofit agencies, and in business and industry, as well as for advanced professional or graduate study. Courses emphasize biological, psychological, social/cultural, and economic aspects of development. Through course work and undergraduate internships or research projects, students develop skills relevant to career objectives, such as counseling, human assessment, program planning and evaluation, and research.

The community human services option offered at York is designed to prepare students to enter human services professions. The program also provides excellent preparation for students interested in pursuing graduate study in human development and human services areas. Students typically enter the program with a strong desire to help people. The option combines the theoretical underpinnings of human development across the life span with applied study in real-world settings. Students develop written and oral communication skills throughout the program, acquire contemporary computer skills, and participate in active learning, team-building, and group exercises. The option allows students to become familiar with unique human services needs and organization in Pennsylvania communities, a design that sets the option apart from others. Students who complete the program will be prepared for positions with community human services agencies serving children, adolescents, families, and the aged.

This new degree is one more option for students who are interested in completing a Penn State degree locally. Penn State York will continue to offer eight other four-year degrees: the bachelor of arts in American studies; the bachelor of arts in communication arts and sciences; the bachelor of arts in English; the bachelor of arts in letters, arts, and sciences (liberal studies option); the bachelor of science in business; the bachelor of science in electro-mechanical engineering technology; the bachelor of science in information sciences and technology, the bachelor of science in science; and the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors. The campus also offers seven associate degrees, a focused master’s degree in teaching and curriculum, and a wide range of professional development and personal enrichment courses.

For information on the bachelor of science degree in human development and family studies, please contact Darling at 717-771-4164 or send an e-mail inquiry to hed4@psu.edu; Sukhdeep Gill, assistant professor of human development and family studies, at 717-771-8406 or sgill@psu.edu; contact the Penn State York Admissions Office at 717-771-4040 or 1-800-PSU-6227.

Students participating in the Preparation for Your Verbal SAT (9:00 – 11:00 a.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 recently by the campus with the 2005 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. Currently Sloboda is writing a book on Edith Wharton and Gertrude Stein.

Preparation for Your Math SAT (11:05 a.m. – 12:35 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 has authored numerous study guides for the University’s Independent Learning Program.

Register for both sessions at $155 and save $10. The course fee includes the book 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 771-4050 or visit the campus at 1031 Edgecomb Avenue.

The news of two new sports at the campus comes on the heels of an announcement that starting this fall, students at all Penn State campuses will be eligible to compete in varsity athletics for four full years in the same sport in the PSU-AC. This change adjusts the guidelines of the current Commonwealth Campus Athletic Conference (CCAC) to coincide with the campuses' expansion of degree offerings from two to four years. As a result, athletes will be able to stay with the same sport for four years instead of having to change to a different sport, a requirement that had existed because some of the opponents were two-year schools.

Although Penn State athletics are best known for NCAA Division I competition by University Park teams, intercollegiate competitive opportunities attract an even-higher percentage of undergraduates at the campuses outside University Park. Two of these locations, Penn State Altoona and Penn State Erie, already compete against NCAA Division III teams, while Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley is on its probationary period at that level.

Another 13 Penn State campuses -- Abington, Beaver, Delaware County, DuBois, Fayette, Hazleton, McKeesport, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Schuylkill, Wilkes-Barre, Worthington Scranton and York -- plus Penn College belong to the CCAC. Penn State Harrisburg is expected to join them in the PSU-AC in the near future.

These teams currently compete in 10 sports: men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, baseball, men's and women's cross country, golf, men's soccer, team tennis and softball. This move builds on a two-year pilot program where four-year eligibility had been expanded to men's basketball, women's volleyball and team tennis. For information on the wide range of athletic opportunities at Penn State York, call Kerry Magni, athletic director, at 717-771-4036.

August 25 marks an exciting moment in history for Penn State York when the campus unveils its new building featuring the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, the Lee R. Glatfelter Library and the John T. and Paige S. Smith Atrium.

The day of festivities is free and open to the public. Penn State University President Graham Spanier and a number of other University and local officials, alumni, students, and members of the community will take part in the opening ceremony.

Construction on the 71,000 square foot facility began just over a year ago and completion of the building has been highly anticipated by the campus and community. The $11.9 million facility is being constructed with state funding through the Department of General Services in Harrisburg. The new building overlooks the City of York from the top of the hill on the southside of the campus near the Main Classroom Building.

The performing arts center has seating for 1,000 and will offer full theater capabilities. Students, faculty, staff, visitors, and guests will enjoy the intimacy of a smaller theater with the seating capacity of a larger venue because of the balcony that is part of the architectural design. "We will have a fully equipped theatre with state-of–the-art lighting and sound and one of the largest stage houses in the area. There's a full fly tower which allows us to bring in tours and traveling shows of all kinds," said Steve Haver, director of the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center.  "The campus has already booked 42nd Street the touring Broadway show for September 28 at 8:00 p.m., notes Haver. For ticket information on the performance, contact Haver at 505-8900.

This section of the building will also house art classroom space and offer programming flexibility not currently available on campus. The performing arts center will allow the campus to bring in a variety of entertainment and educational programming that will compliment the offerings of other venues in the area. "We will try to provide cultural and educational experiences to the community that appeal to a wide audience and are not currently available," notes Gumke. In addition to cultural events, the performing arts center will also be used for commencement, a film series, and a variety of other activities. The performing arts center will also be home to four resident companies - the York Youth Symphony Orchestra, York Junior Symphony Orchestra, York County Honors Choir, and the York County Junior Honors Choir – who will rehearse and perform there. The library portion of the facility will be two separate levels and include group study rooms, stack space, instructional space, and special collections rooms. More seating space will be available in the new library and visitors will have a spectacular view of Memorial Park, the City of York, campus, and the woods.

The library doubles in size from just 9,000 square feet in the old facility to almost 20,000 square feet in the new one. "The whole internal environment of the library will be remarkably different than what library users are currently used to," said David B. Van de Streek, assistant librarian at Penn State York. "In addition to a larger, more spread out space, there will be a generous amount of natural light through the library's many windows, and the general acoustics should be far better than those experiences in the old library." The library will also have its own computer lab. The performing arts center and the library are connected with an atrium/lobby space designed to be open to floors above and below. There will be ample use of glass to take advantage of natural light and the vistas to the north. Sparky and Clarks, a popular local café, will have a location in the atrium and the café will be open during the day for students, faculty, staff, and visitors as well as during events at the performing arts center.

In addition to the paid performances in the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, the campus will continue its free cultural arts series sponsored in part by the York Newspaper Company. Free programs already booked for the performing arts center include Cheryl Wheeler, folk singer, Friday, November 4, 7:30 p.m.; Komplex, Spoken Word Poet, Thursday, January 19, 2006, 7:00 p.m.; Chinua Hawk, R&B singer, Thursday, February 9, 2006, 7:00 p.m.; The Healing Force, Thursday, February 23, 2006, 7:00 p.m.; Great Jazz Divas, Thursday, March 23, 2006, 7:00 p.m.; and Val Mazzenga, The Untold Story, lecture, Thursday, April 6, 2006, 7:00 p.m.

"Penn State York invites students, faculty, staff, and the local community to the opening of this highly anticipated new building," said Dr. Joel M. Rodney, chancellor of Penn State York. "Come and celebrate with us." Lobar Inc., is the general contractor for the project and the architectural firm Murphy and Dittenhafer of York is the design professional for the project. Check out progress on the new building by visiting our live Web cam.