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California University
VOLUME 13, NUMBER 30 NOV. 14, 2011
READ THE JOURNAL ONLINE: www.calu.edu/news/the-journal
Vulcans’ Academic Success Rate Best in PSAC
here’s more to Vulcan athletics
than success on the playing field.
Cal U ranks first among the 16
PSAC schools for its Academic Success
Rate, according to a report released late
last month by the National Collegiate
Athletic Association.
Introduced in 2005, the NCAA
Division II Academic Success Rate, or
ASR, is a rolling average of the
graduation outcomes for student-athletes
competing at this level.
Nationally, the latest figures show that
73 percent of the Division II class that
entered college in 2004 graduated within
six years of initial enrollment. The figure
is comparable to last year’s overall ASR,
and it represents the highest graduation
rate to date.
With 89 percent of its 2004 cohort
graduating within six years, Cal U far
exceeded the national average. The
Vulcans also topped the 76.3 percent
overall graduation rate for schools in the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
The top three PSAC schools following
the Vulcans in ASR were Millersville, at
87 percent; West Chester, 82 percent; and
Gannon, 80 percent.
“I am very proud of our athletes,
coaches and academic support staff
whose efforts contribute to our great
showing in the Academic Success Rate
standings,” said Cal U President Angelo
Armenti, Jr.
“While we are certainly proud of our
athletic scholarships, to account for use of
the partial-scholarship model in Division
II. The result is that the ASR provides a
more accurate depiction of Division II
student-athlete academic outcomes.
T
Grade reports
Kelly Collins, director of academic support (right), reviews coursework with Cal U women’s
volleyball middle hitter Gabriela Follmer, a sophomore.
athletes and coaches in terms of wins and
losses, we are even more proud of them
in terms of their academic success and
high graduation rate.”
Division II athletes graduate at a
higher rate than their peers who do not
compete in varsity sports, the report
shows.
Even when using the less-inclusive
federal rate, which does not include
transfer athletes and mid-year enrollees,
Division II student-athletes perform
significantly better than the general
student body. The federal rate for Division
II student-athletes is 55 percent, 6
percentage points higher than the overall
student body at Division II colleges and
universities.
The ASR data for Division II is
similar to the Division I Graduation
Success Rate (GSR), but it also includes
student-athletes who do not receive
The academic success of Vulcan
athletes is reflected not only in their
graduation rate, but also in their grades.
Last spring the Cal U athletic teams
collectively achieved a 3.17 cumulative
grade-point average. This marked the 10th
consecutive semester when the Vulcans’
cumulative GPA stood at 3.00 or higher.
More than one-third of Vulcan
athletes — 155 of Cal’s 423 student
competitors, or 37 percent — were named
PSAC Scholar-Athletes for maintaining a
cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.
More than 53 percent of those
student-athletes were named to the Spring
2011 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for
having a GPA of 3.00 or better.
And since last summer, five Vulcan
teams — softball, women’s swimming,
women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s
track and field — have earned recognition
as Academic All-Americans.
Dr. Karen Hjerpe, Cal U’s associate
athletic director and senior woman
administrator, says the Athletics
Department embraces the NCAA
Division II philosophy of balancing
academics and athletics.
— Continued on page 2
Cal U Among
Indigenous Peoples Institute
‘Best Colleges Aims to Expand Understanding
for Vets’
al U is ranked No. 4 in the nation for its
commitment to helping military veterans
pursue higher education.
Military Times EDGE magazine ranks Cal U
behind only Concord (W.Va.), Eastern Kentucky
and Rutgers (N.J.) universities in its second “Best
Colleges for Vets” survey, a supplement to its
November issue.
Cal U is the only school in the State System of
Higher Education to be included in the 2011 “Best
for Vets” list. The only other Pennsylvania school
among the top 40 this year is the University of
Pittsburgh, ranked No. 15.
Last year Military Times EDGE ranked Cal U at
No. 37, which placed it among the top 1 percent
of the 4,000 schools surveyed.
The magazine annually ranks institutions
based on programs, policies and resources for
veterans. Input from student veterans helps to
establish the criteria, which include financial
assistance for veterans, academic accreditation,
graduation rates and the presence of a central
veterans office with a knowledgeable staff.
The rankings are published online at
www.militarytimesEDGE.com .
“Our Cal U veterans take pride in all we do,
whether here on campus or online,” says Capt.
— Continued on page 3
C
s she began her keynote address on Cal U’s
second annual Native American Day, activist Dr.
LaDonna Harris promised her support for a new
University institute that bears her name.
The LaDonna Harris Indigenous Peoples Institute will
add another multicultural element to the Cal U
experience and align with Harris’ decades-long advocacy
efforts on behalf of Native Americans, including her own
Comanche people.
“The mission of the institute will be to expand the
awareness and understanding of indigenous issues
throughout the Cal U community by means of research,
teaching, experiential learning and cross-cultural
dialogue,” University President Angelo Armenti, Jr. told
an audience of about 300 who gathered for Harris’ talk.
“The Institute will be guided by Dr. Harris’
philosophies and world view.”
Dr. Clarissa Confer of the Department of History and
Political Science will lead the new institute. A specialist in
Native American and U.S. social history, as well as the
Civil War, she is the author of The Cherokee Nation in the
Civil War and Daily Life in Pre-Columbian Native America. A
third book, focusing on the Indian Wars, is under way.
In her talk, Harris described growing up in Oklahoma
during the Great Depression and living in Washington,
D.C., during the early days of the feminist movement.
Her address, “The Power of Indigenous Female
Leadership,” expanded on themes she had discussed with
students earlier in the day, when she and four
“ambassadors” from the advocacy group Americans for
A
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. and Dr. LaDonna Harris enjoy
a moment during Cal U’s annual Native American Day.
Indian Opportunity visited Cal U classes.
Harris explained that she was reared by her
grandparents, a situation that was not uncommon in her
rural community. Her grandmother was a practicing
— Continued on page 3
Great American Smokeout is Thursday
EART — Cal U’s Health Education Awareness
Resource Team — wants you to know that
tobacco use remains the single
largest preventable cause of disease and
premature death in the nation.
That’s the message of the Great
American Smokeout event set for 11 a.m.1 p.m. Thursday in the Natali Student
Center. Representatives of the
Pennsylvania Department of Health are
expected to attend.
The Great American Smokeout is a
nationwide event held annually on the third Thursday
of November to encourage Americans to stop smoking
H
tobacco. Here’s why:
• An estimated 46 million adults in the United
States currently smoke, and about half of
them will die prematurely from an illness
related to smoking.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of
cancer death for men and women, and
more than 80 percent of lung cancers
result from smoking.
• Smoking causes nearly one in five
deaths from all causes.
The American Cancer Society held its
first smokeout in 1977. The event challenges people to
stop smoking cigarettes for 24 hours, hoping their
decision not to smoke will last forever.
