The courses will provide valuable information regarding test format, proven test-taking strategies, a review of essential verbal, math, and critical reading skills as well as proper essay-writing techniques assessed in the SAT 1.

Cost for each four-session course is $210 and includes a copy of “The Official SAT Study Guide: For the New SAT” by the College Board.

Courses at Penn State York are held on Saturdays, January 26-February 16, from 9 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. in preparation for the March SAT and March 30 to April 20, from 9 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. in preparation for the June SAT.

Courses at Penn State, The Lancaster Center are held on Wednesday nights, February 6-27 from 5:30 to 9:10 p.m. in preparation for the March SAT and April 3-24, from 5:30 to 9:10 p.m. in preparation for the June SAT.

Students should bring a calculator for use in the math review portion of the course.

For more information on the courses at Penn State York, please call (717) 771-4032 or visit the website. For information on the courses at Penn State, The Lancaster Center please call (717) 299-7667 or visit the website.

Commencement begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21 at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) on campus. Registration for the spring semester is ongoing, with most day and evening credit classes beginning Jan. 7, 2013. Other courses begin throughout the semester. Plan to register early to ensure a place in class. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

For information on Penn State York's range of programs beginning Jan. 7 and throughout the spring, visit our spring semester page or call (717) 771-4040.

For more information on Penn State, The Lancaster Center’s wide range of programs for spring, call (717) 299-7667 or (800) 828-6233, or visit http://www.lancastercenter.psu.edu/ online.

Penn State York is celebrating its 12th annual fall commencement on Friday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) at the campus. The Honorable Todd Russell Platts, a member of the United States Congress, representing the 19th District of Pennsylvania, is the commencement speaker.
For those who cannot attend the event, Penn State York’s commencement can be viewed on Comcast cable channel 18 or streaming live on the campus website.

Congressman Platts was sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives in January 2001, and he serves the residents of Adams, Cumberland, and York Counties. In January 2012, Congressman Platts announced his plan to retire from Congress at the end of the 112th Congress, which ends on January 3, 2013. View his bio.

The campus will award associate, baccalaureate, and master's degrees during the program. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

In addition to hearing from Platts, the top associate, 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.

For more than two decades as a solo artist, Marx has made an indelible mark on the music community with more than 30 million records sold and fourteen No. 1 singles, including his latest song “Long Hot Summer,” with country star Keith Urban. Marx has remained a fixture on pop and adult contemporary radio for years as an artist and producer working with some of the biggest names in the music business.

His debut single "Don't Mean Nothing" and multi-platinum, self-titled debut album launched his success as a solo artist, his first No. 1 single “Hold On To The Nights,” as well as a total of four Top 10 singles. His 1989 follow-up CD, “Repeat Offender,” went on to sell more than 7 million copies worldwide, two N. 11 singles “Satisfied” and “Right Here Waiting,” and multiple Grammy and American Music Award nominations. His third studio album, Rush Street, went multi-platinum, included four Top 10 singles and two #1 singles “Hazard” and “Keep Coming Back,” and featured special appearances by the late Luther Vandross and Billy Joel. The 1994 release, Paid Vacation, was his fourth consecutive multi-platinum release with 2 hit singles including the #1 Billboard's Adult Contemporary hit “Now and Forever” which remained at the top of the chart for 11 weeks.

Marx has had incredible chart and commercial success working with other artists including *NSYNC, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Vince Gill, and the late Luther Vandross. More recently, he has written and produced tracks for Keith Urban, Daughtry, Lifehouse, Leann Rimes, Natalie Cole, Paulina Rubio, Travis Tritt, actor Hugh Jackman, and many more. For more information please visit www.richardmarx.com

It’s that time of year again when Penn State York faculty and staff sharpen their culinary skills and gather bacon, eggs, sausage, and slices of white and wheat bread in preparation for the free late-night breakfast. With some help from the staff in the campus’s dining area, faculty and staff will prepare egg sandwiches, on Monday, Dec. 17 from 8-10 p.m., for hungry students needing a break from studying for finals. This year, hash brown potatoes will also be available. Plenty of coffee, donuts, and soda complete the menu for the evening. The event is free to members of the Penn State York community and takes place in the Lion’s Den of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center.

The late-night breakfast has become a popular event on campus and provides a way for faculty and staff to connect with students and help them relieve some stress as they study for finals.

Late night breakfast is sponsored by the Penn State York Student Activity Fee (SAF).

“Any Other Word,” Penn State York’s literary E-zine’s sixth edition is now available online. 

Student editors for the current publication are Joseph M. Cabrera, York, Pa.; Mary E. Lee, Red Lion, Pa.; and Patrick B. McCay, York, Pa. All three editors are majoring in English at Penn State York. The cover design features a painting by Kree Wiede, Stewartstown, Pa.

Submissions are now being accepted for its seventh edition. The submission deadline is March 31, 2013. All submissions, along with any questions, should be addressed to Noel Sloboda, assistant professor of English and publication adviser, at njs16@psu.edu.  “Any Other Word” is a creative outlet for members of the Penn State York community (students, staff, and faculty) and was created to showcase literary talents and unite artistic minds. Work on the first issue began in the fall of 2006. 

Submissions published in “Any Other Word” are selected by a board of directors who read all entries submitted and make selections. All authors retain full copyrights on their works. 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."

The York Swing Dance Club, a local nonprofit organization, will show off their moves and encourage those who attend to learn some swing dance steps. Get ready for the Lindy Hop, the eight count pattern that is the core of swing dancing. Swing dancing developed during the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s-1950s, although the earliest of these dances predate swing era music.

The goal of the First Friday Series is to introduce people to a variety of cultures and diversity issues. The series is sponsored by the Penn State York Diversity Committee. Please bring your lunch and plan to learn some new dance moves. Drinks and light snacks will be available.

Jackie Hernandez’s face lights up when she talks about working with children at Ferguson K-8 School in York, Pa., and her goal to collect 835 complete uniforms for needy children there. Hernandez, 33, a senior in the human development and family studies (HD FS) program at Penn State York, is conducting the uniform drive as part of her internship under the guidance of faculty member JeanMarie St. Clair-Christman, Ph.D., assistant professor of HD FS. 

A collection box is located in the lobby of the Main Classroom Building outside the admissions office and advising and career development through Thursday, Nov. 29. Donation boxes were also located at Old Navy on Route 30 through Nov. 13.

Items to be collected include shirts - solid colors, blue and white; pants - khaki and blue jeans; children’s coats - small, medium and large; and coats for teenagers - all sizes.

Hernandez has been working at Ferguson throughout the semester doing counseling, referring families for services, and other social work. The uniform and coat drive is just another way to show she cares about the students there.

“This is my passion,” said Hernandez, “it is really rewarding to me when I work with a student and I see a change in them because they know I care,” she said. “It is amazing when you see a child crying and smile at them and they smile back. It makes your heart sparkle.” 

For more information or to make monetary donations, please contact Hernandez at jxh5066@psu.edu.

This HD FS major at Penn State York 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. Students obtain a broad background in individual and family development across the life span. For more information on this major, visit www.yk.psu.edu and click on academics or call the Penn State York Admissions office at (717) 771-4040.

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 drama club, now Penn Players, was formed after The Pullo 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, Ph.D., is the adviser for the Penn Players and an instructor in English at Penn State York.

Penn State York’s Human Development and Family Studies (HD FS) Club is holding a candlelight vigil and silent walk of the campus to show their support of victims of child abuse on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. Those who plan to participate should meet in the lobby of the Main Classroom Building, 1031 Edgecomb Ave., York, Pa. The event is open to the public. Last year the HD FS Club held a similar event in November.

Participants will walk together, as a unified group, circle the campus in silence, and finish in the lobby of the Main Classroom Building where brief remarks will be shared regarding the HD FS Club’s pledge tree project and its goal to raise public awareness of child abuse prevention. Walkers will be asked to sign a pledge and then place a paper Nittany Lion paw on the tree which will be displayed in the building lobby throughout the rest of the semester. 

“Last year the HD FS Club made a strong commitment for advocacy regarding child abuse,” said Michelle Cooper, a Penn State York student and president of the club. “In light of the Sandusky scandal, we felt it was more important than ever to include the community in this commitment.”

Throughout last year, students in the HD FS Club worked with several local outreach programs including the YWCA, Darkness to Light, Voices for Victims, and the Front Porch Project. The vigil and pledge signing last year was just the beginning for the group.

“We were able to provide educational opportunities and draw attention to the countless causes of child and sexual abuse awareness to the Penn State York campus and we were so proud to see how many people remained focused on the pledge they made last November,” said Cooper. “This year, we have decided that the candlelight vigil will be an annual event. We feel that the vigil is not only a chance for all of us to renew our commitment to prevention of child abuse, but also an opportunity to help the number of Penn State and York County pledges grow.”

The group plans to hold the event in mid-November each year, not only as a reminder of the scandal that brought child abuse so close to home for Penn State, but as a public display of support for all victims of abuse.

“This vigil is not just for the victims of Sandusky’s terrible crimes. This is for all the victims of abuse and for everyone who wishes to join our commitment to do the right thing...the first time, every time,” said Cooper.

Pledge participants will be asked to sign the follow: “I believe that every child has a right to grow up free from the shadow of abuse. I believe that the responsibility to protect children rests solely in adult hands. I believe that, as adults, we must remain ever vigilant and dedicate no less than the best of ourselves to that purpose. To all the victims of abuse, male and female, adult and children, known and unknown: I pledge to educate myself about the realities of child abuse; I pledge to give a voice and report any and all suspicions; I pledge to cast a light in the darkness by doing the right thing the first time, every time.”

The program is slated to end by 6 p.m. in order for students and faculty to arrive on time for evening classes.

More than 50 students and faculty members are registered for Penn State York’s fifth Smith Undergraduate Science Research Symposium (SUSR12), set for Nov. 10 at the campus. Science students and faculty of the 19 commonwealth campuses were invited to participate and attend the SUSR12. Previous symposiums were held at Penn State York in October 2002 and 2006 and November 2008 and 2010. The symposium begins at 8 a.m. in the Conference Center of the Main Classroom Building.

A symposium featuring undergraduate science research was the brainchild of Haiduke Sarafian, Ph.D., John T. and Paige S. Smith Professor of Science and professor of physics at Penn State York. The idea of the symposium was proposed in 2002 and was supported by the campus. Symposiums are held every other year.

Discipline-based science undergraduate research projects conducted by students that are supervised by faculty, or projects investigated by faculty with the assistance of students are part of the refereed symposium proceedings publication. Faculty projects addressing research issues at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, and beyond) were invited for non-refereed poster presentations. In addition to the poster presentations, 10 papers from four disciplines - biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematical physics – are included. To view a complete schedule and list of poster sessions, visit the website.

The symposium is named to honor the late benefactors and friends, John T. Smith and 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. Along with their donations to York, the Smiths have supported the colleges of agriculture and health and human development, as well as the athletics program. 

In addition to participants from York campus, eight other Penn State campuses are represented at the symposium– Shenango, University Park, Worthington-Scranton, Schuylkill, Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Greater Allegheny, and Brandywine.

Two former Penn State York students who now attend University Park are among the attendees.

For more information on the symposium, please contact Haiduke Sarafian, Ph.D., John T. and Paige S. Smith Professor of Science and chair of the symposium committee, at (717) 771-4093 or has2@psu.edu.

Ben Morgan, a junior at Penn State York majoring in English, was the essay winner last year when the topic was, How do you show your Penn State pride on our campus and in our community? Read the winning essays from previous years.

To enter, students must submit an essay between 250 and 500 words. Submissions must be typed and only one submission per student will be accepted. Essays are being accepted electronically through midnight on Nov. 16 and must include an essay title, the author’s full name, email address, and telephone number. Essays will become the property of Penn State York and may be reprinted in campus publications including the Web. Proper citations will be given to the writers.

Essays should be submitted to iona@psu.edu. For more information, please contact Iona Conlon, Blue & White Society adviser and an alumni and development specialist at Penn State York, at (717) 718-6781 or iona@psu.edu.

The Blue & White Society was established as a student organization that aims to enhance student life through promoting Penn State pride, community service, and dedication to the University. THE BWS is the student extension of the Penn State Alumni Association. For more information on BWS, visit their website.

