California University

Volume 21, Number 8 MAY 6, 2019
KEEP UP WITH CAL U NEWS ONLINE: calu.edu/news

Chancellor Praises
Students' Efforts

A

Terence Carter, executive vice president of drama and comedy development for Twentieth
Century Fox Television, will be the keynote speaker at Cal U’s 188th Commencement
ceremonies on May 10-11.

TV Executive Carter
to Address Graduates
Commencement speaker descendant
of Cal U’s first African-American graduate

T

he television executive behind
such broadcast TV hits as
‘Empire,” “Gotham,” “The
X-Files,” “Bones” and “Glee” will
deliver the Commencement address at
California University of Pennsylvania.
Speaker Terence Carter, executive
vice president of drama and comedy
development for Twentieth Century Fox
Television, is the great-great-grandson
of Elizabeth “Jennie” Adams Carter,
Class of 1881, California’s first AfricanAmerican graduate.
Carter will address master’s and
doctoral degree candidates 7 p.m. Friday,
May 10. The first class to graduate from
Cal U’s Doctor of Criminal Justice
program will be among those vested in
their academic hoods and awarded
their degrees.
Carter also will speak to associate
and bachelor’s degree candidates at 10
a.m. Saturday, May 11. Both ceremonies
will be held in the Convocation Center.

University President Geraldine Jones
will confer nearly 1,200 degrees at the
ceremonies, although not all graduates
will choose to attend. Families and
friends are welcome to watch as students
cross the stage to greet the president and
accept their diplomas.

About the speaker
Carter has held his current title at
Twentieth Century Fox TV since January
2018. In this role he has developed recent
hits including Fox’s “The Passage”
and ABC’s “Single Parents,” as well as
programs such as “Mixtape” at Netflix
and “Bless This Mess” at ABC, which
are set to premiere next season.
He previously served as executive
vice president of drama development,
programming and event series for Fox,
where he was responsible for developing
and overseeing "Empire" — the network’s
No. 1 show for four years — and such
— Continued on page 2

s part of his second visit to
Cal U’s campus this academic
year, Dr. Dan Greenstein,
chancellor of Pennsylvania’s State
System of Higher Education, delivered
the keynote address at the fifth annual
Strike a Spark Conference.
Before his talk he and President
Geraldine Jones met students
and observed their work at the
conference, which highlights the
research, scholarship and creativity of
undergraduate students.
He appreciated connecting with
the students.
“With your work today, all of you
took risks, and any innovative journey
is a journey into the unknown,” he
said. “You were basically reproducing a
process that we need to reproduce at an
institutional level and taught me how
to position ourselves to not only survive
but thrive in this information-age
world under the weight of tremendous
challenges.”
The chancellor encouraged students
to continue to be curious and willing to
learn in the face of failure.
“Thank you for charging me up
with your inspiring and phenomenally
good work,” Greenstein said.

Bigger and Better
Dr. Gregg Gould, director of the
Center for Undergraduate Research
and conference coordinator, said more
than 300 Cal U students generated
more than 200 presentations for this
year’s event. Each of them worked on
their projects with at least one faculty
member.
Sophomore communication
studies major Jenna Stanley presented
on the effects of Google and Apple
notifications.
“I learned push notifications can
be used to make customers buy your
product and be more involved with
your company. It’s not just for news,”
she said.
Asked to research something
humor-related in her English
Composition II course, Honors

Curiosity sparked
Graduating senior Maria Yates
presents her research on exploring the
community’s role in caring for those
with mental disorders at the fifth
annual Strike a Spark Conference.
See story on page 3.

Program freshman Britney Galik
presented the ways “Saturday Night
Live” impacts politics.
“At first this was a bit nerve-racking,
but now that I’ve done it, I am looking
to do it again and expand to something
more analytical,” said the computer
information systems major.
Honors Program theses were
presented at the conference for the
first time in the conference’s five-year
history.
Senior business administration
major Austin Owens presented a
comparative analysis of social vs.
online gambling.
“The Strike a Spark Conference
means a lot to me, as I have been able
to use and expand a great deal of what
I’ve learned during my career here,”
Owens said.
“This day is solely focused on the
academic achievement of our students
and faculty,” Gould said. “We’re
growing and encouraging more and
different presentations, creative works
and performances.
“The entire campus community
should be proud of our student
presenters.”