At Cal U, HEART will distribute “quit kits” that
include toll-free numbers to call for smoking cessation
support, along with lollipops and other giveaways.
Examples of a healthy lung and a lung damaged by
smoking will be on display, and information about the
dangers of smoking and chewing tobacco will be
available.
Smokers will receive literature about the Great
American Smokeout, asked to refrain from smoking for
just one day and to consider donating the day’s
“cigarette money” to charity. Non-smokers will be
invited to sign an “I won’t smoke” contract.
For help quitting smoking, call 1-800-QUITNOW.
Vulcans Have Best PSAC Academic Success Rate
information,” he said. “These students are
mature and learn to have great timemanagement skills.”
— Continued from page 1
She praised the department’s
academic support staff, which consists of
Kelly Collins, director of academic
support; Dr. Tony McGrew, an emeritus
professor and academic adviser; and
graduate assistant Mallory McCune.
Collins was hired last spring after serving
as a work-study student and graduate
assistant under McGrew.
“Both Tony and Kelly have a passion
for what they do and sincerely want to see
every student-athlete be successful,”
Hjerpe said.
“They are tracking student-athletes on
a daily and weekly basis to see if they are
going to class and attending study halls,
making sure tests are completed, and
keeping them on track to graduation.”
Their work pays off, said Dr. William
Biddington, Cal U’s NCAA faculty
athletic representative and the former
chair of the Health Science and Sport
Studies program.
“The ASR is reflective of the support
the student-athletes are receiving in the
classroom from the efforts of many
individuals who are involved in the
academic preparation, study skills and
mentoring programs,“ he said.
Team concept
Last winter the men’s basketball team
advanced to the post-season for the 11th
time in 15 years. More important, said
head coach Bill Brown, is the fact that 10
players earned a GPA of 3.00 or higher
last spring.
In the spotlight
Senior catcher Alyson Johnson, a Capital One Academic All-District II First-Team selection
last spring, has helped Cal U’s athletic program rank first among the 16 PSAC schools for its
Academic Success Rate.
“These young men ‘get it.’ They
realize that one day they will have to put
their sneakers in the closet and pursue
another path,” Brown said. “However, it’s
truly a team concept at Cal U. From the
President and the administration to our
faculty and support staff, all of these
people help our student-athletes develop a
commitment to academics and a desire to
earn their degree. All of us involved in
Cal athletics are especially grateful to the
faculty.”
It makes a real difference, said senior
Jerica Sneddon, an elementary education
major and a PSAC Scholar Athlete who
competes with the women’s track and
field team.
“Everyone offers support in helping us
find the time to be successful in both
academics and our sports,” she said. “I
am proud to be a student-athlete at
California University.”
Dr. Tom Mueller, a professor of earth
sciences and a Vulcan sports fan, credits
the student-athletes for their academic
commitment.
“They are the ones who have to work
hard, acquire information after the fact,
sometimes take exams at a later date and
then stay up to date for the next
The individual success of studentathletes puts the entire University in the
spotlight.
On the fields, courts and pools, Cal U
has finished in the Top 15 in the national
Learfield Directors’ Cup in each of the
last four years. The Directors’ Cup
annually honors institutions maintaining
a broad-based program in both men’s and
women’s sports. The Vulcans placed 12th
last year in the Directors’ Cup standings
after finishing a conference-best No. 2
nationally two years ago.
For the past four years, Cal U has
finished among the top three in the race
for the Dixon Trophy, which is awarded
annually to the PSAC member institution
with the most successful all-around
program. The Vulcans won it in 2009.
A former collegiate athlete, Hjerpe
believes that Cal U’s top-notch coaches,
along with a caring faculty and effective
academic support staff, are a winning
combination for student-athletes and the
Cal U athletics program.
“I think anytime that we can state that
our student-athletes are graduating at a
high rate, it’s something to be very proud
of,” she said. “We are trying to build an
all-around program of excellence, and this
shows that Cal U is doing a great job of
turning out student-athletes who are
equipped to succeed in the workforce
after they’ve graduated.”
Soccer Player Captures PSAC Scholar Award
al U soccer player Kristen Orrett
became the second Vulcan studentathlete this fall to receive the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
(PSAC) Champion Scholar Award.
Orrett, a senior defender, accepted the
award Nov. 4 before the PSAC semifinals,
where the Vulcans scored a 5-1 victory over
Edinboro at the new Phillipsburg Soccer
Facility.
Last month senior Tim Lahmers
received the same award before the cross
country championships at Lock Haven
University.
New this year, the award is presented at
each of the PSAC’s 23 team championship
finals. It honors the male and female
athlete at each contest with the top
cumulative grade-point average.
The selection criteria for the Champion
Scholar Awards is identical to that of the
NCAA Elite 88 awards, which recognize
the student-athlete with the top GPA at
each of the 88 NCAA championships.
A pre-education major, Orrett is already
a three-time PSAC Scholar Athlete. A two-
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2
time ESPN The Magazine Academic AllDistrict selection, she received first-team
honors last fall. She currently has a 3.98
cumulative grade-point average (GPA) as a
secondary education major with a
concentration in social studies.
Orrett is a graduate of Pickering (Ontario)
High School and a four-year starter at Cal U.
Heading into the PSAC Final Four, she was
fourth on the team in scoring, with six goals
and one assist for 13 points.
Orrett has helped Cal U compile a 65-1210 cumulative record during her four years on
the team. The Vulcans reached the NCAA
Division II national quarterfinals in her
sophomore year and placed second at both the
PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional tourneys
in 2010.
In the season before Orrett’s arrival, the
team won only four games.
She has helped the 2011 squad and fifthyear head coach Al Alvine make the
program’s third consecutive NCAA II postseason appearance.
Earlier this season, the team was
ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Women’s soccer standout Kristen Orrett is the second Vulcan student-athlete
this fall to receive the PSAC Champion Scholar Award. The award was
presented Nov. 4 at the PSAC Women’s Soccer Championships, which Cal U
hosted for the first time in school history.
Cal U Hosts
VEX
Robotics
Contests
Scholarship
Dinner:
A Time to Say
‘Thanks’
early 500 guests attended the 15th annual
Scholarship Recognition Dinner held Oct. 27 in
Gallagher Hall.
“This evening is very special,” said Cal U President
Angelo Armenti, Jr. “We are here to honor our students and
the donors who contribute to their education.”
President Armenti pointed out that Cal U is blessed to
have such hard-working, committed and dedicated students,
and he said the same holds true for those who support
student scholarships.
“Our donors have all chosen to make a difference in the
life of a student,” he said.
The Scholarship Recognition Dinner is an annual event
designed to give students an opportunity to thank their
benefactors.
N
C
Scholarship recipients Elissa Vaverka and Eric Porter meet
generous benefactor Michael Kara during the 15th annual
Scholarship Recognition Dinner.