Original plays of 10-30 minutes are being accepted. Students may submit up to three scripts. Prizes of $150 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place, are being awarded with a possible production or reading by the Penn State York Theatre Program in spring 2013. 

Please contact Stuart Stelly, Ph.D., instructor in English and director of the Penn State York Theatre Program, at (717) 771-4185, or tss11@psu.edu for details. Scripts should be submitted to Stelly and will not be returned.

Deadline for submission is Dec. 15.

Those who attend will learn the steps of the Salsa dance which is a mixture of various elements including rhumba, mambo, cha-cha, and other Latin dance forms; Afro-Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and other Latin American strains; rock music; and jazz. 

The goal of the First Friday Series is to introduce people to a variety of cultures and diversity issues. The series is sponsored by the Penn State York Diversity Committee. Please bring your lunch and plan to take part in this informative program and learn some new dance moves. Drinks and light snacks will be available.

Dual Enrollment enables qualified high school students to get a jump on their college careers by earning college credits while still in high school at a 50 percent tuition reduction. In addition to offering courses at the Penn State York campus, courses are also being offered in Hanover so that students from that area do not have to travel. Courses being considered for spring 2013 are speech, psychology, and statistics.

LeighAnn Myers, an admissions counselor at Penn State York, will be available to share information and answer questions about the Dual Enrollment Program in Hanover and the educational opportunities available at Penn State York.

To be considered for the program, students must be in their junior year or senior and have a cumulative grade-point average of a 3.0 or a combined SAT1 score of 1,000 to be eligible for this program. 

Eligible students will receive tuition support in the amount of 50 percent of the tuition for two courses during each of four semesters. As long as a grade of C or better is maintained in each course, students may remain in this program, receiving the same tuition support each semester, for a total of four semesters. This tuition support is available for two courses (up to 8 credits) per semester for four semesters.

Credits earned under the provisions of this program are valid at any Penn State location and may be transferred to another institution in the same way as any other Penn State credits. Students who have graduated from high school may not participate in this program.

For more information about Penn State York, continue to explore our website or contact the admissions office at (717) 771-4040.

Deborah Eicher-Catt, Ph.D., associate professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State York, is the recipient of the Pennsylvania Communication Association (PCA) 2012 Donald H. Ecroyd Research and Scholarship Award. The award was presented on Saturday, Oct. 13, at the PCA 73th Annual Convention held at Ursinus College, in Collegeville, Pa.

The Donald H. Ecroyd Research and Scholarship Award honors a commitment to and a sustained record of research or publication in the field of communication.

Eicher-Catt returned to Penn State York in 2009 and had previously served the campus from 2001-06. She is the co-editor of the book, “Communicology: The New Science of Embodied Discourse” and has published numerous articles and book chapters on the semiotics and phenomenology of discursive practices, winning the top article award in 2011 for her article, “Recovering the Voice of Embodied Dialogue: Edward Sapir’s Contribution to Communicology.” Her current book project is entitled, “Writing Life Alongside and Against the Father: A Daughter’s Archeology of an Ambivalent Love.” 

Her principle areas of study and research are the philosophy and theory of communication (communicology), interpersonal, family, and organizational communication.

In addition to teaching communication classes at Penn State York and engaging students in research projects, Eicher-Catt is the chairperson of the Philosophy of Communication Interest Group of the National Communication Association.

She holds a doctorate in the philosophy of communication from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Il., a master of arts in information and communication studies from California State University, Chico, Ca., and a bachelor of arts in social psychology from California State University, Chico, Ca. 

This new accelerated program is designed for working adults who have an associate degree or are close to completing an associate degree, may have degrees in other fields and would benefit from a business degree, or want a business degree from an internationally recognized university to enhance their employment options. Courses will be offered in Lancaster utilizing face-to-face instruction, online, and blended learning.

For more information, please contact Debbie Rubin at (717) 299-7667 or email Lancaster@yk.psu.edu. The Pennsylvania State University encourages qualified persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Rubin in advance of your participation or visit.

Visit www.lancastercenter.psu.edu to learn more about the Penn State programs offered in Lancaster.

Penn State York’s THON Committee invites you to mangia (that’s Italian for eat) at a pasta dinner set for Saturday, Nov. 10 to benefit THON. The event takes place from 4-8 p.m. at Madison Avenue Church of the Brethren, 646 Madison Avenue, York, Pa. Donations will be accepted for the meal.  Proceeds go to the campus THON committee's effort to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. The Four Diamonds Fund helps children with cancer and their families. 

This is just one of many events sponsored by the Penn State York THON Committee leading up to the 41st Annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), the 46-hour dance marathon, set for February 15-17, 2013, at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College. The theme for this year’s THON is “Inspire Tomorrow’s Miracles.” 

THON, a year-round fundraising event, is the largest single donor to the Four Diamonds Fund, at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pa. The year culminates in a no sitting, no sleeping, two-day dance marathon. First held in 1973, THON has partnered with the Four Diamonds Fund since 1977 and in that time has raised more than $89 million and has helped thousands of children and families fight pediatric cancer. Last year the event raised more than $10.6 million and broke its own record. The mission of THON is to conquer pediatric cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers, and staff of the Four Diamonds Fund.

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 involved with THON plays a valuable role in creating an amazing atmosphere of love, compassion, and understanding. This atmosphere inspires the students to fundraise throughout the year and demonstrates to 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.

For more information about Penn State York’s THON activities, please contact York’s THON co-chairs, Alannah Lentz at anl5123@psu.edu or Kara Smith at kjs5375@psu.edu.

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, please note Org. 170 on the memo line of the check, and send it to Penn State York THON,

c/o York Student Government Association, Penn State York, 1031 Edgecombe Ave.

York, PA 17403. In addition, donations can be made online. Be sure to use the dropdown box and designate your donation for York and your donation will count toward the campus total.

Gary Eberle of Eberle Winery in Paso Robles, Ca., award-winning winemaker and entrepreneur, spoke about the challenges and successes in his life and in the winemaking industry he loves during a noon-hour program Oct. 24 at Penn State York. The event, sponsored by the Graham Entrepreneurial Leadership Program’s Visionary Leaders Lecture Series, was open to students who have completed the internship, faculty members, mentors, and other students who are being considered as candidates for the leadership program.

Eberle, 68, visionary leader, wine entrepreneur, and educator, originally from Moon Township, Pa., near Pittsburgh, talked with students about the importance of a college education, something as a high school student he never dreamed he would achieve. The son of a steelworker, Eberle always thought he would graduate from high school and follow in his father’s footsteps. Thanks to a successful high school athletic and academic career however, he was recruited by several universities and enrolled at Penn State.

His college career included playing defensive tackle for the late legendary football coach Joe Paterno at Penn State, and he graduated from the University in 1967 with a degree in secondary education. He recently celebrated 33 years of fine winemaking; during his career he created the fourth winery in Paso Robles, and owns the longest continuously run family-owned winery in the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA) Forty years ago, Eberle experimented with a little-known grape variety called Syrah, and is now credited with being the first person to plant that variety in the United States. 

Eberle’s interest in wine started when he moved to Louisiana to pursue a master’s degree in cellular genetics. He met a professor who introduced him to fine wine and he knew he had found his passion. He later moved to California to begin his career in winemaking.

In addition to his accolades in winemaking, Eberle is known for developing the commonly used method for visualizing chromosomes called G-banding. His educational experience includes his degree from Penn State as well as a master’s degree in cellular genetics from Louisiana State University. In addition, he has done doctoral work in enology, viticulture at the University of California, Davis.

He has earned the title, “the grandfather of Paso Robles wine” and was named one of the top 100 influential people (number 65) in the wine industry in America by the popular website Intowine.com. Eberle has received countless accolades for decades of perseverance and a continuous desire to make some of the best wines Paso Robles has to offer. Eberle Winery was named “Winery of the Year” at the 2011 International Sommelier Challenge.

Eberle is a cofounder of the Paso Robles AVA, helped found the Paso Robles Vinters and Growers Association -- now called the Paso Robles Wine County Alliance (PRWCA) – and has served for 14 years on the board of the PRWCA. He is on the board of the Wine Institute and helped found both the Rhone Rangers and the Family Winemakers of California. He was a visionary - one of the first winemakers to purchase major acreage in Paso Robles in order to build one of the first large commercial wineries in the area, now labeled the next Napa.

Eberle was brought to the campus by the Graham Entrepreneurial Leadership Program as part of its speakers series that provides students with an opportunity to meet and hear from successful entrepreneurs. The leadership program is an opportunity for Penn State York to partner with industry and help prepare students for jobs once they graduate. Five students have recently completed internships. 

The Graham Entrepreneurial Leadership Program coordinates the efforts between faculty, executive mentors, and Penn State York students to develop a tool box of skills for each student designed to support the host company’s culture and the unique demands of their particular workplace. Student interns receive performance appraisals and continuous feedback from the company, through their company mentor, that is shared and discussed with their Penn State York faculty member. Students in this leadership program experience company culture and work on real projects. 

 “The Graham Entrepreneurial leadership Program is an excellent example of how Penn State York works with local business and industry to develop a workforce for the future,” said Dr. John J. Romano, interim chancellor at Penn State York. “The program not only benefits our students and the campus, it also benefits local employers and the community at large by providing graduates who are well-prepared and able to contribute as qualified team members from the first day of employment,” said Romano. “We are pleased to have the support of the Graham Foundation and thank Donald C. Graham, chairman of the Graham Group, for sharing his vision and giving the campus the opportunity to create this exciting leadership program.”

Students from three disciplines - business, engineering, and information sciences and technology – are currently involved in the program. Penn State York hoped to expand the program to include other majors at the campus.

"I think the most important characteristic of the Graham Entrepreneurial Leadership Program is its emphasis on the close collaboration between the faculty sponsor and the company mentor before, during, and after the internship. Based on this collaboration, faculty members nominate qualified students with specific skills to match company needs,” said Dr. Ali Kara, professor of business administration at Penn State York and one of the lead faculty members in the program. 

Kara also notes that during the internship, frequent communication takes place between the company mentor and the faculty supervisor about the intern's progress and assignment changes are made as needed. 

“After the internship, the company mentor provides a comprehensive review of the intern and makes suggestions for desired improvements needed. The feedback about the desired skills and knowledge is then incorporated into the program curriculum in the form of specific course modules, workshops, and trainings,” Kara said.

Three students completed internships at the Graham Group and two other completed internships at Dentsply. These are the first interns in the program.

“We were very pleased to participate in this inaugural year of the Graham Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. We employed three summer interns from the program at Graham Architectural Products Company and at Graham Engineering Corp. The students were well prepared for their internship, performed well, and learned much from their “real business world experience,” said William J. Scott III, vice president of human resources and CHRO at The Graham Group. “We also valued the strong and active support shown by their sponsoring professors. As a result of this successful experience this year, we intend to participate in the program again in 2013.”

Later in the evening on Oct. 24, Eberle spoke to a crowd of more than 200 at Wine and Dine event to help raise funds to support The Graham Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.

Companies interested in becoming a part of the program should contact Di Hershey at (717) 771-4127 or dkh13@psu.edu. For information on the academic side of the program, please contact Dr. Ali Kara, professor of business administration at Penn State York, at (717) 771-4189 or axk19@psu.edu.

Lion Life, the Penn State Hershey Medical Center’s medical helicopter landed on campus and visitors had the opportunity to tour it and talk with members if the life-saving medical unit. In addition, a variety of children’s activities including pumpkin painting, story time, and inflatable games kept young visitors to the campus busy.

Penn State York’s soccer team took on Penn State Schuylkill and won their games, several reunions took place, and some students faculty staff, and alumni took part in the 3rd Annual National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk. York’s baseball also played a scrimmage with current players taking on some alumni.

Homecoming Saturday ended with “A Night of Laughs with Anton Shuford,” a nationally- known comedian, with members of the Penn State York Penn Players opening for him.

