2009feb9journaldraft1.qxp:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 2/4/09 1:31 PM Page 1

California University

VOLUME 11, NUMBER 5 FEBRUARY 9, 2009

It’s Official: Cal U is StormReady
Only two universities in state have earned
National Weather Service designation

A

fter making their way through a
morning snowstorm, three
meteorologists from the
National Weather Service visited
California University for a ceremony ®
recognizing its status as a StormReady
University.
®
StormReady is the National
Weather Service’s nationwide program
to promote communication, planning
and response to severe weather
emergencies. Cal U is one of only two
universities in Pennsylvania to achieve
the designation.
To be StormReady, a university must
meet preparedness criteria outlined by
the National Weather Service and state
and local emergency managers. The
university must have a 24-hour warning
and emergency operations center; more
than one way to receive severe weather
forecasts and to alert the public; a system
that monitors local weather conditions; a
plan to promote the importance of
public readiness; and a formal hazardous

weather plan, which includes training
severe weather spotters and holding
emergency exercises.
At the ceremony in the Cal U
Weather Center, meteorologist-in-charge
Christopher Strager presented President
Angelo Armenti, Jr. with two
StormReady signs and a certificate
recognizing the University’s status.
“Truly this is a testament to your
commitment, and that of the staff,
students and the university to keep
everyone safe and prepared for all types
of weather threats,” Strager said.
Cal U is the first StormReady
University within the area covered by the
NWS office in Pittsburgh, he added.
Accompanying Strager were
meteorologists Richard Kane and
Rodney Smith. Kane started the
application process with Cal U, and
Smith performed the site visit.
President Armenti praised Cal U
students Amanda Smith and Kevin
Lowrie, who interned at the National

Christopher Strager, meteorologist-in-charge for the National Weather Service (left) was
proud to recognize Cal U as an official StormReady University. Holding the certificate of
recognition is Amanda Smith, Cal U meteorology and GIS major, with Cal U President
Angelo Armenti, Jr.

Weather Service and played a pivotal
role in applying for the designation. Also
recognized were Earth Sciences faculty
members Drs. Chad Kauffman and Tom

Mueller, former faculty member Jamie
Mitchem, interim Cal U police chief Jim
Hansen and Sharon Elkettani, Cal’s
— continued on page 2

Christopher Clark
Cracks PSAC Top 10
Nathan James, the 2004
Pittsburgh Poetry Slam
champion who is
ranked as one of the
top 25 poets in the
nation by “Poetry Slam
Inc.,” will be part of Cal
U’s Black History Month
celebration. He will
perform in the Gold
Rush Room at 9 p.m. on
Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Events set for
Black History Month

C

alifornia University of Pennsylvania will celebrate Black
History Month with an array of campus activities and a
trip to the Freedom Center Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The month’s keynote event will be a talk by Jonathan Kozol,
an author and education advocate. Kozol will discuss
educational inequalities and the resurgence of segregation in
“The Shame of the Nation,” set for 6 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Steele
Hall Mainstage Theatre. A book signing will follow.
Other on-campus events include a jewelry-making workshop,
a relationship forum, a soul food dinner and a poetry slam
featuring actor, activist and spoken-word poet Nathan James.
A complete schedule of Black History Month activities is
available. Campus events are free; the Cal U community and the
public are welcome.
A trip to the Freedom Center Museum also is open both to
Cal U students and to community members. Bus departs at 6
a.m. Feb. 14 for stops at the museum, the East Gate Mall and
dinner at the Golden Corral. Cost is $15 for students, $25 for
others; ticket price includes transportation and admission to all
sites and dinner.
Black History Month began with Dr. Carter G. Woodson,
— continued on page 3