Chancellor Reviews Sharing System

C
Dr. Dan Greenstein speaks during an open
forum at Cal U April 24.

hancellor Dan Greenstein updated Cal U on the
progress of the redesign of Pennsylvania’s State System
of Higher Education during an open forum on April 24.
After a top-to-bottom review of entire State System, three
strategic priorities were approved by the Board of Governors:
ensuring student success, leveraging university strengths, and
transforming the governance/leadership structure. Second
phase pf the State System redesign
The Second phase of the State System redesign is
underway, the chancellor reported. It will align System goals
with individual university resources.
“Over the past seven months and after thousands of
conversations, I have learned that we provide in our universities
an amazing collection of talented, passionate people who are
fiercely aligned with our mission,” Greenstein said.

“This redesign places our students at the center of what
we are doing, invests and pools together our faculty and staff.
Transforming fundamentally is how we’ll sustain ourselves.”
The chancellor discussed ways that sharing educational
resources among System schools could provide more
opportunities for students. Although the redesign is still in the
planning stage, he mentioned study abroad, career services and
even academic courses as resources that might be shared.
“Each university has unique strengths,” Greenstein said.
“By greater collaboration among our 14 universities, we can
prepare our students for their best possible future, address our
many challenges, and position our universities not only to
survive but to thrive in the 21st century. “
Student success was the focus as Greenstein delivered the
— Continued on page 3

Page 2

MAY 6, 2019

Hundreds Pitch in for Big Event

L

ike many basements, the one at
the California Area Public Library
was in some desperate need of
spring cleaning.
“I took a look down there,” said
Dr. Claudia Bennett, librarian and library
director. “It’s full tables and VHS tapes
and moldy books and chairs and who
knows what else.”
The borough of California paid for
a bin to collect the contents, but the
manpower to haul the stuff out of the
basement was another matter.
“We really don’t have that many
volunteers,” Bennett said. “A bunch of
angels are coming here to help us out.”
The “angels” — 25 Acacia fraternity
brothers — arrived around 9:15 a.m.
They were among the 489 student
volunteers who fanned out throughout
California and neighboring communities
to pitch in as part of the Big Event on
April 13.
Cal U’s annual program matches
student workers with owners of
businesses, organizations and private
residences who could use a little help
with chores such as painting, cleaning,
organizing and generally sprucing up.
This year, 36 sites were on the to-do
list.
“It’s nice to see familiar names on
the list, but we also had a nice blend of
new locations,” said Diane Hasbrouck,
director of the Center for Volunteer
Programs and Service Learning at Cal U.
“The community is very accepting
and excited, and so are the students.
It’s a great town-gown experience
for everyone.”
Library board member Larry Papini
was on hand to help with any “trash vs.
treasure” decisions as student hauled items
such as card catalogs, plywood, screens
and a projector out of the basement.
“A day like this is very important,”
Papini said. “I came here a lot as a
child. I live on Fourth Street, and I’m
surrounded by college students. They’re
terrific!”
“I like how we’re here on the
weekend using our free time to help the

Matt McMillan unloads boxes with his girlfriend, Marissa McSheffery, at the Greater Washington Area Food Bank.