The 30-credit master of education degree in teaching and curriculum is designed to enhance the skills of teachers for public and private schools. The program focuses on three essential components -- curriculum, instruction and assessment -- that contribute to the organization’s philosophy of learning, nurturance and scholarship. Courses are designed to reflect the standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

Also attend the information sessions to learn more about the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program Specialist Program certificate, the Reading Specialist Certificate for Teachers, Early Childhood certifications, and the Early Childhood Director’s Credential. Graduate programs at Penn State York are offered in partnership with Penn State Harrisburg.

Dennis P. Baughman, coordinator of the master of education degree in teaching and curriculum at Penn State York, will share information about the advanced degree course work which focuses on the latest educational research and development of teaching skills. For more information, please call (717) 771-8413, email dpb3@psu.edu, or visit grad.yk.psu.edu.

Penn State York recently awarded Business Essentials for Professionals certificates to adult learners who have completed the program. Tracy Bateson, York, Pa.; Joyce Rohrbaugh, Stewartstown, Pa.; Rick Tyson, York, Pa.; and Thomas Wagaman, York., received certificates from John J. Romano, interim chancellor at Penn State York.

The four adult learners earned their certificates through the Video Learning Network (VLN). Most courses in the VLN are offered in an accelerated seven-week format and are taught in a convenient format combining face-to-face sessions with video conferences and online instruction by Penn State instructors. The VLN was created by the Penn state World Campus as a way to give adult learners easy access to a Penn State degree.

VLN classrooms are equipped with high-definition viewing screens, document cameras and other technologies for live interaction among faculty and students at the course origination site and up to three other sites.

“The VLN technology provides the ability to network learners in geographically separated locations and connects the students in a rich learning experience through natural real-time interaction,” said Jeff Warner, coordinator of the VLN program at York. “The certificates are milestones, and you can build a degree with them,” said Warner. “Certificates can be applied toward an associate or bachelor’s degree in business or stand alone as an additional credential for a resume.”

The Business Essentials for Professionals credit certificate is designed specifically for adult learners who need an accelerated and convenient way to earn a credit certificate and want knowledge and skills in the management of information systems, effective communication, selling techniques, and management principles. The 12-credit certificate can be earned in less than one year and is a way for students to build their resume and advance their career. Courses in the certificate also apply toward degree programs.

In addition to the Business Essentials for Professional certificate, other certificates are offered through the VLN. For more information, visit our website, email YorkCE@psu.edu, or contact Jeff Warner at (717) 771-4015.

Penn State York will participate in the Fourth Annual Diversity Summit set for Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at South Western High School in Hanover, Pa. The campus has participated in the summit, through the Penn State York Continuing Office, since it started in 2009. The summit is an initiative of the Hispanic American Center and the YWCA of Hanover with a goal of celebrating inclusion and diversity. It is made possible through the financial and collaborative efforts of a variety of area agencies and businesses.

More than 17 workshops are being offered including one featuring Ali Kara, professor of business administration at Penn State York. Kara will speak on the topic, “The Role of Culture in Business,” and discuss the importance of cross-cultural proficiency in today’s globalized world. A number of Penn State York staff are participating in the summit and the Penn State Nittany Lion will make an appearance at the event.

Keynote speakers include Victor Antonio and Rohan Murphy. Antonio, an author, trainer, and speaker, will share his story about growing up in one of the roughest areas of Chicago and how it did not stop him from earning an engineering degree, an MBA, building 20-year career as a top sales executive , and becoming a CEO of a multimillion dollar high-tech company. Murphy, a former Penn State wrestler, accomplished powerlifter, and founder of CatchSpark.com., lost his legs at birth, and has lived his life inspiring people by his actions and is now motivating the youth of America with his words. He began wrestling in his freshman year of high school and after a successful wrestling career he went on to wrestle at Penn State. In addition to wrestling, Murphy is an accomplished powerlifter, competing in international competitions all over the world representing the United States.

For more information or to register for the summit, visit the website.

Ben Morgan, a junior at Penn State York majoring in English, was the essay winner last year when the topic was, How do you show your Penn State pride on our campus and in our community? To read the winning essays from previous years, visit our website.

To enter, students must submit an essay between 250 and 500 words. Submissions must be typed and only one submission per student will be accepted. Essays are being accepted electronically through midnight on Oct. 26 and must include an essay title, the author’s full name, e-mail address, and telephone number. Essays will become the property of Penn State York and may be reprinted in campus publications including the Web. Proper citations will be given to the writers.

Essays should be submitted to iona@psu.edu. For more information, please contact Iona Conlon, Blue & White Society adviser and an alumni and development specialist at Penn State York, at (717) 718-6781 or iona@psu.edu.

The Blue & White Society was established as a student organization that aims to enhance student life through promoting Penn State pride, community service, and dedication to the University. THE BWS is the student extension of the Penn State Alumni Association. For more information on BWS, visit their website.

Penn State York will celebrate its second annual Homecoming Weekend Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12 and 13, with a variety of events including a concert featuring a retro rock band, reunions, Life Lion helicopter landing, and events for children. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated.

Velveeta, a popular State College retro rock band will be doing a one night performance as part of Penn State York’s Homecoming Weekend activities. Attendees must be age 21 or older. Tickets are $15. This event is being sponsored by the Penn State York Alumni Society. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $15 online at www.yk.psu.edu/homecoming or send a check made payable to the Penn State Alumni Society , c/o Penn State York Alumni and Development Office, 1031 Edgecomb, Ave., York, PA 17403.

The Penn State Day Fall Open House kicks-off the Saturday activities from 9 a.m.-1:45 p.m. at the campus. If you are a high school junior or senior interested in becoming a Penn State student, or an adult learner looking to improve your skills, change careers, or earn the degree you always wanted, this event is designed for you. For more information on the open house, check out the website at or call (717) 771-4040 or (800) PSU-6227.

At 9:30 a.m. Penn State York students faculty staff, and alumni will take part in the 3rd Annual National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk. The campus team will meet in the lower student parking and walk to the starting point of the walk in Veterans Memorial Park, adjacent the campus. Alumni should contact Di Hershey at dkh13@psu.edu or (717) 771-4127 and students, faculty, and staff should contact Ann Fetterman at axf25@psu.edu or (717) 771-4162 to become part of the campus team.

Penn State York veteran alumni will gather at 10:30 a.m. for a veterans brunch in the Community Room, Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community center, to celebrate the XGI 40th Reunion. Current veteran students will join in the festivities and alums will reconnect with friends, share some of their wisdom with current students, and learn more about the veteran initiatives happening at the campus. Contact Di Hershey by Oct. 6 at (717) 771-4127 or reply online at rsvp2psy@psu.edu.

Pumpkin painting will take place for children (while supplies last) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the art room on the lower level of the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center). This event is sponsored by the Penn State York Visual Arts Club. Also for children, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., a number of inflatable games will be set-up outside in the area between the Main Classroom Building and The Pullo Center.

At noon, Life Lion, The Penn State Hershey Medical Center’s medical helicopter, will land for one hour. Enjoy this unique opportunity to see Life Lion and learn about this life saving resource from the flight team. The helicopter will land on the soccer behind the Main Classroom Building.

Penn State York’s men’s soccer team will take on Penn State Schuylkill at 2 p.m. on the soccer field so come and cheer on the team. At 3 p.m., the Penn State York baseball team and recent baseball alumni will take on the XGI/Veterans team on the city fields adjacent the campus.

Two reunions will take place from 2-4 p.m. Alumni who graduated in engineering will have the chance to network and tour the Ralph G. and Madeline B. Swenson Engineering Center that opened on campus in August 2011. Members of the Information Sciences and Technology Affiliated Society, which includes computer science and information sciences and technology graduates, will also gather and have the opportunity to make new friends and visit with old ones.

Homecoming Saturday comes to an end with “A Night of Laughs with Anton Shuford” at 6 p.m. in The Pullo Center. Members of the Penn State York Penn Players will open for Shuford with some improvisation of their own.
 
Shuford is an author, writer, and comedian who showcases a unique philosophy on stage that is both unapologetic and a defense lawyer’s nightmare. He has been a finalist at many of the prestigious national comedy festivals and is recognized as one of the best rising acts in comedy. He has taken his comedy all over the world including Japan and Korea and can be seen at clubs and colleges across the country.

As a sneak peek to homecoming, don’t miss Rohan Murphy on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in The Pullo Center. Inspiring is just one word people use to describe Murphy, a former Penn State wrestler, accomplished powerlifter

The term Bollywood is the name given to the Mumbai-based Hindi-language film industry in India. The term Bollywood was created by combining Bombay, the city now called Mumbai, and Hollywood, the famous center of the United States film industry. Most films produced are musicals and Bollywood dance plays a big role in them.

The goal of the First Friday Series is to introduce people to a variety of cultures and diversity issues. The series is sponsored by the Penn State York Diversity Committee. Please bring your lunch and plan to take part in this informative program and learn some new dance moves. Drinks and light snacks will be available.

Inspiring is just one word people use to describe Rohan Murphy, a former Penn State wrestler, accomplished powerlifter, and founder of CatchSpark.com.  Murphy, who lost his legs at birth, comes to Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. to share his story and ask and answer the question, “What’s inspiring you today?” The program is free and is the start of the Homecoming Weekend celebration, Oct. 12 and 13, at Penn State York.

Murphy has lived his life inspiring people by his actions and is now motivating the youth of America with his words. He began wrestling in his freshman year of high school and after a successful wrestling career he went on to wrestle at Penn State. In addition to wresting, Murphy is an accomplished powerlifter, competing in international competitions all over the world representing the United States.

Featured on “ABC news,” in “Sports Illustrated Magazine,” and in a variety of media, Murphy’s story is one of adversity, dedication, and living life with a purpose. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear his inspirational story. Tickets are not needed for this program.

Discover all that Penn State York has to offer during the ninth annual Penn State Day Fall Open House Saturday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m.-1:45 p.m. at the campus. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. Meet faculty, staff, and students; tour the campus; and discover more about Penn State right here in York. The open house is free and open to the public.

Learn about Penn State York’s programs, from the first two years of more than 160 baccalaureate majors to the eight baccalaureate degrees, six associate degrees, a master of education in Teaching and Curriculum, and a variety of credit certificates that can be completed without leaving York. Hear about Penn State’s Video Learning Network (VLN) and other blended courses that allow students to complete credit courses in a seven-week accelerated format combining face-to-face sessions with video conferences and online teaching by Penn State instructors.

The open house provides an opportunity to talk with a faculty member and learn more about specific Penn State majors we well as learn more about student financial aid and what it is like to be a Penn State student. Information is also available on the variety of credit and noncredit programs and services offered to business and industry though continuing education.

Come and explore the variety of educational opportunities for people of all ages. Part of the open house includes an activity/information fair where visitors can gather materials about programs and learn about a variety of activities at the campus including five varsity sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, and women’s volleyball. The campus also has more than 20 student clubs and organizations that provide a variety of activities and events throughout the year.

In addition, Penn State York offers an honors program for students with outstanding academic ability and undergraduate research opportunities for students with an interest in hands-on experience in research. There’s a lot happening at Penn State York.

Register for a chance to win two tickets to the Penn State vs. Ohio State football game on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Beaver Stadium. Participants must be present to win.

For more information on the open house, please call (717) 771-4040 or (800) PSU-6227. Check out our website to register and see the schedule for the day.

Penn State York’s Blue and White Society (BWS) has joined forces with the Penn State York Alumni Society (PSYAS), the Consolidated School for Business Community Service Club, and the Mt. Rose Barberama for “Santa for Solders” (SFS). The groups are working together to collect items, now through Wednesday, November 14, for a United States Army unit stationed at Camp Casey, Korea.

“This effort started as a partnership with our Penn State Alumni Society group and was brought to our campus as a community service project that could get even more Penn Staters involved in sending some holiday spirit to our soldiers overseas,” said Iona Conlon, Blue & White Society adviser and an alumni and development specialist at Penn State York. “The Blue & White Society is the student extension of the Penn State Alumni Association,” Conlon said.

Conlon noted that many Penn State York students, faculty, and staff members have friends and families in the service and SFS is just one small way they can get involved and help the troops.

The military unit to receive the packages has a local connection, as each SFS has since Joyce Turner, project coordinator and secretary/treasurer of the Penn State York Alumni Society, began the program in her apartment kitchen in 2007.

