IN THE NEWS: Penn State employee Robin Riglin will vie for the hot seat with Regis in tonight's broadcast of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" (ABC-TV), a nationally popular game show. While on maternity leave earlier this year, Riglin, 32, a research administrator in the University's Office of Sponsored Programs, was encouraged by friends and family to compete on the show. She would frequently call the show's toll-free phoneline to challenge the automated fast-finger preliminaries. And, after several trys, she made it to New York City! Check future Newswires for an update.
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL EARNS CYSTIC FIBROSIS ACCREDITATION
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation recently announced that it has named the Penn State Children's Hospital as an accredited center. The designation sends an important signal to staff and patients. "This is really a validation of a program that has grown over many years. It is also a real boost for the many staff members who made this happen," explains W. Stuart Warren, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics and director of the center. "Patients can be assured that this is one of the best programs in the area and that it has now been recognized nationally." Since its inception nine years ago, the program has grown to include 90 patients. The center offers a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, interventional radiology and genetic counseling, which are needed for the comprehensive care of CF patients and are unique to the Central Pennsylvania community. Cystic Fibrosis is one of the most common inherited diseases among Americans. Patients with CF have abnormally thick secretions that block ducts and passageways in the lungs, liver, pancreas and intestinal tract. There is no known cure for the disease. However, advances in the treatment over the past twenty years have produced progressive improvement in the quality of life and an average life expectancy of 30 years. For more on the Children’s Hospital, go to http://www.collmed.psu.edu/pennstatechildrens/index.htm
VOLUNTEERING AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE PENN STATE EXPERIENCE
Instead of visiting friends and family, 25 University students will spend fall break expanding their awareness of social issues through community service in Philadelphia. They will be participating in the second annual Fall Break Urban Experience Service Weekend Oct. 6 to Oct. 9, coordinated by the Council of Lion Hearts, through Penn State's AT&T Center for Service Leadership.
Student involvement in volunteer work and community service is an important educational component at Penn State. A recent University survey indicates that 57 percent of Penn State students have done community volunteering since arriving at the University, at an average of more than 2 hours of volunteer work per week. For full story by Amy Neil, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/fallurban.html
PIPES, DRUMS, HIGHLAND DANCERS COMING TO BJC NOV. 9
The historic Black Watch is coming to the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. The massed bands of Her Majesty’s household cavalry, the Black Watch, is bringing their pipes, drums and highland dancers and will be joined by the Band/Choir of the Prince of Wale’s Division. Established in the 1700s, the Black Watch has served in battle since the American Revolutionary War, including the Crimean War, the Boer War and the first and the First and Second World Wars. It continues to be an active unit of the modern British Army. The Band/Choir was formed in 1994 of several old regimental bands in the Prince of Wales’s Division. In addition to their musical duties, in wartime, the Band also supports the medical services as ambulance drivers and hospital assistants. The concert is sponsored by First Affiliated Investment Group. Tickets go on sale beginning Friday, Oct. 8 at 8 a.m. at the BJC, Eisenhower Auditorium, selected Uni-Mart ticket and Commonwealth Campus ticket outlets. They are also for sale on-line at http://www.bjc.psu.edu.
TICKETS FOR REEVE AVAILABLE
Tickets for the Distinguished Speaker's Series lecture, featuring Christopher Reeve, are now available to the general public at the Eisenhower Auditorium ticket box office. The event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 8 p.m. at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. The event is free, but tickets are required. The Eisenhower box office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Limited tickets may also be available the night of the speech. Star of stage, screen and television, Reeve is best known for his performances in "Deathtrap," "Somewhere in Time," and "Superman" and its sequels. However, since his injury in an equestrian competition in 1995, Reeve has become a powerful spokesperson for people with disabilities.
76ERS TRAINING CAMP OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OCT. 9
The Philadelphia 76ers training camp at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center will be open to the general public on Monday, October 9, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission to the arena and parking are free. Students will be accepting donations outside the Jordan Center for the Four Diamonds Fund, which benefits children with cancer. Special access to the Sixers training camp will also be available at http://www.sixers.com. Training camp updates and behind-the-scenes photos will be available on the Sixers' website so fans can get an exclusive look from the Jordan Center as the Sixers prepare for the 2000-2001 season. For more on the Bryce Jordan Center, go to http://www.bjc.psu.edu
DRUM MAJOR NEEDS YOUR HELP IN ESPN POLL
Penn State football fans are proud of the rich tradition associated with autumn Saturdays in Beaver Stadium. Among those traditions is the Penn State Blue Band and the drum major flip that sends more than 96,000 fans into a frenzy at the start of each pre-game band routine. Now is your chance to tell the world that, like the Nittany Lion mascot, the drum major flip ranks No. 1 among college football customs. ESPN.com is currently holding a Tourney of Traditions, which pits the top 16 college football traditions against each other in a playoff, with the fans determining which tradition is the best in the land. As of Thursday morning — the next to last day to vote — Penn State was narrowing the gap on the University of Texas’ "Hook ’Em Horns," but still trailed 49.5 percent to 50.4 percent of the more than 44,948 votes cast. The poll is scheduled to conclude Friday at 5 p.m. EDT. To cast your last-minute vote to help put the drum major over the top, go to http://promotions.go.com/espn/tostitos/frontpage.html