community out,” said Paul Wible, a firstyear sport management major.
On Green Street, 13 members of
the women’s soccer team scraped and
painted a house. Seventy members of the
football team spent the morning cleaning
up Phillipsburg Cemetery.
On Pennsylvania Avenue, 15 Sigma
Kappa sorority sisters painted dugouts,
the concession stand and benches for
California Youth Athletics.
“I love the Big Event,” said
Anna Myers, a senior childhood
education major, paint roller in hand.
“We get a chance to bond and connect
doing something we wouldn’t normally
do. I like volunteering in general, and I
feel like I’m a part of something.”
“We never have time to do this
part because we’re always so focused
on getting the fields and equipment

ready,” said Jennifer Todd, treasurer for
California Youth Athletics, a baseball
and softball organization that includes
148 boys and girls ages 4-14.
Across the street, homeowner
Betty Copenhaver was grateful for
five Sigma Kappa members who were
washing windows and raking leaves.
“I’ve been in this program for many
years,” she said. “I have health problems
and can’t care for the property like I want
to. These ladies are busy, busy, busy! It’s
been very helpful.”
“One of our values is service,” said
Skylar Steinhart, a junior social work
major, “and it’s one of the reasons why I
joined Greek life.”
Forty students, from Delta Zeta
and Sigma Tau Gamma, helped at the
Greater Washington County Food Bank.
They sorted clothing donations, packed

nearly 200 boxes for area families, helped
to organize the facility’s training kitchen
and prepared 15 raised beds for planting.
“It’s great to have generational
volunteers, to see young people caring
about our future,” said Jodi Gatts,
administrative assistant and program
director of the Healthy Habits Training
Center.
Members of the Criminal Justice and
Medical Interest clubs helped homeowner
Linda Cairns with yardwork.
“It would have taken me five months
to do what they did this morning,”
Cairns said.
“I’m not usually ‘outdoorsy,’” said
first-year student Destiny Hoskins, a
biology major. “But this was relaxing,
and it was so nice to give back and show
love. I was ready to put my hands in soil
— and I don’t put my hands in soil!”

TV Executive Carter
to Address Graduates

— Continued from page 1

Three Receive Cal U Military Service Honor

Students Logan Tantlinger (left), Emma Gebrosky and Brandon Perrodin, all criminal justice majors,
were presented with the Presidential Medal of Patriotic Service in April. The award, created in
2005, is given to students who are activated for service and return to Cal U at the completion of
active duty. Tantlinger and Gebrosky served with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in support
of Operation Inherent Resolve from January 2018 to January 2019; Perrodin served in the U.S. Army
Reserve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from January 2018 to January 2019.

Borough Sets Extra Trash Collection

T

he borough of California plans additional trash pick-up days and electronic
recycling in the borough for the end of the Spring 2019 semester.
Daily garbage pickup will be available from Monday, May 6, through
Saturday, May 18, and a bin will be placed at the California Area Public Library so
students can recycle unwanted electronic items.
The service is intended for Cal U students and borough residents only.
For large items, please call the borough at 724-938-8280 to arrange for pick-up.

acclaimed shows as Marvel’s “The
Gifted,” “Lethal Weapon,” “Gotham,
“Lucifer,” “Glee,” “Bones,” “X-Files,
“24: Legacy” and “Sleepy Hollow.”
Prior to joining Fox in 2009,
Carter was vice president of drama
programming at NBC Entertainment/
Universal Media Studios, where he
developed shows such as “Parenthood”
and “Southland.” Before joining
the drama team at NBC, he was
the network’s director of comedy
development.
Carter has received numerous
honors. In 2009, he was named one
of The Hollywood Reporter’s “Next
Generation: Top 35 Executives Under
35.” In 2011, he was profiled in
Variety’s “New Leaders” edition.
He serves on the board of directors
for the “I Have A Dream” Foundation
— Los Angeles, which honored him as
a Champion of Education at its 2016
Dreamer Dinner. The following year,
he received an Emerging Leader Award
from the Ron Brown Scholar Program
at the 2017 American Journey Awards.

Carter grew up in Washington, D.C.
He graduated magna cum laude from
Harvard University with a bachelor’s
degree in African-American Studies
and a focus in film and media.
His ancestor Jennie Adams Carter
is an inspirational figure in California
University’s history. She graduated
with a normal school diploma in 1881
and went on to become a respected
teacher, school administrator and
orator. Her photo and related artifacts
are displayed in Carter residence
hall, which also houses Cal U’s
Multicultural Center. Each year
the University presents its Jennie
Carter Award to an individual who
exemplifies her indomitable spirit.