Letters, cards, and items from toothpaste to playing cards to cheese crackers, are being collected now through Nov. 14. For a list of items appropriate for donation, visit http://www.psualum.com/society/york online. For more information, please contact Conlon, at (717) 718-6781 or e-mail iona@psu.edu, or contact Turner at (717) 843-3291 or e-mail joyceturner415@verizon.net.

Collection boxes at Penn State York are located in the Main Classroom Building near the Alumni and Development Office, outside the Lion’s Den in the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center, and outside the Lee R. Glatfelter Library in the atrium area. Donations can also be made during the Penn State Day Fall Open House on Saturday, Oct. 13. Donation boxes are also located at the Consolidated School of Business in York and at the Mt. Rose Barberama, 1160 Mt. Rose Ave., York. Monetary gifts also will be accepted to help defray the cost of postage. Checks should be made payable to the Penn State York Alumni Society and sent to the campus at 1031 Edgecomb Ave., York, PA, 17403.

Studying parasites is something that Anne M. Vardo-Zalik loves. Vardo-Zalik, an assistant professor of biology at Penn State York, spent the summer in California collecting samples relevant to the study of the western fence lizard and conducting research on how the malaria parasite impacts the species. She prefers to work with natural parasite-host systems and for the past ten years has monitored the lizards and tried to determine how parasites and their hosts (the lizards) survive over time.

For a portion of the summer, Vardo-Zalik was assisted by Victoria Motz, a senior at Penn State York studying life science. Motz worked side by side with Vardo –Zalik.

“I really enjoyed being able to learn one-on-one from Dr. Vardo-Zalik,” said Motz. “I was able to learn how to collect my own samples and process them with hands-on experience. Hearing stories about field research and conducting my own research was a great experience. I absolutely think undergraduate research is beneficial.”

A typical day for the lizard-catching duo started around 8:00 a.m. with nooses in hand and then continued until midnight when they dropped off the sand flies that were caught in traps set earlier in the evening. Sand flies transmit the malaria parasite from lizard to lizard and are an important part of the study. Processing the lizards included everything from determining their sex and taking a blood sample to taking measurements to estimate their age. Blood smears were then scanned to check to see which lizards were infected with malaria and which were not.

According to Vado-Zalik, the lizards are very sneaky and often times have the researchers running around trees for a long time to try and catch them.

A goal of the research is to learn how the transmission dynamics maintain the malaria parasite in this lizard population. This will give researchers a better understanding of how wildlife diseases are maintained in a natural setting.

Vardo-Zalik joined the Penn State faculty in 2010 and specializes in parasites, focusing on the ecology of the transmission biology of malaria parasites. She teaches courses in parasitology (the study of parasites), micro biology for science majors, population ecology courses, and a variety of others. She earned an undergraduate degree in 2000 and a master’s degree in 2003 in marine biology from the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Ma., and a doctorate in biology in 2008 from the University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt.

Since her arrival on campus, Vardo-Zalik has provided research opportunities for undergraduate students. She believes these opportunities provide students with experience that will help them determine whether or not they are on the right career path and lets them put into action what they study in books.

“I like to bring students into the lab and tailor the project to fit their interest,” said Vardo-Zalik. “It gives them a chance to experience what it is really like to do research and they gain a sense of responsibility. We work together and there is a mutual respect.”

Motz, 22, from New Cumberland, Pa., is set to graduate in May 2013 and plans to earn an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate and then apply to medical school. Motz is thankful for her undergraduate research experience through Penn State York. She learned a great deal from her work with Vardo-Zalik because her areas of interest are immunology and infectious diseases. She not only had the opportunity to work side-by-side with a faculty member but also traveled to California, a place she has always wanted to visit.

“I absolutely think undergraduate research is beneficial, said Motz. “It has been my favorite experience in college.”

Penn State York’s New Student Orientation on Friday, Aug. 24 included 275 first-year students who spent the day getting to know the campus and the University. The day included sessions about a variety of services on campus and time with “pride groups” to make friends. 

For the first time, a separate program for parents and families members was offered and 100 attended to learn more about Penn State, get familiar with the campus, and learn ways to support their students. Both programs were designed by the student affairs office at the campus.

To view pictures from the day, visit Penn State York’s Facebook page.

Free tickets to the 15th Women’s Show are now available to Penn State York students, faculty, and staff. Tickets are available on campus in the student affairs office, admissions offices, the box office in the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center), the Lion’s Den Café, and The Bistro.

The Women’s Show, Oct. 6 and 7 in Memorial Hall at the York Expo Center, features two days of exhibits, seminars, entertainment, demonstrations, and shopping sponsored by 98.5 The Peak and a variety of other businesses. More than 100 prizes will be awarded. A portion of the proceeds from the show benefits the Victims Assistance Center, established in 1976 to provide free services to victims of sexual violence and other violent crimes.

Penn State York is among a number of sponsors of the Women’s Show and is offering a blue and white motif for the Lion’s Den Café, one of the food areas at the event. In addition, students from the campus will be doing a fashion show, “Blue, White, and WOW – Penn State Fashions,” featuring items that can be purchased in the Penn State York Bookstore. Students will take the runway on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 11:15 a.m. on the M & T Bank Stage in Memorial Hall.

At 2 p.m. on Oct. 7, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Penn State York will present a seminar entitled, “Lifelong Learning and Successes - Women Entrepreneurs,” which will provide a taste of OLLI. An OLLI volunteer will provide a background and brief history of OLLI at Penn State York. Judy Orcutt, an OLLI member and local business woman, will share her career experiences and talk about her involvement in OLLI. 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.

The Women’s Show hours are Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $4 for the general public and may be purchased at the door. For more information about the Women’s Show, call (717) 637-3831 or visit online at www.thepeak985.com.

If the last reference to the game of croquet you can remember is in the book or movie “Alice in Wonderland,” Penn State York invites you to cheer on their real team at The County Cup, a croquet tournament fundraiser. The event is set for Saturday, Sept. 22 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Sovereign Bank Stadium, 5 Brooks Robinson Way, in York, Pa. The County Cup is a York County Rotary Clubs Event.

Josie Moore, instructor in communications arts and sciences, and Jennifer Nesbitt, associate professor of English, are the players on the campus team - Penn State Croqueting for a Cure – to raise money for pediatric cancer. Moore and Nesbitt will grab their mallets, have fun, and compete fiercely for prize money ranging from $15,000 for first place to $1,000 for ninth place.

Rotarians and volunteers from participating nonprofit organizations throughout York County will take part in the event with teams representing local businesses raising money for charities including the Salvation Army, York Literacy Council, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Michael Euculano Scholarship Fund, and many more . In addition to the croquet matches taking place throughout the day, the Brooks Robinson Plaza at the stadium will be busy with activities for adults and children including food, concessions, and carnival games. Students from Penn State York will be doing face painting.

Tickets for the event are $10 and be purchased by contacting Barbara Dennis at bhd5@psu.edu or (717) 771-4128, or Di Hershey at dkh13@psu.edu or (717) 771-4127. For more information about the event, visit www.TheCountyCup.org.

“The Penn State courses in Hanover offer residents the opportunity to live where they learn from a premier university with a national reputation and provide the convenience of taking courses without leaving Hanover,”  said Jeff Warner, director of continuing education at Penn State York.

Introduction to Meteorology begins Wednesday, Aug. 29 and continues through Dec. 12 at Hanover Hospital, 300 Highland Ave., Hanover, Pa.  The course meets from 6-9:40 p.m. in conference room D.

Courses at Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Place, Hanover, Pa., include Effective Speech (CAS 100B), Thursdays from 5:15-8 p.m. beginning Aug. 30 and ending Dec. 13; College Algebra I (Math 021), Wednesdays from 5:15-8 p.m. beginning Aug. 29 and ending Dec. 12; and Techniques of Calculus I (Math 110), Tuesdays from 5-8 p.m. beginning Aug. 28 and ending Dec. 11.

For more information on the Penn State programs being offered in Hanover, please contact Jeff Warner at (717) 771-410 or jwarner@psu.edu.  For information on all that Penn State York has to offer, check out the website at www.yk.psu.edu. 

John J. Romano, Penn State's former vice president for commonwealth campuses and former CEO at Penn State York, will come out of retirement to lead the York campus while a search is conducted for the campus' next top administrator. Chancellor Lisa Plowfield, who began her tenure at York campus in August 2011, has announced her resignation. Romano will begin his interim appointment on Aug. 1.

Penn State Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses Madlyn Hanes extended her best wishes to Plowfield, and thanked Romano for his willingness to return to the York campus while a national search for the next chancellor takes place.

"John Romano's 40-plus years of service to Penn State will no doubt be an invaluable resource for the entire York campus community through this transition, and we are happy to welcome him back," Hanes said. "We also are fortunate to have highly capable, dedicated faculty and staff at the York campus, all of whom will play an important role in maintaining the campus’ momentum."

Hanes said the search for a new chancellor will begin in the fall.

Romano, who served for eight years as CEO at Penn State York from 1985 to 1993, said he looks forward to his role in helping the campus to thrive while the search for long-term leadership takes place.

"Penn State York continues to be a strong educational provider and a major contributor to the region," Romano said. "I'm proud to join the campus' excellent team of faculty and staff as we work together to carry out the campus' academic mission."

Romano originally joined Penn State in 1968. He served as a faculty member in the colleges of Education and the Liberal Arts, and also served as assistant and then associate dean for undergraduate studies in the College of the Liberal Arts on the University Park campus. In 1993, after his time as CEO at York campus, Romano became vice provost and dean for enrollment management and administration at the University, before accepting the role of vice president for Commonwealth Campuses, a position he held from 2005 until his retirement in 2010.

Against this backdrop, Penn State accepts the penalties and corrective actions announced today by the NCAA. With today’s announcement and the action it requires of us, the University takes a significant step forward.

The NCAA ruling holds the University accountable for the failure of those in power to protect children and insists that all areas of the University community are held to the same high standards of honesty and integrity.

The NCAA also mandates that Penn State become a national leader to help victims of child sexual assault and to promote awareness across our nation. Specifically, the University will pay $12 million a year for the next five years into a special endowment created to fund programs for the detection, prevention and treatment of child abuse. This total of $60 million can never reduce the pain suffered by victims, but will help provide them hope and healing.

The NCAA penalty will also affect the football program. There is a four-year ban on all post-season games, including bowl games and the Big Ten Championship game, and a future reduction in the number of football scholarships that can be granted. We are grateful that the current student athletes are not prevented from participation because of the failures of leadership that occurred. Additionally the NCAA has vacated all wins of Penn State football from 1998-2011.

We also welcome the Athletics Integrity Agreement and the third-party monitor, who will be drilling into compliance and culture issues in intercollegiate athletics, in conjunction with the recommendations of the Freeh Report. Lastly a probationary period of five years will be imposed.

It is important to know we are entering a new chapter at Penn State and making necessary changes. We must create a culture in which people are not afraid to speak up, management is not compartmentalized, all are expected to demonstrate the highest ethical standards, and the operating philosophy is open, collegial, and collaborative.

Since receiving Judge Freeh’s preliminary recommendations in January, the University has instituted several reforms. Today we accept the terms of the consent decree imposed by the NCAA. As Penn State embarks upon change and progress, this announcement helps to further define our course. It is with this compass that we will strive for a better tomorrow.

Penn State will move forward with a renewed sense of commitment to excellence and integrity in all aspects of our University. We continue to recognize the important role that intercollegiate athletics provides for our student athletes and the wider University community as we strive to appropriately balance academic and athletic accomplishments. Penn State will continue to be a world-class educational institution of which our students, faculty, staff and alumni can be justifiably proud.

To read the NCAA consent decree, visit http://www.ncaa.com/content/penn-state-conclusions. To read statements from Penn State Acting Athletic Director David Joyner and Head Football Coach Bill O'Brien, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/60478.

Jason Hawes and Steve Gonsalves from SyFy’s hit series “Ghost Hunters” will share their paranormal experiences at Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $70 VIP and $35, and are on sale now.  Tickets can be purchased at The Pullo Center Box Office, charge by phone at 717-505-8900, or can be purchased online.