“These people care so deeply about California University
and our students that they have donated a significant portion
of their hard-earned money to invest in your future,” the
President told the scholarship recipients. “You earned that
trust, and you deserve their support and faith. Tonight, you
have the opportunity to share a meal with them and thank
them personally for their benevolence.”
For giving opportunities, call 724-938-5775.
Cal U Among ‘Best Colleges for Vets’
and career guidance. An
active Veterans Club offers
information and
Robert Prah, director of the
opportunities for networking
Office of Veterans Affairs.
and community service.
“Being ranked No. 4 in
California University has
the nation is an exceptional
been honored previously for
honor. It shows that Cal U is
its service to veterans and
committed to helping
military members. For three
students meet their
consecutive years, G.I. Jobs
educational goals and
magazine has named Cal U
assisting veterans as they
one of the nation’s top
return to our campus.”
Military Friendly Schools.
About 230 military
And since January 2009,
veterans attend classes on
Cal U has been among an
Cal U’s campus in
elite group of colleges and
southwestern Pennsylvania.
‘Military Times EDGE’ magazine ranks Cal U fourth in the nation
universities designated as
An additional 260 service
for its commitment to helping veterans pursue higher education.
“eArmyU schools” —
members around the world
Shown above is Cal U student and veteran Joseph Hummel.
preferred providers of online
are enrolled in Global
education for soldiers
Online, Cal U’s Internetthrough the GoArmyEd portal. A gateway to higher
based learning community.
education for soldiers stationed anywhere in the world,
The University’s Office of Veterans Affairs provides
GoArmyEd.com gives service members easy access to
military veterans and their families with assistance in many
programs offered through Global Online.
areas, including financial aid, academic advising, counseling
— Continued from page 1
Institute Aims to Raise Awareness
— Continued from page 1
Christian, while her grandfather
practiced “eagle medicine” and used
peyote.
“It was a very interesting household
to grow up in,” she said. “My
grandfather drove us to the mission
church every Sunday and sat in the car
while we were there. When we came
home, he would sing his peyote songs as
the sun went down, and that was his
way of praying.”
Although her grandparents’ beliefs
differed, “they always knew who they
were and had a sense of self that shaped
me as an individual,” Harris said. That
acceptance of differences led her to
speak out not only on Native American
issues, but also for women’s rights,
environmental causes and world peace.
She reminisced about the time she
spent in Washington as the wife of U.S.
Sen. Fred Harris. There she joined
women such as Rep. Bella Abzug and
feminist leader Gloria Steinem in
demanding equal rights.
“I was not involved because I was
discriminated against as a woman, but I
was patronized as a woman a great
deal,” she said. “I was kind of patted on
my shoulder and not taken seriously,
which was very frustrating. So I became
an activist.”
A founder of the National Women’s
Political Caucus, she also was a
founding member of Common Cause
and the National Urban Coalition.
As she described her early years,
Harris emphasized Indian values she
labeled “The Four Rs”— relationship,
responsibility, reciprocity and
redistribution.
“Relationship is the most important,”
she said, explaining that it encompasses
community, national and global
connections, as well as family ties.
“When you think about it, that’s all
there is,” she said, noting that she refers
to President Armenti as her “Italian
brother” and he calls her his “Comanche
sister.”
“Kinship is so important. You have
a responsibility to those relationships.”
The Indian values of reciprocity and
redistribution echo the University’s
frequent call to “pay it forward.”
“The more you accomplish, the more
you should give back,” she said.
Harris first came to Cal U in 2007,
when she presented a lecture in
conjunction with the Smithsonian
Institution traveling exhibition
“Booming Out: Mohawk Ironworkers
Build New York.”
She returned to Cal U to receive an
honorary doctorate in 2009,”and I
consider myself an alumna now,” she
said.
Business Showcase Wednesday in Performance Center
The Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is
offering a Chamber Business Showcase from 11 a.m.-7
p.m. Wednesday in the Performance Center.
ustom-designed robots will be
playing games when Cal U hosts
a pair of VEX Robotics
competitions from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday
and Saturday in the Performance Center.
Collegiate teams will compete on
Friday, and teams from 10 regional high
schools will participate in a world
championship-qualifying event on
Saturday.
The 2011 VEX Collegiate Challenge
will feature teams from Muhlenberg
College (Pa.), College of Southern
Maryland, Alfred University (N.Y.) and
University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign.
This competition is one of just three
VEX Robotics collegiate contests in the
United States.
On Saturday, 19 teams from 10
regional high schools will square off in
the Western Pennsylvania VEX Robotics
Competition.
The top two teams will qualify to
participate in the 2012 VEX Robotics
World Championship April 18-21 at the
Anaheim Convention Center in
Anaheim, Calif.
“By hosting this event, Cal U provides
opportunity for regional high school
teams to advance to the World Cup
Event,” says Mike Amrhein, director for
the Office of Outreach and Integration of
T.E.A.M.S. (Technology, Engineering,
Art, Math and Science) at Cal U.
Last year, a high school team from
Connellsville, Pa., designed a robot that
qualified at the Cal U event and went on
to place fourth at the world
championship.
Each year, VEX Robotics
competitions change the games rules to
ensure original robotic designs. This
year’s game, VEX Gateway, was
developed by Innovation First Inc., a
leader in educational and competitive
robotics products.
In VEX Gateway, robots work in
teams to score points by moving objects
of various sizes across the playing field
and through goals.
Hosting the contests at Cal U
introduces students and teachers to the
University and highlights Cal U’s
robotics, science and technology
programs.
“When students from these teams
come to campus, they see firsthand what
a great University has to offer as they
pursue their post-secondary education,”
Amrhein said.
VEX Robotics competitions are the
largest and fastest-growing robotics
programs in the world, with schools in
more than 20 countries participating in
some 200 tournaments around the globe.
“It gives students a chance to apply
STEM (science, technology, engineering
and math) in a fun way and provides
teachers with a focal point for their
robotics education programs,” Amrhein
said.
“In robotics competitions, students
must also apply leadership, teamwork,
problem solving and gracious
professionalism.”
For more information, contact Mike
Amrhein, director for the Office of Outreach
and Integration of T.E.A.M.S., at 724-9385906 or amrhein@calu.edu . To learn more
about VEX Robotics and to see a video about
the competition, visit www.calu.edu .
Admission to the expo is free and open to the public.
For more information, call 724-483-3507 or e-mail
info@mvrchamber.org.
3
Lee Passes His Way into Hall of Fame
Editor’s Note: Cal U held its 17th annual Athletic Hall of
Fame Banquet Oct. 21. The Journal is profiling each of the
2011 Hall of Fame inductees.
Strong-armed Bill Lee was Cal U’s starting
quarterback from the end of his 1963 freshman season
into 1966. With his induction last month into the Cal U
Athletic Hall of Fame, he became the first quarterback
in 10 years to receive the University’s most prestigious
athletic honor.