Attend Commencement
There is no charge to attend Cal
U’s spring 2019 graduation ceremonies,
and free parking is available. University
staff will guide guests to designated
parking and seating areas in the order
of their arrival.
Seats are not reserved. Guests are
urged to arrive at least one hour before
Commencement begins.

MAY 6, 2019

Page 3

Panel Takes a Look
at Spirituality

A
Seniors gather after the Lavender Graduation Luncheon. Seated from left are Amanda Rhoades,
Morgan Patterson, Rylee Walters and A’Quaisa Wallace. Standing from left are Jennifer Langilotti,
Kirsten Willey, Jennifer Talley, Sheleta Camarda-Webb, President Geraldine Jones, Omobukola
Inegbenijie, Vianey Almaraz and Sadie Attwood.

Cal U Marks
Lavender Graduation

M

embers of the Cal U community
gathered in Kara Alumni House
on April 16 to celebrate the
personal and academic achievements of
LGBTQA seniors and their allies.
Lavender Graduation has been held
at Cal U since 2014 and is organized by
the Lambda Bridges LGBTQA+ Program
Office and Sheleta Camarda-Webb,
director of Multicultural Affairs and
Diversity Education.
This year, the event recognized 12
students who will graduate in spring,
summer or fall 2019: Vianey Almaraz,
bachelor’s in psychology; Sadie Attwood,
bachelor’s in psychology, minor in
African American studies;
Jayda Harden, bachelor’s in
psychology, minor in sociology;
Omobukola Inegbenijie, bachelor’s in
communication studies;
Jennifer Langilotti, bachelor’s in
English; Morgan Patterson, bachelor’s in
commercial music technology;
Amanda Rhoades, bachelor’s in
theater, and design and entertainment

Sharing
System
Reviewed
— Continued from page 1
keynote address at the Strike
a Spark Conference, where he
thanked students for inspiring him
with their talent, curiosity and
scholarship.
He also held meetings with
faculty, staff and students,
University leadership, and Cal U
trustees during his daylong visit.
“It is going to require enormous
transformational innovation
to move our System and our
universities into the future,”
Greenstein said.
“This redesign is not a modest
adjustment to our enterprise, but a
long-term, multi-year journey.”
Despite the challenges inherent
in implementing change, the
chancellor said he is optimistic that
Pennsylvania can become a model
for other large-scale educational
systems.
“The limits of our capability are
the limits of our imagination.”

technology; Jennifer Talley, bachelor’s in
communication studies, minor in African
American studies; Zamira Thornton,
bachelor’s in gerontology, minor in
psychology; A’Quaisa Wallace, bachelor’s
in psychology and criminal justice, minor
in sociology; Rylee Walters, bachelor’s in
graphics and multimedia; Kirsten Willey,
bachelor’s in criminal justice.
“We celebrate the diversity of our
students, and their many achievements,
said University President Geraldine M.
Jones. “We appreciate your contributions
as members of our global society.”
“These 12 students are on the edge
of their journey into greatness,”
Camarda-Webb said. “As graduation
season approaches, we hope your futures
are filled with excitement and joy.”
Camarda-Webb also thanked alumna
Jan Zivic ‘64, a support of Lambda
Bridges and Cal U’s LGBTQA community.
Zivic supports Lavender Graduation and
the Jan Zivic Outstanding LGBTQA
Leadership Award, which recognizes
exceptional leadership and service.

