To order photos from Commencement, click here.

“Today is a precious moment,” Coach Dick Vermeil said to the 63 members of Penn State Brandywine’s graduating class on Friday, December 17 at the campus' fall commencement ceremony. “You must always be investing in your future.” 

A day after winter weather blanketed campus with its first layer of snow this season, members of the class of 2010 began the first day of their post-college lives with a pep talk so rousing it made friends and family want to rush the field. 

Vermeil, a football legend celebrated locally for his seven successful seasons as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, inspired the new graduates with “thoughts I used to share with my players.” Though he recognized his NFL players were “bigger, faster and make more money,” the same lessons still apply. 

“Your future, your career, belongs to you. Treat it with respect,” Vermeil advised. “Your future should not be held hostage by the things you didn’t do in the present.” He spoke about adversity, advising students to “remain positive and you will win. Never surrender your spirit to the tougher times.” 

In keeping with a campus tradition, all graduates were allowed time to give thanks after being handed their diplomas by Chancellor Sophia Wisniewska. 

Some had speeches prepared. “I believe that I am ready to embark on a future of my choosing thanks to this institution,” said Daniel Taylor, of Eddystone, who received a bachelor of arts degree in American studies. 

Others were still in shock. “Wow. Four years ago I never thought I would be standing here graduating. Wow,” said a stunned Evan Romano, of West Chester, who also now holds a B.A. degree in American studies. 

Some students had family by their side. Kennett Square resident Christopher McSweeney, who received a B.A. in communications, was joined by a grandmother who traveled all the way from Scotland. He thanked his family “who are walking across this stage with me.” 

Other families watched from afar. Gilbertsville resident Muhammad Hashmi’s family was watching from Pakistan via the campus’ live feed available online during the ceremony. Hashmi gave thanks to America for his degree because “this wouldn’t be possible anywhere else.” 

Cochranville resident Mariana Engle, who received a B.A. in letters, arts and sciences, sent her peers into the world as one. “Let’s show the world what Penn Staters are all about!” she encouraged her fellow graduates through tears after thanking her young son and husband.

Graduate Mariana Engle

Watch out “Dancing with the Stars.” Students in Penn State Brandywine’s ballroom dance class have mastered everything from the cha cha to the waltz, something they were proud to display during their end-of-semester “prom.”

Led by Instructor in Kinesiology Barb Rostick, the students dressed their best in the campus gymnasium on Thursday, Dec. 9., and showed off what they learned throughout the semester. To the sounds of Michael Jackson’s “PYT,” the “Electric Slide,” Faith Hill’s “Where are you Christmas” and many more, the 28 students partnered up for the foxtrot, cha cha, merengue, waltz, the jitterbug and electric slide.

Fifteen Penn State Brandywine athletes won All-Conference awards in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) for their performances throughout the fall semester. Coaches from all of the PSUAC schools selected these student athletes as the premier competitors in their sport. Hundreds competed, but only the best of the best were selected:

Men’s Cross Country: Anthony Petrell, First Team All-Conference

Women’s Cross Country: Steph Tracy, First Team All-Conference

Soccer: Justin Cattan, First Team All-Conference (Second Award); Gino Baro, First Team All-Conference; Mohamed Mahgoub, Second Team All-Conference; CJ Gamber, Second Team All-Conference

Tennis: Karol Wojcik, PSUAC Player of the Year, #1 Singles All-Conference, #1 Singles Tournament Champion, #1 Doubles Tournament Champion; Max Berry, #3 Singles Tournament Champion; Tom Sharp, #4 Singles All-Conference; Kevin Kelleher, #1 Doubles Tournament Champion

Women’s Volleyball: Kate Cowan, First Team All-Conference; Melanie Tyson, Second Team All-Conference; Kimi Gardiner, Honorable Mention All-Conference

The campus hosted its first-ever Penn State Brandywine Class Pride fall event to recognize and acknowledge the variety of excellent class work students perform during the fall semester on Tuesday, Nov. 30. Interesting and thoughtful research and class projects were displayed, while some students made oral presentations in the Tomezsko Classroom Building, room 103.

Two students in the Communications Arts and Science program presented 10-minute policy arguments for actions toward mitigating significant social issues. The first presenter, sophomore Katie Sheppard, who is pursuing a degree in education, addressed the issue of childhood obesity in the United States. She argued that this growing epidemic not only affects the physical and mental health of children all over the country, but also the taxpayers who have to pay for medical costs associated with the effects of obesity. Sheppard’s presentation explored the nutritional value of food served in U.S. public schools, as well as the trends in physical education and wellness classes. She proposed that the country reverse trends associated with childhood obesity through its public school system.

The second presenter, freshman Danielle Wilson, discussed the issue of decreasing educational quality in U.S. public schools. Although the No Child Left Behind Act was meant to improve the overall quality of education in U.S. public schools, she argued that the results are controversial and stated that the U.S. is in need of a national curriculum for public K-12 education. Wilson explored the various forms of national curricula implemented in other countries around the world. 

The event also featured 17 internship projects from students in the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) program, an independent research project from HDFS, three projects from students in the Information Systems and Technology program, three projects from students in the Engineering program, including nine dancing robots made out of Legos created by students in the Engineering First Year Seminar (or PSU 12), and a class research project for non-profits from students in Comm 494.

Thomas Yannuzzi, assistant professor of communications arts and sciences, and other members of the planning committee for this event and the spring Exhibition of Undergraduate Research, Enterprise, and Creative Accomplishments (EURECA) event, encouraged students to submit their projects from Brandywine Class Pride to be showcased at EURECA. Committee members include Associate Professor of Engineering Asad Azemi, Professor of English, Women’s Studies, and American Studies Phyllis Cole, Associate Professor of English Myra Goldschmidt, Associate Professor of Physics and Astrophysics Timothy Lawlor, Instructor in Chemistry and Physics Timothy Niiler, ITS Staff Assistant Theresa Walls, and Academic Affairs Staff Assistant Gail Wray.

Watch the program live by clicking here at the time of the event!

Touchdown, Penn State Brandywine class of 2010! The campus’ graduates better get their helmets and shoulder pads ready because football legend Dick Vermeil will huddle with the accomplished Nittany Lions before sending them off into the real world as this year’s commencement speaker on Friday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Commons Building Gymnasium.

Vermeil spent 15 seasons as a National Football League head coach, including seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles to kick off his NFL career. During those seasons, he engineered four playoff appearances, including a trip to Super Bowl XV as Champions of the NFC in 1980.

After his tenure with the Eagles, Vermeil began a 14-year broadcasting career, serving as an NFL and college football analyst for CBS and ABC. He went on to coach the St. Louis Rams, leading the team to its first Super Bowl victory after the ’99 season. Before retiring in 2005, Vermeil spent five seasons coaching the Kansas City Chiefs.

After returning home to the Philadelphia area, Vermeil has helped many worthy causes. Numerous Philadelphia-area organizations have benefited from his involvement, including the Mary Campbell Center, Elwyn Inc., Devereux, the Second Mile Center and the Boy Scouts of Chester County, whose golf tournament bearing Vermeil’s name annually earns $100,000 for the organization. He also is involved with People for People, Inc., a community outreach organization founded by Reverend Herbert Lusk, a former Eagles player for Vermeil.

The Vermeils now devote much of their time to Vermeil Wines, and in particular Jean Louis Vermeil Cabernet Sauvignon, in partnership with lifelong friends at OnThEdge Winery and Frediani Vineyards in the Napa Valley, Calif.

Vermeil was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, in 2007.

Vermeil and his wife have three children and 11 grandchildren.

The Journal surveyed 479 corporate recruiters whose companies last year hired 43,000 new graduates. Of those 479 recruiters, 436 ranked Penn State #1. A sample recruiter comment cited by the Journal was: “Bright, well-rounded students … with the core competencies we desire.” Read the article here.

Brandywine alumnus Aldo Magazzeni Bus ’72 introduced Pakzad by acknowledging her personal, selfless contribution toward this fight against injustice. “Being a warrior of women’s rights comes at a great price,” he told guests. “There is a tremendous price to pay, not only mental, but physical. Evil finds you in physical threats.” Pakzad struggles daily to protect her five children and stay alive as she fights a ruthless enemy to gain freedom for her people. “For there to be change, there needs to be sacrifice,” Magazzeni said.

Pakzad wanted first to share with the group the improvements made since her talk on campus last April so as not to “always bring sadness.” She spoke of progress, such as the appointment of three female ministers (there was only one before), the passage of a law criminalizing violence against women and cited increased participation by women in Parliament. She called these small steps “a sign of hope.”

However Pakzad’s concerns remain. Violence and limited government security leave the Afghan people, particularly women and children, unprotected from the Taliban and brutal violence that comes with their rule. She even took two of her own children out of school to be educated at home for fear of kidnapping. Suicide bombings are also still common.

Pakzad said the United States statement of withdrawal last year gave the Taliban renewed authority and confidence, saying they are more powerful now than ever before. “Mostly women and children are affected,” she lamented. “There are three million widows left by the three decades of war in the country.” They need to work and their children need a good education to survive.

But things weren’t always this way. Pakzad said her own mother experienced freedom and many of the rights women in America are privy to. “People think [the violence] is Afghanistan’s problem and the culture,” she said. “They think it’s the religion of the Afghan people. It’s not. It’s the culture of war.”

Paul Greene, associate professor of integrative arts, asked Pakzad, “What can we do at Penn State?”

“I believe woman can change the world,” she answered. To make that happen, Pakzad said she is working with Penn State Brandywine Chancellor Sophia Wisniewska to create a curriculum to formally educate her people and plans to submit an application to Parliament. She told Greene she will need books and even teachers willing to travel to India when the time comes to help train educators.

Pakzad ended her moving talk with words of encouragement and credited the hard work of strong American leaders and women for the equal rights that define the country. “I can promise you I am not going to give up. We keep fighting because we believe in freedom. We need you to raise your voices here,” she pleaded.

Monday - Wednesday:  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday:  Closed
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Website:  http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/brandywine/hours.html

The aroma of egg rolls, fried rice and sauerkraut wafted through the halls of Penn State Brandywine’s Tomezsko Classroom Building as nearly 200 students mingled with their peers of different ethnicities in honor of Multicultural Day, hosted by the Office of Student Affairs.

As the sounds of Top 40 music videos and songs inspired by other nations, including a video for an Indian version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” echoed through the lounge, students enjoyed the food of other cultures and socialized.

Freshman Brittany Wood said, “I think it’s cool to see everybody together and not segregated.” She was particularly fond of the Indian food, which included vegetable samosa and basmati rice.

Students enjoyed food from many nations, including sushi, plantains, stuffed shells, macaroni and cheese, turkey with gravy, spring rolls, Italian wedding soup, Jewish apple cake and even kielbasa and sauerkraut. A significant amount of food came from Da Shin Chinese restaurant in Media, D & H Jamaican Cuisine in Newark, Del., and Shere-E Punjab Indian restaurant in Media.

Junior Sahirra Dessesso was excited to be part of an event that promoted diversity. “I think the event is great!” she said enthusiastically, agreeing with her classmates that the food was the best part. As a member of the campus’ Multicultural Club, she is working on ways to “get more students from different races to attend” the campus through activities and social networking sites like Facebook.

Sophomore Amarjeet Singh, who stood out among the crowd as the jokester with reindeer antlers on his head, said he loved the sushi and Indian food, but thinks in the future the event should feature more Indian music. His friend and fellow sophomore Sunny Basra agreed and said, “The food and music are the best part and you get to experiences all the different cultures” found on campus.

Genres will include general fiction, romance, kids/easy read science fiction, religion, sports, western, cooking, murder mystery, suspense/thriller, antiques,
craft/home design, child care, non-fiction, biography, Readers Digest condensed books, historical fiction/nonfiction and movies.

For more information, please contact GSA President Rob Ewing at rte5016@psu.edu.

Among 1950s style doo-wop music, scattered clues and a fireside crime scene complete with caution tape and a body outline, guests gathered to celebrate Professor Emerita of History Priscilla Clement’s first published novel, Blood on the Path, by attempting to solve a mock murder mystery, “Death at the Dinner Table,” on Thursday, Nov. 11.

“After a life as an historian, trying to stick to the ‘truth’ as much as possible … I craved the freedom to create my own story and make up the facts myself!” Clement said of fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing a novel, which was published by Eagles Mere Museum.

She explained her longtime connection to the town in which the story is set—Eagles Mere, Pa., where she and her family have vacationed since the 1970s—and thanked those in the audience who helped her along the way.Before a crowd of more than 50 students, faculty, staff and community members, Clement introduced the cast of characters and set the scene of the crime, which took place in a fictional Pennsylvania town in the same time period as Blood on the Path—the 1950s—and featured five students as its cast of actors in the Commons Building Lion’s Den.

The dysfunctional “Johnson Family,” played by sophomore Chris Brown, senior Lauren Jerla, junior Sara Neville, and senior Cliff Welby, who also wrote the plot and created the characters, were under investigation for this Thanksgiving Day murder by an accusing sheriff, played by freshman Morgan McDonald. Their improvisation captivated guests who couldn’t hide their excitement and laughter.

Guests were questioned about their own alibies and interrogated the players on their whereabouts and motives to solve the crime, while enjoying complimentary murderous meatballs, cyanide sandwiches, sinister sesame chicken skewers and lemon-we won’t come to your-ade, among other deadly treats.

“The setting was perfect, the crime scene was very realistic, the food was delicious (even with its threatening titles) and the student actors did an excellent job portraying their various roles,” Clement raved after the event in her honor. “All my friends from ‘my life outside the campus’ truly enjoyed themselves. I was honored that PSU wanted to do this for me, and I loved the theme of mystery and the students acting out the parts in ‘Death at the Dinner Table.’”

Jerla, who played Jessica Johnson, the sister of the deceased, was thrilled to join the fun. “It was exciting to act as a character from the story and answer the guests' questions as they tried to solve the mystery. I thought we had a great turnout and everyone seemed eager to actively take part in the event.”