“I am very honored and humbled,” Lee said.
“When you take a look at some of the quarterbacks
who have preceded me into the Hall of Fame, it’s quite
something to be in with that elite company. This is
special.”
Lee guided the Vulcans to a 21-14 victory over
Edinboro in his first collegiate start, the season finale of
1963. Two years later the Vulcans and innovative head
coach Bill Hepner ranked among the nation’s top 10 in
passing offense, and the 1965 team produced the
program’s eighth winning season in nine years.
“I don’t know if I could have played at many
colleges other then California, because Bill Hepner had
an offense I could fit into,” said Lee. “He developed the
insight in me to read defenses, and we were way ahead
of the curve with the passing game for that era.”
During his 1966 senior season, Lee passed for 367
yards, then a school record, and he earned PSAC
Player of the Week honors in a 27-20 home victory over
Lock Haven. (The previous school record was set by Ed
Zielenski, who threw for 353 yards in 1953 against
Washington and Jefferson College.)
At that time Lee ranked second in total offense
among all NAIA players, but he suffered a seasonending separated shoulder the following week at
Waynesburg. He was replaced at quarterback that
season by Jeff Petrucci ’69, also a member of the Hall
of Fame.
Petrucci, who went on to be an All-American and
later to coach the Vulcans for 12 years, credits Lee for
changing the attitude of the team. The two were also
high school teammates.
“He brought stability to the program, and he was
very sincere,” said Petrucci. “Lee was an exceptional
thrower, if not the most mobile person, and he always
got the job done.”
Bill Lee became the first quarterback in 10 years to be
inducted into the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame.
Petrucci said Lee could have held a grudge about
his injury. Instead, he became Petrucci’s mentor, the
consummate team player and a very important figure in
his personal life.
“I would have never played as a sophomore if
‘Wort’ had never gotten hurt,” Petrucci said. “He took
me under his wing and was very supportive. When I
would come off the field, he would come up to me and
tell me what the defenses were doing — because, quite
frankly, I was a clueless young kid just trying to get
things done.
“I never forgot that. I have always valued our
friendship.”
Lee, who was given his nickname by the paperboy
at age 5, watched Petrucci lead the NAIA in total
offense in both 1967 and 1968.
Cal U for Life Campaign
Builds Awareness This Week
ampaign-style signs and big, red bows tied
around buildings will play a part in promoting
awareness, appreciation and giving during Cal U
for Life Awareness Week.
Today through Friday, 15 signs, each with the Cal U
for Life logo, will deliver information about the
University. Messages highlight the Student Association
Inc., the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities and campus
landmarks, such as the statue of the late philanthropist
Robert Eberly poring over a book in front of Manderino
Library.
Some buildings will be wrapped in ribbon with tags
that read, “To the students from the taxpayers of
Pennsylvania.” Others tags will credit private donors for
their role in constructing the building.
“The signs and ribbons basically help make people
aware of where things on campus come from and how
they were funded,” said Ryan Jerico, coordinator of
Student and Young Alumni Programs. “Although the
students are targeted, we hope this week also carries over
to the faculty and staff. We want the campus community
C
to be aware of our financial situation and our traditions.
We hope the awareness will result in appreciation.”
Throughout the week members of the Senior Gift
Drive Committee will promote student philanthropy by
offering information and games at tables in the Natali
Student Center.
In 2010, the inaugural Senior Gift Drive raised more
than $8,000. The kickoff for the 2011 drive was held on
Feb. 15, Tuition Freedom Day, when students thanked
state legislators and Pennsylvania taxpayers for their
support of state-owned universities.
This year’s Senior Gift Drive already has raised more
than $7,000.
Jerico hopes Awareness Week also increases student
engagement with their University.
“Any involvement that students have on campus is
involvement in the Cal U For Life program,” he said.
“President (Angelo) Armenti has said for years that
all of PASSHE is being privatized without a plan, but
Cal U has a plan — and Cal U for Life is a big part of
it.”
“He broke all my records, including interceptions,”
Lee joked. “God gave me a pretty good arm, but also
very slow feet. I would run sprints with the tackles, and
half of them would beat me. Jeff was so fast, so
defenses could no longer just stay in a zone.
“I have the utmost respect for him.”
Lee’s primary receiver was another Hall of Fame
inductee, Ettore Perri ‘66, who scored 27 career
touchdowns, another school standard at that time.
Cal won four of five divisional games in 1966 and
finished second in the PSAC-West. In all, the Vulcans
achieved three divisional winning seasons during Lee’s
collegiate career.
Originally from Charleroi, Lee is a 1963 graduate of
Charleroi High School. He was an all-conference
quarterback under legendary coach Rab Currie and
helped the 1962 squad win the section title with a final
8-1-1 overall record.
Lee was also a pitcher for the Cougars baseball
team. His father, the late Frank J. Lee ’24, played
football and basketball at Cal and later was an assistant
coach under Currie.
“I’ve been blessed to play for coaches like Rab
Currie and Bill Hepner,” Lee said. “I always played
with an intensity that Rab Currie instilled in me at
Charleroi. I just played to the best of my abilities and
expected everyone else to do so.”
During his undergraduate days, Lee became a PIAA
licensed football official.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in social studies
and economics in 1967, he taught and coached football
for nearly two years at Monongahela High School.
He stopped coaching at Mon City and for 28 years
officiated football at the high school, junior high and
midget league levels, including numerous WPIAL
playoff games.
After leaving the classroom Lee worked for 13 years
in pharmaceutical sales and management before joining
his cousins’ business, Lee Supply Co. He worked for 30
years as the company’s environmental sales manager.
Now semi-retired, he still serves as a consultant.
In 2009, Lee was inducted into the Solid Waste
Association of North America’s “Hall of Flame” for
his many years of dedication to the solid waste
industry.
Lee is in his 11th year as the mayor of Speers, Pa.
Archives, Special
Collection Tour Set
A
s part of the Manderino Library Workshop
Series, the campus community is invited to
take a half-hour tour of the Archives and
Special Collections that highlight Cal U history.
The fourth-floor archives — a delight for any
individual with an interest in Cal U’s nearly 160year history — may be one of the University’s bestkept secrets.
The tour will begin at 11 a.m. in room 412 of
Manderino on Tuesday.
Time will be available at the end of the session
for those who would like to get an up-close view of
special items or to learn more about the collection.
Library Workshops are informal, 30-minute
sessions open to Cal U students, faculty and staff.
Workshops provide more general assistance than
class-specific sessions and count toward Education
Seminar credit and noted on students’ Activities
Transcripts.
For more information, e-mail
reference@calu.edu .
