California University

VOLUME 13, NUMBER 17 JUNE 20, 2011
READ THE JOURNAL ONLINE: www.calu.edu/news/the-journal

‘Ritzy’ Gala Boosts Scholarship Fund
A
record-setting crowd of 340 University friends,
alumni, faculty, staff and students had a grand
time “Puttin’ On the Ritz” June 4 at the 2011
President’s Gala.
The 18th annual black-tie event, held once again at
the Omni William Penn hotel in Pittsburgh, benefits
student scholarships and caps off the annual Alumni
Weekend celebration.
“We extend a very sincere ‘thank you’ to each and
every one of you for joining us and helping us raise
much-needed scholarship dollars for our deserving
students,” said President Angelo Armenti, Jr., who
hosted the event with First Lady Barbara Armenti.
The President’s Gala has raised nearly $1.4 million
since its inception in 1994. Over the years, net
proceeds of more than $750,000 have provided
scholarships for deserving Cal U students.
Honorary chairs for the gala were Robert
Lippencott ’66 and his wife, Suzanne. A retired Secret
Service agent — and a former Cal U scholarship
recipient himself — Lippencott is a member of the
board for the Foundation for California University.
“We know that each of you feels the way we do
about our University and our students, and that
‘paying it forward’ is a concept that all of us
understand,” he told the guests. “Through your
generosity, we will be able to provide much-needed
support for our students.”

Award presentations
As the president rose to introduce them, a warm
round of applause greeted the faculty award winners
for 2011.
Dr. Christine Patti, a professor in the
Administrative Program for Principals, was honored
for excellence in teaching. Dr. Robert S. Whyte, of the

From left: Faculty Award
winners Dr. Christine Patti
(teaching), Dr. Robert Whyte
(research), Dr. Ralph
Belsterling (service),
President’s Emeriti Faculty
Award winners Marsha L.
Nolf and Dr. Donald J.
Thompson, and President
Angelo Armenti, Jr.
Below: Honorary chairs
Robert ‘66 and Suzanne
Lippencott address the
audience before honoring
award recipients.

Department of Biological and Environmental
Sciences, was recognized for his research, and Dr.
Ralph Belsterling, of the Department of
Communication Disorders, accepted the award for
service.
Professor Marsha L. Nolf received the President’s
Emerita Faculty Award. Before her retirement in 2008,
she filled numerous roles at Manderino Library —
including “the goddess of information,” she quipped
in a videotaped acceptance speech.
The President’s Emeritus Faculty Award was
presented to Dr. Donald J. Thompson, who closed a
37-year career at Cal U when he retired in 2007 as
provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
— Continued on page 2

‘Singgalot’ Tells Story of U.S. Filipinos
oday there are more than 2.5
million Filipino Americans in the
United States. Yet many,
including Filipinos themselves, aren’t
familiar with the details of their history
in America: their experiences, rich
traditions, and culture.
Singgalot (The Ties That Bind) is their
story.
Open now, the exhibition continues
through July 19 at Cal U’s Manderino
Gallery on the third floor of Manderino
Library. Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Monday; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday and
Thursday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday; and
Friday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; and 2-6
p.m. Sunday.
After tracing the first trans-oceanic
trade missions between Manila and
Acapulco in the 1500s, Singgalot explores
the tenuous political relationship between
the United States and the Philippines,
when Spain ceded the Pacific island
following the Spanish-American War.
Rarely seen historical images detail
Filipino migration between 1906 and
1935 as Hawai’i sugar plantations, West
Coast farms, and Alaskan canneries
recruited Asians to join the labor force.
When the U.S. government sounded
the call to arms in the 1940s, Filipino
immigrants answered, serving as
infantrymen and earning respect from a
grateful nation. Nearly 20 years later, the

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Leo Krantz

Robert J. Irey

Trustees’
Leadership
Changes
eo Krantz ended his second
term as chair of the Cal U
Council of Trustees on June 1,
when he handed off the leadership role
to former vice chair Robert J. Irey at
the Trustees’ regular quarterly meeting.
“It has been my pleasure to serve,”
said Krantz, who will remain a
member of the council. “For the past
four years as chair it has been
absolutely a pleasure to meet with my
counterparts across the state and to
represent Cal U.”
A council member since 2003, Irey
opened his term as chair by thanking
Krantz “for his outstanding work here
at the University and at the state level
— Continued on page 2

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Philippine-born artist Eliseo Silva is nationally recognized for creating this bold 145-footlong mural, located in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles.

