Awards
Penn State Intercom......M ay 23, 2002

Commonwealth College names
Penn Staters of the Quarter

The following people are Penn Stater of the Quarter recipients for January through March.

Beaver: Irene Wolf, instructor in philosophy. Wolf organized the first Undergraduate Research Fair, which was well-attended by students, faculty and staff members. The fair included nine students with poster presentations and seven students with oral presentations. Three scholarship awards were presented to the winners.

Delaware County: Karen Hanser and Jean Palladino, staff assistants in the Finance Office. Hanser and Palladino received the award for their assertive, courteous and unceasing effort in contacting scheduled students and moving them into registered status during January. The scheduled list went from 451 students to 69 students by the end of January, due largely to their contributions.

DuBois: Shelly Luchini, staff assistant in admissions. Luchini was involved in making improvements in the campus admissions process. She helped to develop new telecounseling initiatives, helped to develop the Admissions Web site and helped to develop the new visitation brochure and out-of-state student booklet. Luchini also represented the campus on weekends and evenings by staffing the University booth at area job fairs and expos.

Fayette: William V. Hager, Instructional Services and computer support assistant. Hager has been a leader and key resource in efforts to revamp Fayette's Web site over the past few months. In addition, he provided unexpected assistance for the THON team, further illustrating his willingness to work above and beyond his normal responsibilities.

Hazleton: David Orbin, assistant professor of science. Orbin was chosen for the many roles he has played on campus. In addition to his faculty duties, Orbin has been a member of the Technology Committee, the Technology Club adviser and was chair for the Strategic Planning committee.

McKeesport: Thomas Riley, admissions officer. In addition to his regular work in the admissions office, Riley developed a staff new-hire checklist, worked on a Web-based, new employee orientation program and participated on a committee to update the campus home page. All this was accomplished while being enrolled in a doctoral program.

Mont Alto: Shirley Ketrow Crawford, staff assistant in Academic Affairs. Ketrow has provided outstanding service to the Mont Alto faculty on a regular and ongoing basis. During this quarter, she provided excellent service by assisting one of the faculty in obtaining the necessary equipment for a courses offered in the spring semester.

New Kensington: Joan Begolly, instructor in mechanical engineering. Begolly was selected for her positive role in working with young women in the engineering field. Noteworthy are her activities with the high-school focused Females Interested in Reaching for Science, Technology and Engineering, the Society of Women Engineers and Women in Science and Engineering.

Shenango: Dan Styduhar, senior instructor in engineering. Styduhar served as chair of the Campus Executive Officer Search Committee. He was a campus leader in organizing and preparing for committee meetings and interviews, and played host to all of the candidates. During the spring semester, he provided oversight for a class project that received publicity in the local news media.

University Park: Beth Witter, staff assistant at the Royer Center. Witter assumed job responsibilities for both the Royer Center and the newly formed Information Technology Management unit. She performed the work with a consistent level of excellence, professionalism and competency.

Wilkes-Barre: John Swayze, area representative. Swayze generated significant activity for Continuing Education while performing his regular duties of program development and marketing to new clients. In addition, Swayze's office showed significant increases in graduate credit enrollments, student credit hours and income.

Worthington Scranton: Allison Brundage, admissions counselor, and Sue Safko, staff assistant in the admissions office. Since the retirement of the registrar, each staff member has worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the various admissions, registration and scheduling functions. They excelled in customer service and worked diligently with prospective students.

York: Rachel Lehr, library assistant. During the quarter, Lehr continued her excellent performance in locating library materials for faculty and students accurately and on time. Lehr also provided these services to members of the greater York community, thereby increasing the community service role of the campus.

Faculty, staff win
accolades at Harrisburg

Penn State Harrisburg recently announced the winners of its annual faculty and staff awards during campus ceremonies.

The following employees were honored:

* Nancy L. Leister, staff assistant in the Office of Student Activities, was presented the Staff Service Award, established to recognize extraordinary service to the college.

* Robert D. Russell, assistant professor of management in the School of Business Administration, earned the Faculty Service Award, which recognizes extraordinary service to the public and the University. Russell's work as co-chair of the Capital College Strategic Planning Steering Group was singled out in the presentation of the award.

* Maria A. "Toni" DuPont-Morales, associate professor of criminal justice, was named winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award. Candidates are evaluated by a campuswide committee on the basis of demonstrated excellence and lasting impact in the areas of general teaching, academic advising, overall career guidance, enthusiasm and commitment.

* Yuefeng Xie, associate professor of environmental engineering, earned the Excellence in Research Award. Xie, a faculty member in the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, is respected internationally for his research on water chemistry related to disinfection byproducts. A major portion of his work focuses on wastewater treatment using crumb rubber.

Roy C. Buck Award goes
to Charles Youmans

Charles Youmans, assistant professor of music, was awarded the 2002 Roy C. Buck Award in the College of Arts and Architecture at the college's awards ceremony.

The Roy C. Buck Award is granted each year to a tenure-track faculty member who has published a refereed article in a scholarly
journal within the past four years.

Youman's article, "The Private Intellectual Context of Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra," was chosen for its depth of research and the clarity with which Youmans presented his ideas. The article was published in the fall 1998 issue of 19th Century Music.

Towns Awards presented
at Capital Campus

The Capital College Liaison Committee to the University Commission for Women has announced three recipients of the 2002 Kathryn Towns Women's History Month Award.

At Schuylkill, Campus Health Services Nurse Linda Fehr was honored for being an "instrumental voice in addressing student health issues for more than 25 years." Fehr's approach to open discussion on contemporary student health issues as well as her community service as adviser to the United Minority Leaders Organization were cited in describing her service. Fehr retired from the University on March 31.

Schuylkill education major Veronica Kneal also was recognized. Kneal is enrolled in the Honors Program, as well as active in Lion Ambassadors, Future Educators and the Adult Student Organization. She is a dean's list student. Kneal was recognized for her work with the "I Am Every Woman" Women's History Month Program at Schuylkill and her work with Schuylkill County Women in Crisis.

Harrisburg's honoree was Marylou Martz, coordinator of Student Health Services. Martz was cited for her work as the Liaison Committee's first chair and for her leadership for nutrition, healthful choices and responsible living for all members of the community as well as for her advocacy in issues relating to women's health and well-being.

Staff assistant cited
as adult learners' mentor

Jacki Mowery, staff assistant in the Adult Center at Penn State Altoona, has been honored with the 2002 Outstanding Mentor for Adult Learners Award.

The Eta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL) at University Park and the Commission for Adult Learners made the designation.

In her eight years at the Adult Center, Mowery has helped innumerable adult learners in making the transition back into the classroom to continue their education. An adult learner herself, Mowery is a role model for many of the students who visit the Adult Center.

This semester Mowery reactivated Altoona's Family Fun Night that offers a Friday evening program of activities for adult learners and their family members. About 80 people took advantage of the athletic complex and interacted over refreshments. She also has provided active support to the leaders of ANTS (the Association of Non-Traditional Students) and the Altoona chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, the adult honor society.

She has been an active participant in recruiting students for Altoona and has helped prospective adult learners with the application process.

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