M

en’s cross country All-American Christopher
Clark was selected as one of the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s
Fall 2008 Top 10 honorees.
Clark, a graduate student, is the first cross
country runner in Vulcan history to earn the
honor since its inception in the 1997-98 academic year.
Overall, he is the 13th Cal U student-athlete to
receive the PSAC Top 10 Award and the first since track
and field star Brad Rager, who made the 2006 winter list.
The PSAC Top 10 Awards recognize student-athletes
who excel in both the classroom and in competition. The
awards recognize 10 outstanding student-athletes, five male
and five female, for each athletic season – fall, winter and
spring.
To be a candidate for the PSAC Top 10 Awards, a student-athlete must have achieved a minimum of a 3.25 cumuA strong finisher
lative grade-point average and must be a starter or key
in the classroom
reserve with legitimate athletic credentials for his or her team.
and on the cross
A native of Hadley, Pa., Clark became the fourth cross
country course,
All-American
country All-American in school history and the first in more
Christopher
than 20 years after finishing fourth at the 2008 National
Clark is the 13th
Cal U studentChampionships despite falling at the start.
athlete to
Earlier last fall Clark won individual titles at the PSAC
receive the
Championships and NCAA Atlantic Regional contest, setting
PSAC Top 10
Award.
course records at both races. For his efforts, Clark received U.S.
Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Atlantic
Regional and PSAC Athlete of the Year honors.
In the classroom, Clark boasts a perfect 4.0 while pursuing a master’s degree in exercise science. He finished his undergraduate degree in
secondary education/biology with a cumulative 3.57 GPA.
“I would say he’s the total package, and I don’t mean that lightly,”
said Dan Caulfield, Cal U’s men’s and women’s cross country head
coach. “I have yet to meet an individual who is as disciplined and driven as
Chris is. I don’t see him not being successful in anything he tries to do in this world.”

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Alumni Return for Basketball Games, Festivities
Dr. Gary Kennedy, Nancy Skobel
Named Alumnus, Alumna of Year

N

Above: James Hairston, a standout on the Vulcans’ 2008 NCAA “Elite Eight” team, moves
past a defender during the alumni baksetball contest on Jan. 24. He scored 11 points and
helped the white team jerseys win for the third time in four years.
Below: Enjoying a moment during a reception during the 10th annual Basketball Alumni Day
festivities are James Zell ’39, veteran head men’s basketball coach Bill Brown, 2009
basketball alumnus of the year recipient Dr. Gary Kennedy ’58, and Cal U President Angelo
Armenti, Jr.

Cal U is officially StormReady

early 100 former basketball
players and supporters of the
program returned to campus
Jan. 24 for the 10th annual Cal U
Basketball Alumni Day.
The event culminated with a home
varsity doubleheader against Edinboro.
The men’s alumni game was
followed by a reception and the
announcement of the Basketball
Alumnus and Alumna of the Year.
Award winners were emeritus Professor
Dr. Gary Kennedy ’58 and longtime Cal
U employee Nancy Skobel ’87.
Special recognition was given to
James Zell ’39, who came from Florida
to take part in the festivities.
Kennedy taught at Cal U for 37
years. He was the elementary education
department’s chairman for 20 years
before he retired in 1999.
“When I first got here, Gary
Kennedy and Tony Saludis came to see
me and welcome me to California,” said
Bill Brown, Cal U’s 13th-year head
men’s basketball coach. Saludis, also an
emeritus professor of elementary
education, was the 2005 Basketball
Alumnus of the Year.
“Every time I have had a charity or
fundraising event, they have always
supported them,” Brown said of the
pair. “It tells me a great deal when you
have current and former professors who
want to be involved with the studentathletes. I could not think of anyone
more deserving of this award then Gary
Kennedy, who means so much to our
program.”
At the 2008 President’s Gala,
Kennedy received an Emeriti Faculty
Award for his support of Cal U.
“I am grateful and honored to
receive this award,” Kennedy said.
“When you see great coaches like the
ones we have here putting forth such a
great effort to having successful
programs and winning traditions, it
does not take much motivation on my
part or other members of the Sixth
Man (Booster) Club to do what we can
to help that winning tradition
continue.”
Annie Malkowiak ’94, ’96, director
of athletic promotions and the first

Basketball Alumna of the Year
selection, praised Skobel for her work as
president of the women’s basketball’s
Fastbreak Booster Club. Skobel also is
director of the PEACE (Prevention,
Education, Advocacy, for Change and
Empowerment) Project and Women’s
Center at Cal U.
“When you are talking about
Alumna of the Year, you look for
somebody first and foremost that has
Cal women’s basketball at heart … and
that’s Nancy,” said Malkowiak,
speaking on behalf of head coach
Heather Kearney. “She’s been a nonplaying pioneer for this program since
she’s been at this university. Nancy’s
been very active with our program,
extremely dedicated and put a lot of
time in to it. It was only fitting that she
get the award this year.”
Zell is a 1998 Cal U Hall of Fame
inductee who regularly returns to his
alma mater for the basketball gathering.
He was given a framed picture of Old
Main.
“I loved this school when I came in
here in 1935, and I love it today,” said
Zell, who called his hall of fame
induction the biggest honor of his life.
“It’s just a real pleasure to be here with
the new grads and the old-timers. Cal
has meant so much to me my whole
life.”
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. closed
the reception, joking that within three
years returning basketball alumni
players can play their annual game in
the newly approved Convocation Center
in front of 6,000 seats, if not quite as
many fans.
“We get so much positive publicity
from athletics, which makes young
people want to come here,” President
Armenti said. “As we try to do with
everything, we strive very hard to make
our athletic programs the best that they
can possibly be. We look forward to you
coming back every year for this
wonderful day.”
In the alumni game, the white
jerseys withstood an intense rally by the
black jerseys to win 106-101. Dontay
Hardnett earned Most Valuable Player
honors after scoring 18 points.