The recently formed Penn State Brandywine Veterans Club hosted a Veterans Day celebration open to all members of the campus in honor of the national holiday on November 11 in the Tomezsko Classroom Building Lounge.

A special guest at the celebration was campus founder and CEO John Vairo, who served as a naval officer during World War II and welcomed everyone to the event. The festivities began with a panel of veterans representing the campus and local community who described their service in the Armed Forces. Participants related their Veterans Day remembrances and the importance this day holds for each of them. The panel included veterans from the last five decades; their tours of duty spanned from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan.

A common theme of “service to country” emerged and was present in each veteran’s story as Veterans Day is a celebration of service and gives all Americans the chance to thank the country’s “Citizen Soldiers.” 

The enthusiastic crowd of more than 80 people applauded each and every one of the participants. A meet and greet combined with a lunch followed the panel discussion. The following members of the Veterans Club worked together to plan the event: junior Daniel DiNardis, freshman Steven Kan, freshman Richard McCash, senior Romana Frederick, freshman Kristin Collins and senior David Vesely. Student Government Association members sophomore Bobbi Caprice and junior Stephanie Tracy also helped plan the event.

The following departments on campus gave their support for this event: Computer Services, Counseling, Athletics, Admissions, Student Affairs, the Financial Aid Office, University Relations and the Student Government Association (SGA).

Those interested in joining the new Veterans Club can contact Steven Kan at sik5234@psu.edu.

On Tuesday, Nov. 9, Associate Professor of Biology Elizabeth Dudkin will present “Diagnosis is Cancer: Now What?” as part of the Common Read Lecture series devoted to this book. The lecture, free and open to the public, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Tomezsko Classroom Building, Room 103.

Dudkin will describe the characteristics of normal cells and cancer cells and discuss various modes of treatment for cancer, including several new treatments that have the potential to be more effective in combating the disease. She will also comment on the lasting impact HeLa cells have had on cancer research.

Ralph Parks Named Woodcarver of the Year

Ralph Parks took an interest in woodcarving at an early age, helping out in his father’s shop housed in the family’s garage in Kansas City, Mo. Many years later, this talented craftsman is being honored for his skill as Woodcarver of the Year, a title bestowed upon one talented carver each year by the William Rush Woodcarving Club.

Parks focuses his skill on carving songbirds, full-size and miniature versions, many of which will be for sale during the 27th Annual William Rush Woodcarving and Wildlife Art Show and Sale on Saturday, Nov. 6 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) in the Penn State Brandywine Commons Building Gymnasium.

The event, which Parks attends each year, not just as a woodcarver but also as photographer, will offer door prizes every hour, demonstrations and books, tools, and supplies for sale, in addition to works sold by the carvers. The price of admission is a $4 donation benefiting the Penn State Brandywine Scholarship Fund. Children aged 12 and under are free.

Parks served in the Navy during World War II as executive officer on a landing craft tank in the invasion of the Philippines and later as engineering officer of the YFD 64, a floating drydock in Samar, Philippines.

After the war, he completed his engineering degree at the University of Missouri and joined Westinghouse Electric Corp. Parks rekindled his love of woodcarving after retiring in 1982, at which point he enrolled in courses at the Tyler Arboretum. His wife of 60 years, Jean, encouraged his hobby and helps with his table at the Art Show every year.

For more information on the Art Show at Penn State Brandywine, contact Al Bailey at 610-494-2781.

“I feel undergraduate research lends more to real-world experience than any classroom setting can provide,” said junior Brooke Ballard, who was among those invited. “It enables students to truly take ownership of an idea, and through guided leadership, produce innovative and creative ideas that may be used to better our society as a whole. It teaches students they truly are capable of anything with hard work and by partnering with knowledgeable faculty.”

The students were invited by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), a national organization that supports and promotes high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship, in conjunction with the House Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Caucus. 

“I can't emphasize what an amazing experience this was, for myself and the students,” said Laura Guertin, honors coordinator, a huge supporter of undergraduate research and associate professor of earth science. “It was an honor to attend and to have Penn State Brandywine represented in a room focused on discussing outstanding undergraduate research models and programs.”

Guertin said the campus is gaining increasing national recognition for encouraging its students to engage in undergraduate research during their first two years.

“Our presence there was certainly noted by the Congressional staffers and interns that packed the room,” she said of the more than 60 attendees, which made for a standing room only event. “It was appropriate for us to be there,” as the speakers focused on initiatives for which the campus is already dedicated: interdisciplinary undergraduate research, getting students started with undergraduate research early in their undergraduate careers and creating a synergy between teaching and research for faculty and students to create innovation.

“I felt very honored [to be invited] and thought that the invitation said a lot about the prestige of the honors program at Penn State Brandywine,” Ballard said. “The event was truly inspirational. I think part of the reason we were invited was because [Penn State] Brandywine provides an innovative model for other institutions to follow when it comes to research at the undergraduate level.”

Left to right: Zanya Stephenson, Alex Harvey, Sara Neville, Benjamin Bean, Lavanya Mookerjee, Brooke  Ballard

Ballard (current research: Phone Philanthropy: A Mobile Giving Plan for Nonprofits) was joined at the Congressional Briefing by senior letters, arts and science major Benjamin Bean (current research: Rastafarian Views on Participation of Whites in Reggae Music); junior information science and technology major Alex Harvey (current research: Keeping History Alive: Preserving Brandywine Battlefield through Technology); freshman English and bachelor of philosophy double major Lavanya Mookerjee (current research: Visualizing the Link Between Humanity and Nature in American and British Literature through Google Earth); junior bachelor of philosophy major (concentrating in Educational Technology) Sara Neville (current research: Identifying Global Ethical Issues: A Case-Based Exercise for Introductory-Level Engineering Design Courses) and sophomore sociology major Zanya Stephenson (current research: A Merge Between Jamaican and U.S. Curricula that will Ensure No Child Gets Left Behind).

“Undergraduate research gives students an outlet to make a difference,” Guertin recalled hearing speaker Paul Edmiston, associate professor of chemistry at The College of Wooster, say at the briefing. Guertin couldn’t have agreed more.

“As a future teacher, I am deeply invested in the health and well-being of today's children. To hear that an elementary school in our very own neighborhood wasn't getting any fresh produce at school was hard to hear, so I immediately got involved,” said Sara Neville, organizer of the fundraiser named “Planting a Seed.” Taggart Elementary is a public school in South Philadelphia with approximately 400 students, 82.7 percent of whom are classified as economically disadvantaged, according to the Philadelphia School District.

Honors adviser and Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies Jennifer Zosh said the students’ passion and enthusiasm to ensure that healthy food is available to children was the driving force behind the fundraiser.

Left to right: Lavanya Mookerjee, Eileen Fresta, Judy Fan, Marguy Beckley-Gray, Sara Neville, Brooke Ballard

In addition to fundraising with fresh apples that were generously donated by Giant Food Store and Wolff's Apple House, both located in Delaware County, the honors students, dressed in their red embroidered shirts and hats in the shape of apples, added to the festivities of Penn State Day by providing supporters with paper apple cutouts, which were personalized and hung on a homemade apple tree.

“This is just one example of the power of Brandywine's students to truly make a difference, and I am excited to see what they come up with next,” Zosh said.  

On Monday, October 18, NCSL named SGA the “Group of the Week” for its initiative, called Cinq, meaning “five” in Creole, the language used by most Haitians, because the students asked community members to donate a mere five dollars each, in addition to other basic needs. SGA collaborated with the campus’ student-run Society of Caribbean Americans (SOCA) and raised more than $400 and collected bags of clothing, household items and baby supplies, which were sent directly to Haiti.

“The president of SOCA (then Kelly-Ann Woods) and I are Caribbean and we wanted to help because something like this could have easily happened to one of our islands,” then SGA President Brittney Walker, a Jamaican national, said at the time. “We would want others to help our families and fellow islanders.”

NCSL provides leadership development for college students and their advisors through online training, certification and conferences. Each week the organization recognizes student groups from colleges and universities across the nation for outstanding campus leadership.

Given the alarming surge of suicides, hate crimes and other forms of discrimination in the news recently, bringing the subject to the forefront was timely and educational.

The campus’ response to “Turn Penn State Purple,” was overwhelming, according to Matthew Shupp, director of student affairs.

“I was thrilled to see the number of people across campus embrace the campaign and wear purple,” he said. “This event transcended sexual identity, race, culture and customs. For me, the day was to celebrate people, to show that we need to celebrate people rather than tear each other down.”

Deborah Erie, director of enrollment management and GSA adviser, added, “We had Penn Staters in Italy, Japan and England who committed to wearing purple. The Facebook page (created for the event) had almost 1,500 members.”

In addition to this event, the campus recognized National Coming Out Day on October 11, with “That’s so Gay,” a discussion of the hurtful and lasting impact certain words can have when used as slurs. Students, faculty and staff gathered in the Lion’s Den to share personal stories of experiencing hateful taunts or observing others exhibiting that kind of insensitivity.

Finally, nearly 40 students attended diversity workshops held on October 20 and 21. On the first day, four Brandywine faculty members presented perspectives from their areas of expertise on the issue of diversity. Michael Madden, instructor in Health and Human Development, was the moderator and spoke about diversity from a psychological and social perspective; Paul Greene, associate professor of ethnomusicology, addressed the issue from an anthropological viewpoint; Karrie Bowen, instructor in communications, spoke from a mass media point of view and Julie Gallagher, assistant professor of history, presented the historical perspective.

On the second day, students met together to talk further about what had been presented and share their own experiences and ideas. The campus’ multicultural club as well as GSA sponsored the workshops.

 
 “In conjunction with the Office of Student Affairs, the GSA has raised awareness of LGBT issues and has worked to provide an environment on campus that is welcoming to LGBT students, faculty and staff,” Erie said. “As the group’s adviser, I am very proud of this small group of students that has been able to achieve big results.”

Sophomore Rob Ewing, president of GSA, said the efforts to raise awareness this month could have a lasting effect. “No matter what campus you attend, Penn State is an honorable name which a student should feel proud of. Likewise, a student identifying as LGBT should be able to feel proud of who they are, especially while on campus,” he said.  “It is through programs like these that this can be achieved, and acceptance can be gained. It is my hope that programs like this will not only serve as an example, but also will one day connect and improve communication between the LGBT organizations across the Penn State campuses.”

Shupp added, “LGBT awareness has always been important. However, it seems to have taken on greater importance with the most recent deaths of LGBT persons across the country. Hate is a learned behavior, and it can be unlearned if we simply take the time to embrace all individuals and celebrate each person’s uniqueness.”

The GSA is also planning its second semi-annual used book sale of more than 10,000 titles November 20-22. This is the club's primary fundraiser to support these special programs on campus. For more information, contact Deb Erie at dje4@psu.edu.

The Brandywine Awards Committee requests student and faculty nominations for the Madlyn L. Hanes Faculty Award, the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award, the Part-time Teacher of the Year Award, the George W. Franz Advising and Mentoring Award, and the Faculty Research Program Award.  Please use the links below to submit your nominee for each award.  In the text box that appears for each, please identify your nominee, indicate clearly in your statement of nomination why the nominee deserves the award and provide evidence to support your nomination.  Please note that the deadline for nominations is February 25, 2011. The awards will be presented at the Academic Recognition Ceremony on April 7,  2011.

Madlyn L. Hanes Faculty

http://www.bw.psu.edu/academics/hanesaward.htm

Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award

http://www.bw.psu.edu/Academics/distinguishedteacher.htm

Part-Time Teacher of the Year Award

http://www.bw.psu.edu/Academics/parttimeteacheraward.htm

George W. Franz Advising and Mentoring Award

http://www.bw.psu.edu/academics/franzaward.htm

Faculty Research Program Award

http://www.bw.psu.edu/Academics/facultyresearchaward.htm

Undergraduate Faculty Research Award

http://www.bw.psu.edu/academics/undergradfacultyresearchaward.htm

The event, hosted by the nonprofit organization Play for Tomorrow, was dedicated to educating families about how children are in fact learning important skills while they play. During the day of fun, children engaged in interactive games, like Simon Says and Hide-and-seek, built structures, explored forts, interpreted clues, played the drums and sang, while Zosh used her research and experience to explain the importance of these activities to their parents. Her goal was to prove the value of playtime.

“Translating academic research into every language for parents is crucial in informing them about the science behind play,” she said. “These games develop the 6 C’s: collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence in today’s kids.”

Zosh served on the Ultimate Block Party Advisory Committee, coordinating the event and helping write and edit My Playbook, a guide to the day’s activities, which was distributed to each family in attendance.

Zosh, assistant professor of human development and family studies, had good company with experts from a variety of academic and professional fields, including architects, engineers, artists, authors, scientists and musicians, not to mention celebrities, like event Special Spokesperson Mariska Hargitay, who brought along her son and husband for the day of fun and learning.

{Jennifer Zosh, of Glen Mills, assistant professor of human development and family studies at Penn State Brandywine, was invited as an expert in her field to educate 50,000 parents and their children about the importance of play in child learning at the Ultimate Block Party in New York City's Central Park on October 3.)

Even after the Ultimate Block Party, Zosh continues to educate the community as a guest blogger on the event’s website (http://www.ultimateblockparty.org/blog.html). “Learning isn’t about flashcards and facts, but it is about active play and exploration—the science is clear!” she posted. In another post she explains the benefits: “When children engage in the world around them, they explore properties of objects, discover new ideas, and practice skills—which simultaneously activates a variety of brain regions!”

Zosh has big plans for the future of infant and child cognition. She hopes to make new discoveries about memory development, number knowledge and language at Brandywine by inviting parent volunteers to bring their children for a day of play at the campus’ new Infant and Children Cognition Center (ICCC), which is slated to open in January 2011.

Both events are sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA). The pep rally will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15 in the campus gymnasium, located in the Commons Building. Director of Athletics Jim Gastner will kick off the program by introducing members of the campus’ varsity athletic teams, and the Brandywine cheerleaders will perform. Vendor-style food--hot dogs, popcorn, water ice and drinks--will be available at no charge.