“Ghost Hunters” follows The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), as they investigate locations across the United States with claims of haunting and paranormal activity.  TAPS has pioneered a different approach to paranormal investigation.  They go into a location seeking to disprove claims of paranormal activity, finding real-world explanations for these events. 

Jason Hawes created The Atlantic Paranormal Society, or TAPS, with fellow plumber Grant Wilson. Both are part of a small, blue-collar Rhode Island community where many of the TAPS members were born and raised.  His own highly personal paranormal experience (which he prefers not to discuss) prompted Jason to do more than wonder about an afterworld. He launched TAPS from a spare room of his apartment.

Steve Gonsalves is the TAPS technology manager and evidence analyst. It is his responsibility to train all TAPS members on how to use and maintain the team's wide range of high-tech equipment.  As the technology manager, Steve oversees all members of the TAPS Tech team.  Steve has been a public speaker and educator about paranormal phenomena for more than 10 years. He is also the co-founder of the TAPS publication, “Paramagazine.”

Don’t miss this two-hour ghost hunting presentation of chilling behind the scenes information that will make skeptics into believers.  The presentation will include an unbelievable Power Point presentation of amazing paranormal cases, followed by a question and answer session with the audience.  A meet and greet will also be held for VIP tickets holders after the show. 

Richard Marx, singer and songwriter, will take to the stage at Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $55 and $39 and go on sale Friday, July 20, at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at The Pullo Center Box Office, charge by phone at (717) 505-8900, or online at ThePulloCenter.com. Penn State York students may purchase one ticket at the box office at the special price of $18.

For more than two decades as a solo artist, Marx has made an indelible mark on the music community with more than 30 million records sold and fourteen No. 1 singles, including his latest song “Long Hot Summer,” with country star Keith Urban. Marx has remained a fixture on pop and adult contemporary radio for years as an artist and producer working with some of the biggest names in the music business.

His debut single "Don't Mean Nothing" and multi-platinum, self-titled debut album launched his success as a solo artist, his first No. 1 single “Hold On To The Nights,” as well as a total of four Top 10 singles. His 1989 follow-up CD, “Repeat Offender,” went on to sell more than 7 million copies worldwide, two N. 11 singles “Satisfied” and “Right Here Waiting,” and multiple Grammy and American Music Award nominations. His third studio album, Rush Street, went multi-platinum, included four Top 10 singles and two #1 singles “Hazard” and “Keep Coming Back,” and featured special appearances by the late Luther Vandross and Billy Joel. The 1994 release, Paid Vacation, was his fourth consecutive multi-platinum release with 2 hit singles including the #1 Billboard's Adult Contemporary hit “Now and Forever” which remained at the top of the chart for 11 weeks.

Marx has had incredible chart and commercial success working with other artists including *NSYNC, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Vince Gill, and the late Luther Vandross. More recently, he has written and produced tracks for Keith Urban, Daughtry, Lifehouse, Leann Rimes, Natalie Cole, Paulina Rubio, Travis Tritt, actor Hugh Jackman, and many more. For more information please visit www.richardmarx.com.

More than 70 educators are registered for the institute which features a variety of keynote speakers. Participants are asked to bring their own laptop each day since all sessions are hands-on with regular online work required throughout the day.

For more information, please visit the Tech.it.U website or contact Dennis Baughman, coordinator of the master of education in teaching at curriculum, at (717) 771-8413 or e-mail him at dpb83@psu.edu.

The experience will help to provide participants with an understanding and appreciation of proper soccer skills and techniques.  Time will be devoted to basic skills and concepts important to the younger player will be taught in a positive atmosphere.  

Under the direction of Ben Otterson, assistant Penn State York soccer coach, camp participants will learn the importance of proper preparation such as warm-up and stretching prior to participation as well as foundation skills and tactics. Otterson also stresses the importance of having fun while playing soccer. Otterson has a national and advanced national license for coaching soccer.

The fee for the five-day camp is $95 and includes the instruction and a camp T-shirt.   Please be sure to register early to ensure your place in camp.

For information or a brochure, call Penn State York at (717) 505-8049; e-mail Chris Beaverson, interim athletic director at Penn State York, at cab187@psu.edu or download the brochure.

Registration is under way for Penn State York's 30th annual youth soccer camp set for July 23-27 at the campus. The camp is designed for both female and male soccer players of all ability levels, ages 8 through 13. Players are grouped according to age and ability level during the first camp session.

Camp hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Under the direction of Rich Chilcoat, Penn State York soccer coach and three-time Coach of the Year winner in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC), players will participate in a total athletic experience including stretching and conditioning, drills, position analysis, rules of the game, and team play. In addition to Chilcoat, the camp staff includes other area soccer coaches and players who bring years of experience to the field. Lectures, demonstrations, films, and instructional videotapes augment physical activity. Drills, games and other activities take place on the soccer fields at Penn State York.   Players should arrive at camp each day dressed to play soccer and should bring indoor footwear in case of rain.

The fee for the five-day camp is $185 and includes instruction and coaching, camp ball, a soccer T-shirt, and lunch each day. Registration for each additional family member is $175.  For information or a brochure, call Penn State York at (717) 505-8949, e-mail Chris Beaverson, interim athletic director at Penn State York, at cab187@psu.edu; or download the brochure.  Enrollment is limited to the first 115 registrants.

The international-known Vienna Boys Choir will take to the stage at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) at Penn State York on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $65 and $50 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at The Pullo Center box office, charge by phone at (717) 505-8900, or online.

Boys have been singing at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor since the early 15th century. In 1498, more than half a millennium ago, Emperor Maximilian I moved his court and his court musicians to Vienna. He gave instructions that there were to be six singing boys among his musicians. Historians have settled on 1498 as the foundation date of the Vienna Hofmusikkapelle and in consequence the Vienna Boys Choir. Until 1918, the choir sang exclusively for the imperial court, at mass, at private concerts and functions, and on state occasions.

Today there are about 100 choristers between the ages of 10 and 14, divided into four touring choirs. The four choirs give around 300 concerts and performances each year in front of almost half a million people. Each group spends nine to eleven weeks of the school year on tour. They visit virtually all European countries, and they are frequent guests in Asia, Australia and the Americas.

Together with members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna State Opera Chorus, the Vienna Boys Choir maintains the tradition of the imperial musicians: as Hofmusikkapelle they provide the music for the Sunday Mass in Vienna’s Imperial Chapel, as they have done since 1498. For the fifth time, the choir participated in the New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on Jan. 1, 2012, conducted by Mariss Jansons.

The choirs’ repertoire includes everything from medieval to contemporary and experimental music. Motets and lieder for boys choirs form the core of the touring repertoire, as do the choirs own arrangements of quintessentially Viennese music, waltzes, and polkas by Franz Lehar, Joseph Lanner, and Johann Strauss.

Penn State York's small class size offers students the opportunity to get to know faculty members and work in research areas using state-of-the-art lab facilities. Students can take classes and still have time to enjoy the summer.

For a brochure or more information on summer course offerings at Penn State York, call (717) 771-4050 or visit our website.

Making a college decision is one of the most important and exciting decisions in a person’s life. Prospective students and their families can get a taste of what it is like at Penn State York during the Spend a Summer Day or Evening program in July. Discover what Penn State and Penn State York have to offer. Enjoy a summer day, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, or a summer evening from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 19; talk with admission representatives and learn more about financial aid, academic programs, and student life.

After the presentations, take a campus tour and enjoy Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream with your family and Penn State representatives. To register or for more information, call Penn State York Admissions at (717) 771-4040 or (800) PSU-6227 or register on the website.

Discover all the power and prestige of Penn State right here in York. Your Penn State degree is recognized across the country and around the world. Corporate recruiters ranked Penn State #1 in a recent Wall Street Journal survey. The Journal said that Penn State produces the best qualified graduates.

More than 160 people attended the first Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Founders’ Day at Penn State York on May 17 featuring Dr. Karl Pillemer, well-known author of “30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans.” Dr. Pillemer is a professor of gerontology in medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical College and Human Development in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. He shared his extensive experience as a gerontologist and the relationships he developed with the mature American population as part of his presentation at the OLLI Founders’ Day event.

The Legacy Project that began in 2004 gave Dr. Pillemer the opportunity to collect responses from America’s elders to the question, “What are the most important lessons you have learned over the course of your life?” People from across the country in their 70s and beyond shared their wisdom for living.

Americans as old as age 108 shared their advice from living life without regrets and tips on how to age fearlessly and well, to truly living life to the fullest because it is short. Lessons in Dr. Pillemer’s book include from how to be happy on a day-to-day basis, the secrets to a successful marriage, tips on raising children, ways to have a fulfilling career, and strategies for dealing with illness and loss. Dr. Pillemer wrote his book based on this project and it was named to the “Best Self-Help Books of 2011” by Library Journal.

Based on Dr. Pillemer’s work, the OLLI group thought he would be the best speaker for their first Founders’ Day event which honors the work of OLLI founders Charmaine Kissinger, Olive Padden, and the late Gussie Petron, three women who were bored and ready to make more of their retirement. Their mantra of “curiosity never retires” and their thirst for knowledge and mental stimulation, led them to gather volunteers and OLLI was born in August 2007 with the first courses offered in April 2008. The group has grown from a handful of people to more than 275 members. The OLLI group hopes the Founders’ Day Lecture will become an annual event.

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 though Penn State at University Park which also has an OLLI program.

To cover costs, OLLI has a $50 yearly membership fee that covers two semesters and a $20 fee for each six-week course taken. Shorter courses are offered at a lower rate. Call 717- 771-4015 (or e-mail olli@yk.psu.edu) to receive registration and activity information. Visit their website at for more information. OLLI at Penn State York will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, May 30 at noon in the conference center of the Main Classroom Building at the campus.

Penn State York began a chapter in 1991 to recognize the accomplishments of its growing adult student population. The adult student population at the campus is about 30 percent. Penn State considers an adult learner someone who is 24-years-old or older; a veteran of the armed services; returning to school after four or more years of employment, homemaking, or other activity; or a person who assumes multiple adult roles as a parent, spouse/partner, employee, and student.

Those students inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda are: Scott S. Barshinger, Wellsville, Pa.; Thomas L. Breiner Jr., York, Pa.; Gordon L. Coggins Jr., Hanover, Pa.; BJ (Betty) Dabler, Hershey, Pa.; AJ (Amanda) Dewees, Red Lion, Pa.; Rhoi J. Fajardo, Dover, Pa.; Eric R. Gallant, Dover, Pa.; Susan B. Gohn, York, Pa.; Zachary P. Golden, Red Lion, Pa.; Patrick S. Hagmann, York, Pa.; Jody L. Herring, Manchester, Pa.; Julie A. Hillard, Lancaster, Pa.; David G. Johnson Sr., York, Pa.; Cynthia S. Jones, Baltimore, Md.; Jonathan D. Knepper, York, Pa.; Jennifer L. Marcombe, York, Pa.; Krista L. Miller, York, Pa.; Catherine Musso, York, Pa.; Regina M. Orndorff, Hanover, Pa.; Jessica A. Peak, Columbia, Pa.; Elizabeth L. Pierce, Dallastown, Pa.; Alice M. Ritter, Ephrata, Pa.; Juan R. Rodriguez, New Oxford, Pa.; Robert S. Schultz, New Freedom, Pa.; James M. Shaffer, Wrightsville, Pa.; Kimberly C. Shank, Dillsburg, Pa.; Pranav S. Shirodkar, York, Pa., (originally from Mumbai, India); Esther Staiger, York, Pa.; Tammie S. Stem, Hanover, Pa.; William T. Tippet IV, Red Lion, Pa.; and Tara D. Veytsman, York, Pa.

For those who cannot attend the event, Penn State York's commencement can be viewed on Comcast cable channel 18 and streaming on the website.

Frederick Haag, associate professor of visual arts at Penn State York, is the commencement speaker. Haag was invited to give the commencement address in recognition of being named the recipient of an Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching and a 2012 Penn State Teaching Fellow. This is a great honor and Haag is one of only three recipients of this award from throughout Penn State.

The Penn State Alumni Association, in conjunction with undergraduate and graduate governing bodies, established the award in 1988. It honors distinguished teaching and provides encouragement and incentive for excellence in teaching. Recipients are expected to share their talent and expertise with others throughout the University during the year following the award presentation.