Smash the Cards, Cal U Style ...

— continued from page 1
director of environmental health and
safety.
The President emphasized the
Weather Center’s key role in helping
Cal U to meet the StormReady
guidelines and noted that the GIS Club
purchased weather radios that receive
severe weather forecasts and warnings.
“There is an old saying: ‘Everybody
talks about the weather, but nobody
does anything about it.’ At Cal U,
that’s not entirely true,” President
Armenti said. “Two of our students,
and many other people on our campus,
did do something about it. They
believed that Cal U could play a role in
keeping the people of southwestern
Pennsylvania safer through planning,
education and awareness — in short,
by becoming ‘storm ready.’”
Speaking on behalf of the students,
Smith described her desire to “make a
difference.”

2

“I am so proud to go to school here
and work with such a dedicated group
of students who are trying to make
things better,” she said. “Being named
StormReady is a capstone to my
internship.”
Mueller also praised the students
for their teamwork: “Our students are
amazing. This endeavor shows not only
the excitement on campus from the
students right to the administration but
it talks about the unity of this
university, working together doing what
each of us can to get the job done.”
Strager recalled a situation in
Northwest Ohio last November when a
StormReady alert enabled a movie
theater filled with children and parents
to be evacuated quickly. Minutes later,
a tornado swept a vehicle into the
theater’s front row.
“Being StormReady can and does
save lives,” he said.

California University student Stephen Heisler, president of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity,
takes a super swing at a car painted in Arizona Cardinals colors. Throughout Super Bowl week,
the fraternity invited Steelers fans to ‘Take a Shot at the Arizona Cardinals.’ From 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. daily, students paid $1 to grab a sledgehammer and pound a car painted Cardinals red.
All proceeds benefitted the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The Cal U spirit was
rewarded when the Steelers defeated Arizona, 27-23, to win an unprecedented sixth Super
Bowl championship on Feb. 1.

2009feb9journaldraft1.qxp:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 2/4/09 1:32 PM Page 3

Computer Sciences Student ‘Destined’ for Internship

7

7Most high school students are
uncertain about the future. Not
Richard Beal, 21, of Vanderbilt, Pa.
Now a senior computer science major
at California University of Pennsylvania,
he not only knew what he wanted to do
with his career, he knew where he wanted to do it.
Beal discovered Advanced Acoustic
Concepts Inc., based in Lemont Furnace,
when he was still a teenager. The firm is
a leader in software design and development, and Beal’s dad told him that the
company designs software for the U.S.
Navy.
Intrigued, Beal set up an interview
with an AAC representative while he was
still a student at Uniontown Area High
School. Although he knew that obtaining
a job was unlikely, he went to the interview with a specific goal in mind: to
learn how to get a job with AAC.
Specifically, he wanted to know what
to do in college so he could return in a
few years as an intern.
Two years later, Beal landed that
internship. “I was destined to intern at
AAC,” he said.
Beal began his software engineering
internship with AAC as a Cal U sophomore. He remained with the company
for two summers, completing two 10week programs, and did “everything you
could do with software” – developing,
testing and documenting it, as well as
writing user guides and help manuals that
accompany the programs.
“AAC is a company about hardware
and software, and while I was with it, I
actually produced something,” Beal said.
“The best part of my internship is knowing that my efforts made a difference

Richard Beal, a senior majoring in computer science, dreamed of working for Advanced
Acoustics Concepts Inc. ever since he was in high school. His dream became reality when he
began an internship with the company his sophomore year.