Students entering the gym will pick a raffle ticket. Three lucky students will be selected to participate in the Brandywine version of “Let’s Make a Deal,” and have a chance to win prizes. Students can also participate in three games--a football toss, putting green competition and a hockey simulation. Candy will be awarded to the winners.

To cap off a fun Penn State Day on Saturday, Oct. 16, the students will hold a Homecoming Dance from 7:00 to 11:30 p.m. in the Lion’s Pit cafeteria, also located in the Commons Building. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door, and can be purchased in the SGA office/club room on the second floor of the Commons Building. The dance is open to the Penn State community and the public. The Nittany Lion will do double duty, providing entertainment both as the campus mascot as well as a disc jockey. Students entering the facility will have an opportunity to have their photos taken in front of the Penn State Brandywine backdrop. Food will be provided by Chick-fil-A.

SGA Events Coordinator Kristy Crystle said, “Our goal is 100 students, and we hope everyone will come out for a great event.” For more information about the pep rally or the dance, contact Crystle at klc273@psu.edu.

Penn State’s 2010 Laureate Robin Becker will share some of her work during a public reading at Penn State Brandywine at 11:30 a.m. and again at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the Tomezsko Classroom Building Lounge.

Becker, liberal arts research professor of English at University Park, is the author of seven books of poetry, including her latest work, Domain of Perfect Affection. The book explores the conditions under which people experience and resist pleasure, according to University of Pittsburgh Press, which published the collection in 2006.

During her visit, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of the poet and speak with her directly.

Becker has received fellowships from the Bunting Institute at Harvard, the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.  She writes a column on poetry, titled “Field Notes,” and serves as poetry editor for The Women’s Review of Books. Her poetry has received national recognition, appearing in O: The Oprah Magazine and The American Poetry Review, among many others.

For more information on Becker’s visit to campus, contact Adam Sorkin at 610-892-1444 or ajs2@psu.edu.

The event, sponsored by the Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Alumni Society, will feature more than 12 speakers, selected because of their expertise in specific disciplines and ability to trigger conversation and inspire action. Using a blend of live talks and pre-recorded videos, TEDxPSU (TED stands for technology, entertainment, and design) will bring together the University community and kick off a dialogue about the challenges and opportunities facing society.

During breaks in the University Park event, the Brandywine campus will host discussions, both face-to-face and with other campuses via Twitter and YouTube.

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, inviting the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx, local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

Lunch will be provided at the watch party and interested attendees should register by Wednesday, Oct. 6, at http://brandywine.psu.edu/Information/Community/TEDregistration.htm. For more information, contact Laura Guertin at uxg3@psu.edu, Nannette D’Imperio at nxd13@psu.edu, or Gordon Crompton at gxc21@psu.edu.

Hoi Michael Cheung motivating his boat mates, with the Philadelphia skyline in the background

The team has been practicing hard, both on the river and off. On several occasions, the campus gymnasium was booming with energy as the ‘Oaring Lions stroked the air with tennis rackets to perfect their form as synchronicity is said to be far more important than strength in a dragon boat race.

On race day, which begins at 8 a.m. and will last well into the afternoon, as more than 150 teams race in different heats, the ‘Oaring Lions can be found in two Penn State Brandywine tents, numbers 132 and 133, where supporters can meet up to cheer, enjoy the festival, hang with the Nittany Lion and dig in on some light grub and refreshments provided by the campus. For those decked out in their best Penn State gear, the ‘Oaring Lions will award small prizes.

The dragon boat, whose design originated in ancient China, earned its name from the decorative regalia in the form of a dragonhead and tail found in the front and rear of the slender boat. As a prominent sport in Hong Kong, it’s only fitting that the drummer for the Penn State Brandywine ‘Oaring Lions grew up watching the races in his native city.

“The races were in the river right next to the building where we lived,” Hoi Michael Cheung, network systems specialist in the campus’ Information Technology Services Office, said. “They actually broadcast them so it was fun to watch the races on TV and look out the window and see the same thing.” But those races were more professional than the Philadelphia competition and Cheung had no shot at a future in dragon boat racing. “People are very serious about it” in Hong Kong.
While he’s “pretty excited” to finally have a chance to compete in the sport he loved as a child, Cheung said knowing what’s involved in paddling made him choose the drummer’s position. “The drummer requires the least effort. I don’t need to paddle or anything,” he laughed. It looks like Cheung won’t provide any muscle, but he’s sure to bring some of that ancient spirit to help the ‘Oaring Lions reach gold.

For more information, contact Risa Pitman at 610-892-1255 or rlp29@psu.edu.

In his new book, Elemental Philosophy: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water as Environmental Ideas, David Macauley, associate professor of philosophy and environmental studies, examines the philosophical ideas and environmental issues associated with classical conceptions of the four elements. He explores ways of comprehending and responding to ecological problems, while tracing changing views of earth, air, fire and water through the history of ideas. In doing so, he generates a new vocabulary for and fresh vision of the environment with reflections upon stone, wood, snow and ice, clouds, light and shadows, heat and cold, space, and night.

Art has been called a window into a person’s soul; an experience that invokes strong emotions and empathy toward the ideas and vision of the artist. Thanks to Sandra Lawrence, instructor in Spanish, the Penn State Brandywine community will experience fine art on campus. From Tuesday, Sept. 28, until Friday, Oct.1, students, faculty, staff and the community will be given the opportunity to admire the art of famous Costa Rican painter, Hugo Sanchez-Bonilla, first-hand at his “Aves” (meaning “birds”) art exhibit in the Tomezsko Classroom Building Lounge. An opening reception will take place on Tuesday, Sept 28 from 5 to 8 p.m.

As a former instructor at the University of Central America and winner of multiple art awards, including the Costa Rican government’s “The Best of the Year Award,” Sanchez-Bonilla will provide through his work a unique opportunity to learn about art with international influence.

According to Lawrence, the exhibit “will enhance the art curriculum of the University by providing students, staff, administrators and community members an opportunity to learn and appreciate the art of other cultures.” This exhibit is free and open to the public.

Please contact Sandra Lawrence at SML13@psu.edu for more information.

Approximately 130 colleges and universities from across the country will be on hand to give information and answer questions to high school students and their families. The fair, organized by Penn State Brandywine and guidance counselors from local high schools, is free and no pre-registration is needed. For more information, call 610-892-1200.

Directions to the campus

The $15,000 grant will allow the campus to expand its counseling and health services to respond to this need.

“Unfortunately, underage drinking and excessive alcohol consumption are still prevalent on college campuses. Penn State Brandywine is no different,” said Matthew Shupp, director of student affairs at the Brandywine campus. “These funds will have a direct impact on the counseling and health services we are able to provide to students facing such issues. We are extremely grateful to the PCLB for the opportunity.”

Since 1999, the PLCB has awarded more than $4.5 million in grants to 246 organizations to fund prevention programs focused on underage alcohol consumption, as well as initiatives supporting under-age drinking law-enforcement investigations.

The grant from Verizon will assist honors scholars with the purchase of research literacy books.  The students will engage in discussions about the books’ social and cultural issues and interact on the Literary Launch blog. All junior honors scholars are required to conduct thesis work based on additional books that must be purchased.

The ‘Check Into Literacy’ initiative allows Verizon’s landline telephone customers to indicate on their monthly phone bills that they wish to make a $1.00 tax-deductable donation to promote literacy. Verizon distributes these donations to local literacy groups, including public libraries, school districts and universities.

“A dollar a month may not seem like much, but it can go a long way toward improving literacy skills in local communities and giving people the opportunity to succeed,” said Douglas R. Smith, vice president of external affairs, Verizon Pennsylvania. “We are delighted that Penn State Brandywine will benefit by the generosity of our customers.”

Left to right: Adrienne Showalter '09, honors student Sara Neville, Laura Guertin and Douglas Smith

The Penn State Brandywine program was designed by honors students themselves as a springboard to launch group conversation and learning. Having had a requirement to read one book per year, the students requested that an additional book be added. 

Laura Guertin, associate professor of earth sciences and campus Schreyer Honors College coordinator said, “Providing textbooks to our honors students will enhance our learning environment and we are grateful to Verizon for providing this support.”hono

On Friday, September 17, the campus will erect two structures, or blocks --  publicly placed artwork that doubles as a venue for members of the campus community to express in writing their opinions on two questions drawn from contemporary First- and Second-Amendment controversies:

• Is intolerance of the "9/11 mosque" fundamentally un-American?
• Can the right to carry a gun be balanced with public safety?

The exhibits will be up all day. A rain date is scheduled for Monday, September 20. The locations will be in back of the Main Building, on the grassy area across from picnic tables; and the grassy area between Tomezsko Classroom Building and Vairo Library.

To read more about the "writer's blocks," click here.

Eagles Mere, Pa. sets the scene of a new, spine-tingling murder mystery novel by Priscilla F. Clement, of Wallingford, professor emerita of history and women's studies at Penn State Brandywine.

Blood on the Path, published by Eagles Mere Museum, is the gripping tale of the 1959 unsolved disappearance of a teenage girl, that is, until her niece sets her sights on the truth years later. Her quest to solve the mystery takes her on a dark path from historic Eagles Mere to Media, Philadelphia and even New York City.

“Clement rekindles fond memories for anyone who has visited this quaint mountain village,” Penn State Brandywine Head Librarian Sara Whildin writes on the novel’s back cover. Clement, who has visited the small town with her family every summer since 1970, uses her intimate knowledge to bring new life to the town’s Victorian charm—“the inn, the village green, the ice cream parlor and that treacherous path around the lake.”

Writing a fictional novel has always been a dream for Clement and her family. “My kids have wanted me to write a novel for years,” she remembered. “When I started thinking about writing a book I knew I wanted to connect to the past. I love mystery fiction.”

During the nearly 40 years that she taught at Penn State Brandywine, Clement received three teaching awards. She is the author of numerous articles and several books on various aspects of the history of children and of welfare and poverty in the United States. Blood on the Path is her first novel.

The cost is $125 per golfer or $500 per foursome. Registration begins at noon and golfers may begin playing at 1 p.m. A banquet following the round of golf will include prizes for the top three teams and a silent auction, featuring Penn State football tickets, Philadelphia Flyers club box tickets, Philadelphia Eagles tickets, golf clubs, autographed Philadelphia sports memorabilia and more.

All proceeds that exceed the cost of the team’s trip to spring training will fund a portable fence for its existing field on campus. To register, contact Head Baseball Coach Thomas Calvecchio at TMC241@psu.edu or visit >click here  for more information.

Each and every scarf will be given to the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County.

As a result of the passion and enthusiasm for the project, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences Laura Guertin and Student Affairs Specialist Diane Shorter worked together to officially establish a local chapter of Handmade Especially For You. “Knittany Lion Needleworks is now serving as the leader of the Delaware County Chapter,” Guertin said. “We’re thrilled to be able to reach out and connect with our local community.”

The theme of the campus’ running program is to develop a lifelong understanding of the sport through play, education, work, development, relaxation, recovery and fun. And to accomplish this, the campus hired Kevin Kelly to lead the team as head coach.

Kelly began his coaching career in 1973 and has coached cross country and track and field at the high school level for more than 30 years. He coached at the collegiate level at the University of Florida from 1986 to 1988 and the University of Delaware from 1997 to 1999. Kelly has trained two national champions, three Olympians and eight All-Americans during his tenure and received honors on the local, state and national levels.
Kelly said he believes the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland corridor has some of the best distance runners in the United States and hopes to keep some of them close to home as part of the Penn State Brandywine team.

Jeffrey Herb joins the Lions as head coach of the new golf team. With an impressive background that includes turning pro in 2001 and four months on the NGA Hooters Tour, Herb is ready and willing to take the reins of the campus’ budding new team. Having coached for more than eight years and being the first assistant professional at Edgmont Country Club, he said he is looking forward to expanding his career to the collegiate level.

For more information on Penn State Brandywine Athletics, contact Jim Gastner, at 610-892-1331 or JLG257@psu.edu.

Henrietta Lacks, a poor, southern tobacco farmer,  is known throughout the medical world for changing the course of science. Only, she’ll never know. Arthur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics at University of Pennsylvania, will discuss how Lacks' cancer-stricken cells, taken without her knowledge, became an important medical tool during his talk “Bioethics and Henrietta Lacks” at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, September 16, in the Tomezsko Classroom Building Lounge at Penn State Brandywine.

Though she has been dead for more than 60 years, Lacks’ cells, known as “HeLa cells,” remain alive today—duplicated and grown in culture. These cells were vital in developing the polio vaccine and helped unlock clues to understanding cancer, viruses and the atom.

Caplan's talk is the first in a yearlong series of programs and events relating to the campus' Common Read Program, which encourages the campus community to read a book chosen at the beginning of the year and then explore it in a variety of ways. This year’s common read is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

Caplan is widely known for his research on transplantation research ethics, genetics, reproductive technologies, health policy and general bioethics. He has a regular column titled “Breaking Bioethics” on MSNBC.com and has published dozens of books on his research.

For more information, contact Patricia Hillen at 610-892-1372 or pah14@psu.edu. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Upcoming Events:
"Diagnosis is Cancer: Now What"
"What Henrietta Lacks Could Have Done as a Penn State Employee"

Penn State has become known as one of the national leaders in sustainability. The efforts of the University has had a huge impact on the campuses and has served as models for other universities. On March 3, 2010, the first Leading the Green Challenge Conference was held at University Park. Over 250 people attended and the results from this conference not only benefited the environment but also helped to reduce operating costs for the University. 

Penn State University faculty and staff now have an opportunity to attend a one-day conference to find out how they can play a role in Penn State's sustainability efforts. The 2010 Leading the Green Challenge Conference will be held on Monday, November 8 at Penn State Great Valley. By attending this sessions, faculty & staff will learn how they can play a part in promoting sustainability in their area.

More information on the 2010 Leading the Green Challenge Conference can be found by clicking here.

Register for the Great Valley conference.
Monday, November 8

For additional information contact:
Human Resource Development Center; Rick Capozzi, 814.865.2753, rac23@psu.edu 
Campus Sustainability Office; Erik Foley, 814.865.2714, ebf3@psu.edu
Penn State Harrisburg; Barbara Hundertmark, 717.948.6004, bch5@psu.edu 
Penn State Great Valley; Carole Brush, 610.648.3347, cjb@psu.edu

Penn State Brandywine
Commons/Athletic Building
25 Yearsley Mill Road  - Route 352 (enter at Campus Drive traffic light)
Media, Pa. 19063

Click here for more information.