1965 Immigration Act hastened a third
major wave of Filipinos who would
champion major changes in gender
equality and class in the Filipino
American community and make
significant contributions to the fight for
civil rights.
In 2006, the Smithsonian Filipino
American Centennial Commemoration
marked 100 years of Filipino migration

to the United States with insightful
exhibitions, special programs and an
extensive curriculum guide. Singgalot
celebrates Filipino Americans as they
share their struggles, challenges, and
achievements with the rest of the nation.
For more information, call
exhibitions coordinator Walter Czekaj at
724-938-5244 or send e-mail to
czekaj@calu.edu .

Above, First Lady Barbara Armenti and President Angelo Armenti, Jr. enjoy a dance at California
University’s 2011 ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ President’s Gala. The night also featured casino games and a
silent auction.
At left, President Angelo Armenti, Jr. honors Mrs. Gwendolyn G. Simmons with the Lillian M. Bassi
Core Values Award. A leader in numerous civic organizations, especially in the Mon Valley, the
Monongahela resident has been a generous University benefactor and a strong advocate for Cal U
and its students.

President’s Gala Draws Record Crowd
— Continued from page 1
Gwendolyn Simmons, a longtime member
of the University’s Council of Trustees,
received a standing ovation after accepting the
Lillian M. Bassi Core Values Award. A leader
in numerous civic organizations, especially in
the Mon Valley, the Monongahela resident has
been a generous University benefactor and a
strong advocate for Cal U and its students.

Top hats and roses
After dinner in the Omni’s Grand
Ballroom, the crowd adjourned to enjoy a
dessert bar, casino games and dancing to the
Benny Benack Orchestra. Guests also placed
bids on more than 50 silent auction items,
including vacation stays and themed gift
baskets.
Among the most popular items were

helmets autographed by Pittsburgh Steelers
players James Harrison and Ziggy Hood,
along with a football signed by Super Bowl
MVP Hines Ward. The Pittsburgh Penguins
also provided auction items, including a jersey
autographed by Mario Lemieux and a helmet
signed by the 2010-2011 Pens.
Proceeds from the silent auction added to
the scholarship fund, as well.
“Everyone seemed to enjoy getting dressed
up and attending a fancy, fun-filled event,”
said Craig Butzine, vice president for
Marketing and University Relations.
“But the real winners are the Cal U
students who will receive scholarship dollars
raised at the gala — an event they can look
forward to attending themselves once they’ve
established their own careers.”
For a slide show from the 2011 President’s Gala,
visit www.calu.edu .

John Heintz (left), Leslie Curl and Jim Lokay ‘02 celebrate a blackjack win in
the casino room. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit student scholarships.

Trustees’ Leadership Changes
— Continued from page 1
with PACT,” the Pennsylvania
Association of Councils of Trustees.
Krantz joined the Cal U Trustees
in 1999 and currently is president of
PACT.
University President Angelo
Armenti, Jr. also began his report to
the Trustees by praising Krantz’s
work, especially at the state level. He
thanked Krantz for his “unwavering
support over the past four years”
before turning to a discussion of the
state budget.
By the time the council meets
next, on Sept. 7, the General
Assembly likely will have finalized
appropriations to the 14 state-owned
universities, and the Board of
Governors will have set tuition for
the 2011-2012 academic year.
Legislators are expected to approved
a budget that restores some, but not
all, of the cuts proposed by Gov. Tom
Corbett.
Hard times are nothing new in the
Mon Valley, the President said, and
Cal U “has had the benefit of
learning to deal with adversity.”
Enrollment growth has been an
important factor in Cal U’s success,
and the trend is continuing. Provost
Geraldine Jones reported that
enrollment for the summer session
increased by 4 percent, compared to
the 2010 headcount.
An enrollment increase also is
anticipated this fall.

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In other business:
• Provost Jones, vice president for
Academic Affairs, reported that 17
faculty were awarded grants totaling
about $192,000 this quarter. She
highlighted the new degree program in
Arabic language and culture that will
start this fall, and she mentioned two
recent graduates who have exciting
times ahead: Leesa Tori will begin the
MBA program at Harvard, and Mike
Soster will appear on the Fall 2011
edition of the TV show “Survivor.”
• Robert Thorn, interim director of
Administration and Finance, received
unanimous approval from the Trustees
to raise the transportation fee paid by
students from $25 to $50 for the
upcoming academic year. The fee pays
for the Vulcan Flyer buses and the two
smaller shuttles that loop through the
main campus and the River Lot. When
the new data center is completed at the
Phillipsburg site, Thorn noted, the
shuttle will add a stop there.
Thorn also reported on various
construction projects, including the
Convocation Center, which is expected
to be in use for basketball season.
• Lenora Angelone, vice president
for Student Affairs, received approval
for revisions to the Student Code of
Conduct that reflect an expansion of
services. Jim Pflugh, associate dean for
student conduct, said the student
disciplinary process has grown to
include elements such as mediation and
restorative justice.
Angelone gave a sports roundup and