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
4
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419
724-938-4195
wald@calu.edu
VOLUME 13, NUMBER 30 NOV. 14, 2011
READ THE JOURNAL ONLINE: www.calu.edu/news/the-journal
Vulcans’ Academic Success Rate Best in PSAC
here’s more to Vulcan athletics
than success on the playing field.
Cal U ranks first among the 16
PSAC schools for its Academic Success
Rate, according to a report released late
last month by the National Collegiate
Athletic Association.
Introduced in 2005, the NCAA
Division II Academic Success Rate, or
ASR, is a rolling average of the
graduation outcomes for student-athletes
competing at this level.
Nationally, the latest figures show that
73 percent of the Division II class that
entered college in 2004 graduated within
six years of initial enrollment. The figure
is comparable to last year’s overall ASR,
and it represents the highest graduation
rate to date.
With 89 percent of its 2004 cohort
graduating within six years, Cal U far
exceeded the national average. The
Vulcans also topped the 76.3 percent
overall graduation rate for schools in the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
The top three PSAC schools following
the Vulcans in ASR were Millersville, at
87 percent; West Chester, 82 percent; and
Gannon, 80 percent.
“I am very proud of our athletes,
coaches and academic support staff
whose efforts contribute to our great
showing in the Academic Success Rate
standings,” said Cal U President Angelo
Armenti, Jr.
“While we are certainly proud of our
athletic scholarships, to account for use of
the partial-scholarship model in Division
II. The result is that the ASR provides a
more accurate depiction of Division II
student-athlete academic outcomes.
T
Grade reports
Kelly Collins, director of academic support (right), reviews coursework with Cal U women’s
volleyball middle hitter Gabriela Follmer, a sophomore.
athletes and coaches in terms of wins and
losses, we are even more proud of them
in terms of their academic success and
high graduation rate.”
Division II athletes graduate at a
higher rate than their peers who do not
compete in varsity sports, the report
shows.
Even when using the less-inclusive
federal rate, which does not include
transfer athletes and mid-year enrollees,
Division II student-athletes perform
significantly better than the general
student body. The federal rate for Division
II student-athletes is 55 percent, 6
percentage points higher than the overall
student body at Division II colleges and
universities.
The ASR data for Division II is
similar to the Division I Graduation
Success Rate (GSR), but it also includes
student-athletes who do not receive
The academic success of Vulcan
athletes is reflected not only in their
graduation rate, but also in their grades.
Last spring the Cal U athletic teams
collectively achieved a 3.17 cumulative
grade-point average. This marked the 10th
consecutive semester when the Vulcans’
cumulative GPA stood at 3.00 or higher.
More than one-third of Vulcan
athletes — 155 of Cal’s 423 student
competitors, or 37 percent — were named
PSAC Scholar-Athletes for maintaining a
cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.
More than 53 percent of those
student-athletes were named to the Spring
2011 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for
having a GPA of 3.00 or better.
And since last summer, five Vulcan
teams — softball, women’s swimming,
women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s
track and field — have earned recognition
as Academic All-Americans.
Dr. Karen Hjerpe, Cal U’s associate
athletic director and senior woman
administrator, says the Athletics
Department embraces the NCAA
Division II philosophy of balancing
academics and athletics.
— Continued on page 2
Cal U Among
Indigenous Peoples Institute
‘Best Colleges Aims to Expand Understanding
for Vets’
al U is ranked No. 4 in the nation for its
commitment to helping military veterans
pursue higher education.
Military Times EDGE magazine ranks Cal U
behind only Concord (W.Va.), Eastern Kentucky
and Rutgers (N.J.) universities in its second “Best
Colleges for Vets” survey, a supplement to its
November issue.
Cal U is the only school in the State System of
Higher Education to be included in the 2011 “Best
for Vets” list. The only other Pennsylvania school
among the top 40 this year is the University of
Pittsburgh, ranked No. 15.
Last year Military Times EDGE ranked Cal U at
No. 37, which placed it among the top 1 percent
of the 4,000 schools surveyed.
The magazine annually ranks institutions
based on programs, policies and resources for
veterans. Input from student veterans helps to
establish the criteria, which include financial
assistance for veterans, academic accreditation,
graduation rates and the presence of a central
veterans office with a knowledgeable staff.
The rankings are published online at
www.militarytimesEDGE.com .
“Our Cal U veterans take pride in all we do,
whether here on campus or online,” says Capt.
— Continued on page 3
C
s she began her keynote address on Cal U’s
second annual Native American Day, activist Dr.
LaDonna Harris promised her support for a new
University institute that bears her name.
The LaDonna Harris Indigenous Peoples Institute will
add another multicultural element to the Cal U
experience and align with Harris’ decades-long advocacy
efforts on behalf of Native Americans, including her own
Comanche people.
“The mission of the institute will be to expand the
awareness and understanding of indigenous issues
throughout the Cal U community by means of research,
teaching, experiential learning and cross-cultural
dialogue,” University President Angelo Armenti, Jr. told
an audience of about 300 who gathered for Harris’ talk.
“The Institute will be guided by Dr. Harris’
philosophies and world view.”
Dr. Clarissa Confer of the Department of History and
Political Science will lead the new institute. A specialist in
Native American and U.S. social history, as well as the
Civil War, she is the author of The Cherokee Nation in the
Civil War and Daily Life in Pre-Columbian Native America. A
third book, focusing on the Indian Wars, is under way.
In her talk, Harris described growing up in Oklahoma
during the Great Depression and living in Washington,
D.C., during the early days of the feminist movement.
Her address, “The Power of Indigenous Female
Leadership,” expanded on themes she had discussed with
students earlier in the day, when she and four
“ambassadors” from the advocacy group Americans for
A
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. and Dr. LaDonna Harris enjoy
a moment during Cal U’s annual Native American Day.
Indian Opportunity visited Cal U classes.
Harris explained that she was reared by her
grandparents, a situation that was not uncommon in her
rural community. Her grandmother was a practicing
— Continued on page 3
Great American Smokeout is Thursday
EART — Cal U’s Health Education Awareness
Resource Team — wants you to know that
tobacco use remains the single
largest preventable cause of disease and
premature death in the nation.
That’s the message of the Great
American Smokeout event set for 11 a.m.1 p.m. Thursday in the Natali Student
Center. Representatives of the
Pennsylvania Department of Health are
expected to attend.
The Great American Smokeout is a
nationwide event held annually on the third Thursday
of November to encourage Americans to stop smoking
H
tobacco. Here’s why:
• An estimated 46 million adults in the United
States currently smoke, and about half of
them will die prematurely from an illness
related to smoking.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of
cancer death for men and women, and
more than 80 percent of lung cancers
result from smoking.
• Smoking causes nearly one in five
deaths from all causes.
The American Cancer Society held its
first smokeout in 1977. The event challenges people to
stop smoking cigarettes for 24 hours, hoping their
decision not to smoke will last forever.