In addition to hearing from Haag, Penn State York will continue its tradition of the open microphone where graduates can speak for a moment. Eric R. Gallant, Dover, Pa., the top associate degree graduate; Shibani R. Chadha, Mumbai, India, the top baccalaureate degree graduate; and Teresa J. Wilson, Mt. Wolf, Pa., representing the master’s degree graduates will also say a few words.
Penn State York will award 18 master of education in teaching and curriculum degrees; 75 baccalaureate degrees; 6 in bachelor of arts in communication arts and sciences; 7 bachelor of arts in English; 1 bachelor of arts in letters, arts, and sciences; 22 bachelor of science in business; 4 bachelor of science in electro-mechanical engineering technology; 19 bachelor of science in information sciences and technology; 12 bachelor of science in human development and family studies; 2 bachelor of science in nursing, and 2 bachelor of science in science. The campus will also award 21 associate degrees: 9 in business administration; 2 in electrical engineering technology; 3 in human development and family studies; 3 in information sciences and technology; 2 in letters, arts, and sciences (liberal arts); and 2 in mechanical engineering technology.

Six Penn State York students who completed their work at an upper division campus of Penn State will return to York, their home campus, to receive a degree during the ceremony. Penn State York has 185 students moving on from the campus to complete their degrees at another Penn State location. Penn State York offers the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors and those students comprise most of the campus.

Penn State York honored the academic achievements and service of its outstanding students, faculty, and staff for the 2011-12 academic year during the 41st Annual Academic Awards Program, Sunday, April 22 at Heritage Hills Golf Resort & Conference Center in York, Pa. More than 90 academic and service awards were presented following a 2 p.m. reception.

Awards were presented by a variety of campus groups and several community organizations including the Rotary Club of York and the York County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association. Highlights of the program were the presentation of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award, the James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Penn State York Advising Award, and the Clark E. Fisher Memorial Award.

The Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award, the most prestigious student award of the evening, was presented to Joshua D. Czerski. 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. Czerski is a senior at Penn State York majoring in business. He is from Baltimore, Md. Czerski was recognized for his dependability, hard-work, and dedication to the athletics programs at Penn State York. He not only excelled on the court (basketball) and in the field (soccer) but also excelled in the classroom and participated in a variety of activities to make the campus a better place.

The Clark E. Fisher Memorial Award honors and recognizes outstanding achievement in engineering by a full-time undergraduate student. The award is named for the late Clark E. Fisher, ’83, a Penn State engineering graduate. Fisher’s family members, Precision Custom Components (PCC) - Fisher’s former employer, colleagues from PCC, and friends joined together last year to create an award in remembrance of Fisher. The award is given in the field that Fisher loved, engineering. Zachary Donnelley, Dover, Pa.; is the recipient.

The James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching is given to one part-time and one full-time member of the Penn State York faculty 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 Dr. Sukhdeep Gill, associate professor of human development and family studies, full-time award and Dr. Stephen K. Lentz, part-time instructor in meteorology, part-time award.

Gill, of York, Pa., and a native of Punjab, India, received high praise from her students for her dedication, enthusiasm, passion and knowledge of her subject matter, and her willingness to go above and beyond her job duties for her students. One student wrote, “Dr. Gill is the most enthusiastic professor I have ever had. She goes above and beyond to respond to students’ needs, always addresses issues and develops solutions immediately, often requiring extra work on her part.” Another student said, “Out of all four years at Penn State York, I’d have to say I’ve learned the most from professor Gill. She puts a lot of time into the course and makes sure all of her students are learning the information in a deeper manner. She is dedicated to not only her job but mainly her students. I’d have to say, she definitely deserves this award!” Still more praise for Gill and her dedication to her students, “Dr. Gill is such a caring teacher to her students. She always makes herself available if you need extra help or just some clarification. She truly tries to invest herself in you and your learning. Although her classes are challenging, they are the classes I learn the most in.” Finally, another student wrote, “I believe she should receive this award because she is one professor that teaches with passion. The ideas she brings to class and the way she gets the class involved is something to admire. She is an overall great professor. I would be proud to know she is carrying this award.”

Lentz, of Mt. Wolf, Pa., received numerous accolades from his students for his subject knowledge, his teaching style, and concern that students understand the material. One student wrote, “I believe Dr. Lentz should receive the award because he is not just an instructor, but he puts forth an effort to explain the subject matter in terms that are understandable. He demonstrates examples that students can relate to, and make sure that we understand. He also loves what he teaches and shows enthusiasm and tells jokes around the subject matter.” Another student wrote, “He is very interested in the topic at hand and is very good at showing us how this class will impact our daily lives. He is not just teaching us the material but making sure we understand it.” Still more praise for his teaching, “Dr. Lentz goes out of his way to help students be comfortable with the material by providing us with time before and after class to meet with him. He has also been very prompt with returning e-mails at all times, something many other professors do not do. He keeps class interesting with his real life stories of weather and brings excitement to the classroom.”

Emily C. Wenk, of Gardners, Pa., instructor in information sciences and technology, 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.

Wenk received high praise from students for willingness to talk with student and share information about the major. One student wrote, “Throughout all the troubles I had with my major, she helped me all along the way to get everything organized so that I could start every semester strong. Also, every question I sent her was answered in a timely manner.” Another student wrote, “It is always nice to meet with her to talk about how I’m doing in classes and what I should look for in career opportunities and internships to what classes I should try to take next semester.” A colleague wrote, “Emily has always been extremely conscientious with her advising. She is proactive, contacting her advisees, makes time to meet with them and meets with her advisees until all their questions have been answered. I’ve witnessed numerous times where she has met with students and their parents.”

The Penn State York Honors Program provides challenging opportunities for academically superior students. Students who complete 9 credits of honors work are recognized. Recipients are: Hannah J. Barlow, York, Pa.; Shaquille George, York, Pa.; Walker D. Huso, Parkton, Md.; Christopher M. Lawyer, York, Pa.; Caitlin D. Markline, Glen Rock, Pa.; Cameron S. Nelson, York, Pa.; Carley E. Richardson, Mountville, Pa.; Stephanie M. Shoff, York, Pa.; Shehzad H. Siddique, York, Pa.; Natalia A. Snyder, Stewartstown, Pa.; Matthew B. Wharton, Forest Hill, Md.; and Ai Zhao, York, Pa.

Graduating with honors are Matthew L. Dunlap, Shrewsbury, Pa.; Crystal L. Kimball, York, Pa.; Kaitlyn S. Kosalek, York, Pa.; and Carrie A. Lilley, York, Pa.
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 Basil J. Hartman, Hanover, Pa.

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: Christian R. Bohn, York, Pa.; Thomas Boyer, Dover, Pa.; John Brubaker, Manheim, Pa.; Walker D. Huso, Parkton, Md.; Joo Won Kim, York, Pa.; Darla J. Link, York, Pa.; and Stuart O. Reilly, Mt. Wolf, Pa. 

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 recipient is Andrew J. Patterson, Shrewsbury, Pa.
Freshman Press Chemistry Award recipient is Komal Shaikh, York, Pa. This award is presented to a freshman based on outstanding academic achievement in chemistry.
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi recognizes superior scholarship in all fields of study and only inducts the highest-ranking students from any branch of learning. The inductee is Shehzad H. Siddique, York, Pa.

Keystone Honor Society Awards were presented to full- and part-time students with the highest grade-point average (GPA) at or above a 3.50 GPA in each associate and baccalaureate degree program offered at the campus. Part-time students are eligible to receive the award one time in their major. There are also requirements for the time in the degree. Honorees are: Marjorie L. Alquist, Dillsburg, Pa.; John C. Arthur, York, Pa.; John Brubaker, Manheim, Pa.; Tara C. Burgess, York, Pa.; Joseph M. Cabrera, York, Pa.; Shibani R. Chadha, York, Pa.; Virginia A. Clousher, Hanover, Pa.; Gordon L. Coggins, Hanover, Pa.; Matthew L. Dunlap, Shrewsbury, Pa.; James E. Ehrlinger, Dover, Pa.; Kathryn B. Frey, York, Pa.; Rebekah A. Gross, Manchester, Pa.; Rose A. Harless, York, Pa.; Basil J. Hartman, Hanover, Pa.; Warren L. Hursh, York, Pa.; Mihir L. Jadhav, York, Pa.; Crystal L. Kimball, York, Pa.; Kaitlyn S. Kosalek, York, Pa.; William D. LaViers, Bel Air, Md.; Amber C. Lawson, Perryville, Md.; Carrie A. Lilley, York, Pa.; Caitlin D. Markline, Glen Rock, Pa.; Christine M. Miller, Mt. Wolf, Pa.; Dave E. Shaffer, York, Pa.; Kevin A. Sheffer, Dover, Pa.; Shehzad H. Siddique, York, Pa.; and Meher Tabassum, Red Lion, Pa.

Student Government Association (SGA) Campus Service Awards were presented to Amy L. Hammonds, Spring Grove, Pa. and Madeline E. Snyder, Dallastown, Pa. This award is given annually to students whose services have benefited the campus. The award is chosen by the student body.

The Student Appreciation Award is given to faculty or staff person for outstanding service to students. The recipient was Donna L. Godfrey, York, Pa., tutor coordinator in the Nittany Success Center.

Gary L. Collison Community Service Awards were presented to Ginia M. Moorehead, York, Pa. and Aida I. Santos, York, Pa. The service awards are named to honor the late Gary L. Collison, professor of English and American Studies at Penn State York, whose idea it was to recognize students for their volunteer service. In addition to community service, recipients must have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA.

The Unsung Hero Award is a new award on campus and recognizes a Penn State York faculty or staff member for unselfishly providing outstanding service to the campus and its students, often with limited recognition. Selection is made through student, faculty, and staff nominations. Dr. Sharon E. Christ, director of enrollment management and strategic recruitment and retention initiatives,York, Pa. is the first recipient of this award.

The Campus Diversity Award is presented to the student who best reflects the values of diversity and intercultural understanding expressed in the campus statement on diversity. The recipient will have participated in and promoted multicultural activities on the campus and within the University as well as in the community at large. Wareesha Tariq, York, Pa., is the award recipient.

The Rotary Club Award is presented to an outstanding second-year student, chosen by the faculty, for having made a significant contribution to the campus and community. Matthew L. Dunlap. Shrewsbury, Pa. is the recipient.

The Student Leadership Award is presented to an organization or club officer based on outstanding leadership within the organization, achievements while in office, and service as a role model and motivating force within the organization. Rollin W. Apgar, Glen Rock, Pa. is the award recipient.

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 Gordon L. Coggins, Hanover, Pa.

The Academic Achievement Award is given to a student or students in recognition of academic accomplishments. The recipient(s) cannot have been otherwise honored with an academic award. Minimum qualifications are second year standing by spring semester of the year in which the award is presented and a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade-point average. Only Penn State credits are considered. Elizabeth M. Edkin, Columbia, Pa. is the recipient.

Penn State Alumni Association (PSAA) York County Chapter Award is presented to any Penn State York student who possesses outstanding qualities of scholarship, leadership, and service to the campus. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and participate actively in the Blue & White Society and/or Lion Ambassadors. This is a monetary award of $250. Salem K. Soni, Mechanicsburg, Pa., is the recipient.

The Tutor of the Year Award is presented to the tutor who has made the greatest impact on students who came to the Nittany Success Center for extra help with their course work. Christopher M. Lawyer, York, Pa. is the recipient.

The Tau Alpha Pi National Honor Society recognizes high standards of scholarship among students in engineering technology programs. Campus engineering faculty selects the award recipients. Recipients are: Gordon L. Coggins, Hanover, Pa.; Rhoi J. Fajardo, Dover, Pa.; and Dixie L. Pennington, Crownsville, Md.

The Lambda Pi Eta Award is the honor society of the National Communication Association that recognizes, fosters, and rewards outstanding scholastic achievement while stimulating interest in the communication discipline. All persons considered for membership must exhibit high standards of personal and professional character and support the purposes of the honor society. Recipients of this award are Elizabeth L. Hardesty, York, Pa.; Warren L. Hursh, York, Pa.; Robert D. Reynolds, York, Pa.; and Rachel I. Wolf, Upperco, Md.