presented a video highlighting campus
television station CUTV, which marked
its 25th anniversary this year, and radio
station WCAL, on the air for more than
38 years.
• Craig Butzine, vice president for
Marketing and University Relations,
explained the strategic approach to
marketing that his department has taken
in light of budget constraints. Tools
already in place, such as the Cal U
website and activities calendar, are being
put to creative use, along with social
media and a robust outreach to the
local, regional and national press.
• Ron Huiatt, vice president for
Development and Alumni Relations,
reported that the capital campaign has
raised nearly $25.5 million as it moves
toward its $35 million goal. The Annual
Fund has set a goal of “300 Gifts in 30
Days” to support academic programs,
endowed chairs, research and more.
• Dr. Charles Mance, vice president
for University Technology Services,
presented results of a customer service
survey. To address clients’ concerns,
UTech Services has instituted new Help
Desk procedures, taken a look at
network and systems complaints, and
begun work to reduce the number of
passwords required.
Work also is under way to upgrade
the campus Wi-Fi network, to install
more “smart classroom” technology, to
create a new data center at the
Phillipsburg site and to ensure
compliance with payment card industry
standards across campus.

Security
Cameras Lead
to Arrests
ecurity cameras in the Vulcan
Garage played a role in the May
30 arrest of two men accused of
damaging vehicles used by the Cal U
Parking and Transportation Office.
University Police arrested Tyler
Ballengee, 21, of Enon Valley, Pa.,
and Michael Koran, 20, of Moon
Township, Pa. Both were charged
with institutional vandalism, criminal
mischief and criminal conspiracy and
taken to the Washington County Jail
on a $5,000 straight cash bond.
Campus police allege that in the
early-morning hours of Feb. 26,
Ballengee and Koran damaged two
University-owned Smart cars that
were parked in the Vulcan Garage.
Damage to the cars, which are used
for parking enforcement on campus,
was estimated at $1,500 in all.
Neither of the accused men is a
student at Cal U. Police say they were
visiting California when the incident
occurred.
Campus police distributed
security-camera images of the
suspects to local newspapers and
television stations in February. The
images recently were used again in a
demonstration of the Cal U security
system, and a member of the campus
community recognized the suspects.

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Research
Described
in NASA
Report
he work of faculty member
Jeff Sumey, student Nathan
Wright and other Cal U
researchers is included in the NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center Wallops
Flight Facility and Marine Science
Consortium Research Collaboration
Annual Report 2011.
Their work at the NASA research
facility, on Virginia’s eastern shore,
focuses on kite-based imaging. The
Aerial Data Collector And Reporter
(ADCAR) project is designed to
show that using kites and
commercially available components,
rather than more expensive
unmanned aerial sensors, can reduce
the cost of collecting data from the
air.
Sumey and Wright are working
closely with scientists including
Geoff Bland, of the Wallops Flight
Facility, to develop and test a kitebased aerial data collection system
this summer.
Testing and revisions are
scheduled for April through June,
according to the NASA report,
with documentation and
demonstrations scheduled for July
and August.
Sumey is an associate professor
in the Department of Applied
Engineering and Technology at
Cal U. Wright is a senior in the
Computer Engineering Technology
program.
Others involved in the project
include Dr. Thomas R. Mueller, an
associate professor in the
Department of Earth Science, and
student Frederick L. Smith, a
geographical information systems
(GIS) major at Cal U.
“My work on the ADCAR
project has been a very rewarding
and enriching experience,” Wright
said. “It has taken what I have
learned in the classroom and applied
it to a real-world solution.”
Wright said he feels privileged to
work with the specialized technology
available at the Wallops Flight
Facility.
“This project has unlocked a
potential in myself in the field of
engineering,” he added.
The Wallops Flight Facility is
NASA’s principal facility for
management and implementation of
suborbital research programs. The
primary vision of the facility is to
“serve as a national resource
enabling responsive, low-cost
aerospace science and technology
research.”
According to the annual report,
the purpose of this research
collaboration is to “promote student
development in the sciences and
faculty research in areas of interest
to NASA.”
For more information about the
kite-based imaging project, visit
http://aet.calu.edu/
ADCAR .
The “2011 Annual Report of
Collaborative Research” is available
at the Marine Science Consortium
website, http://msconsortium.org .