At Cal U, HEART will distribute “quit kits” that
include toll-free numbers to call for smoking cessation
support, along with lollipops and other giveaways.
Examples of a healthy lung and a lung damaged by
smoking will be on display, and information about the
dangers of smoking and chewing tobacco will be
available.
Smokers will receive literature about the Great
American Smokeout, asked to refrain from smoking for
just one day and to consider donating the day’s
“cigarette money” to charity. Non-smokers will be
invited to sign an “I won’t smoke” contract.
For help quitting smoking, call 1-800-QUITNOW.
Vulcans Have Best PSAC Academic Success Rate
information,” he said. “These students are
mature and learn to have great timemanagement skills.”
— Continued from page 1
She praised the department’s
academic support staff, which consists of
Kelly Collins, director of academic
support; Dr. Tony McGrew, an emeritus
professor and academic adviser; and
graduate assistant Mallory McCune.
Collins was hired last spring after serving
as a work-study student and graduate
assistant under McGrew.
“Both Tony and Kelly have a passion
for what they do and sincerely want to see
every student-athlete be successful,”
Hjerpe said.
“They are tracking student-athletes on
a daily and weekly basis to see if they are
going to class and attending study halls,
making sure tests are completed, and
keeping them on track to graduation.”
Their work pays off, said Dr. William
Biddington, Cal U’s NCAA faculty
athletic representative and the former
chair of the Health Science and Sport
Studies program.
“The ASR is reflective of the support
the student-athletes are receiving in the
classroom from the efforts of many
individuals who are involved in the
academic preparation, study skills and
mentoring programs,“ he said.
Team concept
Last winter the men’s basketball team
advanced to the post-season for the 11th
time in 15 years. More important, said
head coach Bill Brown, is the fact that 10
players earned a GPA of 3.00 or higher
last spring.
In the spotlight
Senior catcher Alyson Johnson, a Capital One Academic All-District II First-Team selection
last spring, has helped Cal U’s athletic program rank first among the 16 PSAC schools for its
Academic Success Rate.
“These young men ‘get it.’ They
realize that one day they will have to put
their sneakers in the closet and pursue
another path,” Brown said. “However, it’s
truly a team concept at Cal U. From the
President and the administration to our
faculty and support staff, all of these
people help our student-athletes develop a
commitment to academics and a desire to
earn their degree. All of us involved in
Cal athletics are especially grateful to the
faculty.”
It makes a real difference, said senior
Jerica Sneddon, an elementary education
major and a PSAC Scholar Athlete who
competes with the women’s track and
field team.
“Everyone offers support in helping us
find the time to be successful in both
academics and our sports,” she said. “I
am proud to be a student-athlete at
California University.”
Dr. Tom Mueller, a professor of earth
sciences and a Vulcan sports fan, credits
the student-athletes for their academic
commitment.
“They are the ones who have to work
hard, acquire information after the fact,
sometimes take exams at a later date and
then stay up to date for the next
The individual success of studentathletes puts the entire University in the
spotlight.
On the fields, courts and pools, Cal U
has finished in the Top 15 in the national
Learfield Directors’ Cup in each of the
last four years. The Directors’ Cup
annually honors institutions maintaining
a broad-based program in both men’s and
women’s sports. The Vulcans placed 12th
last year in the Directors’ Cup standings
after finishing a conference-best No. 2
nationally two years ago.
For the past four years, Cal U has
finished among the top three in the race
for the Dixon Trophy, which is awarded
annually to the PSAC member institution
with the most successful all-around
program. The Vulcans won it in 2009.
A former collegiate athlete, Hjerpe
believes that Cal U’s top-notch coaches,
along with a caring faculty and effective
academic support staff, are a winning
combination for student-athletes and the
Cal U athletics program.
“I think anytime that we can state that
our student-athletes are graduating at a
high rate, it’s something to be very proud
of,” she said. “We are trying to build an
all-around program of excellence, and this
shows that Cal U is doing a great job of
turning out student-athletes who are
equipped to succeed in the workforce
after they’ve graduated.”
Soccer Player Captures PSAC Scholar Award
al U soccer player Kristen Orrett
became the second Vulcan studentathlete this fall to receive the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
(PSAC) Champion Scholar Award.
Orrett, a senior defender, accepted the
award Nov. 4 before the PSAC semifinals,
where the Vulcans scored a 5-1 victory over
Edinboro at the new Phillipsburg Soccer
Facility.
Last month senior Tim Lahmers
received the same award before the cross
country championships at Lock Haven
University.
New this year, the award is presented at
each of the PSAC’s 23 team championship
finals. It honors the male and female
athlete at each contest with the top
cumulative grade-point average.
The selection criteria for the Champion
Scholar Awards is identical to that of the
NCAA Elite 88 awards, which recognize
the student-athlete with the top GPA at
each of the 88 NCAA championships.
A pre-education major, Orrett is already
a three-time PSAC Scholar Athlete. A two-
C
2
time ESPN The Magazine Academic AllDistrict selection, she received first-team
honors last fall. She currently has a 3.98
cumulative grade-point average (GPA) as a
secondary education major with a
concentration in social studies.
Orrett is a graduate of Pickering (Ontario)
High School and a four-year starter at Cal U.
Heading into the PSAC Final Four, she was
fourth on the team in scoring, with six goals
and one assist for 13 points.
Orrett has helped Cal U compile a 65-1210 cumulative record during her four years on
the team. The Vulcans reached the NCAA
Division II national quarterfinals in her
sophomore year and placed second at both the
PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional tourneys
in 2010.
In the season before Orrett’s arrival, the
team won only four games.
She has helped the 2011 squad and fifthyear head coach Al Alvine make the
program’s third consecutive NCAA II postseason appearance.
Earlier this season, the team was
ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Women’s soccer standout Kristen Orrett is the second Vulcan student-athlete
this fall to receive the PSAC Champion Scholar Award. The award was
presented Nov. 4 at the PSAC Women’s Soccer Championships, which Cal U
hosted for the first time in school history.
Cal U Hosts
VEX
Robotics
Contests
Scholarship
Dinner:
A Time to Say
‘Thanks’
early 500 guests attended the 15th annual
Scholarship Recognition Dinner held Oct. 27 in
Gallagher Hall.
“This evening is very special,” said Cal U President
Angelo Armenti, Jr. “We are here to honor our students and
the donors who contribute to their education.”
President Armenti pointed out that Cal U is blessed to
have such hard-working, committed and dedicated students,
and he said the same holds true for those who support
student scholarships.
“Our donors have all chosen to make a difference in the
life of a student,” he said.
The Scholarship Recognition Dinner is an annual event
designed to give students an opportunity to thank their
benefactors.
N
C
Scholarship recipients Elissa Vaverka and Eric Porter meet
generous benefactor Michael Kara during the 15th annual
Scholarship Recognition Dinner.