n academic year-long series
of panel discussion on
relevant issues concluded
with a look at the meaning of
spirituality.
“Spirituality and Beyond,” was
the final “What’s the T” discussion
and took place in Duda Hall on
April 18.
Cal U’s Student Affairs Diversity
Committee established the series to
foster thoughtful conversations about
timely topics.
Panelists were Shaheed Ansari,
a sophomore criminal justice major;
Etiosa Evbuomwan, a junior majoring
in business administration;
Dr. Vamso Borra, assistant professor
in the Department of Applied
Engineering and Technology;
Kim Carson, director of New Life
Christian Fellowship; and campus
ministers Pete Ware and
Meghan Larsen-Reidy.
Dr. Emily Sweitzer, program
director of Cal U’s sociology
concentration in social deviance,
was the moderator.
Ansari, who is in the Honors
Program, said he sometimes feels
ostracized as a Muslim in America
and that people are often surprised he
does not celebrate holidays such as
Christmas or Easter.
“I’m from Connecticut, not Saudi
Arabia, but being Muslim is a part of
me, it’s my personality,” he said. “The
acceptance of the difference is what’s
good, and I see religion as a way to
make people better and treat others
more kindly.”
Evbuomwan became an agnostic
after feeling too confined growing up
Catholic.
“I believe in God but not the
Bible,” he said. “Everyone has their
own truths or beliefs, and it’s effective
for them, which is what’s important.”

Borra, who is originally from
India, came to Cal U from the
University of Toledo.
“We don’t worship idols but
forms of God,” he said about the
misconceptions of being Hindu.
“It takes several years to really
understand Hinduism, and it’s not
something that will happen just by
reading a book.”
Larsen-Reidy discussed the crisis
in the Catholic church.
“It’s apparent that the
Catholic Church hasn’t done a
great job protecting its most
vulnerable members,” she said. “I
think right now we are in a period
of time to really look at mistakes
we’ve made, call out those people
who have not done a good job
protecting, and simply improve and
be better.”
Carson, a Baptist originally from
Florida, cited the assumptions that
are made on people based on their
affiliations as a serious misconception.
“I love this panel because we
are having a civil discussion and
expressing ourselves as who we are,”
she said. “Being more accepting
creates a more peaceful community.”
Ware answered a question
from the audience about exploring
Christianity. “Read the Bible and
get some cultural background,” said
Ware. “A pastor once told me to keep
asking God questions.”
Event coordinator
Sheleta Camarda-Webb, co-chair
of the Student Affairs Diversity
Committee, said the first year of
“What’s the T” events were successful
and thanked the panel and audience.
“Having thoughtful, civil
conversations are not designed to
change your mind but hopefully
change your heart,” Camarda-Webb
said.

Curiosity Leads to Scholarly Pursuit

I

t was the stained glass that caught
Maria Yates’ attention.  
The window, located at The
Father’s Heart Ministries, in Penn, Pa.,
where Yates was working as a residential
intern in the addiction recovery program,
was a depiction of Dymphna, a saint
believed to have the power to cure mental
disorders.
Who?
Exactly.
“I thought, ‘Why have I never heard
of this?’” said Yates, who is a senior
graduating this month with a bachelor’s
degree in social work.
With the support of Dr. Azadeh Block
in the Department of Social Work, who
was the faculty adviser on the project, she
dug in to learn more.
Dymphna was a 7th-century princess
who fled to Geel, Belgium, to escape her
father and devoted her life to serving the
mentally disabled. She became a martyr
when her father discovered her located
and traveled to Geel to behead her.
Today — as it has been for
centuries — Geel is known for its
de-institutionalization of those with
mental disorders. Patients, known as
“boarders,” are placed with hosts in
the community, providing a sense of

belonging and access to family life.
The hosts integrate the boarders into
their lives, providing them with food, care
and work.
Yates delved into the Geel model of
acceptance and integration for a scholarly
project she presented April 24 at the 5th
Annual Strike a Spark Conference, in the
Convocation Center.
The one-day event, sponsored by the
Center for Undergraduate Research at
Cal U, highlights research, scholarship
and creativity.
In her project, “Unwrapping Stigma
and Mental Behavioral Health: Lessons
from Geel, Belgium,” Yates explored the
town’s acceptance of those with mental
illness who are often stigmatized — by
themselves, their families or society.
She also visited the National Shrine
of St. Dymphna, which is located on the
grounds of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in
Massillon, Ohio.
The undergraduate research center
provided a $500 to Yates for her work.
“I’d like to travel to Geel one day, to
try to understand why this model works
there — what ingredients make it so the
community takes on understanding and
empathy.
“There can be a perception that