In today’s marketplace, most people start their search for products and services on the Internet. The question is: how do business owners ensure that these individuals find their businesses? The unfortunate reality is that most small businesses fail on the Internet because owners make the fatal mistake of focusing on making money rather than building a relationship with visitors.

This free seminar will help current online business owners and those hoping to break into the online realm learn how to successfully start up or move an existing business into the online environment.

Attendees will learn how to avoid the pitfalls of building a site that doesn’t attract visitors and how to get their business onto the first page of a Google search result, without having any programming skills.

The seminar will discuss the three biggest online dangers; how to get links; paid traffic, such as pay per click campaigns; social media and more, and answer the following questions: What works online? What makes good content? How do I get traffic? What is preselling? What are ways to presell? Who’s linking to my site?

The seminar will be led by successful Web entrepreneur and instructor Cynthia McGeever, who launched the site http://www.top-sales-jobs.com in 2005. For those interested in learning even more about online businesses after the seminar, the campus is offering “Building a Successful Business Using the Internet,” a course beginning October 6.

Seating for the seminar is limited. To register, contact Alan Zawacki at 610-892-1306 or raz1@psu.edu. For more information on the free seminar, click here. For information on other Continuing Education offerings, click here.

A group of honors students are rallying the campus and community to help them collect at least 250 boxes of macaroni and cheese for Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization, in an initiative they're calling “Mac Attack.”

The food drive, which was initiated by eight students in the Penn State Brandywine Honors Program, will run from August 23 to September 3, during the first two weeks of classes.

Mac and cheese drop off locations will be located in the Vairo Library, the student affairs office located on the second floor of the Commons Building, the campus bookstore in the Main Building and the lobby of the Tomezsko Classroom Building.

Laura Guertin, associate professor of Earth science and coordinator for the campus’ honors program, is calling the eight drive planners the “Mac and Cheese Crusaders.”

“I'm so proud that they are taking time this summer to organize a service project,” she said. “What a great way to begin the academic year. Not only is leadership and civic engagement part of the honors mission, but this food drive fulfills Penn State's land-grant mission of reaching out to the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

At 12:30 p.m. on the final day of the drive, Friday, Sept. 3, the students will create a “canstruction” sculpture out of the donated boxes of macaroni before sending it off to Philabundance. A canstructure is a sculpture made out of all canned goods, an idea created by Canstruction, Inc., a foundation of the Society for Design Administration that holds competitions nationwide challenging engineers, architects and students to construct designs made out of canned goods. Canstruction, Inc., donates all items from each “canstructure” to local food banks. The foundation’s Philadelphia competition chair will visit campus on Monday, Aug. 30, as part of the campus’ annual Voices of Innovation Seminar Series.

For more information on the food drive, contact Guertin at 610-892-1427. For information on Philabundance, visit http://www.philabundance.org/, or visit http://www.canstruction.org/ for information on Canstruction, Inc.

 Join fellow alumni, students, and families of Penn State at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, September 4, at 7:05 p.m. when the Phillies host the Milwaukee Brewers.

Tickets are located on the Terrace Deck (Sections 423-429) at $26 per ticket. All net proceeds from tickets sold through this group sales offer will benefit THON.

Click here to buy your tickets. The deadline for purchasing tickets has been extended to August 18.

Tickets must be purchased through the link above for proceeds to benefit THON.

Joseph Pilling and Chris Brown were two of only 25 students University-wide whose essays were featured in this journal of writing excellence. Each piece was submitted by a Penn State Brandywine faculty member and then selected from hundreds of submissions throughout the state.

Pilling’s essay, “Immaculée Ilibagiza: A True Hero,” explores the life of this 1994 Rwandan genocide survivor, written for his English 015 course. He wrote, “Today it seems that priorities are often misplaced; however, the majority of human beings understand what it truly means to be brave and tough. And Immaculée Ilibagiza is the perfect example of both qualities.” To read Pilling’s essay in its entirety, visit http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/bof/joepilling.htm online.

Brown focused on a topic frequently debated in today’s media in his essay, “In Praise of Palin,” written for his English 030 course. “Sarah Palin, that hockey mom of a vice presidential candidate, pulled out all the stops in what was one of the most brilliant and gutsy political maneuvers of our millennium,” he wrote. To read Brown’s essay in its entirety, visit http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/bof/christopherbrown.htm online.

Grill and Chill is the campus’ free outdoor barbeque open to incoming freshmen and the rest of the community--not just Penn Staters. The event will feature beach-style food, kids can play in the oversized inflatables or sit for a caricature drawing, for the young at heart there will be sand art and KISS 101.7 FM’s DJ GQ will provide a soundtrack the whole family can enjoy. And that’s not all. There will be an outdoor showing of Disney Pixar’s animated hit flick “Up” at dusk so guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for relaxing, drive-in movie style.

Meanwhile, at the Spend A Summer Evening admissions program, high school seniors and their families can learn about the admissions process and have an opportunity to tour the campus before joining the rest of the community at Grill and Chill.

For more information on Spend a Summer Evening, call 610-892-1200 or register at http://bw.psu.edu/Admissions/admevents.htm?cn112 online. For more information on Grill and Chill, call 610-892-1270.

• Read the story here.
• Learn more about the program here.

A photograph from the excursion the class uploaded onto Flicker was included in the twelfth edition of the Schmap Philadelphia Guide, http://www.schmap.com/. Schmap is an online publisher of digital travel guides. The field trip was inspired by the honors students’ upcoming fall semester theme: pandemics and epidemics. The class had a picnic among the tombstones and then strolled through the cemetery and the historic Mutter Museum during a guided tour where they learned about diseases that once plagued Philadelphia. The trip was a transition into the students’ reading of Bring Out Your Dead: the great plague of yellow fever in Philadelphia in 1793 in the fall.

Picnicking among the tombstones

Outside of the Mutter Museum from left to right: Jackie Glace, Lauren Orner, Ben Bean, Megan Henderson, Chelsea Gilliam, and Chris Brown

“The Voices of Innovation seminars have been a transformative experience for some of our students,” Guertin said. “They have opened their eyes to opportunities for them to make a difference in their local communities.”

The first seminar, on Monday, September 13 (location TBA), will feature the Philadelphia competition chair of Canstruction, Inc., a foundation of the Society for Design Administration that holds competitions nationwide challenging engineers, architects and students to construct designs made out of canned goods. The items then get donated to local food banks. Attendees will learn about how Canstruction, Inc. is involved with Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization.

In July 2008, alumna Dana Gibson, then a Penn State Brandywine senior, initiated a food drive on campus to benefit Philabundance after learning about its mission at the Voices of Innovation Seminar held during the previous fall semester.

The second and third seminars will feature two organizations dedicated to beautifying Philadelphia. SCRUB, the “Public Voice for Public Space,” an organization that works to ensure Philadelphia public spaces are healthy and beautiful for its citizens, will visit campus on Monday, September 27. The organization tries to prevent unsightly signage in both urban and suburban spaces surrounding the city and protects public parks and recreational places from closing or being taken over by big business.

The third and final seminar, on Monday, October 25, will bring to campus the executive director and founder of Urban Tree Connection, an organization that, along with its corporate partners, believes that in addition to making empty lots in socioeconomic areas more visually pleasing, they can be turned into healthy, social gathering places. With the help of youth living in the affected areas, members of the organization plant gardens and trees in these seemingly abandoned spaces.

“I try to choose organizations that people haven’t heard of before but that are here and committed to Philadelphia’s citizens and to helping make the region a better place,” Guertin said. And she hopes other students like Gibson will be inspired to pursue internships or projects with these philanthropic organizations.

This fall, honors students, under the guidance of Guertin and Associate Professor of Engineering Ivan Esparragoza, will design a “canstruction” for Philadelphia’s spring competition with the hopes that others on campus will volunteer to bring the design to life.

The goal of the Voices of Innovation Seminar Series is to both inspire and encourage members of Penn State Brandywine and its neighbors to get involved in the community. All seminars will be held in the Commons Building, room 203 at 12:30 p.m. For more information about this series, contact Laura Guertin at uxg3@psu.edu or 610-892-1427.

For more information on these organizations, visit http://www.canstruction.org/ for Canstruction, Inc., http://www.publicvoiceforpublicspace.org/ for SCRUB and http://www.urbantreeconnection.org/ for Urban Tree Connection.

Funnier still, Jennifer Zosh, assistant professor of health and human development at the campus and an Upland resident, taught in the very same room in the Main Building that she sat in as a student attending the program in the mid ‘90s.

Zosh, who received her Ph.D. in psychological and brain sciences from Johns Hopkins University, has a clear memory of that day years ago when she came to the campus for a day of education and fun structured around math and science.

“What I remember most is that my mom drove me, that I built a bridge out of straw, I got a T-shirt and it was a fun day away from regular school,” she laughed.

Penn State Brandywine Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies Jennifer Zosh, once a participant in the campus' Math Options program for seventh grade girls, speaks with a parent after presenting at the workshop.

The bridge building exercise, called “Straw Wars,” involved teamwork to design and build straw masterpieces that were evaluated by the presenters on product design and structural integrity.

The future scientist, who attended Our Lady of Charity in Brookhaven at the time, even saved her worksheets used in the program. “I enjoyed math and science in school,” Zosh said, “but Math Options was the first time I saw theoretical concepts applied.”

Math Options is an annual event at which girls from local elementary and middle schools visit the campus, attend workshops and begin to explore career opportunities available to them in math and science fields. Often, these young women learn about opportunities in these fields for the first time. The Math Options Career Days have been partially funded by grants from ARCO, Bell of Pennsylvania and Lockheed Martin Corporation.

While many girls are continuing math and science coursework throughout high school and winning awards, few choose math or science majors in college. At Math Options, women who are role models in professions such as engineering, technology, research science or veterinary medicine, and provide workshops, problem-solving sessions and panel discussions to help girls understand how math and science are used in their professions and realize their own potential and career options.

Local seventh grade girls have fun with science at Penn State Brandywine's annual Math Options program.

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Boeing Defense, Space & Security Division, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, URS Corporation and Stratus, Inc. are just some of the companies that participated in this year’s Math Options.

In addition to “Straw Wars,” some of the workshops included "Making Silly Putty," "Your Blood Cells and How They Work," "Cleaning Up Oil Spills" and "What Makes Things Fly?"

Zosh, whose area of expertise is memory development in infants and toddlers, taught a workshop with co-presenter Caroline Montojo, titled “Using Psychology to Learn about the World,” with hands-on experiments designed to demonstrate how psychology allows people to explore the mind.

Patricia VanLeuvan, associate professor of education, has been the coordinator of the program at Penn State Brandywine since 1992 and was delighted to have Zosh as a presenter. “Other seventh grade participants have returned as professionals to present at Math Options, but they were not faculty colleagues,” VanLeuvan said. “There are also two veteran presenters, Maryanne Covington and Susan Glessner-Stickley, who began their college studies at Brandywine, formerly Delaware County, and had (former campus CEO) Ed Tomezsko as a chemistry professor.”

Glessner-Stickley, president of Stratus, Inc. and a resident of West Chester, received a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering, magna cum laude, at University Park in 1985.

Covington, associate director of discovery biology at Incyte Pharmaceutical Corporation and a resident of Cochranville, received a bachelor of science degree in microbiology at University Park in 1979.

enn State Brandywine, located at 25 Yearsley Mill Road in Media, offers baccalaureate degrees, honors and civic engagement programs, undergraduate research opportunities in collaboration with award-winning faculty, international study, varsity athletics and a variety of clubs and organizations.

The event also launched the campus’ official kick-off for the University-wide capital campaign: For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students, which aims to secure $2 billion by 2010 to provide an outstanding education to students from every economic background.

Susan Barnett, of CBS-3 TV, served as the emcee for the evening.

The black-tie optional event featured hors d’oeuvres in the Museum’s Carousel House, followed by dinner and dancing in the historic Hamilton Hall with live music provided by the Philly Horn Band. More than 75 items were sold during the event's live and silent auctions, which included vacation homes in Jamaica, Key Largo, Singapore and the mountains of Pennsylvania, a Flyers’ shirt signed by the entire 2010 team, a football signed by Joe Paterno and an array of signed artwork by local artists.

Sponsors of the event included Mr. and Mrs. Harold Schaeffer, Franklin Mint Credit Union, Verizon, Aqua Pennsylvania, Crozer Keystone Health Systems, Delaware Valley Healthcare Council and Mercy Health System.

A 1979 Penn State graduate, Killion, of Middletown, has served as State Representative for the 168th Legislative District in Delaware and Chester Counties since 2003. Before assuming this position, he founded InR Advisors Inc., a pension advisories firm. Killion is former chairman of the Delaware County Council, and previously served on the boards of Penn State Brandywine, Rocky Run YMCA, Elwyn School, SEPTA and the Delaware County Domestic Abuse Project.

Thomas Killion, Sophia Wisniewska, Sylvia Schaffer

A 1989 Penn State graduate, Schaffer, of Glen Mills, was a mother, homemaker and volunteer when she decided to return to college to earn a degree. She became a full-time student at the campus and graduated in four years with a degree in liberal arts. Several months after graduation, she joined the campus as the financial aid coordinator and assisted hundreds of students in finding a way to pay for their college education. Schaffer helped many students get scholarships and other financial support, but went the extra mile by providing them with mentoring, a shoulder to lean on, even food and housing, when necessary. Her devotion to the students and the Brandywine campus is unsurpassed. Moreover, she and her husband, Richard, created a scholarship fund that has enabled many students in need to attend Penn State Brandywine. Since her retirement in 2008, Schaffer has resumed her many volunteer activities and devotes hours to her church and other community organizations.

To order photos from the event go to http://www.digiproofs.com/thirdeyepro/ and enter 052210 in the password field.