The National Communication Association (NCA) Student Undergraduate Research Award encourages recognition of undergraduate student scholarship within each communication department. The selection of the recipients is guided by the award criteria established by NCA’s Research Board. Kaitlyn S. Kosalek, York, Pa. and Caitlin D. Markline, Glen Rock, Pa. are the recipients.

The Edward M. Elias Award is presented to the first- and second-year baccalaureate students moving to a campus within the Penn State system with the highest GPA. Erik S. Bailey, York, Pa.; Ronald P. Mack, York, Pa.; and Andrew J. Patterson, Shrewsbury, Pa. are the recipients.

Green Teams are groups of faculty, staff, and students volunteering to take specific actions to help their organization (college, department, building, etc.) operate in a more efficient, innovative, and healthy way. Typically, Green Teams focus on making their operations more sustainable through the easy to follow Green Paws Program and other initiatives unique to their departments. Currently, University Park has 50 Green Teams, and there are nine of them at the Commonwealth Campuses, operating in various departments.

“Participants are in our Earth Day clean-up are encouraged to put on their work clothes and be ready to rake leaves, clear brush, remove fallen limbs, and at the same time have some fun while tidying up this wonderful campus asset,” said Annie Haines, co-chair of the York campus Green Team and an area representative for continuing education at the campus. This is the York Green Team’s first event on campus. Forge Hardware Inc., in Spring Grove, Pa., has donated work gloves for the  clean-up of the woods.

Live acoustic music will be provided by Troy Miller and lunch will be provided for all who preregister by e-mailing Haines at azh2@psu.edu or calling (717) 771-4197.  There will also be give away items and a representative from Penn Waste will have an information table set-up during the event. Those who plan to participate in the clean-up should meet at the entrance to the woods on the upper portion of the campus off Edgecomb Ave.

In addition, Penn State York’s Students for Computer Recycling to Outfit Underrepresented Nonprofit Groups in Education (SCROUNGE) group will collect computer parts for recycling. SCROUNGE has refurbished old computer parts and placed more than 1,000 computers back out in the community to nonprofit groups and others who might not otherwise be able to afford them. Local businesses as well as individuals have contributed to the SCROUNGE effort.

According to Haines, Penn State York’s Green Team wants to engage the campus community in behavioral change that promotes sustainability. They plan to promote awareness on the importance of recycling, energy and water conservation, and encouraging transportation alternatives such as walking, biking, and carpooling. The Green Team will also encourage the incorporation of sustainability practices throughout the curriculum.

In addition to Haines, members of the campus Green Team include Holly Gumke, director of business services, who also serves as co-chair of the team; Barbara Dennis, coordinator of publications and promotion; Art Henne, instructor in English; Ed Jenkins, instructor in business administration; Fulgentius Lugemwa, assistant professor of chemistry; Josie Moore, instructor in communication arts and sciences, Anna Robuccio, Penn State York student; and Dan Rupp, system administrator. Any other interested members of the campus are encouraged to join the team.

Penn State recently drafted a University-wide sustainability strategic plan with the vision to embed sustainability as a fundamental value at the University.

Dr. Karl Pillemer, well-known author of “30 Lessons for Living:  Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans,” is the speaker for Penn State York’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s (OLLI) first Founders’ Day Lecture set for May 17 in the Conference Center of the Main Classroom Building at the campus.  The celebration begins at 11:30 a.m. with a luncheon and social hour followed by the lecture.  Tickets are on sale now at $25 for OLLI members and $30 for nonmembers.  For tickets call (717) 771-4015 or e-mail OLLI.  Deadline for purchase is May 1.

A professor of gerontology in medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical Collage and human development in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University, Dr. Pillemer will speak about his extensive experience as a gerontologist and his relationships with the mature American population.  As part of the registration fee for the event, attendees will receive a copy of his book and Dr. Pillemer will be available for a book-signing.

The Legacy Project that began in 2004 gave Dr. Pillemer the opportunity to collect responses from America’s elders to the question, “What are the most important lessons you have learned over the course of your life?”  People from across the country in their 70s and beyond shared their wisdom for living.

Their advice ranges from how to be happy on a day-to-day basis, the secrets to a successful marriage, tips on raising children, ways to have a fulfilling career, strategies for dealing with illness and loss, and how to grow old fearlessly and well.  Dr. Pillemer wrote his book based on this project and it was named to the “Best Self-Help Books of 2011” by Library Journal.
Based on his work, Dr. Pillemer is the perfect speaker for OLLI’s first Founders’ Day Lecture.  The OLLI group hopes the Founders’ Day Lecture will become an annual event.

The Founders’ Day event honors the work of OLLI founders Charmaine Kissinger, Olive Padden, and the late Gussie Petron, three women who were bored and ready to make more of their retirement.  Their mantra of “curiosity never retires” and their thirst for knowledge and mental stimulation, led them to gather volunteers and OLLI was born in August 2007 with the first courses offered in April 2008.  The group has grown from a handful of people to more than 250 members

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 though Penn State at University Park which also has an OLLI program.

A chance meeting of the trio, who called themselves a cog (Charmaine, Olive, Gussie) in the wheel of learning, at the Jacobus Library was the beginning of what would later become OLLI.  They began talking about what could be done to provide adult learners with educational opportunities and more.  The idea of offering courses of interest during the day for adult learners without the stress of tests, requirements, and official textbooks appealed to them.

The group met with then continuing education representatives at Penn State York, Bea Landis and Beth Gill-MacDonald, and things began to fall into place. York contacted the University and thanks to some quick hard work, in York was named one of the University’s OLLI sites.   Since that time through the hard work of volunteers, OLLI has developed committees, offers courses, has a website, and a newsletter. Penn State York’s OLLI group has a home in the Bradley Building at the campus which houses the Continuing Education Department.  

Stimulating courses are the primary focus of OLLI and recently the group has also added informal coffee klatches and trips to offer more opportunities for members to get together. OLLI courses are taught by volunteers who want to share their expertise and talents including retired Penn State faculty, hobbyists, artists, schoolteachers, and practicing professionals.  The six-week classes are offered during the day and are 90 minutes in length.  In addition to the six-week classes, there are also other courses which meet a time or two.

To cover costs, OLLI has a $50 yearly membership fee that covers two semesters and a $20 fee for each six-week course taken. Shorter courses are offered at a lower rate. Call 717- 771-4015 (or e-mail) to receive registration and activity information. Visit their website for more information.

Switchfoot, with special guest, The Rocket Summer, takes to the stage on Thursday, May 10, at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) at Penn State York. The performance is set for 7:30 p.m. Ticket are on sale now at $50 and $36 and can be purchased at The Pullo Center box office, charge by phone at 717-505-8900, or online at ThePulloCenter.com. Penn State York students can purchase one ticket at the special price of $17.

The San Diego band first formed in 1996 when Jon Foreman and his brother Tim put the group together. Drummer, Chad Butler says the band members were all friends from their days together at high school. At the time, the San Diego indie rock scene was thriving as bands such as Rocket from the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu had just started to gain national attention. After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream recognition with songs like “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move.”

“We love music and playing together,” Butler says. “We thrive on the communal aspect of song and the stories that are invested within. We’ve been through a lot together… incredible, wonderful moments and also really destructive, painful moments. You can feel that weight in some of the songs. It’s an incredible dream-come-true to say, ‘It’s time for a new Switchfoot record’ and to be able to go into the studio and make the album exactly how we want to make it.”

With its play on words, Vice Verses, the title of Switchfoot’s new album, coherently suggests the album’s theme: everything has two sides.

“Every blessing comes with a set of curses,” singer-guitarist Jon Foreman sings on the title track, all the while wondering if there’s a meaning to it all. That theme runs through the album’s 12 songs and is even reflected in the album’s black and white cover.

Starting Monday, April 16, PCN will pre-empt the “PCN Call-In” program to air live Congressional town hall meetings hosted at universities and colleges across the state beginning at 7 p.m. for the entire week. The Penn State York campus will be featured on Friday, April 20.

The 90-minute live program will allow college students, area residents, professors, local political reporters, and area representatives to discuss and share reaction about what is going on this election year within their congressional district. All nine Democratic and Republican candidates that are running for office within the 4th Congressional District will be attending and will have an opportunity to briefly share their platform with the audience.

Discussing the issues within the 4th Congressional District will be a guest panel comprised of Scott Fisher, opinion page editor for the York Daily Record; Keegan Gibson, managing editor for Politics PA; Dr. Michael Jarrett, professor of English at Penn State York; and a representative from Centro Hispano Jose Hernandez.

The town hall meeting, which will be held in the Community Room within the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center on campus, is open to the public, but for those unable to attend, participation is possible through e-mail and Twitter. Comments and questions during the event can be sent to pcntv2012@pcntv.com or tweeted using #pcntv2012.

Other collegiate locations scheduled throughout the week include the University of Pittsburgh – Johnstown, Bloomsburg University, Cheyney University, and the Lower Bucks Campus of Bucks County Community College.

PCN will air LIVE primary coverage beginning at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24. PCN will have LIVE reports from the headquarters of key statewide races. The network will once again be partnering with the PA Business Council for election numbers throughout the evening. Several political experts will provide in-studio commentary and analysis of the election numbers. For more information about PCN’s primary coverage and channel allocations, visit www.pcntv.com.

PCN is a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization created and supported by cable television companies. PCN receives no state or federal funding. Network programming is distributed on more than 150 cable systems in Pennsylvania serving more than 10 million Pennsylvanians in 3.3 million homes.

Scholar athletes, outstanding players, and a variety of other awards will be presented beginning at 6:15 p.m. followed by dinner. Award recipients and coaches attend the banquet at no charge.

Tickets for the event for guests can be purchased for $10 in the Penn State York Student Affairs Office. For more information please call Chris Beaverson, interim athletic director, at (717) 505-8949 or e-mail him at cab187@psu.edu.

To learn more about Penn State York's athletic programs, visit the website.

Penn State York will celebrate its 14th annual Unity Day on Thursday, April 12, and a variety of programs are planned from April 9-12, when students, faculty, staff, and members of the York community are invited to celebrate diversity. Events will take place in and around the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center from noon–1:00 p.m. each day and are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Please complete the online form if you are interested in being involved in Unity Day.

Monday through Thursday, a variety of events are scheduled to take place, providing an opportunity to learn something new each day. Monday’s program highlights a presentation on France given by students who visited that country during spring break 2012; Tuesday features Bollywood dance lessons provided by Penn State York’s Asian Culture Club, and Wednesday explores Portugal and Spain through the eyes of Penn State York students who visited those countries as part of campus international trips.

Thursday is Unity Day from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and features a variety of displays and provides an opportunity to sample different ethnic foods to help celebrate diversity. Displays that reflect the origin or ancestry of faculty, staff, and students will also be set-up in and around the student center. A fashion show presented by the Nittany Catwalk Club, Asian Culture Club, and the Black Student Union, is sure to keep everyone entertained. There will also be a martial arts demonstration, several musicians performing, and ethnic dances.

Those participating in Unity Day on April 12 will wear specially designed T-shirts. Visitors to Unity Day event can also receive a shirt, while supplies last, if they complete the Unity Day passport.

Students in Fred Haag’s introduction to visual studies (Art 10S) class created 11 designs for Unity Week and the campus community voted to select one to appear on the shirt. Haag, an associate professor of visual arts at Penn State York, has involved his class in creating designs for a number of years.

A design by Faleshia Kelsey, from Douglasville, Pa., was selected as the winner. Ten other students submitted designs for the contest including Courtney Dohn, Red Lion, Pa.;Jordan Fair, Hershey, Pa.; Amy Hammonds, Spring Grove, Pa.; Patrick Hilbert, Dover, Pa.; Victoria Hogan, Hanover, Pa.; Elena Keener, Lancaster, Pa.; Timothy Kenney, Glen Rock, Pa.; Steve Kline, Lancaster, Pa.; Onayemi Onalaja, Lagos, Nigeria; and Emily Thompson, Jefferson, Pa.

Goals for Unity Week include creating teachable moments to learn about diversity and to provide opportunities for the campus and community to suggest ways Penn State can create a multicultural environment.