“These people care so deeply about California University
and our students that they have donated a significant portion
of their hard-earned money to invest in your future,” the
President told the scholarship recipients. “You earned that
trust, and you deserve their support and faith. Tonight, you
have the opportunity to share a meal with them and thank
them personally for their benevolence.”
For giving opportunities, call 724-938-5775.
Cal U Among ‘Best Colleges for Vets’
and career guidance. An
active Veterans Club offers
information and
Robert Prah, director of the
opportunities for networking
Office of Veterans Affairs.
and community service.
“Being ranked No. 4 in
California University has
the nation is an exceptional
been honored previously for
honor. It shows that Cal U is
its service to veterans and
committed to helping
military members. For three
students meet their
consecutive years, G.I. Jobs
educational goals and
magazine has named Cal U
assisting veterans as they
one of the nation’s top
return to our campus.”
Military Friendly Schools.
About 230 military
And since January 2009,
veterans attend classes on
Cal U has been among an
Cal U’s campus in
elite group of colleges and
southwestern Pennsylvania.
‘Military Times EDGE’ magazine ranks Cal U fourth in the nation
universities designated as
An additional 260 service
for its commitment to helping veterans pursue higher education.
“eArmyU schools” —
members around the world
Shown above is Cal U student and veteran Joseph Hummel.
preferred providers of online
are enrolled in Global
education for soldiers
Online, Cal U’s Internetthrough the GoArmyEd portal. A gateway to higher
based learning community.
education for soldiers stationed anywhere in the world,
The University’s Office of Veterans Affairs provides
GoArmyEd.com gives service members easy access to
military veterans and their families with assistance in many
programs offered through Global Online.
areas, including financial aid, academic advising, counseling
— Continued from page 1
Institute Aims to Raise Awareness
— Continued from page 1
Christian, while her grandfather
practiced “eagle medicine” and used
peyote.
“It was a very interesting household
to grow up in,” she said. “My
grandfather drove us to the mission
church every Sunday and sat in the car
while we were there. When we came
home, he would sing his peyote songs as
the sun went down, and that was his
way of praying.”
Although her grandparents’ beliefs
differed, “they always knew who they
were and had a sense of self that shaped
me as an individual,” Harris said. That
acceptance of differences led her to
speak out not only on Native American
issues, but also for women’s rights,
environmental causes and world peace.
She reminisced about the time she
spent in Washington as the wife of U.S.
Sen. Fred Harris. There she joined
women such as Rep. Bella Abzug and
feminist leader Gloria Steinem in
demanding equal rights.
“I was not involved because I was
discriminated against as a woman, but I
was patronized as a woman a great
deal,” she said. “I was kind of patted on
my shoulder and not taken seriously,
which was very frustrating. So I became
an activist.”
A founder of the National Women’s
Political Caucus, she also was a
founding member of Common Cause
and the National Urban Coalition.
As she described her early years,
Harris emphasized Indian values she
labeled “The Four Rs”— relationship,
responsibility, reciprocity and
redistribution.
“Relationship is the most important,”
she said, explaining that it encompasses
community, national and global
connections, as well as family ties.
“When you think about it, that’s all
there is,” she said, noting that she refers
to President Armenti as her “Italian
brother” and he calls her his “Comanche
sister.”
“Kinship is so important. You have
a responsibility to those relationships.”
The Indian values of reciprocity and
redistribution echo the University’s
frequent call to “pay it forward.”
“The more you accomplish, the more
you should give back,” she said.
Harris first came to Cal U in 2007,
when she presented a lecture in
conjunction with the Smithsonian
Institution traveling exhibition
“Booming Out: Mohawk Ironworkers
Build New York.”
She returned to Cal U to receive an
honorary doctorate in 2009,”and I
consider myself an alumna now,” she
said.
Business Showcase Wednesday in Performance Center
The Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is
offering a Chamber Business Showcase from 11 a.m.-7
p.m. Wednesday in the Performance Center.
ustom-designed robots will be
playing games when Cal U hosts
a pair of VEX Robotics
competitions from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday
and Saturday in the Performance Center.
Collegiate teams will compete on
Friday, and teams from 10 regional high
schools will participate in a world
championship-qualifying event on
Saturday.
The 2011 VEX Collegiate Challenge
will feature teams from Muhlenberg
College (Pa.), College of Southern
Maryland, Alfred University (N.Y.) and
University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign.
This competition is one of just three
VEX Robotics collegiate contests in the
United States.
On Saturday, 19 teams from 10
regional high schools will square off in
the Western Pennsylvania VEX Robotics
Competition.
The top two teams will qualify to
participate in the 2012 VEX Robotics
World Championship April 18-21 at the
Anaheim Convention Center in
Anaheim, Calif.
“By hosting this event, Cal U provides
opportunity for regional high school
teams to advance to the World Cup
Event,” says Mike Amrhein, director for
the Office of Outreach and Integration of
T.E.A.M.S. (Technology, Engineering,
Art, Math and Science) at Cal U.
Last year, a high school team from
Connellsville, Pa., designed a robot that
qualified at the Cal U event and went on
to place fourth at the world
championship.
Each year, VEX Robotics
competitions change the games rules to
ensure original robotic designs. This
year’s game, VEX Gateway, was
developed by Innovation First Inc., a
leader in educational and competitive
robotics products.
In VEX Gateway, robots work in
teams to score points by moving objects
of various sizes across the playing field
and through goals.
Hosting the contests at Cal U
introduces students and teachers to the
University and highlights Cal U’s
robotics, science and technology
programs.
“When students from these teams
come to campus, they see firsthand what
a great University has to offer as they
pursue their post-secondary education,”
Amrhein said.
VEX Robotics competitions are the
largest and fastest-growing robotics
programs in the world, with schools in
more than 20 countries participating in
some 200 tournaments around the globe.
“It gives students a chance to apply
STEM (science, technology, engineering
and math) in a fun way and provides
teachers with a focal point for their
robotics education programs,” Amrhein
said.
“In robotics competitions, students
must also apply leadership, teamwork,
problem solving and gracious
professionalism.”
For more information, contact Mike
Amrhein, director for the Office of Outreach
and Integration of T.E.A.M.S., at 724-9385906 or amrhein@calu.edu . To learn more
about VEX Robotics and to see a video about
the competition, visit www.calu.edu .
Admission to the expo is free and open to the public.
For more information, call 724-483-3507 or e-mail
info@mvrchamber.org.
3
Lee Passes His Way into Hall of Fame
Editor’s Note: Cal U held its 17th annual Athletic Hall of
Fame Banquet Oct. 21. The Journal is profiling each of the
2011 Hall of Fame inductees.
Strong-armed Bill Lee was Cal U’s starting
quarterback from the end of his 1963 freshman season
into 1966. With his induction last month into the Cal U
Athletic Hall of Fame, he became the first quarterback
in 10 years to receive the University’s most prestigious
athletic honor.