To order photos from Commencement, go to http://www.digiproofs.com/thirdeyepro/ and enter 0051510 in the password field.

Hugs and high fives were the order of the day on Saturday, May 15, when more than 100 students received their diplomas from Penn State at the Brandywine campus’ commencement ceremony.

Michael DiBerardinis, commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation for the city of Philadelphia and a University trustee, gave the commencement address.
 
“A Penn State degree is a privilege,” he told the crowd of students, families, faculty, staff and friends, “not one that comes to you as a birthright, but borne in hard work, and made possible by the teaching excellence of your faculty and staff.”

He praised the graduates for the sacrifices made along the way.

“You’ve put in hard work, juggled jobs and family responsibilities, and you have succeeded,” he said. “You have earned the privilege of a Penn State degree, and you are an American success story.”

He exhorted the graduates to “be curious about the world around you. There are always new things to learn. Always look for courage in yourself in tough times.”

Students enter the gymnasium prior to the ceremony.

In what has become a Penn State Brandywine tradition, the graduates were given an open mic to utter a few words of gratitude or other sentiments as they crossed the stage. Most expressed thanks to their families and their professors.

“I want to thank this great campus for giving me a great education,” said Daniel Iacovella, of Media.

“I want to thank myself!” said Suzanne Berg, also of Media. "It took 30 years but I did it!”

Speaking to faculty in the English department, Kate Sowinksi, of Plymouth Meeting, said, “I’m leaving here inspired to do great things, and for that I am grateful.”

Grads with their families get their picture taken at the Nittany Lion Shrine.

Also in a show of gratitude to faculty, Thomas Hurley, of West Chester, said, “Thank you for teaching me lessons not just in my business classes, but in life as well.”

“Thank you to my mom,” said Ashley McBride, of West Grove. “I’ve become a strong, independent, ready-for-anything woman, just like you.”

Perhaps the most memorable moment came when septuagenarian Shake Jebejian, of Newtown Square, said, “Thank you for this opportunity. I ended up with a healthy mind and a healthy body at the age of 78.” She was regaled with thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the new graduates.

More than 100 Penn State Brandywine students will receive their associate and baccalaureate degrees when the campus holds its annual Spring Commencement 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 15 in the Commons Building Gymnasium. Joining them in attendance will be several hundred family members, friends and members of the campus community.

The Commencement speaker for the event will be Michael DiBerardinis, Philadelphia’s commissioner of Parks and Recreation and special advisor to the Mayor on Libraries. In this position, he is responsible for the management of the 9,200-acre, 63-park Fairmount Park system. DiBerardinis also oversees the operation of all city recreation facilities, programs and events.

Prior to being named as Secretary for DCNR, he served as executive director of the Campaign for Working Families. Before that, DiBerardinis was vice president of programs for the William Penn Foundation. His long history of public administration includes serving as the commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Recreation from 1992 to 2000.

Penn State students accepting their diplomas will become part of a huge network of fellow Penn State graduates. The Penn State Alumni Association, with more than 160,000 members, is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world.

The ceremony may be watched live online by clicking here the day of the event.

The daylong event featured a luncheon with Senator Robert P. Casey and his wife, Terese Casey, and a “Townhall Meeting” with Marjorie Margolies, president of Women’s Campaign International; Trudy Rubin, foreign affairs columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer; Sharon Meagher, professor of philosophy at the University of Scranton; and Aldo Magazzeni, founder and director of Traveling Mercies.

Guests also attended a number of sessions throughout the day pertaining to community partnerships, developing civic identity in youth and social justice research and reflected on the future.

Thai said she was “very excited and surprised” with this double honor. “I honestly thought everyone did a wonderful job,” she added.

“Pizza Fractions” employs a fun and creative approach for teaching the concept of fractions to children in third grade. Entertaining and educational at the same time, it makes what is sometimes an elusive concept for children easy to understand.

“My third graders at Evans Elementary School were learning fractions with an overhead (projector) and worksheet,” Thai said. “I thought this would be more captivating for the kids because they love pizza and can make real-world connections to math.”

Thai wasn’t the only Brandywine student to compete. Seniors Ashley McBride, Patti Wray and Shana Rush, and juniors Amy Moore, Mary Grandizio and Margie Whelan participated in two competitions: APEX (Achieving Excellence) and Classroom Learning Centers. Moore and fellow ELEDM major Jackie Glace, who could not attend because she was presenting at another conference, created and submitted the report and scrapbook presentation of the club's accomplishments this year to APEX. McBride and Wray submitted their learning center, "Frog and Toad," in the category of "chapter" or joint entry.

“Although our ‘Frog and Toad’ center and APEX scrapbook report did not win at the conference, they are winners as far we are concerned,” commented field supervisor and instructor in education Jean McKay, who serves as the Education Club adviser and accompanied the students to the conference.

Despite this disappointment, there was great rejoicing when three of the Brandywine students were elected officers of SPSEA's Southeast Region. Moore is the newly elected president, Grandizio is vice president, and Thai is secretary. The new administration is already planning a year packed with activities.

“We’ll have meetings throughout the year,” Moore said, “and we’ll get to know officers in other regions.” The networking with students from other colleges and universities is valuable in terms of gathering information.
The group hopes to host a regional meeting in the fall on campus. “We are writing a proposal to get funding so that it can happen,” Grandizio said. “That’s something we’ll be working on this summer.”

“The conference was a really wonderful experience for our juniors and seniors,” McKay said. “In terms of the networking opportunities, the workshops were full of information on instructional techniques and other things teachers need to know.”

As they did this past year, the students plan to co-host Multicultural Day, host the Philadelphia Zoo’s traveling zoo and participate in club rush, where they hope to recruit new students into the club. There are currently about 20 active members.

“This is a wonderful group of students, very focused,” McKay said. Some of the students have known for a long time that they wanted to pursue a teaching career, and others only discovered their inner teacher after trying a different major. They are also very bonded with McKay, their other education faculty (Patricia Van Leuvan and Barbara Gottlieb) and each other. It is a close-knit, supportive atmosphere.

“The small group environment is what makes it personal,” McBride said. “The faculty give us their phone numbers and always make sure we know they’re available. They know our strengths and weaknesses and are there to help anytime.”

“We get a lot of individual attention,” Rush said. “Our faculty know where the best placements are for student teaching, and we have all had great experiences with our schools.”

Penn State Brandywine has a unique education program, in that juniors are given a school placement one day a week, and then remain with that classroom for the entire year. During their senior year, they are placed in another classroom, where they stay with the same students for the entire year. This not only gives them more experience, it gives them extra time to work with the same group of children at the school.

“Our kids really get to know us,” McBride, who taught at Overbrook School, said. “I hope to get a position at the school. I would love to stay.”

The support from the campus has been a big part of the group’s success. Director of Academic Affairs “Paul deGategno has been very supportive, and we thank him for that,” McKay said.

And the students clearly are grateful for McKay’s ongoing support.

“Jean McKay has helped me out so much,” Thai said. “I wouldn't have been able to do this without her. She went above and beyond for me.”

Following the event, a panel of faculty judged the entries and awarded special recognition to the projects they considered the three best.

The first place award was given to junior Iris Thai, an education major, for her “Pizza Poster.” Thai’s faculty sponsor was Instructor in Education Jean McKay.

“Iris is a very creative person,” McKay said. “Whatever the assignment, event or task, she goes above and beyond what's required and gives 110 percent of her time and effort.”

Junior Melanie Farrell and senior Stephanie Winterbottom were awarded second place for “Effects of Visual Tattoos and Physical Appearance in Hiring Decisions.” Their faculty sponsor was Assistant Professor of Psychology Daniela Martin.

"I am impressed with the students' commitment to their projects and the range of creativity shown during this exhibit," Martin remarked.

The third place award went to freshmen John Neel, Christopher Brown, Michael Radcliffe and Kevin Joseph for their “Dance Dance Lego Robot.” Their faculty sponsor was Associate Professor of Engineering Asad Azemi.

Michael Radcliffe, Kevin Joseph, and Christopher Brown (left to right)

“These students are all freshman, and the quality of work for their level is competitive,” Azemi said. “This was part of their engineering first-year seminar and the project was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and our campus.”

Congratulations to our students for their excellent work!

The students participated in three events and placed in two. Seniors David Vesely and Robert Bagonis and junior Richard Cook entered the financial services competition as a team and placed first. Junior Justin Matkov competed in the macroeconomics event and placed third.

And to bring back even more honor to the campus, Vesely was elected to state office as secretary of the Pennsylvania Phi Beta Lambda for 2010-2011.

The conference, sponsored by Future Business Leaders of America - Phi Beta Lambda, held more than 50 competitive events in the subjects of business practices and leadership. Students competed in online testing and public debate. 

Phi Beta Lambda, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) education association of students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields, boasts membership from more than a quarter of a million high school, middle school, college and university students, faculty, educators, administrators and business professionals. The year 2010 marks the first year of the Penn State Brandywine chapter of Phi Beta Lambda, as well as student participation in the state leadership conference.

As a result of their participation at the Harrisburg conference, all four club members are now eligible to compete in the National Leadership Conference in Nashville this July.

The Brandywine students were under the leadership and guidance of Don Taylor, assistant professor of business administration. Taylor also pulled double duty as a judge for two of the events in the categories of client services and business presentation.

“The State Leadership Conference is a great opportunity for business students,” Taylor said.  “The event helps students develop leadership, communication and team skills.”

Students interested in joining Phi Beta Lambda national business fraternity should contact Taylor at 610-892-1471 or DAT17@psu.edu for information on fall 2010 rush.

The event will also celebrate the campus’ official kick-off for the University-wide capital campaign: "For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students," which aims to secure $2 billion by 2014 to provide an outstanding education to students from every economic background.

The campus’ event will celebrate the achievements of Pennsylvania State Representative Thomas Killion ’79, of Middletown Township, and Sylvia Schaffer ’89, of Glen Mills, the campus’ retired, long-time financial aid coordinator. Susan Barnett, of CBS3 TV will serve as the emcee for the evening.

Killion has served as State Representative for the 168th Legislative District in Delaware and Chester Counties since 2003. Before assuming this position, he founded InR Advisors Inc., a pension advisories firm. Killion is former chairman of the Delaware County Council, and previously served on the boards of Penn State Brandywine, Rocky Run YMCA, Elwyn School, SEPTA and the Delaware County Domestic Abuse Project.

Schaffer was a mother, homemaker and volunteer when she decided to return to college to earn a degree. She became a full-time student at the campus and graduated in four years with a degree in liberal arts. Several months after graduation, she joined the campus as the financial aid coordinator and assisted hundreds of students in finding a way to pay for their college education. Since her retirement in 2008, Schaffer has resumed her many volunteer activities and devotes hours to her church and other community organizations.

Silver Sponsor
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Schaeffer

Bronze Sponsors
Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union
Verizon

Event Sponsors
Aqua Pennsylvania
Crozer Keystone Health System
Delaware Valley Healthcare Council
Mercy Healthcare Systems

If you are unable to attend the event, but would like to purchase some of the items being offered in the silent auction, select items for our May 22 gala are available NOW for purchase online. Don't miss your chance at these great items! Click here to view the items.

For more information, contact Rachel Greenberg at 610-892-1249 or RBG12@psu.edu.

The Student Club/Organization of the Year award went to the Student Government Association for its exceptional involvement throughout the year. This student-run organization contributed to the quality of student life and promoted campus involvement. 

The Black Student League’s Soul Food Fest received the award for Outstanding Program or Event of the Year for enhancing the quality of student life by promoting campus community and Penn State pride. Programs honored in this category annually demonstrate creativity, uniqueness and inclusion. Soul Food Fest provided a wide assortment of American cuisine and a chance for students to showcase their homemade recipes.
BSL adviser Twana Walker, a counselor in the Advising and Career Services Office, was named Club/Organization Adviser of the Year, which recognizes a faculty or staff member who volunteers his or her time to serve as a club or organization adviser. Walker has shown she is truly engaged in the activities and mission of the BSL and is committed to enhancing the student life experience. 

Senior Carolyn Johnson received the Deborah J. Erie Student Leader Award, named for the current director of student and enrollment services. The award recognizes a student leader who displays commitment and dedication to multiple organizations while maintaining solid academic standards. 

Freshman Chris Brown received the Lion Pride Award, which recognizes a student who has clearly demonstrated commitment and dedication acting as Penn State Brandywine’s mascot.

The award will support materials, travel for research and creative activity, costs related to publication, wages for research assistance and teaching release time for Professor of English Phyllis Cole, Associate Professor of English Maureen Fielding, and Distinguished Professor of English Adam Sorkin.

Cole’s grant was for this past semester, unlike those of Sorkin and Fielding, and has funded two research projects--an invited paper and a special issue of a journal--having to do with American feminist and Transcendentalist Margaret Fuller (1810-50), the bicentennial of whose birth is May 23.

Fielding is currently working on a novel about the Cold War and will use the grant to travel to Berlin to do research on the Stasi or East German Ministry for State Security.

Sorkin’s grant will be used to complete the introduction to and translation, from Romanian to English, of "The Book of Winter" by the Romanian poet Ion Muresan, the third of three books of Romanian poetry proposed to him by the Center for the Book of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Bucharest, and which will be published by the University of Plymouth Press in England.

This day-long interdisciplinary symposium draws together persons from academic institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government offices whose work – be it research, education, service, or policy-making – presses forward a common agenda: creating and sustaining educational environments that nurture social justice and human rights.

For more information on the event, and to view the live stream of the symposium on April 24, click here.

Forget about tax day, April 15 should be forever remembered as pride day, and Penn State Brandywine was overwhelmed with a sense of Penn State Pride as it recognized individuals from the campus for their outstanding work inside and outside of the classroom at the Spring 2010 Academic Awards Ceremony.

The day kicked off at 11:30 a.m. as students who have engaged in undergraduate research throughout the year showed off their research projects in the Commons Building gymnasium during EURECA (Exposition of Undergraduate Research Enterprise and Creative Accomplishment). The program is designed so students can present an abstract of their work in the form of posters, computer presentations and videos in a professional setting, giving them practical experience for real-world situations.