Unity Week is the culmination of the work of Penn State York’s Diversity Committee, which includes students, faculty, and staff, 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.

Flags fly at Penn State York representing the homelands of students, faculty, and staff 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 Week is an opportunity to educate, understand, and appreciate the differences among us and embrace the many similarities.

The FAFSA webinars will be conducted by Jessica Petrie, financial aid coordinator at Penn State York. Those who wish to participate can log in to the meeting from any computer by visiting the website.

“The webinars will break the FAFSA down into seven easy steps and answer questions such as what information is needed to complete the application, common errors made, and other helpful tips,” said Petrie.

For more information please contact the Penn State York Student Aid Office at (717) 771-4045.

Eating their vegetables, working out, getting sleep, and cutting down on caffeine and sugar are just a few things Penn State York students Kaitlyn Dunbar, 19, and Joe Weaver, 18, are doing as they get ready to head to University Park to represent the campus in the 40th Annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), “Brighten Every Journey,” set for Feb. 17 – 19 at the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC).

The two dancers were chosen to represent Penn State York based on a variety of criteria including spirit points they earned since September by doing a variety of activities to raise funds for THON. 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.
 
In addition to raising money, through THON, the campus sponsors the Hagens family. Ava Hagens, a 4-year-old from York, Pa., was diagnosed on July 24, 2009, with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Since that time she has undergone a variety of treatments and recently completed her chemotherapy and is in remission. This is her third trip to THON along with her parents Jessica and Greg.

Members of York’s THON Committee have provided lots of encouragement for Ava with visits, cards, toys, and plenty of emotional support. The group had a special birthday on campus for Ava in the fall when she turned age 4.

For York’s dancers, and members of the campus’ THON committee, the year has included a variety of fundraising efforts from taking part in canning weekends (soliciting donations) at several locations in and around the York area, a community night at a local retuarant, and several pasta dinners . Under the direction of York THON co-chairs Alana Lentz, 21, of Columbia, Pa., and Kara Smith, 21, of York, Pa., the group has been busy raising money, bonding, and preparing for THON weekend. Lentz and Smith have attended meetings at University Park to catch up on all the THON details, requirements, and expectations and then have shared that information in weekly meetings with the campus’ THON committee throughout the year.

Both Lentz and Smith have dedicated a tremendous amount of time to THON and have been involved since 2009. Both women are looking forward to THON weekend and spending time with the Hagens family, the dancers, and all those gathered to make a difference for children battling pediatric cancer.

THON, a year-round fundraising event, is the largest single donor to the Four Diamonds Fund, at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pa. The year culminates in a no sitting, no sleeping, two-day dance marathon. Since 1973, the students of THON have raised more than $78 million and have helped thousands of children and families fight pediatric cancer. Last year the event raised more than $9.59 million and broke its own record. The mission of THON is to conquer pediatric cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers, and staff of the Four Diamonds Fund.

Dunbar, of York, Pa., is majoring in biology and is a 2010 graduate of Central York High School. She has wanted to be a dancer at THON ever since the first time she saw canners on the street corners of York seeking donations. Dunbar has been involved with THON for the past two years. She was in charge of finding places for students to can this year and used her previous experience to try and locate safe places for students to seek donations.

“I have always wanted to dance at THON and thought it would be the coolest thing to stay awake for 46 hours,” said Dunbar. “Those 46 hours are showing the kids that there is always hope.”

Dunbar’s biggest fear about THON is being able to mentally cope with the lack of sleep for 46 hours. She’s not concerned about being on her feet for that long because there are plenty of things to focus on during the weekend.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the kids and families during THON weekend and knowing that what I’m doing is helping them cope with what is happening in their lives,” she said.

Weaver, of York, Pa., is majoring in physics and is a 2011 graduate of West York Area High School. He is excited to show his THON spirit and experience all the hard work of everyone coming together. He is also very thankful that as a first-year student he is able to dance.

“Most importantly, I want to help make a difference,” said Weaver. “Dancing at THON, helping the Four Diamonds Fund and kids with cancer, is one of the best ways to make a difference in the world.”

Weaver’s biggest concern is being able on dance for 46 hours which he calls “insanely hard.” Difficult or not, Weaver is quick to note that he is looking forward to seeing how much money is raised this year and watching how happy everyone is at the event. He has been involved in THON since last spring and can’t wait to see all the hard work pay off.

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 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 15,000 students, has become one of Penn State's greatest and most unifying traditions.

There’s still time to donate. The best way to be sure your donation is counted in time is to visit the campus or donate online at www.thon.org. Be sure to use the dropdown box and designate your donation for York and your donation will count toward the campus total.

Penn State York broke its own record last year by raising $17,160.71, the largest amount it has ever raised for THON and made it to the top 10 in fundraisers among the Penn State campuses. The highest total to date for York had been $13,485, raised in 2009.

Anyone interested in supporting the dancers from Penn State York can send checks made payable to:

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

Please be sure to note York, Org. 170 in the memo line of the check. Checks sent to the local campus as well as online donations will be credited to the local dancers and then added to the final total at University Park.

Grammy award-winner Jonny Lang takes to the stage at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) at Penn State York on Friday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $52 and $39 and go on sale Friday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m. Pullo Center members can order now. Penn State York students can purchase one ticket at the special price of $32 or $19. Tickets can be purchased at The Pullo Center Box Office, charge by phone at 717-505-8900, or at The Pullo Center website.

A professional musician since age 12, Lang rocketed from his hometown of Fargo, N.D., to international renown in his mid-teens. While kids his age were still playing high school gigs, he was touring with giants like the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith, trading licks with mentors like B. B. King and Buddy Guy, and being lauded by “U.S. News and World Report” for having “the voice of a grizzled blues veteran...and guitar skills to match.”

The Grammy-winning, former prodigy instrumentalist, who topped “Billboard” magazine’s new artist chart with his first album at age 15, stands now as a mature creative force, made more sensitive, yet also toughened by life’s adventures. He’s learned what it means to rise above hard times and to find meaning where chaos seemed to rule.

Lang’s new album, “Turn Around,” proves that unlike many one-time wonder kid performers, Lang has grown to exceed the expectations that heralded his ascendance. Produced by Ron Fair (Black Eyed Peas, Mary J. Blige, Counting Crows), energized through collaboration with songwriter/performers Drew Ramsey and Shannon Sanders, anchored and elevated by former Prince NPG rhythm dynamo Michael Bland, “Turn Around” is Lang’s fifth album – but it’s also the first of what will become his most moving and enduring works.

All faculty are eligible to be nominated except for recipients of the award in the past four years: Abdul Siddiqui and Gene Ellis (2008), Mark A. Casteel (2009), Harley Hartman and Frank Miller (2010), and Charles (Chuck) L. Kennedy and Judith K. McCormick (2011).
 
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 2011 and/or spring 2012.

Please make your nominations by using the online form, or print out the form and return your form to Toni Dumas, faculty staff assistant on the second floor of the M.S. Grumbacher Information Sciences and Technology Center (ISTC) or Christina Lee, staff assistant to the director of academic affairs in the Lee R. Glatfelter Library, by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. Ask the staff assistant to place your nomination in Abdul Siddiqui’s mailbox.

The faculty member chosen for this award is selected by a committee of three former recipients of the award, plus two student members. This committee depends on nominations and supporting information that is provided by students.
 
Prior award recipients from the past three years, Ali Kara, Orsay Kucukemiroglu, and Harley Hartman; and staff in Advising and Career Development, Andrew Caldwell and Jane Emery, are not eligible for the award.

Nominations should be submitted using the online form, or print out the form and return it to Toni Dumas, faculty staff assistant on the second floor of the M.S. Grumbacher Information Sciences and Technology Center (ISTC) or Christina Lee, staff assistant to the director of academic affairs in the Lee R. Glatfelter Library, by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. Ask the staff assistant to place your nomination in Ali Kara's mailbox.

 by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, 2012.

A live broadcast of “A Memorial for Joe,” a memorial service honoring the late Coach Joe Paterno, is set for 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26 in the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) at Penn State York. There are no tickets for this event but seating is limited. Doors will open at 1 p.m. The broadcast is free and open to faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the public as space permits. 

In addition to The Pullo Center, the memorial will also air on campus in the Community Room of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center and in The Lair in the John J. Romano Administration Building.

For those unable to attend the broadcasts at Penn State York, BTN.com and BTN2Go will provide live coverage.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania or The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) or call 1-800-392-THON.

Penn State York will host the FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) South Central PA Regional Qualifier, a robotics competition, Saturday, Jan. 21 from 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center at the campus. This is the second time the campus has hosted this competition. The competition is open to the public to watch and it is free.

Participants will have the opportunity to see Penn State York’s new engineering facility, the Ralph G. and Madeline B. Swenson Engineering Center, which opened in August.

Twenty-four teams with up to ten members each from as far away as New York and as near as York Suburban High School and SciTech High School in Harrisburg are registered for the event. The “Bowled Over!” competition features a task-oriented robotics event where teams are asked to perform a variety of maneuvers with their robots.

The event in York is one of four qualifiers in Pennsylvania leading to the FTC PA State Robotics Championship at Penn College of Technology in Williamsport, Pa. Feb. 25. Teams that qualify from states will then proceed into the national championship in St. Louis, Mo., April 26-28. The acronym FIRST means For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology and the organization was founded in1989 by Dean Kamen, an accomplished inventor, who wanted to inspire young people to appreciate science and technology.

According to Thomas Zawislak, FIRST FTC affiliate partner, team members are part of an alliance trying to perform tasks on the field with their robots. The event emphasizes gracious professionalism with winning or losing not the important things. Winning is nice but the design process is the important thing. Teams help each other and members develop friendships and camaraderie throughout the competition.

Penn State York students, faculty, and staff will work as volunteers during the competition filling a variety of roles from judges to field tech advisors, scorekeepers, software inspectors, and more. Throughout the competition teams are judged on their sportsmanship, performance of their robots, completion of tasks, following the rules, and a variety of other criteria. Students in grades 7-12 take part in the competition.

Marshall F. Coyle, associate professor of engineering at Penn State York, is the volunteer coordinator for the event, and has worked to fill the many positions necessary to make the competition possible.

“I am really excited about the FTC event! We had an outstanding event last year and our campus is a great place to have one of the qualifiers. Penn State York students, faculty, and staff have really stepped-up to help,” said Coyle.

Teams registered for the Penn State York FTC including their team name school or organization, and city and state are: Ozone, Oxford Robotics Club, Oxford, Pa.; Steel Hornet, Emmaus High School, Emmaus, Pa.; RoboWorks, Phoenixville Area Schools Phoenixville, Pa.; Craftsmen, Boy Scout Troop 793, Ellicott City, Md.; SciBots, SciTech High School, Harrisburg, Pa.; SciBots II, SciTech High School, Harrisburg, Pa.; Minds in Gear, Minds in Gear Robotics, Phoenixville, Pa;. MASH, Friends of 401, West Vincent Township, Pa.; Dynamic Robotics, Chester County Homeschool Robotics Club, St. Peters, Pa.; Ozone 2 Oxford Robotics Club, Oxford, Pa.; Blitzerbots, Blitzerbots, Elizabethtown, Pa.; Nano Gurus Nano Gurus, Morris Plains, N.Y.; Decepticons, Centers for Arts and Technology Pickering, Phoenixville, Pa.; YSATM/Trojan Horse, York Suburban High School, York, Pa.; Smokin’ Motors, Conrad Weiser High School, Robesonia, Pa.; Robo Warriers, Mifflin County High School and JC Penny, Lewistown, Pa.; Minnie MASH, Friends of 401,West Vincent Township, Pa.; LANLords, Lancaster FTC, Millersville, Pa.; Imagine It, Imagine It Robotics, Palmyra, Pa.; SDP, Central High School, Philadelphia, Pa.; PRO, Corning Incorporated, Corning, N.Y.; The Game, Pope John Robotics, Sparta, N.J.; Fatal Error, Pope John Robotics, Sparta, N.J.; and Breaking Chains, Pope John Robotics, Sparta, N.J.

For more information on FIRST, visit their Web site at http://www.usfirst.org/.