HONORS STUDENTS TACKLE PROBLEMS IN PHILLY PROJECT
For the fourth consecutive year, a Penn State geography professor and a group of honors students spent part of their summer in Philadelphia, doing what they could to devise practical solutions to inner-city problems. The professor, Lakshman Yapa, has spent the last several years studying the urban environment, and says stakeholders in urban areas need to address how they can help the areas attain a high standard of living despite the limited resources that many possess. Yapa took students from Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College to West Philadelphia, as well as some students from the Penn State Abington campus, to research problems that community members wish to see solved, and to perform hands-on community service. In the past, this has included serving as Big Brother/Big Sister volunteers, working with a homeless shelter for women, teaching computer job skills, growing urban gardens and building Habitat for Humanity homes. For the full story by David Jwanier, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/phillyproj.html
EXPLORE MUSHROOM MYSTERIES AT SHAVER’S CREEK
The Penn State Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center will offer a public workshop on “Mushroom Identification” from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19. The center is located south of State College in Huntingdon County. Designed for those with little or no experience with mushrooms, the program includes a journey through the grounds at Shaver’s Creek as mushroom expert Bill Russell comments on local specimens, including edible ones, covers mushroom mystery and lore, and explains the role of mushrooms in ecology, medicine and food. A follow-up workshop on “More Mushroom Identification” will be held on Sunday, Sept. 23. This session gives new participants a chance to fit mushroom hunting into their busy schedule, and past participants an opportunity to build on the information from the first workshop. Fees for the programs are $10 per person, per workshop, or $8 per person, per workshop for Shaver’s Creek members. For more information, or to preregister, call (814) 863-2000 or (814) 667-3424. The center is on the Web at http://www.outreach.psu.edu/ShaversCreek/.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM ADDRESSES ADDICTION CONCERNS
The problem of substance abuse and addiction can be as complex as it is devastating. There is no simple answer, and the intricacies of dealing with the topic can be overwhelming. That’s why Penn State is offering courses designed to help human service professionals better understand the issues involved in dealing with addiction. The 18-credit postbaccalaureate program is designed to provide human service professionals with up-to-date information on chemical dependency and its impact on individuals, families, organizations and the community. It is intended for practicing counselors, social workers, educators, school counselors, student-assistance team members, clergy, health care professionals, military personnel, corrections personnel and others who work with people affected by or at risk for chemical dependency. Students can opt for an emphasis in treatment or prevention. For more information about the courses, contact Angela Hess at (814) 865-3443 or mailto:amh9@outreach.psu.edu; or visit http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/pub/chemdep/index.shtml.
PSU SEEKING STADIUM WORKERS FOR FOOTBALL SEASON
Individuals or groups interested in serving as ushers, parking lot attendants or gatepersons at Beaver Stadium for the 2001 Penn State football season may sign up in person, by mail or by telephone before the September 1 opener with Miami. Prospective employees must be 16 years of age. Groups may work at the stadium and donate their salaries to a charity or non-profit association. Applications for employment are accepted in person at 103 Bryce Jordan Center, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and by mail to Stadium Operations, 103 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA 16802. Telephone inquiries can be made through the Beaver Stadium InfoLine at (814) 863-8980. Stadium employees receive a complimentary game ticket and parking as part of their compensation package. For more information, visit
http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=1383.