Immediately following EURECA, members and friends of the campus joined for another celebration of achievement. The campus honored junior June Carfagno, of Clifton Heights; sophomore Andrew Dombalagian, of Havertown; sophomore Christina Felizzi, of West Chester; and Danielle Gridley as new inductees into the international English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta. Felizzi and Dombalagian also joined junior Benjamin Bean, of Glen Mills; junior Jill Gillin, of Springfield; senior Jacqueline Glace, of Springfield; junior Iris Thai, of Upper Darby; and senior Shake Jebejian, of Newtown Square, as they were inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honorary society.
 
In addition to the 166 students recognized for academic achievement in their respective degree programs at the event, the campus also recognized the recipients of the 2010 President’s Freshman Award, presented annually to undergraduate students who have earned a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average based on at least 12 graded Penn State credits (not to exceed 35 total credits earned): Christopher Gramlich, of West Chester; Skylar Luxon; Jurgen Kasa, of Upper Darby; Patricia McGinnis, of Newtown Square; Thomas Wagner, of Broomall; Jeremy Lim, of Media; and Allison Rodia, of Drexel Hill.

Sophomore Vickie Francis, of Glen Mills, was honored as the winner of the President Sparks Award, given annually to undergraduate students who have earned a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average based on at least 36 graded Penn State credits (not to exceed 59 total credits earned).

Representing the campus’ outstanding faculty, Instructor in Human Development and Family Studies Katherine Meehan, of Chadds Ford, was named the 2010 Distinguished Teacher, which recognizes a full-time faculty member who provides distinguished teaching while providing encouragement and incentive for teaching excellence and contributions to the Penn State Brandywine campus community.

Kathy Meehan

Senior Instructor in Business Administration Richard Barrett, of Exton, was this year’s recipient of the George W. Franz Advising and Mentoring Award, recognizing teachers who merit in student advising and mentoring.

Richard Barrett

The Undergraduate Research Faculty and Student Research Awards were given to Professor of Chemistry Michael De Rosa, of Wallingford, and sophomore Sara Neville, of West Chester, respectively.

Michael De Rosa

Sara Neville

Professor of English Phyllis B. Cole, of Lansdowne, was honored with the Faculty Research Program Award, which honors and recognizes scholarly or creative excellence in any area of the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, business or communication and rewards a substantial series of contributions or a single exceptional contribution to any of these areas.

Phyllis Cole

Senior Rebecca Hart, of Unionville, was honored with the Dr. Randall Stout Memorial Award, established in memory of Stout, who served as professor of economics at Penn State for 36 years. The award honors a senior who has demonstrated superior academic performance and outstanding participation in the bachelor of science in business program at the campus.

Professor of Human Development and Family Studies Cynthia Lightfoot, of Exton, received the Madlyn Hanes Faculty Award, which recognizes a full-time faculty member at the campus who has made outstanding contributions to the campus community through exceptional achievement in teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity or service.

Cynthia Lightfoot

To view and/or order photos from the event, go to http://www.digiproofs.com/thirdeyepro/ and enter 041510 in the guest password field.

Penn State University students are no strangers to philanthropy, raising millions of dollars for charity annually through sheer hard work and determination. The students of Associate Professor of English Myra Goldschmidt’s class are no different.

This year’s focus: replacing the school supplies of an elementary school in Haiti that was destroyed in the recent earthquake. The destruction of entire communities has impacted the security and stability of Haiti’s children and they risk losing the normalcy needed by children everywhere. Haiti is still one of the poorest nations in the world, compounded now by the monumental task of rebuilding.

It’s important for children to see their world as a safe and familiar place; they rely on their parents and teachers to provide the safety and familiarity they need. Penn State Brandywine has the means to lessen their suffering in a small way, and at the same time provide a measure of stability in their lives by donating much needed school supplies.

It was the memories of excitedly opening a new box of brightly colored crayons as children, and the feel of a brand new notebook with its crisp white sheets of paper. Add a rainbow pad of construction paper, glue, and a pair of scissors, and the results are magical! This is what brought the project home for the students involved.

Sadly, some of Haiti’s devastated communities are so far removed from the larger cities that the residents are only beginning to receive assistance from the outside world, and a box of colored markers may be far outside their reach.

Unfortunately, these simple, everyday needs of children can be overlooked in a disaster. UNICEF Education Chief Maria Lourdes de Vera notes that, "In times of emergencies, concerns of children are not given enough prominence. From the point of view of children, what they need is normalcy. We need to ensure that they have creative experiences. That's their world. Without it, their world crumbles." 

The school supplies will allow these children in Haiti to express themselves creatively once again, and the students of Goldschmidt’s Honors Civic Engagement class are committed to providing these essentials for at least one elementary school in Haiti. 

The class has partnered with Wal-Mart in Exton and King of Prussia to actively engage the assistance of the community. They held a pretzel sale outside the Exton Wal-Mart to raise money for the purchase of school supplies. Every dollar of the money raised will go directly to the purchase of school supplies for the children of Haiti.

The students are considering how to allocate the rest of the money that is not being used for the backpacks. Two ideas are scholarships for Haitian children and a school library for the Penn State Haiti School.

For more information or to participate in the class’ efforts to make a better world for one group of school children in desperate need, contact Myra Goldschmidt at 610-892-1465 or mmg5@psu.edu. - by Eileen Fresta, sophomore

Penn State Brandywine sophomore Sara Neville was selected as one of 60 undergraduates from across the nation and across all disciplines to present her research to senators, representatives, their staffers and representatives from funding agencies as part of the Council on Undergraduate Research’s annual Posters on the Hill event on April 13 in Washington, D.C.

During her trip, Neville, who is a member of the honors program on campus, also had the opportunity to meet with Congressman Joseph Sestak's legislative assistant for education, Adam Axler. She is the first student from the campus selected to present in this prestigious event.

“I’ve never really been one for politics, but spending time on Capitol Hill, people-watching, and listening to renowned educators like the executive officer of CUR, Nancy Hensel, and the secretary of the Smithsonian, Dr. Wayne Clough, has made me realize how difficult it is to start educational initiatives and to encourage teachers and students nationwide to get behind science and writing and literacy and well, everything!” Neville said during her trip to Capitol Hill via her blog, “The Quest of an Undergraduate Researcher,” which can be found at http://earthandspacequest.tumblr.com/ online.

Neville’s research project began during the summer of 2009 when she participated in the Penn State-sponsored National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Transforming Earth Systems Science Education (TESSE) Workshop for pre-service and in-service teachers from several states. The goal of the workshop was to help science teachers learn how to promote inquiry-based learning and provide their students with a deeper understanding of important science content.

It was during this workshop that Neville’s research project, called “The Earth QUEST,” was formed. “The Earth QUEST,” which stands for “Questioning and Understanding Earth Science Themes,” is an educational tool Neville created “that integrates the technology of Google Earth with the promotion of scientific and geographic literacy in the classroom. The Earth QUEST is a spin-off of Jerome Burg’s Google Lit Trips, which document the journeys of some of the greatest stories in literature: The Odyssey, Macbeth, and The Grapes of Wrath, just to name a few!” Neville wrote on her blog.

“The Earth QUEST is an easy way to provide students with free, relevant Earth science content from books they might not pick up on their own,” she continued. “With the technology of Google Earth, each QUEST pinpoints locations mentioned in the books (to help improve geographic literacy), includes photos (we’re starting to incorporate audio & video as well), and highlights the most important content from the books. If teachers want to bring nonfiction literature into the classroom but don’t have the finances or the time, the Earth QUEST is the perfect solution!”

Not only has this project earned Neville recognition in the nation’s capitol, on Thursday, April 15, she was bestowed the campus’ Undergraduate Student Research Award in front of hundreds of parents and members of the campus community. The award is given annually to one student on campus who has completed serious, high-quality research requiring critical thinking, analysis and creativity.

CUR, for which the campus now holds a membership, supports faculty development for high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. Nearly 600 institutions and more than 5,000 individuals belong to CUR.

For more information on CUR, visit http://www.cur.org/ online; for more information on TESSE, visit http://www.personal.psu.edu/uxg3/blogs/pennstatetesse/ online; or to learn more about Neville’s Google EarthQUEST, visit http://www.personal.psu.edu/uxg3/blogs/googleearthquest/ online.

On March 6, Martin escorted senior Ryan Smith and junior Sauda Anima, who transferred to University Park this semester, to the Eastern Psychological Association Convention in Brooklyn, N.Y. to present research to their peers and professionals in the discipline of psychology.

The purpose of the trip was for the three to share their findings from a study assessing the effects of diversity and multicultural programming on undergraduate students. Their project, “The Role of Intergroup Competence in Educational Settings,” was compiled through a collection of data on the Brandywine campus focusing on links among intergroup contact, cognitions and affective states achieved through intercultural contact, and academic outcomes.

During their research, “We explored the comfort level people have with those from different backgrounds, diversity of peer networks and how these experiences are connected to academic outcomes,” Martin said.

The results showed that, among other things, “students on average moderately agree with the importance of diversity in their education,” according to the written preliminary findings, but still feel most comfortable among peers of the same ethnic or racial group. However, the less obvious benefits of exposure to other groups may lie in the increased intellectual engagement and critical thinking that was found among students participating in more diverse social networks.

Anima took part in the study as part of an independent study with Martin. Smith, who is collaborating with Martin to fulfill his Lifespan Development Option, a new research requirement for human development and family studies majors, joined the two at the conference simply for the learning experience, though he is now also assisting in Martin’s ongoing research on the effects of multicultural educational initiatives.

The larger project, conducted in collaboration with Dr. David Livert of Penn State Lehigh Valley, examines study abroad, diversity in education and the multicultural aspects of education.

“We are looking at international courses on campus, study abroad and short study abroad,” Martin said, in reference to the weeklong international programs available to students each semester. “Basically, we’re looking at whether these courses, by raising knowledge of other cultures, have an impact educationally. There are connections to critical thinking, global competence, and we found that these skills may translate into higher grade point averages and self-reported academic skills.”

Taken together, the research makes a case for including diversity interventions in education, not simply because they may change how students think of race and culture, but because they may change how students think and learn more generally.

“For me, it’s great because the students are helping out with my research,” Martin said. “What is more wonderful, though, is the contribution my students make to this project, by bringing their ideas and perspectives. This research is about students and they should have their voice in it. And they are learning a lot.”

The convention featured important professionals in the field of psychology and provided a chance for the two students to get a glimpse of the professional world in which they hope to someday thrive. “They interacted with other students and the experience was really about professional socialization,” Martin said. “[Smith and Anima] looked great and carried themselves really well.”

The students were among hundreds of professionals presenting their work at the conference, which Martin stressed was a national event featuring a good mix of students and professionals.

“This is really not a student conference, it’s national. It’s one of the biggest conferences next to the American Psychological Association [conference],” she said. “I wanted to bring them so they could be exposed.”

Both Smith and Anima were able to participate in their respective studies and travel to the conference because Martin submitted a proposal for funds to the Office of Academic Affairs, resulting in financial support from an undergraduate research fund.

At the conference “they learned how to present themselves, how to communicate with colleagues. It’s an experience they won’t get in the classroom,” Martin said. “I’m really glad there is support for this kind of activity on campus. It’s really fantastic. A lot of schools don’t pay for students to go to conferences.”

For more information on the HDFS internship option, visit
http://www.bw.psu.edu/Academics/Degrees/hdfs_DegreesOptions.htm online.

The photographs that will be displayed were judged by faculty members. The artists of the chosen photographs will be present to explain the background of their amazing shots, accept feedback, and generate conversation.

For more information contact Teron A. Meyers, 610-517-2219.

For more information on our international programs, click here.

It was this over-engineered apparatus that won the club third place in the 2010 Rube Goldberg competition held at University Park. This year's annual contest, named after the famous cartoonist and Pulitzer Prize winner Rube Goldberg, who was best known for his crazy, multi-step inventions, challenged teams to build a machine that dispensed hand sanitizer.  Per the Rube Goldberg contest rules, the machine had to complete a minimum of 20 steps in under two minutes, and no human intervention was allowed.

In celebration of Earth Week, the Penn State Brandywine Environment Club will host the following two events on April 21 and 22:

A Walk and Talk in the Woods: 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21
Attendees will meet at the gazebo in the center of campus for a 30-minute stroll on the little-known campus trails behind the library to watch for birds and other critters, identify local trees and plants, munch on healthy trail mix, get some exercise and enjoy the fresh air and awakening spring.

Earth Day Celebration: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 22
In celebration of national Earth Day, the club will provide a number of activities on the campus lawn, including a drum circle, free vegetarian food, a discussion on local and national environmental issues, Frisbee games and yoga in the grass.

For more information or to join the effort, contact Environment Club President Averil Sweeny at AFS5059@psu.edu, or club advisers David Macauley, professor of philosophy, at DMM53@psu.edu and Michael Madden, instructor in human development and family studies, at MEM28@psu.edu.

The Brandywine Environment Club can also be reached through its Facebook Page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Media-PA/Penn-State-Brandywine-Environment-Club/452930585509 online.

This year EURECA, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will have a new, more interactive twist. In addition to the traditional poster displays featuring the students’ work, the event will include an art exhibition and paper presentations. All the students will be on hand to answer questions and discuss their work throughout the two hours.

At the Academic Recognition Ceremony, academic achievement awards will be presented to students, as well as the President’s Freshman Award and Undergraduate Research Award, to name only a few, to recognize the campus’ outstanding students. Awards will also be presented to unsuspecting staff and faculty members, including the Madlyn Hanes Faculty Award, George W. Franz Advising and Mentoring Award, the Distinguished Teacher Award and the Undergraduate Research Awards for faculty.

In addition, the campus will announce the recipient of the new Faculty Research Program Award to be given to a full-time faculty member.

Parents and friends of the campus are welcome to attend the ceremony. In the event that you cannot attend, the program will be broadcast live.

Click here the day of the program to watch it live!