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Family Field Day
Kiley Turner, who is studying early childhood education, holds a baby fox for children to pet at the Family Field Day presented April 29 by Cal U. Held
at Ohiopyle State Park and funded through a two-year PNC Grow Up Great with Science grant, Family Field Day is an opportunity for preschool children and their families to explore the natural world and learn basic science concepts through a series of outdoor activities. Joining Cal U as partners
in the project are The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette County, Ohiopyle State Park and the Pittsburgh Association for the
Education of Young Children.

Campus BRIEFS
Institute Trains
Officers in Proper
Use of Force
The Institute for Law and Public
Policy will present a hands-on course
for police and security officers, Force
on Force Instructor Training: The
Practical Application of Force for
Police Agencies, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
June 29 at the Beaver County 911
Center in Ambridge, Pa.
The course takes a skills-based
approach that teaches officers to think
critically during high-pressure
situations. Participants will train for
shoot/don’t shoot encounters, contactand-cover responses, high-risk arrests
and first response to critical incidents.
Officers who complete the course
will be certified as Agency Instructors
who can implement training programs
according to their individual agency’s
needs.
Course instructor is Edward W.
Bogats Jr., a retired police chief, a
graduate of the FBI National Academy
and an internationally recognized useof-force instructor.
Program cost is $179; fee includes
lunch. Participants must register in
advance.
For more information or to register,

call 724-597-7401 or send e-mail to
manderino@calu.edu . Details and
online registration are available at
http://institutes.calu.edu/ilpp .

Sweitzer to Train
Law Officers
Dr. Emily M. Sweitzer, chair of the
Department of Justice, Law, and Society,
has been invited to serve as a master
trainer for a national program “One on
One, Connecting Cops & Kids.”
The Fred Rogers Co., named for the
star of television’s long-running
children’s program Mister Rogers’
Neighborhood, was awarded a national
grant to sponsore the program through
the U.S. Department of Justice.
Sweitzer, an associate professor of
justice and behavioral crime, explained
that a law enforcement officer and a
child development specialist team-teach
this program to members of law
enforcement agencies. The goal is to
help police identify with children and
understand their developmental
perspective with regard to policing and
community agencies.
Sweitzer was asked to be a part of
the program because of her background
and experience in both psychology and
criminal justice.

Read the Journal
Online
As a cost-saving measure, the
Journal no longer will be distributed
routinely to campus mailboxes. It will
continue to be published weekly during
the fall and spring semesters, and
monthly throughout the summer.
Look for the Journal online in an
easy-to-read “flipbook” format or as a
downloadable PDF. Click on “News” at
the top of the Cal U homepage,
www.calu.edu , then choose “Cal U
Journal.”
Paper copies of the Journal will be
available on campus at the Welcome
Center, Natali Student Center,
Keystone Education Building, Old
Main and Manderino Library. In town,
the Journal is distributed to the
California Public Library, First Niagara
Bank, Dairy Queen, Union Cleaners,
Redstone Pharmacy, Cal Ed Federal
Credit Union and Hair We Are.

Thank You
Dolores Striker of custodial services
would like to offer her sincere thanks to
the Cal U community for their kind
expressions of sympathy following the
death of her mother, Dolores Geletei.

SEEK Offers Final Summer Session in July
hildren entering grades 1-8 this fall still may register
for SEEK, the Summer Educational Enrichment for
Kids program held annually on campus.
This summer, SEEK’s final weeklong session is July 18-22.
Conducted through Cal U’s Office of Lifelong Learning,
the 2011 program holds its first summer session this week.
Since 2000, SEEK has provided learning experiences that
are entertaining, yet academically challenging. The University
has been honored for developing the program in response to
needs expressed by area parents.
SEEK classes run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Children
are escorted between classes and supervised during lunch.

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Each child brings a bag lunch; refrigeration is not available.
Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Once a
child is registered, the family will receive a confirmation letter
listing the classroom location. This confirmation letter must
be presented on the first day of class.
Cost is $125 per child for a full-week, full-day program, or
$80 per child for a full-week, half-day (morning or afternoon)
program.
The SEEK brochure is available online at www.calu.edu ;
on the homepage, choose “Academics,” then click on
“Lifelong Learning.” For more information, call 724-9385840.