globally.
“Internships in the software field are
notorious for having you work on internal systems that may never be put to
use,” he added. “Instead, I worked on
computer systems for the U.S. Navy, and
it is refreshing to know that, even though
I am still a college student, my work at
AAC was put to good use and was incorporated with the new software installed
on naval assets.”
In addition to letting him see his work
in action, Beal said the internship satis-

fied his thirst for new challenges.
“I always have to have something new
and different to try, something that forces
me to be creative,” he said. “Creativity
drives me.”
As the internship coordinator for the
computer science department, Dr.
George Novak is in constant contact with
many student interns. Beal, he said, is
among the best he’s seen.
“Richard is very bright, outgoing and
ambitious,” Novak said. “He has a great
personality, is well liked by his professors

and his peers, and is a fine representation
of this school.”
Because of his outstanding performance with AAC, Beal was awarded the
Cal U Co-op/Internship Student of the
Year Award for students studying in a
technical field. The award is given by Cal
U Career Services.
“It shows that not only do I think
well of him, the school and the committee who chose him do as well,” Novak
said.
“Knowing Richard, he will get hired
by Advanced Acoustics or another company and he will work up to an extremely
good position,” Novak added. “I know
he has a lot of good thoughts about Cal
U, and he will come back to help other
students get internships and experiences
like his.”
Beal expects to graduate in May with
a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
“I have a lot to offer a company,” he
said. “I can create reliable software, write
user manuals, and prove to my fellow
workers that my software works. I have a
lot of potential, and now the only question is ‘What do I do with it?’”
As one of the founding members of
the Internship Ambassadors Club, Beal
encourages other students in his field to
attain internships, too.
“I highly recommend AAC’s internship program to others because the experience allows you to explore the field of
computing from a company that revolves
around computing,” he said.
“Working with a company exclusively
dedicated to your field can help you
define your profession and begin your
career.”

Assembled Staff Hears Positive Report
President Delivers Good News at Spring Staff Convocation

E

One of the initial events during Cal U’s
celebration of Black History Month
was a presentation by the Rev.
Michael Robinson, a widely known
motivational speaker who visited the
Cal U campus on Feb. 2.

Black History
Month Events Set
— continued from page 1
who organized the first Negro History
Week in 1926. It was held during the
second week of February to coincide
with the birthdays of Frederick
Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two
men who had made an enormous
impact on blacks in America.
Eventually, it evolved into a monthlong celebration of African-American
history and achievements.
For more information, contact Dr.
Kelton Edmonds (edmonds_k@cup.edu),
Cindy Speer (speer@cup.edu) or
Timothy Williams (wil2436@cup.edu) at
724-938-4054.

ven in hard economic times, the
mood of the 2009 Spring Staff
Convocation was upbeat as a
scholarship student described her “good
fortune” and President Angelo
Armenti, Jr. said the University is
“doing well.”
Katie Mercadante, who is studying
secondary earth and space science and
meteorology with a minor in GIS and
emergency management, spoke to the
staff at the annual event.
The recipient of several scholarships, Mercadante helped to organize
StormFest, an educational program for
middle school students presented in
partnership with the Carnegie Science
Center in Pittsburgh. Consequently, she
was one of five students selected to give
an oral presentation last summer at the
National Weather Association conference in Louisville, Ky.
“I cannot begin to describe the feeling of giving a presentation in front of
over 200 professionals,” Mercadante
said.
“I have had the good fortune of
attending a University that believes in
its students and encourages them to
pursue their dreams. Additionally, we
have generous benefactors who allow
students to receive scholarships that
help them to pursue these dreams. By
paying it forward, we allow others to
leave their marks, as well, and to reach
for and achieve more than they ever
thought possible.”
As he does at each Convocation,
President Armenti addressed a number

“Our success is predicated
on what you do. All of you
play an important role
... I am happy to have
all of you here.”
— President Armenti

As he does at each Convocation,
President Armenti addressed a number
of university, including Cal U’s current
enrollment, performance funding,
privatization and the University’s master
plan.

of university topics, including Cal U’s
current enrollment, performance funding, privatization and the University’s
master plan. The slides used during his
presentation are available in the public
folders section of the University website.
President Armenti discussed the
“new reality” facing Cal U and
Pennsylvania’s 13 other state-owned
universities as state funding declines.
“We need to … begin functioning

more and more like the private institution that we are inexorably being forced
to become,” he said. “We need to do
this so we can compete successfully in
this rapidly arriving future environment.”
Despite a shaky national economy,
the report was positive: Cal U’s total
enrollment increased by about 4 percent
this semester, President Armenti said,
and applications are up by 15 percent
over last year’s Jan. 1 figures, exceeding
both the state and national averages. In
addition, the average SAT score of
incoming first-time, full-time baccalaureate degree-seeking students has
increased to 1028 — a jump of more
than 100 points over the past 15 years.
Increasing scholarship dollars and
alumni participation remain two crucial
goals, but overall, President Armenti
said, “ we are doing well.”
He praised the staff for its part in
helping Cal U thrive.
“Our success is predicated on what
you do,” the President said. “All of you
play an important role. … I am happy
to have all of you here.”