The following adjunct faculty positions are available at Penn State Brandywine for Summer 2010

CHEM 111 (GN) Experimental Chemistry I (1)
Introduction to quantitative experimentation in chemistry.
Prerequisite: or concurrent: CHEM 110 or CHEM 106

CHEM 111 is the lab course that runs concurrently with the lecture CHEM 110. The lab involves some classic chemistry experiments and experiments that require the use of PASCO® equipment. Knowledge of the use of PASCO® equipment would be a considerable asset.

Wednesday – 8:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m.

CHEM 113 is the lab course that runs concurrently with the lecture CHEM 112.  The lab involves experiments that require a knowledge of how to use PASCO® equipment.  CHEM 113 is the lab course that runs concurrently with the organic lectures CHEM 210 and 212.  The lab involves experiments starting with physical methods such as melting and boiling point determinations, distillations and chromatography.  The course then moves into synthesis and the use of NMR, IR and UV spectroscopy from a practical standpoint.

Wednesday – 8:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m.

Submit a cover letter describing your experience, CV, and contact information for four references to Linda Hayden, Office of Academic Affairs, Penn State Brandywine. All applications should be submitted electronically as a Microsoft Word or PDF file to LMT1@psu.edu.

Closing Date: Continues until a suitable candidate is found

In today’s marketplace, most people start their search for products and services on the Internet. But the question is: how do business owners ensure that these individuals are finding their businesses?
The unfortunate reality is that most small businesses fail on the Internet. Their owners make a fatal mistake by focusing on making money rather than on building a relationship with their visitors. This free seminar will help current online business owners and those hoping to break into the online realm learn how to successfully start up or move their businesses into the online environment.

They will learn how to avoid the pitfalls of building a site that doesn’t attract visitors and find out how to get their business onto the first page of a Google search result, without having any programming skills.

The seminar will discuss the three biggest online dangers, how to get links, paid traffic: PPC campaigns, social media and more, and answer the following questions: What works online? What makes good content? How do I get traffic? What is preselling? What are ways to presell?  Who’s linking to my site?

The seminar will be led by successful Web entrepreneur and instructor Cynthia McGeever, who launched the site http://www.top-sales-jobs.com in 2005.
 
For those interested in learning even more about online businesses after the seminar, the campus is offering “Building a Successful Business Using the Internet,” a course beginning April 29t.

Seating for the seminar is limited. For more information on the seminar and the course that follows or to learn more about McGeever, visit http://www.bw.psu.edu/CE or contact Alan Zawacki at 610-892-1306.

The Social Science Brown Bag lecture (which means attendees are invited to bring their lunches) will feature Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Melmark George Linke as he talks to students and the campus community about working with children who have autism spectrum disorder.

This lecture is being sponsored by the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) department. For more information, contact Assistant Professors of HDFS Jennifer Zosh (jzosh@psu.edu) and Tia Kim (tkim@psu.edu).

Melmark is a provider of residential, educational, vocational and therapeutic services for adults and children with intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injuries, autism spectrum disorders and other neurological and genetic disorders.

What began as a look back at personal history for a class project has taken recent Penn State Brandywine 2009 graduate Dana Gibson on a path to a future she never imagined.

Gibson received the Roundtable Best Undergraduate Essay award by the Mid Atlantic American Studies Association (MAASA), for her thesis “’Am I Your Slave?’: William Parker and The Freedman’s Story.” The text was judged for quality and contribution to knowledge, according to Gibson’s thesis adviser Phyllis Cole, professor of English and American Studies, who encouraged her to submit her paper for consideration.

Having always possessed a love for history, Gibson was intrigued when an uncle told her about a distance relative, specifically her great-great-great-great grandfather Miller Knott, who had witnessed and even testified in the trial that followed the Christiana Riot, which took place on September 11, 1851, in Christiana, Pa. involving a former slave named William Parker.

Immediately drawn to the subject by the fact that people in her hometown of Christiana remain, for the most part, unaware of such an important part of history--most likely because slave-owners and those on the opposite side of Parker wanted it that way--Gibson decided to go digging.

She found interesting comments by her own family members and their neighbors, but most of all a little-known, published account by William Parker himself of events at Christiana and their significance. Her thesis studies this narrative and puts it in context of America’s epic battle over slavery, before and during the Civil War.

This is a story that she thinks every Christiana resident--as well as national scholars of nineteenth-century American literature--should know about. To make that story available, she hopes to publish an edition of Parker’s narrative.

“I want it published in a way that the people of Christiana know about it,” she said. “I think it will give the residents an understanding of how close and important the [resistance] was and give them the facts from Parker’s own perspective.”

On winning the award: “When I found out that I won I thought it was a joke,” she said excitedly. “It’s pretty terrific. I feel great about it!

“Dr. Cole told me I had a good chance of winning but I only sort of believed her,” she laughed.

Cole was equally as enthusiastic about the honor and Gibson’s dedication to the topic. “The wonderful thing about her paper is that it is part of both Pennsylvania and United States history,” she said. “It was national news and the uprising is very important, and most of all, Parker’s eloquent words need to be better known. This is a story worth publishing.”

As her thesis adviser and close mentor, Cole spoke proudly about Gibson and her dedication to the project. “She followed her instincts and really put it together,” she said warmly. “She has made great personal strides on campus, as an English major and American studies minor and in the honors program. Her project has meant a lot to me and also shows how far undergraduate students can go in accomplishing real research.”

MAASA is the regional chapter of the American Studies Association, organized to promote and encourage the study of American Culture in the Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania areas.

Quoting from the many letters nominating Cole for the award, Women’s Commission committee member and Instructor in English Pamela Main, said, “What makes Cole most ideal for this award is the degree to which she has been an outspoken voice for women’s rights and women’s issues on our campus, setting an important example for all of us--female and male.”

Phyllis Cole (right) with Pamela Main

Cole was instrumental in bringing Afghanistan’s leading women’s rights activist Suraya Pakzad to campus on March 4, 2009, to discuss the struggles of women in her country. She also advised a noble group of students as they raised $7,000 to help build a water system in the war-torn country, via the efforts of campus alum Aldo Magazzeni and his nonprofit Traveling Mercies.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. “She is a wonderful teacher and spends hours in her office talking and working with students,” Main went on to say. “She is creative, eminently thoughtful, well balanced and diplomatic.”

Johnson received an equal amount of praise. “She is an outstanding student teacher who captivates children’s interest with her creative lessons,” Associate Professor of Education Patricia Van Leuvan wrote in her nomination of Johnson, who is majoring in elementary education in multicultural settings (ELEDM). “She is president of the Black Student League, she organized a Jamaican dance troop presentation, the Cheyney Choir and the fundraiser for books for schools in Uganda.” Referencing Johnson’s work in one of Van Leuvan’s creative writing classes, the professor admiringly joked, “She was determined to master iambic pentameter, and by god she did!”

Carolyn Johnson (right)

The positive vibrations left by the praise presented to the award winners continued as Gillis-Donovan took the floor. The president and CEO of Melmark, which provides residential, educational, therapeutic and recreational services for children and adults with developmental disabilities, shared her wealth of experience as a clinical psychologist in a way that every audience member could relate.

Gillis-Donovan posed questions about what has and hasn’t changed for women since they entered the workforce, discussing everything from wages to sexual harassment to balancing new gender roles in the home.

One of the main messages in her speech: “Strong women can create a gentler world,” she said.

Dr. Joanne Gillis-Donovan

A topic that resonated with the audience: things men can learn from women--empathy, sensitivity—and something women should learn from men--not to personalize everything.

She discussed marriage, which she said, “often calls for more maturity than most of us have,” and bringing about change: “We can never change another human being. Change yourself to bring about the change you want to see in others.”

And a few things she told the audience to remember: “’No’ is never to be take seriously the first time,” and “When the door is closed, find a window.”

The group started with around 10,000 books and sold more than 4,400 to the more than 250 people that attended the sale over spring break.

The GSA donated more than 1,000 books to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation for breast cancer. Others were given to the Delaware County Prison for its Books Through Bars program, which provides new reading material to inmates each month, and 600 were recycled. The remaining 4,000 books will be available at the group's next sale, tentatively planned for next fall and spring semesters.

"I can't believe what we accomplished here," GSA President Rob Ewing cheered enthusiastically. "We raised $1,300 for future programming, helped raise money to find a cure for breast cancer, and supplied a local prison with material to give to inmates." Speaking to those who purchased books and others who helped with the sale, he said, "You all should feel very proud of yourselves for this. Think of what we can do next time!"

The GSA will help members of the campus take part in the National Day of Silence on April 16, a day when students around the country take a vow of silence for an entire day to bring attention to anti-LBGT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. GSA will provide T-shirts for participants so others on campus are aware of the vow, and don't assume they are just being ignored. The group will also provide an awareness table on campus.

Alexandra Carlson

Each student was assigned a different earth science book as part of the class. They then took inspiration and content from these books to write their letters, which they hope will provide not just some earth science knowledge and an opportunity for the children to learn something new, but also bring some joy to their lives.

“I wanted to write a letter that would let the kids use their imaginations and get them out of their situation,” freshman Zanya Stephenson said.

Zanya Stephenson

Freshman Matt Donegan said he hopes the letters will let the children know that someone cares, even a stranger.

As for sophomore Michelle Sulpizio’s letter, she wanted it to open the children's minds to a happier and brighter future. She wants them to have “something to look up to” and for them to think “I want to go to college now!”

Chris Fitzgerald

Besides writing to teach others and bring some happiness to their lives, the process even taught the students a few things about earth science. On finding a way to translate the often-complicated science material into a lower learning level for the young children, Sulpizio said, “When I dumbed it down for the kids, it actually ended up making more sense to me! Making it fun for a [young kid] made me enjoy the subject more.”

The event, held each April in honor of National Poetry Month, will feature award-winning poet Daisy Fried. She is the author of two books of poetry, "My Brother is Getting Arrested Again," a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and "She Didn't Mean to Do It," which won the Agnes Lynch Starrett Prize.

Fried has received Guggenheim, Hodder and Pew Fellowships, a Pushcart Prize, the Cohen Award from Ploughshares and the Editor's Prize for a Feature Article from Poetry magazine, for her essay “Sing God-Awful Muse,” about reading "Paradise Lost" during her first weeks of motherhood. Her poems have been published recently in The Nation, New Republic, Ploughshares, American Poetry Review, Poetry and The Threepenny Review. She reviews poetry for The New York Times and Poetry, teaches creative writing at Villanova University and lives in Philadelphia.

Those whose wish to share their originality and talent with the campus will present their personal, creative works. The free event is open to the public and refreshments will be provided. Penn in Hand, the campus literary magazine, and the English department sponsor the event.

Below is the link to the PowerPoint presentation, explaining how the new designs came about. Be sure to turn on your audio so you can hear the narrative. At the end of the presentation you will find the link to the online survey. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete. Your feedback is very important as we strive to achieve the best elements of all the designs in the final version.

Instructions for the PowerPoint presentation:

Click on this link to get started: http://www.bk.psu.edu/clt/redesign/present/

Click on the play button at the bottom of the first slide to start the presentation. After the first slide stops, click the play button a second time to continue through the rest of the presentation.

The survey must be completed by midnight next Wednesday, March 24. If you have any questions, contact Debbie Blanton, 610-892-1252 or dyb5@psu.edu. Thank you again for your participation!

The next Career / Internship fair is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Commons / Athletic Center. Come and network with the many employers attending the fair. Start preparing to find your perfect internship, part-time, full-time or seasonal job. 

Students can prepare for the fair by attending a common hour workshop on either March 17 or March 18, depending on which date is more convenient for you. Learn how to navigate a career fair, dress for success, introduce yourself, prepare a resume and much more. Resumes will be critiqued by appointment through March 19 or during Resumania on March 22, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Students can register through Angel to access the participant booklet and other materials. Stop by 112 Main for instructions. Click here for more information.

Alumni interested in attending must first set up a “friends of Penn State account” via https://fps.psu.edu/ and then call Advising and Career Services to be added to the Angel roster (610-892-1394).   

Employers interested in attending should call 610-892-1394 for more information.

Click here for the Summer 2010 Course Catalog. All available courses may not be listed in the catalog. Click here to find out what's available.

Penn State Blue Book - University Course Descriptions
A brief description of each course offered by every academic unit is presented on this site.

Benefits of this relationship include special opportunities for faculty professional development in research and curriculum, opportunities for the campus to add its voice to the national policy debate, priority notices of CUR institutes and other events and reports on the status of undergraduate research, among many others.

Associate Professor of Earth Science Laura Guertin currently serves as the chair of the Geoscience Division of CUR and on CUR's Executive Board, and Professor of English Phyllis Cole was recently named coordinator for undergraduate research at the campus.

"CUR and its affiliated colleges, universities and individuals share a focus on providing undergraduate research opportunities for faculty and students at all institutions serving undergraduate students," according to its Web site. Nearly 600 colleges and universities are Institutional CUR Members.

For more information on CUR, visit http://www.cur.org/about.html online.

On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton established the American Red Cross.

Thanks to an amendment written by Susan B. Anthony in 1853, women earned the right to vote in 1920.

On May 20, 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus. Today, she is known by the U.S. Congress as the "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement."

In 1983, Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space and the youngest American astronaut ever to orbit Earth.

In 2007, USA Today ranked philanthropist and TV host Oprah Winfrey as the most influential woman and most influential black person of the previous quarter century. She is the only person to appear on Time Magazine's Time 100 (Most Influential People in the World) list every year since it began.

In 2009, Hillary Rodham Clinton became the most successful female presidential candidate in American history.

It is because of these woman, and countless others, that the whole month of March still isn't enough time to recognize the contributions of women throughout history. Attend any or all of the following events to join the campus as we celebrate the past and look to you, our female students, staff, and faculty, as continued hope for the future.