someone with a mental illness just isn’t
trying hard enough,” Yates said. “If such
stigma isn’t addressed at the public level,
it’s hard to make progress.
“The solutions involve a multitude
of approaches, including a familial
approach. Research is important to learn
more about which direction to go.”
Block praised Yates’ dedication and
work.
“Maria took a scholarly look at the
ways engaging with a family not your
own can impact your mental health,”
Block said. “She also looked at why such
a model didn’t work in the United States.
“She also looked at mental health,
which is more about thoughts, and
behavioral health, which is more about
actions that might impact mental health,
and the stigmas around each.
Her project was inclusive of both
mental and behavioral health because
these terms are often used interchangeably
but perhaps the stigma attached to each
varies given the values we attach to the
terms “behavior” and “mental.”
“Maria was very motivated to take on
this project, to engage more deeply with
the subject,” Block said. “We’re fortunate
to have a research center on campus to
promote that.”

Page 4

MAY 6, 2019

Hip-hop Conference Message: Don’t Be Silent

A

t Cal U’s 11th annual Hip-hop
Conference, two figures with
national stature reminded Cal U
students to stand up for their rights, work
together and continue the fight against
racism.
The April 26 panel presentation
brought a crowd of more than 150
students, faculty and staff to Morgan
Hall for a wide-ranging discussion with
Sybrina Fulton, mother of the late
Trayvon Martin, and Chuck D, founder
of the groundbreaking rap group Public
Enemy.
Fulton, author of “Rest in Power:
The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin,”
described how her “average, ordinary
life” was upended when her son was shot
and killed in 2012.
“To lose a child is a different type
of loss … a more severe pain,” she
said. Although she battled depression
and cried alone every day, Fulton
chose to appear strong in public as she
“committed my life to fighting for young
people” through a nonprofit foundation
that provides support for families who
have lost a child to gun violence.
Chuck D, who redefined hip-hop
as a socially conscious art form, urged
students to learn about local government
and get involved with community affairs.
“There’s nothing on the streets we
can gain from,” he said, dismissing
artists who glamorize violence. “It takes

Cynthia Obiekezie introduces herself to rap legend Chuck D.

‘doers’ and ‘thinkers’ to make a solid
community. You’ve got to come back
from college, come back to where you
live, with something your community
can use.”
Both speakers spoke bluntly about
racism in America — comments that
appeared to resonate with both the black
and white students in the audience.
“People with big voices, with
celebrity status, don’t always speak out,”
Fulton said. She referred to racism as

“not the elephant in the room, but the
enemy in the room.”
“How can you be silent when you
know it’s wrong?”
Fulton’s comment struck home
with Samira Wilson, who’s studying
communication disorders. “We have to
recognize what that enemy is,” she said.
“We have to realize what we’re fighting
— and it’s not ourselves.”
Jerron Corley, a journalism major,
said people of all races need to face these

difficult issues. “It’s important to allow a
diverse group of people into that space.
We have to all work together to find a
solution.”
A remark by the panel’s moderator,
psychologist Dr. Traice Webb-Bradley,
stood out for psychology major
Cynthia Obiekezie, president of the
Black Student Union at Cal U.
“When she said ‘we don’t need allies,
we need accomplices’ — that could be
my bumper sticker,” she said. “I wish
more people were open to the idea that
we need all types of people around us.”
JohnKarl Council, a business major
and music minor, left the auditorium
energized by what he heard, especially
from Chuck D.
“I liked his encouragement to
students, to keep pushing on,” he said.
“To hear that message from influential
people in society, and to hear that in a
group setting – it’s important to make
people aware.”
Cal U’s annual Hip-hop Conference
is organized by Dr. Kelton Edmonds,
a history professor who counts Public
Enemy among the best rap groups of all
time. Sponsors for the 2019 conference
were the Office of the President; Office
of the Provost; American Democracy
Project; Department of History, Society,
Politics and Law; Black Student Union;
Cal U Men United; Cal U Women
United; and the College of Liberal Arts.