“I am very honored and humbled,” Lee said.
“When you take a look at some of the quarterbacks
who have preceded me into the Hall of Fame, it’s quite
something to be in with that elite company. This is
special.”
Lee guided the Vulcans to a 21-14 victory over
Edinboro in his first collegiate start, the season finale of
1963. Two years later the Vulcans and innovative head
coach Bill Hepner ranked among the nation’s top 10 in
passing offense, and the 1965 team produced the
program’s eighth winning season in nine years.
“I don’t know if I could have played at many
colleges other then California, because Bill Hepner had
an offense I could fit into,” said Lee. “He developed the
insight in me to read defenses, and we were way ahead
of the curve with the passing game for that era.”
During his 1966 senior season, Lee passed for 367
yards, then a school record, and he earned PSAC
Player of the Week honors in a 27-20 home victory over
Lock Haven. (The previous school record was set by Ed
Zielenski, who threw for 353 yards in 1953 against
Washington and Jefferson College.)
At that time Lee ranked second in total offense
among all NAIA players, but he suffered a seasonending separated shoulder the following week at
Waynesburg. He was replaced at quarterback that
season by Jeff Petrucci ’69, also a member of the Hall
of Fame.
Petrucci, who went on to be an All-American and
later to coach the Vulcans for 12 years, credits Lee for
changing the attitude of the team. The two were also
high school teammates.
“He brought stability to the program, and he was
very sincere,” said Petrucci. “Lee was an exceptional
thrower, if not the most mobile person, and he always
got the job done.”
Bill Lee became the first quarterback in 10 years to be
inducted into the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame.
Petrucci said Lee could have held a grudge about
his injury. Instead, he became Petrucci’s mentor, the
consummate team player and a very important figure in
his personal life.
“I would have never played as a sophomore if
‘Wort’ had never gotten hurt,” Petrucci said. “He took
me under his wing and was very supportive. When I
would come off the field, he would come up to me and
tell me what the defenses were doing — because, quite
frankly, I was a clueless young kid just trying to get
things done.
“I never forgot that. I have always valued our
friendship.”
Lee, who was given his nickname by the paperboy
at age 5, watched Petrucci lead the NAIA in total
offense in both 1967 and 1968.
Cal U for Life Campaign
Builds Awareness This Week
ampaign-style signs and big, red bows tied
around buildings will play a part in promoting
awareness, appreciation and giving during Cal U
for Life Awareness Week.
Today through Friday, 15 signs, each with the Cal U
for Life logo, will deliver information about the
University. Messages highlight the Student Association
Inc., the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities and campus
landmarks, such as the statue of the late philanthropist
Robert Eberly poring over a book in front of Manderino
Library.
Some buildings will be wrapped in ribbon with tags
that read, “To the students from the taxpayers of
Pennsylvania.” Others tags will credit private donors for
their role in constructing the building.
“The signs and ribbons basically help make people
aware of where things on campus come from and how
they were funded,” said Ryan Jerico, coordinator of
Student and Young Alumni Programs. “Although the
students are targeted, we hope this week also carries over
to the faculty and staff. We want the campus community
C
to be aware of our financial situation and our traditions.
We hope the awareness will result in appreciation.”
Throughout the week members of the Senior Gift
Drive Committee will promote student philanthropy by
offering information and games at tables in the Natali
Student Center.
In 2010, the inaugural Senior Gift Drive raised more
than $8,000. The kickoff for the 2011 drive was held on
Feb. 15, Tuition Freedom Day, when students thanked
state legislators and Pennsylvania taxpayers for their
support of state-owned universities.
This year’s Senior Gift Drive already has raised more
than $7,000.
Jerico hopes Awareness Week also increases student
engagement with their University.
“Any involvement that students have on campus is
involvement in the Cal U For Life program,” he said.
“President (Angelo) Armenti has said for years that
all of PASSHE is being privatized without a plan, but
Cal U has a plan — and Cal U for Life is a big part of
it.”
“He broke all my records, including interceptions,”
Lee joked. “God gave me a pretty good arm, but also
very slow feet. I would run sprints with the tackles, and
half of them would beat me. Jeff was so fast, so
defenses could no longer just stay in a zone.
“I have the utmost respect for him.”
Lee’s primary receiver was another Hall of Fame
inductee, Ettore Perri ‘66, who scored 27 career
touchdowns, another school standard at that time.
Cal won four of five divisional games in 1966 and
finished second in the PSAC-West. In all, the Vulcans
achieved three divisional winning seasons during Lee’s
collegiate career.
Originally from Charleroi, Lee is a 1963 graduate of
Charleroi High School. He was an all-conference
quarterback under legendary coach Rab Currie and
helped the 1962 squad win the section title with a final
8-1-1 overall record.
Lee was also a pitcher for the Cougars baseball
team. His father, the late Frank J. Lee ’24, played
football and basketball at Cal and later was an assistant
coach under Currie.
“I’ve been blessed to play for coaches like Rab
Currie and Bill Hepner,” Lee said. “I always played
with an intensity that Rab Currie instilled in me at
Charleroi. I just played to the best of my abilities and
expected everyone else to do so.”
During his undergraduate days, Lee became a PIAA
licensed football official.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in social studies
and economics in 1967, he taught and coached football
for nearly two years at Monongahela High School.
He stopped coaching at Mon City and for 28 years
officiated football at the high school, junior high and
midget league levels, including numerous WPIAL
playoff games.
After leaving the classroom Lee worked for 13 years
in pharmaceutical sales and management before joining
his cousins’ business, Lee Supply Co. He worked for 30
years as the company’s environmental sales manager.
Now semi-retired, he still serves as a consultant.
In 2009, Lee was inducted into the Solid Waste
Association of North America’s “Hall of Flame” for
his many years of dedication to the solid waste
industry.
Lee is in his 11th year as the mayor of Speers, Pa.
Archives, Special
Collection Tour Set
A
s part of the Manderino Library Workshop
Series, the campus community is invited to
take a half-hour tour of the Archives and
Special Collections that highlight Cal U history.
The fourth-floor archives — a delight for any
individual with an interest in Cal U’s nearly 160year history — may be one of the University’s bestkept secrets.
The tour will begin at 11 a.m. in room 412 of
Manderino on Tuesday.
Time will be available at the end of the session
for those who would like to get an up-close view of
special items or to learn more about the collection.
Library Workshops are informal, 30-minute
sessions open to Cal U students, faculty and staff.
Workshops provide more general assistance than
class-specific sessions and count toward Education
Seminar credit and noted on students’ Activities
Transcripts.
For more information, e-mail
reference@calu.edu .
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
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Vice President for University Technology Services
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Ron Huiatt
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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
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