Wednesday, March 3
Panel Discussion: Members of Penn State Brandywine's faculty and students, as well as the community will discuss issues pertinent to women
12:30-1:20 p.m., Large Conference Room

Tuesday, March 16
Stress Reduction through Meditation and Yoga
An introduction taught by Jennifer Maguire
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Large Conference Room

Friday, March 19
The State Police will be giving a presentation on women and safety issues
12:30-1:20 p.m., Large Conference Room

Tuesday, March 23
Women and Heart Health
Presentation by Dr. Helen Kuroki, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Riddle Memorial Hospital
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Vairo Library, room 111

Wednesday, March 24
Women in Film, presentation by Wayne McMullen
12:30-1:20 p.m., Tomezsko Building, room 103

Thursday, March 25
Annual Women’s Commission Luncheon
Speaker Dr. Joanne Gillis-Donovan, president and CEO of Melmark, an organization that serves 278 children and adults with a wide range of developmental disabilities in Pa. and Mass.
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Tomezsko Building Lounge

Tuesday, April 6
Award-winning poet and professor Daisy Fried will read from her books at Litapalooza
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Tomezsko Building Lounge

Semi Finals
Sunday, Feb. 28 @ Aston Rink 2
1 vs 4 @ 2 p.m.
2 vs 3 @ 5:15 p.m.

Finals
Saturday, March 6 @ Aston Rink 2
7 p.m.

For more information click here.

Click here for more information.

Of the more than 10,000 book titles, genres will include everything from romance to murder mystery, biographies to sports, historical fiction to cook books. The sale, which features book donations by faculty, staff and students, is open to the public. Proceeds will benefit GSA's future programs.

The Spring Speaker Series features business, policy and university leaders discussing the sustainable use of resources by consumers, commerce and government. From transportation, construction, shopping and recycling considerations, to business innovation and policy deliberations, the series seeks to educate students and the community about the importance and possibilities surrounding energy usage and resource sustainability.

Tuesday, February 23
“Energy and the Environment: Trends, Technologies and Barriers to Environmental Sustainability”
Yvette Brown, Executive Vice President, Clean Markets
A discussion on energy policy, business practices, and technology with the goal of situating where the U.S. is now in relation to countries around the world. Clean Markets is a company that "brings together nearly 50 years of combined experience in the nation’s energy and environmental sectors, both public and private, to help clients develop and grow viable business and government initiatives," according to its Web site.
11:30 a.m.
Tomezsko Classroom Building, room 103

Wednesday, April 7
“Green Building”
Gary Saulson, Director of Corporate Real Estate, PNC Financial Services Group
A discussion of the positive economic and productivity impact of “Green (Sustainable) Buildings” and why building green makes sense for corporate America.
6:30 p.m.
Tomezsko Classroom Building, room 103

Do you have a digital camera that you can't figure out how to use? Or maybe you simply want to perfect your photography skills?

Next Thursday, February 11, 11:30 a.m., Professor Mike De Rosa will hold a photography lecture for student Teron Meyers' Honors Thesis Project "Cultivating the Arts at Brandywine."

Is there a spring flower photo of which you're especially proud? Or maybe a beautiful beach shot? Perhaps you braved the cold winter snow storm to capture the chill this season? Submit your favorite photo to Teron at tam5086@psu.edu for review and to be considered for display on campus for everyone to admire. The theme for these submissions is "The Natural World," so go digging for your old photos or start snapping.

Following the photography lecture, photo submissions will be selected by faculty judges to be displayed in a small exhibition in an effort to beautify the campus and engage students to share their creativity.

To schedule a financial aid appointment, please call 610-892-1262.

Due to the weather, Penn State Brandywine has postponed its second annual Beef and Beverage fundraiser until Friday, March 5. Time of the event remains the same, 7-11p.m. but the venue has changed. The new location is the Austin Room, Lia's Catering, 3729 Chichester Ave, Boothwyn. The venue is just down the road from the Ballrooms at Boothwyn. The good news is you have an extra week to purchase chances for the fabulous baskets, beach getaway, and Phillies tickets!

Driving directions from I-95
take Exit 1 (near Delaware border) at Chichester Avenue.
Turn onto Chichester Avenue heading INTO Chichester, not towards the river!  Travel 1.1 miles (crossing over Meeting House Road).  Just beyond the light at Mill Road is the Austin Room on the RIGHT (red sign).  The front of the building has "IBEW Local #654" on the side.  Austin Room is the second double-door entrance.  Lots of parking in rear.

Look for the blue balloons!

The event will feature a drawing for more than 40 baskets, including chances to win a special basket for an off-season weekend in Avalon, N.J. and a Phillies basket with a pair of tickets to one game, among other Phillies items. Chances may be purchased for 10 baskets in advance of the event. At the end of the event, drawings will determine the winner of each basket. Those who purchase chances in advance are not required to attend in order to win.

Those who wish to contribute but are unable to attend can support the event by making a donation. All donor names will be listed in the event's program booklet, given to all attendees. This event is sponsored by the Penn State Brandywine Constituents' Society and the Penn State Brandywine Faculty and Staff Capital Campaign Committee.

To purchase tickets or make a contribution, contact Gail Wray at 610-892-1472 or gbw1@psu.edu or Theresa Walls at 610-892-1362 or txw4@psu.edu. For more information, click here. 

You also can get regular updates and information by becoming our fan on Facebook! Simply click here.
 
For more than 40 years, Penn State Brandywine, located at 25 Yearsley Mill Road in Media, has provided its students with the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate, club and intramural sports. The campus offers four-year eligibility in all six of its varsity sports.

"Every good thing starts with a dream and my dream is …" read the first line of every book, each followed by colorful illustrations and imaginations running wild on the pages made with recycled paper and cereal boxes, bound together with anything from yarn to popsicle sticks. The books will be given to various elementary schools, including Westbrook Park Elementary, for their libraries or classrooms.

One eight-year-old volunteer had dreams beyond her years, hoping "all homeless people will have homes." Another volunteer dreamed of helping sick people, while a 22-year-old author wished that all people would be treated with respect.

There was one recurring dream among the volunteers: world peace. "I have a dream and my dream is for everyone to get along and not fight," a thoughtful nine-year-old dreamer wrote. "World peace would bring joy to families everywhere … We need to work together to make the world a better place."

Most of the books told uplifting stories about beating the odds, Amanda Moser, the event's coordinator said. Throughout the day "I heard people say that making the books was a lot harder than they thought," she said. Mostly because they had to come up with the stories on their own. "But everyone put a lot of effort into it and each book was unique and special."

Volunteer Sally Hanson, of Dowingtown, illustrated her creative flip-book with her dream "to travel on a road which is rooted in love."

Another book, filled from cover to cover in colorful illustration, explored a dream that hit home for members of the campus. This creative volunteer shared dreams of "a world where everyone has access to a quality primary education, regardless of where they are born or how much money their parents have."

As the AmeriCorps Pennsylvania Campus Compact (PACC) VISTA in charge of developing and supporting community service, service-learning and civic engagement programs on campus, Moser has a number of literacy initiatives planned for the campus, including the Lion Lit Tutoring Program, which will recruit Penn State Brandywine students to act as literacy tutors for elementary-age students at partnering schools, set to launch in the coming weeks.

"The students will act as role models and also provide the academic encouragement some of these [elementary] students need," she said.

Junior Martina Gill, of Avondale, covers Student Affairs Director Matthew Shupp, of Philadelphia, in sugary goodness in the name of pediatric cancer at Penn State Brandywine's Annual THON Silent Auction to raise money for pediatric cancer research January 20 on campus.

Penn State Brandywine will host expert Erik Foley as he discusses "Catching the Green Wave: A Fresh Look at Sustainable Living," at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 in the Tomezsko Classroom Building, room 103. The discussion, which is free and open to the public, is the first of several as part of the campus' Spring Speaker Series, Footpaths and Footprints: Discussions on Environmental Resource Sustainability.

Foley, director of the University’s Campus Sustainability Office, will be joined by Lisa Yerges, director of business services at Penn State Brandywine, as she explores the campus' on-going "green" initiatives and helps set goals the campus community can strive to reach together.

Foley founded and directed the award-winning Renewable Energy Center at Saint Francis University, which continues to feature several statewide projects in community-based renewable energy development. His 14 years of experience in the environmental field has taken him from the Alaskan bush to Paraguay, to inner city Seattle and rural Pennsylvania.

A native of Montana, Foley has degrees in environmental studies and sociology as well as an M.B.A. He has served on several state and national boards and committees, such as the American Council on Renewable Energy's Communications Committee.

The Spring Speaker Series features business, policy and university leaders discussing the sustainable use of resources by consumers, commerce and government. From transportation, construction, shopping and recycling considerations, to business innovation and policy deliberations, the series seeks to educate students and the community about the importance and possibilities surrounding energy usage and resource sustainability. 

An exploration of how stormwater basins can be designed or redesigned to successfully use native plants to control stormwater, improve appearance, improve water quality and create needed habitat will be offered at Penn State Brandywine on Sunday, February 14, at 2 p.m. in the Tomezsko Classroom Building, room 103.

The talk, titled “Natural Landscaping of Stormwater Basins," will be led by Vice President of Princeton Hydro Mark Gallagher, and is jointly sponsored by Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association (CRC), Habitat Resource Network and the campus.

During his demonstration, Gallagher will refer to requirements of Pennsylvania’s new stormwater regulations as well as ecological sustainability concerns championed by renowned author and University of Delaware professor Doug Tallamy, who spoke at Penn State Brandywine last year. The program will assist homeowners and associations who desire to improve the functioning and appearance of their own basins, swales, slopes and low-lying areas, as well as municipalities and institutions desiring to meet water quality standards by redesigning these areas. A discussion of common problems related to the design and maintenance of stormwater management practices, including swales and dry and wet basins, will also be provided.

Penn State Brandywine holds a stormwater management permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This program, which is free and open to the public, supports the campus' outreach efforts, as required by the DEP, to raise public awareness concerning stormwater management.

Space is limited, so reservations are recommended. Contact CRC at crc@nni.com or 610-892-8731. For more information, visit www.crcwatersheds.org or www.habitatresourcenetwork.org.

Cinq was formed through a collaboration of the campus' Student Government Association and its student-run Society of Caribbean Americans (SOCA) in an effort to raise money and supply basic needs to Haitians.
 
The students are asking for donations of just five dollars or aid in the form of basic goods, such as soap, clothing, bottled water, baby diapers, deodorant, toothpaste and brushes, baby food and formula, canned foods and medical supplies. All donations, whether monetary or other, will be given directly to UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund).

For more information on Cinq or how to donate, contact Brittney Walker at bvw5024@psu.edu or Kelly-Ann Woods at klw5255@psu.edu.

"Cold" is the word around campus these days as temperatures recently dropped well into the teens. But research scientist Timothy Grabowski is likely to feel right at home on Wednesday, Jan. 20 as he visits Penn State Brandywine to discuss his cod research in Reykjavik, Iceland, a place where temperatures rarely reach 60 degrees, even in July.

"Cod move in mysterious ways: divergence and diversity within the Icelandic cod stock" will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Tomezsko Building, room 101.

A researcher with a Ph.D. in Zoology and a love for all things fish, Grabowski will share his experiences in the icy country as he explores these mystifying movements of cod. With research projects from Georgia to Texas, and of course, at the Institute of Biology at the University of Iceland, Grabowski will discuss his research group's exploration of the diversity within the Icelandic cod stock and its implications to management.

This presentation is free and open to the public. For more information about Grabowski's research, visit http://notendur.hi.is/tbg/.

Attendees at the annual event can bid on their favorite items and day-trips, including tickets to the Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum, Winterthur Museum, Eastern State Penitentiary, People's Light & Theater Co., passes to Jack Frost/Big Boulder and a Healing Hands massage, to name a few.

And to spice up this year's event, the students have added games for all ages, a variety of foods and even lowered the admission price. Admission to the event is two dollars and will include popcorn, snow cones, other carnival-themed foods, arts and crafts and face painting. There will also be a THON Idol competition, a DJ and maybe even some messy games like throwing pies at Penn State Brandywine staff or faculty members and creating human sundaes.

There will be stations where people can create mail to send to this year's THON dancers to keep them going during the annual dance marathon at University Park and cards for children being treated for pediatric cancer at the Hershey Medical Center.

The campus' THON members will sell T-shirts and provide information about THON to anyone interested in learning more about the largest student-run philanthropy in the country. All proceeds from the event will benefit THON.

Guests will even enjoy what's sure to be a colorful visit from a well-known guest branded by his crazy, outgoing personality. He's known throughout the Philadelphia sports world as "Crazy Shaun" or the "superfan." A die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan, Shaun Young, a resident of the campus' hometown of Media, can be found cheering for the home team with his painted game face and a Brian Dawkins jersey ... that is, before the beloved player's move to the Denver Broncos.

"I hope a lot of people come out this year to support THON at the auction. Not just students, but community members too," Campus THON Chair Teron Meyers, a senior from Upper Darby, said. "This is a day of fun, but it's to benefit pediatric cancer. It's for the kids and to help us reach our goal of raising 20,000 dollars this academic year."

For more information on the event, contact Meyers at tam5086@psu.edu.

Appointments must be made ahead of time by calling 1-877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258) or by going to the following Web site:  http://www.h1n1inpa.com/.  Preregistration for the vaccine is required.

Penn State Brandywine is located at 25 Yearsley Mill Rd. (off Route 352, also known as Middletown Rd.), Media, Pa. 19063.
Note: please use Campus Drive entrance located at the traffic light on Route 352.

For directions to the Penn State Brandywine campus, click here.

Penn State Brandywine will host its annual, free fall festival known as Penn State Day on Saturday, Oct. 16.

The carnival-themed event will feature a 5K "Dash and Walk" around the campus sponsored by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce (8:00 a.m. registration, 10:00 a.m. start, $25 registration fee) and a Penn State Brandywine soccer game (1:00 p.m. start).

For high schoolers considering college at Penn State Brandywine, there will be a morning “Get to Know Us Program” from 10 a.m. to noon. Admissions staff will discuss what it takes to get accepted. Students will learn about the many academic and social opportunities on campus, take part in an application workshop explaining what to do when it's time to apply, and get a student-led tour of the campus .

From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., festival-goers will vote on the best dressed Penn Stater, watch their tots race to the finish line in the Toddler Trot, make funny t-shirts, get cheesy in the photo booth, jam out to live music and enjoy tasty treats on the campus lawn.

All events will be held rain or shine.