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Weather
or not ...
Kayla Havavan (right) helps a
future scientist create a lava
lamp from a mixture of
chemicals and a water bottle
during the Stormfest
activities at the Carnegie
Science Center. Cal U Earth
Science students
volunteered at the two-day
annual event and developed
more than 25 other activities
to teach children about the
science behind common and
uncommon weather and
natural phenomena.

Businessman Wins Medallion

In Brief

P

PASSHE schools raise $52M

ennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities raised a record $52 million in private
donations during the 2007-08 fiscal year.Officials from the Pennsylvania State
System of Higher Education said that amount is about 20 percent more than the
universities raised in the previous year.
In contrast, the total market value of the schools’ endowments declined during
the same period, from $240 million to $227 million.
Roughly one-third of the contributions came from university alumni, while
individuals donated 18 percent and organizations and corporations contributed 17
percent each. Most of the gifts were designated for specific purposes, such as
scholarships or campus construction and renovation projects.
PASSHE officials say the fundraising totals do not reflect the national economic
downturn that occurred during the second half of 2008.

Cal U Professor’s Design Stands Out

R

obert Meyers, an assistant professor in Cal U’s Department of Art and Design,
has learned that five projects designed by his firm are being published in
American Corporate Identity 2009.
The winning designs include an event identity for First Night Pittsburgh and the
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, a corporate identity for O’Toole + Company, a series of
five logo designs for Three Dog Creative, and a business card and moving
announcement for Robert Meyers Design.
American Corporate Identity 2009 selected the five projects through a national,
juried competition with more than 10,000 entries.
Meyers’ work has appeared in six American Corporate Identity annuals since
1999 and received 24 Awards of Excellence. Meyers joined the Cal U faculty this
academic year.

I

n recognition of his exemplary
dedication and support of his alma
mater, Len Keller ’61 has been
awarded California University’s
Medallion of Distinction Award.
The award is presented to alumni who
have distinguished themselves and
brought credit to the University through
their professional and personal
achievements.
A highly successful businessman,
Keller is a semi-retired sales consultant
with Triumph Learning, the largest
publisher of test preparation materials for
state-mandated tests for grades K-12. The
firm develops and distributes the widely
used Coach™ series for test programs in
25 states.
Keller has supported a number of

scholarships for Cal U students, including
the Michael Keller Memorial Scholarship
and three school district scholarships.
“Len has long been a model business
leader whose dealings with the
community at large have been something
we here at Cal U admire,” said Cal U
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. “Only a
handful of our 53,000 alumni have
received the Medallion of Distinction
award, and Len is very deserving of this
honor. Students are the ultimate
benefactors of his generosity, and we are
thankful to call Len one of our own.”
Keller and another distinguished
alumnus, Dr. Harry E. Serene ’65, were
reappointed to serve their second threeyear terms on the University’s Alumni
Association Board of Directors.

Deadline Near for FPDC nominations

F

eb. 16 is the deadline to nominate a faculty member for the Faculty
Professional Development Committee’s 2009 merit award. Each FPDC
Subcommittee — Research, Teaching and Learning, Technology, Service and
Service-Learning, and Grants and Contracts — offers a $1,000 award that can be
used for appropriate professional activities.
The form to nominate a faculty member for the Merit Award can be downloaded
from the FPDC website. Self-nominations for the merit award are also acceptable.
The completed nomination form must be received in the Faculty Center, 134
Azorsky, by noon on Feb. 16.

Len Keller ’61 is all smiles as his grandchildren help him celebrate being awarded the Medallion
of Distinction. Keller also serves as a member on the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors.

The California Journal is published weekly by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.
University President

Dr. Allan J. Golden
Vice President for Administration and Finance

Christine Kindl
Editor

Geraldine M. Jones
Interim Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Development and Services

Bruce Wald
Writer

Dr. Joyce Hanley
Executive Vice President

Angela J. Burrows
Vice President for University Relations

OfficeofCommunicationsandPublicRelations,
250UniversityAvenue,California,PA15419
724-938-4195wald@cup.edu

The Journal is printed on paper made from trees harvested under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (www.SFIprogram.org).

4