Kids, Parents Enjoy
Day Together at Work

“I
Students work on a 30-foot mural depicting a scene at the closed Hatfield’s Ferry Power
Station in Masontown, Pa.

Earth Day Celebrated

A

s Cal U students celebrated Earth Day, their passion for supporting
environmental protection was evident.
Coordinated by the Horticulture and Sustainability Club, Earth Day
activities took place throughout the morning and afternoon of April 22 in the
Natali Student Center. Outside the Performance Center, drawing class students
worked on a 30-foot mural depicting a scene of the closed Hatfield’s Ferry Power
Station along the banks of the Monongahela River in Masontown, Pa.
While many student groups collaborated to make the Cal U’s Earth Day
celebration a success, Brian Cunningham emphasized the same teamwork is
needed to keep Cal U’s entire campus sustainable, safe and eco-friendly every day.
Cal U’s director of Environmental Health and Safety, Cunningham delivered
the event’s keynote address.
The celebration concluded with students tending three campus gardens.
Along with installing a pollination garden in front of Frich Hall, students planted
and worked on at the SAI Farm and at the sensory garden located outside the
Learning and Language Center in Morgan Hall.

like Cal U, and I think the
people are nice.”
Take Our Daughters and
Sons to Work Day had just begun on
April 25, but it was already a good one
for 11-year-old Ryan Connelly.
Cathy Connelly, a senior director of
development for University Development
and Alumni Relations, enjoyed spending
time on campus with her son, who was
looking forward to the code your own
computer game activity.
“It’s very nicely done, and the setup
with each kid getting a schedule with
their events is almost like a day in the
life of a college student,” she said. “They
learn but have fun doing so.”
Grandchildren participated for
the first time, so grandma Mary Kirk
brought Aiden Collings and Emily Davis,
both students at Marion Elementary
School in Belle Vernon, Pa.
“They announce this day at their
schools, so they’ve wanted to come for a
couple of years now. When they found
out grandchildren could come this year
they both yelled, ‘Yes!’” said Kirk, a
management technician in Cal U’s Office
of Parking and Transportation. “They
wanted to come to work with their
grandma.”

Ann Bergamasco, of the Department
of Social Work, helped to coordinate
faculty involvement. Dr. John Burnett
and Tracy Breckenridge, of the Office
of Social Equity, organized the overall
event with support from the Office of the
President.
Breckenridge credited nearly 80
student volunteers as well as many
faculty, staff, and coaches who helped
with the event. Before lunch, all the kids
met and posed for a photo with Cal U’s
coaches, student-athletes, cheerleaders
and Cal U mascot Blaze.
“This is great day that’s about the
kids,” she said. “We simply could not
do it without the volunteers and really
appreciate them. It’s truly a campus-wide
team effort.”
Volunteer Cynthia Obiekezie, a
junior psychology major, helped with
registration. She enjoyed hearing Cal U
student escorts explaining what they do
on campus to the little ones.
“A community assistant compared
his job to being a hall monitor at
their school, and it was just so cute
seeing them connect and understand,”
Obiekezie said. “The kids were great,
and I will definitely do this again next
year if my schedule permits.”

The California Journal is published by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.
Geraldine M. Jones
University President
Dr. Bruce Barnhart
Provost and Senior Vice President
for Academic Affairs

Dr. Nancy Pinardi
Vice President for Student Affairs
Christine Kindl
Vice President for Communications
and Marketing

Office of Communications and Public Relations

Robert Thorn
Vice President for Administration and Finance
Anthony Mauro
Vice President for University
Development and Alumni Relations

250 University Avenue

California, PA 15419

T. David Garcia
Vice President for Enrollment
Management

724-938-4195

Wendy Mackall
Editor
Bruce Wald
Writer

wald@calu.edu­­­­­­­­­