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Cal U Claims Trio of All­Americans
hree student-athletes, all juniors, earned AllAmerican honors this spring.
“To become an All-American is a national
achievement that signifies excellence,” said Cal U
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. “Brice Myers, Dianne
Luke and Jillian Russell have honored our University,
themselves and their families, and they have set great
example for others.”
• Track and field standout Myers repeated as an
NCAA Division II All-American in the 110-meter
hurdles. He finished second nationally at the NCAA
Division II Outdoor Championships in Turlock, Calif.
Myers posted a career-best time of 14.03 seconds
and finished only one-hundredth of a second behind
the overall champion.
Last year, he finished the national championship
race in third place, winning his first All-American
honors on the outdoor track. He also has three AllAmerican medals for the 60-meter indoor hurdles.
A two-time PSAC champion in both the 110 and
60 hurdle events, Myers is the first five-time AllAmerican in Cal U track and field history.
• Luke was named a First Team All-American by
the National Golf Coaches Association.
The second Cal U player ever to earn NGCA AllAmerican honors, she finished the season by placing
sixth overall at the NCAA Division II National
Championships in Allendale, Mich.
Luke, a two-time all-conference performer, was the
only PSAC golfer to earn post-season recognition by
the NGCA.
As a team, Cal U finished the season ranked
seventh in the nation.
• Shortstop Russell was named a Louisville
Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association
(NFCA) Third-Team All-American. She is the softball
team’s 31st All-American overall and the first since
2004.

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Dianne Luke became Cal U’s second women’s golfer to earn national All-American honors after finishing sixth overall at the
NCAA Division II National Championships this spring.

Russell led Cal in five different offensive
categories, and tied the school record with 14 home
runs. She batted .366 this spring for the PSAC-West
champions.
Last summer Russell played in the International
Softball Federation (ISF) World Championships as a

member of the Canadian Senior National Team.
Aided by the fine performance of its All-American
trio, Cal U athletics finished the year at No. 3 in the
PSAC Dixon Trophy standings. This is the fourth
consecutive year that the program has placed among
the top three, and Cal won the award in 2008-2009.

Ex­Vulcan Goalkeeper Guards Net for Riverhounds
ormer Cal U standout goalkeeper
Derek Yobbi ’11 is in his first
season as a member of the
Pittsburgh Riverhounds professional
soccer team.
The Riverhounds, founded in 1999,
compete in the United Soccer League
Pro (USL Pro) Northern Division.
Yobbi, a four-year starter at Cal U,
finished his collegiate career with a 3822-6 record and 16 shutouts. Nine of
those whitewashes came last fall, when
he helped the Vulcans compile an 11-52 overall record and achieve their fourth
consecutive winning season.
A three-time all-conference selection,
Yobbi was the 2007 PSAC Rookie of the
Year and a National Soccer Coaches
Association of America (NSCAA)
Second-Team All-Region pick.
As a sophomore, Yobbi backstopped
the Vulcans to the program’s first-ever
PSAC championship. The South Park
native was named the tournament’s
Most Valuable Player following stellar
efforts in playoff wins over Slippery
Rock and nationally ranked Millersville
University.

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After being one of the PSAC’s most dominant goalkeepers the past four years, Cal U’s Derek
Yobbi is now trying to keep professional teams off the score sheet as a member of the
Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Yobbi finished his career as Cal U‘s
all-time leader, with a 1.17 goals-against

average and 5,916 goalkeeper minutes.
The Riverhounds have used Yobbi

primarily as a backup this season.
“He has been able to quickly make
the transition to the higher level at each
step in his career,” said Cal U veteran
soccer head coach Dennis Laskey. “He
had a brilliant career here, and he has
all of the required skills to succeed at
the next level.”
Yobbi is one of several former Cal U
soccer players who have played
professionally. Among them are Cal U
Hall of Fame inductees Nicholas
Addlery (1999-2002) and Tomas Boltnar
(1998-2001).
One of the Riverhounds’ recent
interns is Justin Taucher ’10, who
played for the Vulcans from 2006-2009.
“Derek is an amazing goalkeeper,”
said Taucher, a two-time all-conference
forward. “From what I can see, Derek
will do fine at this level once he gets his
shot.”
The Riverhounds’ home matches are
contested at Chartiers Valley High
School in Bridgeville, Pa. Pittsburgh’s
next home action is a 7 p.m. game
against American Division rival
Orlando (Fla.) City on July 1.

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. Charles Mance
Vice President for University Technology Services

Craig Butzine
Vice President for Marketing and University Relations

Geraldine M. Jones
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Ron Huiatt
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations

Christine Kindl
Editor

Dr. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Affairs

Robert Thorn
Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance

Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall, Jeff Bender
Writers

Office of Communications and Public Relations

250 University Avenue

California, PA 15419

724-938-4195

wald@calu.edu

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

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